Within Mount Myōboku.
The Great Toad Sage gazed solemnly at the crystal ball before him, his entire demeanor heavy with seriousness.
Around him, several massive toads stood silently, not daring to utter a word. Even the brash and arrogant Gamabunta remained obedient and quiet in this moment. As for Gamaken and Gamahiro, who were typically more reserved, they were even more subdued.
"Father, what's going on?" After some hesitation, Gamakichi couldn't hold back and asked. "Is the Great Toad Sage so tense because of that chakra?"
The surge of chakra from outside was too overwhelming—even within Mount Myōboku, they could feel it clearly. Gamakichi had grown up, his size now rivaling his father's. Yet even he felt an unsettling fear deep within, a fear he had never imagined before.
"What exactly is happening outside?"
Gamakichi couldn't help but voice his confusion, but his father shot him a fierce glare.
"Be quiet. This isn't the time for discussion!"
Gamabunta, though equally puzzled, could see that the situation was dire. Thus, he remained unusually well-behaved.
"Let the Great Toad Sage make arrangements. This time, it doesn't seem simple."
"Oh."
Gamakichi nodded reluctantly, his eyes fixed on the Great Toad Sage, waiting for further instructions.
"Is everyone here?"
After what felt like an eternity, the Great Toad Sage finally spoke in his aged voice. His previously sleepy eyes now showed no trace of drowsiness, instead scanning the gathered toads with sharp clarity.
"Everyone has arrived, Great Sage."
Fukasaku immediately responded, earning a nod from the Great Toad Sage.
"Has there been any response from Jiraiya?"
"Not yet. He's likely engaged in battle, so..."
"Keep trying to contact him. He must understand the gravity of the situation."
"Understood. But what exactly is happening this time?"
Fukasaku couldn't suppress his curiosity. He glanced at the other toads present, then voiced the question that was on everyone's mind.
"Also, what is the source of that chakra?"
"It's better to tell you, so you can prepare yourselves mentally."
The Great Toad Sage sighed deeply, his tone heavy with seriousness.
"This may very well be a pivotal moment for the survival of the entire ninja world. That chakra you felt earlier likely came from the Ten-Tails."
"What?!"
"The Ten-Tails?"
"The legendary Ten-Tails?"
The revelation left all the toads stunned. Living in Mount Myōboku, they naturally knew more than most. The appearance of such a terrifying entity as the Ten-Tails was enough to shake them to their core!
"Great Sage, are you certain that aura belongs to the Ten-Tails?"
Shima couldn't help but ask, and the Great Toad Sage nodded helplessly.
"Yes, it's the Ten-Tails. And the reason I've gathered you all here is precisely because of this."
As he spoke, his gaze grew complex, but he quickly regained his composure.
"The Ten-Tails poses an unimaginable threat to the entire ninja world. We must take action, no matter what. Moreover, the ninja world is once again engulfed in war—a war of unprecedented scale. For the sake of peace, we must make some decisions to protect this world!"
"War, huh?"
Gamaken looked a bit dazed, but showed no trace of fear. Gamahiro simply nodded, seeming faintly eager.
"War, huh? Tch, what a hassle. But smashing them to bits will do the trick!"
Gamabunta was the most straightforward. He grabbed his pipe and shouted, his tone a mix of annoyance and excitement.
"Protecting the world, huh!"
Gamakichi blinked curiously. Having grown up, he longed to explore the outside world more!
Not just them—the other toads were also growing excited. After all, this was a direct call from the Great Toad Sage. Even if danger was involved, it was definitely worth looking forward to.
"War, huh..."
Only Fukasaku and Shima sensed something amiss. But since the Great Toad Sage hadn't elaborated, they refrained from asking further.
"Prepare yourselves. Once Jiraiya summons us, we'll set out."
Seeing the enthusiasm of the toads, the Great Toad Sage thought for a moment, then closed his eyes to rest.
Yet even he didn't notice that his body was trembling slightly.
"Those three Ōtsutsuki, already being used as part of the 'Ascension Stairway,' their aura growing stronger..."
"And then there's Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, sealed away after nearly destroying the world..."
"Not to mention the Ten-Tails, now far more terrifying than before..."
"And lurking in this world, hunting other Ōtsutsuki to ascend himself—Kitagawa Minamoto!"
"What has become of this world?"
"Hagoromo, Hamura—if this continues..."
"This world is truly doomed!"
"Brother, Minamoto... that child..."
The great toads of Mount Myōboku were consumed by fear. Not just them—the entire ninja world had descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, in the Pure Land, the Six Paths brothers watched the unfolding events in a daze.
The Ten-Tails was all too familiar to them. Back then, they had defeated their mother, sealed the Ten-Tails, and Hagoromo had split it into the Tailed Beasts, giving rise to the ninja world as it is today.
Now, a Ten-Tails far stronger and more terrifying than before had appeared. How could they not feel alarmed?
"I don't know. Don't ask me."
Hagoromo replied numbly to his brother's questions. Recently, he felt like the phrase he uttered most often was, "I don't know."
It wasn't his fault—he genuinely didn't understand these developments. He didn't even know where Kitagawa Minamoto had gotten a Ten-Tails.
Now, the aura erupting from Minamoto's clone suggested he had acquired another Ten-Tails!
"Maybe... when he awakened his bloodline, he came with his own Ten-Tails?"
