The world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi descended once again.
An endless, blinding light engulfed the earth, turning night into day in the blink of an eye.
Except for the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage, and the others who were resurrected via the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei), everyone else gazed up at the moon. The reflected light changed their eyes into the Rinnegan pattern — a clear sign they had fallen under the genjutsu's control.
Although Naruto possessed the Rinnegan in this lifetime, he did not have Sasuke's Yin Release mastery to shield himself from the jutsu. Sasuke had to use the protection of Complete Body – Susanoo to shield them both from the moonlight.
Naruto frowned.
"Sasuke, back in our previous life, Kakashi-sensei was with us, and Sakura was here too. This time… it'd be better to bring them in, just in case."
Sasuke gave a short, cold snort.
"I don't think so. This time, we already know all of Kaguya's abilities. Even if she does appear in the end, we can still defeat her."
He paused, his tone sharpening.
"By the way, Naruto… now that we've already seen the Sage of Six Paths, it's better to end this quickly rather than letting Kaguya be revived."
Naruto nodded in agreement. That was exactly what he had been thinking.
After all, Kaguya was beyond control. There was no need to allow her another chance.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi, at its core, could be seen — in a reluctant, twisted way — as a method for the shinobi world to witness the existence of another reality, a dream world where the impossible could exist. From a certain point of view, it allowed people to see that there were indeed extraordinary forces beyond ordinary human reach.
But just as Madara unleashed the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Black Zetsu emerged from the ground like a creeping shadow — then lunged straight into Obito's body.
Black Zetsu's voice hissed darkly,
"Hey, Obito… you can't die yet. I still need your body."
"You… you bastard!" Obito groaned, his voice straining against the invasion.
"Obito, what's wrong?!" Rin's voice rang out, filled with alarm.
But once Black Zetsu latched onto Obito completely, it took control of his body and forced him to leap away. Rin tried to chase after him — but Kakashi's eyes had already transformed into the Rinnegan pattern, his body ensnared by the divine tree's God Tree Bindings.
Rin drew a kunai and slashed desperately at the wooden tendrils. "Clatter—!" The bindings snapped under her blade, and she shook Kakashi's shoulders.
"Kakashi! Wake up! What's wrong with you?!"
But Kakashi's mind was already trapped deep inside the illusion. In his dream, his father was still alive, and his childhood was full of joy. Obito and Rin had never died. The three of them still went on missions together…
It was beautiful. Peaceful. Perfect.
Rin's brow furrowed as she kept cutting away, but the bindings regenerated instantly, winding around Kakashi again until he was hoisted into the air and cocooned.
She glanced around — nearly everyone was wrapped up and suspended by the God Tree's bindings. But where was Obito? Where had he gone after being possessed by that black creature?!
The Infinite Tsukuyomi's light still blazed. Minato looked toward Jiraiya, who was standing beside him. The toad sage had also fallen into the illusion, murmuring softly, "Tsunade…"
Realizing what was happening, Minato's eyes widened. He immediately ran toward Naruto, worried that his son might have also been caught by the genjutsu.
When he arrived, he saw Naruto and Sasuke safely inside Susanoo. The blinding light from the moon couldn't penetrate the armored giant.
Minato exhaled in relief. He knew Naruto had been reborn, and if Naruto was still conscious, there was hope. There was still a way to save the situation.
Slowly, the intense light began to fade. Madara descended from the air, scanning the battlefield — and his eyes quickly locked onto the massive Susanoo.
"So… the light can't penetrate that," Madara muttered, narrowing his gaze. Then his expression hardened.
If they couldn't be drawn into the dream naturally, he'd just have to make them fall into it manually.
Sasuke dismissed his Susanoo once the moonlight faded. He immediately noticed Madara flying toward them.
"Naruto — our next move is to capture Madara. Then, just like before, we can dispel the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. But Sasuke — this time, you're not going to fight me afterward like last time, right?"
Sasuke smirked faintly.
"I think it's better keeping my hands intact this time. So no… no fight."
Naruto chuckled.
The Fourth Hokage flashed beside them.
"Naruto, the First, Second, and Third Hokage still have Madara's black receivers impaled in them. They can't move. Do you want to go pull them out?"
Naruto nodded and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to their location. He yanked the black receivers out with his bare hands — his Yang Release protecting him from harm.
The First, Second, and Third Hokage all rose to their feet.
Tobirama scanned the surroundings. "Naruto… is this the Infinite Tsukuyomi Madara mentioned?"
"Yes," Naruto confirmed. "But the version Madara knows is a lie. He was deceived."
Hashirama frowned. "Madara once told me… that if two powers were combined to cast this technique, everyone in the world would fall into an illusion. He claimed it was the ultimate redemption for the shinobi world. Who deceived him?"
Naruto's eyes glinted. "Just watch. You'll understand soon."
Rin came running up.
"Minato-sensei!"
Minato turned. "Rin!"
She greeted the Third Hokage respectfully. "Third Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen nodded.
Tobirama eyed her curiously. "This is Obito's beloved, isn't it?"
Minato smiled awkwardly. "Yes… they were all my students. Same team. Obito liked Rin since they were kids. That's why… after what happened… he couldn't accept it. And that's why things turned out the way they did."
Rin fell silent.
Tobirama crossed his arms. "The Uchiha… born cursed."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
Hashirama shot Tobirama a glare. "Don't speak about our former comrades like that again."
"I'm not insulting them," Tobirama replied calmly. "The Uchiha are naturally sensitive to emotions — especially love for family and those dear to them. When they lose someone important, they can't accept it. Their grief triggers a mutation — that's the source of the Sharingan. It changes them completely.
"That's what happened to Madara. After izuna was killed by me, brother… he changed."
While they spoke, both Sasuke and Naruto sensed a shift in the air. They looked upward.
Right on cue — Madara landed from above with a crash, his Shakujo staff in hand.
"It seems there are still some people who refuse to sleep. Very well… I'll put you to sleep forever."
From behind Madara, a figure approached. Madara paid it no mind — it was only Obito, still possessed by Black Zetsu.
"Black Zetsu… why are you still clinging to this useless vessel? He's no longer of value. Abandon him and come to me."
"Yes, Madara-sama," Black Zetsu replied.
But Sasuke and Naruto tensed. They could feel something was wrong.
As Black Zetsu walked up to Madara, it suddenly thrust an arm forward with blinding speed — and drove it straight into Madara's chest.
Madara's eyes widened. "Black Zetsu… what—?!"
The shadowy being chuckled darkly.
"Madara… thank you for all your work. But I no longer need you."
"You—! You were created by me! How dare you disobey my orders!"
Black Zetsu's voice dripped with mockery.
"Created by you? Don't delude yourself. Just as you called Obito your pawn… you were mine. Infinite Tsukuyomi? That's just the illusion I allowed you to believe. Its true purpose… is to resurrect my mother — Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
Madara's disbelief was absolute. "Impossible! I saw it with my own eyes on the Uchiha stone tablet. It's the Sage of Six Paths' ninjutsu to save the world!"
Black Zetsu sneered. "I am the will of Kaguya. The stone tablet's contents were altered by me long ago. You only saw what I wanted you to see."
Madara's world shattered.
Hashirama stepped forward. "Madara! I told you countless times to speak with me before acting — but you never listened. You trapped yourself in your own world."
Madara's pain deepened at his old friend's words… but Black Zetsu was already spreading across his body, beginning the process to summon Kaguya.
Hashirama's face hardened. "Tobirama — be ready!"
Before anyone could move, Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand — and acted in an instant.
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