"Your... your attack..."
Kaguya stared at the Ten-Tails, which had suddenly collapsed to the ground after taking a heavy blow. Her expression was dazed and baffled.
What was happening here? She couldn't quite comprehend it. It felt as though time and space had both twisted together, and then Kitagawa Minamoto's unleashed attack erupted, landing heavily on the unfortunate Ten-Tails!
This mode of attack seemed entirely beyond imagination!
"This is a unique ability of mine, or you could call it my eye technique."
Kitagawa Minamoto chuckled casually, his gaze fixed on the Ten-Tails.
"It's not dead yet. Though it's been crippled, it still retains enough of its essence. Next, it's time for the next phase of my plan."
Kitagawa Minamoto had come here for the Ten-Tails, and dealing with it had proven much easier than he'd anticipated.
"Unbelievable, isn't it? The Ten-Tails is even inferior to the Tailed Beasts. While the Tailed Beasts require Jinchūriki to unleash their full potential, the Ten-Tails doesn't even have intelligence."
"Do you even hear yourself?"
Kaguya couldn't hold back anymore. Having been out in the world for a while, she had come to understand many aspects of it, and this left her exasperated.
"Even if the Tailed Beasts have intelligence, even if they cooperate with lower creatures to display some power, how could they possibly compare to the Ten-Tails?"
"Not necessarily."
Kitagawa Minamoto recalled the scene when Naruto and Killer Bee teamed up against the Ten-Tails. Though it had been a brutal battle, they had managed to hold their own.
"There's no room for luck, just as lower creatures stand no chance against us."
Yet Kaguya shook her head, her tone cold.
"Normally, lower creatures have no means to resist. This world is nothing more than one forged by Hagoromo from countless bones and blood over a thousand years. Especially now, with you inheriting the legacy left by countless beings over those millennia. Otherwise..."
"Wait, are you misunderstanding your precious son?"
"There's no misunderstanding. The fact that he sealed me away shows his meticulous and ruthless nature!"
"..."
"In fact, he might..."
"Might what?"
Kitagawa Minamoto was puzzled. Why had Kaguya suddenly gone silent?
Meanwhile, he approached the Ten-Tails, opening a spatial portal.
Roar—
The Ten-Tails attempted to struggle, but Kitagawa Minamoto stomped on its head, rendering it immobile.
At the same time, the spatial portal began rapidly absorbing it. Within the Heavenly Sanctum, the Divine Tree Source quietly transformed.
Suddenly, Kitagawa Minamoto asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"...Nothing."
Kaguya hesitated for a moment before shaking her head reluctantly.
She had just realized why her precious son was so convinced that the thousand years of conflict would lead to peace. The answer was simple: he must have foreseen the emergence of Kitagawa Minamoto, this mysterious Ōtsutsuki, and perhaps even something far more terrifying.
"Like his 'Ascension Stairway'..."
In a daze, Kaguya began to understand why her two sons, both pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki, chose "death."
"Could it be that, to avoid clashing with Kitagawa Minamoto's 'Ascension Stairway,' they abandoned their physical forms and opted for spiritual existence?"
By choosing a spiritual form and entering the Pure Land, they allowed Indra and Asura's conflict to escalate, expanding the scale of wars to create conditions for Kitagawa Minamoto.
At the same time...
"They also allowed Zetsu's actions. He forged things related to the Hyūga Clan but didn't plan to release me. Perhaps the other forged items were meant to release me!"
Releasing Kaguya to encounter Kitagawa Minamoto...
"Hiss! Could it be that I was originally predetermined by Hagoromo and the others to become a sacrifice for Kitagawa Minamoto's 'Ascension Stairway'?"
Thinking of this possibility, Kaguya's face turned pale.
Although there was no concrete evidence, the development of events seemed to point strongly in this direction!
Kitagawa Minamoto might appear amiable, but his ruthless methods—especially towards other Ōtsutsuki—were chilling.
And with his 'Ascension Stairway' even granting him Kekkei Mōra, there was no way he would spare any Ōtsutsuki!
Roar—
Just as her fear deepened, Isshiki's Ten-Tails was completely absorbed into Kitagawa Minamoto's Heavenly Sanctum.
In the next instant, a piercing scream echoed through the space!
Alongside the scream, sounds of devouring reverberated, making the already horrific cries even more harrowing.
"Damn it..."
