At the Hyuga clan's residence:
Hiashi, walking in with hurried steps, gradually slowed down. After all, at home he had to maintain the dignity of a clan head and couldn't appear flustered.
Stepping into the courtyard, he saw Hinata and Hanabi practicing together. But instead of using the Gentle Fist, they were using Snowy Fairy Gu and Frost Demon Gu.
A subtle look emerged on Hiashi's face.
Were the two heirs of the Hyuga clan no longer going to use Gentle Fist? Was Gentle Fist going to be passed on to Neji instead?
Even though there was no longer a split between the main and branch families, Hiashi was certainly more partial to Hinata and Hanabi, especially Hanabi.
If nothing unexpected happened, Hanabi would become the next head of the Hyuga clan. She was Shinho's student and possessed a strange and powerful method like the Frost Demon Gu, so she was by no means weak.
Even more importantly, Neji had never shown any inclination toward becoming clan head. Currently, he was in charge of the Eighth Ninja Division. Though the Hyuga clan was powerful and resourceful, it was no longer his priority.
"Father."
Hinata noticed Hiashi and paused the sparring with Hanabi.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a true spar; Hinata was actually guiding Hanabi.
Especially in the path of Gu cultivation as Hinata had delved deeper than Hanabi.
Snowy Fairy Gu and Frost Demon Gu were both Ice Path Transformation Gu, so there were many overlaps in how they were used.
"Father!" Hanabi, far more energetic than Hinata, ran over to Hiashi. "Did the court assembly end?"
"Yes." Hiashi nodded.
"What did Brother-in-law talk about?" Hanabi asked, full of curiosity.
"There is something rather important." Hiashi hesitated for a moment before speaking plainly. "Shinho intends to get married."
Originally, he had wanted to speak to Hinata alone, but Hanabi brought it up.
At any rate, she would sooner or later be the clan head, so it wouldn't hurt for her to learn about these matters early.
"Huh?" Hanabi's eyes went wide in shock. She blurted out, "Who's he marrying?"
"Mind your composure, young lady," Hiashi said with a slight frown, reminding her to stay calm.
He had assumed that Hinata would react more strongly, but it turned out Hanabi was the one who seemed really agitated. What was going on here?
"I'm just surprised," Hanabi said, sneaking a glance at Hinata, looking a bit uneasy.
"Shinho hasn't revealed who it is," Hiashi said, his tone growing more serious. "Hinata, did he ever mention anything about this to you?"
"He did." Hinata, seeing Hiashi's expectant look, hesitated for a few seconds before replying.
"What did he say?" Hiashi exhaled in relief as soon as he heard that.
Hanabi, on the other hand, suddenly felt tense.
"During the fireworks festival before, he said… someday he would marry me," Hinata said softly, holding back her bashfulness.
Even though Shinho wasn't here, just talking about marriage made her heart flutter, and fill with anticipation.
She had always wanted to be a supportive wife and mother, and now that possibility was finally within reach.
"Excellent!" Hiashi lost his usual composure for a moment.
If that promise came from Shinho himself, it couldn't be fake. As for why he hadn't announced it publicly, there must be reasons he was weighing.
Hanabi stood there in a daze.
So they really would be getting married?
Why does it feel so sudden? Shinho still seemed so young. Wait… She realized something about her own feelings.
She should be happy for her sister's marriage, so why did she feel slightly disappointed? Could it be…?
Hanabi fell into silence.
"Hinata, find some time to speak with Shinho," Hiashi said after a brief moment of thought. "The sooner this sort of thing is sorted, the better."
"Yes." Hinata nodded.
She indeed hadn't seen Shinho in a while and was planning to visit him anyway, not just to clarify the marriage but also to continue her training.
The thought caused her cheeks to flush faintly.
Noticing Hinata's shy expression, Hanabi felt a surge of complicated emotions.
She didn't know whether she ought to congratulate her sister, feel envious, or something else entirely.
