Parents scolded.
Children wept.
Some cursed, others begged forgiveness.
That night in Konoha, after the resurrection of the dead, emotions spilled everywhere. Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, broke down in silence when he learned that his wife had also perished. Kushina Uzumaki's voice carried through the halls as she shouted at Minato for leaving Naruto to suffer. Even Fugaku Uchiha, who usually carried himself with pride, was shaken to his core.
The once-proud parents now saw with their own eyes how much their children had borne — and how little they themselves had done.
The night was restless.
The Next Morning
Tsunade followed Orochimaru to the teleportation circle that led to the Ancient Starry Sky Road. Together they passed through the lunar base, then shifted again to the planet of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
The world was bleak, lifeless, and dark — a dying planet surrounded by neighbors that looked like lumps of black coal.
Just one glance made the scalp prickle.
"Look well," Orochimaru said. "Without God's intervention, this is the fate the Ōtsutsuki had planned for our ninja world. A husk, drained of all life."
The Ōtsutsuki extracted planets like parasites. Their methods squeezed the power and vitality out of worlds, leaving behind only corpses of stone and ash. From this process, the Ten-Tails were born.
They were not natural beasts, but artificially manufactured weapons — formed through the vitality of planets and refined with special vessels.
Sakumo Hatake frowned. "If that's the case, why didn't they strike our world earlier?"
Orochimaru clasped his hands behind his back. "Because of civil war. The Ōtsutsuki are divided between doves and hawks. The doves believe their power is already sufficient. The hawks believe the clan must continue devouring planets to maintain supremacy. The two sides have fought for a thousand years."
He smiled grimly. "Princess Kaguya once fled this very homeland during that strife."
The tale was short, but it carried the entire tragic history of the shinobi world.
Sasuke's Battle
A golden flare split the dark heavens above them. Explosions thundered one after another.
"Divine Art: Celestial Fire Pillar!"
Boom!
The technique tore through the night sky, bathing the world in sudden light.
Sasuke Uchiha hovered in the air, his left arm bleeding freely. He ignored the wound, his eyes narrowed, Mangekyō blazing. Ninjutsu could be absorbed by the Ōtsutsuki. Only magic, only divine arts, struck true.
Fugaku stared at the lone figure, dumbfounded.
"That boy…"
Orochimaru's voice came soft. "Since learning you could be resurrected, Sasuke has fought like this every day. Even injured, he licks his wounds in silence, never stopping. For his family… he gives everything."
Fugaku and Mikoto's eyes filled with tears.
Their son, once just a boy practicing Fireball Jutsu clumsily for weeks, had become a cold killer. Their failings as parents burned bitterly in their hearts.
"Sasuke!"
Mikoto's voice broke as she cried out to him.
It was not loud, but the golden figure in the sky froze mid-flight. His body stiffened. That voice… Could it be?
He turned.
There, standing beside Orochimaru, were two figures he thought never to see again.
Father.
Mother.
"Be careful—behind you!"
A sudden ambush came. But before it could land, three silhouettes flashed through space.
Hinata Hyūga, Tsunade, and Samui appeared, their divine power bursting forth.
Hinata smiled. "It's fine. From here, the three of us will take over. Let this world feel the greatness of God."
Tsunade nodded. "It should be so."
Samui raised her blade. "Let's go."
The Goddesses' Wrath
With a shift of space, they materialized in Sasuke's place.
The Ōtsutsuki warriors froze. "Princess? No… you are not Princess Kaguya!"
Hinata's eyes glowed with otherworldly light. "I am anger incarnate. The balance of light and darkness ends here."
"Life Magic: Reverse — Death and Decline!" Tsunade intoned.
"Star-Slaying Swordsmanship!" Samui roared.
Three divine arts struck as one. The very foundation of the Ōtsutsuki homeland quaked.
Orochimaru placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "You've worked hard. Leave the rest to us."
Sasuke turned, his eyes blazing. "Thank you, priest."
His gaze snapped to his parents, and his voice cracked with emotion. "Father… Mother…"
Tears welled unbidden. God had answered his devotion. His prayers had not been in vain.
As long as he fought, miracles would follow.
"I love Eternal Religion," Sasuke whispered. "I love the God of Eternity. He gave me hope."
Wiping his tears, he looked to Naruto, who stood stunned. "What are you waiting for? We have to fight too. We can't let the goddesses handle everything."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Right. Let's go!"
Ten Days of War
The battle raged for ten days.
The Ōtsutsuki clan had more treasures and forbidden medicines than anyone imagined. Tribe members returned from distant worlds, hurling themselves into the fight. Ten-Tails vessels stirred. Sacred fruits glowed with ominous light.
But the ninja world's combined might, guided by the goddesses, pressed forward relentlessly.
