However, he didn't panic at all. Although the seal on the moon was already deteriorating, it would still take some time before his mother could break free.
During that window, there was still a chance for intervention.
In the Hidden Rain Village, Uchiha Madara—who had also sensed the changes on the moon—had no intention of intervening.
His reasoning was simple: since he had already been used as a pawn, he might as well plunge the ninja world further into chaos.
Nagato alone wasn't enough. That legendary ancestor of chakra should also make her return.
Just then, a thought suddenly surged into Uchiha Madara's mind—transmitted directly by the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.
"You want me to reinforce the seal to prevent the resurrection of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki?"
Madara sneered internally. If the Sage of Six Paths, who had once granted him power, could send messages undetected, did that mean he could also manipulate him?
It was just a suspicion—but a dangerous one.
Without hesitation, Madara entered Six Paths Mode and flew toward the moon. As for the purpose of his journey…
To reinforce Kaguya's seal with Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei?
Or perhaps, the opposite?
---
Within the Land of Fire, Kawaki Aoba's smile grew brighter. The shinobi world was about to erupt into full-blown chaos.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, still sealed within the moon, was nearing freedom.
Madara had already left Earth and was en route to the moon—but what were his true intentions?
Back in the shinobi world, Nagato had begun sealing the Ten-Tails inside himself, preparing to attain Six Paths-level power.
Meanwhile, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki was lurking in the shadows, watching Nagato closely and waiting for the right moment to strike.
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki remained in the Pure Land, ready to descend personally at any moment.
And if Kawaki Aoba himself joined the fray… tsk tsk.
"Well, a guest is about to arrive," he said with amusement.
Back in his familiar spot, Kawaki Aoba re-brewed a fresh pot of tea. As he poured into the cups, a figure slowly descended from the sky—it was a clone of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, silver hair cascading down her shoulders.
"Congratulations. Your original body is on the verge of breaking free," Kawaki said coolly. "But… have you forgotten something?"
Kaguya remained silent. She wasn't used to these sorts of face-to-face negotiations—especially ones where she needed assistance.
But she didn't have a choice. After a pause, she softened her tone.
"I've already helped you eliminate three of the Five Great Nations. Once my true body escapes, I will fulfill my promise and take care of the last. However… I'm uncertain whether Hagoromo will try to stop me. I want you to ensure my escape."
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki… you are a clever woman," Kawaki replied. "Using the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball to rupture the moon—that was a tactic even I hadn't considered. So don't hold back. Tell me what you can offer."
"The God Tree planting method, the gestation process of the Chakra Fruit, and information about the Ōtsutsuki clan scattered across the stars," she answered cautiously. She wasn't sure how much Kawaki already knew, but these were her most valuable bargaining chips.
Kawaki Aoba, calm on the outside, was deeply interested—especially in the interstellar secrets of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
However, his indifferent expression misled Kaguya into thinking he wasn't impressed.
Worried, she played her final card—not out of desperation, but because time was running out.
She could already sense a powerful chakra signature—Six Paths-level—racing toward the moon. If she waited any longer, her opportunity might vanish. Another thousand-year seal was unthinkable.
"In addition to those offers… I can offer myself. Aid me in escaping the seal and removing any threats—like Hagoromo and Isshiki—and I will assist in your research."
It was the boldest offer she could make. In return, she required Kawaki's protection from other powerful entities.
Kawaki didn't seem moved by her terms—but he was intrigued by the research aspect.
"Research… what, exactly?" he asked, puzzled.
Kaguya, momentarily surprised, clarified:
"When members of the Ōtsutsuki clan die unexpectedly, they don't truly die. Instead, we implant Karma into compatible vessels, allowing us to resurrect later.
If you research my pure Ōtsutsuki body, you may unravel the full secrets of Karma. I believe you wouldn't refuse that, would you?
Isshiki might also be a pureblood, but he's from the main branch—and he'd never help you."
Kawaki remained noncommittal. The Karma system alone wasn't especially enticing—but the potential knowledge from a pure Ōtsutsuki was.
Looking up at the moon, he finally nodded.
"I accept the deal. You made a wise choice."
He wasn't boasting. Without his help, Kaguya's escape might indeed be foiled by unknown variables.
---
Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara arrived on the moon in Six Paths Mode.
Beneath him, the surface of the moon trembled—fissures spiderwebbed across its face.
He was prepared to act. But instead of reinforcing Kaguya's seal with Chibaku Tensei, he intended to shatter it.
To assist her escape.
But just as Madara prepared to make his move—he lost control of his body once again.
"This is my body, Sage of the Six Paths—get out!" Uchiha Madara roared, but he could only shout that single sentence.
Just as he said, his body was no longer under his own control. Though he remained conscious of the world around him, the person now wielding his body was none other than Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki—the Sage of the Six Paths himself.
Facing Madara's furious demand, Hagoromo did not reply with words, but with decisive action.
Madara's body moved of its own accord. A massive surge of chakra erupted as a black sphere materialized in his palm—the result of a powerful Yin–Yang Release transformation.
