"That much is certain," Orochimaru said slowly, nodding.
In his golden, snake-like eyes burned an intense hunger for knowledge.
"The real question is—what is the Sage of Six Paths wary of?"
"Or rather… what exactly did Naruto learn or come into contact with that drove him to such a resolute extreme? To the point of destroying the entire shinobi system just to achieve his goal?"
Orochimaru licked his lips, excitement growing more visible by the second.
"And regarding all this, is the Sage permitting it? Guiding it? Powerless to stop it? Or… is he himself merely a piece on the board—perhaps even the one being checkmated?"
"How fascinating."
"The truth behind all this may be far more interesting than the Rinnegan, the Tenseigan, or even so-called 'divine techniques.'"
Those words were like sparks in dry grass, instantly igniting the curiosity of the other two in the observation room.
Behind Kabuto's glasses, his gaze sharpened like a scalpel.
He sought the ultimate truth of the world—the foundational logic behind chakra, ninjutsu, Kekkei Genkai, and even life itself.
The Sage of Six Paths—a living origin point—and the secrets he might conceal were the ultimate research subject.
As for Karin, her excitement was far more straightforward—childlike and pure.
If there truly was a grand, hidden mystery behind the Sage and Naruto, that was far more thrilling than simply watching a fight.
"This is amazing! So amazing!" Karin nearly bounced in place, her eyes sparkling. "I want to know what happens next! Hurry up and show us!"
She had already forgotten her earlier complaints about not appearing in that future.
Now, her attention was completely captured by the deeper mystery Orochimaru and Kabuto had outlined.
"However…" Orochimaru suddenly added, his smile turning strange, "since the Sage has been watching over the shinobi world all this time… what is he doing right now?"
Kabuto stiffened instantly, his eyes filling with caution.
Karin jumped up and scanned their surroundings eagerly—only to find nothing.
The projection's shifting light deepened the tension once more.
Inside the projection—
On their way back to the base, Sasuke and Neji moved across a scorched wasteland ravaged by war. The earth beneath their feet was cracked and blackened, embers still smoldering.
Both were lost in thought.
Perhaps Sasuke was calculating how to wield his newly obtained power—and the impending Edo Tensei army.
Neji was still grappling with the shock of the twisted "rebirth ground" they had just witnessed.
Suddenly—
BOOM—!!!
Without warning, a thunderous explosion erupted on the distant horizon.
It was not a single detonation, but a chaotic mixture of shockwaves, shrieking energy collisions, and the deep tremor of the earth itself.
Even from afar, a violent gust struck them like a physical force, whipping up dust and sending their cloaks snapping in the wind.
Both stopped instantly, entering full combat readiness.
The Six-Tomoe Rinnegan in Sasuke's eye glowed violet.
Neji's Tenseigan shimmered with a brilliant azure light.
They turned simultaneously toward the source.
The sky in the distance flickered between light and shadow. Turbulent chakra fluctuations were unmistakable.
An extraordinary battle was underway.
"Is that Naruto?" Neji asked quietly, though his tone carried far more gravity than doubt.
In his understanding, only one person could cause destruction on that scale—their former comrade who had become a world-ending calamity.
Sasuke nodded slowly, his expression dark.
"That level of chakra collision… I can't think of anyone else."
He knew Naruto's current power intimately. The energy reverberating through the air was unmistakable.
But then a greater question surfaced.
"Then… who is fighting him?" Neji frowned. "Is there still anyone in the shinobi world who can confront Naruto head-on in that state?"
The Five Kage had fallen. Might Guy was dead. Sasuke had only recently recovered from grievous injuries. Neji himself had just awakened new power.
Aside from them—those rare "variables"—who remained?
Sasuke's gaze turned frost-cold, the six tomoe rotating slowly as he attempted to pierce the distant energy storm.
"Whoever it is," he said quietly, a sharp edge of anticipation in his voice, "we're going to see."
"Perfect timing," he added, eyes narrowing toward the battlefield. "Let's test the true power… of these eyes."
Before his words had fully settled, Sasuke shot forward toward the roaring horizon with absolute confidence.
Neji did not hesitate.
Brilliant blue light flared around him, a faint aura forming as if invisible forces were lifting his body.
Rather than running, he glided low across the air—almost floating—as he followed Sasuke at astonishing speed.
The Tenseigan's refined control over gravitational and energy forces was beginning to reveal its potential.
Outside the projection, the entire shinobi world held its breath.
"It's happening! The climax is coming!"
"A new character—someone fighting Naruto like that?!"
"Who is it? Who could possibly match a Rinnegan-and-divine-technique Naruto?"
"Is it that 'Divine Knights' group the projection mentioned before? Or those so-called 'Seven Warlords'?"
"Has to be! The world's deeper than we thought! Beyond the Five Great Nations and the Akatsuki, there must be terrifying hidden organizations watching from the shadows!"
"Just thinking that we might've been observed by these old monsters all along gives me chills!"
"Sasuke and Neji are joining in now! Three against one? Or a three-way battle?"
"This is total chaos! When gods fight, mortals suffer!"
"Still—this is perfect! We'll finally see how powerful Sasuke's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan and Neji's Tenseigan really are in battle!"
Speculation, excitement, fear, anticipation—all tangled together across the shinobi world.
The mere existence of someone capable of standing against world-destroying Naruto was enough to draw universal attention.
The projection zoomed forward, cutting through smoke and raging chakra currents, revealing the battlefield in clearer detail.
It was a vast basin—now doubled in size from the shockwaves of battle.
At its center stood a figure wrapped in blazing golden chakra, eyes bearing the ripple-patterned Rinnegan.
Like a wrathful god, he unleashed attack after attack without restraint.
It was Uzumaki Naruto.
And his opponent…
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