Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was deeply puzzled. The person before him—he was certain he had never seen him before.
But he didn't dwell on it too much. After all, he had been searching for Isshiki for nearly a thousand years. In all that time, it wasn't impossible for the clan to have birthed a newcomer.
Besides, having a fellow clansman made things much more convenient. The search for Isshiki had been so exhausting that even Urashiki himself was fed up with it!
"What a waste of my time..."
The true members of the Ōtsutsuki clan didn't exactly have harmonious relationships. Their innate nobility and agelessness meant they had little patience for anything that couldn't keep up with their pace.
To them, all other life forms were mere ants.
In their endless lifespans, they sought only one thing: power. Only immense power could provide meaning to their near-infinite existence.
Thus, they treated the universe's life-bearing planets as mere pastures, destroying entire worlds without hesitation to harvest chakra fruits.
The search for Isshiki and Kaguya had already consumed too much of Urashiki's time, leaving him far from pleased.
"Just call me Minamoto-shiki."
Kitagawa Minamoto spoke casually, noting how, just like Isshiki before him, Urashiki seemed entirely unguarded against him.
"Minamoto-shiki?"
Urashiki nodded, then quickly asked:
"How long have you been on this planet? Do you have any news of Isshiki-senpai? Why is his Kāma here? Did his reincarnation fail?"
"No need to hurry; I can answer these questions one by one."
Minamoto smiled. Unprepared opponents were always a good thing.
"I've been here for less than twenty years, but I've indeed discovered quite a bit—especially about Isshiki-senpai."
"Less than twenty years? You've investigated quite a lot in that time."
Urashiki clicked his tongue, his interest piqued. To spend two decades on a single planet meant there were many intriguing things here.
"Tell me, especially about Isshiki-senpai. What's happened to him?"
"Isshiki-senpai... he was truly a pioneer!"
Minamoto's tone was filled with "reverence," but within that reverence lay infinite "reflection."
"Senpai, haven't you noticed how peculiar this planet is?"
"This planet's energy does seem strange..."
Urashiki didn't understand why Minamoto had shifted topics so abruptly, but it happened to align with his own curiosity.
"It seems to have been devoured by a God Tree, yet it remains full of life. Even the planet's energy is recovering. What's going on?"
"Because this planet has already been planted with a God Tree."
Minamoto smiled, placing his hands behind his back, where a Truth-Seeking Orb quietly materialized.
"Otherwise, how could this planet have ended up like this?"
"Already planted..."
Minamoto's words made Urashiki furrow his brow.
"Could Isshiki be planning to plant another tree, waiting for Kaguya's revival? No, that doesn't make sense."
Urashiki felt something was off. If that were the case, why had the Ten-Tails' power been fragmented? Why was Isshiki's failed "Kāma" causing chaos? And where was Kaguya-hime?
Moreover, what was with this kid's "reverence" and "reflection"?
Buzz—
As Urashiki's thoughts raced, he suddenly sensed something amiss. Turning his head, he saw Minamoto holding a black ninja blade, which was already swinging toward him!
"What?!"
Urashiki's pupils instinctively contracted. He hadn't expected this fellow clansman to attack him. Even more surprising was how fast Minamoto was—and how decisive his actions were!
"Damn it!"
Urashiki cursed under his breath. It was too late to do anything; he could only grit his teeth and release his chakra.
A red chakra barrier instantly enveloped him, while his fishing rod rose to block the incoming strike. But Minamoto's blade was far too fast, and his attack far too unexpected. Under the immense force, Urashiki couldn't hold his ground!
In an instant, Urashiki was sent flying like a cannonball, hurtling into the distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
His body slammed into a mountainside, causing the entire mountain to collapse in an avalanche of rubble. The massive boulders fell from above, crashing into the ground with deafening tremors.
Urashiki's body continued to smash through the landscape, collapsing one mountain after another. Finally, after shattering the last peak, he crashed into the earth, creating a crater hundreds of meters deep.
"Damn it..."
Meanwhile, in the small town of Kirigakure, multiple figures were locked in chaotic combat. The more they fought, the more confused and disoriented they became.
"What are we even fighting for?"
