[After absorbing all nine Tailed Beasts, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path suddenly opened all of its eyes wide.]
Its massive body began to change, gradually evolving toward its final form.
Seeing this, Madara nodded slightly.
"It's time to become the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki."
Sasuke's Side
Kabuto looked at the dying Sasuke lying on the ground and injected a special type of chakra into his body. While maintaining Sasuke's life with Medical Ninjutsu, he sent a signal through a small snake.
At the same time—
Orochimaru received Kabuto's signal. Using a snake, he released Karin from her unconscious state before using Reverse Summoning to return to Sasuke's location.
After waking up, Karin looked around in confusion.
"Huh… where is this—"
Her eyes suddenly widened.
"Sasuke!!!"
She saw Sasuke lying on the ground, barely alive, and sensed his life force rapidly fading.
Karin quickly formed hand seals and mobilized a massive amount of chakra.
"Medical Ninjutsu: Living Regeneration Technique!"
After a while—
"Cough!"
Sasuke spat out a mouthful of blood.
Karin let out a sigh of relief. Through her sensory ability, she could tell that Sasuke was no longer in mortal danger.
Fugaku hurried over anxiously.
"Sasuke!!!"
Seeing his younger son in such a condition felt like knives stabbing his heart.
"How is he? Is he alright?!"
Karin's eyes suddenly sharpened in irritation as she shouted:
"You're so annoying! Be quiet! Don't interrupt my treatment of Sasuke!"
"Ah—oh, right."
Fugaku nodded awkwardly, realizing he had interfered with the treatment out of panic.
"Sorry. I got too emotional. Please continue."
Karin refocused and continued healing Sasuke.
After finishing most of the treatment, she finally relaxed.
Fugaku cautiously asked:
"So… how is Sasuke now?"
Karin nodded, then shook her head.
"His body has mostly recovered… but for some reason, his spirit seems to be blocked by something. He can't wake up."
Orochimaru fell into thought before turning to Hashirama Senju.
"First Hokage-sama, please transfer some of your chakra to Sasuke. That may allow him to awaken."
"No problem. Leave it to me."
Hashirama crouched down and began channeling his chakra into Sasuke's body.
Watching this, Orochimaru thought to himself:
Without Hashirama Cells, Hashirama's own chakra might still complement Sasuke's Yin chakra…
Perhaps that will awaken the Rinnegan.
Naruto's Side
On the ink eagle, Sai injected two streams of chakra into Naruto before accelerating toward where the Fourth Hokage was.
Meanwhile, back at the battlefield they had just left—
Seeing that the Ten-Tails' evolution was nearly complete, Madara formed hand seals.
"Six Paths Ten-Tails Coffin Seal."
The Ten-Tails began to be absorbed into Madara's body.
Madara's long hair turned white.
He wore a flowing white robe reminiscent of the Sage of Six Paths.
Behind him floated nine Truth-Seeking Orbs arranged in a circle.
His arms and legs turned black, and in his left hand he held the Six Paths staff.
Uchiha Madara — Ten-Tails Jinchūriki — had descended.
Step by step, Madara walked in the direction Sai had flown, killing intent in his eyes.
"Black Zetsu… there's a debt we need to settle."
At the Same Time — In Space Outside the Shinobi World
Several shadowy figures were conversing.
"Hm? A strange clan resonance? The instrument isn't malfunctioning, is it?"
"It shouldn't be. Could it be Momoshiki and the others? What do you think, Lord Baishiki?"
"The energy fluctuations aren't theirs… but they're extremely similar to that traitor Kaguya."
"It seems we're close to the destination."
"Mm. Then that traitor Kaguya and that failure Isshiki will be handled by us."
"But why are you personally coming, Lord Baishiki?"
The shadow called Baishiki replied calmly:
"A divine oracle."
[Ōtsutsuki Kaguya: Baishiki!? Damn it… it really is the main family!]
[Ōtsutsuki Isshiki: Hahaha, Kaguya, now you're finished.]
[Ōtsutsuki Kaguya: Hmph. These must be the Ōtsutsuki that Nagi was wary of. Whether I die or not remains to be seen.]
[Ōtsutsuki Isshiki: Tch, true. With Nagi's current strength, they're not necessarily his opponents. Still, I didn't expect the main family to come personally. Isn't this a bit excessive just to deal with two small fry like us?]
[Ōtsutsuki Kaguya: I'm not sure.]
[Senju Tobirama: Hey, Kaguya. What does that "divine oracle" Baishiki mentioned mean?]
[Ōtsutsuki Kaguya: I don't know either.]
Since Tobirama was Nagi's teacher, even Kaguya spoke with a measure of respect.
[Ōtsutsuki Isshiki: A divine oracle? Could it be an order from Shibai?]
[Ōtsutsuki Kaguya: That's possible. After all… he's the god of the Ōtsutsuki.]
[Senju Tobirama: In other words, this might be Shibai's command. But the world on the white side doesn't even have this so-called main family… Does that mean Shibai has already noticed the shinobi world?]
[Orochimaru: Or perhaps… he has noticed Nagi.]
[Shiranui Nagi: Shibai, huh…]
The Screen Continues…
Sai brought Naruto to where Minato and Kakashi were waiting.
After Sai explained the situation, Minato didn't hesitate. He immediately formed hand seals to transfer the Yin Half of Kurama into Naruto.
But at that critical moment—
Everyone suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure.
They slowly turned their heads.
Six Paths Madara had appeared beside them.
Minato and Kakashi instantly went on guard, while Black Zetsu stepped forward with a smile.
"Madara-sama, congratulations on becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki. It seems the Eye of the Moon Plan will soon succeed."
Madara concealed the killing intent in his eyes. Once Black Zetsu approached, he said:
"That's right. Now I am invincible. No one can stop the Infinite Tsukuyomi anymore."
"Exactly."
Black Zetsu nodded eagerly.
"So then… Ōtsutsuki Kaguya will be unsealed as well, correct?"
"That's right. At that time, Mother will—!!!"
Black Zetsu answered without thinking.
Only then did he realize he had exposed himself.
"Madara-sama, you—!"
SHK!
Three chakra black rods pierced straight through Black Zetsu.
Madara sneered.
"Heh… Black Zetsu. So the Infinite Tsukuyomi really was the lie you crafted from the very beginning."
"Madara-sama, that's not true! Someone must have deceived you!"
Even now, Black Zetsu stubbornly denied it.
Madara chuckled coldly.
"If I simply read your memories, everything will become clear… third son of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
"!!!"
Black Zetsu's face twisted in shock.
Before he could react—
Madara suddenly removed a Rinnegan and placed it into his own left eye socket.
"Much better… having both eyes again."
"But first… let's send a signal."
Madara took out a Flying Thunder God kunai that Nagi had given him and infused it with chakra.
On the other side, Minato and Kakashi were completely confused.
"Are they… fighting among themselves?"
"I have no idea. But…"
Minato looked at Naruto as the final trace of the Yin Nine-Tails chakra flowed into him.
He let out a relieved breath.
"Naruto… is safe now."
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