I'm Not Naruto, But I Got a Better Bloodline-Chapter 367: Flowers at the Edge of the Cliff

Chapter 367: Chapter 367: Flowers at the Edge of the Cliff

"Big brother, what exactly is going on?"

At the very back of the crowd, Hamura looked at his eldest brother with a face full of confusion.

He seemed to feel an indescribable sense of bewilderment about everything that was happening right now.

What was going on here—how had it turned into an end-of-the-world scenario in the blink of an eye?

Could it be that this kid, Gen, was really going to do it?!

"Or is it that you have some kind of plan?"

"There are indeed some ideas. Actually, you should have heard most of it as well."

The Sage of Six Paths was, in truth, also startled by everything before him. For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered whether this kid was about to destroy the world.

But he did not believe that this fellow would actually do such a thing, and he carefully observed Kitagawa Gen.

Watching Kitagawa Gen make his moves, sensing Kitagawa Gen’s chakra, he ultimately reached a conclusion.

This guy was just having fun...

"Don’t worry—nothing will happen."

The Sage of Six Paths was filled with inner distress as he spoke to comfort his younger brother, while his gaze could not help but sweep over another younger brother who had already been frightened senseless.

"From beginning to end, he never truly intended to kill. If you carefully sense his chakra, you can’t detect any malice at all, so..."

"I see. I think I understand a little now."

Hamura was no fool—once his big brother put it that way, he immediately understood.

And whether Ōtsutsuki chakra carries malice is truly not something ordinary people can sense; only those who have reached a certain level can do it!

As for the shinobi, even if they received big brother’s "blessing," they really could not manage it. Still, he could not help but sigh with emotion.

"But for Gen, the harm from this isn’t ordinary at all. He’s paid far too much..."

"Let’s see what that child chooses. Perhaps he has his own ideas."

The Sage of Six Paths gave a bitter smile, then spoke seriously.

"What we need to do is watch the remaining children and see what they will do."

"After all, Gen also said..."

Hamura stopped overthinking it and looked seriously at everything in the distance.

"Don’t blindly trust others. Sometimes what people should trust more is themselves—yet his way of speaking and his way of doing things..."

"For him himself, and for the people of this world, it’s simply too cruel..."

Hamura’s lament had nothing wrong with it. All of this was indeed far too extreme and brutal for the people of the world, and far too despairing.

The savior was actually the true world-destroyer.

He gave everyone the fire of hope, yet without hesitation dragged everyone into the abyss, even intending to "take out" everyone with his own hands in order to complete his own "god-ascension stairway."

All the friendship and bonds of this world—everything, all of it—would have to be buried and destroyed by his own hands.

No matter who it was, it was unimaginable!

...

"Damn it..."

Within the Shinobi Allied Forces, countless shinobi could not help but clench their fists tightly, while the people on Konoha’s side were pushed to the breaking point.

Kiba’s face was filled with disbelief; Neji and Lee had long since fallen into despair, and Ino’s eyes were already red.

After a moment, Ino seemed to have made some kind of decision. She lifted her head to look into the distance, then ran forward.

At this point, no one stopped her. Shikamaru and the others had already fallen silent, and the rest were no different.

Inside the headquarters building of the Shinobi Allied Forces, everyone was even closer to collapse.

Whether it was Nara Shikaku or Yamanaka Inoichi, and especially the Third Hokage.

That kind of pain and despair was all the more impossible to put into words. But after quite a while, he suddenly bit down on his pipe and spoke.

"Now is not the time for despair. Notify everyone immediately—we must pull ourselves together. Before the moon’s debris descends, we must resolve these troubles!"

"Third Hokage-sama..."

Everyone present was momentarily at a loss. One by one, they raised their heads to look at Hiruzen, yet Hiruzen appeared exceptionally resolute.

"We’re not dead yet. Even if we’re going to die, we’ll fight to the very last moment. If we just give up like this, then what meaning does our existence even have?!"

