336-338 end

*Chapter 336: The One Who Cannot Be Forgotten*

With Kaneki successfully cultivating the Ten-Tails, his Wood Release also advanced to a new level.

Under the suppression of the Wood Release, the Eight-Tails’ chakra began to deplete rapidly, and it seemed as though it would soon revert to its human form.

Fortunately, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, arrived just in time.

Two flashes of a blade cut through the air, and the sharp, specially crafted kunai sliced through Kaneki’s wooden dragon.

Not only that, but Minato’s golden figure, wrapped in the Nine-Tails’ chakra, instantly appeared in front of Kaneki, slamming down a Rasengan with immense force.

The high-speed rotating chakra collided violently with Kaneki’s Susanoo.

With the Nine-Tails’ chakra enhancing it, Minato’s Rasengan managed to create several cracks on the surface of Susanoo’s armor.

In response, endless lightning surged across the surface of the Susanoo warrior, forcing Minato to retreat.

Immediately after, Kaneki unleashed his exclusive Mangekyō Sharingan ability—*Thunder God*!

A terrifying thunderbolt, comparable in power to a Tailed Beast Bomb, burst forth instantly, forming a massive blue tomoe that blasted the Eight-Tails away.

Lightning flickered as the attack landed—right in Nagato’s direction!

Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly noticed and immediately moved to intercept.

However, the space in front of them suddenly distorted, and from the vortex, an endless blaze erupted!

“Water Release: Water Formation Wall!”

The Second and Third Hokage simultaneously cast Water Formation Wall, blocking the raging Fire Release attack.

But because of this delay, the Eight-Tails had already arrived in front of the Ten-Tails.

Nagato, controlling the fully evolved Ten-Tails, threw a punch. The massive fist, like a mountain, slammed into the ground, shaking the earth violently. Even the so-called *God of Shinobi* had to retreat several dozen meters!

The other Five Kage attempted to assist, but were intercepted by numerous Akatsuki members.

Seizing this opportunity, Nagato once again performed a sealing technique.

Purple chains shot out from the Ten-Tails’ mouth, piercing into the Eight-Tails’ body and forcefully dragging it toward its maw.

The Eight-Tails was originally just a fragment of the Ten-Tails’ chakra.

Against the fully evolved Ten-Tails, it had no means of resistance. In a matter of moments, it was absorbed back into the Ten-Tails as pure chakra.

With the enormous chakra of the Eight-Tails replenishing it, the Ten-Tails began evolving once more.

Its previously withered body filled out, its limbs and torso growing stronger, and its aura becoming even more intimidating.

“Damn it.”

Hashirama Senju’s expression darkened.

Faced with such a formidable enemy, he chose to unleash his full power.

Patterns symbolizing Sage Mode appeared on his face, though his features barely changed—proof that his control over natural energy had reached near perfection.

In the next instant, a thousand-meter-tall Buddha statue materialized, with countless hands unfolding like a blooming lotus behind it!

*Sage Art: Wood Release—True Several Thousand Hands!*

Hashirama stood atop the statue’s head.

The colossal shadow it cast covered half the battlefield, its sheer size matching that of the Ten-Tails!

Seeing the enormous figure, the allied forces were visibly shaken.

*So this is the God of Shinobi…?*

Even Kaneki, who was locked in battle with Minato, adjusted his glasses and curiously observed this past reincarnation of Asura.

Among the many reincarnations of Asura, Hashirama Senju was undoubtedly an exceptional one.

*Top Transformed Buddha!*

Hashirama’s long hair swayed in the gusts, as thousands of hands rained down like a meteor shower, overwhelming the Ten-Tails!

Nagato immediately commanded the Ten-Tails to retaliate.

Two massive arms and ten tails struck back at Hashirama.

But Hashirama’s attack was simply too vast. Even though the Ten-Tails blocked some of it, many strikes still landed on its body.

And this was no ordinary attack.

Each of Hashirama’s blows carried an immense amount of Sage Chakra.

Upon impact, the Sage Chakra seeped into the enemy’s body, breaking down its defenses.

As a result, the Ten-Tails’ defenses began to crumble under the relentless assault.

Coldly watching, Hashirama remained unwavering.

Under his intense offensive, the Ten-Tails’ chakra became unstable.

Especially the newly absorbed Eight-Tails—it seemed as if it might separate once again.

Nagato could not allow this.

He immediately performed a sealing jutsu, forcefully restraining all the Tailed Beasts within the Ten-Tails once more.

Then, enduring Hashirama’s onslaught, he activated his Rinnegan’s power.

*Shinra Tensei!*

A massive repulsive force obliterated the incoming thousand hands, even sending the giant Buddha statue flying.

Hashirama himself was no exception.

Due to the fragility of an Edo Tensei body, he was shattered into paper-like fragments by the Shinra Tensei.

This gave Nagato a moment to catch his breath.

However, the immense expenditure of chakra left him panting heavily.

He glared at the opposition in frustration.

“Why?”

“Why can’t they just accept the peace I’ve brought?!”

“If that’s the case… I’ll make them experience an even greater level of pain!”

Before everyone’s horrified eyes, the Ten-Tails opened its mouth, and a crimson flower bud emerged and bloomed.

Then, an astonishing amount of chakra gathered, forming an enormous Tailed Beast Bomb!

Its size was more than ten times that of a normal Tailed Beast Bomb!

Even by merely observing, one could feel its terrifying power!

“Experience true pain!”

Nagato roared, ready to unleash the Tailed Beast Bomb.

At that moment, a figure descended from the sky.

“Stop being so stubborn, Nagato!”

A familiar voice rang out from above.

Jiraiya, carried by Onoki, had arrived.

With the assistance of the two Great Toad Sages, he formed a massive Rasengan and hurled it towards Nagato atop the Ten-Tails’ head.

“It’s you, Sensei.”

The attack interrupted Nagato’s Tailed Beast Bomb.

After all, he was not invincible, and an attack from one of the Legendary Sannin was something to take seriously.

