Chapter 278: Battle on the Moon
High in the sky, large birds whistled past, carrying Naruto and the others on their backs. These birds, drawn by Sai's Super Beast Imitating Drawing, soared through the air at incredible speed. The journey that Shino Aburame had taken half an hour to complete was now covered in just fifteen minutes.
Guided by Shino, the birds swooped down from the sky, plunging into the dense forest and landing at the site of the earlier attack. Shino released a swarm of insects, tracking them using the pheromones he had left on Kurenai and her team.
"Follow my insects!" Shino shouted.
"Understood!" Sai nodded. Immediately, the great birds flapped their wings and ascended, following the insects ahead until they reached the mouth of the cave.
"Sensei Kurenai and the others went inside," Shino said, landing at the entrance.
Kakashi took a quick look. "Sasuke, you and I will lead. Naruto, Sakura, you'll be at the rear. Yamato, please take the middle."
Everyone nodded.
"Advance in battle formation!" Kakashi commanded. With that, he led the way, following the insects into the cave. Sasuke activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and walked beside him. Next came Yamato, followed by Sai and Shino, and finally Naruto and Sakura.
As they entered the dark cavern, Kakashi immediately activated his Storm Release Armor, electricity crackling around him, illuminating the space. They hadn't gone far when Kakashi stopped, looking at a pile of rubble ahead. "It seems they were ambushed here."
Naruto, hearing this from the back, quickly asked, "Kiba and Sensei Kurenai, they weren't hurt, were they?"
Kakashi knelt, inspected the site carefully, then stood up. "They should be fine. Let's keep moving."
The group ventured deeper into the cave, and soon, the path opened up wide.
"Kurenai!"
"Kakashi!"
Kurenai smiled. "It really is you all!"
Kakashi's gaze swept over her, letting out a silent sigh of relief. "What's the situation?" he asked.
Kurenai pointed to the water ahead. "We've confirmed that the mysterious puppets who abducted Hinata entered here. There's a passage beneath this body of water, which we believe is a space-time tunnel leading to the moon."
Naruto, curious, immediately stepped forward and peered into the glowing spring. "A space-time tunnel? It doesn't look like anything's there."
Sasuke calmly observed the scene. Sakura raised her hand and smacked Naruto on the head. "You idiot! How could normal eyes see it?" She had already switched to her second personality.
Naruto clutched his head, yelping. Kakashi was also examining the shore carefully. "It does feel like a space-time distortion…"
"Kiba and I explored it with Shadow Clones earlier," Kurenai said. "There are powerful summoned beasts inside, likely guardians."
"Then let's go in," Kakashi said, nodding. "Everyone, proceed in battle formation!" With that, he leaped into the water.
Naruto eagerly followed, and the others quickly jumped in as well.
Entering the water, space and time twisted around them. Led by Kurenai, Kiba, and Akamaru, Kakashi and the others passed through the deep spring and surfaced in a strange, unique place.
"The gravity here is a bit off," Kakashi observed, leaping out of the water onto a floating, spherical boulder. His eyes scanned the yellow orbs floating around them warily.
"Don't get caught in those orbs," Kurenai warned. "They're genjutsu. They'll trap you in your memories."
Kurenai and Kiba, with Akamaru, once again led the way. Kakashi and Sasuke followed closely on either side, while the rest of the group navigated, using the floating stone spheres as stepping stones to avoid the orbs.
Soon, another spring appeared before them.
"Beyond here are the guards!" Kurenai warned again. She plunged into the spring, and Kakashi and the others followed.
Emerging from the water, they found themselves surrounded by bubbles.
Woof! Woof! Akamaru barked into the darkness, and then they heard movement. A giant crab appeared before them.
"The bubbles it sprays can trap people in genjutsu," Kurenai said. "And its strength is incredible."
Just as Kakashi was about to use Storm Release, Sasuke had already manifested a half-body Susanoo. He drew an arrow and fired, piercing the giant crab.
ROAR! The crab let out a pained shriek. Sakura immediately leaped forward. "Take this!" With a single punch, the crab, already pinned by the chakra arrow, had its tough carapace shattered and exploded into pieces.
Kakashi lowered his hand, his emotions a little complex. "It seems they can go on solo missions now."
"They're growing faster than we ever did," Kurenai said with a smile.
"Thanks to Lord Genichi," Yamato added.
Naruto stepped forward, looking at the scattered crab pieces. "Sakura, Sasuke, you two are too fast!" he grumbled.
Sakura pouted. "You're just too slow, you idiot!"
The group continued their journey, soon passing through a rugged, rocky tunnel and entering the interior of the moon.
"Is this really the moon?" Kiba looked around, puzzled. "Even islands are floating?"
"No," Yamato said. "The surface of the ocean seems to be warped into a sphere."
Naruto looked up at the sun overhead. "Is this the moon's surface?"
