Isshiki was currently furious, unable to contain himself after being repeatedly outplayed by these native ninjas.
Uchiha Sasuke was one thing—the opponent indeed had strength to rival him.
But Orochimaru and Kakashi—what were they?
Mere crickets he could crush casually, yet right before his eyes, they had abducted the all-important Eida!
It was utterly infuriating!
And this beast Orochimaru—did he really think Isshiki couldn't kill him?
The more Isshiki thought about it, the angrier he became. But Eida was gone, and no trace of her chakra could be sensed in all of Konoha. Even if Isshiki wanted to pursue, he had no idea where to go, so he could only continue venting his rage on Orochimaru.
Not only did he pierce Orochimaru with black rods until he resembled a porcupine, but he also suddenly swung his palm, blasting Orochimaru's corpse's head to pieces!
He didn't believe that even with his head shattered, this man could still survive!
Daring to scheme against him, Orochimaru had to pay with blood!
Unfortunately, no matter how he desecrated Orochimaru's corpse, he couldn't retrieve the stolen Eida.
Isshiki's anger hadn't subsided. He looked up and around.
He then noticed that Edo Itachi and Edo Shisui, who had blocked him earlier, had each fled swiftly in opposite directions, already darting hundreds of meters away, disappearing among the dense buildings.
Isshiki didn't pursue Itachi and Shisui. As Edo ninjas, they were already dead—killing them again was pointless.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Soon after, several Konoha Anbu ninjas arrived late, kneeling beside Isshiki.
Though Isshiki's current appearance was somewhat bizarre, not quite human, in the memories of all Konoha ninjas, he remained their Hokage.
"Go, all of you, go!"
Isshiki roared in anger, leaving the Anbu ninjas exchanging confused glances, unsure what "go" meant.
"Hokage-sama, are there intruders? Is this Orochimaru-sama? We—"
One Anbu ninja boldly asked, at least wanting to know what they should do next.
"Bastards!"
"You ninjas, you all must die!"
"Go and die!"
Hearing Orochimaru's name, Isshiki's anger flared again.
*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*
Dozens of black rods shot out instantly, piercing and killing the eight Anbu ninjas around him, further venting his rage.
But this was far from enough. Isshiki, nearly driven mad, had abandoned reason and thought.
He decided to launch a final battle, killing all ninjas and humans.
*BUZZ!*
A dark purple space portal suddenly opened above Konoha, and Sasuke's clone flew out.
"Uchiha Sasuke?!!"
Isshiki's heart trembled with fear, assuming this was all Sasuke's plan. After seizing Eida, the enemy was now launching an attack on Konoha!
This was truly planned and prepared in advance!
Isshiki forcibly suppressed all his rage, without a moment's hesitation, turned, and fled.
*BOOM!*
He erupted with extreme speed, returning to the Hokage's office in just two seconds, crashing into it in a disheveled, panicked state.
Kaguya and Black Zetsu, quietly talking, were suddenly interrupted by Isshiki's terrified return.
"Mother, this guy seems to have been played by the ninjas, and even that android is gone!"
"Truly trash, don't you agree?"
Black Zetsu said with a mocking smile. Clearly, he had secretly observed Isshiki's battle, witnessing him being outplayed by lowly ninjas.
Nothing delighted Black Zetsu more than seeing Isshiki humiliated.
"Mm, trash…"
Kaguya nodded in agreement.
She felt Isshiki didn't seem much smarter than her.
"Shut up!!!"
Isshiki was furious, his ferocious gaze as if it could devour them. Unfortunately, he couldn't consume Kaguya and Black Zetsu now, nor did he have time to break with them.
"Uchiha Sasuke is coming!"
"Hurry!"
"Start the third phase of the plan immediately! I'll kill all humans!"
Hearing this, Black Zetsu was shocked.
Starting the third phase directly? No longer capturing Kawaki?
Did Isshiki no longer want his revival vessel? Had he gone mad with anger?
"Oh? Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, start now!"
Isshiki was indeed maddened by rage, but he was also clear-headed.
He had no other choice.
Since Sasuke obtained Eida, the enemy could fully track his and Kaguya's movements, rendering elaborate planning useless.
