"How pitiful."
Listening to Obito's furious roar, Kitagawa Minamoto couldn't help but shake his head.
This guy seemed completely unaware of his own situation, and Kitagawa Minamoto felt like he might have inadvertently become an accomplice.
After all, the so-called "evolution" was nothing more than something he made up on a whim!
Who could have guessed that Obito and the others, due to their "unique circumstances," would treat this nonsense as gospel truth?
Looking at the group before him, Kitagawa Minamoto rubbed his temples and muttered softly to himself.
"The liberation of the 'Karma' mark is progressing quite well, especially for Kimimaro and Nagato. But Obito seems to be lagging far behind."
Obito's combat style had always relied on "Kamui," which sometimes made Kitagawa Minamoto wonder if Kamui was actually Obito's true essence.
However, the drawback of relying on Kamui was obvious—his "Karma" mark was unfreezing far too slowly. At this rate, Isshiki might actually start stomping his feet in frustration.
"This situation isn't doing me any favors either."
Kitagawa Minamoto pondered, but his casual demeanor felt like the ultimate insult to Obito and the others.
"Does this guy really look down on us?"
Although they had to admit that Kitagawa Minamoto was terrifyingly strong, being so blatantly underestimated was still hard for them to accept.
What gave him the right to look down on them? Weren't they all "evolved beings" just like him? Why did he call them unworthy?!
"Kitagawa Minamoto, you only got a head start in accessing 'evolution.' You have no right to act superior in front of us."
Obito growled, and in an instant, the shadow of Susanoo appeared around him.
"You have no right to judge us!"
"Oh, really?"
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow, then shook his head with a light laugh.
"Sorry to tell you, but this boring game needs to come to an end for now. I have other matters to attend to. But before that..."
Hum—
The roar of chakra was deafening. The three opponents had all activated "Karma Phase One," transforming from ordinary fighters into something far more dangerous.
It was time for Kitagawa Minamoto to up the ante and deliver heavier blows!
"Damn it..."
In a flash, Kitagawa Minamoto appeared before the trio. Nagato's face darkened as he raised his hand.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Violent repulsion erupted, a transparent ring of energy forming around Nagato. The ground beneath him sank under the force of the technique.
In his "Karma Phase One" state, Nagato's power was clearly much stronger. Even this hastily executed Shinra Tensei had a strength close to his previous "Super Shinra Tensei."
But...
"Not bad. There's still room for improvement."
Kitagawa Minamoto, however, wasn't pushed back. It was as if a fierce wind surrounded him, ruffling his sleeves but leaving him otherwise unaffected.
The black short blade in his hand continued its forward trajectory, aiming straight for Nagato.
Roar—
At that moment, a giant three-headed dog and a massive bull charged furiously at Kitagawa Minamoto.
These beasts were numerous, and though Kitagawa Minamoto had cleared out many of them, some inevitably slipped through the cracks. But this was hardly a problem.
"Did you forget what happened the last time you used these things against me?"
The two beasts roared, but in the next instant, they vanished from their original positions. When they reappeared, they were high in the air, hurtling downward to crash into each other!
Boom—
Roars and explosions echoed across the battlefield, the ground shattering into chaos. Thick smoke billowed, turning pitch black under the flames.
"Now's the time!"
Nagato seized the moment and shouted loudly. At the same time, Obito and Kimimaro appeared silently behind Kitagawa Minamoto.
Obito's blue skeletal structure expanded rapidly, followed by armor and veins. In an instant, a mature Susanoo materialized, its long blade unsheathed and warped space as it slashed downward without hesitation.
"Die!"
Kimimaro was no less aggressive. His body was covered in bone spikes, and his elongated spine transformed into a sharp spear that thrust heavily toward Kitagawa Minamoto.
Everything happened so quickly—they were clearly prepared. As Kitagawa Minamoto used his space-time ninjutsu to relocate the two beasts, their attacks followed immediately.
This kind of coordinated assault would likely overwhelm anyone else, even the "dim-witted Ōtsutsuki." But Kitagawa Minamoto was not just anyone!
"Nice teamwork. But..."
Hum—
With a faint sound of wind breaking, Kitagawa Minamoto deftly shifted his position. Like a phantom, he blocked Obito's attack with a single blade!
"I'm not like you. The so-called 'evolution' you speak of is entirely different from what I understand."
As Kitagawa Minamoto parried Obito's long blade, an explosive force erupted. The hundred-meter-long blade shattered like glass in an instant!
Under the immense pressure, Obito and his Susanoo were sent flying backward.
"Do you even know what 'evolution' truly means?"
Kitagawa Minamoto didn't even glance at Obito. In the next instant, he appeared before Kimimaro.
With a swift swing of his black blade, Kimimaro barely had time to react before his bone spear shattered. His entire body was sent flying as well.
"Do you really believe that your transformation equals 'evolution'?"
In front of Nagato, Kitagawa Minamoto's assault intensified. The black blade pierced through the repulsion created by Shinra Tensei, striking directly at Nagato.
Boom—
The extreme repulsion backfired, and under Kitagawa Minamoto's attack combined with the backlash, Nagato was launched like a cannonball.
