"Hmph! It's not as simple as you think!" Madara shouted, charging straight at Uchiha Hikaru.
But just as the round fan in his hand was about to strike, it was intercepted by a massive sword.
"Madara, you're already finished. It's better not to interfere in the living world," Hashirama said with a serious expression.
"Huh? Aren't you a relic of the past?"
Hashirama smiled faintly and shook his head.
"No, I've been resurrected. This body was cultivated by Orochimaru using my cells. Strictly speaking, I am alive now!"
The battle was about to erupt.
Hikaru and Tobirama—one controlling Susanoo, the other mastering forbidden jutsu—continued to clash with the previous generation of tailed beast Jinchūriki.
As time passed, the intensity of the fight escalated.
Meanwhile, in a circular cave atop Mount Xumi, the rocks had been cleared away by Black Zetsu.
"There are only three minutes left, Mom. In three minutes, I can revive you!"
On the battlefield, the eyes of the previous generation of tailed beast Jinchūriki fighting Hikaru and his allies suddenly went blank, as if receiving some hidden command. They turned and ran toward a crater behind them.
"Grandma, why are they…?"
A question mark appeared in Naruto's mind, confusion written all over his face.
Obito and Madara exchanged glances, silently nodding.
Together, they formed a barrier behind the Impure World Reincarnation Jinchūriki, intercepting Hikaru, Hashirama, Tobirama, Naruto, and the others.
"The warm-up is over. From now on, you'll stay right here!"
Madara's Rinnegan glowed purple as imperceptible shadows split from his body, striking at everyone.
But all of this was clear in Hikaru's eyes—after all, he too wielded the Rinnegan.
"You old man still underestimate the new generation," Hikaru said.
"The waves behind push forward. You, at the front, will die obediently on the shore!"
The pitch-black surface of his Susanoo absorbed minerals from the earth, merging with Hikaru's chakra. In an instant, it transformed into a towering armored giant, radiating a black luster like a colossal Dark Samurai.
"Has he mastered Sage Mode like Hashirama?" Madara frowned.
He hadn't expected that besides Hashirama, someone else could wield such a complete natural energy technique.
He had to fully activate his Susanoo, wielding two massive swords against Hikaru's alien Susanoo.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, losing its natural color. The sun was replaced by a massive black sphere.
A golden beam shot upward from the crater, striking the darkened sun.
Chakra pressure radiated from the beam, so intense that the air thickened and everyone trembled, struggling to breathe.
"This is…!" Hashirama and Tobirama looked up at the beam with furrowed brows.
"Hahaha! Too late to notice now!" Madara laughed maniacally, forming hand seals.
"Summoning Technique—come forth, Ten-Tails!"
The Outer Path Demon Statue in the crater absorbed chakra from the nine previous Jinchūriki. Though insufficient for a full revival, the solar chakra harvested during the eclipse and planetary alignment compensated perfectly.
The Ten-Tails emerged in its complete form—hundreds of meters tall, broader and stronger than Hikaru's fully manifested Susanoo, its ten massive tails sweeping everything aside. Every strike shook the earth and cracked the ground.
Madara stood atop the Ten-Tails, gazing down at the battlefield with disdain, eyes finally settling on Hikaru and Hashirama.
Just wait… when I become the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki, I will enjoy the sight of your despair!
He crouched, hands on the Ten-Tails' head, his Rinnegan glowing purple.
The monstrous body merged into Madara's, turning his skin snow-white. Cracks in the Impure World Reincarnation began to vanish, deathly aura replaced by vitality.
Chakra cloaked him like a long white robe, nine magatama-like patterns appearing on his back.
His black hair turned white.
A wooden crown-like crest appeared on his forehead, and two horns sprouted.
"Boom!"
Madara, now holding the Six-Path Scepter, shook the air, the sound echoing sharply.
"I am the Second Sage of Six Paths, the only one in existence!"
