Willpower—perhaps it was one of the means capable of resisting the erosion of Ōtsutsuki consciousness.
As for whether it would ultimately prove effective, Kitagawa Gen did not know. However, during the second stage of the Kāma, it did seem to have some effect.
At the very least, Nagato now appeared to be showing results.
"Damn bastard—!"
Nagato, who had already begun undergoing Ōtsutsuki transformation, let out an enraged roar as he desperately resisted Momoshiki's erosion.
That erosion of will was unimaginably terrifying. He could clearly feel himself slowly ceasing to be himself.
Instead, another will was replacing him, stripping away everything he had—erasing his existence entirely, causing him to vanish from this world without leaving a single trace.
Such an outcome was something Nagato could not accept, and absolutely would not accept!
"Tch, this guy's will is stronger than expected."
Momoshiki's expression was hardly pleasant either. Under this man's constant interference, coupled with Isshiki's 'vessel' continuing its relentless attacks, he was ultimately forced to seize an opening, allowing this fellow's will to recover slightly. Still, this was not a major issue.
At most, he merely felt humiliated—being countered by a lower lifeform. For an Ōtsutsuki, that could hardly be considered anything good.
'Especially now that the Ten-Tails has emerged. The situation has become somewhat troublesome.'
Momoshiki was well aware of this group's plan. Not only him—within the consciousness channel, both Isshiki and Urashiki's expressions had also grown grim.
"Damn it—Momoshiki was actually countered!"
Urashiki clenched his teeth and growled under his breath. His consciousness form seemed to tremble, while Isshiki's brows were tightly furrowed.
"The Ten-Tails is out. In that case, Genshiki—that guy—will probably really arrive as well."
Ōtsutsuki Genshiki could be said to be the existence the three of them feared the most.
The reason they were in such dire straits now was precisely because of that bastard Ōtsutsuki Genshiki and his handiwork!
Isshiki aside—he had inexplicably ended up saddled with a mountain of blame, to the point where he could no longer even trust his own clan.
And Momoshiki and Urashiki, even more so, had been "skinned alive and had their tendons ripped out" by that guy, becoming heaps of white bones used to shore up the Divine Ascension Stairway!
In their current state, if they ran into Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, they didn't even dare imagine what the consequences would be.
...
"Ten-Tails! That's the Ten-Tails!"
Everyone on the battlefield now wore expressions of extreme terror. This battle had already surpassed imagination.
And now, a legendary ferocious beast had appeared—making everything even more unknown.
Staring at that suffocatingly enormous figure, the Ten-Tails still appeared indistinct within the smoke and dust.
But just the tail swaying within the smoke and dust was already larger than any tailed beast!
Bzzz—
The tail swayed lightly. In an instant, the thick smoke and dust scattered, the earth trembled at that very moment, and a violent hurricane gathered in the blink of an eye!
Along with the howl of the gale, even the shinobi at a considerable distance felt they could barely keep their footing.
As the smoke and dust dispersed, the Ten-Tails' true appearance slowly emerged.
That ugly and bizarre face was terrifying beyond measure, and that huge, crimson nine-tomoe Rinnegan slowly swept its gaze over the crowd.
"Damn it—"
As the nine-tomoe Rinnegan swept across them, all the shinobi present immediately felt a shudder rising from the depths of their souls!
Shock, fear, despair, and so on—an entire series of emotions rose uncontrollably within their hearts.
Whether living people or Impure World Reincarnation, such emotions were difficult to restrain.
Some even had a thought surge up at that moment:
"Hurry and get out of here. This isn't something we can deal with!"
Fear spread soundlessly, affecting everyone, and Uchiha Madara's expression also didn't look very good.
"The Ten-Tails is out? Has the plan been completely thrown into chaos?"
He still didn't know what had happened over there, but Obito and Nagato had started fighting, and the Ten-Tails had appeared while he still hadn't been revived.
That alone was enough to show that the situation seemed to have become somewhat serious.
"The Ten-Tails…"
Hashirama also stopped. At this moment, his expression became incomparably grave.
"Is this your plan, Madara?!"
"My plan isn't that stupid."
Uchiha Madara snorted coldly. He directly stopped fighting, then turned and headed toward the Ten-Tails, which immediately made Hashirama freeze for a moment.
"Where are you going? Damn it—"
Although he said that, Hashirama Senju quickly followed after him at that moment, and from other positions, Sasuke and Naruto also turned their gazes over.
"The Ten-Tails?"
Sasuke's crimson Sharingan locked onto the distant Ten-Tails. At the same time, he pressed down hard with the short blade in his hand.
Uchiha Itachi, pinned beneath the blade, was instantly unable to move. Dealing with him had now become far easier for Sasuke—and far more composed.
"Damn it…"
However, while Sasuke's situation was quite good, Naruto's was extremely bad.
The Nine-Tails inside him was letting out frantic roars at this moment, that kind of fear impossible to put into words.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Sasuke asked with some concern. He did not spare even a glance at Uchiha Itachi on the ground, while Naruto merely spoke in a low voice.
"The Nine-Tails is being unruly. Damn it—why now, of all times?"
"You'd better hurry up and deal with it."
