Chapter 379: Eternal Rest
Black Zetsu's body trembled slightly. He knew there was no escaping this time.
"W-What do you want?" He barely forced out a voice, trying to mask his panic.
Madara let out a cold chuckle, his tone sharp as icy steel.
"You betrayed me. You used me. You even tried to control the entire shinobi world. Do you really think I'd let you off so easily?"
Black Zetsu's heart tightened.
"Madara, it's not what you think! Everything I did was for Mother's sake! And it would have also fulfilled your dream—to create a world without war!"
Madara remained unmoved, his Rinnegan glowing fiercely.
"Enough lies. You've long since exceeded my tolerance. Do you really think I'd still believe a single word you say?"
Seeing Madara's unwavering expression, Black Zetsu knew that no amount of explanation would save him.
A wave of despair crept into his heart.
Mother… I'm sorry. I might be leaving before you…
Even so, he refused to go down without resistance.
But Madara was faster.
In an instant, his Rinnegan flared, and a mighty force bound Black Zetsu in place. He couldn't move.
His heart burned with unwillingness.
Madara snorted. "Now… I'm going to deal with you properly."
With that, he turned his gaze toward where Hyuga Fuji and Kaguya had been moments ago—only to find the area completely empty.
They had already disappeared—transported somewhere else by some special means.
"Worried we'd interfere?"
Madara speculated but withdrew his gaze, preparing to take Black Zetsu with him.
But just then, Hashirama appeared beside him and shook his head.
He looked up at the sky and said, "Look."
Madara sensed something off, furrowed his brows, and followed Hashirama's gaze.
Up in the sky, the shattered halves of the moon had each transformed into a massive Sharingan—it was Nanashi's Tsukuyomi!
"Oh?" Madara narrowed his eyes. "So that's how it is… Then next should be the Yachihiko, right?"
Just as he spoke, the mark of Yachihiko appeared on both of them.
They didn't resist.
Instead, they allowed themselves to be pulled into the mental sea.
Across the entire shinobi world, people were being dragged into the space as well.
Even those who had been trapped in Infinite Tsukuyomi but still retained their spirit orbs were drawn in.
As more and more people entered this mysterious space, the scene became increasingly chaotic and noisy.
Ninjas gathered from all directions—
Some had just been freed from Infinite Tsukuyomi and were still disoriented.
Others remained clear-headed, warily scanning their surroundings.
"What is this place?"
"This seems like a technique used by Akatsuki members… Are they planning something again?" A Kumo ninja frowned, his voice full of caution.
"It looks like a genjutsu space, but not entirely…" A Konoha ninja analyzed. "I think I just saw the Hokage here."
"Hokage-sama is here too?" Another ninja was shocked. "Then we need to find her immediately!"
Meanwhile, the newly freed ninja from Infinite Tsukuyomi were whispering among themselves.
"Wait… wasn't I just made Hokage?" A young ninja scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"Hokage? You? Keep dreaming!" A senior ninja scoffed.
"Hey, don't say that. It's good to have dreams." Another ninja shook his head. "But now's not the time for daydreaming."
Amidst the chatter, a figure suddenly descended from the sky—
He landed steadily before the crowd, his sharp gaze scanning them.
It was Uchiha Madara.
Gasps rippled through the gathering.
"Uchiha Madara?!"
Shock and fear filled the voices of those who recognized him.
"Why did you bring us here?! Is this some Akatsuki scheme?"
"Calm down!" Another ninja interjected. "Uchiha Madara was recruited by the Land of Snow—he's standing with the First Hokage now. He wouldn't be part of an Akatsuki plot."
Hearing that, a vein twitched on Madara's forehead.
What do you mean, 'recruited by the Land of Snow'?!
I am not like Senju Tobirama! I never joined that Hyuga brat's faction!
Meanwhile, Tsunade spotted Madara and Hashirama standing together and frowned slightly.
She stepped forward and asked, "Grandfather, what is going on?"
They had already received reports that Madara and Hashirama were together.
At that time, both had still been in Edo Tensei form, but they didn't appear to be under anyone's control.
If Madara had really done this, her grandfather wouldn't have just stood by and let it happen.
So… could it be that—
"Look up."
Hashirama nodded at Tsunade and turned his gaze forward.
Tsunade followed his line of sight.
Before them, a colossal, radiant tree stood at the center of the space.
Atop its branches, two figures faced each other.
"Hyuga Fuji… and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?"
Tsunade finally understood.
It had to be one of them who pulled everyone into this space.
But why?
---
"Kaguya, do you consider yourself mentally strong?"
The moment she blinked, Kaguya realized she had entered a mental space.
Her expression turned grim.
Because… this wasn't what she had expected.
She had assumed that in this realm, it would be only her and Hyuga Fuji.
But that wasn't the case.
All the ninjas of the shinobi world had somehow been dragged into this space as well.
Beneath them, a massive tree—a mere manifestation of chakra—radiated an ominous aura.
Kaguya instinctively felt something deeply unsettling about it.
Seeing her wary gaze, Hyuga Fuji smiled slightly.
"We don't have to fight."
"After all, I am not the Isshiki you speak of. And frankly, you are far more valuable to me alive than sealed."
"Hmph!"
Kaguya scoffed coldly.
"Save your words. If you want to prove your superiority, then defeat me first! Not sealing me with Chibaku Tensei was your biggest mistake!"
The ominous feeling in her heart grew stronger.
Without hesitation, Kaguya attacked first.
"Expanding Truth-Seeking Orb!"
A massive black sphere materialized before her and rapidly expanded—its sheer presence exuding suffocating pressure.
This was one of Kaguya's most devastating techniques, imbued with Six Paths power.
It could consume all five elements and Yin-Yang itself, reducing the world to nothingness!
She had to destroy this mental space, which made her feel so uneasy!
As the orb expanded, the surrounding space distorted, and even light itself was drawn into its gravity well.
"Everyone, watch out!"
Hashirama instantly recognized the danger, shouting a warning to the other ninjas.
With his sensory abilities, he immediately realized that if anyone was struck directly, they would be completely annihilated—without even a trace left behind.
The gathered ninjas heeded his warning, scrambling backward in an attempt to distance themselves from the attack.
But against a technique that could erase even space itself, mere retreating was pointless.
Hashirama couldn't help but glance at Hyuga Fuji.
Since he dared to bring Kaguya here, he must have prepared a countermeasure… right?
Hyuga Fuji's expression remained calm.
His three eyes all focused on his Rinnegan, pouring all of his ocular power into it.
Then, he synchronized with the giant tree beneath them—activating an illusory technique at the cost of his Rinnegan itself.
"Eternal Rest."
(End of Chapter)