In that remnant of sanity, Obito had a realization.
By absorbing the Yang Nine-Tails within Naruto, he might obtain the true power of the Sage of Six Paths and thereby escape his current unstable state.
Then, Uchiha Sasuke, the Five Kage, Uchiha Madara... would all be mere ants to be crushed.
The monster Obito suddenly abandoned its entanglement with Sasuke and the four Kage. Its immense body, with an eerie speed incongruous with its form, abruptly turned.
One of its thickest Chakra Tentacles, with a tip grotesque like a dragon's head, savagely lashed out at Naruto, who was gathering his next Rasengan.
"Naruto! Look out!" Kakashi noticed first, his Sharingan catching the lethal trajectory, and shouted in alarm.
But it was too late. Naruto was hit by the tentacle, sent flying hundreds of meters at an alarming speed, crashing through several remaining walls and mounds of earth.
Finally, amidst a cloud of dust, Naruto fell to the ground, motionless, his condition unknown.
"Naruto!" Kakashi, Sakura, and the others were filled with rage.
Sasuke, however, frowned slightly. He had only recently fought Naruto at full strength and knew well his power and resilience.
Logically, an attack of this level shouldn't have rendered Naruto unconscious.
'Could Naruto be intentionally playing weak?' The thought passed quickly... there was no time to ponder it now.
The monster's attack was already coming again... he had to focus on countering it.
Meanwhile, in the depths of Naruto's consciousness, unknown to anyone.
In a strange space, rippling like water, Naruto's spiritual form stood there in a daze.
"Where is this? Wasn't I fighting alongside Sasuke?" Naruto touched his chest, suddenly struck by fear. "I haven't died, have I?"
"Don't let it be like this!" Naruto wailed loudly. He was going to be Hokage! He couldn't die here!
The next moment, an old man appeared. He had white hair, two horns on his head, wore a white robe with magatama, and carried a sage's staff.
"You are not dead. I have summoned your consciousness here."
"Good, I'm not dead." Naruto sighed with relief, then said urgently, "Old man, you have to let me out! Sasuke is fighting a really strong enemy! I need to go help him!"
The old man shook his head slightly. "I have summoned you here to grant you the power to defeat your enemy."
Naruto was taken aback, tilting his head. "Who are you, old man?"
The old man said calmly: "I am Otsutsuki Hagoromo. The world also knows me as the Sage of Six Paths."
"S-Sage of Six Paths?" Naruto's eyes widened in shock, 'This old man was the legendary progenitor of the Ninja World, the founder of Ninshu?'
"Time is short, so I will be brief," the Sage of Six Paths said gravely. "Uchiha Obito, unable to bear the power of the incomplete Ten-Tails with his heart, has become a calamity. Though his power is incomplete, it is beyond the reach of any mortal in this world."
"I will grant you the power of 'Yang'. This power, originating from my legacy, may be able to contend with that monster."
As he spoke, a beam of light flew out, slowly infusing Naruto's spiritual form.
Naruto immediately felt an unprecedented power surge through his body. A new mode was opening its doors to him.
"Amazing!" Naruto clenched his fists excitedly. Then a question came to mind, and he asked curiously, "Six Paths old man, you said you're giving me the power of 'Yang'. Is there also a power of 'Yin'?"
The Sage slowly nodded. "Indeed, there is the power of 'Yin', the counterpart to 'Yang', representing the extreme of spirit and soul."
"I had intended to give the power of 'Yin' to Uchiha Sasuke."
Naruto's eyes lit up: "Together, Sasuke and I can definitely beat that monster!"
However, the Sage sighed. "But... I have concerns. My concern is Uchiha Sasuke's master."
"Sasuke's master?" Naruto said in shock. "Kakashi-sensei is that strong?"
"It is not Kakashi. It is an extremely powerful being, one whose depths even my perception struggles to fathom."
"The nature of his power is entirely different from ours, unfathomable."
"If I rashly grant the power of 'Yin' to his disciple, it may trigger unpredictable variables."
"Therefore, after weighing the options, I have decided to grant you only the power of 'Yang'. I hope you will use this power well and, together with your comrades, overcome this ordeal."
The light completely dissipated, and Naruto's spirit returned.
…
In the real world, amidst the ruins.
Naruto suddenly rose to his feet, wanting to assess the situation.
However, the sight that met his eyes made him freeze.
The twisted monster from before was gone. In its place was a figure floating in the air, holding a sage's staff.
Sasuke said coldly to Obito: "I didn't expect a useless fool like you could crawl out of that chaotic state and control such immense power."
This time, Obito did not get angry. His voice was calm: "No matter how you see me, my feelings for Rin will never change."
"It was these feelings, this longing for Rin, that became my anchor, pulling me back from the edge of complete loss of control."
He slowly raised his hand. A black Truth-Seeking Ball rotated in his palm, radiating a palpitation-inducing energy.
"Now, the obstacles will be cleared. I will create that world with Rin."
He lightly waved the sage's staff in his hand. The Truth-Seeking Ball spread out like ripples.
Wherever the ripples passed, space itself seemed to be erased.
Whether rock, steel, or residual traces of Ninjutsu, all instantly annihilated upon contact with the ripples.
"Get out of the way!" Onoki's face drastically changed. He screamed at the top of his lungs.
But the ripples spread too quickly, their range too wide.
The Raikage, Tsuchikage, and others at the forefront were about to be swallowed by this annihilating attack.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken!"
A golden light, at an incredible speed, instantly inserted itself between the black ripples and the group.
It was Naruto. His appearance had changed dramatically. He was draped in a flowing golden Chakra Cloak, several black Truth-Seeking Balls floated behind him, and his pupils had a cross pattern.
Naruto roared, pushing this Rasenshuriken, condensed with his newfound power, against the spreading black ripples of annihilation.
The two forces collided. Space twisted violently, fine black cracks appearing.
Finally, both were reduced to nothingness.
"N-Naruto?"
"What power is this?"
Kakashi, Sakura, and the surviving Ninjas stared at the figure bathed in golden light, whose back seemed as reliable as a mountain. They were beyond shocked.
How had Naruto, who had been knocked unconscious moments ago, suddenly become so powerful?
"Nice work, Naruto." Sasuke's voice came from beside him. A hint of understanding was in his eyes. He thought to himself, 'So this is the power of the Sage of Six Paths Master mentioned?'
"Sasuke!" Naruto turned his head, his face full of excitement. "You should go to sleep! Maybe an old man will appear and give you power, too!"
Although the Sage of Six Paths old man had said the power was only for him, he thought it was worth a try.
Sasuke, however, said coldly: "I don't need to rely on others' power. Master has already taught me a new technique."
"Master?" Naruto was taken aback. He then remembered the Sage's words, filled with apprehension, and grew even more curious. But now was clearly not the time to ask.
Sasuke ignored Naruto. He closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath.
The Chakra and Ki within him began to circulate in a nearly violent manner. A terrifying aura rose from him.
"Kaio... Ken!"