"Despair! I am the strongest ninja alive!"
"Hashirama, Hikaru… you…"
"Pfft!"
A pitch-black hand erupted from behind Madara, piercing his chest.
"Pfft… ahem!"
Madara's eyes widened as he stared at the hand.
"Black Zetsu… you…"
"Jie! Jie! Jie!"
"Madara, you don't think you've been the only one playing chess behind the scenes, do you?"
"Damn you…"
Before he could finish, black liquid poured from his heart, engulfing him entirely.
"That is…?" Tobirama's eyes widened in disbelief.
Even knowing of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's existence beforehand, seeing it manifest was surreal.
The black liquid condensed, forming a sphere that shattered like glass.
Snow-white hair flowed into view, a delicate, almost perfect face appearing, the third eye on the forehead only enhancing her beauty.
Her skin was flawless, like mutton fat, her aura terrifying, yet mesmerizing.
Graceful curves hidden beneath a white robe, fingers slender and sharp, radiating lethal elegance.
"Mom!" Black Zetsu exclaimed, centuries of longing pouring out in a single word.
Kaguya tilted her head, gazing at Black Zetsu.
"You… are Black Zetsu?"
She remembered this creation, forged from Yin-Yang Release and her chakra before her sealing, though not in detail.
"Yes, Mom! It's me!"
"After a thousand years, I finally freed you from the moon!"
Kaguya nodded, a rare faint smile forming.
"Well done."
That simple praise made Black Zetsu feel the worth of a thousand years of effort.
Worth it! My life of devotion to you… was worth it!
The black liquid merged into Kaguya's sleeves. Her eyes, curved like crescents, narrowed as she scanned Hikaru and the others below.
She noticed Naruto and Sasuke fighting White Zetsu's army in the distance, sensing the familiar chakra of her bloodline.
Before she could speak, Hikaru floated toward her.
"You are Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the legendary goddess, right?"
Kaguya froze. She had never encountered a human bold enough to address her directly. Even her sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, had knelt respectfully before her.
Yet this human radiated a special chakra—unlike anything she had seen. It blended natural energy and Otsutsuki chakra into a power equal to her own.
"And you are?"
"My name is Uchiha Hikaru."
The conversation continued briefly. Hikaru realized that the pursuers sent by the Otsutsuki she had feared were already handled.
Her tension eased slightly—but new concerns arose.
"The Otsutsuki clan will not give up this planet. The deaths of Isshiki and Urashiki will only bring more pursuers."
Hikaru raised a hand, embracing Black Zetsu, pressing her cheek against his chest.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
"Three years ago, I could have easily defeated them. By the time more Otsutsuki arrive, it will be decades later."
Kaguya, initially offended by Hikaru's audacity, realized the impossibility of resisting his strength.
For the first time in thousands of years, she felt a new, exhilarating emotion.
What is this? Why does my heart race?
"You impudent child, let go!"
"How dare you!?"
Hikaru gently sealed Black Zetsu's mouth with chakra.
Those below were stunned.
"Hikaru… what is this…?" Tobirama's eyes widened.
Even though Hikaru appeared playful, he commanded respect from the goddess Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself.
Tsunade clenched her fists silently, while Shizune reached out to support her.
Sparks flew from the wooden man's fingertips as they rubbed together.
Far away in Konoha, Kurenai Yuhi felt a foreboding chill.
Hongdou sneezed, then calmly returned to reading his novel.
Mei Terumi smiled faintly, sensing a new sister in their midst.
Uchiha Hikaru smiled. Another sister. That was wonderful.
Konan watched silently. Hikaru already has so many allies—what's one more?
Samui, Linen, and Heitu shed envious tears, unaware of the roles they would play in the future.
As for Ino, Hinata, Hanabi, Shizuka, and others—they were still young, with time to grow.
…
…
From that day forward, Black Zetsu had a stepfather, and Hikaru's family lived happily ever after.
[Completed]
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