"Big brother, what exactly is going on here?"
At the back of the crowd, Hamura looked at his elder brother with a face full of confusion. He seemed utterly lost regarding the events unfolding before him. How had things suddenly turned into an apocalyptic scenario? Could it be that Minamoto was really going to do it?!
"Or do you have some sort of plan?"
"Well, there are some thoughts—you should have heard them by now."
Even the Sage of Six Paths felt somewhat shaken by what was happening. For a moment, he truly suspected that this young man might be planning to destroy the world. But he didn't believe Minamoto would go that far. He carefully observed Kitagawa Minamoto, watching his actions and sensing his Chakra. Finally, he reached a conclusion: this guy was simply having fun.
"Relax, there's nothing to worry about."
The Sage of Six Paths sighed internally, trying to reassure his younger brother. At the same time, he glanced at his other brother, who was already frightened out of his wits.
"From start to finish, he hasn't truly intended to kill anyone. If you carefully sense his Chakra, you'll find no trace of malice. So..."
"I see... I think I'm beginning to understand."
Hamura was quick to catch on. With his elder brother's explanation, he immediately grasped the situation. Moreover, sensing malice in Ōtsutsuki Chakra wasn't something ordinary people could do—only those who had reached a certain level could manage it! Even the ninjas, despite receiving their elder brother's "blessing," weren't truly capable of such perception. Still, Hamura couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
"But this... this is no ordinary harm to Minamoto. He's sacrificing too much..."
"Let the boy make his own decisions. Perhaps he has his own ideas."
The Sage of Six Paths smiled bitterly, then spoke seriously.
"What we need to do is watch over the remaining children—see how they choose to act. After all, Minamoto himself said..."
Hamura stopped overthinking, focusing intently on the distant scene.
"Don't blindly trust others. Sometimes, what people need to trust more is themselves. That's his philosophy and approach."
"But for him and the people of this world, it's unbearably cruel."
Hamura's sentiment was indisputable. Everything unfolding was indeed excessively harsh and despairing for the people of this world.
The savior turned out to be the true destroyer. He had ignited the flame of hope for everyone, only to drag them into the abyss without hesitation, even planning to "eliminate" everyone to complete his "ascension to godhood."
All the friendships, bonds, and everything else in this world—he intended to bury and destroy them with his own hands. This was unimaginable for anyone.
"Damn it..."
Among the Ninja Alliance, countless ninjas clenched their fists in frustration, while the people of Konohagakure were on the verge of breaking down. Kiba looked utterly incredulous, Neji and Lee had faces full of despair, and Ino's eyes were already red with tears.
Moments later, Ino seemed to make a decision. She raised her head to look at the distance and then ran forward. No one tried to stop her. Shikamaru and the others remained silent, as did everyone else.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Ninja Alliance, everyone was even more devastated.
Neither Shikaku Nara nor Inoichi Yamanaka could find words, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was equally filled with pain and despair.
After a long pause, he suddenly bit down on his pipe and spoke firmly.
"Now is not the time for despair. Immediately notify everyone—we must rally ourselves. Before the remnants of the moon crash down, we must resolve these issues!"
"Third Hokage-sama..."
Everyone present was momentarily speechless, raising their heads to look at Hiruzen. But Hiruzen's expression remained resolute.
"We are not dead yet. Even if we are to die, we must fight until the last moment. If we give up now, what meaning does our existence have?"
"Understood."
Shikaku Nara nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"I'll arrange the tactics as quickly as possible. Indeed, it's far too early to give up!"
Under Shikaku's arrangements, the operations headquarters began frantically working again.
On the frontlines, the previously despairing crowd suddenly received information in their minds. One by one, they raised their heads to stare into the distance.
"We will not give up. We absolutely... will not give up!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and the others received the same information, their eyes burning with determination as they fixed their gazes on Kitagawa Minamoto.
All of them began to gather Chakra again, ready to make a desperate stand.
"Oh, so there's another twist?"
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow. The scene before him left him somewhat speechless. After sensing for a moment, he quickly understood what was happening.
"Even at this point, they refuse to give up—planning one final counterattack?"
Kitagawa Minamoto stroked his chin. Wasn't this exactly what the Sage of Six Paths wanted?
"Not bad. But this works too—I'm almost ready to wrap things up."
Kitagawa Minamoto looked up at the fruit growing at the top of the Divine Tree's canopy. He nodded in satisfaction.