Thunderous explosions reverberated, the ground cracked inch by inch, and waves of chakra surged wildly. The terrain seemed to be rewritten once again!
Kitagawa Minamoto showed no intention of letting them off easily. Even though the trio had been scattered to different positions, he immediately launched another offensive.
"'Evolution' is achieved through one's own power. Can you truly say that's what you're doing?"
"Have you ever considered whether your power truly belongs to you?"
"Or have you reached the point where you'll touch any kind of power, regardless of its origin?"
Amid the deafening roars and explosions, Kitagawa Minamoto's voice echoed across the sky. Obito, Nagato, and Kimimaro were battered relentlessly, left with no chance to respond or even think.
Kitagawa Minamoto's fists were too hard, his blade too sharp...
"This kind of battle..."
In the distance, the Allied Shinobi Forces watched with numb expressions. With the fight having devolved into such chaos, they didn't know what to say.
They had all become mere spectators, and the only thing they could do was avoid getting in the way of the combatants who had taken their fight to the skies.
"What does Minamoto mean by all this?"
Jiraiya couldn't help but swallow hard. His condition was relatively better than most.
Yet his face was filled with confusion. He understood the implications of Kitagawa Minamoto's words, but couldn't be certain.
"Did Nagato and the others encounter something strange that gave them their current power?"
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. As a medical ninja, she was still in good shape.
But Kitagawa Minamoto's words made her ponder as well.
"'Evolution' through one's own power... Has Minamoto made some peculiar discovery?"
Beyond this discovery, she couldn't help but wonder about something else.
What would be the endpoint of this "transformation"?
"This brat is truly perceptive!"
Meanwhile, as Obito, Nagato, and Kimimaro were being pummeled, the three Ōtsutsuki in the mental pathway couldn't help but mutter among themselves.
Kitagawa Minamoto's dominance far exceeded their expectations. Even though their "vessels" had activated the first phase of the Karma mark, they still couldn't avoid being thrashed.
This made the Ōtsutsuki inwardly snort with disdain. These three were truly embarrassing!
"However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. At least under Kitagawa Minamoto's attacks, their Karma marks are being released faster than expected."
Urashiki pondered for a moment before speaking up. His words, however, drew a cold snort from Isshiki.
"But his nonsense might make our 'vessels' suspicious!"
Isshiki was most concerned about complications. Obito Uchiha was already mentally unstable.
Right now, he was being beaten too badly to think much, but who knew what would happen once he had time to reflect?
It was fortunate that he wasn't hiding inside Kamui at the moment, but if he decided to retreat there, Isshiki would be in trouble!
"The shinobi world already has that madman Momoshiki, and now there's that lunatic Kinshiki. And Urashiki is also..."
Isshiki knew very well that regardless of Urashiki's original intentions, he would definitely seize any opportunity that presented itself.
In such a hostile environment, if his own unfreezing slowed down, he would be in serious trouble.
"Who cares? I'm about to reach 'Karma Phase Two' anyway."
Momoshiki couldn't help but laugh. He was particularly satisfied with Nagato's body.
"The more violently Kitagawa Minamoto fights, the better. Once we reach Phase Two, these lower life forms won't have a say anymore!"
"I'm also close to reaching Phase Two."
Urashiki chimed in. Kimimaro was fearless in battle, and his body was exceptionally well-suited. Plus, he possessed the Byakugan.
Once fully unfrozen, Urashiki would have the most compatible body and the most appropriate power!
"How are you doing, Isshiki?"
"..."
Hearing Urashiki's question, Isshiki was reluctant to respond, but he knew he couldn't show weakness.
"I'm also close to Phase Two. Soon we'll be in control of everything. But that Kitagawa Minamoto remains a problem. His continued nonsense is very troublesome for us."
"Why are you changing the subject?"
Momoshiki raised an eyebrow, grinning as he spoke. His gaze was fixed on Isshiki.
"At this point, after such an intense battle, whatever he says hardly matters."
Urashiki also began to laugh, his eyes turning toward Isshiki.
"My 'vessel' can't escape anyway, unlike yours..."
"Bastards!"
Isshiki cursed silently. The way these two were looking at him was deeply unsettling.
Their predatory gazes made his scalp tingle with unease. Although he knew he probably looked at them the same way...
But who would willingly become the loser, becoming another's "stairway to godhood"?
"Don't forget, Kitagawa Minamoto could very well be the incarnation of the 'planetary will,' or more likely, Momoshiki's target. If we're not careful, we could face major problems!"
"But didn't you just say he's Momoshiki's target? In that case..."
Momoshiki was unconcerned, his gaze growing more predatory. Urashiki nodded in agreement.
"He might also be part of Momoshiki's 'stairway to godhood.' We can't let Momoshiki have him!"
"Exactly. Even Momoshiki himself is our target."
Momoshiki delivered the final conclusion. At this point, Isshiki couldn't be bothered to overthink and simply nodded.
"Right. They will all be our targets!"
The three exchanged glances. Though the battle outside had escalated into a chaotic pursuit across nations, the atmosphere between them had become strangely "harmonious," their gazes filled with smiles.
But in their hearts, they all simultaneously thought the same thing!
"Kitagawa Minamoto is mine, Momoshiki is mine, and you, my dear kin..."
"You are also mine!"
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