411-415

Chapter 411: The Moment of Heaven’s Lament! The Will of Fire Burns Brightly!  

"Minato Namikaze, who will you choose to take with you?"  

This question echoed in Minato Namikaze’s ears, making his expression suddenly tense. He turned his head, somewhat puzzled, and looked at Orochimaru.  

"Divine Punishment?"  

"A spear that falls from the moon, piercing both sky and earth?"  

This statement felt like an instant leap from the era of ninja battles fought with simple kunai to a future where high-tech weapons rained down from the heavens. It sent a small shockwave through everyone present.  

Orochimaru lifted his head, gazing toward the far north—toward the Land of Fields.  

"Shinji has been summoned to Ryūchi Cave by the White Snake Sage, and the entrance to Ryūchi Cave is deep in the Land of Fields, nearly two thousand kilometers from here. There’s no way he can arrive tonight."  

"Neither the incoming Divine Punishment nor this monstrous being, born from a failed experiment, is something we can handle."  

He let out a quiet sigh, as if he had already accepted the reality of the situation—the consequences of an experiment he initiated spiraling completely out of control.  

"As for Divine Punishment, hehe… that’s a story that dates back a long time."  

Orochimaru looked up at the pitch-black sky, where only the faint outer edge of the moon remained visible. He chuckled hoarsely, seemingly uninterested but still amused.  

"Let’s keep it short—"  

"On the moon today, there exists a clan known as the Ōtsutsuki. They inherited the will of Ōtsutsuki Hamura, the younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths, who questioned the Sage’s methods."  

"And he decreed—"  

"If the world created by the Sage of Six Paths strays from the path of the ninja, then that world must be destroyed!"  

"And what does it mean to ‘stray from the path of the ninja’? According to the White Snake Sage’s speculation, it refers to the world shifting away from the chakra-based way of life and instead pursuing the path of becoming celestial beings."  

"Whenever someone seeks to overthrow the ninja world’s path and leads it down this so-called ‘celestial’ route, they will face Divine Punishment—an attack from the moon itself."  

As his words fell silent, everyone instinctively looked up at the darkened moon.  

And at that very moment—  

From the center of the pitch-black moon, suddenly—  

A bright golden light appeared!  

Dazzling! Blinding!  

And it was growing brighter! Brighter and brighter!  

Orochimaru’s eyes widened slightly, his breathing grew tense, and he clenched his fists tightly as he spoke in a heavy voice.  

"My original plan was to eliminate the threat from the moon within twenty years and then guide Shinji to ascend. But now… the emergence of this monster, Ying, has forced the entire plan into an uncontrollable direction!"  

"It’s about to ascend now!"  

"And in response, this world is about to face—"  

Orochimaru’s expression turned extremely grim as he shouted in a deep voice,  

"The Moment of Heaven’s Lament!"  

Nearby, Naruto, who had just woken up and was still processing the dire situation, was completely shocked.  

"Nani?!"  

"Why is the world suddenly about to be destroyed?!"  

"What about the future I came from? Sasuke… Sakura… Iruka-sensei… all of them…"  

—  

At the same time, within the moon—  

A frail-looking, white-haired middle-aged man stood before a massive golden sphere, radiating dual six-pronged patterns—the Giant Tenseigan.  

By his side, a small, pale-haired child, resembling a little radish, clung timidly to his robes. His eyes were hollow, void of light.  

Judging by his appearance, he was none other than Ōtsutsuki Toneri, the future antagonist from The Last: Naruto the Movie—in his childhood form.  

At this moment, the boy looked up at the middle-aged man, his voice filled with uncertainty.  

"Father… why must we do this?"  

"Why can’t everyone live in peace?"  

"Why must we destroy the ninja world?"  

"Toneri," the white-haired man shook his head, his lifeless eyes drooping. He spoke in a hushed voice,  

"Ever since the Sage of Six Paths established the ninja system, the world has been drenched in blood and war for thousands of years."  

"And just a few years ago, the Outer Path Golem was unsealed and stolen, triggering a civil war between the main and branch families of our clan."  

"This is the reality before us."  

"There is no doubt—the world is beyond saving."  

"At this moment, we must carry out the divine mission passed down by our ancestor Hamura… cough cough!"  

The white-haired man suddenly covered his mouth, coughing up several drops of blood.  

After a brief pause, he regained his breath and slowly explained to his son,  

"But… not yet. We must wait until you have grown, until your bloodline has fully matured, until you are truly worthy of the Tenseigan."  

Ōtsutsuki Toneri was stunned.  

"Not now? Then…?"  

The middle-aged man smiled faintly, patting Toneri’s small head before raising his other hand.  

