Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's words were heard loud and clear by everyone present. After all, the battle had reached a point where, for him, it was already sufficient. Especially since he had already gathered all the Tailed Beast Chakra and was just waiting to absorb its power. The remaining task was merely to further provoke Isshiki and then make a graceful exit for both parties.
"Tch."
Kitagawa Minamoto let out a light snort as natural Chakra continued to boil within him. He seemed to still be looking for an opportunity.
"I don't think you're interesting at all. Besides, what exactly is your goal?"
"Don't put on that act. Your spatial abilities are impressive, and you're quite unique."
Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, however, shook his head lightly.
"But I've already confirmed some things. Beyond that, continuing to fight you is meaningless. After all..."
As he spoke, Momoshiki's gaze shifted to a distant place. Those piercing blue eyes locked directly onto Jiraiya and the others!
Not only that, but the Chakra in the sky trembled slightly, and the vast dust clouds dissipated into nothingness. At the same time, a faint beam of light descended, illuminating a distant location.
"Damn it!"
Ōnoki, already chilled by Momoshiki's gaze, followed the beam of light, and his blood pressure instantly spiked. That location—it was Iwagakure!
Moreover, he suddenly remembered that Momoshiki possessed the ability to summon meteors. If a meteor were to head toward Iwagakure, then...
"What a terrifying individual."
Jiraiya was also deeply shaken, recalling the horrifying scene outside Konohagakure.
Not just him, but everyone else who had experienced similar events held their breath. Even Kitagawa Minamoto furrowed his brows, his focus sharp, as if ready to strike at any moment.
"Relax. I have no interest in attacking them."
Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki suddenly chuckled. Bathed in moonlight, his white robe fluttered in the breeze.
"Getting smug over crushing a few ants is far too undignified. At least, I don't enjoy doing it."
"Is that so?"
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow, appearing skeptical. Yet Momoshiki remained indifferent.
"If I can't fight with a calm mind, it's utterly meaningless to me."
He tilted his head to look at the moonlit sky, then slowly spoke.
"You hesitate, you worry, you hold back. After all, avoiding accidentally crushing ants with a misplaced step is quite tricky..."
These words made Jiraiya and the others clench their fists unconsciously. They hadn't expected to become burdens. Yet they couldn't refute it—the battle earlier had been utterly overwhelming.
Even Jiraiya, when considering joining the fight, had done so with the resolve to die.
"Do you think if we launched a full-scale attack on Konohagakure, it would force Kitagawa Minamoto to hold back?"
Inside Kamui's Dimension, Obito suddenly spoke softly. His words instantly made Black Zetsu's face change drastically, and even the severed head of Madara Uchiha showed a hint of astonishment.
Meanwhile, Isshiki, within Obito's consciousness, covered his face in disbelief. What kind of idiocy was this?
"Are you insane?"
Black Zetsu quickly snapped back, looking at Obito with an expression of horror.
"Don't even think about doing that! Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki can pull it off because he has the strength, but you'd only end up killing everyone!"
Attacking Konohagakure would come at a high cost. Even with two Susano'o users, Nagato, and all the elite members of Akatsuki combined, it might be achievable.
But the price?
Looking at Kitagawa Minamoto, who was fighting Momoshiki and had nearly reshaped the Land of Earth's geography, Black Zetsu didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
The price would be the complete obliteration of all their plans. He didn't dare to think about what a 'home-invaded' Minamoto would do in retaliation!
"Besides, he's currently the only one capable of confronting Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki."
"Tch."
Obito snorted coldly, but ultimately said no more.
Though he believed he could evade Minamoto, the problem was that he'd already 'died' at Minamoto's hands multiple times.
Kamui and Izanagi could save him, but Minamoto could still exploit opportunities to catch him.
For the sake of his dream of creating a peaceful world, he couldn't afford to act recklessly.
"Alright, it's time for me to leave."
Amid everyone's chaotic thoughts, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki spoke leisurely once more.
Suddenly, the moonlight became strikingly prominent, and a bright beam of light descended from the moon, illuminating his figure.
At that moment, his silhouette appeared ethereal, and under the moonlight's pull, he seemed to ascend slowly into the sky.
"But before I go, here's a piece of advice: being unable to calm your mind is never a good thing."
As he spoke, his gaze subtly shifted toward Obito's direction, his voice growing more melodious.
"We hesitate before a cliff not because we can't climb it, but because we're uncertain of the difficulty of the ascent."
"However, when our inner 'capacity' encompasses everything, we transcend that cliff."
"'Evolution' is no simple matter. This world is cruel indeed..."
With these words, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's figure vanished in a burst of radiant moonlight.
The gentle wind blew, the moonlight remained, but the shattered earth and the distant, burning flames bore witness to the events that had unfolded here.
The scene fell into dead silence, with only the crackling of the flames breaking the eerie stillness. After all, Momoshiki's parting words had truly left everyone shaken.
"Tch."
Finally, Kitagawa Minamoto's voice broke the silence.
"What a bizarre individual."
"Minamoto!"