"I understand..."

Shikaku nodded. He took a deep breath and immediately spoke.

"I’ll arrange the tactics as quickly as possible. It truly is still far from the time to give up!"

Under Shikaku’s arrangements, the entire operations headquarters began to run at full speed once again.

And on the front lines, the people who had been in despair suddenly heard information resounding in their minds. One by one, they could not help but lift their heads and gaze into the distance.

"We won’t surrender. We absolutely... will not surrender!"

At this moment, Naruto, Sasuke, and the others also received the message. Their eyes burned as they stared straight at Kitagawa Gen.

All of them once again gathered their chakra, the posture looking as though they were about to fight to the death.

’Oh? Another new turn of events?’

Kitagawa Gen raised an eyebrow. The scene before him truly left him momentarily speechless. After sensing it slightly, he immediately understood what was going on.

’Even at this point, still absolutely refusing to give up—planning to carry out a final counterattack?’

Kitagawa Gen rubbed his chin. Wasn’t this exactly the outcome the Sage of Six Paths wanted?

’Not bad at all. But that works too—I’m almost ready to wrap things up.’

Kitagawa Gen lifted his head to look at the fruit gathering at the very top of the tree canopy, and he could not help but nod in satisfaction.

This was the fruit he had been waiting for many days, and the shinobi world’s performance had been good enough as well—although, strictly speaking, it had not really caused him much trouble.

’But after all, that’s because I’m far too overpowered. If it had been some other Ōtsutsuki coming here, they probably would have crashed and burned long ago...’

Thinking of those three Ōtsutsuki, Kitagawa Gen could not help but smile.

They had truly made sufficiently great contributions on his own "god-ascension stairway." Without them, there really would not be the him of today.

Likewise, the contributions they made to the shinobi world were significant enough. At the very least, they truly made the shinobi world understand the terror of the Ōtsutsuki.

After all, without them as a foil, his own deterrent power could not have been brought into relief...

’And besides, this God Tree of mine seems a bit strange. It appears to be able to link the chakra of the entire shinobi world—could it even intercept that kind of hidden communication?’

Looking at his own God Tree, for some reason he thought of the Golden Tree.

’Did I turn the shinobi world into the Lands Between, or did my God Tree’s source avatar undergo a second transformation into the ’Dread Emperor’?’

For no clear reason, as he looked at the mass of shinobi below, he suddenly felt as though he himself had also become Griffith, the Hand of God.

And these shinobi were the ’Guts’ who wanted to resist fate yet had no idea how to do so...

The closer he drew to the fruit, the more everything awaited its end. Kitagawa Gen’s mind was filled with these random thoughts.

Finally, when the pillar of light carried him to a certain distance, the tree vines connected to the fruit also began to move.

They continuously delivered the fruit down from the sky, rapidly moving toward Kitagawa Gen.

Watching the fruit draw ever closer, Kitagawa Gen raised his hand, about to touch it all.

"Now!"

At that moment, the Shinobi Allied Forces erupted with an angry shout. In an instant, everyone roared in unison, then charged madly forward.

Countless shinobi sprinted forward while rapidly forming hand seals. They had long since prepared everything, merely waiting for the secret order to be given.

That vast torrent of ninjutsu surged toward Kitagawa Gen like a natural disaster. Even if the power of any single technique, taken on its own, was not particularly impressive—with tens of thousands casting simultaneously, the level of terror had already surpassed imagination!

In that instant, even the sky was shaken and discolored by these techniques. The seemingly endless spread of ninjutsu filling the heavens was suffocating to behold.

"This is actually a bit interesting."

Seeing this "grand" scene, Kitagawa Gen could not help but raise an eyebrow. Then he suddenly lifted his hand.

In that very moment, the energy of the God Tree linked with him, and an inconceivable power burst forth within his body!

At the same time, the Truth-Seeking Orbs directly moved to block in front of him, forming a massive transparent shield.

