Amenotejikara!
Sasuke instantly activated Amenotejikara, carrying Himawari, and swapped places with leaves outside the village's borders, teleporting a thousand meters away.
Then he opened a space-time teleportation gate, preparing to retreat.
But…
A Yomotsu Hirasaka gate opened simultaneously at the position of Sasuke's circular teleportation gate, with greater speed and range, directly neutralizing and interrupting Sasuke's gate.
Unlike Isshiki, Kaguya's Yomotsu Hirasaka was a higher-level space-time ability, capable of connecting to other planets to project the Infinite Tsukuyomi's light.
Interrupting a Rinnegan teleportation gate was naturally easier.
At the same time.
Kaguya's activated Jukai Kōtan began to roar. Countless massive gray-green wooden tendrils emerged from the ground, like earth dragons in reverse, instantly shattering Konoha into pieces.
Then, tens of thousands of soft, bandage-like wooden vines shot out from the tendrils, like agile snake eels lunging at all surviving Konoha residents.
Binding and wrapping them one by one, then hanging them on the tendrils, turning them into chakra blood bags, absorbing them frantically.
Though Kaguya didn't use Infinite Tsukuyomi, some Konoha ninjas could still resist, tearing and cutting the attacking vines. But against Six Paths-level Wood Release, facing millions of vines surging from all directions, surrender was only a matter of time.
Seeing this, Sasuke's pupils contracted.
Too brutal!
Sasuke never expected the enemy would use Jukai Kōtan to devour all of Konoha!
It made sense.
The enemy was crazy enough to try destroying the entire ninja world with the moon. Compared to that, consuming Konoha's residents was nothing.
Of course, Sasuke didn't yet know that Eida had been rescued by Orochimaru and others. With the ongoing threat of Omnipotence gone, Konoha's ninjas held little value as hostages.
In Black Zetsu's eyes, rather than letting them live, it was better to consume them all to replenish Kaguya's chakra and restore her condition.
It also tested whether Sasuke's cold demeanor was a facade or if he truly didn't care about Konoha.
Compared to Isshiki, Black Zetsu was far too cunning, too sinister.
Lacking strength, he relied desperately on wisdom and schemes to compensate, and even now, he still did.
This plot hit Sasuke's weak point precisely!
If Kaguya and the others massacred Konoha's residents another way, Sasuke wouldn't flinch; he was prepared to sacrifice himself to revive all victims.
But Jukai Kōtan was an exception.
Those drained of chakra by Wood Release and turned into White Zetsu—could they be revived?
Chakra was a product of spiritual and physical energy combined. If all chakra was absorbed, it meant the soul was completely destroyed.
Moreover, formed White Zetsu could be used as Edo Tensei sacrifices, so their souls likely still existed but were utterly corrupted. This wasn't death in the narrow sense, but it was true death.
Though it sounded complex, Sasuke's intuition told him that once turned into White Zetsu, revival was likely impossible…
Even using Rinne Tensei no Jutsu later might not work…
Black Zetsu's scheme was truly insidious!
Honestly, Sasuke didn't have deep attachments to most of Konoha's residents; he defected as a child and, as an adult, was often on missions, with strong bonds only to a few.
But if all of Konoha's residents were truly killed by Wood Release, how would he explain it to Naruto?
A Konoha with all its people dead—Naruto would surely break, wouldn't he?
For those he loved, Sasuke couldn't accept this ending!
But facing three collaborating Ōtsutsuki, Sasuke himself wasn't safe, let alone saving Konoha's residents.
Unless…
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other side, the situation's rapid changes far exceeded Kabuto and the others' expectations.
Kabuto had just removed the black rods from Tsunade, forcing her to activate her Strength of a Hundred Seal to heal, when he noticed Kaguya and the Eighth Hokage, "Uzumaki Code," suddenly appear in the sky.
'???'
How could their Hokage be involved with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?
And that Hokage Code—why did he have horns?
You look more Ōtsutsuki than the Ōtsutsuki!
Omnipotence could continuously alter memories and cognition, but this odd feeling made most Konoha ninjas feel it was absurd.
Konohamaru was stunned: "How's Hokage-sama?!!!"
"His appearance is no longer human…" No one understood abnormal appearances better than Kabuto.