His voice snapped everyone out of their daze. Guided by Sasuke and Naruto's Flying Thunder God Technique, Jiraiya and the others arrived at his side.
"Are you alright?"
Jiraiya asked with concern, while Sasuke and Naruto also looked worried.
Behind them, Deidara and Ōnoki were equally concerned, while the two Sage Toads on Jiraiya's shoulders were brimming with curiosity.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Minamoto shook his head, a bright smile on his face.
"That guy is indeed terrifying, but with Yin-Yang Release and Flying Thunder God protecting me, I can handle it."
"That's a relief..."
After carefully checking Minamoto, Jiraiya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon reflection, it made sense. Minamoto's use of Flying Thunder God had evolved. No longer hindered by any 'Cursed Seal,' it seemed he could teleport anywhere he wished.
Such a technique was no longer just Flying Thunder God, but with it, Minamoto's safety was indeed assured.
"This is the best outcome. After all, it's a draw..."
Ōnoki couldn't help but speak. Though the devastation of the Land of Earth made his heart race, he had no time to dwell on it now.
"By the way, Hokage, that person... what does he mean by 'evolution'? Do you know?"
"..."
Minamoto fell silent.
Hokage? Wasn't the Third Hokage still alive?
Minamoto's expression turned a bit odd, but he shook his head slightly.
"I don't know either. That guy is cryptic and speaks rather strangely. I have no idea what he meant."
"..."
Everyone was speechless. In a way, that guy's words were indeed cryptic.
"Besides, I don't agree with what he said."
Minamoto glanced at the sky, then turned to Jiraiya and the others, his smile unwavering.
"If there's truly a cliff blocking my path, why wouldn't I just go around it? Why must I climb it? Why must I encompass everything within my 'inner capacity'?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Naruto, though often 'bullied' by Minamoto, was always the quickest to agree. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and nodded vigorously.
"Indeed, that guy's words were nonsensical."
"You didn't understand a word of it, did you?"
Sasuke couldn't help but interject, while Minamoto grabbed Naruto by the neck.
"I also think you didn't understand. He was telling me to learn from Itachi Uchiha, Naruto."
"..."
Naruto, knowing about Itachi's story, shuddered instantly.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you talking about?"
"I'm saying..."
Minamoto looked up again, his gaze fixed on the sky.
"Konohagakure is my domain. How can I allow him to act recklessly? I have my path, and it has never changed, nor will it ever change."
"That is my ninja way!"
The soft moonlight bathed the land, bringing a touch of serenity to the hellish battlefield.
Deidara chuckled nearby, while Ōnoki sighed softly, then glared at Deidara with a look of exasperation.
Sasuke's gaze was firm and filled with admiration, while Naruto muttered, "What do you mean Konohagakure is your domain? Damn it..." only to be punched by Jiraiya moments later.
Even so, Jiraiya's face was full of smiles. After this battle, he was completely reassured. Looking at Minamoto, he knew where Konohagakure's future lay.
"But seriously, you guys are way too weak."
Suddenly, Minamoto's expression shifted.
"When we return, train until you drop. If you don't die, I'll train you to death!"
"..."
Naruto and Sasuke gasped. How could this guy change his attitude so quickly?
But Minamoto ignored them, turning to Jiraiya instead.
"Pervy Sage, you should burn some incense when you go out from now on. You're just like Kakashi-sensei, always attracting trouble."
"..."
"Also, why does the curse of encountering trouble every time you leave the village keep coming true? Yet you haven't ended up in the hospital yet?"
"..."
"Should I help you out with that?"
"Tch."
Jiraiya instantly regretted speaking too soon.
Minamoto's 'good mood' was evident, but over in Obito's camp, the atmosphere was utterly grim.
Black Zetsu occasionally glanced at Obito, and even the severed head in his arms cast sidelong glances. Obito felt his skull ache, because they all seemed to notice that Momoshiki had an unusual interest in him.
"Let's go."
Obito couldn't take it anymore. His mood was terrible, especially after seeing Minamoto and Momoshiki end their battle in a draw.
Regardless of the circumstances, a draw was still a draw!
What bothered him even more was that Minamoto seemed exceptionally unique, even earning the respect of someone like Momoshiki.
"There's still much to do."
"Mm."
Black Zetsu nodded. He knew his tasks ahead were heavy, and there was much to be done.
Meanwhile, Isshiki, within Obito's consciousness, wore a strangely solemn expression.
"Those words weren't just directed at Kitagawa Minamoto—they were meant for me as well!"
Isshiki gritted his teeth. Momoshiki's focus on Obito was entirely because of him. He was certain Momoshiki wouldn't let him off the hook!
"It seems that fool Obito is in trouble."
Isshiki sighed internally, but his gaze soon shifted.
"Minamoto can use Yin-Yang Release, manipulate natural energy, emit Divine Tree-like aura, and control what seems to be planetary energy..."
"I think I'm starting to understand. Momoshiki likely has ulterior motives."
"But this gives me an opportunity. If you can do it, then..."
"Why can't I? Especially since you're now enemies."
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