"Hanabi." Hinata, seeing her sister's distracted look, said gently, "Someday, you'll also find someone you like."
"I…" Hanabi opened her mouth, but in the end, all she managed was, "Thank you, Sister."
It was clear Hinata had misunderstood something, but Hanabi didn't dare set her straight.
Watching his daughters get along so well, Hiashi felt satisfied.
In the future, Hinata would handle affairs outside the clan, Hanabi would manage things at home. With both sisters working together, how could the Hyuga clan not flourish?
As for finding someone Hanabi liked, he had some plans in mind: since Hanabi would become head of the clan, it would be best if she married another member of the clan.
Not only would it preserve the bloodline, it would also be easier for her to stay in charge, essentially, the husband would be entering her family.
…
The Anbu moved swiftly, and within half an hour the news had spread throughout City of Fire.
Hearing that the Emperor was getting married, the people were ecstatic.
Shinho was deeply respected by the populace thanks to his many accomplishments, so they were naturally happy to learn of his marriage.
Over at the makeshift settlement of the Uchiha clan:
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed in shock. "Shinho's getting married?"
"Why is that surprising?" Sakura asked matter-of-factly. "He's always been quite popular."
If it weren't for Sasuke, even she might have had trouble resisting his charm. Her best friend Ino, for example, had long been head over heels for him.
"But…" Naruto scratched his head, failing to articulate his thoughts.
"Sasuke, what do you think?" Sakura's eyes sparkled as she turned to look at Sasuke.
"He can marry as many as he wants. It has nothing to do with me," Sasuke said coolly.
"When do you plan on getting married?" Sakura pressed again.
"When I become the strongest in the ninja world," Sasuke replied, glancing at her.
"…Huh?" Sakura stood there dumbfounded.
Didn't that imply he might spend a lifetime alone? How could he ever surpass Shinho's power?
"Hold on!" Naruto looked at the public notice in front of them, puzzled. "Multiple wives? He can marry up to seven?"
"Ordinary people can't, but he's the Emperor," Sakura explained. "In the old days, the Daimyo were allowed multiple consorts."
"That's true," Naruto recalled, thinking about missions he'd done for various Noble ladies in the past.
"If Shinho's getting married, we should prepare some wedding gifts," Sakura said, tapping her chin. "What should we give him?"
"A wedding gift… oh, man." Naruto started looking worried.
"I'll be stepping out for a bit," Sasuke said, his gaze sharpening. He felt a familiar chakra beckoning him to a certain location.
"Sasuk—" Before Sakura could get another word out, Sasuke had already vanished.
She could only sigh. Then her thoughts drifted to Ino.
How was she taking this news? Her eyes settled on the notice posted on the board again, wondering who Shinho's bride would be.
In a small grove not far away, Sasuke brought himself to a stop.
He gripped his Lightning-Flame Sword and said coldly, "Show yourself."
In the next second, a figure appeared before him.
Sasuke felt his heart jolt. The newcomer looked like a middle-aged man wearing a white robe adorned with six black tomoe-like markings.
But what really caught Sasuke's attention were the horns on the man's forehead and the Rinnegan in his eyes.
Is he even human? And yet another pair of Rinnegan… Sasuke suddenly recalled the legends of the Sage of Six Paths.
But that was impossible, he'd been dead for who knew how many years.
"Who are you?" Sasuke asked, expressionless.
"My name is Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki," the man answered, "though I believe you'd know me better by another name: the Sage of Six Paths."
"What?!" Sasuke couldn't stop his voice from rising in surprise. There wasn't a ninja alive who could stay calm upon meeting the Sage of Six Paths, the founder of all ninjutsu.
"Haven't you been dead for a long time?" Sasuke asked, trying to collect himself.
"My body died, but chakra never truly dies," Hagoromo said with a smile.
Sasuke found himself at a loss for words. Just how powerful would one have to be for their chakra to outlive their physical form? If the man spoke the truth, then he likely was the genuine Sage of Six Paths.