Spreading his five fingers wide, he pointed at the resplendent golden eye before him.  

A look of disdain appeared on his face.  

"Right now, a mere heretic seeks to overthrow the world. This is the perfect opportunity."  

"Toneri, watch closely. I can only show you this once."  

His expression darkened, his hollow eyes filled with ferocity and determination.  

"This—"  

"Is Divine Punishment!"  

"And the true power of the Tenseigan!"  

—  

Whoosh!  

Whoosh!  

Whoosh!  

High above the sky, ferocious winds howled, dragging countless metal fragments into a chaotic storm!  

Natural energy surged like a tidal wave, forming a near-tangible transparent force that distorted the air itself, warping everyone’s vision.  

In an instant, it expanded across dozens of kilometers!  

And in the next moment—  

It converged directly into the monster at the center of everyone’s gaze!  

At that moment, Ying seemed to sense something. His head snapped up, eyes locking onto the darkened moon.  

There—  

From the very center of the lunar eclipse—  

From the distant depths of space—  

Sensing the presence of an entity that should not exist—  

A spear of destruction plummeted toward the earth!  

Ying’s expression changed dramatically.  

"Damn it! Why now?!"  

A meteor, over 50 meters in diameter, had been pulled in by the Giant Tenseigan’s repulsive force, descending toward the earth at an unimaginable speed.  

Tearing through the atmosphere, it burned brilliantly, releasing an overwhelming glow and heat.  

Its destructive power exceeded three megatons of TNT—the equivalent of 208 Hiroshima bombs detonating at once!  

As they watched, their faces twisted in horror.  

Aburame Shibi, Akimichi Chōza, Sara, the remnants of Rōran, Hidan, Uzumaki Naruto, and Sasori—  

Everyone's eyes widened, staring at the impending catastrophe.  

Their faces were filled with despair.  

The oppressive weight of hopelessness and fear engulfed them, suffocating and inescapable.  

And in that moment—  

Orochimaru grinned, watching Minato Namikaze, waiting for him—the other prime candidate for the Fourth Hokage—to make his choice.  

Would he take his son, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?  

Would he take his loyal subordinates?  

Or perhaps his younger brother-in-arms, Hidan?  

At this moment—  

Minato gazed up at the incoming golden radiance, then looked down at the people around him, their eyes filled with desperation.  

Reaching into his ninja pouch, he pulled out a Flying Thunder God kunai, gripping it tightly.  

There was no turning back now.  

Just as the Third Hokage always said—  

"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns. The flames will continue to illuminate this village and allow new leaves to sprout!"  

Now—  

The Will of Fire burned brightly!  

Minato took a deep breath, looked at Naruto, and smiled gently.  

"Naruto,"  

"Are you ready to explode?"  

At that moment—  

A towering, hundred-meter-tall flaming wooden giant and a golden flash soared into the sky!  

A complex jutsu formula unfolded above them.  

Two voices roared in unison—  

"This is—"  

"Wood Release: Flaming Dance of the Wooden Giant!"  

"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!"  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 412: Locking Eyes with the Moon – A Sword to Cut the Heavens!  

The roots of the earth trembled, fierce winds howled, and a colossal figure loomed over the land!  

Standing at a towering height of over a hundred meters, a wooden giant engulfed in roaring flames raised its arm, reaching toward the dazzling meteor streaking across the night sky.  

“Of all times… why now? Why couldn’t it wait a little longer? Just a little longer… would this attack even be able to do anything to me?”  

"Ōtsutsuki of the Moon!!!"  

With a twisted expression, Ying locked his furious gaze onto the moon. His rage was almost tangible, burning hot on his face.  

But he was powerless.  

With only his unfinished evolution, he could do nothing but clasp his hands together and roar in defiance.  

“HRAAAHHHHH!”  

At that moment—  

A bright light in the sky rapidly expanded!  

In an instant, the meteor and the wooden giant’s colossal hand collided!  

With a deafening explosion, the entire world seemed to tremble.  

A blinding flash erupted, and an overwhelming shockwave swept across everything in its path. In mere moments, the ruins of Rōran were obliterated into an unrecognizable wasteland!  

The people below, unable to withstand the sheer force of the impact, were thrown away like rag dolls by the chaotic winds.  

Even with Ying’s mastery over the Wood Release: Wooden Giant Technique, his power was not enough to withstand the overwhelming might before him!  

The moment the giant hand clashed with the meteor, the intense heat and light devoured it inch by inch!  

Flames, thick smoke, and shockwaves spread at terrifying speed, reducing everything nearby to nothingness.  

Bathed in the ghastly yellow glow of destruction, Ying’s mind momentarily faltered.  

