220 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

After studying the Tenseigan for a while, Akira withdrew from the Tenseigan Chakra Mode.

The current Tenseigan was newly born and hadn't fully stabilized. It would take three stages of maturation for the Tenseigan to solidify and become permanent. In its current state, overusing it could cause regression.

With his spiritual body returning to his physical one, the birth of the Tenseigan finally gave Akira the confidence he needed. Even if Nagato became the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, Akira believed the Tenseigan would allow him to stand on equal ground.

Time passed steadily as Akira and his companions kept a close watch on the shinobi world and the moon.

Initially, they thought Nagato would quickly become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, but things didn't unfold as expected. By the end of Konoha's 55th year, nearly half a year had slipped by, yet the world remained unusually tranquil.

It was clear Nagato hadn't succeeded. At first, Akira and the others were puzzled, but they soon deduced the issue: the limitation likely lay with the Edo Tensei technique.

Given the current level of the technique's precision, it probably wasn't enough for what Nagato intended. Akira, who was aware of most of Nagato's assets, was confident in his guess. Still, he didn't let his guard down. With Orochimaru involved, it was only a matter of time before the technique was perfected.

In the same expansive room, Akira, Tsunade, Fugaku, Shisui, and Kaori gathered.

The small mountain of Ten-Tails flesh they had been consuming for power was now completely gone.

The effects were undeniable. The strength of Tsunade and the others had undergone a qualitative transformation. Even a small piece of Ten-Tails flesh, infused with the Six Paths' power, was enough to elevate them far beyond their previous limits.

Now, their raw strength had surpassed Akira's. After half a year of training, they had also mastered the Spiritual Transformation Technique, equipping them to handle any revival of the Ten-Tails' spiritual body.

Konoha was ready for war.

Tsunade turned to Akira. "Fifth Hokage, how's your preparation coming along?"

Everyone in the room knew Akira had his own plans. They refrained from asking for details, respecting his need to keep his trump cards private.

"It's almost ready. All I need now is the right time," Akira replied calmly.

With his preparations complete, Akira only needed the arrival of the right circumstances to conduct the Chimera Technique and achieve his breakthrough.

"Good to hear." Tsunade nodded, dropping the matter.

Akira shifted his gaze to Kaori. "Kaori, how's your progress with the Tenseigan? Any signs of awakening yet?"

Kaori shook her head. "Not yet. The Tenseigan's power is still growing, but there's no sign of awakening. I probably won't be able to fight alongside you."

Everyone understood the battle against Nagato could break out at any moment. That day felt ominously near.

"It's fine. This isn't something that can be forced. Besides, our preparations are sufficient," Akira reassured her with a smile.

Tsunade turned her attention to the towering tree.

"Fifth Hokage, what's your plan for the God Tree formed from the Ten-Tails' severed tail?"

Over the months, the tree had undergone significant changes. Initially, it had six massive roots. After absorbing natural energy, four more had grown.

At the top of the tree, a crimson fruit had bloomed from a fully open flower. It wasn't a Chakra Fruit, but its resemblance to a Rinne Sharingan was uncanny—except it bore only three tomoe instead of nine.

Clearly, this wasn't a complete God Tree.

"I have plans for it. Don't worry," Akira replied confidently. With the Tenseigan, he had a solution. Using Yin-Yang Release, he could reshape and bring it to life.

"Good. Nagato might make his move soon," Tsunade noted, her tone serious.

"Don't worry. We'll be ready," Akira assured her.

After the others left, Akira summoned the cloned body of Ōtsutsuki Toneri from his Kamui dimension.

Merging his spiritual body into the clone, the vessel's blue Tenseigan flared to life.

Standing before the God Tree, Akira activated Tenseigan Chakra Mode, shrouded in its green chakra mantle. Black Truth-Seeking Orbs hovered behind him as he placed a hand on the tree, his brilliant blue eyes analyzing its essence.

"I see..." Akira muttered.

Through the Tenseigan, he discerned the tree's true nature. This wasn't just a tree—it was the Ten-Tails in a different form. Its spiritual body had been destroyed, leaving it in this state.

Akira had deliberately suppressed its revival, keeping it trapped as a tree.

"This simplifies things. Instead of reshaping it, I only need to recreate its consciousness," Akira murmured.

Extending his chakra-covered hand, Akira activated Yin-Yang Release, channeling life and consciousness into the God Tree.

The massive tree trembled, its roots writhing as if alive.

BOOM!

The ground shook violently. One of the tree's enormous roots burst free, transforming into a golden dragon-like tail that swayed in the air.