Kaguya's face grew even paler. Having already been contemplating terrifying possibilities, this sound felt like a grim omen for her own future!
"Oh, not bad. It's still struggling?"
What was even more horrifying was that Kitagawa Minamoto, upon hearing the agonized screams, laughed and casually commented?
"But this is good. The more it struggles, the happier I am. After all, the more it struggles, the more vitality it shows!"
"..."
Kaguya's face turned even whiter. The more it struggles, the happier he gets?
He truly was a Ōtsutsuki raised by Hagoromo, adapted to this cold-blooded and brutal ninja world!
"Keep struggling. Your energy will eventually become part of me."
Kitagawa Minamoto nodded approvingly. Though the devouring process seemed gruesome, it wasn't actually bloody.
The Ten-Tails might be a beast, but it was also a Divine Tree. Its devouring followed the principle of "energy absorption."
Kitagawa Minamoto's Divine Tree Source was already extraordinary, having received so many "resources." Especially now, he had severed the supply from the Divine Tree Source to himself, making his Divine Tree Source even larger and more terrifying.
Dealing with a heavily injured Ten-Tails was simply effortless!
"Recover well. There's another Ten-Tails waiting for you. I'm looking forward to your fruit..."
Kitagawa Minamoto listened to the agonized screams echoing from the spatial portal, then cheerfully closed it.
He was now truly looking forward to the reactions of the Ōtsutsuki clan when they saw his Kekkei Mōra—or even a higher-level Kekkei Mōra. Would they go "mad with joy"?
"But before that, I need to retrieve Ōtsutsuki Shibai's remains. Fortunately, I've already pinpointed the location. It's only a matter of time now."
Kitagawa Minamoto muttered to himself, then turned to Kaguya within his body with a smile.
"Let's go meet Ōtsutsuki Shibai. Though he's already dead, his legend is vast. Maybe he can still help me."
"..."
Kaguya didn't respond. She was still immersed in her own thoughts, and her silence puzzled Kitagawa Minamoto.
"Hey, what's wrong with you now?"
"..."
This voice snapped Kaguya out of her reverie. She felt the overwhelming aura radiating from Kitagawa Minamoto, looked at the now-empty space devoid of the Ten-Tails, and recalled the screams that had echoed in her mind.
After a long pause, she sighed deeply.
"Hagoromo, you're colder and more ruthless than I ever imagined!"
"?"
"I admit, I've completely lost!"
"..."
Kitagawa Minamoto was bewildered by Kaguya's chakra fluctuations. He truly couldn't understand what this woman was rambling about now.
But he did guess one thing correctly—those three Ōtsutsuki were indeed on the verge of madness.
Though they hadn't yet encountered him, the power that had shattered the seal of the Heavenly Sanctum... made them suspect that Kitagawa Minamoto was likely using Kekkei Mōra!
And that alone was enough to spark endless speculation.
"Kekkei Mōra is no ordinary thing..."
This elevation in life's fundamental level was even more alluring than simply gaining power!
And the 'Ascension Stairway' seemed to offer both, which spoke volumes about its significance.
"If this is true, then the 'Ascension Stairway' is far too valuable and important..."
But at this thought, the three of them paused, because even they didn't dare to think further.
This was a matter of utmost importance, and even they needed to confirm it carefully!
"Perhaps it's just a misjudgment. There's still much to verify."
After a while, Isshiki spoke softly, and his words made Urashiki and Momoshiki nod in agreement.
"Indeed, there's much that needs to be confirmed..."
"..."
Seeing their indifferent attitudes, Isshiki realized his words had been wasted. But he didn't care; instead, he focused more intently on the current situation.
"Hmph, Kitagawa Minamoto must have discovered us. Otherwise, he could have gone all out, but he hasn't. Instead, he's been holding back."
"True. What is this guy waiting for?"
Momoshiki glanced at Isshiki deeply, then shifted his gaze to their "vessel."
"It seems like he's deliberately baiting our 'vessel,' yet he's neither striking heavily nor leaving. What's his goal?"
"Could it be the Ten-Tails these people are collecting?"
Urashiki pondered for a moment, and seemed to have an answer.
"Since he's discovered us, he must have realized that constant action would accelerate our release. But he's also worried that our accelerated emergence would ruin their plans..."
"So he's stalling, waiting for the Ten-Tails to be released. Clearly, his goal is also the Ten-Tails."