This was the fruit he had been waiting for days to harvest. And the Ninja World's performance had been more than adequate. Although, strictly speaking, it hadn't caused him much trouble.
"But then again, that's because I'm strong enough. If it were any other Ōtsutsuki, they'd have been defeated long ago."
Recalling the three Ōtsutsuki, Kitagawa Minamoto chuckled. They had contributed significantly to his "ascension to godhood." Without them, he wouldn't be where he was now.
Likewise, they had made a substantial contribution to the Ninja World—at least they had shown the world the true terror of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
After all, without them as a backdrop, his own deterrence wouldn't have been as evident.
"And my Divine Tree seems a bit peculiar—it appears to link to the Chakra of the entire Ninja World. Even hidden communications can be intercepted?"
Looking at his Divine Tree, he couldn't help but think of the Golden Tree.
"Have I turned the Ninja World into a boundary zone, or has my Divine Tree transformed into the 'Emperor of Fear'? Second awakening?"
For some reason, looking at the group of ninjas below, he suddenly felt like he had become Griffith, the "Hand of God." And these ninjas were like Guts, struggling against fate yet clueless about how to proceed.
As the fruit drew closer, as the end approached, Kitagawa Minamoto's mind wandered aimlessly.
Finally, when the light beam had transported him to a certain distance, the vine connecting the fruit began to move. It brought the fruit down from the sky, sending it quickly toward Kitagawa Minamoto.
Watching the fruit draw nearer, Kitagawa Minamoto reached out to touch it.
"Now!"
Suddenly, the Ninja Alliance erupted in a roar. In an instant, everyone shouted and charged forward.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" "Earth Release: Earth Spears!" "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" "Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"
Countless ninjas sprinted while rapidly forming hand seals. They had prepared everything in advance, waiting only for the command to launch their assault.
The overwhelming wave of ninjutsu surged toward Kitagawa Minamoto like a natural disaster. Even if the individual techniques weren't particularly powerful, the sheer scale of thousands of simultaneous attacks was beyond imagination!
The sky darkened, shaken by the impact of the ninjutsu. The countless techniques densely packed across the heavens were suffocating to behold.
"Interesting."
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow at the "majestic" scene before him. Then, he suddenly lifted his hand.
The energy of the Divine Tree linked with him instantly, an extraordinary force erupting within his body!
Meanwhile, the Truth-Seeking Orbs formed a massive transparent shield in front of him.
"My apologies—I forgot to tell you."
Kitagawa Minamoto appeared extraordinarily calm, as the overwhelming wave of techniques suddenly failed before him.
All the techniques were deconstructed, reduced to their most primal Chakra forms, unable to inflict even a scratch!
Though the sheer volume prevented him from immediately reclaiming all the Truth-Seeking Orbs, he still smiled and shook his head.
"Any technique involving Chakra is completely ineffective against me."
"We already knew that!"
Suddenly, Jiraiya and the other two charged forward. Tsunade led the way, her fist radiating unparalleled power as she struck toward Kitagawa Minamoto.
"Minamoto, I never thought you'd turn out like this—damn you, take this!"
"Earth Release: Super Weighted Boulder Technique!"
Ōnoki, who had already arrived at the scene, still had a ringing in his head. But he coordinated with Tsunade immediately. With the Super Weighted Boulder Technique enhancing her blow, Tsunade's punch caused the entire space to tremble slightly as it came crashing down with immense force!
"Not bad, but too slow."
Kitagawa Minamoto motioned forward with his fingers, and Tsunade's attack was instantly thrown off course, her fist striking in the wrong direction!
"And don't forget—I also know spatial techniques."
"Of course we haven't forgotten, Fifth Hokage."
Orochimaru licked his lips, summoning countless venomous snakes as a cloud of toxic mist enveloped Kitagawa Minamoto.
This made Kitagawa Minamoto raise an eyebrow, then shake his head disdainfully.
"The reunion of the Sannin—quite interesting. The poison has some effect, and it might influence me slightly. But..."
Buzz—
The distortion of space suddenly intensified, even enveloping Orochimaru's area in the twisted space!
"I told you—I know spatial techniques."
"Damn it..."
Orochimaru suddenly realized that the space around him had been thrown into disarray, and Kitagawa Minamoto's fingers reached into the spatial distortion.
In an instant, Orochimaru felt a chilling sensation. Looking down, he saw a gaping hole in his abdomen!