He had been gravely mistaken from the start—he shouldn't have wasted time capturing Kawaki and these ninjas.
The only way to win now was to destroy the entire ninja world! Kill all humans!
At worst, he'd revive Kawaki later.
"Alright then. Mother, take action!"
Black Zetsu approved Isshiki's request.
This was indeed his proposed plan. Skipping the second phase and not needing to reclaim Kawaki made it even easier.
"Good!"
Kaguya followed Black Zetsu's advice, her trusted advisor, and began to act.
She used Yomotsu Hirasaka, opening a space portal, and flew into it.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, above Konoha.
After Sasuke's clone confirmed no traps, his real body brought Boruto through the portal, descending back into Konoha.
Earlier, after witnessing Sunagakure's army devoured by Kaguya and obtaining information from Gaara, Sasuke decisively returned to Konoha to assess the situation.
After all, Isshiki and Kaguya returning to Konoha together was too dangerous for Kawaki and the others who had just infiltrated the village.
Konoha could be destroyed, and everyone they knew could die.
But Kawaki absolutely couldn't fall into Isshiki's hands. If he did, and Kawaki was marked with Kama again, becoming Isshiki's vessel, all prior efforts would be in vain, and Isshiki would revive at his peak!
A fully revived Isshiki, combined with Kaguya who had collected all the Bijuu, left Sasuke with no chance of victory.
So he had to return to Konoha to ensure Kawaki didn't fall into Isshiki's hands!
"That?"
Sasuke first saw his house reduced to rubble, along with Orochimaru's headless corpse lying among the debris.
"Orochimaru! They killed Orochimaru!"
Boruto recognized Orochimaru's corpse, his anger surging, eyes reddening as if recalling his mother's death.
Orochimaru was Mitsuki's parent and his teacher's uncle. Just ten minutes ago, they had parted, and now he was dead amid the ruins!
"Don't get emotional. That guy doesn't die so easily."
Sasuke held Boruto back, signaling him not to be too emotional.
Though it was indeed Orochimaru's corpse, Sasuke didn't believe Orochimaru died so easily. No one knew better than Sasuke how resilient Orochimaru was to death.
"Really?"
"Finding Kawaki and the others is the priority now!"
Sasuke answered coldly. Compared to Orochimaru, Kawaki was clearly more important.
For this, Sasuke even suppressed his concern for his daughter, Sarada.
Of course, Sasuke didn't yet know that after Kawaki and Orochimaru infiltrated Konoha, they were highly proactive. With Kakashi's help, they successfully tricked Isshiki, even rescuing Eida and Sarada right under his nose, achieving a major feat.
Except for Orochimaru himself, the others had essentially escaped danger.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The battle that erupted at Sasuke's residence also drew more Konoha ninjas to gather.
Since the battle broke out too quickly and suddenly—from Isshiki's arrival to his escape—the entire process lasted just over ten seconds.
So most Konoha ninjas had no idea what happened.
Upon arriving, they only saw the rubble and ruins, along with Orochimaru's corpse and eight Anbu ninjas…
And Sasuke and Boruto, who suddenly appeared floating above the village.
Instantly, all Konoha ninjas assumed this was a surprise attack from the Kara organization!
Among those witnessing this was Mitsuki, who had just arrived.
Mitsuki's pupils constricted sharply, his entire body trembling with rage, unable to believe his parent, Orochimaru, had died in the midst of battle!
He knew Orochimaru's regeneration ability was astonishing—even severed limbs could recover instantly—but with his head gone, that was irreparable!
Who?
Who killed his parent?
Mitsuki looked up, locking onto the two figures in the air, his anger instantly blazing, murderous intent overflowing.
"Otsutsuki Sasuke and Otsutsuki Boruto! You must die!!!"
Mitsuki activated Sage Mode, blue-white senjutsu chakra enveloping his body, his eyes glowing golden, dragon horns sprouting from his head. His power surged multiple times, reaching Kage-level strength.
*BOOM!*
Mitsuki stomped the ground, shattering it, and with a powerful recoil, he turned into a projectile, shooting at high speed toward Sasuke and Boruto in the air.
