Not long after, the high-level meeting room in the Hidden Leaf was lit by dim, heavy lamps.
On one side sat three legendary figures—the Toad Sage, the White Snake Sage, and the Slug Sage.
On the other side were Shuoye Uchiha, Indra, and Madara.
Worry hung in every gaze like a weight.
"The Ōtsutsuki clan…" the Toad Sage said grimly, his voice faintly trembling. "Their power exceeds our imagination. If they decide to destroy this world, then even the subsidiary realms of us three sages won't be spared."
Though the White Snake Sage had clashed with Shuoye before, the threat before them was too great. Personal grudges were meaningless now—he chose to stand with the Hidden Leaf.
The Slug Sage had always maintained good relations with the village. At a time like this, there was no question of whether she would come.
Kushina Uzumaki clasped Shuoye's hands tightly, tension in every finger. Her eyes were full of worry.
Shuoye squeezed her hand back and smiled.
"Do you trust me?"
Kushina met his steady gaze. Warmth spread through her chest, and she nodded, trust shining in her eyes.
"Everyone," Shuoye said, his expression turning solemn as he faced the room, "we're not unprepared."
Then he continued, voice firm.
"It's time for Orochimaru to show what he's been working on."
As Shuoye spoke, Orochimaru stepped into the room. His expression was complicated—part emotion, part anticipation.
So we've reached this point… he thought. Who would've guessed that brat would become the shinobi world's hope?
"I've completed the shelter plan," Orochimaru reported, calm and precise. "And I've successfully cultivated transplantable Hashirama cells."
The room froze.
"Hashirama cells?" someone blurted. "Aren't they highly corrosive? They can really be transplanted?"
"Of course," Shuoye said, smiling as he rose.
He released the presence of his Haki—clear, unmistakable.
"As long as you cultivate Haki, you can accept Hashirama cell transplantation without rejection."
His tone carried certainty.
It was something Shuoye had only realized recently.
Haki, at its core, fused willpower with the body. Once Armament Haki awakened—even at the weakest level—it was enough to restrain the body and prevent Hashirama cells from eroding it.
"You can do something like that?!"
Shock rippled through the room again. No one had ever heard of an ability this strange.
Shuoye continued, "And we still have the three sages as a fallback. Even if their power can't fully manifest in this world, it's enough to protect everyone."
The three sages exchanged uneasy looks.
"We are strong," the Toad Sage admitted, "but the restrictions in this world are severe. We can't use our full strength."
"I know."
Shuoye shook his head. Something sharp—almost reckless—lit behind his eyes.
"So… I don't need you to face the enemy head-on."
His voice dropped, heavy as iron.
"I only need you to protect the Hidden Leaf's people—so I can fight the Ōtsutsuki without any worries behind me."
"What?!"
The three sages gaped.
Shuoye intended to face the Ōtsutsuki alone?
It was madness.
"I refuse!"
"Shuoye, you're too arrogant! This isn't like your previous battles—if we lose, we lose everything!"
"I oppose it too! We must strike together—one decisive blow!"
Objections poured in. To them, it sounded like throwing an egg against a boulder.
But Shuoye only smiled at them, unshaken.
"You still don't understand."
His gaze was steady, almost cold.
"Sometimes numbers don't matter. The reason I made all these preparations is to keep the shinobi world from being destroyed by the aftermath of the battle."
Then, as if stating something obvious, he added—
"Besides… a Six Paths Mode like Toneri's? I can handle five or six of that level."
The words landed like a bomb in the room.
Tsunade and the others looked more worried than relieved.
"Shuoye… we know you're strong," Tsunade said tightly, "but the Ōtsutsuki are unknown. No one knows what strange abilities they have. They aren't from our world."
Uchiha Xuanjing stood up at once, voice fierce.
"Lord Shuoye—let me fight beside you! Even if I die, I'll create an opening for you!"
Fugaku and the others also spoke, insisting they would stand with him.
Shuoye looked at their fervor and felt helpless—but his resolve only hardened.
"Trust me," he said quietly. "I never act without certainty."
His words carried an almost hypnotic weight.
Faces grew distant as memories rose—
When the Third Hokage stepped down, Shuoye killed Danzō Shimura and stabilized the Hidden Leaf.
He subdued the four Kage and forced the five great nations back into peace.
He suppressed the Tailed Beasts and prevented disaster from swallowing the shinobi world.
He unified the shinobi world and reshaped relations between villages.
He stormed Ryūchi Cave, then split the moon with a single slash—displaying power beyond reason.
Only then did everyone realize—
Shuoye had already done all of this.
Each step had been a legend written in blood and steel.
Seeing their hesitation soften, Shuoye made the call.
"Then it's decided. When the time comes, you evacuate to the shelter. I'll hold the Ōtsutsuki back…"
It was blunt.
But in his eyes, they saw certainty.
From this moment on, there was no retreat.
Only faith in Shuoye—and the crisis ahead.
Kushina and the others stepped forward, telling Shuoye to be careful.
Worry and reluctance filled their eyes—yet beneath it all was trust.
Then—
An abnormal tremor swept through the world.
The ground shook as if mountains were turning over.
"This disturbance… it's the God Tree!"
At the same time, Kaguya spoke in a low, heavy voice.
"The Ōtsutsuki… have arrived."
