Chapter 325 — Three Ōtsutsuki Rise From Their Coffins
"Turns out… you two are even weaker than I thought."
While the entire shinobi world was sinking into chaos, Kitagawa Gen's God Tree Clone was still pummeling his opponents without mercy.
The bodies that Isshiki and Urashiki were occupying—Obito and Kimimaro—were far weaker than expected.
More accurately…
Those two were resisting with everything they had.
And that fierce, desperate struggle severely disrupted Isshiki and Urashiki's control.
Willpower truly is the natural counter to an Ōtsutsuki's Kāma.
The maddening, unyielding will of Obito and Kimimaro made Isshiki and Urashiki feel like they were wrestling wild beasts in their own vessels.
"Hmph… Your power is indeed extraordinary. Even we must acknowledge that much."
They grit their teeth through the pain, refusing to let even a hint of weakness slip into their voices.
"But what does it change? In the end, we'll still revive."
"No matter the outcome of that other battle…"
"This planet of yours… will never escape its fate."
From their perspective, this world was doomed long before today.
They understood perfectly why this man was fighting so desperately.
He wanted them to waste their strength.
He wanted to force the Ōtsutsuki into infighting.
He wanted them to be consumed by Isshiki's "Ascension."
But in the end—
whoever wins will devour the planet.
"What's the point of all this useless nonsense?"
Kitagawa Gen shook his head… then paused, hearing something strange from the direction of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
"…Black Zetsu?"
To ensure everyone could hear, Black Zetsu amplified his voice through chakra, broadcasting across the entire battlefield.
Even Gen's clone—and Gen's original body—heard every word clearly.
The more Gen listened, the more his expression twisted.
"…What in the actual hell is happening?"
The plot had completely gone off the rails.
The "Hyūga Relic" turned into evidence that the Sage of Six Paths wanted to kill his own mother?
He and Kaguya wrote that thing together!
And now Black Zetsu fully believed that Hagoromo was the mastermind behind everything?
Even Gen—who had studied every conspiracy theory imaginable—had never seen a story twist like this.
The Sage of Six Paths had truly become…
the Six Pots of Blame.
"Hey. What's going on over there?"
Urashiki finally couldn't hold his tongue either.
If getting beaten by Gen was dizzying, then the battlefield dialogue had scrambled his brain even more.
Since Hagoromo's soul appeared earlier, nothing had made sense.
Wasn't the Sage of Six Paths supposed to be Isshiki impersonating him?
So why was a real one showing up now?
And what was with all the crying and dramatic accusations?
He understood the words individually, but together they made absolutely no sense.
"Kaguya didn't get killed by you? The chakra fruit wasn't taken by you?" Urashiki asked suspiciously.
"…"
Isshiki looked at him with the exhausted pride of a man finally vindicated after centuries of slander.
How many times had it been?
How long had Ōtsutsuki Isshiki been wrongly accused thanks to Genshiki?
"I TOLD you it wasn't me!
But none of you ever believed me!
You believed Momoshiki, you believed anyone, except ME!
Especially that bastard Genshiki—he didn't believe a single word I said!"
"You're all going to drive me insane!
Why won't anyone believe me?!"
Watching Isshiki break down almost hysterically, Urashiki fell into stunned silence.
And Kitagawa Gen… blinked.
"…Maybe I did bully him too much?"
He had never thought it possible to force an Ōtsutsuki into this kind of emotional collapse.
"…So you really didn't do it?" Urashiki finally asked, carefully.
"…No."
Isshiki nodded stiffly.
Only for Urashiki to immediately stare at him with even more disdain.
"Let me get this straight—you were ambushed by your own guardian, she took the fruit, and you barely survived by hiding on this tiny planet?"
"…"
"And the real culprit wasn't you at all, but Genshiki misunderstood everything?"
"…"
"Are you really Ōtsutsuki Isshiki?"
"…"
Isshiki regretted EVERYTHING.
He should've just stuck with the "villain script" Genshiki had assigned him.
At least that version wasn't so shameful.
Being misunderstood was one thing.
But being PITIED by Urashiki?
Unforgivable.
And ever since Isshiki saw the traces of Bloodline Fusion on Gen, he had already resolved to escalate his own "Path to Godhood."
His reputation was beyond saving.
His dignity would not be.
"Enough. Forget that—there's something more urgent."
He cut off Urashiki sharply.
"Genshiki may already know the truth. And if so… he's probably summoning Kaguya right now."
"…You mean…"
Urashiki narrowed his eyes.
Genshiki's target—
Is Kaguya?
"Exactly.
Kaguya consumed a chakra fruit.
Her energy will be far greater…"
Isshiki gave a grave nod, and Urashiki's expression instantly shifted—first tense, then oddly excited.
A woman who had devoured a chakra fruit.
A bloodline already on the verge of Kekkai Mōra.
If they could use her as material for their own Ascension…
"…No matter what sins she committed—right now, we must protect her."
Urashiki's voice was low and steady.
Isshiki shot him a disdainful glance, but still nodded.
"Correct.