"I’m very sorry—I forgot to tell you."

Kitagawa Gen appeared exceptionally calm, as the overwhelming tide of techniques before him suddenly lost all effect.

Every technique was dismantled in that instant, reduced to the most primordial chakra, utterly incapable of causing even the slightest harm!

The sheer quantity made it impossible for him to immediately retrieve the Truth-Seeking Orbs, but he still smiled and shook his head.

"Any technique related to chakra is completely useless when facing me."

"We already knew that!"

However, at this very moment, Jiraiya and the other two had already charged in.

Tsunade was at the very front. Her fist seemed to carry incomparable power as it slammed straight toward Kitagawa Gen!

"Gen, I really never thought you were this kind of person. Damn bastard—take this!"

Earth Release: Ultra-Added Weight Rock Technique!

Already having arrived at the scene, his mind still buzzing slightly, Ōnoki immediately coordinated with Tsunade at this moment.

With the enhancement of the Ultra-Added Weight Rock Technique, Tsunade’s punch caused the entire space to tremble faintly. Under that mountain-crushing force, it came smashing down directly!

"Not bad—but too slow."

Kitagawa Gen’s finger paused slightly forward. Tsunade’s attack instantly went awry, her fist suddenly veering off toward another direction!

"And don’t forget—I also use space techniques."

"Of course I haven’t forgotten, Fifth Hokage."

Orochimaru licked his lips. Countless venomous snakes appeared in his hands, and an unimaginable poisonous mist instantly spread around Kitagawa Gen.

This made Kitagawa Gen raise an eyebrow slightly, then he shook his head in disdain.

"The Sannin reunited—quite interesting. The poison gas does have a bit of effect, and it does influence me somewhat, but..."

Humm—

The distortion of space suddenly intensified. Even Orochimaru’s side was already enveloped by that warped space!

"Didn’t I say it? I use space techniques."

"This is bad..."

Orochimaru abruptly realized that the space around him had already fallen into chaos, and Kitagawa Gen’s finger reached directly into that space.

In an instant, he suddenly felt an icy chill spread through his body. Lowering his head, he saw that a completely transparent hole had already opened in his abdomen!

"Gen, why do you insist on chasing those empty, beautiful, yet utterly unreachable things, only to abandon what is truly the most precious of all?!"

At this very moment, Jiraiya had already lunged in as well—or rather, Tsunade and Orochimaru were creating the opportunity for him.

His expression was filled with pain, yet the movements of his hands did not slow in the slightest. A massive Rasengan had already gathered in his palm.

"No matter what, I have to knock you awake! Sage Art: Massive Rasengan!"

"However, this is not unreachable."

Kitagawa Gen tilted his head slightly. In the next instant, the same Rasengan appeared in his own hand.

"It’s just that you don’t understand what I’m pursuing."

Boom—

The two Rasengan collided in midair. The tremendous energy even caused the vines of the "Golden Tree" to sway slightly.

Jiraiya was blasted away in an instant, yet his gaze remained locked firmly on this spot. At the same time, countless grains of fine sand emerged beneath Kitagawa Gen’s feet!

"Oh?"

Kitagawa Gen raised an eyebrow. The fine sand carried powerful sealing force—this was clearly Gaara’s handiwork.

"Didn’t you once tell me to cherish everything before my eyes, to embrace this world with absolute conviction?"

Gaara frantically controlled the raging sand as it surged toward Kitagawa Gen, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"But why did you abandon all of it? Why would you do this? Why?!"

Kimimaro said nothing, coordinating with Gaara as they launched their attacks together.

"Gen, stop going crazy!"

Kakashi and Obito also flashed out at this moment. The two of them frantically used Kamui to suppress all the surrounding space!

"If this keeps going, there won’t be any good outcome!"

"Hmph, you damned bastard—you don’t look like much, either."

Obito also barked in a low voice, his gaze filled with icy coldness.

"The craziest person has always been you!"