Isshiki had a realization, but as soon as he mentioned the Ten-Tails, his fists clenched tightly.
His had been stolen by Kitagawa Minamoto, his Ten-Tails was gone...
And what worried him even more wasn't just the Ten-Tails, but the deepest part of his space—where Ōtsutsuki Shibai's remains were hidden!
Given Kitagawa Minamoto's insane nature, if he found them, who knew what kind of catastrophic events might unfold?
"That lunatic wouldn't actually use this great being's remains for some 'Ascension Stairway,' would he?"
Though he considered such actions acceptable in principle, the problem was that this was supposed to be his!
"Damn it, this Kitagawa Minamoto, with his own plans, has indirectly helped Ōtsutsuki Minamoto!"
Thinking of how Ōtsutsuki Minamoto had indirectly benefited, they all felt an extreme sense of displeasure.
After all, they hadn't yet been resurrected, and thus couldn't stop Kitagawa Minamoto's raid on Isshiki's Heavenly Sanctum.
Of course, even if they were resurrected and rushed over, it wasn't certain they could win!
"Huh? Why is Kitagawa Minamoto's aura becoming stranger?"
Suddenly, Urashiki looked at Kitagawa Minamoto in confusion, and asked curiously.
"Earlier, his aura suddenly weakened, which I found odd. But now, it's growing stronger again. How strange."
"Could this be what's called an 'Evolver'?"
Urashiki raised an eyebrow, while Isshiki's expression turned peculiar.
"How odd. Why does his body now exude an increasingly strong Divine Tree aura? What's going on here?"
The Divine Tree's aura was unmistakable to them, as they had cultivated countless Divine Trees themselves.
But Kitagawa Minamoto's aura was becoming heavier and stronger, leaving them puzzled.
Regardless, this seemed to further validate their high regard for Ōtsutsuki Minamoto. This guy truly possessed unimaginable energy!
If consumed, he would undoubtedly be a vital step on the 'Ascension Stairway.'
"Damn it, why is this guy also growing stronger?"
Obito and his team noticed the changes in Kitagawa Minamoto too. An incredible aura was gathering around him, becoming increasingly overwhelming.
This power grew stronger and more terrifying, leaving them utterly stunned.
"Damn it, is he evolving too?"
Suddenly, Obito realized something, and exclaimed in disbelief.
His words left Nagato and Kimimaro in a daze.
Nagato had naturally felt the "call of power" within him, urging him to fight endlessly.
And while Kimimaro didn't fully understand the concept of "evolution," he knew that combat could unleash his potential.
But where had Kitagawa Minamoto reached? They couldn't fathom it, because Kitagawa Minamoto's strength was simply beyond their imagination.
They had initially hoped to sharpen themselves through this battle with Kitagawa Minamoto, and perhaps glimpse the limits of his "evolution."
But now, it seemed they were witnessing those limits, and the situation was becoming far more complicated!
"It's the Divine Tree Source absorbing the Ten-Tails' power, and feeding it back to the clone."
Kitagawa Minamoto's Divine Tree clone wore a strange expression, as though even he hadn't expected this outcome.
But as the chakra within him surged violently, Kitagawa Minamoto's body began to float gently.
In the next instant, countless trees sprouted around him, and a radiant blue glow enveloped his form.
This glow burned like a flame, its pure chakra aura suffocating.
Behind him, three Truth-Seeking Orbs quietly formed and began orbiting him!
"Is this... the power used by Ōtsutsuki Minamoto?"
Obito and his team instantly recognized it. The golden sword formed by the Truth-Seeking Orbs was unforgettable.
At that moment, a terrifying thought crossed their minds—
"Has Kitagawa Minamoto reached the end of 'evolution'?"
Yet Kitagawa Minamoto's aura continued to grow stronger, becoming increasingly oppressive and despair-inducing.
Buzz—
In the next instant, as the aura reached its peak, the surging chakra exploded suddenly!
The roaring chakra turned the sky white as day, and the vast energy seemed to spread across the entire ninja world.
Obito and his team were knocked to the ground by the terrifying chakra. They stared blankly at Kitagawa Minamoto floating in the sky, clenching their fists tightly.
"Is this... what a true 'Evolver' looks like?"
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📚 BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!📚
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
🔥 Full story available now
💎 Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
👉 Join my Patreon community today!
[✨ patreon.com/GoldenLong]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━