In the garden before them, Minamikawa Yuu wore a faint smile on his face, his demeanor as gentle as ever, smoothing away the anxiety in the two children's hearts.
Listening to Minamikawa Yuu's voice, the moods of Hagoromo and Hamura instantly became peaceful.
"Father."
Standing where they were, they bowed respectfully, their spirits having recovered.
"We came here this time because we have a few questions we want to ask you."
Hagoromo's expression turned serious as he spoke: "It's regarding the God Tree."
"The God Tree?"
Hearing Hagoromo's words, Minamikawa Yuu's heart stirred; he already realized what Hagoromo was about to say next.
Sure enough, the questions Hagoromo asked next were exactly as he had imagined.
"I don't know much about the origins of the God Tree either, only that it is a divine object that descended together with your mother back then."
Minamikawa Yuu pondered for a moment before speaking, recounting his understanding of the God Tree.
He didn't hide anything, both because he didn't want to and because there was no need.
The Hagoromo Brothers before him were not outsiders, but his own children.
In this world, he told himself there was nothing he couldn't say to his own children, and he had no intention of deceiving them.
Listening to Minamikawa Yuu's narration, the Hagoromo Brothers' moods gradually relaxed.
"The nurturing of the God Tree requires massive amounts of Chakra and life force."
Before them, Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly: "This is also why I must periodically extract Chakra from the populace and offer it as a sacrifice to the God Tree."
"If not for this, the needs for the God Tree's growth could not be met."
"As for life force, it is likewise a necessity."
"Father, do you know how many people die every year just to supply the God Tree?"
Hagoromo's face was solemn: "Too many people..."
"For the sake of this God Tree, countless people die every single year."
"Many people originally didn't have to die, but to feed the God Tree, even those who only committed minor crimes are eventually sent to the Shrine to be sacrificed to the God Tree."
"Those people should have had a chance to reform; they shouldn't die so easily."
Currently, the number of criminals within the Land of Ancestors was very small.
Because in the Land of Ancestors at this moment, the vast majority of criminals who committed any crime would ultimately be sent into the God Tree as sacrifices.
To be honest, this process was somewhat cruel.
Because the crimes some people committed might not have reached the level of requiring a death sentence, yet they were now being taken to sacrifice to the God Tree.
"Sacrifice is always necessary."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly: "And it is only temporary."
"Over these past two years, the number of people feeding the God Tree has already decreased significantly."
"Currently, the life force required for the God Tree's growth is mostly provided by livestock."
"This point, you are both aware of."
The growth of the God Tree requires immense life force, but this life force doesn't necessarily have to come from humans.
The life force from various domestic animals can achieve the same purpose.
So in the earlier years, Minamikawa Yuu vigorously developed animal husbandry precisely to use various large livestock to replace human sacrifices, thereby reducing the proportion of live human sacrifices.
As time passed and productivity continued to develop, there would come a day when human sacrifice would become history and no longer exist on a large scale.
Hearing this, the Hagoromo Brothers' expressions softened slightly.
They had previously been responsible for judging criminals, so they were naturally aware of this point.
In these two years, the number of people sacrificed to the God Tree had indeed shown a trend of gradual decrease.
From this situation, it seemed that Minamikawa Yuu had made the corresponding preparations regarding this matter.
As long as a certain amount of time passed, the situation of human sacrifice would greatly improve.
"Then what about Natural Energy?"
Hagoromo spoke again: "Chakra can be extracted periodically, and life force can be provided by livestock, but the regeneration of Natural Energy is not so easy."
"If we allow the God Tree to extract it so recklessly, I'm afraid the world we are in is not far from exhaustion."
"This is indeed a major problem, but we have no other choice."
Minamikawa Yuu shook his head: "As I just told you, your mother's clansmen will eventually track her here."
"When that time comes, whether we choose to resist or choose to hand over the chakra fruit to complete the mission, that fruit atop the God Tree is indispensable."
"And after that fruit is produced?"
Hagoromo was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "The human heart is always greedy, and some individuals are especially so."
"Father, I can appreciate your intentions and I know the importance of that fruit."
"But I am still worried."
He let out a long sigh and then spoke: "With Mother's personality, after she obtains that chakra fruit, will she really be willing to stop?"
Hearing his words, Hamura to the side opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he only sighed and said nothing.
Both of them were Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's children; having spent many years together, they understood Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's disposition all too well.
With Kaguya's personality, after producing the next fruit, would she truly be willing to stop of her own accord and spare this world, rather than continuing to let the God Tree grow and trying to produce the next chakra fruit?
The Hagoromo Brothers felt it was hard to say.
If it were Minamikawa Yuu, he would naturally do as he said; the Hagoromo Brothers believed their father had such long-term vision and self-control.
But if it were Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, it was honestly hard to say.
With Kaguya's personality, she had never been one to empathize with the difficulties of others.
The life and death of the mortals in this world were even more irrelevant to her.
She was an exalted celestial deity from beyond the heavens; her gaze, across past and future, would only ever linger on Minamikawa Yuu.
As for the life and death of others?
What did it have to do with her.
This world had a deep foundation; perhaps the remaining Natural Energy within it was still enough to support the God Tree in producing a second chakra fruit.
But what about after that?
The greed of the human heart has no end.
The greed of gods is especially so.
"So when that time comes, it will be your turn to step forward."
Minamikawa Yuu looked at the Hagoromo Brothers before him and spoke softly.
"Us?"
The Hagoromo Brothers were instantly stunned.
"You are likely clear about your mother's personality."
Minamikawa Yuu's face was calm: "If the scene you envisioned truly happens, then at that time, the only ones who can stop your mother will naturally be only you."
"Perhaps this is why that Great Toad Sage would seek you out, because in this world, the only ones with the possibility of stopping Kaguya are you, her children."
"Father... you?"
Hagoromo and Hamura looked at Minamikawa Yuu before them, their faces now filled with shock.
From the past to the present, Minamikawa Yuu and Kaguya had always treated each other with mutual respect.
Previously, the reason they were worried in their hearts was actually a fear that Minamikawa Yuu would stand firmly on their mother's side and be their enemy.
But looking at the current situation, it seemed that was not the case?
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