Since he had already used a large-scale Shinra Tensei against Hashirama, his Deva Path was still on cooldown.

But he didn’t panic.

A burly, orange-haired figure swiftly appeared before him—his *Preta Path Puppet*!

Preta Path spread its hands wide, absorbing Jiraiya’s Rasengan with its body.

Though the natural energy within it ultimately destroyed Preta Path, it had fulfilled its purpose—protecting Nagato.

Faced with his former teacher, Nagato showed no hesitation.

The moment Jiraiya landed, a black rod pierced through his shoulder.

Had he not dodged in time, it would have impaled his heart.

As soon as the black rod entered his body, Jiraiya felt his chakra flow become disrupted.

Even so, he pushed forward toward Nagato.

Narrowing his eyes, Nagato sent another black rod flying, piercing Jiraiya’s leg.

This time, Jiraiya could no longer move and collapsed to the ground.

“Sensei… watch closely as I achieve my ideals.”

Nagato had no intention of killing Jiraiya—he wanted him to witness his victory.

To prove his path was the correct one.

Jiraiya gazed at him, his image overlapping with the disciple in his memories.

“Even though I want to ask why… I must stop you. I’m sorry, Nagato.”

“If this is my mistake… then I will atone with my life!”

*Suddenly, he tore open his clothes, revealing the pre-arranged sealing technique inscribed on his body.*

*"Reverse Four Symbols Seal!"*

In the next second, a massive amount of black liquid gushed from Jiraiya’s body, engulfing everything within a dozen meters of his position.

That’s right—Jiraiya had already anticipated that his chakra might be sealed.

So instead of using the Reaper Death Seal, he chose the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, a technique that could be set in advance.

And as fate would have it, this sealing technique happened to exploit Nagato’s greatest weakness.

Nagato, in order to stay connected with the Ten Tails, could not freely change his position.

Once Jiraiya activated the seal, Nagato lacked the ability to escape.

The only path to a quick retreat—using Deva Path to soar into the sky—was currently on cooldown.

In other words, this was Jiraiya’s ultimate gamble, a do-or-die move to take down Nagato at the cost of his own life!

All he had to bet on was whether his former student would obliterate him with overwhelming force the moment he landed.

And clearly, he had bet correctly.

As the black liquid completely engulfed the surroundings, Nagato finally panicked.

Just as Jiraiya had predicted—he had no means of escape.

But then, at that critical moment, a swirling vortex appeared in the air.

Jiraiya’s expression froze.

Nagato, however, showed a hint of relief.

A second later, a masked Obito emerged.

Just when Jiraiya thought his plan was about to fail, Obito, moving faster than the eye could follow, suddenly plunged his hands into Nagato’s eye sockets—then vanished.

The seal was complete.

The massive amount of ink flooding from Jiraiya’s body filled the entire spherical space, completely severing it from this world.

Neither Jiraiya nor Nagato exchanged another word before their final moments.

The entire battlefield fell silent as everyone stared in shock.

As the black sphere gradually disappeared, a gaping hole was left in the Ten Tails’ head.

For the Ten Tails itself, this was not a critical injury.

But for the person controlling it… If Jiraiya had truly managed to seal Nagato, did that mean the war was over?

After all, aside from Nagato, no one on the enemy’s side could stand against Hashirama Senju.

Even Kaneki, who had remained composed throughout, found himself eagerly awaiting the outcome.

However, the moment he noticed Obito’s absence, he had a bad feeling.

And sure enough—just as the Allied Shinobi Forces thought they had won—Obito reappeared atop the Ten Tails’ head and slowly removed his mask.

"Obito?!"

Kakashi, Minato, and others who recognized Uchiha Obito instantly identified him.

But Obito ignored their shock. His eyes—both of them—had now transformed into Rinnegan.

*"From here on out… this is my stage."*

Obito could barely contain his excitement.

Finally.

Finally, he had reached this moment!

Without hesitation, he performed the technique he had spent so long preparing—

*"Six Paths: Ten Tails Coffin Seal."*

A technique that could seal the Ten Tails and fuse its power with the caster, transforming them into the Ten Tails’ Jinchūriki.

One of Madara’s greatest legacies.

The moment the jutsu activated, the massive, mountain-like form of the Ten Tails rapidly shrank into a glowing white sphere.

Under the tense gazes of all present, the sphere shattered like a firework.

And from the fragments, a new Obito emerged.

His hair had turned completely white. His skin had become dull and lifeless. His once-ruined right side was now covered in scale-like armor. Five sharp horns protruded from his back, burning with a divine crimson flame. Floating around him were nine Truth-Seeking Orbs.

And with the Rinnegan in his eyes, everyone was instantly reminded of a legendary figure—

*The Sage of the Six Paths.*

*"The Ten Tails' Jinchūriki."*

Even Hashirama Senju could not help but feel an immense pressure.

*"Now then, let’s see if the so-called ‘God of Shinobi’ is really as powerful as they say."*

Obito’s figure vanished in an instant.

A split second later, he reappeared in front of Hashirama.

One of the Truth-Seeking Orbs behind him morphed into a blade—swiftly cleaving Hashirama in half!

The sheer speed left everyone in utter shock.

No one had expected that even the God of Shinobi himself would be rendered so helpless before Obito.

But Hashirama did not give up.

In an instant, he activated Wood Release, summoning massive branches to ensnare Obito.

At the same time, Tobirama appeared out of nowhere, hurling countless explosive tags—triggering his own forbidden technique,

*"Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags!"*

A chain reaction of explosions erupted, instantly carving a massive crater into the ground.

But as the smoke cleared, Obito emerged completely unscathed.

The previous explosion… had done absolutely nothing to him?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, did not dare to hesitate. He created four shadow clones, attacking from all directions with the Five Elements Jutsu.

*"Combined Jutsu: Great Elemental Barrage!"*

Five different elemental attacks bombarded Obito, causing yet another massive explosion.

But once again, Obito floated out of the smoke—completely unharmed.