One after another, the Ōtsutsuki fell.
At last, silence reigned. The clan lay defeated. Their treasures and elixirs gathered, sealed within Tsunade's hands.
Their mission was complete.
Tsunade looked to the others. "When next we meet, it will be in the God Realm. This avatar's power nears its end. Nawaki… tell him I kept my promise."
Hinata smiled gently. "Don't worry. We'll meet again soon."
The Heroic System's Limits
The first field test of the Heroic Spirit System revealed its flaws.
Energy: Once consumed, it could not be replenished. Every battle drained irreversibly.
Techniques: Some divine arts were too powerful, annihilating all within a thousand miles if released without restraint. Many had to be held back.
Duration: At most, a heroic avatar could last fifteen days.
The system required major refinement. Yet even this imperfect version, Liu Che judged, could be sold at an astonishing price. With it, he could barter for rare treasures.
The Great Sacrifice
Three days later, Orochimaru led the final sacrifice.
This time, the entire shinobi world contributed — every believer, every ounce of faith, every fragment of fortune.
When the starry curtain descended, cheers erupted across the lands.
The ninja world was ascending, finally joining the World of God.
Ao Gan, the starry sky true dragon, descended once more, carrying the entire realm into God's Domain.
A chime rang:
"Ding… Congratulations on harvesting a world. Thousand-fold increase activated. Choose the evolutionary path of this world."
Three options appeared:
[Sage Arts] — the immortal system of Li Shimin's world.
[Divine Martial Arts] — the refined system of Tanjirou's world.
[Spirit Calling] — an improvement drawn from the Ōtsutsuki, allowing every cultivator to bond with a spirit beast, merging strength into a force greater than the sum of its parts.
The last option resembled the jinchūriki's bond with tailed beasts — but far more advanced, akin to the Ōtsutsuki's manipulation of the Ten-Tails. Neither side of the contract could truly die. A fallen beast would return to its host; a fallen host would be restored through the beast.
Liu Che smiled. "How entertaining… My God's Domain teems with sacred beasts. Spirit Calling will suit it perfectly."
Orochimaru's Fate
Orochimaru awaited the oracle, anticipation written on his face.
"A new profession," he mused. "Marvelous… perhaps even I can wield it."
He raised his eyes to the envoy. "Tell me… may I use the Spirit Calling method?"
Hinata Hyūga descended, smiling faintly. "Yes. Your old friend has missed you dearly. You may contract with him again."
"Old… friend?" Orochimaru's face paled.
A white doorway split open before him. From within, a massive purple tail lashed out, coiling tightly around him.
A familiar, mocking voice slithered through the air.
"Well, well… isn't this my dear old master, Orochimaru? Yo… let's hatch eggs together! From today on, you're mine. Ssshhhhh…"
It was Manda, the giant serpent, reborn as a contracted spirit beast.
Hinata chuckled softly. "The gods' sense of humor is… unique."
Orochimaru's face crumpled in despair. To be forced into incubating snake eggs… all day, every day… truly, the gods' evil taste knew no bounds.
In the Multiverse Chat Group
The moment the ninja world ascended, the group erupted.
Since Rin Tohsaka and Tanjiro had already been promoted, everyone's eyes now turned to the starry skies, guessing which member's world had risen this time.
Li Er: "Which big boss just ascended? Why so quiet?"
Spirit of the Demon Sword: "Not me."
Fox Who Only Loves Money: "Not me either. You know I'd brag the moment it happened."
Sadly Reminded Lao Gao: "Not me, obviously…"
Chu Dashan: "I just teamed up with Tanjiro. Whose turn is it? @Ji Shi Miko?"
Ji Shi Miko: "Not mine."
Pursuing Sentient Beings: "Then it must be Murong Fu!"
Young Master Murong: "I'm crying here, okay? It's not me!!"
For Peace: "If it's not any of you, then it's either the old liar… or the old snake. The liar hasn't spoken. So that leaves…"
Ninja Scientist (Orochimaru): "…It's me."
Spirit of the Demon Sword: "Hah! No wonder you look so miserable. Summoning a heroic spirit must've drained you dry."
At that very moment, Orochimaru sat cross-legged on top of a massive egg, his face twisted in despair.
"I'm a man," he thought bitterly. "And yet they force me to incubate eggs. Is there no law? No justice?"
Pirates of the Caribbean: "Pfft… Did you offend the gods again? Hahahaha! If so, I'll drink two glasses in your honor."
Junior Brother Dazhufeng: "Wait… Brother Snake, what the hell happened?"
Ninja Scientist (Orochimaru): "…Nothing. Just… my work lately makes me want to cry."
He uploaded a picture.
The chat group erupted in laughter.