"Could Hokage-sama be controlled by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya? Or has he long been someone else?" Shikamaru boldly speculated.
Though he'd noticed Code's oddities and inconsistencies during his last exchange with Kakashi, the continuous effects of Omnipotence had corrected him these past few days.
"So, could Ōtsutsuki Sasuke be our ally? That transformed Boruto seemed to call him Uchiha Sasuke too."
At this point, facing harsh reality, even the wildest speculations had to be considered.
"Then what do we do?"
Konohamaru was confused. Their own Hokage had rebelled—how would they proceed?
Especially with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the Rabbit Goddess, unsealed.
Who among them could defeat her?
"Retreat!"
"No matter who the enemy is, if they keep fighting in the village, it'll cause massive casualties."
"We should tell the residents to evacuate first!"
Shikamaru made the most rational decision, though he was also confused about who the real enemy was.
Unfortunately, the enemy gave them no chance to fight back.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Kaguya activated Shin: Jukai Kōtan, countless wooden tendrils surging, attacking and consuming the bodies and lives of all village residents.
"This…"
Shikamaru and the others recalled the horrors of the Fourth Ninja World War, consumed by Infinite Tsukuyomi and Wood Release, their bodies trembling.
Konohamaru lunged to fend off the surrounding vines, but in less than two rounds, he was trapped by the agile, cunning, relentless vines, turning into a chakra blood bag.
Tsunade, regaining some strength, stood by Shikamaru, relentlessly swinging her blade at the bandage-like vines.
Looking around, the scene was the same.
In just a dozen seconds, tens of thousands of residents were wrapped in vines, becoming mummies hanging on trees.
Shikamaru knew they couldn't escape!
All of Konoha might be finished!
So he hurriedly turned, shouting to Kabuto:
"Headmaster Kabuto, go now!"
"You might be the only one who can escape!"
"Find Ōtsutsuki Sasuke, or rather, Uchiha Sasuke; he may not be the enemy!"
"At least, save Himawari! The enemy's focus on her—she might be the key!"
Kabuto didn't hesitate; his judgment of the situation was rational.
Facing a super-scale Wood Release covering all of Konoha, even the First Hokage Hashirama in his prime might not have managed this.
Against an entire sea of trees, he had no chance of winning.
Retreating and uncovering the truth might be the only opportunity.
At least in strategic analysis, he trusted Shikamaru's mind and judgment, Konoha's strategist.
Kabuto immediately set off, activating Suika no Jutsu (Hydration Technique).
His entire body turned into a liquid mass, swiftly moving toward the village's edge.
This secret Hōzuki Clan technique, capable of avoiding most Bijuudama damage, was practically immune to physical attacks.
Even the surrounding vines couldn't do anything to Kabuto; the moment they touched him, they passed through, unable to trap him.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, Sasuke's situation was dire.
Kaguya's Wood Release directly forced Sasuke to stay, unless he was willing to abandon all of Konoha.
Giving up the hope of reviving everyone!
For Naruto, this choice was unthinkable.
So the only way: kill all the villagers before Wood Release consumed them!
Though insane, it wasn't impossible.
As long as everyone was killed first, their souls would go to the Pure Land, not consumed and turned into White Zetsu, leaving a chance for future revival!
But he might not live to see that day.
Sasuke created four Shadow Clones, and under their protection, he removed his six-tomoe Rinnegan, handing it and Himawari to a clone.
The other three clones used Henge no Jutsu to transform into unconscious Himawari.
*WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!*
The four clones immediately scattered, fleeing in four directions.
To revive all victims in the future, the Rinnegan had to be preserved.
The Ōtsutsuki couldn't use Shadow Clones, making it hard to chase all four at once, so the clones had a chance to escape with the Rinnegan and Himawari.
What remained was a fight to the death!
Sasuke's real body charged alone into Konoha.
At the same time, he activated a perfect Susano'o, preparing to hold off Isshiki and Kaguya with all his might, killing as many Konoha residents as possible.
Though it sounded surreal, it was the only way.
"He's not escaping," Momoshiki sneered, seeing Sasuke charge back.
"He can't escape!" Isshiki's face was grim, exhilarated.