Kurenai, with her True Sight active, glanced up. "It's artificial. An artificial sun."
"This shouldn't be the moon's surface," Kakashi stated. "If I'm not mistaken, we're likely inside the moon."
Kiba scratched his head. "In a place like this, there's no way to track Hinata by scent."
Kakashi turned to Shino. "Shino, can you find Hinata?"
Shino spread his arms, and a swarm of insects flew from his sleeves. "It will take some time."
Kakashi nodded, then turned to Sai. "Sai, take us into the air."
"Understood!" Sai nodded, unrolling a scroll and rapidly drawing with ink chakra. Birds flew from the scroll.
Kakashi handed two small scrolls to Kurenai and Yamato. "We'll split into three teams. If you find anything, use the teleportation array inside the scrolls."
Kurenai and Yamato nodded, then split up.
As Kakashi and the others searched, inside the artificial sun, within a massive castle, Ōtsutsuki Toneri sat with his eyes closed, calmly feeling the stirrings within his transplanted eyes. He had indeed transplanted Hinata's eyes.
"As expected of the Byakugan Princess, such pure Byakugan," Toneri praised sincerely, then murmured to himself, "Once I defeat Kinoshita Genichi, I will find you a suitable pair of eyes, Hinata."
In another room, Hinata lay unconscious, her eyes covered by a white cloth.
Inside the moon, as evening approached, Kakashi and his team finally located the former residence of the Ōtsutsuki clan. The night was silent. Kakashi stood on a rooftop, frowning slightly as he gazed at the bright moon overhead. Kiba's and Akamaru's sense of smell was useless, Shino's insects had returned empty-handed today, and the trail seemed to have gone cold.
Is the moon artificial too? Kakashi thought to himself, then suddenly realized, The moon and the daytime sun must be the same thing.
In that case… Kakashi's mind clicked. He turned and returned to the campfire to rest.
The next day.
After breakfast, Kakashi said, "Kiba couldn't find Hinata's scent here. Has anyone thought of another way?"
Naruto immediately chimed in, "If it's here, then if we search every single corner, we'll definitely find Hinata! Sai, please draw a lot more birds later. I'll use the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, and we'll find Hinata for sure!"
Sakura sighed. "That method is far too inefficient."
Sasuke looked at the unhurried Kakashi, deep in thought.
"Sensei, you must have an idea, don't you?" Yamato asked. Having spent a considerable amount of time together in the Anbu, Yamato knew Kakashi very well.
Kurenai looked up at the somewhat blinding sun. "It must be this artificial sun, right?"
Kiba squinted at the sun. "What's wrong with the artificial sun? Is the enemy hiding inside it?"
"Last night, I noticed that the artificial sun and the moon at night must be the same object," Kakashi explained. "From that, we can deduce that someone is controlling it. Perhaps we can find the enemy there. Sai, if you please!"
Sai unrolled his scroll and rapidly began drawing. "I'd be delighted to help!"
Five large birds flew out, and Kakashi and the others immediately leaped onto their backs, then flew towards the sun. After flying for a while, Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "Careful! The enemy is here!"
Ahead, several black dots rapidly grew larger. When they could finally make them out, they were mechanical birds, each carrying a puppet.
"Those are the ones who took Hinata," Kurenai said. "Be careful! These guys can fire chakra spheres, and they explode with great force."
As soon as she finished speaking, a barrage of chakra orbs whistled towards them. The great birds immediately scattered.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The chakra orbs exploded, showering light.
Kakashi raised his hand, and two Lightning Hounds shot out, striking a mechanical bird and the puppet riding it.
Behind him, Naruto entered Sage Mode, raised his hand, and condensed a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, then leaped into the air and threw it. The Rasenshuriken sliced through the air in an arc, cutting numerous mechanical birds and puppets in half.
On the other side, Sasuke manifested his half-body Susanoo and fired Yasaka Magatama, obliterating many puppets. Without Kurenai and the others needing to act, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke easily dispatched the attacking puppets and rapidly approached the sun.
However, a larger army of puppets appeared. Kakashi frowned. "Lead them down below," he commanded. "We'll split up and deal with them."
Everyone immediately turned and retreated. The pursuing puppet army chased after them, firing dense chakra orbs. Kakashi and his team fought and withdrew, quickly eliminating the pursuing puppets, then circled back towards the artificial sun.
"Naruto!" Kakashi shouted.
Naruto nodded. "Understood!" He raised his right hand, and an Ice Release: Rasenshuriken formed, then hurled it towards the sun ahead.
The Ice Release: Rasenshuriken soon collided with an invisible barrier. The impact revealed the barrier, which then cracked and finally shattered with a deafening roar. In an instant, the interior of the artificial sun was revealed to Kakashi and the others, showing countless floating meteoroids.