Then, high above, his laughter rang out—

"Hahaha!"

With an air of absolute dominance, he declared,

"Now that I have inherited the power of the Sage of the Six Paths, petty ninjutsu can no longer harm me!"

"Prepare to die!"

Suddenly, Obito’s entire body tensed and began to distort unnaturally.

*"The Ten Tails inside him is rebelling!"*

Hashirama instantly realized what was happening.

The Ten Tails’ power was far too immense, and the mental corruption it brought was beyond imagination.

Now, it was attempting to consume Obito’s will, devouring his memories.

His parents.

His teacher.

His friends.

Kakashi.

And then—

*Rin!*

Obito’s eyes suddenly regained their clarity.

*No one… no one will make me forget Rin!*

(End of Chapter.)

*Chapter 337: The Blazing Azure Beast*

How could I possibly forget Rin?

Not even the twisted, frenzied will of the Ten-Tails could overcome Obito’s sincere and obsessive love for Rin.

And so, the Ten-Tails lost.

Its will was instead overpowered by Obito, and the chakra within his body began to stabilize—he had truly become the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

As the chaotic distortions within Obito’s body settled, the flames behind him burned even more fiercely.

In his hand, a Six Paths Staff materialized, formed from Truth-Seeking Orbs. His attire transformed into the same long robes worn by the Sage of Six Paths, and behind him, neatly arranged black tomoe appeared.

At this moment, Obito had finally ascended to the level of a Six Paths powerhouse, capable of rivaling the Sage of Six Paths himself!

“So… how do you plan to face a Six Paths-level opponent now?”

Kaneki had already ceased his battle with Minato, instead turning his curious gaze toward Obito’s battlefield.

The reason he allowed Nagato and Obito to successively become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was simple:

He wanted to flush out all those lurking in the shadows of the ninja world.

The sages of the Three Great Sacred Lands, the continuously reincarnating Asura and Indra…

All of them intrigued Kaneki.

But aside from them, there was one more person.

The very founder of the ninja world—the one who personally sealed his own mother—the Sage of Six Paths.

After analyzing the memories of the Great Toad Sage, Kaneki had a bold theory:

If the Sage of Six Paths’ two sons could continuously reincarnate, then would the creator of the ninja world himself really have perished so easily?

Probably not.

Thus, he needed to assist Obito in achieving his dream.

If the Sage of Six Paths still existed in some form in this world, there was no way he would allow Obito to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Because not only would it plunge the entire ninja world into an illusion, but it would also lead to a far more serious consequence—

The unsealing of Kaguya Otsutsuki, who was imprisoned on the moon.

This was precisely why the Great Toad Sage was so desperate to prevent this war.

After all, he had once been half a mentor to the Sage of Six Paths and played a crucial role in guiding the events that unfolded.

If Kaguya were to be freed, what fate would await him?

Unfortunately for him, he never lived to see Kaguya’s retribution—Kaneki took care of him first.

Back to the Battlefield

Now, having fully mastered the Ten-Tails’ chakra, Obito had entered an invincible state.

His speed and strength had reached the pinnacle of the ninja world.

Even though he wasn’t using any overly flashy, powerful jutsu, just a casual strike from him could cause cataclysmic devastation.

Not even the previous Hokage could stand against him.

Suddenly, a golden figure appeared behind Obito.

It was Minato.

In his hand, he had already formed a massive Rasengan.

Back during the Nine-Tails attack that night, Minato had left a Flying Thunder God seal on the masked man.

He had never imagined that the person responsible for Kushina’s death would turn out to be his own student.

Now that Obito’s identity was confirmed, as his teacher, Minato felt it was his duty to bring him back to the right path.

But Obito didn’t even bother dodging Minato’s attack.

After all, with the power of the Six Paths, his Yin-Yang Release had reached its peak.

At this level, all ninjutsu would automatically be neutralized by his power, making it impossible to harm him.

But in the next moment, Obito’s expression changed.

He realized—he wasn’t immune to Minato’s Rasengan!

The attack landed directly, slamming him into the ground!

Sensing that something was wrong, Obito stopped underestimating his opponent. He immediately controlled the Truth-Seeking Orbs floating around him to neutralize the Rasengan’s impact.

Watching his Rasengan suddenly disappear, Minato felt a deep sense of danger.

Obito swiftly turned around, wielding his staff like a longsword, and effortlessly severed his teacher’s arm.

Minato hurriedly used the Flying Thunder God technique to retreat to the other Hokage.

It was only then that the other Hokage noticed the patterns of Sage Mode appearing on Minato’s eyelids.

“I was right… Ninjutsu may be useless against him, but Senjutsu works.”

Minato explained to the three Hokage.

But Tobirama’s focus was on something else—Minato’s severed arm.

“Fourth Hokage, your arm isn’t regenerating.”

His words instantly caught everyone’s attention.

Under normal circumstances, no matter what kind of damage was inflicted, Edo Tensei bodies should regenerate in a short time.

But Minato’s arm showed no signs of healing.

“If my guess is correct, his Yin-Yang Release chakra is preventing Edo Tensei from taking effect.”

“In other words, if we take a fatal hit, we’ll actually die.”

Tobirama spoke in a grim tone.

Everyone’s heart sank.

If that was the case, their chances of victory had just dropped even further.

However, Obito didn’t seem interested in dealing with them one by one.

Placing his palm on the ground, he caused the entire battlefield to tremble violently. In the next instant, an enormous tree trunk sprouted from the ground!

Obito slowly floated into the air, tossing several black rods into the surrounding battlefield before forming hand seals.

“Six Crimson Ray Formation!”

Scarlet beams of light rose from the six rods, forming a massive barrier that enclosed the entire battlefield.

Immediately after, four dark red flower buds blossomed atop the giant tree behind Obito, rapidly condensing four massive Tailed Beast Bombs, each dozens of meters high!

The overwhelming aura of destruction descended upon the battlefield.

