Just like that, Momoshiki floated high above the sky.
Up there, his strength completely surpassed that of the three allied forces below. To live and fight in outer space—this was the ultimate symbol of the Ōtsutsuki clan's existence far surpassing the beings of the Shinobi World in the hierarchy of life.
However, even though the three from below couldn't threaten Momoshiki who resided outside the planet, they could still unleash their full strength on the ground.
And so, Momoshiki was unable to approach the surface of the world at all!
After a period of probing from both sides, an invisible boundary had taken shape in their hearts.
A silent agreement not to cross it.
The situation had reached a stalemate...
Through relentless effort, the descending Ōtsutsuki clan had finally been driven out of the Shinobi World by the united forces of the ninja nations.
However, the balance of power still leaned against the Shinobi World.
Setting aside the fact that Kinshiki had already possessed Naruto's body—once he completed the decompression process (a process that might be short for the long-lived Ōtsutsuki), he could replace Naruto, one of the most powerful pillars of the current Shinobi World!
At that point, the fragile stalemate would shatter. Kinshiki and the returning Momoshiki, joining forces, would sweep away all remaining resistance in the Shinobi World with overwhelming might!
Even take Urashiki, who had escaped—though Neji had grievously wounded him, leaving only half a skull—
Urashiki didn't die.
Thanks to the absurd vitality of the Ōtsutsuki clan, he survived, using tools and weapons in his possession, combined with residual dōjutsu, to massacre several small ninja villages. By absorbing their chakra, he was able to regenerate his body.
He would strike and flee—one moment in the eastern Land of Earth, erasing a village before Iwagakure's shinobi could respond. Even when the Allied Shinobi Forces arrived, they found nothing but shriveled corpses.
The next moment, there would be a fresh attack near the Land of Water.
With such speed and stealth, no one in the Shinobi World could track his movements!
Even when the top three strongest shinobi were dispatched and barely located his hiding place, Urashiki would always appear in large cities to heal, forcing them to hold back and allowing him to escape.
Under Urashiki's relentless disruptions, the entire Shinobi World fell into a state of panic. Some even began to entertain the ridiculous notion that joining the Ōtsutsuki might be their only chance to survive.
Naturally, the leaders of the great nations issued strict prohibitions and mobilized their armies to strike down any activities promoting the Ōtsutsuki—be it statues erected in their honor, or scripture-like propaganda meant for recruitment.
In a single day, one great nation might publicly execute over a thousand people!
But even those in power weren't free of desperation.
They knew the truth: that Naruto had been possessed by Kinshiki. They knew just how dire the situation really was.
Even the most skilled medical ninja, Tsunade, couldn't cure him. Neither could the more radical scientists—Orochimaru, Kabuto, Hiruko—or even Amado, the former lead scientist of Kara who once worked under Isshiki.
Within just a few months, Naruto had even voluntarily undergone a highly dangerous procedure—having his entire chest cavity removed and replaced with a cultured body using Hashirama cells.
Relying on the power of Yang Release to survive briefly without a heart, he begged others to treat him.
But the result was disappointing. Kinshiki's power had already fused completely with Naruto. Normal medical means could no longer separate them.
It was Orochimaru who proposed the most creative solution.
His Living Corpse Reincarnation technique had reached a high degree of perfection. The vessels used for reincarnation had evolved—from living humans to White Zetsu—and now, he could craft entirely customized bodies using Hashirama cells as a base, enhanced with key bloodlines to generate Kekkei Genkai.
At present, only Orochimaru himself could use this technique, and he had no intention of spreading it...
If Naruto agreed—and kept it a secret—he was willing to teach Naruto the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
He would even tailor a body specifically for him, combining the Uzumaki bloodline with Wood Release, and even include the Uchiha bloodline if needed.
Of course...
The price was that Naruto had to surrender his current body, which had been corrupted by the Ōtsutsuki, for Orochimaru's independent research.
Now immortal, Orochimaru was profoundly intrigued by the Ōtsutsuki—a race naturally capable of reincarnation. He was desperate to analyze their soul and body.
In that moment, Naruto thought of his former self—his struggles to become Hokage, to bring peace to the Shinobi World.
He remembered the scenes of the Ōtsutsuki invasion...
He remembered his family, his friends, his child.
If he could destroy these shameless invaders, he was willing to give up his body, his soul, even his life.
If gaining the power to make the Ōtsutsuki fear him—enough power to allow peaceful coexistence with the Shinobi World—meant changing vessels... so be it.
A simple vessel swap? He, Naruto, could endure that.
Even if he no longer remained himself—if it meant preserving the final chance for the Shinobi World—then why not?
Naruto looked up at the starry sky.
His gaze seemed to reach toward the place where Momoshiki floated.
True strength wasn't about receiving recognition.
It was about doing what was worthy of recognition, even if your name and identity were erased.
But for the loved ones who had accompanied him to this point, the blow would be devastating.
His wife, his child, his teacher—and Sasuke—how would they view a new him, who was no longer him?
"Orochimaru… could you preserve something… a trace of my existence… in the new body?"
Orochimaru shook his head.
Not because he couldn't, but because Naruto's current body had been so thoroughly invaded by Kinshiki's power that every cell had been corrupted.
Unless everything was discarded, even the new body would be tainted.
"There's still blood left at the Valley of the End!"
Suddenly, Sasuke spoke up. He grabbed a bottle from the table, then vanished with Amenotejikara, rushing toward the Valley of the End.
"Let me see my family one last time…"
As if making his final decision, Naruto sighed softly and made his last request in this life.
...
"How about… we just surrender?"
In the Fire Daimyō's palace, nobles from the Land of Fire and other major nations were gathered—people of extreme status and power.
As the ones who truly held authority over the Shinobi World, they too were aware of the existence of the Ōtsutsuki.
This was no longer something they could afford to ignore if they wanted to live peacefully. So in the dead of night, they convened a grand feast—
Summoning singers and dancers, and even opening up the most luxurious hot springs in the Land of Fire—
All to discuss how to respond to the Ōtsutsuki clan.
What kind of attitude should they adopt toward this powerful and unknown race?
During the banquet, noble opinions flew in every direction. The details varied endlessly.
But one opinion gradually grew dominant—
Find a way to contact the Ōtsutsuki clan through non-ninja channels.
Declare that the daimyō and nobility of the Shinobi World had no direct ties to the ninja themselves.
Cut ties decisively with the ninja.
Then, when they received support from Ōtsutsuki power, declare the various ninja villages as rebel forces.
Pledge their willingness to share control of the Shinobi World with the Ōtsutsuki.
Eventually, by subtly manipulating the economy, they could integrate the Ōtsutsuki into the Shinobi World, replacing the ninja and turning them into loyal tools of the nobles.
That way, the daimyō and nobles might even gain lands beyond this world—for after all, the Ōtsutsuki could sail through space!
"What a brilliant plan. I never imagined I'd live to taste food from beyond the Shinobi World… or meet beauties from alien planets…"
More and more nobles were already drifting off into wild fantasies.