"Kitagawa Gen?"
Not only Uchiha Madara, but everyone else also saw Kitagawa Gen's arrival.
Uchiha Obito frowned tightly; Kitagawa Gen's appearance here truly surprised him.
Yet for some reason, he now felt a bit excited inside.
He wasn't expecting Kitagawa Gen to win—or rather, he didn't think that before summoning the Ten Tails, anyone could possibly defeat Ōtsutsuki Genshiki.
'Kitagawa Gen is indeed strong—he even managed to create Yin–Yang Release—but…'
In Obito's view, Ōtsutsuki Genshiki was not someone Kitagawa Gen could handle. What he looked forward to seeing was for Kitagawa Gen to become a "victim" as well.
After all, he himself had lost far too miserably, and he truly wanted to see that Kitagawa Gen end up the same.
...
"He came?"
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu, hidden underground, was also constantly observing all movements above.
When he saw Kitagawa Gen's arrival, he was momentarily stunned, then furrowed his brow.
"Is this to confront Ōtsutsuki Genshiki? Have those people from the shinobi villages finally lost their patience?"
In fact, he felt that all of this was happening far too slowly.
Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had been continuously targeting the jinchūriki—something should have been done long ago.
Especially since, when he was creating the "Senju Relics," he had already pointed out certain things. The shinobi villages couldn't possibly be unaware of the meaning behind the surname "Ōtsutsuki."
What he worried about most was that, because Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had never attacked the Great Shinobi Villages directly, those villages might have come to believe this man was only targeting them.
"Good… good."
Black Zetsu finally exhaled in relief. Watching Kitagawa Gen slowly walk toward Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, he quietly began moving in the direction of Uchiha Madara.
...
"Go on and experience the power of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki for yourself—then we'll have it a bit easier too."
Within Obito's consciousness space, Isshiki furrowed his brow tightly as he stared at Kitagawa Gen.
"This fellow… seems strange."
Even though they were separated by space, he instinctively sensed something off about that distant figure walking closer.
"Why does it give off a feeling like the God Tree? Damn this spatial barrier—I can't perceive it fully."
Isshiki's sensitivity was beyond imagination. Unfortunately, the Kamui Space had already become detached from the planet itself.
Such a separation made it difficult for him to grasp the full picture.
However, while Isshiki was deep in thought, Kitagawa Gen's God Tree clone had already walked up before "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."
The two faced each other, and inexplicably, there was actually a trace of awkwardness.
That kind of awkwardness caused both of them to fall into silence.
"Never thought that there would be someone like you still existing in the shinobi world."
After quite a while, it was Kitagawa Gen's main body who finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"I had always believed this world to be both dull and deranged—that everyone had no goal, mere lambs—but never did I expect there would be someone like you."
"I don't quite understand what you mean."
In truth, the God Tree clone had already communicated internally with Kitagawa Gen, but at this moment he spoke outwardly with a "grave" expression.
"It's you—constantly attacking the shinobi world, repeatedly targeting the Tailed Beasts—what exactly is your purpose?"
"I'm merely reclaiming what belongs to 'me.'"
Kitagawa Gen lightly shook his head, his tone seeming filled with interest.
"You are different from those lower creatures, yet it seems you too do not understand the true nature of this world."
...
"The so-called truth, my ass!"
The moment Kitagawa Gen's words fell, Isshiki, hidden within Obito's consciousness, could no longer hold himself together.
This clansman of his—his so-called "truth"—was nothing but an excuse he used to kill and devour him.
And he still had the shamelessness to speak of it so casually?
Still, Isshiki didn't dare to explode; the Kāma wasn't fully released yet, and acting recklessly would only be suicide.
Besides, he was growing ever more curious about that Kitagawa Gen.
"To actually pique the interest of that clansman of mine—could it be…"
...
But the God Tree clone only shook his head, his gaze turning even more "vigilant and solemn."
"I don't care what so-called truth you're talking about. I only know that you are far too dangerous to this world."
"So, you want to fight me?"
Kitagawa Gen remained full of interest, his tone now tinged with curiosity.
