The scorched earth, the White Zetsu reduced to ash, and the stunned gazes of the Ōtsutsuki clan members all spoke of the terrifying might of the High-Energy Convergence Cannon.
Even the shinobi of the Ninja World were shaken. Weapons of this level had never been deployed on the planet's surface before. They were originally designed for space combat, and most testing had taken place beyond the atmosphere.
A convergent strike like that, if used freely, could trigger massive earthquakes and devastate entire regions in an instant.
And then, cheers erupted.
"Excellent! Let these scum see what we're capable of!"
"Hahaha! You Ōtsutsuki bastards, have you seen our power?!"
"As expected of Lord Izumi. I'm making my child a researcher in the future!"
For thousands of years, the Ninja World had believed that true strength came from the self, that only personal power defined one's worth. Even in recent years, as researchers gradually rose in status, many still saw warriors as the most glorious path.
But now, that perception was beginning to shift.
So this was the power of their technology.
With figures like Naruto standing at the peak, countless shinobi had chased strength their entire lives. Yet now, many who understood their own limits were beginning to reconsider their paths.
If their talent in combat was mediocre but their aptitude for research was exceptional, they might never reach the level of a Super Kage. However, they could still create weapons capable of destroying even Six Paths–level opponents.
Izumi understood this better than anyone.
Given sufficient materials, weapons like the High-Energy Convergence Cannon could be mass-produced. Even a Six Paths–level existence might be annihilated if caught head-on, reduced to nothing more than drifting dust.
This single display caused the morale of the Ninja World to surge.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Killing intent gathered like a storm, shaking the battlefield as their momentum surged forward.
Ninjutsu exploded across the land, reshaping the terrain with sheer force.
Tens of thousands of shinobi and warriors charged toward the remaining White Zetsu army. Though their intelligence was limited, the White Zetsu still possessed basic survival instincts.
And now, they felt fear.
Izumi moved as well, cutting through the battlefield with terrifying efficiency. One after another, White Zetsu and Ōtsutsuki fell. Those who met his gaze were dragged into genjutsu, their lives ended in a single, clean strike.
…
However, not every battlefield unfolded so smoothly.
The Ninja World's rise had been rapid, but in truth, it had not experienced a full century of uninterrupted growth. Many shinobi present had never witnessed true war.
For some, the sheer scale of the battlefield was overwhelming.
"Brat, what are you spacing out for? Do you want to die?!"
A middle-aged shinobi roared as he shoved the young man beside him out of harm's way.
He had once fought in the Shinobi World War, though his talent had always been mediocre. Back then, he had only been a Genin.
After Naruto improved chakra refinement techniques and introduced new cultivation methods, along with the support of abundant resources, and after training for thirty years within the Time Treasure Pearl, he had barely reached Kage level.
His talent was poor, yet he had never regretted becoming a shinobi and fighting for the future of the Ninja World.
The young man he protected was only eighteen. His talent was average, but still far better than his own. He was the son of an old comrade, someone he had always taken care of. Their current strength was similar, but the boy had the potential to reach Super Kage in the future.
"Uncle Tokugawa, your hand!"
The young man's voice trembled as he stared in horror at Tokugawa Kisaburo.
One of his arms had been severed.
Tears welled up uncontrollably.
"You brat, don't cry. Don't freeze on the battlefield."
Even with blood pouring from the wound, Tokugawa Kisaburo forced a grin.
"With one hand, I can still kill. Watch carefully!"
He swung his blade with a single arm, cutting down the White Zetsu lunging toward him.
"As long as we win this war, the medical corps can restore it completely. Now move! Kill!"
His voice roared across the battlefield, filled with unwavering resolve.
In a war of this scale, his strength meant little. He had accepted that long ago.
He was ready to die.
"Pathetic shinobi…"
A cold voice sounded.
A figure appeared behind Tokugawa Kisaburo without warning. A pale hand, lifeless as a corpse, pierced straight through his chest.
The attacker was an Ōtsutsuki clansman at the Super Kage level. His youthful face was twisted with disdain.
Though not particularly old, he belonged to a branch family.
"Uncle Tokugawa!!!"
The young man's scream tore through the battlefield, grief and rage exploding at once as tears streamed down his face.
Blood spilled from Tokugawa Kisaburo's mouth. He stared at the hand piercing through his chest, his eyes filled with shock. Gathering the last of his strength, he forced the words out.
"Aihara… you must… live…"
"Death… is my hono—"
Whoosh!
Puff!
Before he could finish, the pale hand tightened and crushed his heart.
"Uncle Tokugawa!!!"
"No!!!"
Aihara's voice broke as he screamed, despair tearing through him.
"Do you want to die too?"
The Ōtsutsuki clansman looked at Aihara with interest. As a member of the branch family, he had long endured the oppression of the main family. Seeing Aihara's grief and rage stirred a twisted sense of satisfaction within him.
"I'm going to kill you!!!"
Aihara charged forward recklessly.
The Ōtsutsuki licked his lips, a hint of madness flashing across his face.
"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish."
Chakra gathered in his hand, forming a sharp blade as he prepared to cut Aihara down.
Aihara rapidly formed hand seals and unleashed a large-scale Fire Release. Flames surged outward, colliding with the incoming attack.
Boom!
The explosion swallowed both figures as smoke billowed across the battlefield.
When it cleared, the branch family Ōtsutsuki stood frozen, disbelief etched across his face. A thin line of blood ran down his neck.
"Kid, have you lost your mind? This isn't an enemy you can handle."
A voice sounded from behind.
Aihara's eyes snapped open.
The one who had intervened was Tenten.
The explosion from earlier had not been Aihara's doing. It was her attack that had turned the tide in that instant.
Tenten sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"I didn't notice earlier… A Super Kage–level Ōtsutsuki actually slipped through to this side."
Her gaze shifted to Tokugawa Kisaburo's lifeless body, and a trace of sorrow appeared in her eyes.
He had fought well.
He was a true shinobi, a warrior who carried on the Will of Fire. Perhaps after death, he would find his place in the Pure Land, honored for his sacrifice.
Over the years, Tenten had trained for twenty years within the Time Treasure Pearl. Compared to her peers, her talent was not considered exceptional. Even so, she had reached the peak of the Super Kage level and still held a chance of stepping into the Six Paths realm.
In this era, reaching Six Paths level was no longer an impossible dream. Its difficulty had fallen to something comparable to achieving Kage level in the past.
Under normal circumstances, her talent would have capped at Elite Jōnin. Now, however, her current strength already surpassed what she could have ever achieved before.
And with Neji Hyūga's guidance, that final step was not out of reach.
Only by entering the Six Paths realm could one truly extend their lifespan and stand among the strongest.
Originally, Neji had not intended for her to join this battle. Among Konoha's core group, her strength was considered the weakest.
But she had only said one sentence.
"If we lose this war, the Ninja World will cease to exist."
And with that, Neji had nothing left to say. He could only allow her to step onto the battlefield.