All the Allied Shinobi Forces wore expressions of fear and despair.

An enemy like this—there was simply no way to win!

Meanwhile, Kaneki had used his Space-Time technique to teleport several times, ensuring that Hidan, Sasori, and the others had been moved out before the Six Crimson Ray Formation was completed.

In a Six Paths-level battle like this, even shinobi as strong as them had become insignificant.

“So, what’s your move, Sage of Six Paths?”

Kaneki was curious.

At this moment, in the entire ninja world, the only one capable of stopping Obito was the Sage of Six Paths.

But suddenly, someone completely unexpected rushed forward.

"I will never let you succeed!"

"Burn with the flames of youth!"

Under the astonished gazes of everyone, a man in a green bodysuit charged toward Obito—Might Guy.

"Sixth Gate—Gate of View, Open!"

Green steam surged from Guy's body as his speed and strength rapidly increased.

But this power was still not enough!

"Seventh Gate—Gate of Wonder, Open!"

This time, blue steam burst from his body, making him look like a raging beast.

This was the true origin of his title—the Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf.

But even this wasn’t enough!

"Eighth Gate—Gate of Death, Open!"

This was the final gate. Opening it meant exchanging his very life for power strong enough to shake the entire world.

"Eight Gates Formation!"

The sheer heat radiating from his body had already burned away his clothes. Blood-red steam erupted violently, and his overwhelming aura surged to new heights.

"Evening Elephant!"

In an instant, Might Guy appeared right in front of Obito, empowered by this terrifying strength.

A single punch!

Obito coughed up blood as he was sent flying.

But Guy immediately reappeared behind him.

A powerful kick!

Obito spewed blood once again, his body hurled into the air.

Another punch!

Another kick!

Like a phantom, Might Guy flashed through the air, continuously pummeling Obito back and forth.

Just moments ago, Obito stood supreme over the entire world—yet now, his face was filled with sheer terror.

He had ignored Ninjutsu. He had countered Senjutsu.

But never did he expect that someone could take Taijutsu to such an overwhelming level!

After a relentless barrage, Might Guy leaped high into the air. The blood-red steam around him condensed into the form of a fierce and majestic dragon head.

"With this move, I will engrave the name of the Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf into history!"

"Burn bright!"

"Night Guy!"

With a mighty roar, the ferocious dragon head came crashing down.

All people could see was a crimson flash, followed by the earth shattering, mountains crumbling, and darkness swallowing the land.

The sheer force of the attack obliterated everything. Guy's own blood, boiling like magma, scorched his body into a charred husk.

Amidst the ruined battlefield, Obito lay on the ground, barely clinging to life, his chest rising and falling erratically.

His lower body had completely disappeared.

Yet, he neither despaired nor feared. Instead, a victorious grin spread across his face.

"I'm still alive!"

As long as he survived that terrifying attack, he could fully regenerate with the power of the Six Paths!

And as for the Allied Shinobi Forces… he refused to believe they had another warrior as fearsome as Might Guy!

In the end, the ultimate winner would still be me—Uchiha Obito!

Rin, I will create a world where you exist!

Just as Obito prepared to form seals and use Yin-Yang Release to heal himself, he suddenly realized—he couldn't move.

"Black Zetsu… what are you doing?!"

His voice carried a trace of fear.

At some point, Black Zetsu had emerged from the cracks in the battlefield and tightly enveloped his body, completely restraining him.

In response to Obito’s furious questioning, Black Zetsu let out a sinister chuckle.

"I'm simply helping you fulfill your promise, Obito."

Then, under Black Zetsu’s control, Obito's hands formed a seal.

Obito recognized it instantly.

"Rinne Rebirth Jutsu!"

Black Zetsu let out an eerie laugh. "Since you made a promise to Uchiha Madara, you should honor it. Lying is not good, after all."

As the hand seals were completed, the power of the Rinnegan erupted, sending an enormous chakra wave surging into the afterlife, calling back a soul of immense power and mystery.

But a soul needs a vessel.

Black Zetsu had already prepared for this.

He used a White Zetsu clone as a container—bringing back the legendary figure known as the *Shinobi Shura*—Uchiha Madara.

As Madara gazed at the battlefield, a look of confusion flickered across his face.

"This… doesn't seem to match my plan."

But it didn’t matter.

All he needed to do was crush everyone before him with absolute power.

And in that, Madara had complete confidence.

With lightning speed, he reclaimed his own Rinnegan.

Now powerless without his Rinnegan, Obito was unable to suppress the Ten-Tails within him, and his body began to swell uncontrollably.

The nine tailed beasts broke free and rampaged.

Yet, Madara remained utterly calm.

With an air of indifference, he placed his Rinnegan back where they belonged, replacing the artificial White Zetsu eyes.

In the next moment, with a mere glance, an overwhelming force erupted from his gaze.

The Nine Tailed Beasts felt an indescribable pressure descend upon them, forcing them all to the ground.

Without hesitation, Madara summoned the *Demonic Statue of the Outer Path* and unleashed its sealing technique. From its mouth, massive chains of purple chakra shot out, binding the Nine Tailed Beasts and dragging them back into its body.

Hashirama and the others knew that allowing the Ten-Tails to reappear would be disastrous, so they immediately launched an attack.

However, the resurrected Uchiha Madara had regained his peak power.

The reanimated Hokage, bound by the limitations of the Impure World Reincarnation, could not exert their full strength.

Against ordinary foes, they were still formidable.

But before Madara—who now wielded the power of the Rinnegan and had returned to his prime—they stood no chance.

With a mere thought, he activated his Rinnegan’s unique ability—*Limbo: Border Jail*.

Four invisible clones appeared, and before the four Hokage could react, they were shattered to pieces.

Yes, shattered—in the most literal sense.

To Madara, the bodies of the Impure World Reincarnation were far too fragile.

"Don't let that incomplete body tarnish your reputation, Hashirama."

Madara spoke indifferently.

To him, it was an insult to fight his eternal rival in such an incomplete state.