"I can feel Hinata's chakra!" Naruto shouted with joy. "She's in there!"
"Charge!" Kakashi roared. He lowered his gaze, then quickly opened his eyes, his Sage Mode markings appearing.
Inside the artificial sun, the puppet interceptions intensified. Similar to chakra cannons, they fired dense chakra projectiles at the group. Sasuke used his Susanoo to fire arrows and cast Amaterasu. Naruto and Kakashi used Rasenshuriken to destroy the puppets on the meteoroids. Shino and Sai also engaged. Sakura used Water Release, sweeping high-pressure water jets that sliced both puppets and meteoroids in half. Kurenai, though a genjutsu-type ninja, could manifest illusions with her True Sight, making her almost as versatile as a ninja proficient in all five nature transformations. Water, fire, lightning—all could be brought forth through illusion manifestation.
The group fought their way through the dense resistance of the puppet army and reached the central castle. However, the castle was also guarded by an army of puppets.
"Kurenai, Hinata is up to you!" Kakashi shouted.
Kurenai, who had activated her Sage Seal, nodded. "No problem. Kiba, Shino, follow me!" Locking onto Hinata's location, Kurenai leaped forward.
On the other side, Kakashi led Naruto and the others, blasting apart puppets, clearing a safe path for Kurenai's team.
High up in the castle, Ōtsutsuki Toneri, with his Tenseigan now partially awakened, calmly watched the battle below. "They've reached here so quickly… And those eyes, Rinnegan?"
"My eyes haven't fully stabilized yet. I need a little more time." Toneri touched his eyes, then vanished from his spot.
Kakashi sensed Toneri's presence. "Did he escape?" he frowned slightly. For now, he ignored the retreating Toneri. Kakashi led Naruto and the others, clearing out most of the puppets and breaching the castle.
"Hinata!" Seeing Hinata being brought out by Kurenai and her team, Naruto and the others immediately rushed to her side.
Sakura immediately switched to her first personality. "Let me see." She gently laid Hinata on the ground and began to examine her. A moment later, she withdrew her hands. "There's no immediate danger to her life, but…"
"Sakura, but what?" Naruto asked anxiously.
Sakura's expression was somber. "Hinata's eyes were taken!"
Just as expected! Kakashi and Kurenai exchanged glances, while the others were shocked.
"They took Hinata's eyes!" Kiba raged. "That damn bastard! We have to catch him and get Hinata's eyes back!"
Naruto looked at the unconscious Hinata, clenching his fists. The gentle Hinata had suffered such a thing; it filled him with rage and pain.
"Sensei Kakashi, that guy we sensed earlier, he's the one who took Hinata's eyes, right?" Naruto asked, surprisingly calm now.
"It should be," Kakashi nodded. "But some force is interfering with Sage Mode's natural sensing abilities."
Sasuke looked out, his voice cold. "Even though he's hidden, he must still be in this area. I can sense a powerful force covering this place, so he's definitely still here." After switching to his Rinnegan, Sasuke continued, "If that's the case, then let's just sweep this entire place clean!" He felt Naruto's inner rage. Besides, Hinata was also his comrade, a person from their village, someone he needed to protect.
"Sasuke is right," Kakashi said. "We'll split into two groups. Kurenai, you and your team will stay and look after Hinata. The rest of us will find the one who took Hinata's eyes and get them back."
Kurenai and the others nodded.
Just then, Hinata woke from her unconsciousness. "Wait~"
"Hinata, you're awake!" Naruto exclaimed joyfully.
"Naruto-kun~" Hearing Naruto's voice, Hinata felt happy, but remembering what she had dreamed of while unconscious, she quickly said, "Sensei Kurenai, Sensei Kakashi, the one who took my eyes is Ōtsutsuki Toneri. He and our Hyuga clan's ancestor are both descendants of Ōtsutsuki Hamura, the Sage of Six Paths' brother. He took my Byakugan to awaken the Tenseigan. Most importantly, the Ōtsutsuki clan's branch family once gathered all the Byakugan from their people to create a giant Tenseigan, which became the Ōtsutsuki clan's most precious treasure. It was also because of this that the branch family wiped out the main family."
Yamato realized something. "No wonder we sensed traces of war earlier."
Hinata continued, "Toneri plans to awaken the Tenseigan and then crash the moon into Earth, destroying the shinobi world created by the Sage of Six Paths."
Everyone was shocked. Kiba shouted, "Why? If the moon crashes into Earth, wouldn't this Ōtsutsuki Toneri guy die too?"
Hinata shook her head. "He has the protection of the Tenseigan. If anyone other than a Hyuga touches that giant Tenseigan, their chakra will be devoured."
"That sounds a bit troublesome," Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"We should still split up," Kurenai said. "I'll take Hinata to find the giant Tenseigan and try to move it, or destroy it directly."
"Then that's what we'll do," Kakashi nodded.