"Minamoto, why must you pursue those lofty yet unattainable ideals, while forsaking the most precious things?"
Jiraiya charged forward at this moment, with Tsunade and Orochimaru seemingly creating an opportunity for him.
His expression was filled with pain, but his actions showed no hesitation. A massive Rasengan had already formed in his hand.
"No matter what, I'll wake you up! Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan!"
"But they're not unattainable."
Kitagawa Minamoto tilted his head, and in the next moment, a Rasengan appeared in his hand as well.
"It's just that you don't understand my pursuit."
BOOM—
The two Rasengans collided in mid-air, the immense energy causing the "Golden Tree" vines to tremble slightly.
Jiraiya was instantly blasted away, but his gaze remained fixed on Kitagawa Minamoto.
Meanwhile, fine sand began to appear beneath Kitagawa Minamoto's feet.
"Oh?"
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow. The sand carried a powerful sealing effect—clearly Gaara's handiwork.
"Didn't you once tell me to cherish everything before us—to have faith and accept this world?"
Gaara controlled the sand furiously, shouting loudly.
"But why have you abandoned all of that? Why are you doing this? Why?!"
Kimimaro remained silent, coordinating with Gaara to launch their attack.
"Minamoto, stop this madness!"
Kakashi and Obito appeared at this moment, using Kamui to suppress the surrounding space with all their might.
"If this continues, there will be no good outcome!"
"Hmph, you bastard—you're not as impressive as you think."
Obito muttered coldly, his gaze icy.
"The craziest person has always been you!"
"Super Universal Pull!"
Elsewhere, Nagato was already using his power to pull Kitagawa Minamoto's movements off balance.
"You've always talked about killing everyone in this world, and you call us extremists? The most extreme person has always been you, Kitagawa Minamoto!"
"Oh, Kakashi-sensei—I never thought you'd team up with Obito Uchiha."
Kitagawa Minamoto seemed entirely unfazed, even taking the time to glance at Nagato.
"As for killing everyone in this world—did I say anything wrong? According to your logic, as long as there are people, there will be wars. Wouldn't it be more peaceful if everything were quiet?"
"It's not the same, Minamoto!"
In the distance, Deidara and Mei Terumi had already gathered all their Chakra, shouting loudly.
"A world without people is meaningless! You've already united everyone—why would you do this? Why?"
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!" "Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
The two unleashed their explosive powers, while Ōnoki and the Second Tsuchikage also used Dust Release. Even the Second Mizukage, with his small mustache, joined forces with them.
Their techniques intertwined, the violent energy shaking the heavens and earth, instilling fear and suffocation!
"Why? Haven't I already explained?"
Kitagawa Minamoto shook his head lightly, raising his hand as Dust Release energy roared in his grasp.
"Besides, I'm someone with unwavering resolve..."
BOOM—
The Dust Release energy intertwined in the sky, its scorching white light making it hard for everyone to breathe.
Kitagawa Minamoto's Dust Release single-handedly suppressed all their attacks, even...
Buzz—
The Chakra explosion was sharp and piercing. His Dust Release instantly shattered all their attacks, sending them flying in all directions!
"My resolve is unshakable, and my vision has long surpassed all worldly matters!"
"But Minamoto, don't underestimate our resolve either!"
BOOM—
Suddenly, behind him, Guy erupted with red steam. The violent steam seemed to burn through everything, the energy roaring on his body like it could shatter the void!
Guy had fully unleashed the Eight Inner Gates, putting his life on the line.
"I've always told you about the resolve of youth. Now I'll show you what my youth is all about! Minamoto! I'll use my youth to wake you up completely!"
The red tide on Guy's body transformed into a dragon shape, charging straight toward Kitagawa Minamoto. At this moment, he disregarded everything else.
"Guy..."
Kakashi's expression was filled with pain. He knew this technique—once used, it would undoubtedly cost Guy his life.
This technique had once been used against him, and he had joked about how he didn't deserve such a sacrifice from Guy.
But now...
Was this how it would shine in the end?
"Witness the essence of youth—Night Guy!"
Guy launched a kick, distorting the entire space.
His attack left everyone stunned. Many had previously thought of Guy as merely a Taijutsu specialist. Some even looked down on him, believing that a ninja without proficiency in ninjutsu couldn't truly be called a ninja.
But at this moment, all those perceptions were shattered.