“Is this… the end?”  

"Flying Thunder God – Lightning Guide!"  

Just then—  

Thanks to the brief moment Ying had bought using the Wooden Giant, Minato Namikaze finally completed the Flying Thunder God: Lightning Guide technique at the last possible second!  

In an instant, the technique activated.  

Eight intricate seals appeared in the air, precisely positioned at the meteor’s point of impact—right above Ying’s head.  

Before Ying’s stunned eyes—  

The attack that should have utterly obliterated him, that should have pierced straight through him and reduced him to dust—  

Began to disappear.  

Piece by piece, the meteor vanished into thin air.  

Then—  

Far, far away, in the distant horizon—  

A towering pillar of radiant light exploded into the sky, illuminating the entire Land of Wind, keeping it awake through the night!  

The fierce winds surged from that direction, whipping through the battlefield, tousling the hair of everyone present.  

"We did it!"  

Ying’s expression froze for a brief moment, his ears catching the exhilarated shout of Minato Namikaze—the very person who had caused him so much trouble earlier.  

At that moment—  

The sky was clear. The moon hung high, casting its pale glow over a world where despair had seemingly never existed.  

However—  

Just as everyone began to let out a sigh of relief—  

The sky—  

Lit up again.  

Eight streaks of golden light, each dragging a blazing tail behind them, descended once more!  

For an instant—  

Ying and Minato’s eyes widened in shock.  

The victorious smiles on their faces froze in place.  

This time—  

There was no strength left to mount another defense.  

There was no way to perform Flying Thunder God: Lightning Guide eight more times.  

The dark night—  

Was now filled with suffocating despair, sinking into the hearts of everyone present like a thick, inescapable fog.  

The world fell into a dead silence.  

In the distance, it felt as if an invisible clock was ticking down to the end of their lives.  

But then—  

“——BOOM!!!”  

A sudden, earth-shattering explosion erupted from the farthest reaches of the sky!  

Everyone turned their heads in astonishment—  

And saw it.  

A blazing sun had ignited on the horizon!  

Tearing through the air at supersonic speed—  

With massive, blood-red wings stretching from its back—  

A colossal Susano’o, towering at 120 meters, had arrived!  

Without hesitation, it drew a dazzling sword of pure light, stretching over a thousand meters in length!  

The giant warrior twisted its body, accelerating once more. In mere moments, its speed soared past hypersonic levels—  

It swung.  

A single, devastating slash.  

The massive white sword carved through the falling meteors, splitting the sky in two.  

A brilliant, hollow ring of light formed in the heavens, consuming all eight incoming meteors in an instant.  

The ring of light shifted—  

From white to yellow, from yellow to black, from black to purple—  

Changing colors several times in mere seconds.  

Then—  

That enormous thousands-of-meters-wide ring of light began devouring everything—  

Gravity, pressure, counterforce, explosions, searing heat, blinding radiance, shockwaves—all of it was swallowed whole.  

“SHING!”  

The movement was so fast, the sound of the slash arrived after the attack had landed.  

A clear, chilling sword hum rang across the heavens!  

“What the hell was that?!”  

Inside the Moon, within the chamber of the Giant Tenseigan,  

A middle-aged man with snow-white hair—Ōtsutsuki Shiren’s father—stared in horror at the projection before him.  

Through the Tenseigan Puppet’s vision, he had been observing the world of the Shinobi below.  

Just moments ago—  

The nine meteors he had launched should have annihilated everything.  

This was power far beyond the capabilities of the current world.  

It was, without a doubt, a force on par with the Six Paths level—the power of Ōtsutsuki Hamura himself!  

Yet—  

As if reality had glitched, as if the scene had begun skipping frames—  

One meteor veered off course, and the other eight—  

Were obliterated by a single, incomprehensible slash from an unknown warrior.  

"Father, what’s wrong?"  

Beside him, Ōtsutsuki Shiren raised his head nervously.  

"Damn it... it’s nothing. Cough! Cough!"  

Shiren’s father clutched his mouth, hacking up a handful of blood as if his lungs were about to give out.  

"I… I can still go on."  

Struggling to stand straight, his hollow eyes widened with a crazed glint. His bloodstained fingers clenched tightly.  

"It’s just the desperate struggle of mere ants!"  

"Now, I shall grant you—"  

However—  

Before he could finish his words—  

Back on Earth—  

Above the ruins of Rōran, in the Land of Wind—  

The 120-meter-tall Susano’o crashed down, landing upon the remains of the half-destroyed Wooden Giant.  

