"You're all here."
Madara's gaze swept over them. His voice carried its own natural authority. "The war is over. As the new Sage of Six Paths, I will cast Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) and bring true peace to the shinobi world."
Those who knew the truth turned pale with despair.
So in the end… they still hadn't been able to stop Madara.
Was the shinobi world really about to be destroyed?
"No way I'm letting you pull that off, dattebayo!"
That familiar verbal tic rang out as Naruto stepped forward, voice hard with conviction. "Up until now, I've worked my ass off to earn everyone's acknowledgment—worked my ass off to become Hokage. What 'Mugen Tsukuyomi,' what 'creating an illusion world'… isn't that just denying everything I've done? I'm not letting you get your way! Tsuchikage!"
Madara looked at Naruto and only smiled faintly, as if he couldn't be bothered wasting breath on an insect.
But Naruto's words still landed. People who'd been drowning in hopelessness forced themselves upright.
Yeah. Madara hadn't cast Infinite Tsukuyomi yet.
That meant there was still time.
They couldn't let him succeed. Living in a dream world was the last thing they wanted—never.
Minato looked at his son and nodded, pride softening his face.
Naruto… you've grown up.
Sasuke, for once, agreed with Naruto. "Madara. You still don't understand that Black Zetsu deceived you. The road you chose is wrong—so we're going to stop you!"
He snapped open his Perfect Susanoo and surged forward.
Naruto, Killer B, the three Hokage, the Five Kage—everyone rushed in together, trying to crush Madara under the weight of united force.
Madara merely smiled, motionless, while the black spheres floating behind him shifted and spread into a shield—effortlessly blocking every attack.
Those were the hallmark of the Six Paths state—
Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Balls).
Truth-Seeking Balls carried Yin–Yang and the Five Nature Transformations. They could morph into any shape, serving as both spear and shield, and their power was overwhelming.
Against them, ordinary attacks were like ants trying to shake a tree—completely useless. Right now, Madara truly was the strongest in the shinobi world.
"Hmph. Mere grains of sand."
Madara snorted and used Rinbo: Hengoku (Limbo: Border Jail) again. Invisible shadows lashed out, instantly blasting countless people away.
Naruto and Sasuke were thrown as well, crashing far off and going limp. Sakura's face went white as she sprinted to treat them—but it probably wouldn't do much.
Madara followed with his own strikes. One blow erased half of Hashirama's body. Tobirama and Minato each lost an arm, reduced to drifting ash.
And the strangest part—
Even though all three were Edo Tensei bodies, the shattered parts didn't regenerate.
Senjutsu power… clearly suppressed Edo Tensei.
The Sage of Six Paths really was terrifying beyond belief.
Seeing every attacker flung aside, the people still standing felt dread and despair tighten around their throats.
Just then, a man stepped forward with the heavy gait of a kappa.
Kakashi jolted. "Guy… don't tell me you're—"
Guy nodded solemnly. "Konoha's azure beast ends today. I'm evolving into a red beast. This is the moment I open that door."
That door…
The Eighth Gate.
Shimon (Gate of Death).
Opening the Gate of Death granted unimaginable power—at the cost of your life.
Guy had resolved to burn everything.
Lee's eyes brimmed with tears, but he couldn't stop him. He'd always known: once his teacher decided, nobody could change it.
But then—Neji, who hadn't spoken until now, stepped in and blocked him.
"Guy-sensei. It's not your turn yet."
Guy blinked, startled. "Neji… what are you saying?"
Neji pointed at his own eyes. "Sage eyes aren't just the Rinnegan. There's also the Tenseigan. I didn't understand how to develop these eyes before. But after seeing Madara step into the Six Paths realm… I think I finally get it."
His voice sharpened, calm and certain.
"My eyes can help me enter Six Paths as well."
The words hit like lightning.
Everyone stared—and then hope exploded across their faces.
If Neji reached Six Paths too…
Then maybe they could actually fight Six Paths Madara.
Neji walked forward, meeting Madara head-on. "We're both descendants of the Sage. If you can enter Six Paths, so can I."
His eyes narrowed.
"And you needed the Ten-Tails' power. I don't."
He raised his hand. "Watch—Tenseigan Chakra Mōdo (Tenseigan Chakra Mode)."
His Tenseigan power erupted. Green chakra cloaked his entire body. As he kept feeding it, black spheres began forming around him one after another.
One.
Two.
Three—
Until nine Truth-Seeking Balls hovered behind him.
In that instant, his presence surged upward—until it stood level with Madara's.
Neji…
Had successfully stepped into Six Paths.
Madara's brow lifted, intrigued. "Oh? So you really did manage to reach Six Paths. I didn't expect you to be the real threat."
Cheers and gasps rippled through the ranks.
Hyūga clan members—Hiashi among them—broke down in tears. Their "Heavenly Ninja" had become a new Sage of Six Paths. For the Hyūga, this wasn't just "taking off"—
It was surpassing every peak in their history.
Guy exhaled, relieved. If Neji was stepping up, then Guy didn't have to die.
His resolve had been interrupted—his youth wouldn't blaze in that final eruption—
But he'd been saved.
…
Natsuki spoke quickly. "Neji—he's stronger than you. Be careful. Everyone else, fall back. Don't get caught in the fallout. Kakashi-senpai and I will support you at any moment. We're taking Madara down."
Kakashi nodded, expression grave. With dual Kamui Mangekyō now, he could finally contribute at full power.
Everyone agreed. They dragged the unconscious to safety and retreated, clearing the field for a clash of legends.
Only the three Hokage stayed.
They were battered and missing pieces, but they might still be useful—more importantly, they weren't afraid to die.
If it came down to it… they could take a hit meant for someone else.
And surprisingly—
Orochimaru stayed too.
He licked his face with an unnaturally long tongue, eyes gleaming with excitement. "So both kinds of Sage eyes can reach Six Paths… and the Byakugan path seems even better."
His mind raced.
"True, evolving the Byakugan into the Tenseigan is difficult. But you don't need to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki—and it isn't exclusionary like the Sharingan. Mm. After the war, I should find a way to obtain some Byakugan."
He tilted his head, already planning.
"If we win, I won't dare act recklessly. With a Sage of Six Paths in the Hyūga, I can't afford to offend them… so getting Byakugan directly probably won't happen. I'll have to research cloning. If I can acquire some Hyūga blood, I can cultivate a Byakugan that way."
As for why the Byakugan was so special—
That was obvious.
Kaguya's primary eye was the Byakugan. The "Rinne-Tenseigan" was only the third eye on her forehead.
The main eye was bound to be stronger than the auxiliary one… right?
(End of Chapter)
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