As the four Hokage began regenerating, the Nine Tailed Beasts had already been fully sealed.

The Ten-Tails had returned once more.

But this time, it did not need to grow from its initial form.

It was already in its *complete* state.

Without hesitation, Madara activated the *Six Paths Ten-Tails Coffin Seal*, sealing the Ten-Tails into his own body.

As the white orb shattered once more, a new and even more powerful enemy was born.

Unlike Obito, Madara had no difficulty controlling the Ten-Tails.

Upon becoming its Jinchūriki, he *completely* suppressed the beast—achieving a perfect transformation.

His robes changed to resemble the Sage of Six Paths.

Nine *Truth-Seeking Orbs* floated behind him.

A *Six Paths Staff* appeared in his grasp.

His forehead now bore a bony horned crest.

Having fully obtained the power of the Six Paths, Madara ascended into the sky, his gaze looking down upon all with supreme dominance.

Compared to Obito, *he was the true king*—a Sage who could not be stopped!

"The legendary Shinobi Shura..."

"First, we had to deal with Obito. Now, an even worse monster has appeared. You’d better act now, Sage of Six Paths."

Watching from the sidelines, Kaneki observed the battle with an amused expression.

To him, only two figures mattered—Kaguya Otsutsuki and the Sage of Six Paths himself.

Chapter 338: The Path to Godhood

"I will never let you destroy the peace of the Shinobi World!"

Senju Hashirama could never stand by and do nothing. Even though Uchiha Madara had demonstrated terrifying power, Hashirama still charged forward.

"Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!"

A massive Buddha statue was summoned once again.

"Sage Art: Wood Release—True Thousand Hands!"

Thousands of gigantic arms surged toward Uchiha Madara, just like in their battle decades ago.

Unfortunately, Madara was no longer the same man from back then.

Activating his Rinnegan ability, he swiftly formed several small black spheres in his hand and sent them flying into the sky.

"Chibaku Tensei!"

The spheres erupted like terrifying black holes, unleashing an immense gravitational force.

The ground trembled violently, and under the pull of this force, massive cracks spread across the surface.

One after another, enormous boulders were ripped from the earth, pulling Allied Shinobi Forces into the sky along with them.

Kaneki narrowed his eyes slightly as he gazed at Uchiha Madara, who was wreaking havoc on the battlefield. He murmured, "It's time to act, Sage of the Six Paths."

At that moment, the very Sage of the Six Paths Kaneki had been waiting for was watching the battle unfold from the Pure Land.

As Kaneki had anticipated, the legendary sage who had ushered in the Shinobi Era had never truly perished.

However, unlike his two sons, he had not undergone constant reincarnation. Instead, he had concealed himself in the Pure Land—the final resting place of all life in the Shinobi World.

For thousands of years, the Sage of the Six Paths had watched over the Shinobi World from the Pure Land, maintaining its balance while secretly absorbing chakra.

But now, he could no longer sit idly by. If he did, he would soon have to face an enraged, newly unsealed Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

Of course, after all these years of accumulation, he did not particularly fear Kaguya. However, if possible, he preferred not to reveal his existence.

Thus, he needed a representative.

Two figures appeared before him as he summoned them.

"Sage of the Six Paths?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the old man before him.

Standing beside him was Naruto Uzumaki, who had been resurrected by Kaneki.

Naruto, too, curiously examined his surroundings.

Ever since Kaneki had revived him, Naruto had been living at Kaneki’s stronghold, occasionally assisting in experiments and relentlessly training to grow stronger.

By now, he was no longer the naive and cheerful boy he once was.

The Sage of the Six Paths nodded slightly as he looked at the two of them. "That's right. I am the Sage of the Six Paths."

"Why did you summon me here?"

Sasuke’s eyes were filled with caution.

He knew the old man before him was strong, but as someone who had awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke had confidence in facing any powerhouse in the Shinobi World.

At least, that’s what he believed.

Hearing Sasuke’s question, Naruto also turned his gaze toward the Sage, intrigued.

"I summoned you both here because I hope you can work together to eliminate the crisis threatening the Shinobi World."

With a wave of his hand, the Sage of the Six Paths projected a scene before them—the Allied Forces fighting against Uchiha Madara, who had become the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki.

To call it a "battle" was misleading. In reality, it was nothing more than a one-sided massacre.

With control over the Ten-Tails and the awakening of the Rinnegan, Uchiha Madara had become nearly invincible in the Shinobi World. No one could stand against him.

Had it not come to this, the Sage of the Six Paths would never have intervened.

"Uchiha Madara, huh?"

Sasuke watched Madara unleash his overwhelming power on the battlefield, his eyes gleaming with eagerness.

This excitement had nothing to do with protecting the Shinobi World. Rather, it stemmed from the Uchiha clan’s inherent desire to challenge and surpass the strong.

He longed to test his strength against this legendary Shinobi World Shura!

As for Naruto, seeing the familiar faces on the battlefield did not stir a sense of duty within him. Instead, a deep-seated resentment surfaced in his heart.

"Sorry, but I refuse."

Naruto’s rejection was swift and absolute.

The Sage of the Six Paths was visibly surprised by Naruto’s response.

In his view, the reincarnation of Asura should have been devoted to the Shinobi World’s well-being. How had things come to this?

Suddenly, his expression darkened.

He recalled Naruto’s past—clearly, the people of this world had been far too cruel, completely shattering this child's heart.

"Naruto, the Shinobi World needs you now."

The Sage did not give up immediately and attempted to persuade him.

But Naruto’s gaze remained unwavering as he rejected the request once more.

"The fate of the Shinobi World has nothing to do with me. I have only one goal—to utterly destroy Konoha!"

Sasuke was stunned as he turned to look at Naruto.

They had known each other as children, but since Sasuke had left Konoha early, his memories of Naruto were vague.

Now, it seemed Naruto’s resolve was even more extreme than his own!

The Sage’s expression grew serious. He had not expected Naruto’s mentality to have been distorted to such a degree.