"Nonsense, he clearly can't bear to abandon those Konoha ninjas. You fools don't understand the Uchiha at all!"
Black Zetsu shouted from Kaguya's sleeve.
"He created clones to escape with Himawari. I need that girl—I'll chase her!"
Momoshiki saw Sasuke's four clones scatter, growing anxious.
Compared to killing Sasuke, he cared more about Himawari. Only by securing her could he further control Boruto, even break his mind, and fully take over his body!
"You're not going. Leave the clones to me—I'll bring the girl back!"
Isshiki cut off Momoshiki.
He wouldn't let Momoshiki chase alone. If Momoshiki escaped, the perfect reincarnation vessel, Boruto, would be lost, right?
Besides, Isshiki was wary of Sasuke. If he could avoid fighting him directly, he preferred not to.
(Mother, just like that. Let Isshiki chase Sasuke's clones, take him out first!)
(Then we kill Momoshiki with Sasuke's hands! Then swallow Uchiha Sasuke! Finally, kill the returning Isshiki!)
(Truly perfect!)
Black Zetsu suggested with cunning enthusiasm.
"Alright!" Kaguya agreed.
The three Ōtsutsuki quickly divided tasks.
Kaguya and Momoshiki teamed up against Sasuke's real body; Isshiki sped off, chasing the fleeing clones.
Sasuke, in perfect Susano'o, saw Isshiki pursue his clones.
He didn't stop him—couldn't stop him.
He even felt slightly fortunate Isshiki wasn't joining the encirclement, or his Susano'o might not withstand a full kick from Isshiki.
It seemed the two times Isshiki thrashed him left some psychological trauma!
Good enough.
Without Isshiki's monstrous strength, he could hold out longer, giving him time to kill all of Konoha's residents!
Sasuke controlled Susano'o to draw its bow, aiming at Kaguya, and fired an arrow.
*SWOOSH!*
The chakra arrow formed a beautiful rainbow, passing Kaguya and hitting a Konoha building in the distance, instantly exploding.
*BOOM!*
The explosion reduced a hundred-meter area to dust.
Five massive wooden tendrils, along with thousands of captured Konoha residents, were instantly annihilated, ascending to the heavens!
Kaguya: (O_o)??
Black Zetsu: (So close and still missed?)
(Is this Uchiha Sasuke farsighted? But when he blew up the moon, he was so precise?)
(Wait, his chakra and aura are much weaker than before…)
(Could that be why?)
"Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, what are you waiting for? Attack!"
Black Zetsu urged Momoshiki, goading him to fight Sasuke first.
With Kaguya there, Sasuke's real body couldn't escape via a teleportation gate, so he had no way out!
Momoshiki's face darkened, humiliated at being ordered by trash like Black Zetsu, but with Kaguya protecting the enemy, he didn't dare resist.
So he flew forward, attacking Sasuke.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Sasuke's perfect Susano'o frantically drew its bow, firing multiple chakra arrows per second, all aimed at Momoshiki.
Momoshiki activated Kama, absorbing Sasuke's arrows to replenish his chakra, feeling great and unconsciously slowing his attacks.
But he didn't realize half of Sasuke's arrows passed him, hitting various areas in Konoha, exploding into devastating blasts, frantically claiming Konoha residents' lives!
At this moment, Sasuke seemed like a true supervillain.
In just a few seconds, he'd slaughtered tens of thousands of Konoha residents with terrifying efficiency!
This was partly because the ground's many Wood Release tendrils dampened the chakra arrows' explosions; otherwise, even more would have died.
(Something's wrong, very wrong!)
(What's Uchiha Sasuke doing? Feeding chakra to Momoshiki?)
(Are they conspiring?)
(Wait, why are so many arrows missing? Is Sasuke really farsighted?)
Black Zetsu sensed something amiss but hadn't connected it to Sasuke frantically killing his own allies…
Until Kaguya instinctively said:
(The chakra I'm absorbing seems to be decreasing rapidly…)
Black Zetsu looked around, seeing the beautiful explosions scattered about, stunned, and shouted:
"Not good, stop him!"
"Sasuke's deliberately killing Konoha's residents to prevent Mother from absorbing chakra…"
"Don't let him succeed!"