Boom! Boom!
Heavy thunder rumbled from the distance, swiftly reaching the ruins of the Divine Tree.
Before the Hagoromo Clan shinobi stationed there could react, a figure in a Six Paths white robe, with seven Truth-Seeking Orbs orbiting behind him, tore through the sky—Hagoromo Gensou had arrived.
"Clan Leader!"
Hanare was slightly surprised by her leader's changed appearance but remained silent. She respectfully bowed as always.
"Well done."
Gensou nodded in acknowledgment before ordering,
"The mission is complete. Everyone, retreat immediately."
"Yes!"
Without hesitation, the Hagoromo shinobi swiftly withdrew, leaving the area solely to Gensou.
Floating in mid-air, Gensou's Rinnegan scanned the ground below.
As the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, his heightened senses allowed him to clearly perceive the dense, thick network of roots sprawling deep beneath the earth.
From this location, they stretched out like veins and arteries, extending in all directions until they covered the entire planet.
The land beneath him was where the Ōtsutsuki Clan had planted the Divine Tree upon arriving on this world, the place where they would eventually harvest the planet's chakra; it was also where the Divine Tree would bloom and bear the Chakra Fruit.
Though Kaguya had consumed the fruit, and the Divine Tree had transformed into the Ten-Tails, leaving this place, the massive root system spanning the entire planet had not disappeared. It still coiled around the world, waiting for the Divine Tree's return.
At this moment, an uncontrollable urge rose from deep within Gensou's heart.
A voice from within him whispered, urging him to absorb the power of the Divine Tree, to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi upon the moon, and to attain true Six Paths-level power.
However, Gensou's expression remained unchanged—he knew exactly where this voice originated.
Having seen Uchiha Madara's fate, he would never absorb the Divine Tree's power into himself and grow a Rinne Sharingan on his forehead.
That would mean Kaguya's power had seeped into his entire being, a far greater influence than simply becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki.
It could very well lead to the complete failure of his true plan.
Thus—
Gensou's gaze sharpened as he flew above the former site of the Divine Tree.
He wasted no time.
A distortion in space appeared at his abdomen.
With a spiraling motion, the enormous Ten-Tails emerged, shrinking before rapidly transforming—
A towering, colossal tree, far mightier than any other in existence, once again manifested in the world.
Rumble—
The earth trembled.
The Divine Tree, now back in its original place, quickly extended fresh roots, reconnecting with the vast underground network that had remained, stretching across the entire planet.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
As the Divine Tree's roots intertwined with its existing network, its aura surged dramatically. The trunk soared higher, drawing closer to the blood-red moon above than ever before.
Gensou ascended above the Divine Tree, his gaze fixed on the massive, yet still closed, violet bud at its peak.
"It's time."
At last, the awaited moment had arrived. Gensou formed a hand seal.
The massive Divine Tree shuddered, its violet flower slowly blooming, revealing a gigantic Rinne Sharingan at its core.
At Gensou's command, the Rinne Sharingan turned towards the blood-red moon, preparing to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Due to the absence of half of Kurama, the Divine Tree informed Gensou that it would take five minutes to gather enough energy before the technique could be fully unleashed.
"Five minutes, huh..."
Gensou surveyed the battlefield. The remnants of the Allied Shinobi Forces had completely collapsed—there was no longer a threat of anyone attacking the Divine Tree while he waited.
"Five minutes is a fair amount of time. Now, let's see who the opposition has left."
With that, Gensou descended and casually sat atop one of the Divine Tree's roots, leaning back against the trunk. Supporting his head with one hand, he quietly waited.
The reawakening of the Divine Tree had caused a massive disturbance.
Not far away, Kakashi and Guy, still being pursued, noticed it immediately.
They could even see the sky-piercing Divine Tree.
"What is that...?"
"A tree? That huge?!"
"So that's the Divine Tree..."
Such a spectacle could only be the work of Hagoromo Gensou.
The remaining Allied Shinobi Forces recalled the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage, a heavy sense of foreboding settling over them.
Events were unfolding in the worst possible way.
Worse still, they were powerless to stop it.
Kakashi stared at the massive tree, its peak seemingly aimed directly at the moon, lost in thought.
Beside him, Guy suddenly spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness:
"Kakashi, it's time."
"...What?" Kakashi turned to him.
"The time for the Crimson Beast has come," Guy declared with unwavering resolve.
"Guy, you..." Kakashi's expression shifted. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off.
Guy shook his head, determination burning in his eyes.
"Kakashi, our youth hasn't faded yet. Look!"
The usually carefree Guy pointed at the Hagoromo Clan shinobi relentlessly pursuing him. His sharp analysis was rare but accurate:
"These powerful enemies aren't focusing on the other Allied forces' commanders. Instead, they're concentrating on me, a mere Jōnin of Konoha. I couldn't understand why before, but now, I do completely."
Gai pressed a hand to his chest, right over his heart.
"They fear my burning flames of youth! The enemy dreads what I'm about to do. And when the enemy doesn't want something to happen—that's exactly what we must do! Kakashi, this is a battle principle you once taught me!"
"...I understand, Guy."
Kakashi's gaze darkened with conflicting emotions.
He had noticed the same thing.
But even if Guy opened the Gate of Death, what difference could it make now, when the Allied Shinobi Forces had already fallen?
He wanted to stop him.
But seeing Guy's unwavering spirit, he could no longer find the words.
Once again, he felt powerless.
"Kakashi, don't lose hope! If we stop believing in what we must do, then everything truly ends before it even begins!"
"Konoha's future still needs you."
Guy patted Kakashi's shoulder one last time before raising a thumbs-up at himself.
"Now, it's my turn to risk my life to protect everything I cherish!"
With those words—
Guy clenched his right hand over his heart.
"Gate of Death... OPEN!"
BOOM!
An explosive surge of chakra engulfed Guy's entire body.
The Blue Beast of Konoha was no more—now stood the Crimson Beast.
In the next instant—
The Hagoromo Clan shinobi pursuing him saw only a red flash before their vision went dark.
Countless scraps of paper fluttered in the air.
Guy didn't stop.
Under Kakashi's deep gaze, he became a crimson bolt of lightning, charging headlong toward the Divine Tree, fully prepared to lay down his life.
(End of Chapter)
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