The Sage of the Six Paths, witnessing this, showed an expression of shock.
"What is that… It's not just absorbing the power of the otherworld expert, but it seems to be devouring natural energy from the entire human world, along with some stray chakra and unknown energies… Once it finishes gathering, its power might be beyond imagination."
Ninja world people looked up at the storm, numb.
"If that woman wins, we'll be bound to the tree and turned into cocoons; if that man wins, we'll be commoners… Whatever, what else can we do… Our lives aren't our own anymore, doesn't matter, really doesn't matter…"
"What kind of ninja, what kind of jutsu, it's laughable. Before true experts, we're clearly just ants, no different from ordinary people."
"Why show us all this!"
"It feels so helpless… I hate this feeling!"
Empire people also wore grave expressions, unprepared for Might Guy, the Empire's Martial Saint, to face such a troublesome foe besides the Sage of the Six Paths in the ninja world.
In their clash, they weren't even sure if Imperial Guy could ultimately win.
After all, besides the Sage, other Otsutsuki seemed to lurk here.
The current commotion and the technique's power used by Imperial Guy were immense, but what about its cost? Even if he defeated this woman, what about the next enemy?
These thoughts unsettled Empire people's hearts.
Until…
*BUZZ!*
The golden-white heart absorbed energy to saturation.
*THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!*
It seemed to come alive, pulsing slowly.
Each pulse stirred everyone's hearts.
Then, light spread, illuminating all.
But this light felt like nothing, as if pure light alone.
This stunned the group.
So, all that terrifying commotion was just for show?
Kaguya frowned.
Black Zetsu showed a slight sneer. "What's this, pretending to be strong? I've seen this trick from ninja before. Is this to make us wary, then seize a chance to save people or escape?"
"Useless! Nothing escapes Mother's eyes! Mother is invincible! Hm?"
Mid-speech, Black Zetsu sensed something wrong. Hiding in Kaguya's sleeve, he keenly felt his beloved mother trembling!
Trembling?
Impossible! How could Mother tremble in fear?
No! Must be a mistake!
Nothing in this world could scare Mother! Nothing!
"Mother!"
Emerging from the sleeve, Black Zetsu looked at Kaguya's face above, then… froze, his Yin-Yang Release body trembling uncontrollably.
What did he see?
In the sky, a colossal, indescribable shadow appeared, unnoticed until now.
This giant had long, disheveled hair, a robust body, and soul-piercing eyes, staring flatly at the earth.
It seemed right overhead, yet its true distance… at least thousands… even tens or hundreds of thousands of kilometers away!
So clear from such a distance, how massive was this figure?
Black Zetsu stared, shouting: "The Shinobi Empire's Emperor! How is this possible!"
"That… who is it?" Kaguya said, slightly trembling.
"A human from another world, it's fine, Mother… it's fake, you don't need to care, it's just fake, how could it harm us, the real ones." Black Zetsu, pained by his mother's state, consoled her.
"Fake? No… it's not fake at all… my aura's locked, I can't use spatial movement anymore!" Kaguya's voice still trembled.
"What? Really? Impossible!" Black Zetsu shouted in shock.
He saw the Emperor's shadow in the sky raise one hand, pointing a finger at them.
Simultaneously, a majestic voice faintly echoed in their hearts.
"Barren Land Falling Star Finger!"
*SHUA!*
The shadow seemed to become real.
Friction-burning in the atmosphere, the fingertip erupted into blinding sparks, like a doomsday planet falling!
To Black Zetsu and Kaguya, the terrifying index finger descended, growing larger.
Initially a hundred meters, it swelled to a thousand, ten thousand, then tens of thousands, covering the sky, trapping them in darkness.
"What is this! How can a human be this big! Why does his finger seem real! Mother! Dodge! Even without spatial abilities, we must dodge!" Black Zetsu screamed in fear.
"…"
Kaguya snapped awake, suppressing her heart's fear.
She flew swiftly into the distance, but an invisible shackle, like glue, clung to her, slowing her to mere kilometers per second.
She tried escaping the black shadow's range, but with her Byakugan, she saw it growing larger!
Hundreds of thousands of meters… millions… its limit invisible.
Kaguya and Black Zetsu, in slight despair, stopped all actions, staring blankly at the sky's black shadow.
They oddly noticed strange patterns on it.
No! Not patterns… fingerprints on the finger!
So massive, they resembled mountain ranges…
"What's this now!"
"The sky's collapsing!"
"How can one finger be this big!?"
"The world… the world's done!"
"No way we survive this, right?"
Ninja world people fell into deepest despair.
Even in dreams, they couldn't imagine this sight.
Empire and Konoha people recognized Senju Ryuji's shadow.
Thinking Ryuji himself arrived, they showed joy.
"His Majesty the Emperor! It's His Majesty! Hahaha! Didn't expect His Majesty to act personally! You ninja world fools! Feel the true god's power!"
"Under this power, you're less than dust! Dare oppose the Empire? Utterly shameless!"
"His Majesty's divine power is invincible worldwide!"
"His Majesty is truly invincible!"
"Is this the Shinobi Emperor… the Emperor's true power? Incredible…" Ninja World Sasuke's mouth gaped.
A soul-deep tremor.
He felt fortunate such a being was on his side.
"Is this the other world's Emperor, Senju Ryuji? Stronger than me by tens of thousands of times!" Hashirama looked at the dark sky, eyes gleaming.
Tobirama beside him was silent, eyes full of shock and disbelief.
Though his perspective was shattered repeatedly, this final attack was still impossible.
"No chance for revenge…" Hiruzen was stunned, Danzo too.
They felt all their efforts before these experts were laughable, like clowns.
"Seriously? Great Toad Sage, the one we're to stop is this monster? Even if the Sage of the Six Paths revived, he couldn't stop this." Jiraiya smiled bitterly, his body limp.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Holy Land.
The Sage of the Six Paths, eyes wide with horror, mouth twitching. "Such incredible power… Mother's crisis may end… But a new crisis?"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The giant finger kept falling, Kaguya's face shifting from fear to madness. "I won't die! I won't be threatened by anyone! I want to live free! Even if it means destroying the world, erasing chakra! I'll live!"
Her voice grew shrill.
Her body swelled, turning into a strange white orb, its surface bearing nine Bijuu heads and a rabbit head with Byakugan and Rinne-Sharingan.
The rabbit head glared skyward, opening its mouth.
A Truth-Seeking Ball appeared, rapidly expanding!
Hundred meters! Thousand meters! Ten thousand meters! Tens of thousands… then shot out!
The black ball collided with the giant finger.
*BUZZ!*
The world filled with endless light, forcing all creatures to close their eyes.
Unwilling to die blindly, they struggled to crack their eyelids.
Though still blindingly white, Imperial Guy appeared above, his strong True Qi shielding them.
Then, a roaring explosion; they found, beyond Imperial Guy's protection, the entire land was 'dissolving'!
Fear and relief alternated in their minds.
The white light lasted unknown moments before fading.
The sky-covering Shinobi Emperor vanished, as did the long-haired woman who emerged through Uchiha Madara.
The sky was clearer than ever, not a cloud in sight.
Looking around, besides the Divine Tree and nine Bijuu, everything sank at least hundreds of meters. They seemed on a plateau.
Nine Bijuu?
Why were they out?
Did this mean the Shinobi Empire's Emperor won?
"Hahahaha… fools!"
"Utter fools, thinking your petty power could oppose His Majesty's grandeur? Six Paths power? Hah! Before His Majesty, it's ant-like!"
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Lord Martial Saint, long live His Majesty!"
Other Empire people followed with loud cheers.