Hagoromo was grasping at straws, trying to find a reason that would convince himself.
"And earlier, you saw him open a space and enter another realm, where there's another Ten-Tails—one belonging to those alien Ōtsutsuki?"
Hamura quickly grasped his brother's meaning, but couldn't help feeling more confused.
"Could it be... he fed the other Ōtsutsuki's Ten-Tails to his own?"
"I truly don't know."
Hagoromo replied painfully, clearly not wanting to discuss this further.
"Instead of dwelling on this, let's focus on the urgent matters. Everyone has been drawn to that chakra aura, and they're beginning to converge. So..."
"Oh? Brother, are you planning to act?"
Hamura immediately understood his brother's intent. It seemed Hagoromo couldn't sit still any longer—he was ready to take action!
"Yes, it's time to act. Things have already spiraled out of control."
Hagoromo smiled bitterly, standing up and gazing into the distance.
"I've always believed in Minamoto, because this world holds his bonds. But I also hope this matter proceeds smoothly, and that we can resolve a thousand-year-old grievance."
"A thousand-year-old grievance?"
Hamura blinked, immediately understanding his brother's meaning.
"You mean the issue between Indra and Asura?"
"Yes. It's been a thousand years. This is the best era—some issues should finally be resolved."
Hagoromo nodded. Though his words were resolute, his heart was heavy.
He also wanted to understand Kitagawa Minamoto's intentions, but asking directly would likely seem impolite.
It would be better to use the resolution of Indra and Asura's conflict as an excuse to appear, then find an opportunity to question this Ōtsutsuki born in the ninja world.
Hagoromo trusted Minamoto, but Minamoto's actions were becoming increasingly exaggerated!
"Shall we go together?"
After a moment's thought, Hagoromo turned to his brother.
"You've already awakened—don't you want to stretch your legs?"
"I'd be delighted."
Hamura thought for a moment, then nodded decisively.
"Besides, the ninja world still has my descendants, and their Byakugan is remarkably pure. I also want to verify something."
"Hmm? You..."
"I want to see if your thousand-year manipulation of the ninja world, built on the bones of countless beings, is truly as effective as you claim."
"..."
"And when Indra and Asura's reincarnations learn the truth, how will they face you?"
"..."
"Oh, and when Mother and Kitagawa Minamoto meet you, I wonder what they'll think?"
"..."
Hagoromo took a deep breath. He was already regretting inviting his brother. For a moment, he even considered strangling this damned sibling right then and there.
"So... it really is him. It's truly Ōtsutsuki Shibai's remains..."
While the entire ninja world was in turmoil, and even as the Sage of Six Paths prepared to act, Kaguya was panicking inside Isshiki's Heavenly Sanctum.
She had just witnessed the god-like figure in the hidden space, and what terrified her even more was seeing Kitagawa Minamoto planning to take him away!
"Are you insane? What are you doing? Do you know what he represents?"
"Of course I know, but what of it?"
Kitagawa Minamoto replied with confusion, but his hands never stopped working as he opened his own Heavenly Sanctum.
He understood what Kaguya was trying to express, but he didn't care. This time, he had truly "done in Isshiki"—or rather, "done in Isshiki first."
He acknowledged that Ōtsutsuki Shibai was a god-like existence, and his remains were an unimaginable treasure. Even just sensing his aura made Kitagawa Minamoto feel fearful, but so what?
Shibai had already achieved transcendence, and probably didn't even care about his physical body anymore.
"After all, Isshiki allowed people to extract his blood, use his body for research, and even replicate his 'divine techniques' to implant in others!"
Having undergone so much research and experimentation, this "Ōtsutsuki God" had shown no reaction whatsoever. This was enough to prove that he had completely transcended, truly abandoning his physical form and soaring to higher dimensions, becoming a true "god"!
"If Isshiki dared to do it, why shouldn't I?"
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow. This was a crucial step toward his "Ascension Stairway," and he wouldn't give it up for anything.
"Do you really think Isshiki locked him away here without ulterior motives?"
After transferring Ōtsutsuki Shibai's remains to his own Heavenly Sanctum, Kitagawa Minamoto spoke disdainfully.
"If he dared to do it, why shouldn't I? Is that a joke?"
"How... how do you know he dared?"
Kaguya hesitated, then asked fearfully, but the question caught Kitagawa Minamoto off guard.
Wait... had Isshiki not actually done anything yet?
But before he could dwell on this, he noticed that his Divine Tree Source had already restored itself to a massive tree. The colossal tree was emitting an incomparable aura, its magnificent branches seeming to pierce the heavens!
At the top of the tree, the once-budding flower had slightly opened, revealing a crimson glow within.
"It's already reached this stage?"
Kitagawa Minamoto looked at his Divine Tree Source, a smile spreading across his face.
"Next comes the second Ten-Tails. Everyone outside is starting to gather. It seems everything is falling into place..."
Kaguya saw that Kitagawa Minamoto was ignoring her again and wanted to say more. But when she beheld the immense Divine Tree and Ōtsutsuki Shibai's remains that Kitagawa had brought in, she fell silent, her heart filled with fear. She didn't dare speak another word, afraid that she might be the next victim.
Moreover, she became increasingly certain of one thing:
"He even dares to use the remains of Ōtsutsuki Shibai, a god-like existence..."
"Hagoromo, so this is why you abandoned your physical form!"
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