A massive amount of chakra surged from underground.
With the Allied Shinobi Forces gathered in one place, it was exceptionally easy for Black Zetsu to use Madara Uchiha to absorb their chakra. However, Madara's body couldn't handle the immense power and began to bloat.
Boom!
Madara Uchiha's body swelled into a grotesque ball of flesh. Black Zetsu's liquid-like form flowed over Madara, submerging him at an alarming speed.
"We can't let this continue!" Naruto Uzumaki said, looking anxiously at Emiya Shirou blocking their path. He had learned from the Sage of Six Paths just how terrifying Kaguya Otsutsuki was.
"Charge straight through!" Sasuke Uchiha knew exactly what Naruto was thinking. He rushed directly toward Madara. "Let's take care of Madara first!"
"Emiya is blocking..."
"Don't worry about him!" Sasuke yelled, urging Naruto to charge with him. The Rinnegan in his eye flashed, and he instantly swapped his position with Emiya Shirou's.
In that single moment, Sasuke appeared directly in front of Madara Uchiha, swinging his sword toward Madara's head.
However, Black Zetsu was not completely powerless. It immediately controlled Madara's hair, which shot out, lengthened, and wrapped around both of their bodies.
Of course, Black Zetsu wasn't just relying on itself. What it desperately needed now was Emiya Shirou.
"Emiya... stop them!" Black Zetsu looked at Emiya, hoping he would continue to help. "I need to revive Kaguya now..."
"Emiya!" Naruto called out again, trying to persuade him. "Don't believe what it says! Do you really want the ninja world to fall into the hands of a cruel god like Kaguya?"
"Heheheh..." Black Zetsu immediately countered Naruto's plea with a more direct example. "In the ancient era, Kaguya was the god who brought peace to the world. It was the Sage of Six Paths' Ninshu that was rejected and hated by the people..."
This was the absolute truth.
When Ninshu was first founded, even the relatives of its followers considered chakra an evil power. The people had always worshiped only the God Tree and Kaguya Otsutsuki. It was for this very reason that Black Zetsu had been able to find an ally in Emiya Shirou.
As an ally, Emiya did not disappoint. He opened two pitch-black portals, reached through them to grab Naruto and Sasuke by their necks, and instantly threw them back.
His intervention meant there was no longer any chance of stopping Kaguya's revival.
Countless streams of chakra poured into Madara Uchiha's body. He had now completely transformed into a pitch-black sphere, and the chakra surging within it was rapidly shrinking and condensing.
"It's too late..." Naruto could already sense the chakra condensing.
"Finally... it's almost complete..." An insidious smile flashed across Black Zetsu's face as its body completely merged into the sphere, making the final preparations for Kaguya's return.
The air seemed to stand still.
The pitch-black sphere began to change, slowly taking on a human shape like a viscous liquid. Its color suddenly inverted, turning from black to a stark, pale white.
At that moment, everyone held their breath.
A beautiful woman with long white hair slowly revealed her form. She was draped in a wide robe, with two wooden horns on her head and a scarlet Rinne Sharingan on her forehead. As her body finished forming, her narrow, white eyes slowly opened, her expression faintly cold.
Kaguya Otsutsuki. The Rabbit Goddess of the ancient era. The source of all stories in the ninja world.
"Is that Kaguya?" Naruto didn't dare to breathe as he watched her appear, his face tense. "I can feel it... her chakra is much stronger than Madara's..."
Sasuke tightened his grip on his sword, saying nothing.
Emiya Shirou could also sense Kaguya's revival, but he didn't feel tense at all. In fact, he felt unusually calm.
Kaguya Otsutsuki raised her head and looked at the three people before her. Her gaze slowly moved across them and landed on Emiya Shirou. His chakra was the strongest.
Although Kaguya had absorbed the memories of her will, Black Zetsu, and learned everything that had happened over the past thousand years—including the stories of the Sage of Six Paths' descendants and Black Zetsu's chosen pawn, Emiya Shirou—the man she saw now was different.
His chakra was on another level, something her Byakugan could see clearly.
"Just by using Hagoromo's body..." A hint of confusion appeared in Kaguya's eyes, as if she found it hard to understand. "He could actually reach this level?"
Her son had been strong, admittedly. Kaguya both hated and was fond of the Sage of Six Paths, but she knew her son was no match for her in terms of pure chakra.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to resort to a sealing jutsu like the Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei.
