A massive surge of chakra roiled beneath the earth.

  With the concentration of the Allied Shinobi Forces, Bck Zetsu's manipution of Madara's absorption process went smoothly—but Madara's body couldn't withstand the sheer volume of chakra. It started to bloat grotesquely.

  Boom!

  A rge tumor-like lump bulged from Madara's body!

  Bck Zetsu's form, fluid like liquid, rapidly engulfed him.

  "We can't let this continue!"

  Naruto looked past Shigen, who stood in their way, his heart pounding. He remembered all too clearly the Six Paths Sage's warnings about the horror of ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

  "We charge—now!"

  Sasuke, fully understanding Naruto's urgency, shot straight for Madara.

  "We take him out before it's too te!"

  "Shigen's blocking the way—"

  "Ignore him!"

  Sasuke called out to Naruto, activating his Rinnegan. In a fsh, he swapped pces with Shigen using Amenotejikara.

  In that instant, Sasuke appeared directly in front of Madara, bde raised high, aiming to strike his head.

  But Bck Zetsu wasn't helpless. It reacted swiftly, extending Madara's hair like tendrils, shing toward the intruders.

  Of course—

  Bck Zetsu didn't rely solely on itself.

  It needed Shigen.

  "Shigen… stop them!"

  It looked to Shigen, trusting he would continue to aid them.

  "I need to revive Kaguya—now!"

  "Shigen!"

  Naruto shouted again, trying to sway him.

  "Don't believe it! You really want to hand the ninja world to a brutal goddess like Kaguya?!"

  "Hehehehe…"

  Bck Zetsu immediately fired back.

  "In the ancient era, it was Kaguya who brought peace to the world. It was the Sage of Six Paths' ninja creed that people came to fear and despise…"

  And that—

  Was true.

  At the beginning of ninshu, even the retives of its disciples feared chakra. People worshiped the God Tree and Kaguya alone.

  That was how—

  Bck Zetsu found an ally in Shigen.

  And that ally would not disappoint. Shigen opened two pitch-bck dimensional gates, his hands stretching out to seize the necks of Naruto and Sasuke, forcing them to retreat.

  That one action—

  Removed the final obstacle to Kaguya's resurrection.

  Countless streams of chakra poured into Madara's body, turning him into a pitch-bck sphere. Inside, the chakra condensed rapidly.

  "Too te…"

  Naruto could feel the chakra concentrating.

  "Finally… it's done…"

  Bck Zetsu's sinister grin stretched across its face. Its body fully merged into the sphere, finalizing the ritual to resurrect ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

  The air—

  Suddenly felt as if it had stopped moving.

  The bck sphere slowly began to shift and reshape, molding itself into a humanoid form. The bckness turned to pale white.

  Everyone—

  Held their breath.

  A woman with long white hair gradually emerged. 2

  A woman with long white hair gradually emerged.

  She wore flowing robes. Horns jutted from her head, and a crimson Rinne Sharingan adorned her forehead.

  As her form solidified, her eyes finally opened—long, narrow, and pale. Her gaze held an eerie calm.

  ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

  The Rabbit Goddess of the ancient world.

  The origin of all ninja history.

  "That's Kaguya?"

  Naruto stared in awe, barely able to breathe.

  "I can feel it… her chakra is way stronger than Madara's…"

  "..."

  Sasuke gripped his bde tightly.

  Shigen, sensing Kaguya's return, felt no fear—in fact, he seemed more rexed than ever. 3

  Shigen, sensing Kaguya's return, felt no fear—in fact, he seemed more rexed than ever.

  Kaguya raised her head, eyes scanning the trio before her. Her gaze settled on Shigen.

  Because—

  His chakra was the strongest.

  Although she inherited Bck Zetsu's memories, which included all from the past thousand years—such as the tale of her son Hagoromo and the "pawn" chosen by Bck Zetsu, Shigen—Kaguya now saw for herself what her agent had never truly comprehended.

  "Just using Hagoromo's corpse…"

  Her expression betrayed slight confusion.

