Original subtitles

(Zetsu) Mother loved this world. And she tried to love humans.

But her hopes were dashed.

She ate the fruit of the Divine Tree to try to protect her children.

But...her real tale of despair begins here...

Shortly after, Mother gave birth to twins.

They were...

Hagoromo and Hamura.

[birds chirping]

(Hamura) Mother stares up at the sky like that every day. I wonder what she's looking for?

How could we know? She never tells us anything.

No one knows what's inside her heart.

(Hagoromo) It could be that she has feelings even we, her own sons, aren't able to fathom.

(Haori) Hagoromo! Hamura! Please come with me!

Why, Haori?

[birds chirping]

If you use all the water at your place,

then there won't be any left for the rice paddies further downstream!

That isn't my fault!

Just hold up. What's going on here?

[groan]

I'll tell ya what's up! This guy's been using up all the water!

What am I supposed to do?! My paddy's upstream! I can't help it!

(Hamura) But until now, wasn't there enough water for everyone?

Yes, but all of a sudden, the flow of the river's gotten weak.

[footsteps]

Has something happened upstream, then...?

Well, I would go check, but there's a huge bear roaming around up on the mountain.

You gotta be careful.

Recently, an old lady was foraging for plants and she got hurt really bad.

All right. We'll go check it out.

Oh, really? That'd be great!

You be careful, Hagoromo.

We'll be fine.

Okay, Hamura. Let's go.

Right.

[water flowing]

Do you see anything?

Hold on a minute.

(Hamura) There's a huge boulder in the riverbed upstream.

[water flowing]

[birds chirping]

Oh, I see. So this is what's blocking the flow of the river.

Yes, but...where did it come from? It wasn't there the last time we were here.

Well, either it fell from somewhere, or someone put it here.

What do you mean, "someone"?

Nobody can move a boulder this big except Mother and you, Elder Brother.

(Gamamaru) I put it there.

Huh?

(Gamamaru) Hey, don't brush me off like some bug!

Because I'm definitely not a bug!

I'm actually a toad.

Hamura...have I gone completely crazy, here...

...or is that talking toad making bad jokes?

(Hamura) Well, Elder Brother...that must mean I'm going crazy, too.

Just listen, would you? Neither one of you is going crazy! I really am talking to you, okay?!

But then again...

...if you think that my jokes aren't funny, then maybe you are a little bit crazy.

(Hamura) No one's hiding nearby, and this doesn't seem like Ventriloquism, either.

You know, the two of you are pretty mistrustful for humans.

And you know, you're pretty arrogant for a toad.

Hey, listen! We toads have lived here far longer than any of you.

It's not my fault you weren't aware of it!

A real taking toad. Think people would like it if we caught it and took it home?

What are you talking about, you fool?! You really think that you could catch me?

[chuckle] For a little toad, you sure do talk big.

Uh oh, it appears that we have another guest.

[snarling]

[roaring]

That is one huge bear!

What perfect timing. I can show you just how strong I am.

[water blasting]

[rocks crashing]

[gasps]

[frightened roaring]

I put this boulder here so you two would come and I could meet you.

Anyway, my name is Gamamaru, and you are Hagoromo and Hamura, right?

It called us by our first names...

Come with me, you two.

Oops, I almost forgot.

[lightning crash]

Oh, that wasn't too bad at all!

Alright...exactly why have you brought us here?

Do you two know what that is?

Yes, of course!

It's called the Peak of Demise.

And have you ever seen what lies beyond it?

No, never.

Mother has forbidden us from going near that peak.

It's a law that everyone must follow. No one has ever seen what's on the other side.

The truth of the Divine Tree is beyond there.

Truth of the Divine Tree?

(Gamamaru) The Divine Tree has been absorbing the power from this land.

As long as the Tree exists, the land will continue to weaken.

Is that true?

But I've heard that the power of the Divine Tree makes this land thrive.

You're wrong!

If you want to learn the real truth, go see what's on the other side of that peak.

Later!

[splash]

"Learn the truth?"

(Peddler) Seriously? Lady Kaguya's really not here?

How many times do I have to tell you? She isn't here.

Oh! Welcome home, Masters Hagoromo and Hamura.

What's the matter?

