A black gravitational core formed in the sky.
The moment it appeared, a terrifying force of attraction erupted outward.
The Eight-Tails' enormous body was instantly dragged upward against its will, while A found himself equally unable to resist the pull.
"Damn it!"
Killer B struggled desperately, but it was completely useless.
Just as the brothers were about to be sealed away, a furious roar suddenly echoed across the sky.
"Earth Release: Ultra-Lightweight Boulder Technique!"
A massive figure descended from above and slammed directly into the gravitational core.
Boom!
The core shattered instantly.
"Hmm?"
Kai raised an eyebrow slightly.
The newcomer landed heavily on the ground.
It was none other than the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
The old man's body glowed with golden light, and moments earlier he had enlarged himself to crash into the technique.
"Ōnoki?"
Kai seemed mildly surprised.
"So even you decided to come."
Ōnoki landed and returned to his normal size, but his expression remained extremely grave.
"Uchiha Kai."
His voice was low and solemn.
"Your ambitions have grown too large. If you succeed in unifying the ninja world, it won't end well for anyone."
"So?"
Kai looked at the old man with interest.
"What exactly do you intend to do about it?"
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Ōnoki formed hand seals.
A transparent cube shot toward Kai.
This was the highest level of Dust Release, capable of breaking all matter down into its most fundamental particles.
Yet the instant it touched Kai—
It stopped.
The disintegration simply ceased.
"Dust Release truly is an impressive Kekkei Tōta."
Kai nodded lightly.
"Unfortunately, its user is too weak."
He reached out and grabbed the transparent cube.
Crack!
The technique shattered in his hand.
"Impossible!"
Ōnoki's eyes widened.
"How could Dust Release be—"
Before he could finish speaking, Kai had already appeared directly before him.
A hand landed atop the old Tsuchikage's head.
"You want to know why?"
Kai's voice was calm.
"Because what I command are the fundamental laws of this world."
"Chakra. Ninjutsu. Bloodline limits."
"In front of me, they're nothing more than toys."
Ōnoki immediately felt the chakra within his body draining away.
His vitality was disappearing as well.
"What... exactly are you?"
he asked with difficulty.
"I am a god."
Kai's answer was utterly calm.
"A god who has come to save this ignorant world."
Ōnoki's body rapidly shriveled beneath Kai's hand, like a fruit being drained of all moisture.
"Lord Tsuchikage!"
Shouts erupted from the distance.
Only then did everyone realize Ōnoki had not come alone.
An elite force from Iwagakure had accompanied him, intending to rescue Sunagakure.
"Release Lord Tsuchikage!"
"Earth Release: Earth Spear Pillars!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Great River!"
Dozens of Iwa shinobi attacked simultaneously.
Countless Earth Release techniques surged toward Kai.
But to him, it all seemed childish.
He casually waved his hand.
Every technique froze in midair.
Then, one by one, they turned around.
And fired back at their creators.
"AHHH!"
"Move!"
The Iwa shinobi were struck by their own jutsu.
Casualties instantly mounted.
"Stop!"
A struggled to his feet.
"Your target is us! Leave the innocent people out of this!"
"Innocent?"
Kai released Ōnoki.
The Tsuchikage's lifeless body fell to the ground.
"There are no innocents in this world."
"Every single person contributes to the continuation of this rotten shinobi system."
Killer B reverted from his Eight-Tails transformation and helped support his brother.
"Big Bro... what do we do now, yo?"
A stared at the devastation around him.
Despair filled his heart.
Even the Tsuchikage had fallen.
What hope remained?
"Do you still wish to continue?"
Kai turned toward the brothers.
"I can offer you one final opportunity."
"Return to the Divine Court."
"Fulfill your roles properly."
"And I can pretend none of this ever happened."
"Don't make me laugh!"
A gritted his teeth.
"I would rather die than become your dog!"
"What a shame."
Kai shook his head.
"I had originally intended to spare your lives."
At that moment—
A warning siren echoed from the black fortress floating above.
"Divine Lord!"
Sasuke's voice rang out.
"Reinforcements from Konoha are approaching rapidly!"
Kai glanced toward the horizon.
A trace of interest flashed through his eyes.
"Konoha?"
"It seems more people have come to throw away their lives."
In the distance, atop a massive dune, a shinobi force had appeared.
Leading them was a young man with bright blond hair.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Beside him stood Kakashi, Guy, Sakura, and many of Konoha's elite ninja.
"Gaara!"
Naruto spotted his friend trapped within the sand and immediately rushed forward.
"Naruto! Be careful!"
Gaara shouted weakly.
"That man is dangerous!"
But Naruto didn't stop.
He formed hand seals.
Countless shadow clones appeared across the battlefield.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hundreds of Narutos charged toward Kai simultaneously.
The sight was truly spectacular.
Kai simply spoke two words.
"Shinra Tensei."
BOOM!
A devastating repulsive force exploded outward.
Every clone was instantly destroyed.
Naruto's real body was blasted away as well, tumbling repeatedly across the sand.
"Naruto!"
Sakura immediately moved to help him.
But Kakashi grabbed her arm.
"Don't move recklessly."
His visible eye remained fixed on Kai.
"This man's strength exceeds anything we imagined."
As the Copy Ninja, Kakashi had witnessed countless powerful opponents.
Yet the pressure emanating from Kai surpassed even that of Itachi.
"Sensei is right."
Sasuke descended from the sky and landed in front of Naruto.
"You are no match for the Divine Lord."
"Sasuke!"
Naruto climbed back to his feet.
Fury filled his eyes.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Didn't we promise we'd protect the village together?"
Sasuke remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"Naruto."
"You don't understand."
"This world has already rotted away."
"Only the Divine Lord can save it."
"That's nonsense!"
Naruto roared.
"That guy only brings destruction!"
"Destruction?"
Kai finally spoke.
"I prefer to call it rebirth."
He took several steps forward.
Everyone instinctively tensed.
"Take a good look at this world."
Kai gestured around them.
"War."
"Hatred."
"Murder."
"They have never ceased."
"Ninja slaughter one another endlessly."
"They betray allies over trivial gains."
"A world like this should never have existed."
"But your methods are wrong!"
Naruto shot back.
"Using force to conquer the world will only create more suffering!"
"Then do you have a better answer?"
Kai asked calmly.
"Will you talk everyone into peace?"
"Will you convince every corrupt leader to suddenly develop a conscience?"
Naruto fell silent.
Because he had no answer.
He had always believed understanding and forgiveness could change people.
But reality was cruel.
Some people could never be persuaded.
Some hatred could never be erased.
"See?"
Kai continued.
"You have no answer either."
"So allow me to provide one."
He slowly raised both hands.
Above them, the colossal black fortress began descending from the heavens.
"All shinobi of the world."
Kai's voice spread across the entire ninja world through an unknown technique.
"From this day forward, the old shinobi system is finished."
"All villages will become part of the Divine Court."
"Those who submit will live."
"Those who resist will die."
The declaration shook the entire world.
From the capitals of the Five Great Nations to the smallest villages in remote regions, everyone heard his voice.
Panic.
Anger.
Despair.
Countless emotions spread across the ninja world.
"Madman!"
Might Guy exploded forward in rage.
"I won't let you succeed!"
"Eight Gates Formation!"
"Seventh Gate—Gate of Wonder—OPEN!"
Green chakra erupted around Guy's body like blazing flames.
His speed and power instantly reached the absolute limit of human capability.
"Daytime Tiger!"
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