However, the battlefield’s situation was worsening, and the Sage had no time to waste convincing them.

Narrowing his Rinnegan eyes, he spoke in a deeper tone.

"Regardless of what you think, protecting the Shinobi World is your destiny, Asura."

The Sage’s way of addressing Naruto had changed.

The name "Asura" struck Naruto like a bolt of lightning, awakening a dormant will deep within his spirit.

"Father…"

Naruto's eyes transformed completely.

The Sage of the Six Paths, floating cross-legged in the air, moved in front of Naruto and gently placed a hand on his forehead.

"Go forth and protect the Shinobi World, Asura."

A circular, orange emblem appeared on Naruto’s forehead, radiating an immense Yang energy.

No—perhaps it was no longer appropriate to call him "Naruto Uzumaki" at this point.

He was now Asura.

"I will definitely protect the Shinobi World. You have my word, Father."

'Asura' spoke with unwavering determination, exuding an aura of vitality and resolve.

With Naruto now on board, the Sage of the Six Paths turned to Sasuke. In an instant, his palm pressed against Sasuke’s eyes.

A second later, one of Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan transformed into a Rinnegan, infused with the Sage's Yin power.

Curiously, however, the Indra consciousness within Sasuke did not awaken as expected.

The Sage narrowed his eyes slightly but chose to remain silent.

"Now go. End this crisis and restore peace to the Shinobi World."

"Leave it to me, Father," Sasuke replied.

Naruto agreed without hesitation.

Sasuke, on the other hand, merely nodded, his thoughts unreadable.

On the battlefield, the ground lay in ruins. A massive black orb in the sky released a terrifying gravitational force, rapidly gathering rocks into enormous meteors.

Under Madara Uchiha’s control, these meteors descended with a deafening roar, crashing toward the earth.

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Hashirama unleashed his full power, summoning towering trees in an attempt to block the meteors. However, he only managed to stop five of them.

"Earth Style: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"

Ōnoki leaped into action, using his technique to lighten the meteors, reducing their impact.

"Lightning Style: One-Finger Nukite!"

With a flash of lightning, the Fourth Raikage, A, delivered a powerful strike, shattering one of the meteors into pieces.

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Minato, the Fourth Hokage, activated the Flying Thunder God array midair, teleporting one of the meteors elsewhere.

"Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags!"

Tobirama, the Second Hokage, continuously summoned explosive tags, creating an unending chain of detonations that blew apart another meteor.

"Five-Element: Grand Barrage!"

Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, utilized a complex elemental jutsu, obliterating another meteor.

Even with their combined efforts, nearly ten meteors remained untouched.

This alone was proof of Madara Uchiha’s terrifying power—he alone was enough to render the entire Allied Shinobi Forces helpless!

Just as despair began to set in among the alliance, two unexpected figures appeared.

Sasuke, having activated his full-body Susanoo, emerged—a towering, winged purple warrior flashing across the battlefield like a mirage. With a few swift swings of its longsword, it sliced a meteor clean in half.

He then conjured a bow from its mouth, rapidly firing arrows that exploded upon impact, shattering multiple falling meteors.

Not to be outdone, Naruto—awakened by the will of Asura and empowered by the Sage of Six Paths’ Yang power—rushed forward, shattering a meteor with a single punch, leaving everyone in awe.

"So, they finally made their move."

Seeing Sasuke and Naruto’s transformation, Kaneki was not particularly surprised.

After all, he had long known about the presence of Asura and Indra’s will within them.

Since the Sage of Six Paths refused to intervene personally, these two sons were the best choice to act in his place.

Next… it should be time for the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Kaneki speculated.

Sure enough, upon seeing the two newcomers, Madara Uchiha’s brows furrowed slightly.

But it no longer mattered.

He slowly formed a series of hand seals, hovering beneath the moon.

Madara gazed at the moon high above before tearing off the outer layer of his forehead.

At the center of his forehead, a blood-red eye emerged.

This eye was a fusion of the Rinnegan and the Sharingan—on the foundation of the Rinnegan’s rings, black tomoe appeared, while the sclera shifted from purple to red.

"Hahahaha!"

Madara erupted into crazed laughter, spreading his arms wide as if embracing a new world.

"Now, embrace true peace!"

Infinite Tsukuyomi—Activated!

A terrifying ocular power erupted from the Rinne Sharingan on Madara’s forehead.

Reflected upon the moon, this power spread across the sky, forming the image of a silver-haired woman.

The next moment, the moon radiated an unimaginably brilliant white light, plunging the entire ninja world into an artificial daytime.

The light possessed an eerie, penetrating power, illuminating every corner of the world without exception.

Any living being caught in its glow—be it human or animal—had their eyes transformed into the Rinne Sharingan and fell into a dreamlike trance.

Obito dreamed of finally winning over Rin.

Kakashi dreamed of growing up happily alongside his father.

Tsunade dreamed of gambling triumphantly with Dan Katō.

Hidan dreamed of sacrificing the entire ninja world to his deity.

Deidara dreamed of detonating the entire ninja world.

Countless blissful dreams were woven in that instant, filling every face with smiles of happiness.

A perfect world—one without war, without conflict—had been created.

The reincarnated Hokage, however, remained unaffected.

As they were already deceased, the Infinite Tsukuyomi had no power over them.

Aside from them, Sasuke, possessing the Rinnegan, as well as Naruto, under his protection, remained immune.

Meanwhile, far away in the snowy mountains of the Land of Snow…

As the dazzling white light reached the region, a vast sea of blood began to churn violently before being absorbed into the body of the Ten-Tails.

Then, the Ten-Tails itself condensed into a sphere, which quickly shattered—leaving behind a pure, pristine white figure.

A perfect Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, fully awakened with the power of the Sage of Six Paths.

"The real show is about to begin."

Kaneki slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and full of anticipation.

Back on the battlefield, bathed in the divine radiance of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Madara Uchiha gently descended to the ground.