How could a mere mortal reach a level on par with hers, just by using Hagoromo's chakra?
Veins bulged on Kaguya's face. Her Byakugan stared intently at Emiya, observing the flow of chakra in his body.
"The body... has even been modified to be exactly the same as Hagoromo's... but the chakra inside is much stronger than Hagoromo's!"
This was a huge hidden danger. The only thing that put Kaguya at ease was that Emiya's blindness prevented him from using dōjutsu that could threaten her.
Then... this was a sapling she could consume.
If she could absorb Emiya Shirou's chakra, with its incredible level and quality, it would be an unparalleled delicacy compared to the chakra she had just devoured.
This delicacy was comparable to a Chakra Fruit. Kaguya had no doubt that if she sacrificed Emiya's body to the God Tree, she might be able to cultivate another one.
Coincidentally, this believer had always wanted to revive her. He should be willing to become her power.
No… he must become her power.
If she had this strength, she could finally deal with those enemies from the outside.
"Mother..." Black Zetsu sensed Kaguya's thoughts. It understood her thirst for chakra and quickly tried to persuade her. "Those two have the power Hagoromo left them. They pose a threat. We need to get rid of them as soon as possible. Emiya is your believer and our accomplice..."
After all, Naruto and Sasuke still held the Yin and Yang power of the Sage of Six Paths, which could be used to seal Kaguya. As for Emiya, Black Zetsu hoped to use him first, or at least not turn against him yet.
Otherwise, they would have to face three Six Paths-level enemies. Black Zetsu knew Emiya was no true believer; his only goal was to ensure the immortal Kaguya existed to bring about eternal peace.
Once they got rid of Naruto and Sasuke, the blind Emiya would be no match for Kaguya.
The atmosphere grew tense. Kaguya's every word and action held everyone's fate in the balance. She could change everything in an instant. She could choose to observe this new world after a thousand years, or she could start a great war that would plunge the entire ninja world into flames.
"You..." Kaguya's gaze turned to Emiya Shirou. Her brows furrowed slightly as she chose to follow Black Zetsu's advice and gave him a command. "Help me capture them."
"Emiya," Black Zetsu added from within Kaguya's sleeve, hoping to use him one last time. "First, help Mother take care of these two brats, Naruto and Sasuke. Then we will discuss the future of the ninja world..."
Emiya Shirou nodded lightly. To him, all three people before him were enemies.
It made no difference which side he allied with to eliminate the other. At least Kaguya's side still seemed willing to continue their alliance. He didn't mind taking care of Naruto and Sasuke first, especially since he needed to be wary of their sealing jutsu.
Naruto and Sasuke's hearts sank. Now it was two against two, and they had absolutely no confidence they could win.
They exchanged a look, instantly understanding each other's intent, and charged directly at Kaguya. With no information on their enemy, they had to gather it as quickly as possible. By that same token, Kaguya shouldn't know much about them, either.
Maybe a surprise attack could work.
However, Kaguya's brow furrowed slightly. Her response was beyond anything they expected. With a sudden flick of her sleeve, everyone's vision blurred.
With a single action, the entire world changed.
They now found themselves in a space of rolling lava, with a scorching torrent flowing beneath them.
"Sasuke!" Naruto panicked as he saw Sasuke's body fall, and he immediately dived down to grab him.
"Idiot..." Sasuke's figure instantly swapped places with a Truth-Seeking Orb behind him. He grabbed Naruto's shoulder and cursed at him.
On the other side, Kaguya and Emiya Shirou floated in the air.
Their positions had shifted during the spatial transfer, and Emiya could sense that Kaguya had deliberately placed him slightly behind her—the position of a subordinate.
Besides them, two others had been brought along: Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha. As the only survivors who had escaped the Infinite Tsukuyomi through the Kamui dimension, they were pulled into the new space as well.
"Where is this place?" Kakashi asked the question on everyone's mind.
"This is Amenominaka," Kaguya's voice echoed around them. Her gaze was fixed on Naruto and Sasuke. "If we fight here, we won't destroy that precious nursery..."
"Then..." Emiya's body slowly floated to her side. He raised his hand, condensing a Truth-Seeking Orb and twisting it into a pitch-black longsword.
"Let the war begin."