Standing within the colossal warrior—  

After flying at supersonic speed for over an hour to reach Rōran—  

Shinji (likely the main character’s name) slowly lifted his head.  

As if sensing something,  

His sharp eyes locked onto the darkened moon—  

Staring directly at the ones lurking within.  

"So… the two rats on the moon, huh?"  

Taking in the sight before him,  

Shinji let out a cold chuckle, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.  

"Tch. If you weren’t still of some use to me, I’d come up there and kill you right now."  

According to the current timeline—  

The events of Konoha Year 47 had begun to unfold…  

"For now… let’s give you a little warning."  

His right eye—  

Quietly transformed into the glowing pattern of the Sage Mode Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!  

In the next instant—  

The colossal Susano’o clasped its hands together, drawing out a hundreds-of-meters-long Thunder Sword, and—  

Struck the sky!  

“Sage Art – Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan: White Flashing Pupil!!!”  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 413: Celestial Phenomenon Eye Technique – Reversing Cause and Effect  

As the colossal Susanoo, towering like a giant, raised its twin swords high into the sky,  

the already gloomy heavens darkened further. 

From the boundless horizon, swirling masses of heavy, jet-black storm clouds rapidly gathered, 

converging around a towering lightning pillar that pierced through the sky, 

stretching hundreds of meters tall.  

Shinji's actions were altering the very fabric of the celestial phenomenon, 

wielding the divine blade of thunder—Futsunomitama—to rewrite the skies!  

At this moment,  

from an outer space perspective, the Wind Country’s landmass in the Shinobi World 

became the epicenter of a rapidly forming, massive white cyclone.  

On the moon, from the vantage point of two members of the Ōtsutsuki clan, 

this white cyclone slowly rotated, coalescing into a massive "Eye of the Storm," 

formed purely from dense cloud layers.  

Then—  

"—Rrrrng!"  

From the soundless vacuum of space, a phantom reverberation echoed— 

the distinct chime of a Sharingan awakening!  

At that moment, the two Ōtsutsuki on the moon 

and the celestial "Heaven's Eye" formed by the Earth's cloud layers— 

locked eyes!  

In the next instant—  

Deep within the lunar crust, inside the artificial Sun Palace built by Ōtsutsuki Hamura, 

Ōtsutsuki Sheren and the middle-aged man standing beside him both felt their vision blur.  

And then—  

They witnessed it.  

From Earth’s direction, a gargantuan blood-red dragon erupted into space. 

Its monstrous form, more massive than the entire moon, 

coiled through the void with an overwhelming presence. 

Its sinuous body, spanning a staggering 17 million kilometers, 

wrapped around the moon like an otherworldly celestial ring.  

And then—  

The titanic blood dragon opened its maw.  

It devoured a massive "dragon pearl", 

a sphere even larger than the artificial sun within the palace.  

The sheer magnitude of this vision struck terror into Sheren’s father, 

who had been preparing to launch an attack on the Shinobi World. 

His scalp tingled with fear, his body trembling uncontrollably. 

His breath hitched. His heart nearly burst.  

"What in the world—"  

"What… what the hell is this!?"  

"How could anyone in the Shinobi World possess a power far beyond the Tenseigan!?"  

Instinctively, he shut his eyes in horror.  

But—  

In this illusionary realm, 

whether he looked or not—he was forced to see.  

The blood dragon, having swallowed its pearl, 

let out a deafening roar into the void of space,  

then suddenly unleashed a blinding surge of white light— 

a flood of brilliance so immense it engulfed the entire moon!  

Celestial Art: Sage Technique – Mangekyō Sharingan – The White Blazing Eye 

The principle behind this celestial dojutsu was not overly complex.  

First, Shinji wielded the Thunder God's Blade to summon the storm clouds.  

Next, he activated the Sage Art: Mangekyō Sharingan – White Blazing Eye.  

Finally, utilizing the illusion technique Ephemeral Bubble, 

once taught to him by Uchiha Shinichi, he projected his dojutsu onto the celestial illusion he had created.  

Anyone who made direct eye contact with this phenomenon 

would inevitably be drawn into its illusion. 

If they failed to grasp its mechanics, 

their consciousness could be completely erased within the hallucination itself.  

And since it was an illusion, 

its scale and intensity were dictated purely by the imagination of the caster.  

The Ōtsutsuki on the moon had spent a lifetime in isolation, 

at best wielding a Tenseigan to hurl asteroids or toss debris into space.  

How could they ever have imagined an attack of this magnitude?  

How many of the Tenseigan-controlled puppets 

had unknowingly looked toward Earth at that very moment?  

In another sense,  

Ōtsutsuki Sheren’s father, the patriarch of the lunar Ōtsutsuki,  

in one fleeting moment,  

had been struck by thousands of Mangekyō Sharingan techniques from Shinji.  

