"No one is allowed to flaunt their power above the head of Ainz Ooal Gown!"
The moment the magnificent Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown was gripped in his hand, Ainz's magical power surged violently. Necromantic light flickered around him, and the air itself began to distort under the boiling tide of magic.
"Blessing of the Magic Caster."
"Greater All-Stat Enhancement."
"Magic Tier Ascension."
Streams of auxiliary magic flowed across his body one after another. Coupled with the full set of divine-tier equipment he wore, Ainz's power was pushed to its absolute peak.
In an instant, complex and intricate magic circles appeared beneath his feet.
The violent fluctuations of magic were so intense that even the barrier of the Great Tomb of Nazarick could no longer conceal them.
Immediately, several distant gazes turned toward the disturbance.
"Should I save him?"
Inside the lunar temple of Hamura, deep within the moon.
Within the golden radiance of the Tenseigan, the figure of Otsutsuki Hamura slowly appeared.
His gaze pierced through space itself, instantly seeing the Great Tomb wrapped in a barrier—and the suddenly alarmed Hyuga Hizashi.
Granting Hizashi a golden Tenseigan fragment had only been a casual move on Hamura's part.
Giving him the power of the Tenseigan was merely an experiment—to see whether it could someday be used to stab Uchiha Soren in the back.
The exposure of that power today was completely within Hamura's expectations.
Hyuga Hizashi had only two options.
Either never use the power…
Or use it frequently.
Both outcomes would gradually lower Uchiha Soren's guard.
After all, the Tenseigan fragment could not be detected as abnormal in any way. The more Hizashi used it, the greater his achievements would appear.
And Uchiha Soren—who always prided himself on being fair—would very likely promote Hizashi higher and higher.
At the same time, the constant use of the Tenseigan fragment would slowly assimilate Hizashi.
Eventually, he would become something like a puppet or avatar of Otsutsuki Hamura.
Even a Six Paths–level being would not notice anything strange.
To the outside world, it would simply appear that Hyuga Hizashi was becoming stronger and stronger.
"This idle move of mine… will depend on whether Uchiha Soren chooses to save him."
The energy gathering in the Great Tomb clearly indicated a Six Paths–level attack.
Hamura had no intention of wasting his own energy to rescue someone who had failed while showing off.
Instead, he wanted to see whether Uchiha Soren would save one of Konoha's decorated veterans.
If he saved him, Hamura could gauge Soren's current level of strength.
If he didn't…
Then Hamura could better understand his personality.
"So the problem has been thrown onto me."
On the ninja continent, within the endless blizzard of the Hidden Snow Village, Uchiha Soren sat calmly inside the warm chamber of the Tenshu Tower.
In an instant, he understood the entire situation.
Snowflakes the size of goose feathers drifted down outside the window, creating a scenery completely different from Konoha.
Before him sat a small red clay stove warming fragrant wine. Wisps of white steam rose slowly, carrying a subtle aroma.
Two beautiful wives sat beside him.
Taking a small sip of wine, Uchiha Soren looked completely relaxed and at ease.
On a projection screen beside them, the battle above the Great Tomb was being displayed.
Uchiha Zhili glanced at the image.
The Heavenly Eye System, which could now simulate energy fluctuations, transmitted an overwhelming energy tide from the screen.
Even Zhili felt her heart tremble.
If their positions were reversed, she knew she would be crushed instantly no matter what methods she used.
It would be like a human facing an unstoppable natural disaster.
Without outside help, Hyuga Hizashi was doomed.
There wouldn't even be bones left.
"An-kun, that place is extremely dangerous," Uchiha Zhili said seriously.
"Relax. I have no intention of risking myself."
Uchiha Soren placed down his wine cup.
"But Hyuga Hizashi still needs to be saved."
Understanding the deeper meaning of Zhili's words, Soren smiled faintly.
Beside him, Minamoto Kaori slowly refilled his wine cup.
At the same time she asked calmly,
"Did the Heavenly Eye System develop a new function?"
"As expected of Kaori—you understand me well."
"Oh? So An-kun thinks I don't understand you?"
Soren's momentary slip made Zhili glare at him.
The man immediately grinned mischievously.
"Of course not. Zhili understands me very well… inside and out."
Zhili rolled her eyes at his teasing.
Then Soren continued.
"When time techniques don't appear, space remains the true king."
He looked toward the projection.
"It seems Hyuga Hizashi is lucky enough to become the first test subject."
Meanwhile, above the Great Tomb.
The air pressure had compressed Hyuga Hizashi in midair like an insect trapped inside amber.
Struggling, he took out the golden orb again.
His expression turned grim as he stared at the expanding magic circles that now stretched to the horizon.
Then a majestic voice echoed through the air.
"Super-Tier Magic — Fallen Down."
The magic array erupted with deep azure light even darker than the sky.
A terrifying wave of magical power spread outward like rippling water.
Hyuga Hizashi was the first to be struck.
The ink-painted eagle beneath his feet instantly dissipated.
Fortunately, most of the battle ninjas had already retreated.
The few remaining ones began falling toward the ground.
Then the sky flashed.
A dazzling blue-white pillar of light—like divine lightning—descended from the heavens.
Blood vessels burst in Hyuga Hizashi's Byakugan as he raised the orb high above his head and roared.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
The two colossal energies collided in midair.
At the center of the collision, space itself twisted and tore apart.
The shockwaves spread like a tsunami.
Several battle ninjas caught in the blast coughed up blood instantly.
Just as they were about to be annihilated by the energy surge—
Their bodies suddenly disappeared.
Hyuga Hizashi did not notice this at all.
All his focus remained on resisting the magic.
Despair slowly filled his pure white Byakugan.
The golden light from the orb was weakening.
The blue-white beam continued pressing downward with visible force.
The immense magical pressure made Hizashi feel as if every bone in his body was groaning.
(Am I going to die…?)
The thought rose strongly in his mind.
Scenes from his life flashed before his eyes.
Throughout his entire life, he had always lived in the shadow of the Uchiha and Senju clans.
His opponents in youth were Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama—both impossible for him to defeat.
Even after they died, the Uchiha and Senju remained giants.
Then came the sudden rise of Uchiha Soren.
Throughout it all, the Hyuga clan had remained little more than background figures in Konoha.
Though considered a prestigious clan, they had no great victories to boast about.
Finally, when he found an opportunity to prove himself—
It ended like this.
Even his life would be lost.
(If I could start over… I would stay at home and never come out again!)
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
The world suddenly changed.
The familiar surroundings made Hyuga Hizashi freeze in shock.
He had returned to Konoha's teleportation array.
His mouth slowly fell open in disbelief.
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