A desolate land lay before them, surrounded on all sides by dark-brown cliffs.
At its center stood a withered Divine Tree, standing alone in silent decay.
This was the ruins of Izumo Country.
It was also the place where, in the original timeline, Momoshiki had once fought Naruto, Sasuke, and the Five Kage.
Urashiki stood beneath the dead tree, eyes closed, silently counting.
"Three thousand five hundred ninety-seven… three thousand five hundred ninety-eight… three thousand five hundred ninety-nine… three thousand six hundred."
Exactly one hour had passed since he had evacuated with Momoshiki from the Origin Space.
Only then did the tension in Urashiki's heart finally ease.
Behind him, Momoshiki's cold voice sounded.
"You're being overly cautious, Urashiki. No matter how strong he is, there's no way his time reversal lasts for an entire hour."
Urashiki casually hooked his fishing rod over his shoulder and chuckled.
"Better safe than sorry. How are your injuries?"
The wound in Momoshiki's abdomen had just finished healing.
Divine Restoration.
A healing technique unique to the Ōtsutsuki clan.
As long as a single breath remained, it could restore any injury without external aid. However, the process required the user to remain seated and fully focused.
"Hah…"
Momoshiki exhaled and rose from his meditative posture.
"Urashiki, don't expect me to feel grateful. I know very well that someone like you never saves people without ulterior motives."
Urashiki grinned.
"Don't be so cold, Little Peach. We're both members of the Takamagahara Ten Divine. Helping each other is only natural."
This generation of Ōtsutsuki members followed a naming convention.
Males were called "-shiki."
Females were called "-hime."
There were six Shiki and four Hime.
The Six Shiki were:
Kinshiki, Momoshiki, Urashiki, Isshiki, Shinshiki, and Ryūshiki.
The Four Hime were:
Kaguya-hime, Takiya-hime, Kami-hime, and Oto-hime.
Together, they were known as the Ten Divine.
All ten were born in Takamagahara, the origin land of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Hence the name—
The Ten Divine of Takamagahara.
They were led by Ryūshiki, the strongest among them.
They operated in pairs, descending to lower worlds.
Their mission was to plant Divine Trees on life-bearing planets and bring the harvested chakra fruits back to the main clan.
Momoshiki remained expressionless.
He didn't believe a single word of Urashiki's pleasantries.
"Get to the point. How do you want me to repay this favor?"
"Oh?" Urashiki dropped the act.
"Well, since you insist on returning the courtesy, I do have something to ask."
"According to my intel, the Ten-Tails chakra on Kaguya's world was split into nine parts, called Tailed Beasts."
"Tailed Beasts…"
Momoshiki pondered.
No wonder the Ten-Tails he saw earlier was only an empty shell.
"So? You want me to capture them for you?"
"Nope."
Urashiki shrugged.
"I'm not that greedy. I only want the Nine-Tails. The other eight are yours—keep them as pets or refine them into pills, whatever you like."
This guy never did anything without profit.
Why would he give me the larger share?
Either the Nine-Tails holds the most chakra…
Or it's the hardest to obtain.
Or both.
Momoshiki sneered inwardly.
Whatever. The sooner I repay this debt, the better.
"I need more information."
"So you agree. Good."
Urashiki continued.
"On Kaguya's world, there's a technique that binds humans and Tailed Beasts. Those chosen are called Jinchūriki. Right now, both the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails still have hosts."
"Who's the Nine-Tails' host?"
"Uzumaki Naruto. On that world, he's called the Hokage."
"Oh, and fifteen years ago, he and Uchiha Sasuke sealed Kaguya together."
"The massive star you saw floating in the sky earlier—that was Kaguya's sealing stone."
"If you want the Nine-Tails, you'll have to face those two."
"Uchiha…"
Momoshiki murmured.
"The same clan as that Akira?"
Urashiki noticed the subtle shift.
So Little Peach is already affected by that human.
"Yes. Uchiha Sasuke also has a Rinnegan."
Urashiki took out a scroll.
"More detailed information is in here."
Snap.
Momoshiki took it coldly.
"Urashiki, I won't argue with you over today's favor."
"But don't ever use that kind of nickname again."
Urashiki shrugged.
"I think 'Little Peach' is pretty affectionate. Does it bother you?"
"Well, fine. I'll be careful."
"When it's done, meet me here. I've left a spatial marker."
"Jump in and I'll sense you."
Under Momoshiki's indifferent gaze, Urashiki rested his rod behind his neck and leapt into Yomotsu Hirasaka.
His face sank into shadow, along with a sinister smile.
Of course…
That's assuming you survive.
Go weaken those two for me.
I'll just reap the benefits later.
Whoosh.
The portal closed.
Urashiki landed on a cold, barren land.
A silent palace stood beneath the star-filled sky.
A man in white robes stood alone before it.
His eyes were hollow and deep, as though he already knew the fate awaiting him and had chosen to accept it.
Urashiki smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Ōtsutsuki Toneri."
Toneri replied calmly,
"So it's time. Heavenly one."
"We're family," Urashiki said lightly.
"No need to be so distant."
Then, with mockery in his tone:
"It's a shame about that Byakugan woman."
"You suffered so much, yet you still stand here, watching over that planet and her children."
"Truly admirable."
At the mention of Hinata, anger flared in Toneri's heart.
"You talk as if you understand everything!"
"You've never even been close to that planet!"
"What do you know?!"
He lunged forward.
Urashiki smiled in satisfaction.
If Toneri stayed calm, this would be troublesome.
The Time Casket had a limited range.
"Fine. We don't mind using force."
Whoosh.
A cluster of red threads pierced Toneri's body.
He froze midair.
Frosty mist spread across the ground below.
"Time… frozen?!"
Urashiki stepped back.
"Lord Ryūshiki didn't permit me to kill our kin."
"So relax."
"You can play in Dragon Palace City for ten thousand years."
"When you wake up, that planet will be long gone."
He threw out a black box hidden in his sleeve.
The artifact given to him by Ryūshiki—
The Time Casket.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Toneri's body began to freeze.
In the haze…
He once again saw the final scene he had failed to perceive when he sensed "fate" not long ago.
In the vision—
From dispersing frost and mist, a tall figure in a black divine robe walked toward him.
Long hair flowed like a waterfall.
Slender and elegant.
"You… who are you?"
"Who could release me from Dragon Palace City?"
A beautiful face, more stunning even than Uchiha Hikaru's, smiled faintly.
Beneath pale Byakugan eyes, a cold, noble woman's voice echoed.
"My name is… Uchiha—"
Crack.
Before the final word could leave her lips, Ōtsutsuki Toneri was completely frozen.
…
Origin Space.
"Heh. Black Zetsu."
"Did you ever think this day would come?"
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