While Jiraiya and the others were making their preparations, Obito, Black Zetsu, and the still-only-a-head Uchiha Madara all fell into silence.
Especially Uchiha Madara—his gaze was still filled with a craving for battle.
Yet beneath that emotion lay a trace of indescribably complex feeling.
"This kind of power…"
That Ōtsutsuki Genshiki being strong enough was not surprising—after all, he bore the same surname as the "God who destroys worlds."
But that Kitagawa Gen—what kind of "evolution" had he undergone to reach such a level?!
'To the point where even that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki looks at him with respect?'
He felt deeply restless. Even if he wanted to convince himself by saying, "I haven't resurrected yet," "I haven't returned to my prime," he was not someone who could accept such excuses!
'I must figure out what that so-called 'evolution' truly is.'
He bit down hard in silent thought. He was a man of towering pride, absolutely unwilling to remain like this.
'And I must resurrect as soon as possible. This can't continue.'
"How terrifying."
Black Zetsu, holding Madara's head, was likewise wordless—his excitement mingled with helpless melancholy.
The excitement, of course, came from the fact that Kitagawa Gen seemed truly capable of confronting Ōtsutsuki Genshiki—even if Genshiki appeared to be merely "testing."
At least he could see hope!
Yet he was also deeply troubled. Kitagawa Gen was the future Hokage of Konoha—destined not to walk the same path as them.
What was even more frightening was that Black Zetsu himself was at a loss about Gen's "evolution." He truly hadn't perceived much about it.
Right now, he honestly felt that he knew so little about this world.
"Why has it come to this?"
Compared to the two of them, Uchiha Obito's fists only tightened more and more.
That sense of defeat shattered him inside—he truly felt useless.
Though he had grown, Kitagawa Gen had now been directly defined as "evolved"!
If things went on like this, did he really have any chance?
"Pathetic creature. How could someone with such a mindset ever accomplish anything?"
Inside his consciousness space, Isshiki's face was filled with disdain—but behind that disdain was also boundless curiosity toward Kitagawa Gen.
"That brat just now… did he draw upon the planet's energy? Could it be that my conjecture…"
His expression grew faintly solemn. Right now, he was truly annoyed by this Kamui.
Though it protected Obito, because of Kamui's isolation he simply couldn't confirm more details.
Still, a vague idea had already taken shape in his mind—an idea somewhat mad.
But just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed something. Snapping back to awareness, he immediately lifted his head and looked into the distance.
Not only he—almost everyone's eyes turned forward.
For at that very moment, the roaring tides of energy were gradually coming to a halt.
And the clash between "Kitagawa Gen" and "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki" also quietly came to an end.
"Truly astonishing."
The two gazed at each other for a long time before "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki" slowly spoke—his voice echoing across heaven and earth.
"Now I'm finally certain—this world isn't so boring after all."
'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's' words were heard clearly by everyone.
After all, having fought to this extent, it was already enough for him.
Especially since the Tailed Beast Chakra had already been collected; he was still waiting to absorb that power.
What remained was merely to deceive Isshiki a bit more, and then for both sides to make a graceful exit.
"Tch."
'Kitagawa Gen' let out a faint snort, the natural chakra within him continuously boiling.
It looked as though he was still searching for an opportunity.
"I really don't find you interesting—and what exactly is your goal!"
"There's no need to put on such an act. Your space-time ability is very strong, and you are quite special."
However, 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki' gently shook his head.
"But I've already confirmed a few things. Beyond that, continuing to fight with you is meaningless. After all…"
As he spoke, 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's' gaze turned toward the distance.
Those azure eyes, glowing like flowing light, directly locked onto Jiraiya and the others!
Not only that—the chakra in the sky trembled slightly, and in that instant, the vast dust clouds dispersed into nothingness.
At the same time, a faint beam of light slipped down, illuminating a place far away.
"Damn it!"
Ōnoki, already chilled by 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's' gaze, followed that light—and instantly felt his blood pressure soar.
That spot—it was Iwagakure!
And he suddenly remembered that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki possessed the ability to summon meteors.