"Mitsuki! You—"
Boruto was shocked, seeing his teammate attack him wildly. Though it felt uncomfortable, he immediately prepared to defend.
*SLAP!*
As Mitsuki flew diagonally below Sasuke and Boruto, a skeletal Susano'o hand formed, swinging down and smacking Mitsuki back.
Mitsuki turned into a blue light, crashing helplessly to the ground, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.
Sage Mode's power was impressive, but Mitsuki's base quality couldn't compare to Naruto's, and he was far from matching Six Paths Sasuke.
"Sensei, Mitsuki?"
"He won't die. I controlled my strength."
"Good!"
"No trace of Kawaki's chakra detected in the village. He may have escaped or been captured. Hmm? Itachi and Shisui's chakra auras are moving out of the village? They're retreating?"
"Got it!"
"Boruto, take your sister. Himawari's chakra is still at home. I'll hold off Isshiki and the others!"
Sasuke made a decision. He wasn't sure where Kawaki was, assuming the infiltrating team was attacked and scattering to escape the village.
Since he was here, he might as well save Himawari.
"Alright, thanks, Sensei."
Boruto leaped from the air, rushing toward his house.
Meanwhile, Sasuke locked onto Isshiki's chakra aura inside the Hokage building.
What about Kaguya's chakra aura? He didn't sense it—had she not returned? Or was she hiding to ambush him?
Sasuke flew alone toward the Hokage building.
He didn't expect to defeat Isshiki and Kaguya, but holding them off to buy Boruto and the others time to retreat should be feasible.
Enton: Chidori Eisō!
Six Paths Sasuke raised his hand, firing a hundred-meter-long black Chidori spear, slashing and splitting the Hokage building from top to bottom.
He knew Isshiki was inside but didn't dare rush in recklessly.
Without activating Six Paths: Susano'o: Lightning God, he couldn't withstand Isshiki's absolute value attacks at close range.
Long-range attacks were safer.
*SWOOSH!*
The towering Hokage building was split vertically in two, revealing the scene inside the office.
But there was no trace of Isshiki—only a dark red space portal remained.
Seeing this, Sasuke was slightly shocked.
(Isshiki fled? Not daring to clash with me even once?)
(He's allied with Kaguya, isn't he? No way he's still that cowardly, right?)
(Is there another plan? Or did he capture Kawaki and rush back to his dimension to mark him with Kama?)
(Where's Otsutsuki Kaguya? Would Isshiki bring her into his lair?)
Sasuke's heart was filled with doubts.
Though Kakashi and the others rescued Eida, the "full map," Sasuke didn't know yet, so he couldn't see the whole situation or know everything.
He could only speculate.
However, with Isshiki and Kaguya not in Konoha, that was good news. He and Boruto could freely take anyone.
At least he didn't need to worry about a Six Paths-level war breaking out in the village, razing Konoha.
But had Kawaki escaped? That needed to be confirmed urgently.
As Sasuke pondered his next move, something abnormal suddenly occurred.
He felt the gravity around him lessen slightly, with even small pebbles on the ground beginning to float.
(Hmm? The gravity around is changing?)
(Is this Chibaku Tensei? Someone's altering gravity?)
(Not just around here, but the entire village?)
(Wait, not just the village—the range is larger…)
(This isn't Chibaku Tensei, this is…!)
Sasuke, a frequent Rinnegan user, was very familiar with Chibaku Tensei. He knew its power, range, activation time, and effects well.
Theoretically, its range couldn't be this vast with such weak gravity.
Unless the force didn't come from a nearby gravitational core but from a massive celestial body far away!
Sasuke looked up at the distant sky.
Though it was dawn and the sun had risen, the moon's silhouette was faintly visible.
At a glance, the moon's silhouette seemed normal.
But that was only to ordinary eyes.
Under Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, he could clearly sense the moon's silhouette slowly growing larger!
How could the moon slowly grow larger?
There was only one possibility: the moon was slowly approaching Earth! Slowly falling toward Earth!
Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei!
It was Otsutsuki Kaguya! She was controlling the entire moon, making it fall to Earth!
They were going to destroy the entire ninja world!