In full view of the past Hokage and Sasuke, he formed another series of hand seals.

"Divine: Deep Forest Emergence!"

From the ground, an enormous Divine Tree erupted, its roots spreading across the entire ninja world, ensnaring every chakra-bearing creature and mercilessly absorbing their energy.

Madara raised his chin in triumph, looking down at Hashirama with a smug expression.

"Hashirama, do you see now? My path is the correct one!"

Hashirama scoffed in response. "This is nothing but a false peace."

Just as Madara was about to retort, Obito—now possessed by Black Zetsu—suddenly appeared behind him.

His presence was so faint that even Madara had failed to sense him.

Then, in one swift motion, Obito’s hand pierced straight through Madara’s chest.

It wasn’t until he felt the pain in his heart that Madara’s eyes widened in shock, disbelief written across his face.

"Why… Black Zetsu?"

Seeing the confusion in Madara’s eyes, Black Zetsu let out a sinister chuckle.

"Madara, to me, you were always just another arrogant fool—just like Obito."

"Perhaps even now, you still believe I am nothing more than a creation of your Yin-Yang Release?"

Black Zetsu spoke as though declaring his ultimate victory, as black liquid spread from his feet, crawling across the battlefield.

Madara’s expression remained one of utter disbelief. "Impossible! The stone tablet left behind by the Sage of Six Paths—how could it be wrong?!"

Hearing this, Black Zetsu’s grin widened.

"That so-called prophecy? It was nothing more than a fabrication I used to deceive the Uchiha. The original tablet… was long ago altered by me!"

“The entire ninja world is under my control!”

“After thousands of years, I am finally about to succeed!”

“Rise again, my mother!”

Black Zetsu let out a hysterical roar. Uchiha Madara, whose chest had been pierced, wanted to say something, but he suddenly realized his body was expanding rapidly.

“We must stop him!”

As the son of the Sage of Six Paths, Asura knew just how terrifying Kaguya was. He absolutely could not let her be resurrected!

Without hesitation, he charged forward.

But before he could get halfway, a strand of white hair wrapped tightly around him, leaving him completely immobilized.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara's swelling body reached its limit, and in the final explosion, his ultimate form emerged.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had arrived!

The legendary Rabbit Goddess stood tall, draped in a flowing robe adorned with a vertical row of black tomoe down the center, with additional tomoe decorating the sleeves.

Her long white hair cascaded past her height, and on her forehead, a crimson Rinne Sharingan gleamed ominously. Her pale, pupil-less eyes exuded an overwhelming pressure, while her cold and elegant features radiated an unparalleled majesty that instinctively made people want to kneel in reverence.

Sasuke immediately activated the power of his Rinnegan, teleporting himself next to Naruto—or rather, Asura—and then slashed his sword.

To Kaguya’s astonishment, the strike that was meant to sever the bindings actually pierced straight through Asura’s heart!

Even Asura was dumbfounded. Why had Indra struck him down at such a critical moment? Could he have been Kaguya’s spy all along?

Ignoring the stunned gazes around him, Sasuke's eyes bulged, his face twisted, and he erupted into maniacal laughter.

Throwing his head back in wild amusement, he pointed his sword at his own neck.

"Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne!"

In the next instant, his head was severed from his body!

A fountain of crimson blood gushed violently from both Naruto and Sasuke.

Even the Sage of Six Paths, watching from the Pure Land, was utterly dumbfounded. What on earth were his two sons doing?!

But soon, he sensed an ominous presence.

The blood pouring from Naruto and Sasuke rapidly spread across the ground, forming a wicked sacrificial symbol.

At that moment, Seki—the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails—appeared at the center of the blood-drenched pattern.

A smirk crept onto his lips. "I have come to fulfill my promise."

“Rise again, my Dark God!”

Instantly, the ground began to crack apart.

No—more precisely, space itself started to shatter.

It was as if a forbidden seal had been broken, an ancient restraint unraveled.

With the power of the Six Paths now coursing through him, Seki finally possessed the strength to undo the Dark God's seal.

A suffocating aura of malice filled the air, like a demon gazing upon the mortal world.

“Keh keh keh keh keh keh!”

The Dark God let out a chilling laugh as an eerie black mist burst forth from the spatial rift. Countless blood-red eyes swirled within the darkness, flickering ominously.

"Well done, Seki."

A hoarse yet enchanting voice echoed, dripping with praise.

"The Dark God?"

Kaguya’s voice rang out from above, filled with confusion.

When she had first arrived in the ninja world, she vaguely recalled defeating someone by that name…

The Dark God chuckled menacingly, its countless eyeballs shifting within the swirling mist. But when its gaze finally landed on the figure floating in the sky, every eye suddenly shrank in unison.

"K-K-Kaguya?!"

The Dark God froze in shock.

"Weren't you supposed to be sealed away?"

Hearing its voice, Kaguya scoffed coldly. “And here I was wondering who it was. If even you can break free from a seal, then why wouldn’t I be able to do the same?”

“Dark Lord, she’s just a mere woman! She’s no match for you!”

Seki seemed utterly confident in the Dark God's power.

However, the swirling black mist betrayed the deity’s unease.

If it had truly been capable of defeating Kaguya, then why had it been sealed away in the first place?

“Seki… You’ve really put me in a tough spot.”

Before Seki could respond, Kaguya had already launched her attack.

To her, the ninja world was nothing more than a source of nourishment for the Divine Tree.

And these so-called deities of this land? They were simply the finest offerings for the tree.

“Heavenly Subjugation of the Omnipresent God!”

With a cold command, Seki and the Dark God suddenly felt their vision blur.

In the blink of an eye, they were transported into a freezing, desolate realm.

Furious blizzards raged through the air, and the terrifyingly low temperatures threatened to freeze Seki’s very blood.

But that wasn’t all—massive glaciers erupted from the snow-covered ground, each sharpened like a deadly spear, crashing down upon them with relentless force.

At this point, the Dark God had nothing more to say.

