Power surged violently.
The chakra within Naruto's body began to undergo a qualitative transformation, shifting into an entirely different form of energy. The power of all creation wrapped around him, permeating every cell of his being.
"Heh… this really isn't easy."
"If one relied purely on shinobi methods, even a genius among geniuses would need several hundred years to advance from Five Kage–level to Six Paths–level."
"But how many people in the Ninja World can live that long?"
Naruto couldn't help but sneer.
"The Ōtsutsuki Clan really is favored by heaven."
He could clearly feel the changes taking place within his body. In terms of combat strength, he was already not inferior to a Six Paths–level existence. Yet his life essence was still lacking by a step.
Even so, merely possessing an incomplete Ōtsutsuki Sage Body had already granted him a lifespan far beyond that of ordinary shinobi.
Ōtsutsuki clan members, even before reaching Six Paths–level, typically lived several hundred years. Once they consumed the God Tree's fruit, they could ascend fully into Six Paths–level beings—gaining lifespans measured in thousands of years.
With such an absurd shortcut available—simply planting a tree—who would still choose to cultivate diligently?
Just plant a tree.
Naruto silently marveled at the sheer convenience of the Ōtsutsuki power system.
Compared to them, the Sage of Six Paths had lived a relatively short life—not because he was weak, but because he never consumed the God Tree's fruit. Now that Naruto truly understood Six Paths–level power, this distinction became painfully clear.
Killing a Six Paths–level existence was exceedingly difficult.
And with the existence of Karma, the Ōtsutsuki Clan's survivability was elevated to an even more terrifying level. Logically speaking, the Sage of Six Paths could have persisted through Karma, or reincarnated as Indra and Ashura had.
Yet, for reasons unknown, he chose to die.
Or perhaps…
As Naruto speculated—
The Sage of Six Paths was plotting something within the Pure Land itself.
On the battlefield—
Tsunade clenched her teeth as she faced the god-like, demon-like figure before her. Her chakra erupted violently, surging through her entire body.
Boom!!!
The ground collapsed inward, forming a massive crater as smoke billowed into the air.
As the dust slowly settled, Tsunade's pupils shrank.
A thin line of blood slid down her cheek.
Hyūga Ichizoku stood with his back to her.
Moments earlier, Tsunade had launched a lightning-fast surprise attack—but his counterstrike had far exceeded her expectations.
With nothing more than a casual blow, he had already forced her into a disadvantage.
This was Tsunade at her current peak—far stronger than she had been in the original era, even surpassing Mei Terumī in raw power.
Yet she was still overwhelmed.
"Why is your attack so weak?"
Hyūga Ichizoku's voice was calm, cold, and devoid of emotion.
He slowly turned—
And vanished.
In the next instant, he reappeared directly in front of Tsunade.
Tsunade reacted instantly, throwing a punch that detonated the air itself, producing a deafening sonic boom.
Hyūga Ichizoku merely tilted his head, evading the strike with ease.
Then—
A storm of blows descended.
Punches and kicks clashed in rapid succession, their figures blurring into afterimages. Tsunade was driven backward again and again as cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, craters erupting beneath their feet.
Boom!!
Tsunade crossed her arms just in time, but was still blasted backward by a single punch. Her arms trembled violently from the impact.
Everything had happened in the blink of an eye.
Mei Terumī was still stunned by the sheer pressure Hyūga Ichizoku emitted. By the time she snapped back to reality, Tsunade had already been repelled.
"Fifth Hokage! I'll support you!"
Mei reacted instantly, weaving hand seals at high speed.
"Boil Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"
A massive, ocean-like wave of corrosive mist surged forward, carrying an overwhelmingly destructive aura as it engulfed Hyūga Ichizoku.
For a brief moment, Mei thought the attack had succeeded—
But then—
Azure chakra burst forth, scattering the lava-like mist in all directions.
"Eight Trigrams Revolving Heaven!"
Mei didn't hesitate.
With only six or seven hand seals, a massive water dragon roared into existence.
Though the traditional Water Dragon Bullet required complex hand seals, true masters simplified the technique. Only shinobi like Zabuza or Kisame still performed the full sequence out of habit.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Eight Trigrams: Empty Palm!"
The two techniques collided violently.
The water dragon shattered into a sky full of mist, dispersing into the air.
Mei's expression darkened as she retreated to Tsunade's side.
The two exchanged a glance—
Then charged forward together.
"Monster Strength: Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
"Water Release: Water Severing Sword!"
Even among the Five Kage—those standing at the pinnacle of the Ninja World—few would dare to face such a coordinated assault head-on.
Yet Hyūga Ichizoku's expression did not change in the slightest.
He spoke calmly.
"Eight Trigrams Domain."
"I control everything."
A violent wind erupted around him.
From beneath his feet, an enormous Eight Trigrams formation rose into existence—vast, oppressive, and absolute.
It dwarfed anything Neji had ever displayed.
Their attacks were effortlessly crushed.
In the next instant, Tsunade and Mei both felt an invisible force lock onto their bodies.
A sense of total confinement seized them.
"In this world," Hyūga Ichizoku said coldly,
"no more than three people can escape the lock of my Eight Trigrams Domain."
"Eight Trigrams: One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms!"
Hyūga Ichizoku's hands blurred into countless afterimages.
A torrential storm of strikes descended upon Tsunade and Mei Terumī.
Pain twisted across their faces as the relentless assault battered them from every direction.
When the final palm strike landed, the overwhelming aura abruptly vanished.
The two were sent flying.
Pfft!
Blood sprayed through the air as they crashed heavily onto the ground, utterly defeated—like lambs awaiting slaughter.
Mei Terumī's face had gone deathly pale.
Compared to Tsunade, she had suffered far greater internal damage. Tsunade, having cultivated martial arts alongside chakra, possessed a physique far beyond ordinary shinobi. Mei, however, felt her meridians screaming in agony—so much so that she couldn't even mobilize a trace of chakra.
"Is this… the strength of a legendary shinobi?"
Mei whispered, disbelief filling her voice.
It wasn't a contest.
It was absolute suppression.
Tsunade felt as though she were standing before her grandfather once more.
That suffocating pressure—
The kind that crushed all resistance.
"Eight Trigrams: Empty Palm!"
Just as despair threatened to swallow them, a sharp, piercing sound cut through the battlefield—like the cry of a blade slicing the air.
Whoosh!
The immense chakra pressure shattered instantly.
A black-clad figure appeared in front of them.
The man spoke gently, his voice calm yet resolute.
"Lady Tsunade. Fifth Mizukage. Are you both alright?"
"Shisui?"
Tsunade looked up in surprise.
"Why are you here? Weren't you assigned to the third battlefield, dealing with the Tailed Beast jinchūriki?"
Shisui straightened, his eyes fixed on Hyūga Ichizoku.
"Yes. But sensor shinobi detected an abnormally massive chakra reaction here."
"So I came to investigate first."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The jinchūriki are not particularly difficult opponents at the moment. But this man…"
His gaze sharpened.
"His threat level is far higher."
Shisui took a step forward, studying the figure before him.
"So this is the progenitor of the Hyūga Clan…"
"No wonder he once fought ancestor Madara."
Shisui exhaled softly.
He had only ever felt pressure like this from Naruto before.
And yet—
Even so, it still fell short of Naruto.
Naruto's true combat power was an enigma. Just how high it reached… perhaps only Naruto himself knew.
Even so, the pressure radiating from Hyūga Ichizoku was immense.
This was an aura exclusive to super Kage–level experts.
Especially his chakra—
Vast.
Boundless.
Like an endless sea.
(End of Chapter)
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