Chapter 47: Golden Rinnegan?The moment the mist dissipated, the air was filled with a thick, strange smell of mixed rust and humus.Looking around, the scene on the fifth floor was far more hair-raising than the previous four.The ground beneath their feet wasn't soil at all, but a thick layer of soft, grayish-white bone fragments; stepping on it felt like walking through a dust-covered graveyard.In the distance, massive skeletons were piled together, with shriveled remains of flesh still hanging from the joints of the spinal columns.As far as the eye could see, there were corpses everywhere, some being ancient remains that had lain silent here for countless years.The dark purple flesh beast that everyone had just worked together to slay was now lying quietly in the center of the encirclement.Its massive body had crushed countless white bones, and thick black-red blood soaked the ground, winding through this silent sea of bones and gathering into small pools of blood.Even more surprising was that even though it was dead...The scattered bone fragments on the ground and the corpses of its smaller kin nearby were moving toward this remain at a speed visible to the naked eye.Everyone was surprised, but only for a moment.That attractive force completely vanished, and what lay before them was now a thoroughly lifeless corpse."Such strong regeneration and devouring abilities...""To think it could maintain its devouring power for a period even after death, just what kind of creature is this..."At this moment, the focus of the battlefield shifted from the giant beast to the crystal core slowly emerging from the crack in its neck.The crystal core was about the size of a washbasin, with seven-colored light flowing across its surface.It looked like a gemstone of concentrated, violent elemental energy; there was even a slight overflow of energy at the edges, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly."This thing... is it this monster's crystal core?"Raikage A was the first who couldn't hold back. Lightning light surged around him as he took a step forward, causing the charred ground to instantly cave in."With such pure energy, if I can take it for myself, the strength of my Lightning Release will surely reach the next level.""A, you're mistaken," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, holding his Adamantine Staff as he slowly stepped forward."This is a result achieved by The Five Kage working together; naturally, it should be discussed and allocated by the Five Great Ninja Villagestogether."Only Hiruzen Sarutobi present was equal in strength to A, so only he dared to speak up in rebuttal."Discuss together?" Utatane Koharu's tone was cold but carried an unquestionable dominance."Konoha contributed the most, and Hiruzen was the main force. This crystal core should belong to Konoha."Ōnoki floated in the air, his small body emitting an impressive aura."My Iwagakure supported the defense from the rear, blocking its countless counterattacks. Without our Earth Release acting as a meat shield, you would have been flattened into meat paste long ago!""I deserve thirty percent; it's only reasonable.""Thirty percent?" Rasa sneered, and Iron Sandinstantly condensed into needles in his palm."Without our control, your Ninjutsu would be aimless! We should have at least half of this crystal core!"For a moment, the experts of the Five Great Ninja Villages were at each other's throats.At this critical moment, everyone's gaze simultaneously turned toward Naruto, who stood at the very front and had remained silent the whole time.Naruto's gaze calmly swept across the arguing crowd, and he slowly opened his right hand.Lying in his palm was an eyeball he had just carved out from the giant beast.The eyeball was pitch black, but in the center sat concentric rings of rotating patterns—the form of a Golden Rinnegan.As he flipped his palm, the patterns of the Rinnegan quickly faded, turning into an ordinary pair of black eyes."I say, Brother Lin? What do you want with that useless eyeball?" A asked, looking puzzled.Naruto was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood.The eyeball in his hand looked completely ordinary at this moment, with nothing special about it. Naturally, none of The Five Kage or the others present could recognize it.But he had seen it clearly. The moment he carved it out himself, it was clearly a pair of Golden Rinnegan.In his memories from his previous life, only Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki possessed such pupils.As for that washbasin-sized crystal core emitting seven-colored light, it couldn't pique even half a bit of his interest now.All his focus was firmly held by this seemingly ordinary eyeball in his palm.He frowned slightly, and scenes from Naruto he had watched in his previous life flashed through his mind. He was filled with shock and suspicion:How could such a top-tier Ōtsutsuki Dōjutsuappear on this flesh beast?Could it be that these so-called Sand Sea Ruins are the territory of the Ōtsutsuki Clan?But according to this timeline, it's impossible for the Ōtsutsuki Clan to have descended here. It makes no sense at all.But one thing was certain in his heart—this beast covered in dark purple flesh had never...been a wild beast from the start. There must be someone pulling the strings from the shadows...Naruto gently rubbed the lusterless, ordinary eyeball in his palm, suppressing the stormy waves in his heart.His face remained calm. He didn't answer Raikage A's question but instead looked up at the crowd and spoke indifferently:"You all had better stop fighting over this crystal core."As soon as he said this, the tense crowd was stunned, and the arguing stopped abruptly.Raikage A immediately furrowed his thick brows, the lightning around him intensifying slightly, his tone carrying some impatience:"Naruto, what do you mean?""This crystal core was obtained after we joined forces to kill the beast. Why can't we fight for it? Don't tell me you want to snatch it too?"The Iron Sand in Rasa's palm rustled as he looked at Naruto coldly:"Although you gave some pointers during the battle against the beast...""The main force was still our Five Great Ninja Villages. The distribution of this crystal core isn't for you alone to decide."Utatane Koharu looked even more unfriendly as she stepped forward to block Hiruzen Sarutobi:"Lord Naruto, if it weren't for the combined efforts of us Five Kage, we wouldn't have been able to kill this beast. The energy contained in this crystal core is heaven-defying.""You've already obtained a useless eyeball; don't fight with us for this."Although Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't speak out to scold him, his brow was tightly locked, and his gaze toward Naruto was filled with confusion.He could feel that Naruto was not someone who would cause trouble for no reason; these words must have a deeper meaning.Ōnoki floated in mid-air, stroking his beard while observing Naruto. He also suppressed his desire for the crystal core, wanting to hear what he had to say next.Naruto's expression remained unchanged. His gaze fell on the crystal core floating in the air, his voice cold:"The energy of this crystal core seems pure, but it actually hides a violent and eerie devouring power. Even after the beast died...""...it could still devour the corpses of its kin because of this crystal core. You think it's an opportunity, but it's actually a root of disaster."He paused, gripped the eyeball in his palm tighter, and continued:"This beast is not a naturally born monster at all, but a weapon intentionally cultivated and controlled. The bones scattered across this fifth floor of the secret realm were all left behind after it devoured living beings."Hearing this, everyone's expressions changed one after another.Raikage A didn't believe it at first and reached out to grab the crystal core, wanting to verify it for himself.But the moment his fingertips touched the flowing light on the surface of the crystal core, a cold and violent aura instantly surged into his body through his fingers.It threw the Lightning Release Chakra in his body into chaos, causing the lightning light around him to flicker.He abruptly pulled his hand back, his face changing in shock:"What an eerie aura! It can actually interfere with the flow of Chakra!"Seeing this, Ōnoki immediately activated his Earth Release Chakra to test it, touching the crystal core with the power of rock.In an instant, it was devoured by that violent energy, and the rock turned directly into powder. His face turned grave:"There really is a problem. This energy cannot be absorbed directly at all. Trying to forcibly refine it will only lead to a backlash!"Rasa and the Mizukage glanced at each other and both withdrew their Chakra. The greed in their eyes when looking at the crystal core had vanished, replaced by a bit more wariness.Seeing this, the corners of Naruto's mouth curled up, his face showing unabashed smugness. His tone was light and annoying, making everyone's teeth itch."You saw it for yourselves. It's not that I want to snatch it from you."He spoke slowly, his tone full of mockery."Whoever has the ability to take it, go ahead! If you don't, then this crystal core... can only belong to me, then."