Even though it was just an illusion,  

when subjected to such an overwhelming mental assault,  

the result was the same as reality.  

Shinji withdrew his gaze from the moon and shook his head.  

"Too weak."  

Just moments ago, 

he had sharply sensed a prying presence vanish.  

Which meant—  

the life of its owner had ended.  

"He couldn't even endure a single illusion? His consciousness was shattered midway?"  

"Forget it. The plan to invade the moon and seize the Tenseigan will have to wait. The priority now is dealing with the Dragon Vein."  

"I'll let that little brat off the hook for now."  

As he thought this, Shinji turned his head slightly, 

his gaze sweeping the surroundings.  

Everything had happened too fast.  

He had no idea what had transpired in Roran after he had been teleported away.  

All he saw upon arrival—  

were nine massive meteors hurtling toward Minato Namikaze.  

In a split-second reaction, 

he instinctively projected his Mangekyō Sharingan technique—Heavenly Cloud Sword—to intercept.  

But then—  

"Hmph… hmph… heh… heh heh… HAHAHAHAHA!!"  

A deep, maniacal laughter suddenly erupted right beneath his feet!  

"Hm?"  

Hearing the sound, Shinji froze. 

His hand instinctively touched his throat.  

When he confirmed he wasn’t the one laughing, 

a strange sense of discomfort washed over him.  

Because—  

that laugh—  

was too familiar.  

It was his own.  

The distinct rhythm—  

the mocking chuckle, 

rising into hearty laughter, 

culminating in uncontrollable cackling.  

A laugh that no one else could imitate.  

But—  

he hadn't laughed.  

The next moment—  

like a dormant volcano erupting, 

the very fabric of nature quaked violently.  

The earth trembled. 

Sand dunes collapsed. 

An immense vortex of spiraling sand formed beneath the 120-meter-tall Susanoo!  

Then—  

from within that abyss—  

like a snake sprouting dragon horns, 

like a carp leaping the dragon gate, 

a forbidden shackle was shattered—  

"—BOOOOM!!"  

A boundless surge of natural energy 

condensed into a dazzling purple sphere, 

ascending into the sky!  

Within that sphere—  

as Shinji resolved the lunar crisis, 

as he survived divine retribution, 

as he completed his transcendence from serpent to dragon—  

he emerged.  

His face twisted into pure ecstasy, 

a savage grin splitting his lips.  

His scarlet Sharingan spun wildly, 

three pitch-black tomoe swirling chaotically.  

"Shinji—"  

"You finally arrived!"  

Shinji froze.  

Before him—  

floating midair—  

stood a perfect doppelgänger,  

an identical copy of himself.  

"What the hell…?"  

He stared at the eerie mirror image before him, 

brow twitching violently.  

"Bro, can we talk AFTER you put some clothes on?"  

Despite his shock, he was mostly embarrassed—  

because this clone, wrapped in a massive serpent,  

was naked.  

Some things were better left unseen.  

But—  

迎 ("Yíng") merely glared at him coldly,  

then declared with chilling finality:  

"You—who walk the path of madness—"  

"You will face the truth today!"  

He pressed his palms together.  

His voice rang out, full of righteous fury.  

"Enough!!"  

"Your actions are meaningless!"  

"Your ambitions are futile!"  

"Reality is but an illusion—"  

"And today—"  

"I will beat you until you acknowledge your own femininity!!!"  

(End of Chapter.) 

Chapter 414: A Secret Exposed, A Killing Intent Ignited!  

Hearing the audacious words spilling from the mouth of the arrogant young man before him, Shinji’s gaze suddenly turned ice-cold.  

It wasn’t just about his actions being denied—what truly triggered the surge of murderous intent in his heart was the deeper implication behind this man’s words.  

No one knew.  

Not the Akatsuki members who had gathered around him, 

Not Orochimaru, who seemed willing to sacrifice everything for him, 

Not even the Uchiha clan elder, Uchiha Setsuna, who treated him like family.  

No one knew the burden he carried alone.  

To prevent this world from falling into the endless cycle depicted in Boruto,  

There was something that had to be done—  

To put an end to the Moon’s Eye Plan, 

To seize control of Infinite Tsukuyomi, 

And to hunt down the Ōtsutsuki Clan.  

Only Shinji understood this mission. Only he knew how difficult it would be to accomplish. That’s why he had shouldered this immense burden in silence, advancing resolutely without hesitation.  

But now—  

Standing before him was someone who looked exactly like him, speaking with absolute certainty, as if he were some kind of time traveler with omniscient knowledge, judging and condemning his every move from a godlike perspective.  

