"Tch."
At last, Kitagawa Gen's voice sounded, breaking the silence of the field.
"What an inexplicable guy."
"Gen!"
His voice seemed to awaken everyone from their daze. Under the guidance of Sasuke and Naruto through the Flying Thunder God, Jiraiya and the others also arrived by his side.
"Are you all right?"
Jiraiya asked worriedly, and Sasuke and Naruto's faces were likewise filled with concern.
Behind the two of them, Deidara and Ōnoki were also extremely anxious, while only the two toads on Jiraiya's shoulders looked on with curiosity.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Kitagawa Gen shook his head, a bright smile appearing on his face.
"That guy was indeed terrifying, but with Yin–Yang Release and the Flying Thunder God protecting me, I was still able to manage."
"That's good…"
After carefully checking him over and finding that Kitagawa Gen truly seemed unharmed, Jiraiya finally let out a sigh of relief.
Thinking about it carefully, it also made sense—Kitagawa Gen's mastery of the Flying Thunder God had changed.
No longer plagued by any 'Cursed Mark,' it seemed that as long as he willed it, he could teleport to any place he desired.
Such a technique could no longer even be considered the same Flying Thunder God, but with an ability like that, it was indeed enough to ensure Kitagawa Gen's safety.
"This is the best outcome. In any case, it was a draw…"
Ōnoki couldn't help but speak. Although seeing the Land of Earth's surroundings turned into such a state made his heart race, he couldn't concern himself with that right now.
"By the way, Hokage—that person… what did he mean by 'evolution'? Do you know?"
"…"
Kitagawa Gen fell silent for a moment.
Hokage?
The Third hasn't died yet, has he?
Kitagawa Gen's expression turned slightly strange, but he shook his head lightly.
"I'm not sure either. That guy was all mysterious and spoke in riddles—I don't know what he meant."
"…"
Hearing that, everyone was speechless.
In a sense, that guy's words really were rather cryptic.
"Besides, I don't agree with what he said."
Kitagawa Gen glanced up at the sky, then turned back toward Jiraiya and the others, his smile unchanged.
"If there really were some cliff blocking my way, couldn't I just take a detour? Why must I climb over it? Why must I make the 'capacity of my heart' embrace everything?"
"Mm, mm!"
Although Naruto had always been "bullied" by Kitagawa Gen, he was still the fastest to agree.
Crossing his arms and closing his eyes, he nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, that guy's words were really weird."
"You didn't even understand what he said, did you?"
Sasuke couldn't help but comment from the side, but Kitagawa Gen hooked an arm around Naruto's neck.
"I don't think you understood either. What he meant was that I should learn from Uchiha Itachi, Naruto."
"…"
Naruto, who knew about Uchiha Itachi's story, instantly shivered in fear.
"Hey, hey, what are you even saying?"
"I'm saying…"
Kitagawa Gen lifted his head again, his gaze turning to the sky once more.
"Konohagakure is my territory—how could I allow him to run wild? I have my own path, one that has never changed and never will."
"That is my ninja way!"
Soft moonlight spilled over the land, bringing a faint difference to this battlefield that resembled hell.
Deidara laughed to the side, Ōnoki looked at Kitagawa Gen and let out a slight sigh, then gave Deidara a glare full of exasperation.
Sasuke's eyes were firm and full of admiration, while Naruto muttered under his breath, "What do you mean your territory, damn it," only to receive a punch from Jiraiya right after.
Even so, Jiraiya's face was filled with a smile. After this battle, he was finally completely at ease.
And looking at the Kitagawa Gen before him, he also knew where Konohagakure's future lay.
"But speaking of which, you all are really too pathetic."
However, just as Jiraiya was feeling happy, Kitagawa Gen suddenly changed his expression.
"This time when you get back—so long as you don't die from training—train until you're about to!"
"…"
Naruto and Sasuke both gasped in shock. How could this guy flip his face so fast?!
But Kitagawa Gen ignored them and instead looked toward Jiraiya.
"Ero-Sennin, you'd better start burning incense before you go out from now on. Every single time it's like this—you're on par with Kakashi-sensei."
"…"
"And that curse about 'getting into trouble whenever you go out'—looks like it's been fulfilled again. But how come you still haven't been hospitalized yet?"
"…"
"Want me to help you with that?"
"Hiss—"
Jiraiya instantly felt that he might have spoken too soon.
While Kitagawa Gen was in a "good mood" here, on Uchiha Obito's side the atmosphere was deathly still.