Madara's face twisted in fury and desperation as he resisted Hagoromo's control with all his will.
Not even his own ancestor had the right to control him—he was Madara Uchiha! This wasn't just about Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's potential escape anymore.
But no matter how much he resisted, his efforts were ultimately futile—only slowing the inevitable by a few moments.
The core of a Chibaku Tensei had already formed in his hand, and the next step was clear: merge it into the moon and reinforce Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's seal.
Under normal circumstances, such a reinforcement wouldn't be done in this brute-force fashion. But Hagoromo poured vast amounts of his own chakra into the Chibaku core.
Chakra of the same origin—his own—fused with the existing seal without resistance.
The core of the Chibaku Tensei detached from Madara's hand and ascended toward the moon.
The moon began to tremble violently. Cracks spread across its surface, forming massive canyons and fissures.
Sensing danger, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki struggled fiercely inside her prison. Vast amounts of chakra erupted from the ruptures on the moon's surface.
---
Inside a secluded manor in the Land of Fire, a clone of Kaguya was still linked to her true consciousness.
Slapped aside, weakened, and now pitiful, her desperate gaze fell on the man before her—Kawaki Aoba.
Her eyes, filled with despair, silently pleaded for salvation. But what would it matter if Kawaki agreed? Hagoromo had acted too swiftly, and the distance from Earth to the moon was far too great. Reinforcement of the seal would complete before she could intervene.
Her escape now seemed impossible. As for resurrecting using a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki—also impossible.
She would rather perish than be reduced to chakra fodder for that traitorous son, Hagoromo.
And yet, despite her pitiful state, Kawaki Aoba found himself moved.
He was surprised to realize that this version of Kaguya—vulnerable and weakened—was… beautiful. Her divine dignity had melted into fragile humanity.
Even Kawaki was shaken by his own thoughts.
Damn it... I already have Kurenai. Why am I thinking this way?
Shaking off the thoughts, he reminded himself: he had come for a transaction—nothing more.
Yeah... it definitely wasn't because the more he looked at Kaguya, the more beautiful she seemed.
With Instant Transmission, Kawaki Aoba appeared on the surface of the moon. In his hand, a long and ancient sword shimmered with dormant power.
Originally, the Zanpakutō was meant to be the signature weapon of his "Smoker" persona—his false Akatsuki identity. But Kawaki had outgrown such misdirection. His strength had soared beyond his projections, and the need for smokescreens had vanished.
Though Hagoromo hadn't revealed himself directly, Kawaki had already locked onto his presence through chakra resonance—the same chakra Hagoromo was using to possess Madara Uchiha.
Even if he couldn't find the Pure Land's entrance, it didn't matter. He had memorized Hagoromo's chakra. Instant Transmission could bring him to him eventually.
Now, all enemies had revealed themselves. Kawaki could crush them whenever he pleased.
Invincibility was a comforting thing.
He looked up.
Above him floated the black sphere of the Chibaku Tensei core.
Its gravitational force had warped the surrounding space-time, but that distortion was confined within a three-inch radius. The moon remained otherwise untouched.
If nothing interfered, the black core would soon embed itself into the moon's surface—sealing Kaguya once more.
But Kawaki had come to interfere.
Through the black sphere, he locked eyes with the one controlling Madara's body.
Above and below, their positions were inverted—but their auras were polar opposites.
Kawaki Aoba exuded supreme confidence and absolute dominance.
Hagoromo, on the other hand, was reduced to puppeteering a dead man's body. He hardly looked like the revered Sage of the Six Paths.
Smiling faintly, Kawaki raised the Zanpakutō, and chanted the name of its release:
> "All things in the universe—turn to ashes: Ryūjin Jakka!"
"Fuzan."
Flames exploded from the blade.
It was a basic swing. No flair. No extra technique. But it carried unfathomable heat.
Enough heat to incinerate anything. Perhaps not the heavens—but certainly the oceans.
Kawaki's control over his Zanpakutō had reached perfection. His strength had undergone a qualitative transformation. Every swing following Shikai could serve as a finisher.
Nothing wasted. Nothing spared.
This was why the entire storm of flame remained confined to the sword's blade.
Even the former Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni could only match this through mastery of his Zanpakutō. Kawaki had achieved it with raw power alone.
If such brutality could even be called technique.
As the saying goes—when power reaches a certain level, skill becomes irrelevant.
So, just how powerful was Kawaki Aoba's casual swing?
The answer came swiftly.
The blazing blade tore into the gravitational field.
Gravitational tendrils—extensions of the black sphere—tried to ensnare the sword, applying space-time-warping pressure to shatter it.
But that pressure never landed.
As the tendrils drew closer to the blade, the sheer temperature repelled them.
Gravity can bend time and space—but so can heat.
If someone tells you it can't, that just means the temperature isn't high enough.
Kawaki Aoba's Zanpakutō now burned hot enough to match space-time itself.
The gravitational force was isolated. Rendered meaningless.
And this was only the side effect.
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