Chapter 192 – A New Stirring, Amenominaka !
"Kaguya's chakra, huh…"
From the moment Kitagawa Gen encountered Black Zetsu, he had already decided—he was going to strip him clean.
Since they crossed paths, how could he possibly let him go?
Not only did he plant a "Kāma" on White Zetsu's half-body, but when he caught Zetsu, he mercilessly siphoned off a chunk of chakra as well.
"But here's the problem… why can't I draw it out?"
Even after obtaining Kaguya's chakra, Kitagawa Gen had tried everything—direct absorption, or using the "God Tree's Source" to refine it.
No matter what, nothing worked. It was as if this chakra simply refused to submit.
"How odd… when Momoshiki devoured Kinshiki, he didn't have nearly this much trouble."
As his power swelled and his eyes continued to evolve, Kitagawa Gen mulled over the reason.
In his memory, Momoshiki's absorption of Kinshiki had been instantaneous.
"Could it be because of the God Tree's fruit… and the Bloodline Net?"
That was the only conclusion he could reach.
Though Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had once been a "guardian," she had defied her role—
After ambushing Isshiki and devouring the God Tree fruit, she had completely transformed.
"The difference between devouring the fruit and not devouring it…"
Kitagawa Gen had long recognized that distinction.
It wasn't about combat power per se, but rather a fundamental disparity in their core energy.
That gap was truly immeasurable.
"Looks like I can't absorb it for now. At the very least, I'll need to further develop my body before I try again…"
Resigned, he resealed Kaguya's chakra back into the Totsuka Blade.
A bit disappointing, yes—but his mood remained calm.
After all, the prize was already in his hands. With time, he would eventually be able to master it.
"My growth is nowhere near its limit…"
As he thought, heat once again coursed through his entire body.
Two vast streams of newly obtained Tailed Beast chakra surged within the "God Tree's Source," crashing ceaselessly against his eyes.
That overwhelming torrent brought with it a peculiar sensation.
When his eyes reached saturation, the chakra stopped flowing into them.
Instead, the sealed power at his brow suddenly flared wildly—devouring not only his chakra but even the God Tree's Source itself!
"This is…!"
Kitagawa Gen froze—then, in an instant, the world spun.
Information burst into his mind, and when his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a barren desert.
"Amenominaka (All-Encompassing Void) Technique…?"
He muttered in disbelief.
It was real—this was his newly awakened ability.
But his brows soon furrowed. Something felt wrong.
"Why is there only one space? Didn't Kaguya have five?"
The five distinct "Amenominaka (All-Encompassing Void) Technique" dimensions left a deep impression in his memory.
Yet here, he had only one. And then, another thought surfaced.
"This ability is supposed to be linked to the Rinnegan… but I only wield the Tenseigan."
It felt strange—but the knowledge in his mind was undeniable.
So what if he only had one space? It was just the beginning. He could still grow stronger.
"At the very least, I can treat it like Kamui. And besides, my gains this time aren't limited to this alone…"
He whispered, and with a twist of chakra, the desert floor began to quake.
The endless sands roiled like a raging tide, and from them rose a colossal tree—its trunk thick as mountains, its buds grotesque and eye-like, sealed tightly shut.
The chakra pouring out was vast and suffocating, the cries of Tailed Beasts echoing faintly in the void.
"…Unbelievable."
For once, Kitagawa Gen was stunned by the immensity of his own God Tree's Source.
It was massive.
Terrifyingly massive.
Now he truly understood how a single God Tree could drain an entire planet dry.
And this wasn't even the complete form. What would it become once all chakra was gathered?
"…Though, I don't even need to wait for that. With this much, I can already create White Zetsu."
Indeed—after this enhancement of the God Tree's Source, he had not only gained Amenominaka (All-Encompassing Void) Technique but also learned the "basic applications" of the God Tree.
The creation of White Zetsu was one such use.
Though it required living sacrifices…
"So now, I could technically hang anyone up on a tree, huh?"
Kitagawa Gen chuckled at the thought, staring at the towering God Tree before him.