This man is very persistent.

And who are you?

I'm a traveling medicine salesman.

I was hoping to do some business here so I came to get Lady Kaguya's permission.

Where is Mother?

She said that she'd be away tonight.

(Hagoromo) I see, so she's gone out again. She's been away a lot lately.

So what do I do?

Well, now...

...what's this? Let me take a look at your medicines.

[shocked yelling]

(Peddler) What are you doing to all of my merchandise?!

These are hardly anything more than weeds and moldy nuts. This one's a poisonous mushroom.

If anyone were to take these, it'd make them even sicker.

You're just a snake oil salesman, and not a very good one.

[nervous chuckle]

My mother lives here. As do my elder brother and I.

We three can cure any illness anywhere at any time.

So no one here will buy anything that you have to sell

Does your power come from the Divine Tree, then?

Listen, just get out of this village. Or you're gonna be very sorry.

[frightened yelling]

Curse them! How dare they belittle me!

Ugh, they made me so mad my back pain is flaring up again.

The Divine Tree, huh?

If I took even a little branch, I could sell it for a fortune...

Yes! While the cat's away...

(Hagoromo) Forget it. Don't be foolish. Go near the Divine Tree and you'll die.

[gasp] You're one of the--

I apologize for before. My younger brother can be quite hot tempered.

What do you want from me?!

Ow, ow, ow!

I merely want to ask you a question.

Are you kidding?! You're not getting anything out of me!

If you give me an answer, then I'll heal your back.

[scoffing] Like that'll cure anything! If it were that simple, no one would--

What? The pain's gone?!

Hey! You actually did it! You fixed my back!

So...are you willing to answer my question now?

Yes! Anything!

You've traveled around to many different places, right?

Oh, yeah! Everywhere! That's how I make my living.

Have you ever seen what's beyond that peak?

No, I can't say that I have. But I've seen many other lands!

What do they say about my mother in those lands?

Well, that's, uh... I mean... uh...

Please, the whole truth.

Okay.

There have been rumors about people staging rebellions here and there...

...largely over Lady Kaguya's Ritual of the Divine Tree.

And it's said that to suppress the uprisings,

Lady Kaguya has annihilated the instigators in the Land of That.

(Peddler) Lately, rumors are swirling that Lady Kaguya is just a tyrant...

"Annihilated...?"

No wonder Mother has been away a lot...

Leave now. And never return. Trust me. It's for your own good.

Yes sir!

[insects buzzing]

(Hamura) Everything seems to be going well.

Elder Brother?

What's that?

Oh--no news is good news...

Elder Brother...

Are you still thinking about what that toad said to us?

Oh. No... It isn't about that, it's just...

Hm? [gasp]

They're taking part in the Ritual of the Divine Tree...

[gasp]

It can't be!

Brother, wait!

(Hagoromo) Haori!

[gasp]

Hagoromo...Hamura...

(Hagoromo) What's going on?

It's time. I just received notice to serve the Divine Tree.

You can't!

I have no choice in the matter. This is a ceremony that Lady Kaguya established ages ago...

(Haori) Hagoromo, Hamura...It was only for a short time, but I'm glad I got to meet you two.

It was great. Please remember me.

Haori!

(Hagoromo) Mother...

Please end the Ritual of the Divine Tree.

That is not possible.

But, Mother!

I will not allow defiance. Not even if it comes from my own sons.

Then please tell me this...

What happens to those who go to the Divine Tree as part of the Ritual?

Why does no one ever return from it?

Just accept that the ritual is a necessity...at least until the others arrive here.

"The others?"

Do not concern yourself with that. You do not need to know about them just yet.

[grunt]

Hagoromo, Hamura... I'm going to be leaving once more.

Take care of things here.

Yes, Mother.

Elder Brother... You aren't...

Yes.

I intend to go and climb that peak.

If Mother finds out, you'll be in a lot of trouble.

I'm prepared to face that.

Okay, Elder Brother. We'll both go.

Just what is this...?

Brother!

Hamura!

[gasp] Hm...

[grunt]

What's wrong?

Elder Brother! Open this one.

Haori!

[gasp]

[grunt]

Haori! Wake up! Haori!

Elder Brother... It's too late...