Perhaps Guy wasn't skilled in ninjutsu. Perhaps Guy only excelled in Taijutsu.
But that didn't mean he wasn't a ninja whose strength inspired awe. It didn't mean he couldn't play a crucial role at pivotal moments!
Kitagawa Minamoto's expression remained calm, but the space around him grew increasingly chaotic.
In the blink of an eye, Guy was right in front of him. With one kick, the distorted space shattered completely!
The red steam condensed into the head of a dragon, and the world trembled under its power. The force that pierced through heaven and earth crashed heavily toward Kitagawa Minamoto. In that instant, an energy barrier seemed to form around them.
The roaring power of the attack echoed furiously, and even the "Golden Tree" behind Kitagawa Minamoto seemed unable to withstand such force.
Kitagawa Minamoto frowned, raising his hand instantly as roaring Chakra surrounded him.
"What reckless behavior..."
He couldn't help but curse internally. In the next moment, his fist collided with Guy's foot!
BOOM—
The ultimate power exploded instantly, waves of visible energy rippling outward in all directions!
At that moment, the shield formed by the Truth-Seeking Orbs trembled violently, appearing to struggle under the immense pressure.
Even the towering "Golden Tree" seemed to quake!
The massive energy shook everyone in the sky, sending them plummeting to the ground. Had it not been for the rescue efforts of Gaara and Ōnoki, many might have been killed by the fall.
But now, all eyes turned to the sky, desperate to see what had happened.
"Guy..."
The next moment, they saw a man, his body charred black, falling from the sky. Kitagawa Minamoto remained standing in the heavens, his expression indifferent.
"Damn it... damn it, damn it!"
Kakashi clenched his fists, his Mangekyō Sharingan tightly shut, but blood tears still uncontrollably flowed.
Memories of his past competitions with Guy flashed through his mind—the man who always radiated youthful energy, the ninja who never admitted defeat.
Today, before his very eyes, that man had been defeated by his former student. A profound sorrow rose in his heart.
"As far as Taijutsu is concerned..."
Meanwhile, Kitagawa Minamoto spoke from the sky.
"Guy-sensei, I'm willing to call you the strongest!"
"Fortunately, you only know Taijutsu, and you only use Taijutsu."
"It's not over yet!"
Suddenly, Hashirama, Madara, Naruto, and Sasuke appeared together!
At this moment, their bodies were enveloped in immense Chakra, and strange seals appeared on their hands.
"We've sacrificed so much, given so much—all for this moment!"
Naruto and Sasuke roared, while Madara and Hashirama charged forward with equal determination.
"Someone like you is unworthy of being Hokage!"
"This world may be battered and broken, but it cannot be destroyed by you!"
Buzz—
At the same time, several giant toads appeared in the sky, guided by Tobirama and Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Ōtsutsuki Minamoto, even if we die, we must deal with you!"
Gamamaru's aged voice echoed, and as his words fell, the power of Sage Art erupted violently.
This was their final chance—their only chance. They had to resolve the ultimate threat to the Ninja World!
"A sealing technique using natural energy?"
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow. Mount Myōboku seemed to have hidden a trump card.
These old toads hadn't mentioned this in the information they had provided him.
Moreover, this sealing technique seemed capable of suppressing him slightly, creating an opportunity for Sasuke, Naruto, Madara, and Hashirama!
"Now..."
"Divine: Planetary Devastation!"
BOOM—
An indescribable force reverberated through the heavens. At that moment, a massive phantom figure appeared before everyone—the Sage of Six Paths!
As the colossal phantom clasped its hands together, an invisible force accompanied by endless debris furiously gathered around Kitagawa Minamoto.
Rumble—
The earth roared, the sky trembled, and a round moon seemed to materialize in everyone's view.
Legend had it that the moon was once created by the Sage of Six Paths. Now, this seemed to confirm the truth—this new moon was meant to seal Ōtsutsuki Minamoto!
"So, you really did leave something behind to deal with me?"
Finally breaking her silence, Kaguya couldn't help but speak. Her gaze was cold as she looked at her "good son."
"Is this the result you wanted? So, am I next?"
"Mother, I truly don't want or intend to turn against you..."
The Sage of Six Paths spoke with some helplessness. Even facing his mother, he felt powerless.
"But I said long ago—to trust them, to trust the power of belief. You insisted on using the Divine Tree, and the facts have proven you underestimated them."
