Meanwhile, Neji Hyūga was fighting on a Six Paths–level battlefield.
Although Tenten could not compare to the true prodigies, she was still outstanding among ordinary shinobi. As long as she did not encounter a Six Paths–level opponent, her safety was assured.
"Kid, don't cry. Tokugawa was right. Death is his honor, and the Empire will not treat him unfairly."
Tenten looked at the young man she had just saved.
"But… Uncle Tokugawa… he's dead…"
The young man's voice trembled. He had already recognized her. As Tenten, Neji's wife, she was well known among the younger generation. Neji himself was a legendary figure, Lord Naruto's right-hand man and closest companion.
He had also once been Lord Neji's classmate.
"Don't you know? As long as someone from the Ninja World has made sufficient contributions, they can serve in the Underworld after death. This is basic knowledge. Haven't you learned it?"
Tenten frowned slightly, looking at him with mild curiosity.
Ever since the lifespan of shinobi began to increase, the coming-of-age ceremony had been moved to after the age of twenty.
Aihara's face flushed in embarrassment. In his pursuit of strength, he had neglected theoretical studies, much like Naruto had in his early years.
Tenten immediately understood from his expression.
"Young man, focus on surviving. If you accumulate enough merit, you might even see Tokugawa again."
With that, she vanished from sight, returning to the battlefield without hesitation. There was no time to linger.
War had never been beautiful. Peace had always been something that had to be fought for.
Yet, compared to the past, the people of the Ninja World held one advantage.
Death was no longer the absolute end.
With the gradual perfection of the Reincarnation system, the world had become divided into two realms. The Underworld, where souls gathered, and the Mortal World, also known as the Yang World, where the living resided.
The two were normally separated to maintain order.
When a person died, their soul would either return to the Underworld or linger briefly in the Mortal World before being guided onward. Only those who had made sufficient contributions were granted positions within the Underworld, allowing them to continue existing in a structured form.
The majority of the power over Reincarnation lay in the hands of the Ninja World, while a smaller portion was controlled by the Shinigami.
Because of this, the Ninja World had already become a civilization envied across the universe.
However, access was still restricted. No external races had yet been granted permission to join.
Aihara stood there, stunned.
So… it could be like this?
A trace of relief surfaced in his heart, yet it was quickly overshadowed by grief. Tokugawa was gone, but not completely erased.
"I'll earn enough merit… and tell him I didn't let him down."
Clenching his fists, Aihara steadied himself as he watched the direction Tenten had disappeared toward.
What felt like a long moment had, in truth, passed in an instant.
Scenes like this were unfolding everywhere across the battlefield.
Countless shinobi fought for their beliefs. War was cruel, but the reason for fighting was always the same: a better future, and lasting peace.
The presence of Ōtsutsuki branch family members hidden among the White Zetsu created immense pressure. Their Rinnegan abilities were especially troublesome.
However, the Ninja World was well-prepared. With coordinated tactics and shared intelligence, they managed to hold the line.
Even so, the pressure remained overwhelming.
The Ōtsutsuki were far from mindless. When facing opponents capable of gathering large amounts of chakra, they would often avoid direct confrontation, choosing instead to strike strategically.
Their strange and powerful weapons only added to the difficulty. While the shinobi had initially caught them off guard, as time passed, the battle gradually shifted into a war of attrition.
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The war continued without pause.
High above, in the starry void, the clash between Uzumaki Naruto and Ōtsutsuki Shiki had already devastated the surrounding space. Within several light-years, not a single planet remained intact.
Even after three days, the two remained evenly matched.
At this moment, Ōtsutsuki Shiki's expression had grown serious. His gaze toward Naruto was no longer casual, but filled with caution.
He had never expected Naruto to reach this level.
Within the demigod realm, each step was a world of difference. In the early stages, crossing levels was possible, but in the later stages, it was nearly impossible.
Yet Naruto had shattered that rule.
Others required thousands of years to accumulate their understanding of the laws, often reaching a bottleneck due to incomplete comprehension.
Naruto, however, was the opposite.
His comprehension advanced faster than his realm.
It was as if he were favored by the Great Dao itself.
"Uzumaki Naruto… you truly are special. You are the key to my ascension."
Ōtsutsuki Shiki's voice echoed through the void.
"Offer yourself for the coming great tribulation."
A strange light flickered in his eyes.
Then, the Takamagahara Domain began to contract.
As it shrank, an invisible pressure descended upon Naruto, suppressing his power.
Previously, the effect had been negligible.
Now, even Naruto could feel the weight of it.
At the same time, however, a spark of curiosity appeared in his eyes.
That "great tribulation"…
Just what was it?
"It seems you've finally lost your patience," Naruto said calmly.
"What a pity… just a little more."
Naruto spoke with a faint trace of annoyance, but in Ōtsutsuki Shiki's eyes, his tone seemed almost casual.
That only fueled his anger.
Was this man looking down on him?
In truth, Naruto was a little annoyed.
[Domain Analysis +20, Domain Analysis +21]
As he continued analyzing the power of the domain, his interest only deepened. If he could fully grasp its essence, he would essentially gain a powerful Rinnegan ability for free.
"But… this is enough."
A slight smile appeared on Naruto's face.
In the next instant, an immense surge of power erupted from his body. His chakra and Shiki's domain energy collided, forming a counterflow. Naruto's power aligned perfectly with the trajectory of Takamagahara's force, then unraveled it from the opposite direction.
A precise disintegration.
The domain itself still existed, but its influence over Naruto had been completely neutralized.
At the same time, Naruto felt it clearly.
His space-time movement had fully recovered.
"How does it feel?" Ōtsutsuki Shiki said coldly, his tone laced with arrogance. "In Takamagahara's original state, your overall strength is reduced by twenty percent. Whether it's your laws, your chakra, or anything else."
He had noticed Naruto's earlier reaction, but misunderstood it entirely. In his eyes, that brief fluctuation had simply been Naruto struggling against the suppression.
He had no idea that Naruto had already adapted to it.
Naruto, however, had noticed something more troubling.
The contracted Takamagahara was beginning to absorb his energy, then channel it back into Shiki through a mechanism he had yet to fully comprehend.
"This isn't ideal…"
Even so, Naruto remained calm.
Because he could still analyze it.
Earlier, when Takamagahara suddenly contracted, his analysis had been completely cut off. That had been the only disappointing part. But now, as he continued probing, he realized something.
The analysis had resumed.
Just… slower.
[Domain Analysis +3, Domain Analysis +4]
The progress was minimal, but after three full days of continuous observation, Naruto had already gained a substantial understanding of this domain's nature.
And that was more than enough.