From the depths of the swirling black mist, numerous decayed arms shot out, forcefully shoving the oncoming glaciers back.

Not only that, but several giant hands reached toward the sky, aiming to seize their celestial adversary!

Over the years, thanks to the countless blood sacrifices made by Seki and the other cultists, the Dark God had recovered a significant portion of its strength.

Now, even against Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, it could put up a fight!

At least, that was what the Dark God liked to believe.

In response to its attack, Kaguya simply waved her sleeve lightly, sending forth a barrage of gray bone spikes.

The moment they made contact with the Dark God’s decaying arms, the limbs immediately crumbled into dust.

This was one of Kaguya’s terrifying abilities—All-Killing Ash Bones.

A power capable of corroding and destroying anything it touched.

Realizing that manipulating the natural environment was ineffective against the Dark God, Kaguya swiftly changed her approach.

The veins at the corner of his eyes bulged as he swiftly swung his palm.

“Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!”

With each strike of his palm, terrifying shockwaves rained down like a storm upon the Evil God, gradually tearing apart the dark mist that surrounded him.

Meanwhile, Kaneki concealed himself within the black mist, carefully observing Kaguya’s abilities.

As the Evil God struggled to hold on, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya activated [Amenominaka] once again.

This time, they found themselves in a space filled with molten lava. Boiling magma surged toward them like the gaping maw of an abyss, seeking to devour everything in its path.

The Evil God had no choice but to frantically evade within the space.

Then, the space shifted again.

Now they were in a vast desert, where violent winds slashed at the Evil God like countless blades.

Next, the scene transformed into a corrosive wasteland filled with surging acid, ready to consume all in its path.

“Damn Ōtsutsuki! This Rinne Sharingan is such a nuisance!”

The Evil God cried out in frustration.

He had originally thought he could outlast those old geezers through ritual sacrifices, then once again stir chaos in the Shinobi World. Yet, the moment he was unsealed, he had the misfortune of encountering Kaguya. Truly, his luck was terrible.

Once she determined he had been sufficiently weakened, Kaguya spread her palm wide and began gathering an enormous Truth-Seeking Ball aimed directly at the Evil God.

Truth-Seeking Balls were capable of obliterating everything. Even the Evil God couldn’t hope to withstand such an attack.

Just as he thought he was about to meet his end, a hand suddenly emerged from the black mist.

“Qiankun Technique, activate!”

Kaguya’s supermassive Truth-Seeking Ball missed its mark.

Kaneki had taken the Evil God back to the Shinobi World.

“Well done, Kaneki.”

Before the Evil God could finish speaking, his gaze fell upon Kaneki—now in his Six Paths Mode—who had extended an open palm toward him.

A torrential sea of blood gushed from the space behind Kaneki, engulfing everything in an instant.

Then, Kaneki clapped his hands together.

From within the sea of blood, an enormous Divine Tree sprouted, soaring high into the sky.

This was the true form of the Ten-Tails!

Countless roots shot out in all directions, piercing both the Evil God and the blood sea, greedily absorbing their energy.

The blood sea contained the genetic essence of nearly every race in the Shinobi World—Hyūga, Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki, Kaguya, Hagoromo—all the descendants of the Ōtsutsuki.

As Kaguya returned to the Shinobi World and beheld the ever-growing Divine Tree, she finally understood Kaneki’s true intention.

He wanted to replicate what she had once done!

As the Divine Tree absorbed massive amounts of genes and energy, a colossal flower bloomed at its peak.

At the heart of the flower, a crimson fruit slowly materialized.

This was the secret of the Ōtsutsuki Clan—absorbing all life through the Divine Tree to produce the ultimate Chakra Fruit.

Normally, for a Divine Tree to bear fruit, it required the sacrifice of an Ōtsutsuki’s life.

But since Kaneki didn’t have an Ōtsutsuki to offer, he used the blood of their descendants as a substitute.

Now, it was time to harvest the fruit.

Reaching out, he gently grasped the crimson Chakra Fruit and swallowed it whole.

In an instant, an overwhelming surge of power erupted from within Kaneki’s body.

It was as if he had glimpsed the secrets of evolution and had unlocked the door to divinity itself.

A vertical eye slowly opened in the center of his forehead—a crimson Rinne Sharingan—manifesting before Kaguya’s very eyes.

Unlike Uchiha Madara, who had inherited Kaguya’s Rinne Sharingan, this was a Rinne Sharingan that belonged solely to Kaneki!

The next moment, all followers of the Evil God, every ninja who had consumed the Phantom Blossom Ration Pill, every civilian who worshipped the Evil God—every single person or creature that had any direct or indirect connection with Kaneki—awoke from the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Their eyes turned blood-red as they chanted the Evil God’s name, then willingly offered up their lives.

A torrent of crimson blood surged forth, forming an all-encompassing blood ocean that crashed down upon Kaguya.

Even the legendary Rabbit Goddess couldn’t help but be startled by such a sight.

How had he done this?

Had he already taken control of everyone in the Shinobi World long before this moment?

There was no time to think. Kaguya immediately activated [Yomotsu Hirasaka], attempting to escape into another dimension.

However, Kaneki had already locked onto her presence. No matter which dimension she fled to, the blood sea followed, filling every space completely.

As the blood sea flooded into the Origin Dimension, Kaneki spoke calmly:

“You have nowhere left to run, Kaguya.”

“Divine Art: Myriad Divine Tree Genesis.”

One after another, Divine Trees sprouted from the sea of blood, rapidly absorbing the very energy of the space itself—including Kaguya’s power.

This was Kaneki’s true strength.

Once he had analyzed a genetic structure, he could replicate it endlessly.

Even the Divine Tree was no exception!

Countless Divine Trees gradually devoured both Kaguya and the entire Shinobi World.

Then, as if reaching a critical point, all the Divine Trees began to expand.

Thousands upon thousands of monstrous beings—resembling the Ten-Tails—swarmed toward the Pure Land… and the vast cosmos beyond!

(End of Chapter)