"Hmph, they're still just a bunch of... weaklings."
"Their performance hasn't satisfied you yet? Faith and resolve will always compose songs of courage. They've proven they can win, haven't they?"
"They haven't won—they never will..."
Kaguya shook her head, still wanting to deny it. But the shocking scene before her left her deep in thought.
Emotion was something the Ōtsutsuki Clan lacked. She had never felt she needed it.
But watching the humans' performance—their resolve, their belief, their determination to protect their homeland, their camaraderie—
These elements combined seemed capable of unleashing extraordinary power.
Knowing they couldn't win, they still charged forward. Knowing they would die, they still created opportunities for others.
"Kitagawa Minamoto's strength—aside from his bloodline—is it because he possesses emotion?"
Kaguya couldn't help but ponder.
But then she frowned.
"Yet acting this way seems to make it impossible for him to stay in this world..."
Kaguya thought curiously. As for Kitagawa Minamoto's situation, she wasn't worried. The technique was powerful, but it was still far from enough to affect Kitagawa Minamoto!
"Did it work?"
Countless ninjas stared at the growing "new moon," their hearts filled with speculation.
No one could relax. Even though the divine miracle was so awe-inspiring, no one paid it much attention.
They only wanted to know what had happened to the man who was both their savior and destroyer.
BOOM—
Suddenly, everyone's expressions changed. They realized countless vines had appeared beneath their feet, furiously wrapping around them!
"Run!"
Countless people shouted in panic, but the vines bound everyone tightly in an instant.
BOOM—
Another extreme explosion erupted. Golden light engulfed the newly formed "new moon" in the sky, and in the next moment, it shattered into two pieces!
The extreme energy shockwave, accompanied by clouds of smoke, rose into the sky, forming a massive mushroom cloud.
But the mushroom cloud lasted less than a second before being shattered by the powerful impact!
Sasuke, Naruto, Madara, Hashirama, and all the giant toads were sent flying.
Their bodies were instantly caught by the vines of the Divine Tree, bound tightly by the relentless tendrils.
Amid the hazy smoke, Kitagawa Minamoto's figure reappeared. He hovered in the air, calmly holding his blade.
The surrounding smoke swirled around him like clouds.
"Impossible..."
Everyone's hearts sank. They hadn't expected the situation to unfold like this!
Kitagawa Minamoto remained composed, looking at them before shaking his head lightly.
"A commendable effort, but unfortunately, I've seen through every move you've made."
As he spoke, the vines constructed a massive pathway. The tree branch connecting the fruit had already lowered before him.
He walked slowly toward the fruit, reaching out to touch it. At that moment, everyone seemed to hear the sound of their own heartbeat.
"My Divine Tree has already linked to the Chakra of this world—even the Chakra communication channels created by Mind Body Transmission Technique. I can listen in too."
"..."
These words made everyone's pupils dilate. Had everything they done been under his watchful eye?
"First, you used tens of thousands of ninja attacks to force me not to use the Truth-Seeking Orbs. Then, through coordination, you sought out gaps in my defenses or moments of carelessness."
Kitagawa Minamoto gently awakened the fruit. In an instant, the seemingly boundless energy within the fruit began to pour into his body.
His entire being was enveloped in golden energy, appearing divine yet evil in the eyes of the world!
"You also tried to find moments when I was overly exhausted to create an opportunity to seal me."
Kitagawa Minamoto continued absorbing the fruit's energy, feeling the bloodline within him boil furiously. His smile grew even brighter.
"If it were a different time, you might indeed have had a chance. But not only did the Divine Tree reveal your plans to me, it also provided me with limitless energy."
Pausing briefly, he glanced at the struggling crowd.
"In other words, you never stood a chance."
As he spoke, the energy within him grew increasingly immense, becoming more solemn and divine.
In his eyes, the world seemed to change once again. Everything appeared to return to its essence.
It was as if the world's origin had been laid bare before him.
Space became a flat plane in his vision. The river of time seemed perceptible without the use of ocular techniques.
The power of life, the power of destruction, the so-called true essence of Chakra, the so-called natural Sage Arts, even the power of creation—in an instant, he seemed to understand it all.
The world was infinitely deconstructed in his eyes. Everything seemed controllable if he so desired.
"This feels a lot like the 'Omnipotence' of that Ōtsutsuki Shibai, doesn't it?"
