Staring at Momoshiki's face, now filled with shock, Akira said teasingly,
"Long time no see, Momoshiki. Does your horn still hurt~?"
Hitting a sore spot, Momoshiki instinctively raised his hand and pressed hard against the smooth, broken stump of his left horn.
But he didn't fly into a rage or start screaming about "inferior creatures."
Instead, he reflected inwardly.
Uchiha Akira… this human's abilities and combat power have already surpassed the limits of inferior beings and stepped into our clan's domain.
Even though I'm stronger now than I was in Kaguya's dimension and no longer fear him… the real issue is whether the other two are here—especially that human called Madara.
If he joins forces with Akira, things will turn very unfavorable.
Seeing Momoshiki's concern, Akira kindly said,
"Relax. Standing in front of you right now… is only me~."
He didn't bother saying the rest.
After all, Momoshiki, as a so-called god, still wasn't qualified enough to make him and Uncle Madara fight together—even now, he was far from worthy.
Hearing this, Momoshiki lowered his hand. That relaxed, confident smile returned to his face as he spoke loudly:
"Uchiha Akira, to be honest, seeing you again makes me, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, truly delighted from the bottom of my heart!"
"Uchiha… Akira!?"
Boruto exploded on the spot.
"Y-You're Uchiha Akira!? The one who almost beat my dad and Uncle Sasuke to death!?"
His feet began retreating uncontrollably.
Akira's playful voice drifted over.
"What, Boruto? You've been obsessed with killing me, and yet you didn't even know what I looked like?"
Boruto shuddered violently and reflexively raised his right arm, pointing the scientific ninja tool at Akira's back.
The shock brought by Yuki had made him forget that just an hour ago, he had planned to breeze through the exam, fulfill his deal with Katasuke, and then hunt down Uchiha Akira and blast him to death with the ninja tool.
"Forget it. That toy in your hand is useless against me."
Akira glanced sideways.
"Crack!"
Boruto's scientific ninja tool dissolved into dark gray particles of light.
That casual display of Amaterasu-like power made Boruto doubt his existence again.
Th-This… this is the power of the man who crushed Dad and Uncle Sasuke…?
"What's going on? Do Uchiha Akira and that Ōtsutsuki called Momoshiki know each other?"
Naruto hadn't heard their earlier exchange, but he clearly caught Momoshiki's last words.
Just then, Sasuke flashed over and landed beside him.
"Naruto, I don't think their 'acquaintance' is what you're imagining."
"Huh?"
"Did you see Momoshiki touch his broken horn when Akira was talking?"
"I did."
"Then they've probably fought before. And Momoshiki's lost horn was most likely taken by Akira."
"As for that 'delighted to see you' line… it sounded more like respect between equals."
Drawing on his own experience, Sasuke gave his interpretation.
Naruto pondered it, his lips turning pale.
"Akira fought that monster… and even broke his horn?"
Sasuke clenched his remaining hand tightly, his eyes trembling.
"Based on the strength Akira showed when fighting us, it's not impossible."
"But what shocked me more is this—his right eye… turned into a Rinnegan."
Only someone like me, Indra's reincarnation who once awakened it, understands how much scheming lies behind that eye.
I think I know why he stole Madara's body.
Edo Tensei? No… we all underestimated him. What he's planning might be even more shocking than Madara's.
"Clang!" "Clang!"
Sasuke pulled out the chakra rods sealing Naruto's tenketsu.
After standing up, Naruto said seriously:
"Forget Akira and Momoshiki's relationship for now, and forget where his Rinnegan came from. First, we have to move the fallen Kage and Boruto to safety."
"Only after that can we decide our next move."
Sasuke nodded.
"Right."
Golden chakra from Kurama ignited around Naruto like a cloak.
He leapt forward, with Sasuke following close behind. They bounded over fallen trees, rushing toward Akira and Momoshiki's standoff.
"I'll use Kurama's chakra arms to grab the Kage. Boruto's yours with Amenotejikara!"
"Got it!"
Momoshiki stared at Akira while his Byakugan clearly saw everything behind him.
A domineering smile spread across his face.
"Trash should stay out of the way."
"Buzz!"
The golden Rinnegan on his forehead flared!
"Boom!"
The Tree World, now ownerless after Yuki's withdrawal, suddenly went berserk.
With Momoshiki's raised hand, countless trees surged and coiled toward Naruto and Sasuke!
"What!?"
They hurriedly used chakra arms and Susanoo's blade to destroy the incoming trees.
But the closed buds reopened, releasing toxic pollen again!
"The pollen is poisonous! Get out of the Tree World!"
Covering their mouths, Naruto and Sasuke retreated toward the edge.
Momoshiki curled two fingers lightly.
"Whoosh!"
From the Uchiha Flame Formation still clinging to the walls, meteor-like dark-red flames erupted and bombarded the Tree World!
"Rumble!"
Even after the barrier exhausted itself and vanished, Naruto and Sasuke were nowhere to be seen.
Momoshiki clenched his fist.
"Crack! Crack!"
The four stands collapsed, and acres of land outside shattered, sending rocks crashing into the burning forest.
Soon, centered on the badly injured Naruto and Sasuke, two Chibaku Tensei formed and rose into the sky above the ruined arena.
"That should keep the nuisances quiet."
"Though… it feels a bit lonely without an audience."
He clenched his hand again.
"Crack! Crack!"
Openings blasted through the lower edges of both satellites, allowing Naruto and Sasuke to witness what was coming in humiliating fashion.
Akira said thoughtfully,
"So that's the power of the golden Rinnegan on your forehead. Interfering with others' techniques… impressive."
Momoshiki laughed.
"Exactly! A power equal to Takamimusubinokami!"
Obito, hidden by Bo'e Yexu, sat atop Naruto's satellite and sighed.
"Momoshiki really has grown stronger."
"Rapid growth under pressure isn't just for ninja. Ōtsutsuki show it even more clearly."
On Sasuke's satellite, Madara ignored Obito and muttered:
"After devouring Kinshiki, growing in battle with me, and absorbing hundreds of jutsu…"
"This new Momoshiki should be called—"
"Boom!"
Akira and Momoshiki's auras collided, white shockwaves tearing spiderweb cracks across the earth.
The fallen Kage were blown away like catkins into distant ruins.
Boruto, standing behind Akira, felt indescribable turmoil.
The man who defeated Dad… now facing the monster who crushed Dad and the Five Kage…
What was going to happen?
"Huff…"
Momoshiki took a deep breath. Red light formed into the crescent blade of Aramitsu-no-Hoko in his hand.
He raised it and declared:
"Come, Uchiha Akira!"
As his voice fell, Momoshiki struck first, charging with blade in hand!
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