Jin Woo felt the dagger's blade slice through the air, but before he could react, a sharp, urgent warning sounded in his mind:
[System Alert: Unknown powerful chakra detected. Immediate threat imminent.]
With instinctive precision, Jin Woo leapt back, quickly putting distance between himself and Nagato's fallen form. The sight was shocking.
The Akatsuki leader's body, already pierced by the lethal strike, was suddenly torn apart by a black, grotesque hand made of living, pulsating matter — Black Zetsu. It emerged like a monstrous shadow, long, sharp fingers piercing Nagato's flesh, ripping through his natural armor, tearing open his skin, and reaching deep into his core.
Nagato's body trembled, his Rinnegan eyes flickering between agony and the awakening of a new power — a dark energy began to rise within him, as if an ancient and forbidden force was stirring after the fatal blow.
Everyone around froze for a moment, shock rippling through the battlefield.
The entire Akatsuki — already transformed into shadow warriors — fell silent, as if recognizing the significance of the moment.
Jiraiya, watching with wide eyes, felt a chill. The horror of seeing his former disciple, Nagato, torn apart like that weighed heavily on the old sage.
The atmosphere shifted radically. Chakra on the field condensed, growing denser and more potent — a force that seemed to suck the air and hung like an electric storm ready to explode.
Jin Woo averted his gaze, his eyes now carrying a rare seriousness. He knew: something far greater was coming.
From the epicenter of this dark energy, a figure emerged from the earth, cracking and splitting as if the world itself was tearing apart.
A colossal, imposing figure rose — Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
She looked like an ancient goddess, wrapped in a luminous yet oppressive aura. Her long hair flowed like mist in the wind, pale eyes glowing with lunar and stellar light. Her body radiated terrifying majesty, an ethereal beauty concealing an abyss of primordial power.
The warriors and ninjas witnessing the scene could hardly breathe — the moment was too intense. Awe, fear, and reverence mixed in their eyes.
At that moment, Black Zetsu's deep, resonant voice echoed across the battlefield, acting as herald for this apocalyptic arrival.
— "Witness the return of the progenitor of chakra. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki — the source of all power, the creator of the shinobi world."
His tone was solemn, carrying the weight of ancient truth.
— "She transcends time and space. Her essence flows as the lifeblood of this world, and her fury is the storm destined to sweep away mortal lies and restore true order."
Black Zetsu's voice lowered, veiling menace beneath formality.
— "For ages, her power lay dormant, bound by the chains of history and human frailty. Now, freed by spilled blood and the will of those who seek a new world, Kaguya returns to rewrite destiny."
This was more than a revelation — it was a summons to end the old world.
The entire battlefield felt the pressure of her presence. Even the Akatsuki members, shadow warriors, and the Kages themselves — each harboring their own fear and awe before the chakra mother — knew they faced a force capable of overturning everything they understood.
Silence reigned for several seconds, as if time itself paused to absorb the magnitude of the moment.
Jin Woo clenched his fists, preparing for what was to come.
The battlefield was about to change forever.
Meanwhile...
Sasuke walked through the dark forest, tree shadows stretching like grasping fingers. Beside him, Tobi moved like a silent shadow, eyes shining behind his mask, every word a sharp blade in Sasuke's mind.
— "Your hatred is your greatest power, Sasuke. Itachi betrayed you, abandoned you, left you alone. If you want to be strong, you must let him go," Tobi whispered, planting poisonous seeds of doubt and rage.
Sasuke clenched his fists, each step heavy. Revenge consumed his thoughts. Ending Itachi was all that mattered.
Suddenly, the air ahead stirred. A swarm of black crows exploded before him, merging into a human form that materialized with deadly precision.
— "Itachi!" Sasuke said sharply, eyes burning with fury, body ready for confrontation.
The silence of the forest broke only with the heavy breaths of two brothers about to clash in a duel of blood and fate.
Sasuke charged, his eyes glowing with active Mangekyō Sharingan, a red and black aura enveloping his body. Each step was charged with pure energy and fueled by rage. The air seemed to compress around him, his clenched fists threatening to shatter everything in his path. He didn't think — he only acted — brutal and direct, ready to destroy.
— "You've finally grown, Sasuke," Itachi spoke with an almost mocking calm, watching his younger brother with a slight smile, his own eyes gleaming with cold Mangekyō resolve.
Sasuke snorted, spitting words in anger:
— "Shut up, Itachi! I will finish you for everything you destroyed. For everything you did to our clan — no, my clan!"
Without hesitation, Sasuke lunged forward with furious speed, drawing his sword and delivering strikes mixed with punches and kicks, loaded with all the pain and hatred from his past. His movements were impulsive, almost savage, but packed with brutal force threatening to crush Itachi. Every attack sought a gap in his older brother's defense, a flaw to grant him victory.
Itachi, however, remained unwaveringly serene. With precise movements, he dodged every blow with agility and grace, defenses perfect, as if reading Sasuke's mind before he acted. He did not strike back, only moved and evaded, waiting for the right moment.
Sasuke jumped back, retreating beside Tobi, but with a determined look, Sharingan blazing.
— "My foolish little brother," Itachi said, glancing at Tobi's presence. His voice carried a mix of disdain and concern.
Sasuke frowned, confused and alert. Before he could react, Itachi vanished in the blink of an eye and reappeared in front of Tobi, black kunai wielded with deadly intent.
With a cold smile, Tobi activated Kamui, enveloping himself in a dark vortex that teleported him backward, avoiding the strike. But it was a trap.
He had left a clone behind that began dissolving into smoke, revealing a copy created by explosive seals — at the instant the smoke cleared, runes glowed and bombs detonated, unleashing a sonic wave that shook the forest.
Itachi, without hesitation, retreated with agility, protected by a genjutsu that concealed his position, disappearing amidst the debris.
Then another Itachi appeared, emerging from the forest shadows, eyes shining like cold stars in the darkness.
— "I have not come for you yet, Sasuke," his voice was firm and decisive, carrying natural authority that brooked no challenge. — "But for the one who so desperately wishes to manipulate you: Tobi."