"How can I get to the moon and obtain the Tenseigan?"
Clutching his temple, Shishou frowned in deep thought.
He had awakened Hashirama's power and absorbed the reincarnation-eye of Madara Uchiha, making it certain that he would awaken the Rinnegan.
However, awakening the Rinnegan didn't mean Shishou would be invincible.
There were beings in the shinobi world on par with the Sage of Six Paths, such as the Great Toad Sage, Katsuyu, and the White Snake Sage, who wield immense sage power.
Even the power of the Ten Tails surpassed the Rinnegan.
Awakening the Rinnegan and then absorbing the chakra of the Tailed Beasts might allow Shishou to reach the level of the Sage of Six Paths, recreating the legend.
But in the shinobi world, there were many who rivaled the Sage of Six Paths in strength. The Otsutsuki clan had several members stronger than the Sage.
Take Hamura Otsutsuki, the brother of the Sage of Six Paths, for example.
He was the ancestor of both the Otsutsuki clan on the moon and the Hyuga clan in Konoha, with power rivaling the Sage of Six Paths.
Together with the Sage, he sealed Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Rabbit Goddess.
His mastery of the Byakugan and Tenseigan was on par with the Sage's Sharingan and Rinnegan.
The feat of Toneri Otsutsuki splitting the moon with a single strike after awakening the Tenseigan was something Shishou greatly admired.
Naturally, Shishou wanted to acquire such power.
However, Uchiha Madara had never been to the moon; he only summoned the Gedo Statue upon awakening the Rinnegan, leaving no way to reach the moon.
Therefore, to master the Tenseigan, Shishou needed to find a way to the moon.
Now, with Rimei gravely ill, Shishou saw an opportunity.
As a branch of the Otsutsuki clan, the Hyuga clan's ancestral secrets should contain a method to reach the moon.
If Shishou could find the way to the moon in the Hyuga's ancestral secrets, he could then attempt to obtain the Tenseigan's power.
Only by mastering the bloodline powers of both the Sage of Six Paths and Hamura Otsutsuki could Shishou truly become an Otsutsuki.
Only then could Shishou have the strength to subdue Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Rabbit Goddess!
And only then could Shishou calmly face future Otsutsuki invasions.
So, Shishou had a lot to do...
"Ah..."
Suddenly, Shizune's soft voice pulled him back to reality.
"It hurts!"
Awake, Shizune looked at Shishou with tearful eyes, almost crying.
"Sorry, sorry, I was deep in thought..."
Shishou apologized, realizing he had unintentionally hurt Shizune while thinking.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
Turning on the lamp, Shizune pressed her face against Shishou's chest, looking at his handsome face as she gently asked.
She knew that Shishou always used his true appearance in front of her and Tsunade, and she had recently become infatuated with his handsome features.
"I'm thinking about how to cure Rimei."
Feeling Shizune's admiring gaze, Shishou smiled slightly.
"Are you going to find Lady Tsunade?" Shizune widened her eyes, pursing her lips.
If Tsunade returned, she wouldn't be able to stay close to Shishou like this, making her reluctant.
Although Shizune hoped Tsunade would come back, she still wanted more time alone with Shishou, just a bit longer, then a bit longer.
Just a month would make her content.
"Haha, of course not."
"Did you forget how I saved you?"
Seeing Shizune's slight disappointment, Shishou found her adorable.
"You put your hand inside my body, almost scaring me to death. How could I forget!" Shizune glared at Shishou, then continued, "You're thinking of finding Miss Uzumaki Eri?"
"Exactly."
Shishou nodded, confirming Shizune's guess.
Although he could use his insects to replenish Rimei's depleted life force, it wouldn't help him gain her complete trust and access the Hyuga clan's secrets.
So, Shishou needed to find a way to lure her out of Konoha and then proceed gradually.
While he could wait for Hinata to grow up and obtain the secrets through her, it would take a long time.
"But..."
Then Shishou changed his tone, looking at Shizune.
"But, I need you to help me with something."
"What do you need?" Shizune's eyes lit up, excited to finally help Shishou.
"Help me have a child..." Shishou whispered in Shizune's ear.
"Mm..."
Shizune's face turned red, and she let out a soft cry before Shishou silenced her with a kiss.
The idea of having a child was, of course, false. Until becoming an Otsutsuki, Shishou had no plans for children.
Once he became an Otsutsuki, any child he had would also be an Otsutsuki. Wouldn't that be better?
The next day.
In the Hyuga compound.
Shizune came to Rimei's room again to examine her.
Rimei was the wife of Hiashi Hyuga and the mother of Hinata and Hanabi.
"Miss Shizune, is there really no way?"
With her beautiful and dignified face, even in her weakened state, Rimei asked Shizune.
Hinata was still young, and Hanabi was just a child. She couldn't bear to leave them behind.
Moreover, she was only twenty-eight and didn't want to die so soon.
"Madam, I'm currently unable to treat your condition."
"And Lady Tsunade has just left; even I don't know where she is."
"However, I can recommend someone. If you can find him, there might be hope."
Following Shishou's instructions, Shizune began to reveal information to Rimei.
"Really?" Hope sparked in Rimei's eyes.
"I was personally saved by him, so it's true. But you have to find him first." Shizune pursed her lips, feeling a bit guilty.
Although she knew Shishou wouldn't harm Konoha or Rimei, she still felt uneasy, suspecting Shishou had ulterior motives.
"Miss Shizune, can you tell me who he is?"
Hiashi Hyuga, who had just returned from the Hokage's office, entered the room, having overheard Shizune's words.
He clearly heard what Shizune said.
"That person should be familiar to Hiashi-sama."
"He's the recently famous Flying Thunder God user."
"I was gravely injured and saved by him, so I recommended him to Rimei."
Shizune, calm and composed, revealed Shishou's identity.
Hiashi Hyuga was stunned.
"The Flying Thunder God user?"
"The man who took Tsunade away?"