Sasuke swept his gaze around. He discovered that everyone nearby had gradually stopped fighting; even those of the Impure World Reincarnation were no longer moving.
Moreover, he inexplicably had the feeling that an even more magnificent power was about to descend.
"Our troubles won't be few."
"I know. I'll be quick."
Naruto spoke in a low voice, but his stomach hurt more and more, and he could not help roaring inwardly.
"What are you doing, you big fox? This isn't the time to joke around!"
"Do you even know what you're dealing with right now?"
Naruto felt his vision shift. In the blink of an eye, he had already arrived within his own consciousness space.
And within the new seal, the Nine-Tails now had its fur standing on end as if startled, those crimson fox eyes staring toward the distance.
"That's the Ten-Tails. Even if its energy isn't complete, it's still the Ten-Tails—that thing…"
"Yeah, I know."
Naruto nodded, yet his gaze did not waver in the slightest. His tone was incomparably resolute.
"But if I don't do something, I won't be able to protect everyone at all. Even if it's the Ten-Tails, so what?!"
"What you're about to face—"
However, Naruto's words did not move the Nine-Tails in the slightest. Instead, at this very moment, the fear in its heart grew even greater.
"It's not just the Ten-Tails. What you're about to face is an even more terrifying existence—perhaps even a whole group of them!"
As his words fell, it was as if thunder struck from a clear sky. In an instant, heaven and earth shook together.
Immediately after, another vast surge of chakra slowly brewed in the firmament—building, erupting, and finally descending!
"W-what is going on?"
At that moment, everyone could not help but raise their heads to look toward the sky. Only then did they notice that the heavens had somehow already grown bright.
The pure moonlight seemed to turn night into day. Clouds churned across the sky, and the moonlight condensed into a pillar of light that descended gently to the ground.
"Roar—"
At that instant, the Ten-Tails let out a furious roar, a hysterical bellow that seemed ready to shatter the sky.
It crouched low to the ground, that enormous Rinnegan fixed on the firmament, as if guarding against something.
Yet everyone noticed that the Ten-Tails seemed to be trembling faintly, which immediately made people realize something.
"The Ten-Tails… is afraid?"
Even the massive serpent summoned by Orochimaru stopped its attack and lifted its head to stare toward the sky.
The moonlight grew brighter and brighter, and within the pillar of light formed by that radiance, a white-clad sage-like figure slowly emerged.
"This chakra—this feeling. Does the ninja world really still have such a terrifying existence?"
The allied shinobi fell silent at the same time, staring blankly at the figure in the sky.
Cold sweat trickled down many foreheads. For quite a few of them, this was truly the first time they had ever seen such a horrifying existence.
"So it really is him."
The members of the Akatsuki fixed their gazes on the sky at that moment. This figure was all too familiar to them.
Especially since many among them had become Impure World Reincarnation precisely because of this man!
"So he really has come."
Uchiha Madara clenched his teeth. The pain of facing this man back then resurfaced vividly in his mind.
Behind him, Hashirama's expression also grew especially grave. No matter how many times one saw that person, it was enough to inspire fear and unease.
"As expected—the greatest crisis has arrived."
Sasuke took a deep breath. Although he was not surprised by the arrival of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki—
But even so, he could not help feeling a sudden chill in his heart. Simply sensing this man's chakra was already enough to fill him with shock.
"So this is that legendary Ōtsutsuki Genshiki?"
At this moment, Senju Tobirama's expression had already turned dark as water, while Minato beside him could not help speaking in a low voice.
"Such unbelievable power. No wonder he's of the same clan as the legendary 'Rabbit Goddess'—and even hunts his own kind."
'Tch, is there really a need to make such a grand display?'
Kitagawa Gen's God Tree clone muttered inwardly, though he was not surprised by the appearance of his main body.
The Ten-Tails had emerged—so it was about time to wrap things up.
"Damn it… he really has come."
Compared with Kitagawa Gen's calmness, however, Obito, Nagato, and Kimimaro all had expressions that became extremely grave.
Especially Momoshiki, who had already begun controlling Nagato—his face was so ugly it was beyond description.
And within the consciousness channel, now occupied by only Isshiki and Urashiki, the two of them also clenched their teeth tightly.
"The worst thing has finally happened. And this day has finally arrived."
The different reactions of the crowd could not affect the descent of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki in the slightest.
His figure descended slowly against the moonlight, finally coming to a gradual stop while still some distance above the ground.
His gaze swept briefly toward "Kitagawa Gen's" direction. They exchanged a quick wordless communication in their minds before he finally turned his attention to Nagato and Obito.
And to the Ten-Tails beside them, which was constantly letting out low growls, as if gripped by immense fear.
"It's truly been a long time, Momoshiki-senpai."
He spoke slowly with a smile, his voice like a spring breeze brushing across the land.
"Though your current condition isn't looking very good. And I don't see Isshiki-senpai or Urashiki-senpai either."
"You—"
Momoshiki's expression twisted, but Kitagawa Gen gently shook his head. With a soft chuckle, he spoke again.
"Perhaps now it would be more appropriate to call you 'Ōtsutsuki Nagato.' And you as well—it's been a long time."
"Ōtsutsuki Obito."
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---