After all, Sasuke had never heard of anything so outrageous.
Well, maybe not never. A thought crossed his mind.
The nine Tailed Beasts were essentially masses of chakra with souls and consciousness attached, existing in a state of quasi-immortality. Even if they died, they could be revived.
"Why are you looking for me?"
Sasuke was on high alert. The Sage of Six Paths had existed—and hidden—for so long.
Now, all of a sudden, he appeared before him. Whatever the reason, it was definitely no small matter.
He couldn't help wondering if Shinho could handle the Sage of Six Paths.
"I'm here to help you awaken the Rinnegan."
The Sage of Six Paths came straight to the point.
"We've never met before. We have no connection. Why would you help me?"
Sasuke was taken aback.
"We do share a connection of sorts." The Sage of Six Paths shook his head slightly. "In a way, I'm your father."
"What?! Even if you're the Sage of Six Paths, don't spout nonsense. You can't blame me if I get rough!"
Sasuke froze for a second, then his face darkened.
Even though his father, Fugaku, had already passed away, that didn't change who his father was.
"You are the reincarnation of my son Indra's chakra," the Sage of Six Paths explained.
"…?"
Sasuke was yet again dumbstruck.
What was going on? He recalled the strange dreams he'd been having lately. So that was the reason? Maybe the stirring of Indra's chakra was connected to this encounter.
"Unfortunately, you're just the reincarnation of Indra's chakra. Your soul is not Indra's," the Sage of Six Paths continued after a short pause. "Even so, I can give you a gift, namely, the Rinnegan."
Relieved, Sasuke silently let out a breath. At least he hadn't suddenly gained a second father.
The talk of being Indra's chakra reincarnation still felt unreal, but he decided to hear the man out.
"You already have Asura's chakra within you, which means you meet the conditions needed to awaken the Rinnegan," the Sage of Six Paths said, raising his hand.
Asura's chakra? Could that be from the transplant Shinho performed on me? Sasuke wondered.
Could it be that Shinho already predicted, or at least knew, the Sage of Six Paths was still around?
"Don't resist."
The Sage of Six Paths warned him softly. Sasuke immediately felt a strong yet strangely familiar chakra in front of him, and he instinctively accepted it.
In an instant, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan activated on its own and began to spin.
The mixture of black and red slowly faded into white, and just like that, the Rinnegan awakened.
In the original story, Sasuke received half of the Sage's power, which gave him a unique six-tomoe Rinnegan in one eye, much stronger than an ordinary pair.
But now, he was activating a pair of regular Rinnegan in both eyes.
The difference was simple: the Sage of Six Paths hadn't given him half his power this time, because Sasuke wasn't preparing to fight Kaguya.
This was more like a test.
"Thank you," Sasuke murmured, flexing his fingers. The sensation he felt was incredible, like a surge of invincibility.
"You've only just awakened the Rinnegan. With more practice, your power will continue to grow," the Sage of Six Paths said. "Until next time, child."
"Wait—!"
Sasuke wanted to ask how to train these new eyes, but the Sage of Six Paths had already vanished, arriving in a rush and departing just as quickly.
The entire encounter felt like a dream. But the new Rinnegan was undeniably real.
Am I truly Indra's chakra reincarnation? Then who's Asura? Naruto?
Sasuke stood there, lost in thought.
…
In the Hokage's Office
Thanks to the Territory Immortal Gu, Shinho had observed all the reactions around City of Fire, even the meeting between Sasuke and the Sage of Six Paths.
"A pair of regular Rinnegan, huh?"
Shinho reflected on it. The Sage's appearance was unexpected but still made sense.
Without the threat of Kaguya, there was no need to grant anyone true Six Paths power.
A sudden idea flashed through Shinho's mind:
What if I replaced Kaguya and fought Naruto and Sasuke? Would the Sage of Six Paths give them his Six Paths power to stop me? The only problem would be staging such a deception…
He dismissed the thought for now.