  "And you reached this level?"

  Truly—

  Her son was powerful.

  Kaguya felt equal parts hatred and love toward Hagoromo. But she knew he never surpassed her in chakra—otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to seal her away with Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei.

  And now, this mere mortal—

  Had modified his body to rival Hagoromo… and possessed even more chakra.

  Her Byakugan fred, watching the flow of Shigen's chakra.

  "His body…"

  "Almost exactly like Hagoromo's…"

  "But far stronger…"

  A grave threat.

  What reassured her, however, was that Shigen was blind—unable to use ocur techniques that could endanger her.

  Which meant—

  He was prey.

  If she could consume Shigen's chakra—so pure and powerful—it would rival the chakra fruit itself.

  She might even—

  Cultivate a new fruit using him as a sacrifice.

  And this loyal follower—

  Had brought her back.

  He should willingly become her nourishment.

  No—

  Must become her strength.

  With that power, she could face even threats from beyond this world. 1

  With that power, she could face even threats from beyond this world.

  "Mother…"

  Bck Zetsu sensed her thoughts and jumped in.

  "Those two boys hold Hagoromo's gifts. They're dangerous. We must destroy them quickly. Shigen is your loyal follower—he's on our side…"

  Naruto and Sasuke carried Hagoromo's Yin and Yang powers—the key to the very jutsu that once sealed Kaguya.

  As for Shigen…

  Bck Zetsu hoped he could still be used.

  If they turned on him now, they'd face three opponents of Six Paths-level.

  After all—

  Shigen wasn't truly loyal.

  His goal was simply eternal peace, which Kaguya represented in his eyes.

  If Naruto and Sasuke were removed, the blind Shigen wouldn't stand a chance.

  Tension bnketed the space.

  Every word, every move Kaguya made could change everything—

  Would she simply observe this new world?

  Or ignite another great war?

  "You…"

  Kaguya's gaze fell on Shigen, brows furrowing slightly.

  She spoke softly.

  "Capture them for me."

  "Shigen…"

  Bck Zetsu, hiding in her sleeve, added quietly.

  "Help Mother take care of those two first. Then we can discuss the future of the ninja world…"

  Shigen gave a small nod.

  To him…

  All three standing before him were enemies.

  Which side he struck first didn't matter.

  At least Kaguya still seemed willing to ally—for now.

  And Shigen needed to be wary of the Chibaku Tensei sealing jutsu.

  "!!!"

  Naruto and Sasuke both stiffened.

  This…

  Was truly two versus two now!

  And they had no guarantee of victory.

  They exchanged a look—and instantly understood each other.

  They charged Kaguya.

  No matter what, they needed intel on her. And fast.

  Kaguya, unfamiliar with their abilities, might not react in time.

  But she exceeded all expectations. Her brows knitted, and she flicked her sleeve.

  Everyone's vision blurred.

  The world—

  Shifted.

  In an instant, they were in a molten realm of rolling magma, bubbling like a river of fire beneath them.

  "Sasuke!"

  Naruto shouted as he saw him falling, diving to catch him.

  "Idiot…"

  Sasuke swapped pces with his Truth-Seeking Ball, grabbed Naruto's shoulder, and snapped at him.

  Elsewhere—

  Kaguya and Shigen floated in the air.

  Their positioning shifted during the teleportation.

  Shigen could sense she was just ahead of him.

  Kaguya had intentionally pced him behind her.

  Like a subordinate.

  Others had been pulled into the space too—

  Kakashi Hatake. Obito Uchiha.

  The only survivors of Infinite Tsukuyomi, thanks to Kamui.

  "Where are we?"

  Kakashi voiced the question on everyone's mind.

  "This is the Dimension of Heaven."

  Kaguya's voice echoed in their ears.

  She raised her hand, eyes on Naruto and Sasuke.

  "Here, we won't damage the precious seedbed below…"

  "Then…"

  Shigen floated to her side, chakra gathering in his hand. A Truth-Seeking Ball twisted into a long, bck bde.

  "Let's begin."