Splash.
Kyūsei and Nao jumped into the pool without hesitation.
But the moment they entered—
Something felt… wrong.
They could breathe.
No suffocation.
No wetness.
It didn't feel like water at all.
This wasn't a pool—
It was a disguise.
A gateway.
Kyūsei noticed it instantly.
The gravity had changed.
His body felt weightless—
Like a feather.
A casual step carried him several meters.
Around them—
Countless green, glowing bubbles floated in the air.
Each one about the size of a human head.
Kyūsei narrowed his eyes.
He could feel it—
A foreign chakra trying to invade his body.
Trying to disrupt him.
The Nine-Tails' chakra surged—
And instantly erased it.
"…Genjutsu."
These bubbles carried illusion effects.
He glanced at Nao.
Her eyes were unfocused.
Without hesitation—
Kyūsei 's chakra flowed into her body—
Breaking the illusion.
Nao blinked.
Confused.
For a moment—
She had seen something.
A memory.
A younger Kyūsei —
Tricking her into eating a wasabi-coated fruit.
She hadn't even tasted it before—
She was pulled back.
"…Let's go."
Kyūsei 's voice snapped her out of it.
"The exit's ahead."
Nao followed his gaze.
A thin membrane shimmered in the distance.
Beyond it—
Another cave.
With a soft pop—
Like a bubble bursting—
They passed through.
—
The moment they emerged—
Gravity returned.
But before they could react—
A massive shadow slammed toward them!
BOOM!
The entire cave shook.
Kyūsei stood firm—
One hand blocking the attack—
The other holding Nao.
In that instant—
He had already noticed something else.
The environment.
Natural energy—
Everywhere.
Dense.
Overwhelming.
Even richer than the artificial environment created by Hashirama.
This place—
Was perfect for Sage Mode.
Kyūsei didn't need assistance.
Didn't need preparation.
Sage patterns spread instantly across his body.
He had already entered Sage Mode.
"…Is that… a crab?"
Nao blinked.
"…Or a lobster?"
Kyūsei glanced up.
A massive claw pressed against his hand.
"…Close enough."
He smirked—
Then punched forward.
BOOM!
The gigantic creature was sent flying.
The ground trembled.
Only now did they see it clearly—
A colossal lobster.
It flipped back instantly—
Bubbles spilling from its mouth—
Charging again.
The same illusion bubbles from before.
This thing—
Was a summoned beast.
Placed here—
To guard the passage.
Kyūsei formed a golden blade in his hand.
"Want lobster?"
"…Idiot. I'm allergic."
Nao crossed her arms.
Kyūsei sighed.
"…Figures."
Golden light flashed.
Blade shadows danced.
In a single exchange—
The lobster stood no chance.
In seconds—
It was cut into pieces.
Clean.
Effortless.
—
Elsewhere—
Inside a grand, ancient palace—
A white-haired woman sat calmly, sipping tea.
Her fingers were slender.
Delicate.
Elegant.
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed from above.
A tall man rushed in.
"What is it?"
She asked softly.
"…Someone's here."
His expression was tense.
"Strong."
Her face changed instantly.
"…The main branch?"
"I don't know."
He shook his head.
"I'll check."
Without waiting—
He left.
The woman stared at her reflection in the teacup.
Her expression filled with unease.
The conflict between main and branch families—
Had ended years ago.
The moon—
Should have only two survivors.
So if someone had arrived—
There was only one answer.
"…Earth."
—
Ōtsutsuki Yōmei shot through the sky.
Breaking through a yellow barrier.
Beyond it—
A breathtaking sight.
Floating structures.
Entire buildings—
Suspended in mid-air.
All encased in a glowing golden dome.
—
Outside—
Kyūsei and Nao stepped out of the cave.
Nao froze.
This wasn't what she expected.
There was no snow.
No frost.
Instead—
A lush forest stretched before them.
Green.
Alive.
But something felt…
Off.
Unnatural.
She looked at the horizon—
And her pupils shrank.
It curved—
Inward.
Not outward like the Earth.
"…Kyūsei … this place…"
She couldn't explain it.
But it felt wrong.
Kyūsei looked up.
At the dim, artificial sun hanging above.
Too close.
Too unnatural.
His eyes sharpened.
In the distance—
Dozens of black figures appeared.
Flying.
On mechanical birds.
Each holding glowing yellow chakra spheres.
Then—
Without hesitation—
They fired.
A barrage of light rained down.
"…Careful."
Kyūsei didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
His expression turned cold.
So this was it.
The Ōtsutsuki of the moon.
No questions.
No warnings.
Just attack.
…Fine.
Then he wouldn't hold back either.
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