He had not much need to go that far, especially when there was a simpler way: if he ever released Kaguya, the Sage of Six Paths would definitely try to intervene.
Then Shinho could capture him and distribute his Six Paths power to Naruto and Sasuke as needed.
But for now, the ordinary Rinnegan was sufficient. As long as one became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Infinite Tsukuyomi or releasing Kaguya was possible.
Just then, he sensed Ino approaching the Hokage's office through the Territory Immortal Gu.
Unlike Hinata, who already had Shinho's promise, Ino had not received any reassurance. After Ino's father told her what was happening, she dashed straight over.
A short while later, a knock came at the door.
"Shi… Shinho!"
Ino hurried to his desk, breathing heavily. Her tight-fitting top heaved with every breath.
Shinho offered her a cup of water.
"Ino, you need some water?"
She took a couple of sips, then blurted out, "Who—who are you marrying?"
"It won't be you this time, but I will marry you," Shinho said after a brief hesitation.
Ino froze as if struck by lightning. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Under different circumstances, she might have erupted, calling him a scoundrel or worse for wanting multiple wives. But this was Shinho, the Hokage and the Emperor.
Having multiple consorts was normal.
But she just couldn't bring herself to accept it so easily.
"Ino." Shinho reached for her hand. "I'm sorry."
Ino instinctively tried to pull away but couldn't. Infuriated and embarrassed, she snapped, "Let go of me!"
"I'll let go if you promise to marry me," Shinho said, leaning closer, voice soft and persuasive.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Ino's initial attraction to Shinho had been for his looks, but after seeing his strength and accomplishments, it had grown into much more.
Now, with him so close and acting this way, she found herself speechless.
Noticing her hesitation, Shinho seized the moment and pressed his lips to hers.
Ino's eyes went wide in shock, her face instantly flushing scarlet.
Her mind was a chaotic whirlwind. After a long moment, they parted. She bit her glossy lips and lowered her head.
Shinho was simply too…remarkable.
Wanting to have him all to herself was unrealistic. After all, she wasn't that much more special than Hinata or the others. Either she gave up or she shared, but she didn't want to give up.
Ino looked up at him, torn between feeling hurt and powerless.
This jerk… is so greedy he wants everything!
"Does Hinata know?" she asked softly, assuming it had to be Hinata.
"She does. She's already agreed."
Shinho answered.
"With her personality, it's no wonder she'd be swayed by you," Ino sniffed, sounding both annoyed and resigned.
"What about you?"
Shinho prompted with a faint smile.
"You're the Emperor. Can I even refuse?" Ino glared, still not hiding her resentment.
"If you truly want to refuse, I wouldn't force you." Shinho's voice was serious.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ino snapped, growing even angrier. "You've already kissed me and held me, aren't you going to take responsibility?"
"Of course I will!" Shinho said hastily.
"Well, I need time to think it over," Ino muttered, fighting back the urge to punch him.
"I'll wait for you," Shinho said, sensing her tone had softened, it was a sure sign he was halfway there.
There was no way she could instantly come to terms with something so abrupt. As long as she hadn't outright refused, there was hope.
"I'm leaving!"
Ino spun on her heel and stormed out.
Shinho hesitated for a few seconds, then decided not to chase after her.
Better to let her cool off and talk later. Pushing her too much now might backfire.
Right then, two lines of text appeared before his eyes:
..
[Achievement Unlocked: "I Want Them All" – Reward: Romantic Longing Immortal Gu]
[Romantic Longing Immortal Gu: Rank Six Wisdom Path Immortal Gu. Using it increases your personal charm, attracting the opposite sex.]
..
Shinho raised his eyebrows in surprise.
This triggers an achievement, too? Wait a minute! does this mean Ino has basically agreed in her heart already?
He pondered the new reward.
Well, it's somewhat useful, but not as much as it would've been a few years ago.
At this point, he didn't really need it to attract anyone else.
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