Kisame's group and Orochimaru's subordinates had a clear goal: to capture the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata. On the other hand, Mei Terumī and her team were determined to protect Utakata. A clash between the two sides was inevitable.
However, amid their battle on this "fertile land of endless vitality," a strange figure suddenly appeared, launching "heavy punches" at everyone indiscriminately!
This individual bore no forehead protector, appeared utterly deranged, and lacked proper combat skills—relying solely on brute force for his attacks.
But the problem was, his speed and strength were absurdly overwhelming, and he possessed spatial abilities that allowed him to traverse the battlefield at will.
Neither Kirigakure nor the Akatsuki could ignore this bizarre intruder, resulting in an even more intense and chaotic battle.
"Who is this guy?"
Mei Terumī struggled to fend off the Akatsuki's assaults, but couldn't help glancing at the madman. Most of the ANBU she had brought with her had already fallen to his attacks. Ao and Chōjūrō were barely holding their ground against the Akatsuki's forces.
"If this continues, things will get worse..."
Mei thought to herself, but she had no time to dwell on it—Kimimaro's bone spikes were once again aimed at her.
At the height of the chaos, Obito's figure quietly appeared on the battlefield. He had changed into his usual attire, donning his mask and concealing himself completely.
His crimson Sharingan observed the scene below, but the situation was far from ideal.
"Why is everyone here?"
Obito frowned. The mentally unstable "evolved one" was attacking indiscriminately, and the Six-Tails was present as well!
He had intended to use the "evolved one" to lure Ōtsutsuki Minamoto-shiki, and by extension, Kitagawa Minamoto. But now, it had turned into a chaotic free-for-all!
"What a hassle..."
Obito was momentarily stunned, wondering whether he should intervene and "grab someone" before Minamoto arrived.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted in the sky, instantly dispersing the thick mist. Bright moonlight illuminated the ground, and everyone felt the space around them tremble violently.
The terrifying shockwave and deafening sound swept over them, knocking everyone to the ground.
"What's going on now?"
"This power... what happened?"
Staring at the collapsing mountains in the distance, they were utterly dumbfounded.
"Who is fighting Minamoto-shiki?"
Before anyone could process the scene, a blinding golden light flashed across the sky, lighting up the night as if it were midday.
The overwhelming chakra made their hearts tremble, and a cold voice echoed through the heavens.
"I've already met Isshiki-senpai, and I deeply admire everything he has done."
The golden sword swung out, but was quickly blocked by a red, fishing-rod-like object. Yet the defender was once again sent flying, as if tearing through the air itself!
"He killed his own clansman, devoured the fruit, and hid himself away. If it weren't for my luck, I wouldn't have found him."
Golden light flashed, Minamoto's figure appeared, his golden sword slashing downward. The divine strike bore down on Urashiki, its overwhelming power leaving him no room to dodge.
Slash!
Urashiki was sent flying again, his chest now bearing a gaping wound. He stared at the injury in disbelief, his face filled with confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
Urashiki gritted his teeth, but Minamoto merely smiled coldly.
"You still don't understand your situation?"
Minamoto laughed, his Truth-Seeking Orb merging into his golden sword.
"Isshiki broke the rules, and his actions have pointed me toward my own path forward."
Minamoto's gaze swept across the battlefield, before he spoke loudly once more.
"To cultivate a chakra fruit, one must devour a clansman. So why shouldn't I skip that step?"
"Cultivate a fruit... skip that step?"
Urashiki was stunned. This lunatic—what was he even talking about?
"Exactly!"
Minamoto's smile grew even brighter.
"Clansmen are our 'stairway to divinity.' Isshiki-senpai did it, so why shouldn't I?"
Urashiki froze. Isshiki had done it too?
"I should thank you, senpai, for traveling all this way to validate my hypothesis."
Minamoto's expression turned serious, his golden sword pointing directly at Urashiki.
"Now, senpai, for the sake of our shared dream with Isshiki-senpai, please rest in peace!"
"Tch!"
Urashiki felt chills run down his spine. This guy was insane!
"You really think you've got me? And you dare treat your own clansman like this?"
"What a strange question."
Minamoto tilted his head, then vanished, reappearing instantly before Urashiki.
"Do you show kinship to a snack when you're having a light meal?"
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