More importantly—  

A secret, once revealed, leads to disaster.  

Once he was done with the Ryūmyaku and overcame his biggest chakra limitation, Shinji would have to face what he considered the most terrifying existence in this world—his ultimate adversary.  

For him, even the slightest leak of information regarding this matter could spell catastrophe.  

And so—  

"That look in your eyes… are you thinking of killing me?"  

Ying’s gaze locked onto Shinji, watching his expression shift—from initial shock to casual indifference, as if he were merely entertaining a fool—  

But when Ying uttered the words "The Madness at the End of the Road," Shinji’s face suddenly darkened.  

His eyes, filled with cold hostility, erupted with pure killing intent.  

"Hahaha… Ahahahahaha!"  

Ying burst into laughter, his laughter so uncontrollable that tears nearly welled up in his eyes.  

An unbearable fury surged through him, turning his face from pale to darkened with rage. Veins bulged at his temples, his expression twisted with indignation.  

"Shinji…"  

"To accomplish your plan, you seek to trample over my will, to strip away my power for the sake of your so-called justice!"  

"And why should I accept that!?"  

"Why should I, newly born into this world, be forced to become a sacrifice!?"  

"All I desire is freedom! All I seek is a small corner of the world where I can simply exist!"  

"Yet even this trivial wish is denied to me!"  

With a face full of scorn, Ying spread his arms wide.  

A violent surge of purple energy exploded from him, shooting straight into the sky.  

"Then let me show you—"  

"You? Assassinate that man? Don’t make me laugh!"  

"With your current strength, you’re not even qualified to defeat me—"  

But before he could finish his sentence—  

—BOOM!!!  

Without a single word of response, Shinji moved.  

The colossal 120-meter-tall Susanoo gripped its massive Thunder God Sword in both hands and swung it down in a devastating slash.  

The sheer force of the wind pressure shook the earth, 

The lightning-infused blue blade sliced through the air with a deafening sonic boom, 

And at supersonic speed, it came crashing down upon the hovering purple energy mass.  

Ying’s expression changed dramatically.  

"This bastard! He has no honor! He attacked in the middle of my speech!"  

Cursing inwardly, he watched the massive blade descending like a bridge pillar made of pure lightning.  

Immediately, he clasped his hands together and roared—  

"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"  

From the ground below, the massive wooden construct—its face still imprinted with the mark of Susanoo’s foot—forced its way out, its enormous hands grasping the edges of the massive crater.  

The wooden giant rose from the earth, lunging forward with both hands to intercept the Thunder God Sword!  

Having successfully fused Sage Mode, Wood Release, the Sage Body, and the Ryūmyaku,  

Ying was confident—his Wood Release at this moment was no weaker than that of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi!  

A mere Susanoo?  

And not even the Complete Body Susanoo granted by the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?  

His Wood Human Technique should have been more than enough to block the attack.  

Then he could counter with Wood Dragon Technique, just as Hashirama once did, and seize the upper hand in battle.  

However—  

Completely beyond his expectations—  

The attack that Ying had been so sure of—  

Was utterly annihilated.  

With an unstoppable force—  

The Thunder God Sword brutally severed the wooden giant’s arms and cleaved through its entire body from shoulder to legs in a single devastating strike.  

"Impossible!"  

Ying’s eyes widened in shock. He leaped off the wooden giant’s head, barely dodging the incoming shockwave of sword energy.  

"How is your Susanoo this powerful!?"  

But Shinji gave him no answer.  

Instead, his Susanoo casually kicked aside the bisected wooden giant, reversed its grip on the massive blade, and swung it down at Ying once more.  

A violent wind roared, and lightning crackled through the air.  

As the blade descended, Ying’s eyes locked onto the intricate black markings covering Susanoo’s flaming body.  

His crimson snake-like pupils shrank in disbelief.  

For the uninformed, it was just an ominous pattern.  

But for someone who had inherited White Snake Sage’s knowledge and glimpsed fragments of Shinji’s memories—  

He recognized it immediately.  

It was Sage Power!  

And not just any Sage Power—  

This was the power of the true sages from the ancient era, utilizing pure natural energy without converting it into Sage Chakra!  

Even the White Snake Sage’s plan to consume the Ryūmyaku and seize a dragon’s body would have merely reached the threshold of this power.  

But Shinji—  

He had already achieved it?  

At that moment—  

Ying was utterly shaken.  

He had stolen Shinji’s heart at Hell Valley, 

At that time, Shinji had not yet achieved Kekkei Tōta, nor had he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.  