It dawned on him—he was slowly walking down the same path as Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
"…Still, I'm missing a piece. The Truth-Seeking Orbs. But for now—I've got a substitute."
He raised his hand, and at his fingertips spun several black spheres.
Chakra Beads.
This was his final reward from the transformation—a powerful addition to his offensive arsenal.
The Truth-Seeking Orbs were a supreme technique, but the Chakra Beads worked as a stand-in.
"After all, Toneri Ōtsutsuki also wielded Chakra Beads to unleash the Silver Wheel and Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosions."
With a single thought, Kitagawa Gen returned to the real world.
The valley was silent and calm; his breakthrough hadn't triggered any grand tremors.
Calling up his status screen, words shimmered before his eyes:
[Name: Kitagawa Gen]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development: 52%)]
[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan (Eye of the New Moon)]
[Special Ability: God Tree's Source (Stage Six)]
[Unique Techniques: Ice Release, Magnet Release, Dust Release, Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, Tenseigan Chakra Mode, Kāma, Chakra Beads]
Kitagawa Gen nodded slightly.
The Tailed Beast chakra hadn't boosted his bloodline development by much, but its true value lay in strengthening his God Tree and his eyes.
And now, those very eyes had reached saturation.
That long-forgotten sensation—the stirring of new life, like a "fetal movement"—was awakening once more.
"It seems… my eyes are about to evolve again. And the key…"
He raised his head, gazing quietly at the endless sky.
In that instant, it felt as if he had linked directly with the Tenseigan in the sky.
A mysterious power tugged at him, guiding his perception, pointing him toward a distant place.
And that place… was none other than the moon he had long been seeking.
"This time… I think I've finally found the passage."
---
Return to Konoha
"Finally, we're back."
A day later, Kitagawa Gen and his group arrived outside Konoha.
Deidara, as usual, wanted to fly straight in, but was forcibly dragged down by both Gen and Mei Terumi.
"Tch, what a pain. Wouldn't it be faster to just fly in? Hmph."
He muttered in irritation as he followed the others on foot toward the village gates.
"Your village rules are annoying. Back in Iwagakure, I'd just fly right in. No one cared, hm."
"You should be grateful your Tsuchikage has such a good temper," Gen replied with a roll of his eyes. "If it were me, I'd have blasted you out of the sky already."
Mei nodded in agreement. "Every village has protective barriers. Reckless stunts like yours could cause major problems. Gen's right—your Tsuchikage has been far too kind to you."
"Kind? That old man yells at me every single day." Deidara tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Doesn't feel very kind to me, hm."
"Be glad he only yells at you. If it were me, I'd have killed you ages ago." Gen smirked, clearly amused at Deidara's growing frustration.
Mei could only sigh helplessly. If Deidara had been born in the Mist, they would have never killed off a genius like him—especially after Obito's meddling had left their village so starved of talent.
---
Suddenly, faint sounds carried to them from the direction of Konoha.
"Hm? What's going on?" Deidara's annoyance faded into curiosity as he glanced toward the village.
"Your village is up to something again?"
"…Is this… a welcome?" Mei asked uncertainly.
Gen's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Seems like it. Let's go."
As they drew closer, the sight of Konoha's massive gates came into view.
And with every step forward, the cheering grew louder—until the very moment they crossed the threshold.
The deafening roar of celebration exploded like thunder, rolling across the skies of Konoha like a tidal wave.
---
"This…"
Deidara, who had first thought the noise irritating, now stood frozen, stunned by the sheer force of it.
Mei was no different. She looked around at the countless cheering villagers, completely taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.
Even Gen himself was dazed for a moment, but then he smiled faintly.
Of course he knew. Back then, when Kumo had oppressed Konoha, the scars it left on the people ran deep.
And now, with the three of them having toppled Kumogakure… to Konoha, this was not just revenge—it was redemption.
---
"Gen!"
From within the crowd, Naruto and Sasuke waved at him excitedly. On the other side, Kakashi and Guy were smiling brightly as well.
"Gen."
As Gen raised his eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi approached alongside Ōnoki and Genji.
They stopped before the group, faces softening into warm smiles.
"Welcome back—our heroes."