Willpower—perhaps it is one of the few ways to resist the mental erosion caused by the Ōtsutsuki consciousness.
Whether it ultimately proves effective, Kitagawa Minamoto couldn't say for sure. But during the second stage of the "Karma," it seemed to have some effect.
At the very least, Nagato appeared to be showing signs of resistance at this moment.
"Damn it!"
Nagato, who was already undergoing Ōtsutsuki transformation, roared furiously, struggling desperately against Momoshiki's invasive consciousness.
The mental erosion was unimaginably terrifying. He could clearly feel himself slowly becoming someone else, his own existence being replaced by another will, stripping him of everything and erasing him from the world entirely, leaving no trace behind.
Such a fate was something Nagato could neither accept nor tolerate!
"Tch, this guy's willpower is stronger than expected..."
Momoshiki's expression darkened. Nagato's persistent interference, combined with the attacks from Isshiki's "vessels," had given him an opportunity to partially regain his consciousness.
Though it wasn't a major issue, Momoshiki couldn't help but feel humiliated—being countered by an inferior being was hardly acceptable for an Ōtsutsuki.
"Especially now that the Ten-Tails has emerged, this complicates matters..."
Momoshiki was well aware of the plans of these humans. Not just him, but even Urashiki and Isshiki within the consciousness channel were visibly unsettled.
"Damn it, Momoshiki got countered!"
Urashiki gritted his teeth and growled softly, his consciousness trembling as though in fear. Isshiki's brow furrowed deeply.
"With the Ten-Tails now unleashed, it seems Minamoto will truly make his appearance..."
Ōtsutsuki Minamoto—he was undoubtedly the most terrifying existence for the three Ōtsutsuki present. Their current miserable state was entirely due to the actions of that bastard Minamoto!
Isshiki had been burdened with countless accusations and betrayals, to the point where even his own clan no longer trusted him.
As for Momoshiki and Urashiki, they had been "skinned and dismantled," reduced to the sacrificial remnants of Minamoto's ascension to godhood.
Now, in their weakened state, the thought of encountering Ōtsutsuki Minamoto again was utterly horrifying.
"The Ten-Tails! That's the Ten-Tails!"
On the battlefield, the faces of the ninja were filled with terror. This battle had already surpassed their wildest imaginations, and now the legendary beast had appeared, making the situation even more unpredictable.
The sheer size of the Ten-Tails was suffocating. Even as its form remained partially obscured by the dust, the mere sway of its tails—larger than any other Tailed Beast—was enough to instill fear in everyone.
Buzz—
As the tails gently swayed, the thick dust dispersed instantly, the ground trembled violently, and a raging storm rapidly formed.
The howling winds swept across the battlefield, making it difficult for even distant ninjas to stay on their feet. As the dust cleared, the true form of the Ten-Tails gradually emerged.
Its grotesque and monstrous visage was terrifying, and the massive, crimson Rinnegan with nine tomoe slowly scanned the crowd.
"Damn it..."
As the nine-tomoe Rinnegan swept across the battlefield, every ninja present felt a deep tremor in their hearts. Shock, fear, despair—an array of emotions surfaced uncontrollably.
Whether alive or resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation, no one could escape these feelings.
Many couldn't help but entertain a single thought: "We need to leave this place. This isn't something we can handle!"
Fear spread silently, affecting everyone. Even Madara Uchiha's expression turned grim.
"The Ten-Tails has emerged? Has the plan completely fallen apart?"
Madara was still unclear about what had transpired, but with Obito and Nagato fighting each other and the Ten-Tails unleashed while he remained unrevived, it was evident that the situation had taken a dire turn.
"The Ten-Tails..."
Hashirama Senju also paused, his face growing solemn.
"Is this your plan, Madara?!"
"My plan is not that foolish."
Madara snorted coldly, stopping his attack and turning toward the Ten-Tails. This left Hashirama momentarily stunned.
"Where are you going? Damn it!"
Although he protested verbally, Hashirama quickly followed suit. Elsewhere, Sasuke and Naruto also turned their gazes toward the Ten-Tails.
"The Ten-Tails, huh..."
Sasuke's crimson Sharingan locked onto the distant beast. Meanwhile, he pressed his short blade down against Itachi Uchiha, rendering him immobile. Sasuke now dealt with Itachi effortlessly and confidently.
"Damn it..."
While Sasuke's situation was favorable, Naruto's predicament was far worse. Within him, Kurama was roaring furiously, its fear palpable.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Sasuke asked with concern, not even glancing at the immobilized Itachi. Naruto responded softly,
"Kurama's acting up. Damn it, why now?"
"You'd better deal with it quickly."