Later, when he learned that Shinji had unlocked Susanoo, Ying assumed it was just the basic Mangekyō Sharingan form.  

At best, he thought Shinji was on the same level as Madara Uchiha from the Warring States Period.  

But after battling Minato Namikaze and his team, Ying had come to believe that he was already nearing the level of Hashirama Senju.  

Even without True Several Thousand Hands,  

With his Snake-Eyed Sharingan, he believed himself stronger than normal Hashirama and only slightly weaker than Sage Mode Hashirama.  

Undoubtedly—  

His strength had already surpassed the Kage level!  

Even the combined forces of Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, Sasori, and pre-Pain Arc Naruto could not match him.  

Yet now—  

Shinji was treating him like a child, effortlessly overwhelming him.  

"Impossible!!"  

His mind reeled as the massive Thunder God Sword pierced the earth, plunging deep into magma, reducing everything in its wake to vaporized ash.  

Silence fell over the battlefield.  

All those watching were stunned.  

The opponent they had struggled against was just… gone.  

Only Orochimaru, lurking in the shadows, narrowed his eyes.  

Because he had heard one thing—  

"You? Assassinate that man?"  

That single sentence made Orochimaru’s mind race.  

But before the dust settled—  

A crazed, furious voice erupted from beneath the sand.  

"Shinji! You think you can kill me?!"  

Then—  

A monstrous roar shook the ruins.  

"Then witness it—"  

"The Dragon That Devours the Sun! The True Reincarnated Sage—"  

"Forbidden Technique: Eight-Headed Serpent Jutsu!"  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 415: The True Form of Yamata no Orochi—An Intricate Scheme!  

An ancient and desolate aura surged up from beneath the desert, spreading an overwhelming sense of unease in all directions.  

Even Shinji couldn't help but show a rare expression of seriousness.  

At this moment, he sensed a chakra fluctuation far exceeding that of the humanoid [Ying] from before—an aura so terrifying that it demanded his full attention.  

No, rather—  

The humanoid form of [Ying] had always been a mere facade, a crude and self-demeaning imitation.  

From the moment he returned to Roran, Shinji had never once detected the presence of the things he had lost from Ying—  

Zero-Tails, the Burning Heart that perfectly counteracted the side effects of the Fire Release Chakra Mode, and Tsunade’s necklace.  

These three objects were, without a doubt, the core components that had given rise to the anomaly known as [Ying]. Yet, within the humanoid form, he hadn't sensed a trace of their existence.  

Moreover, the techniques and combat style [Ying] employed leaned more towards the Ninja God Senju Hashirama, who wielded Wood Release.  

That in itself was highly peculiar.  

The stronger an existence, the more distinct its unique fighting style and characteristics. Blindly mimicking others would only result in a grotesque imitation.  

The humanoid [Ying] was exactly that—a flawed creation.  

Had it been the real Senju Hashirama, even if he had used the same Wood Golem Technique, Shinji wouldn’t have been able to so easily spot the flaws in his movements and cut him down in a single strike.  

And now, after this brief engagement, Shinji had come to a realization.  

The monster before him, named [Ying], was an unexpected fusion of four distinct forces: the White Snake Sage, Orochimaru, Zero-Tails, and himself.  

Yet, strangely, not a trace of the Ryūchi Cave’s influence could be seen in its combat style.  

Frowning slightly, Shinji gazed at the trembling desert beneath him.  

Perhaps—  

The answer was about to be revealed.  

Just then—  

From the depths of the desert, eight grayish-white beams of light erupted from the ground, piercing straight into the sky!  

An ancient and decayed, yet incomparably powerful aura, as though it had been revived from a distant era, spread in an instant!  

The surface of the desert was forcefully torn apart by the surging natural energy, revealing the intricate layers beneath—sand strata, bedrock, fossils, and even deeper layers of minerals, underground water reservoirs, and magma veins.  

And beyond that—  

Buried deep within the mantle, an ancient entity long sealed away, slain by Ame-no-Uzume, as once described by the three Snake Princesses of Ryūchi Cave.  

A massive, fossilized serpent lay dormant—its enormous body curled in an unnatural posture, covered in sharp triangular markings, and crowned with four protruding dragon-like horns.  

It did not resemble a Chinese dragon but instead bore a distinctly Japanese aesthetic, akin to a monstrous native serpent.  

A colossal gray-white serpent, its body withered like ancient stone.  

But at this very moment—  

Its eyes suddenly snapped open, emanating a savage, murderous intent!  

The next instant, its decayed jaws parted wide, releasing an ear-piercing, unnatural voice—a grotesque amalgamation of the White Snake Sage, Orochimaru, and Shinji’s own tones.  

"Face despair!"  