"Or is it that you too are pursuing some kind of righteous victory?"
As he said this, Kitagawa Gen's aura subtly shifted, and in the very next instant, Yin–Yang Release interwove within the God Tree clone.
A black short blade appeared in his hand, and Sage Mode was activated almost instantaneously!
"Remember one thing."
Kitagawa Gen spoke again, and as he did, his gaze turned toward Obito, who stood frozen at the side, not daring to move.
"History is nothing but the repeated writing of 'the victor is justice.' I have won."
[Buzz—]
In an instant, the blade formed from Kitagawa Gen's Truth-Seeking Balls was already swung!
The boundless power made the very earth boil madly; an enormous chasm, like a vast canyon, was cleaved open with a single slash!
The direction of that slash was not toward the God Tree clone, but toward Obito's position. Kitagawa Gen's voice also fell at that very moment.
"That is 'justice.'"
Obito knew he would not be harmed, yet as he watched the rushing wave of power, he could not help but tremble inwardly.
He didn't quite understand what was happening, but within his consciousness space, Isshiki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Those words… were directed at me as well!"
[Buzz—]
The instant Kitagawa Gen struck, the God Tree clone had already lunged forward.
The short blade imbued with Yin–Yang Release swung instantly, and as if sensing it, Kitagawa Gen turned back and slashed as well.
[Clang—]
The sharp metallic screech seemed to make the entire space tremble, and the ground beneath them violently collapsed under the impact.
Shattered rocks flew up from the earth, swirling around them—but as though pulled by some mysterious force, they could not fall back down!
"Not bad power—you truly have stepped onto a path of 'evolution.'"
Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's voice carried a hint of laughter as he spoke leisurely.
"However, this level is still far from enough."
As his words fell, Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's power surged once more. With a light movement, he slipped away and swung another slash.
At such a short distance, even a piercing sonic boom resounded!
But the God Tree clone was no less fierce; his Yin–Yang Release short blade swung again, the two weapons colliding once more.
[Boom—]
A deep muffled roar echoed as the shockwave rippled outward!
The ground beneath their feet, already in ruins, instantly caved in. Several fissures spread wildly outward, stretching hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye.
"To truly complete 'evolution,' one must surpass the limits of one's own 'capacity'—even if it means wagering everything to seize it."
Locking blades with the God Tree clone, Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's voice remained steady.
"Let me see how far you have come… and whether you can continue moving forward."
As that voice rang out, the chakra of the two grew stronger and more frenzied.
[Clang—]
[Clang—]
[Clang—]
In the next instant, the sound of metal clashing rang on endlessly!
The two figures tangled together like afterimages, and with even the slightest movement, dozens of residual images seemed to strike at each other simultaneously.
That one-on-one battle was fought so fiercely it looked as though dozens of people were brawling all at once.
The sounds of sonic booms, shockwaves, and the ground fracturing echoed together, accompanied by the distortion of space and the collapse of distant mountains.
Everything around them seemed to have become incomparably fragile—just the faintest touch from either of them caused it to crumble into dust.
Their surging energy even set the barren mountains ablaze with roaring flames!
In an instant, the battlefield they stood upon had turned into something resembling hell itself.
"What kind of battle is this?"
From a distance, Jiraiya, Ōnoki, and the others watched the endlessly erupting power and the flickering figures between the mountains.
And witnessing how everywhere those two passed, the mountain ranges split and the earth crumbled, they all fell into silence.
Such a battle—none of them had ever even imagined it!
"It seems that the only ones capable of facing Ōtsutsuki Genshiki… are you people of Konoha."
After quite a while, Ōnoki finally sighed and spoke, while Deidara's face was full of curiosity.
"But that guy said 'evolution' to Gen—what did he mean by that?"
"I don't know. But Gen has always been the most special one."
Jiraiya shook his head. This was something only the Great Toad Sage could clarify.
He formed hand seals, preparing to summon Shima and Fukasaku. Ōtsutsuki Genshiki was far too dangerous—he had to be ready.
"If things truly reach an irreversible point, even at the cost of my life, I must ensure that Gen escapes!"
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