If a meteor were to fall toward Iwagakure, then—
"What a terrifying fellow…"
Jiraiya too was trembling with fear; he seemed to recall that horrifying scene outside Konohagakure.
And not just him—everyone else had experienced it as well, causing all of them to hold their breath.
'Kitagawa Gen' seemed to furrow his brow, fully focused, as if ready to attack at any moment.
"Relax. I have no interest in targeting them."
However, 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki' smiled faintly, bathed in moonlight, his white robe fluttering in the wind.
"Taking pleasure in crushing a few ants at random—that would be rather lacking in elegance. At least, it's not something I enjoy doing."
"Is that so?"
'Kitagawa Gen' raised an eyebrow; he didn't seem particularly convinced, yet 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki' paid it no mind.
"To fight without a calm mind holds no meaning for me."
He raised his head, looking up at the moonlit sky, and only then slowly spoke.
"You hesitate, you worry, you restrain yourself—after all, to avoid accidentally crushing ants underfoot, it's hard to control one's strength…"
Those words made Jiraiya and the others in the distance clench their fists involuntarily.
They truly hadn't expected that they had become a burden.
Yet they couldn't refute it—just now, the battle had indeed been excessive.
Even Jiraiya, when intending to go and assist, had done so with the resolve to die.
...
"What do you think—if we go all out and attack Konohagakure, would that make Kitagawa Gen hold back?"
Inside the Kamui space, Obito suddenly spoke in a low voice.
His words immediately made Black Zetsu's expression change drastically, and even Uchiha Madara, left with only his head, showed a trace of astonishment on his face.
Meanwhile, in Obito's consciousness space, Isshiki covered his face. What kind of idiot was this?
"Are you insane?!"
Black Zetsu recovered quickly, staring at Obito in horror.
"Absolutely do not do that! Ōtsutsuki Genshiki can, because he has the strength—but you would only get everyone killed!"
An assault on Konohagakure would come at a heavy cost. Even with two Susanoo, plus Nagato and all the elites of the Akatsuki joining forces, perhaps it could be done.
But the price?
Watching Kitagawa Gen, who in his battle with Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had nearly altered the very terrain of the Land of Earth, Black Zetsu no longer wished to speak.
The cost would be that all of their plans would turn to ashes. He dared not imagine what a "home-invaded" Kitagawa Gen would do!
"Besides, right now he's the only one who can face Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."
"Tch."
Uchiha Obito let out a cold snort and finally fell silent.
Although he felt confident he could escape, the problem was that he had already "died" in Kitagawa Gen's hands more than a few times.
Kamui and Izanagi could save his life, but even then, there were still openings that could be exploited.
For the sake of his ambition—for the creation of a peaceful world—he really couldn't act recklessly.
"All right, I should be going as well."
Just as everyone's thoughts were in turmoil, 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki' spoke leisurely once more.
Suddenly, the moonlight in the sky became exceptionally radiant, and a bright beam of light descended from the moon, shining upon his body.
At that moment, his figure appeared ethereal, and under the pull of the moonlight, he seemed to be slowly ascending toward the heavens.
"But before I leave, let me give you a piece of advice—being unable to calm your mind is never a good thing."
As he spoke, his gaze seemed to faintly shift in Obito's direction, and his voice grew even more melodious.
"When we stop before a cliff and dare not move forward, it is not because we cannot climb, but because we are uncertain of how arduous the climb will be."
"However, at the moment when the 'capacity' within our hearts embraces everything as its own, we have already surpassed that cliff."
"'Evolution' is not simple, and this world is cruel indeed…"
While speaking, 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's' figure shone with an ultimate brilliance beneath the dazzling moonlight, and then vanished without a trace.
The gentle wind brushed by; the moonlight remained unchanged.
Only the shattered earth, and the distant blazing flames, silently spoke of everything that had happened here.
Yet the scene was deathly silent—the crackling of the burning flames sounded unbearably sharp at this moment.
After all, the words left behind by 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki' before his departure had truly made everyone's hearts tremble.
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