"Omnipotence" was the ability to manifest anything, turning one's thoughts into reality. It was the power used by true gods to create worlds—the ultimate force controllable only by divine beings!
"Am I truly becoming the Ōtsutsuki God?"
[Name: Kitagawa Minamoto] [Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development Level: 91%)] [Ocular Technique: Tenseigan (Full Moon Eye)] [Divine Techniques: Yomi, Kami Amatsu, Omnipotence] [Special Abilities: Source of the Divine Tree (Level 10)] [Special Kekkei: Kekkei Mōra (Intermediate)]
When the status panel appeared before him, he raised an eyebrow. He wasn't yet the Ōtsutsuki God, but he had become "Mr. 91 Minamoto"?
Swish—
As Kitagawa Minamoto pondered, a sudden sound of something piercing the air caught his attention. He turned abruptly, seeing a golden-haired figure.
This made his eyes widen slightly, and he immediately grabbed the wrist clutching the kunai!
"Ino?"
Kitagawa Minamoto's expression turned peculiar. He hadn't expected this girl to make it here.
"Minamoto..."
Ino's gaze was resolute and unwavering, her voice tinged with questioning and a hint of coldness.
"Didn't you once say that your favorite flowers were those that seemed ordinary, never minding their companions among other plants, never considering themselves noble, and always blooming freely?"
"Ino, run! He's already lost his mind!"
Naruto shouted loudly upon seeing this, but Kitagawa Minamoto simply smiled and shook his head.
"Actually, I think I also said my favorite flowers are the ones that bloom on cliffsides, didn't I?"
"So, you've always been waiting for someone to take that step across the cliff?"
Ino seemed to understand something, and she smiled with a sense of relief.
"In fact, I've already prepared myself to take that step toward the sky!"
Suddenly, she unleashed all her Chakra, forming strands that resembled ropes and wrapping them around Kitagawa Minamoto.
The explosive tags hidden on her body also ignited at that moment. She had prepared everything—whether it led to her death or not.
But soon, she realized something was wrong. Her explosive tags seemed to be isolated.
Not only that, she found herself unable to even manipulate her Chakra!
"Indeed, but taking that step isn't easy—and even after taking it, what lies ahead may not be the sky. It could be the abyss instead."
Kitagawa Minamoto's voice echoed softly, and he turned his gaze to the distance, speaking slowly.
"Well, it's time to end everything, everyone."
"I must say, your performance has truly satisfied me."
As his words fell, golden light erupted, covering the entire world.
The roaring energy accompanied the golden radiance, spreading across the heavens. At that moment, everyone's eyes could no longer bear the intensity.
The vines binding them grew tighter, a sense of suffocation rising in their hearts!
"Is it over..."
Countless ninjas whispered inwardly, despair and helplessness washing over them.
"Damn it..."
Madara struggled to keep his eyes open, wanting to see what was happening. Hashirama also tried desperately to gather Chakra.
But they couldn't do anything—the vines' restraint and control far exceeded their expectations!
"Damn it... why is this happening..."
Sasuke and Naruto gritted their teeth. They refused to give up, but they were powerless!
The golden light grew increasingly blinding, until finally, no one could keep their eyes open.
The extreme pressure made their breathing slow, their minds gradually emptying.
After what seemed like an eternity, they strangely felt their bodies becoming lighter. An indescribable sensation washed over them.
It felt like a gentle spring breeze, refreshing and captivating, drawing them in.
"Is this what death feels like? It's not so bad..."
A bizarre emotion arose in everyone's hearts. The previous battle had been too desperate, too painful to look back on.
Everything had been so heart-wrenching that they didn't want to remember it, hoping it was all just a nightmare.
Never to be recalled, never to be faced again...
"Hey, how long are you all going to sleep?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice—one that filled everyone with dread and despair—rang out.
This voice sent chills down their spines, filling them with fear!
But strangely, this time the voice lacked its previous coldness and indifference, instead carrying an odd hint of playfulness.
"And, Sage of Six Paths, isn't it time to end this?"
"If this continues, they'll really die..."
These words seemed to pull everyone back from the brink of death and dreams. They opened their eyes.
Suddenly, they saw the massive "Golden Tree" still standing.
Kitagawa Minamoto was no longer "high above"—he had descended from the sky to the ground.
He had approached the Sage of Six Paths, whose face had turned deathly pale!
"What exactly is going on here..."