Sasuke glanced around, noticing that the surrounding combatants had begun to cease their actions. Even those resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation had stopped moving.
He couldn't shake the feeling that an even greater force was about to descend.
"Our troubles are far from over."
"I know. I'll handle it quickly."
Naruto replied softly, though his stomach churned with pain. Within his mind, he shouted angrily:
"What are you doing, you stupid fox?! This is no time for jokes!"
"Do you even understand what you're facing right now?"
Naruto's vision shifted, and in an instant, he found himself within his consciousness space. Inside the new seal, Kurama stood with its fur bristling, its crimson fox eyes fixed on the distant figure.
"That's the Ten-Tails. Even if it's incomplete, it's still the Ten-Tails. And that guy..."
"Yeah, I know."
Naruto nodded, but his gaze remained unwavering, his tone resolute.
"But if I don't do something, I won't be able to protect everyone. Even if it's the Ten-Tails, so what!"
"What you're facing..."
Kurama's words did nothing to move Naruto. Instead, the fox's fear grew even more pronounced.
"Is not just the Ten-Tails. You're facing someone—or perhaps a group—far more terrifying!"
As Kurama's warning echoed, it was as if thunder had struck the earth. The heavens trembled, and a vast surge of Chakra began to gather, explode, and descend from the sky.
"What... what's happening?"
Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky. Only then did they notice that the heavens had inexplicably brightened.
The moonlight seemed to turn night into day, and clouds churned in the sky as a beam of light descended to the earth.
Roar—
At that moment, the Ten-Tails let out a furious howl, its hysterical roar threatening to shatter the sky itself.
The beast crouched low to the ground, its massive Rinnegan eye fixed on the heavens, as if wary of something approaching.
But everyone noticed that the Ten-Tails seemed to be trembling slightly, which immediately sparked a realization.
"The Ten-Tails... is afraid?"
Even the massive serpent summoned by Orochimaru ceased its attack, raising its head to gaze at the sky.
The moonlight grew increasingly brilliant, and within the column of light, a white, sage-like figure slowly materialized.
"Such chakra, such presence... does the ninja world truly harbor such a terrifying existence?"
The Allied Shinobi Forces fell silent, their gazes fixed on the figure in the sky. Many had cold sweat trickling down their foreheads—for most, this was their first encounter with such a fearsome being!
"So it really is him..."
The Akatsuki members stared at the sky, recognizing the figure all too well. Many of them had been turned into Impure World Reincarnations because of this very person!
"So he's finally come..."
Madara clenched his teeth, the pain of his previous encounter with this being resurfacing in his mind. Behind him, Hashirama's expression grew exceptionally grave—such a person would inspire terror no matter how many times one encountered them.
"Indeed, our greatest crisis has arrived..."
Sasuke took a deep breath. While the arrival of Ōtsutsuki Minamoto wasn't unexpected, he couldn't help but feel his heart race. Just sensing this being's chakra was enough to leave him in awe!
"So this is the legendary Ōtsutsuki Minamoto?"
Tobirama Senju's face had turned as dark as water, and beside him, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but murmur:
"Such incredible power... no wonder he's of the same clan as the legendary 'Rabbit Goddess' and hunts his own kind..."
"Tch, making such a grand entrance..."
Kitagawa Minamoto's Divine Tree clone silently muttered to himself, though he wasn't surprised by his main body's appearance. With the Ten-Tails unleashed, it was time to wrap things up!
"Damn it, he really came..."
In stark contrast to Kitagawa's composure, Obito, Nagato, and Kimimaro's expressions grew extremely tense. Especially Momoshiki, who was controlling Nagato—his face darkened to an unprecedented degree.
In the consciousness channel where only Isshiki and Urashiki remained, they too gritted their teeth.
"The most terrifying scenario has indeed come to pass, and that day has finally arrived..."
Despite the varied reactions, none could affect the descending Ōtsutsuki Minamoto.
His figure slowly descended with the moonlight, finally halting a short distance above the ground.
His gaze swept toward Kitagawa Minamoto's direction, the two quickly exchanging mental communication, before turning to Nagato, Obito, and the Ten-Tails, which continued to emit low growls as if in great fear.
"It's been a long time, Momoshiki-senpai."
He spoke with a smile, his voice like a gentle spring breeze caressing the earth.
"Though your current situation seems rather precarious, and I don't see Isshiki-senpai or Urashiki-senpai either."
"You—"
Momoshiki's expression twisted, but Kitagawa Minamoto shook his head slightly, chuckling as he spoke:
"Perhaps it would be better to call you 'Ōtsutsuki Nagato' now, and you as well—it's been a long time..."
"Ōtsutsuki Obito."
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