"I have shed my serpent’s skin and ascended as a dragon!"  

"Ssssshhhhh!!!"  

A bone-rattling, earth-shaking hiss erupted from the depths of the abyss.  

From the gaping maw of this ancient serpent’s fossilized husk, eight new, writhing pale-white serpentine bodies surged forth, twisting and intertwining—  

And in an instant, they rose from the ground, forming a towering eight-headed, white-scaled serpent, standing at a staggering 280 meters tall!  

Sixteen pairs of ferocious snake eyes glared downward at Shinji’s Susanoo, which stood at a mere half its height, exuding sheer contempt.  

Within the mouth of one of the colossal serpent heads, Ying manifested, his upper body emerging bare, his face alight with excitement and mockery.  

"Heh... heh... heh... heh..."  

"Yes! This is it! This is the moment I’ve been waiting for!"  

"The child's play is over, Shinji!"  

Yet, as he witnessed this transformation, there was no trace of fear in Shinji’s expression.  

Within his Susanoo, his eyes gleamed with a newfound understanding.  

"I see now..."  

"No wonder... No wonder I couldn’t find my foolish serpent or my heart even after activating Sage Mode and Curse Mark Level 2."  

Lifting his gaze, he stared at the junction where the eight heads connected—deep beneath the layers of thick muscle and armored scales.  

And there, at the very core of the beast—  

A human heart, pulsating vigorously, encircled by a black ouroboros, the symbol of eternity.  

That was—  

His own Burning Heart!  

And now, everything finally made sense.  

Orochimaru had once spoken of the White Snake Sage’s ultimate plan—to usurp the body of a dragon using Sage Art: Transmigration Shadow and ascend.  

Yet, the formation of [Ying] did not fully align with that goal.  

Based on its previous performance, it had merely absorbed Hashirama’s cells, unintentionally completing the evolution into a Sage Body, gaining access to Wood Release.  

But that was only a byproduct.  

While Wood Release was powerful, it was not Ying’s true style.  

With the mind of a snake, Ying had instead orchestrated a far more sinister scheme—  

It constructed a humanoid vessel capable of wielding Wood Release, while its true body remained hidden beneath the earth, tirelessly working towards its real objective.  

And now, that objective had finally been realized.  

Shinji’s gaze followed the cracked earth downward, to where his Raijin Sword had pierced deep into the ground.  

There—  

The corpse of [Ying], whom he had just slain, had grotesquely transformed.  

It had become a twisted mass of flesh, grotesquely fused from the three severed heads of the former Snake Princesses—Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime, and Kushinahime.  

A disgusting, pulsating abomination.  

It was clear now—  

Ying had forcibly stitched the Three Snake Princesses together, using Sage Art: Transmigration Shadow to steal and control their grotesquely fused body.  

This was how it had barely managed to wield Wood Release, fabricating an elaborate deception to mislead outsiders.  

Having inherited the White Snake Sage’s memories, it knew that attempting the true transmigration ritual would invoke divine retribution from the Moon Otsutsuki.  

Thus, it orchestrated this ruse—a ploy to deceive even the gods.  

In other words, the [Ying] he had just slain—  

Was merely a decoy.  

And now, before him stood the real threat—  

Yamata no Orochi: Ying.  

A serpent willing to use any means necessary to achieve its goal—vile, treacherous, ruthless, and utterly cold-blooded.  

From forcing the White Snake Sage into a reverse summoning suicide attack against Shinji, to murdering the Snake Princesses and forging a humanoid puppet, to deceiving the Moon Otsutsuki—  

Every step had been calculated.  

Everything had led to this moment.  

Taking a deep breath, Shinji lifted his head, gazing at the colossal beast before him, towering twice as high as his 120-meter Susanoo.  

Yet, instead of fear—  

He felt exhilaration.  

"Now, this is more like it..."  

The once calm—almost boring—lake of his heart was suddenly stirred, and his blood, which had lain dormant for more than half a month, surged with excitement once more!  

Faced with this unknown and unpredictable opponent, a terrifying adversary who was a complete black hole of information, whose strength was utterly uncertain, Shinji’s eyes gradually revealed a trace of excitement—no, an overwhelming excitement, the kind that made him feel like he was about to lose control.  

Meanwhile...  

[Yamata no Orochi · Ying (Sage Mode)] desperately desires to beat the hidden femininity out of you and take everything you have.  

“Crack!”  

He twisted his neck and stretched his body a bit. Glancing at the ominous text rising before him, Shinji clenched his fist into his palm, a sinister smile spreading across his face.  

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”  

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way. I hope this time... you can last a little longer.”  

(End of Chapter)