Aomi gazed at the scarred earth.
After such an unprecedented battle, this planet looked incredibly dire, nearly uninhabitable...
The forests, streams, and mountains of days past were obliterated by the aftershocks of the clash, leaving only vast swathes of scorched earth that emitted an unpleasant burning smell.
In the space where Aomi, Akeshiki, and Spiritual Technique, who were god-like, battled and crushed, the collapsed area continued to leak abyss-like time-space turbulence, with frenzied whirlpools siphoning the surrounding matter.
This planet seemed like hell where no one could survive.
Yet in the hearts of Aomi and all creatures of the Ninja World.
None of this mattered...
After slaying Spiritual Technique, the clan leader of the Otsutsuki Clan, and clan leader aide Akeshiki, the sword hanging over the Ninja World was finally severed!
In the past.
Even if the Ninja World had no wars, everything blossomed brightly, with scenes of peace where people coexisted in a perfect haven...
Ultimately, these were just illusory bubbles.
When the judgment of the Otsutsuki Clan arrived, all beauty would be torn apart by violence, reverting to death and void.
After this threat was eliminated.
Even if the homeland temporarily became a ruin, the situation had completely changed... No matter the challenge or how dire the situation, it only required everyone to work hard together, to rebuild bit by bit...
Each small accumulation would pile into a tower, eventually making everything better.
The most crucial part is that there's no need to worry about external threats anymore, and everyone can wholeheartedly repair their home!
"Walking this path wasn't hard, but it wasn't easy either..." Aomi seemed like a tired worker after a day of labor, landing on a collapsed mountain, watching over all things.
He felt somewhat exhausted.
Aomi had always harbored a dangerous feeling of unease.
The Six Paths Sage and Otsutsuki Kaguya... Knowing the existence of the Otsutsuki Clan, Aomi understood these were just the tip of the iceberg threatening his life, always urging him to keep moving.
He could only rely on what he called Dojutsu—acquiring others' abilities by leveraging emotions.
To maximize his power in the shortest time, Aomi deceived many people...
Starting with his brother Shisui, then Asuma, Obito, Might Duy, Might Guy, Hatake Sakumo...
Including Uzumaki Mito, Tsunade, Uchiha Izuna, Hatake Sakumo...
And many, many more.
Especially Senju Tobirama and Kaguya, who once resided within him.
Whether enemies or those by Aomi's side, as long as he could gain power, Aomi adhered to one principle—"As long as their lives aren't endangered, temporary injury is irrelevant."
Even if it meant suffering the agony of ripping apart the heart and soul, it was inconsequential.
Senju Tobirama was fooled by Aomi, Shisui fell into madness countless times over his inability to help Aomi, and Might Duy repeatedly opened the Death Gate to burn himself...
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth to attempt using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on Senju Tobirama to save Aomi.
And the former World-Ending Witch Kaguya, who burned out while secretly learning Baryon Jutsu for Aomi, now leaving only a shred of soul residing in Aomi's seal, her life uncertain.
From an objective standpoint... perhaps Aomi owed many people, some who genuinely cared for him.
But Aomi could only choose not to care.
When threats of death and survival hung overhead, emotions were mere hindrances delaying his steps...
"Thankfully, everyone is here, I've fulfilled my promise to you all."
Aomi lay in a star formation atop the mountain, leisurely watching the sky above torn open space rifts, counting how many streams of turbulence were leaking, like counting sheep, bored yet lively.
This boring pastime was something Aomi had never done since arriving in the Ninja World.
Everything he'd done before was synchronized with a theme of maximizing emotional stimulation, casting light and shadow with each step... If it didn't contribute to power, it was something unnecessary to do.
Undeniably, Aomi was a typical member of the Uchiha Clan.
He might not have the classic obsessive and easily darkened character, but he was undeniably compulsive.
Aomi always felt that perhaps if he relaxed for a moment to do something unconscious, he might lag one critical move during the final battle due to that moment of rest.
Thus, a moment could not be relaxed...
Observing the history and figures of the Ninja World, the one burdened with overturning the mountainous Otsutsuki Clan could only be him...
Just as Senju Tobirama had once said.
Perhaps somewhat arrogant, Aomi internally believed the weight of the Ninja World rested on his shoulders...
If he didn't act, then no one would, no one could achieve it.
And today, Aomi felt tired, but fulfilled.
Aomi's inner promise to everyone—"His intimate ones would ultimately receive a better ending than in the original timeline..."
That promise was fulfilled.
Tobirama, Shisui, Might Duy, Asuma, Hatake Sakumo, Hachida... These friends of Aomi need not be elaborated on.
Namikaze Minato, Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kushina, all of whom were relatively neutral also ended up better than the original ending, and even the ninjas from other villages, formerly Aomi's adversaries, didn't end in demise.