Shuoye's eyes flashed with cold light.
He stood, walked out of the meeting room, and looked toward the distance.
A gigantic tree towered on the horizon—so vast it seemed to touch the sky. Its trunk was unimaginably thick, runes flowing across it, pressure rolling outward in waves.
Shuoye stood before everyone, his gaze deepening as if he could see through everything.
"So they've come at last."
His voice was low—half anticipation, half resolve.
"Good. Then let this end here."
He turned, nodded once to the people behind him, and slipped a scroll into Kushina's hand.
"In an emergency, activate this. It will summon me back."
His voice softened, just a little.
"Find somewhere safe and evacuate. Leave this to me."
Kushina took the scroll, tears glimmering as she gripped his hand.
"Shuoye… be careful."
Shuoye patted her shoulder and smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll come back."
Then he moved—becoming a streak of light as he shot toward the God Tree.
"Believe in Shuoye," Tsunade said.
The others met one another's eyes and saw the same thing there—trust.
Now was not the time to distract him.
They nodded and began withdrawing toward the shelter in an organized retreat.
Beneath the God Tree, Momoshiki and Kinshiki waited in silence.
Momoshiki held a scroll, flipping through it while smiling coldly.
"This world developed in an interesting way," he said. "Kaguya, that useless thing, didn't harvest the fruit… but I still found many amusing discoveries."
He tapped the scroll.
"This 'ninjutsu' is remarkable. Especially this technique—Impure World Reincarnation. It can communicate with the land of the dead? How fascinating."
Kinshiki listened without expression and rumbled a single reply.
"Mm."
"Idiot."
Momoshiki glanced at him with contempt.
There's nothing to say to a blockhead like this.
Then—
He felt a powerful presence closing in at high speed.
Momoshiki snapped his head up, eyes narrowing toward the horizon.
A streak of light tore across the sky and appeared before them in a blink.
Shuoye.
Momoshiki's lips curled.
"Hmph. A mere ninja dares challenge the Ōtsutsuki clan? You don't know your place."
"You inferior creature—yes, you've made it this far, but you're still too green."
His smile widened, dripping disdain.
"This world itself is a mistake. And you're part of that mistake."
"If you're willing to draw out the chakra within you on your own, I might grant you a quick death."
Shuoye looked at him like he was looking at a fool.
"Did a door slam on your head?"
For a moment, it was almost… refreshing.
He had no interest in arguing with an enemy this arrogant.
Strength was the only language worth speaking.
"Sage Art: Massive Rasengan!"
A Rasengan infused with natural energy formed in Shuoye's hand, then he hurled it forward.
"Pathetic struggle."
To Shuoye's surprise, Momoshiki absorbed it with ease.
Momoshiki chuckled smugly.
"Ninjutsu is amusing, but it's useless against me. Surrender, inferior creature—unless you want to regret it."
"Interesting."
Shuoye clicked his tongue, genuinely surprised.
Momoshiki could absorb even Sage Art.
Fine.
That only sharpened Shuoye's intent.
He inhaled slowly, gaze turning razor-hard.
"Then try this."
His voice dipped, dangerous.
"I've wanted to smash that face of yours for a while."
He stepped forward—
And began opening the Eight Gates.
First Gate… Second… Third…
One by one, the restraints snapped open.
Fourth. Fifth. Sixth.
His presence climbed, heavier, hotter, until the air itself seemed to distort.
Seventh.
Eighth—
The Gate of Death.
Chakra exploded from him like a geyser, surging toward the heavens.
The Eight Gates was a forbidden technique that removed the body's limits. And Shuoye's body—tempered like adamant—was built on absurd restraints.
With Armament Haki and Yang Release acting as stabilizers, the backlash was now fully within what he could endure.
"Evening Elephant!"
Shuoye moved.
He appeared before Momoshiki and drove a kick forward—
Boom!
A terrifying shockwave detonated. The air shattered as if space itself were being torn apart.
"This taijutsu—?!"
Momoshiki's face changed violently.
He hadn't expected this speed. This power.
"KINSHIKI!"
Momoshiki yanked Kinshiki in front of him, trying to use him as a shield.
But what happened next made Momoshiki's blood run cold—
Kinshiki was kicked apart.
Golden blood sprayed.
His body burst into a cloud of gore beneath Shuoye's foot.
"Damn you… inferior creature… what is wrong with this world?!"
Momoshiki's eyes went wide, shock and fear crashing through him.
"How… how is this possible…?"
Shuoye stared at him with complete indifference.
Then he spoke, voice calm, almost bored.
"Momoshiki. Do you understand now?"
"This world's ninja aren't something you can trample."
His gaze sharpened.
"Now it's your turn."
"INFERIOR CREATURE—DON'T GET COCKY!"
Momoshiki roared, surging forward, trying to use speed to shake Shuoye off.
It was pointless.
Shuoye was faster.
The distance collapsed.
Cold killing intent settled across Shuoye's face as he thrust out his right hand, fingers spread—
Then clenched.
A terrifying vibrating force rippled outward and slammed into Momoshiki's chest.
Boom!
Momoshiki flew back, smashing into the rock wall.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Shuoye's voice was flat, almost disappointed.
"Ōtsutsuki 'nobility'… you're even weaker than I expected."
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