She's dead.

[distraught wailing]

(Hamaru) So this is the truth behind the Ritual.

(Hamaru) Elder Brother! Your eyes!

[babbling water]

Come out, Gamamaru!

[splash]

It appears that you really did it... You went beyond the peak, huh?

Come with me.

[splash]

[splash]

Where are we?

(Gamamaru) This is the Land of Toads.

(Hagoromo) What is this...

...strange power that I'm feeling?

Really? Wow, I'm impressed!

To think that a human can feel the power here...

What you're feeling is called Sage Power, and it flows naturally.

(Gamamaru) If you use it...

[grunt] even someone like me can do something like this.

Wow!

[crash]

Come on.

Now, this is what is know as the Memory Stone.

"Memory Stone"?

(Gamamaru) It contains a record of everything that occurs above ground...

And with this stone, we can look at what happened in the past...

(Gamamaru) Long ago, that tree fell out of the sky...

And, as if in pursuit, your mother Kaguya appeared here shortly afterward.

When your mother arrived, she fell in love with the ruler of this land, and in time...

...she became pregnant with the two of you.

However...Kaguya's destiny with humans was to be mistreated by them. So she became their enemy.

Kaguya acquired the power of the Divine Tree, and your father was sacrificed to it...

...along with all of his people.

But to make sure mankind didn't perish, she revived some humans, erased their memories...

...and returned them to their lives.

Only Kaguya knows the whole truth.

Where did Mother come from anyway? Why's she protecting the Divine Tree?

Don't know.

Perhaps it's related to the fact that she came from far up in the sky.

But regardless, one thing is clear...

(Gamamaru) Ever since the Divine Tree took root the Nature Energy of this land has been depleting.

But how could that happen?

It isn't just from the land, either, but from humans too.

As long as the Divine Tree exists...

...then this great land will wither, and all of us will suffer the same fate.

We're going to have to speak to Mother about all of this.

But do you think she'll even listen to us?

Hagoromo, the power that your mother possesses is immense.

So I have serious doubts that you'd be able to confront her directly...

(Gamamaru) ...even if you are her son.

Very well... Then will you teach me how to use Sage Power, Gamamaru?

Brother! You're not planning to fight Mother, are you?!

No, it's just in case...

Yes, I see...

You've inherited Kaguya's power, and if you were to acquire the Sage Power, too...

...then you'd definitely be able to take her on.

However...

What is it?

(Gamamaru) Teaching you Sage Power... is quite risky.

And why's that?

Is there any guarantee that after you acquire Sage Power...

...you won't become the same as your mother?

Gamamaru... After all this, you're suddenly scared?

What was that?

You're just contradicting yourself, you know?

I mean, why did you lie in wait for us, then?

Admit it... you planned to pit us against Mother and make us fight from the very start.

[scoff] You're really pretty shrewd for a human, aren't you?

(Gamamaru) You see, I had a revelation.

(Hagoromo) Revelation?

(Gamamaru) Yes. Well, a dream. Toads rarely, if ever, dream.

But that dream was more like a prophecy...

I dreamed of you battling against Kaguya.

And how did it end?

I don't think his dream went that far. If it did, he wouldn't be so nervous.

Ah! How can you see so far into a toad's heart that clearly?!

Who are you?

[water splashing]

Alright, clear your mind...

Simply feel the Nature Energy all around you and then pull it into yourself.

He's quite a surprise...Hagoromo has managed to acquire Sage Power in no time at all.

Mother! You're back sooner than expected...

And where exactly is Hagoromo?

Elder Brother is still out patrolling the village...

Hamura!

[flinching]

Trying to hide things from me is useless.

[strong wind blowing]

[flinching in pain]

(Kaguya) Also useless. Even if you try to repel me with your Byakugan...

...the Byakugan I possess is far more superior to the one you have.

(Kaguya) Both of you broke the law, didn't you? You went to that forbidden peak.

Hiding things from me is useless. I can read all of your thoughts and feelings.

(Hagoromo) Well then...you must know why we're angry with you, Mother.

(Kaguya) It seems that you were in love with that young girl...

Next time on Naruto Shippuden: "A Fabricated Past."

(Hagoromo) You must have believed in love at some point in the past!