Whatever happens afterward, Kaguya cannot be allowed to fall into Gen's hands.
We protect her at all costs."
For the first time, the two came to a mutual understanding:
Kaguya must be "protected"—that is, kept away from Gen.
"Are you two finished?"
A calm voice cut through the tension.
Kitagawa Gen stood behind them, shrugging casually before smiling.
"I'm not completely sure what you're babbling about…
But I do think it's time to end this little game."
"End… the game?"
Their expressions darkened.
Isshiki growled:
"We admit you are strong.
You've risen far above your planet's native creatures—your level is nearly on par with ours."
"But if you think you can defeat us so easily," Urashiki continued, eyes narrowing, "then you're even more deluded than I imagined."
"You're nothing but a product of this backwater planet.
You know nothing of the cosmos.
Your power is insignificant."
"Is that so?" Gen smiled.
"You've always misunderstood one thing."
His smile faded.
His voice deepened.
"Exactly when did you start believing I was fighting you at full power?"
Before the thought could even settle—
BOOM.
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted from Gen's body, and before Isshiki or Urashiki could react—
He disappeared.
"What—?!"
Their pupils shrank.
This aura…
This strength…
It wasn't even close to what he had shown before.
"I told you from the beginning," Gen's voice murmured behind them—
"I wanted to see whether power devours will…"
A golden-black Rasengan spiraled into existence in his palm, birthing a vortex strong enough to tear the terrain apart—
"…or whether will can devour power.
So I've been humoring you."
"Damn you!"
Isshiki panicked—immediately shifting his body into Kamui's dimension.
Urashiki, less fortunate, roared and attempted to unleash his ocular abilities.
He was almost fully thawed—90% restored.
He should've been able to use a portion of his real power.
Almost.
The Rasengan hit.
The ground twisted into a massive spiral crater.
Dust engulfed the battlefield.
When it cleared, Gen's hand remained pressed against the earth—Urashiki sprawled beside him.
At the final moment, Urashiki survived by wrenching his body into an unnatural contortion.
"You miserable native—"
Urashiki ripped a bone blade from Kimimaro's body and lunged, stabbing toward Gen with all the fury he had.
"With this? You think you can hurt me?" Gen asked calmly.
"Do you really think that was just a simple attack?"
Isshiki suddenly shouted—
"Careful! He's using planetary energy!"
But it was too late.
Urashiki's arm froze mid-strike.
Then—
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
His body bulged violently from within, as if invisible shockwaves were detonating inside him.
Chunks of flesh burst open—
Blood sprayed like rain—
The bone blade halted inches from Gen's throat.
"The angle was decent," Gen commented lightly, "but your placement was terrible. That's all."
He gently pushed Urashiki's bone blade aside with one finger.
Urashiki's mutilated body crumpled like a deflating husk.
"Now then…"
Gen raised his eyes to the Kamui dimension.
"…You're next.
Did you really think hiding in there would keep you safe?"
"You—!"
Isshiki could no longer deny it.
Gen had been toying with them from the start.
A "planet's will"—
stronger than an Ōtsutsuki?
Impossible.
Unthinkable.
Yet… it was happening.
Gen tore the Kamui entrance open with a flick of chakra and stepped inside.
Before Isshiki could react, Gen's finger was already pressed to his chest.
Then—
SHUNK.
His fingertip pierced clean through Isshiki's heart.
Isshiki stared, stunned.
His life force plummeted.
The kāma began activating, forcefully launching revival.
Gen smiled at him with emotionless silver eyes.
"You see?
If I press here—
Your heart bursts."
"Was that really so difficult?"
Isshiki couldn't answer.
His body dissolved.
His consciousness sank into revival instinct.
And in the distance—
Urashiki, Isshiki, and Momoshiki's resurrection had begun.
---
Meanwhile—
"Your chakra is trembling," Gen murmured, glancing at the reddened sky.
She really thinks Hagoromo wants to kill her?
Kaguya seethed inside the seal:
"Hagoromo desires my death!
Even Black Zetsu has betrayed me—he tries to prevent my release!"
"…I think he's trying to save you," Gen replied blankly.
Kaguya choked.
Gen continued, unfazed:
"You're used to being betrayed, aren't you?
Happens a lot with chakra-born descendants."
"HOW is that something one 'gets used to'?!"
Her eye twitched violently.
She glanced at Madara's writhing form and exhaled shakily.
"How are you planning to make me descend? Through him?"
"No. The pathway is open.
I'll simply pull you out."
Gen waved dismissively.
"No need to cram you into Madara.
Otherwise I'd have to extract the Ten-Tails again.
Too much hassle."
Extract the Ten-Tails…
Casually?
Like removing weeds?
For a moment—
Kaguya genuinely reconsidered leaving the seal.
But before she could object—
Three monstrous chakras erupted simultaneously.
Kaguya stiffened.
"They're…"
Her eyes widened.
But Gen only smiled.
"Don't worry."
He lifted his head toward the sky, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Long time no see—
Isshiki, Urashiki, Momoshiki."
"This time…
Are you ready?"