Black Zetsu cast a casual yet deliberate glance toward Obito—and not only him; even the head in his arms was watching from the corner of its eye.
This made Obito's scalp tighten, because they all seemed to have noticed that something was off about 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's' attitude toward him.
"Let's go."
Obito couldn't take it anymore, and his mood was extremely foul—especially after seeing that Kitagawa Gen and Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had actually fought to a draw.
No matter what the reason was, a tie was a tie!
What made him feel even worse was that Kitagawa Gen truly seemed extraordinary—he had actually been acknowledged by someone of that level.
"There's still a lot that needs to be handled."
"Mm."
Black Zetsu nodded. He knew the tasks ahead of him were heavy, and there was much that needed to be done.
Meanwhile, within Obito's mind, Isshiki's expression had grown inexplicably grave.
"Those words weren't just meant for that Kitagawa Gen—they were for me as well!"
Isshiki secretly clenched his teeth. Genshiki's attention on Obito was entirely because of him.
He was absolutely certain—Genshiki would never let him go!
"Looks like that fool Uchiha Obito is in trouble."
Isshiki sighed inwardly, but soon his gaze gradually changed.
"Kitagawa Gen can use Yin–Yang Release, command natural energy, possesses the aura of the God Tree, and can even manipulate what seems to be planetary energy…"
"I think I'm starting to see a clue. That Genshiki guy's intentions are definitely not simple."
"But this also gives me an opportunity. Since you can do it, then…"
"Why can't I? Especially now that we're enemies."
...
The "civil war" between Kitagawa Gen and Ōtsutsuki Genshiki could be considered over.
Although this battle had caused the terrain and topography of some areas in the Land of Earth to change drastically, all in all, the news made quite a few people feel relieved.
"I didn't expect Jiraiya's prediction to be right—Gen really can deal with Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."
Inside one of the ANBU bases, Hiruzen's expression was somewhat excited as he looked at the First and Second Hokage.
"Yin–Yang Release is truly incredible—even that kind of godlike being can be countered."
"Monkey, I think you'd better not be too optimistic."
Seeing Hiruzen's face full of smiles, Tobirama shook his head.
"Jiraiya's report was very clear—it said 'deal with,' not 'defeat,' and that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's attitude was also very strange."
"Evolution—what did he mean by that?"
Hashirama couldn't help but ask in curiosity; the information Jiraiya had sent back was very explicit.
"Gen is continuously evolving? And that fellow is trying to lure Gen into doing something bad?"
"The path of the strong is a lonely one. In a sense, we really have become burdens to Gen."
Tobirama glanced at his elder brother, shaking his head in clear displeasure.
"I don't know what he means either—perhaps he finds this world too boring and hopes someone can bring him some amusement, or maybe he has some other purpose."
"Whatever it is, Jiraiya made it very clear—Gen didn't waver in the slightest."
Hiruzen also spoke with a smile, which earned him a glare from Tobirama.
"Even if he did waver, what could we do?"
"Hey, you bastard, you're still as annoying as ever!"
Hashirama grew displeased, slapping the table as he questioned loudly.
"Are you doubting Gen? You bastard!"
"Doubting? Do I have that qualification?"
Tobirama gave his elder brother a disdainful look, then shook his head and said, "What I mean is that Gen is resolute—but we must also work hard not to hold him back, lest we become his shackles."
"Tch, so that's what you meant."
"What else? He's our Fifth Hokage! I think we should do our best to fulfill all his wishes."
"That 'all' might be going too far, don't you think?"
"Too far? Even if you were resurrected, you still wouldn't be his match!"
"..."
Hashirama was momentarily speechless from being retorted to. Glancing at the documents from the corner of his eye, he could only sigh.
Leaving aside Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's battle, just Kitagawa Gen alone kicking apart Susanoo and having the True Thousand Hands pummel Uchiha Madara were already utterly incredible feats.
"Huh?"
All of a sudden, Hashirama seemed to recall something.
"How rare—you actually didn't bring up Madara this time?"
"What's the point of talking about him?"
Tobirama shot Hashirama a glance, then shook his head.
"He's merely a relic of a bygone era. I can't even be bothered to speak too much about him. Let's just wait for them to come back. Didn't Gen say he had quite a few other gains?"
"Tch."
Hashirama snorted lightly, but then couldn't help laughing.
"Madara, you bastard—you finally have your day, huh?"
"..."
Tobirama paused, turned away with a cold expression, and left—but inside, he was bursting with delight!
'Uchiha Madara, you finally have your day?!'
'The 'Uchiha Izuna' trained by this old man—are you satisfied with him?'
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