Elsewhere, Nagato was already frantically using his power to tug at Kitagawa Gen’s abnormal steps.

"All this time, you’ve been saying you’ll kill everyone in this world, and you’ve been saying we’re extreme—yet the most extreme person has always been you, Kitagawa Gen!"

"Oh, Kakashi-sensei, I really didn’t expect you to team up with Uchiha Obito?"

Kitagawa Gen seemed to have paid no attention to any of this at all; he even still had the leisure to look toward Nagato.

"As for killing everyone in this world, am I wrong? By your own thinking, as long as there are people in this world, there will be war. Wouldn’t it be better if it were quiet and clean?"

"It’s not the same, Gen!"

In the distance, Deidara and Terumī Mei had already gathered all of their chakra, and they shouted loudly.

"A world without people is meaningless. Haven’t you already gotten everyone to unite—why are you still going to do this, why?!"

Once again, two surging forces shot straight toward him, and Ōnoki and the Second Tsuchikage likewise unleashed Dust Release.

The Second Mizukage—that mustached man—also chose to join forces at this moment; their techniques seemed to interweave together.

That violent power was so earthshaking, so suffocating and terrifying!

"Why? Haven’t I said it long ago?"

Kitagawa Gen shook his head easily. In the next instant, he also raised his hand, and the radiance of Dust Release roared in his palm!

"Besides, I’m also someone with a firm will..."

Boom—

The power of Dust Release interwove in the sky; that scorching white light made everyone feel short of breath.

And Kitagawa Gen’s Dust Release alone suppressed all of them tightly, even...

Humm—

The chakra roar was so piercing. His Dust Release instantly shattered all of their attacks and blasted all of them away in an instant!

"My will is unshakable, and my vision long ago surpassed all things in the world!"

"But, Gen, don’t underestimate our will, either!"

Boom—

Suddenly, behind him, Guy’s entire body erupted with red steam.

That violent steam seemed as though it would burn everything to ash; that energy—seeming able to shatter space itself—kept roaring across his body!

Eight Gates. Guy was already fighting with everything he had.

"I’ve always been telling you about the will of youth. Now I’ll show you what my youth is! Gen! I’ll use my youth to completely knock you awake!"

Guy’s crimson surge transformed into a dragon-shaped mass and charged straight toward Kitagawa Gen’s figure. At this moment, he was already throwing everything away.

"Guy..."

Kakashi’s expression turned pained. He knew this move—once used, it would inevitably exact Guy’s life as the price.

And this move had once been meant to be used against him. He had even joked about what virtue or ability he possessed to warrant Guy doing such a thing.

He never expected...

That it would ultimately bloom like this.

"Behold the ultimate meaning of youth—Night Guy!"

Guy kicked out. The entire space was twisted, and his attack left everyone utterly dumbfounded.

In many people’s eyes, Guy was only good at taijutsu.

Some even held him in disdain, after all—how could someone who was not proficient in ninjutsu be called a ninja?

But at this moment, everyone’s understanding was overturned.

Perhaps Guy was not proficient in ninjutsu. Perhaps Guy was only skilled at taijutsu.

But that did not mean he was not a ninja so powerful as to inspire fear, nor did it mean he could not play a crucial role at a critical moment!

Kitagawa Gen’s expression remained calm; only the space around his body became increasingly chaotic.

In the blink of an eye, Guy was already right before him. He kicked out, and the twisted space shattered completely!

The red steam condensed into the head of a colossal dragon. The world trembled under this force.

That power, piercing heaven and earth, crashed down heavily toward Kitagawa Gen. In that instant, an energy barrier even appeared around their surroundings!

The thunderous roar formed by this power kept howling toward Kitagawa Gen, and even the "Golden Tree" behind him seemed unable to withstand such force.

Kitagawa Gen’s gaze tightened. In the next instant, he raised his hand as well, and the roaring chakra coiled around his body.

’This is really reckless...’

He could not help but curse inwardly, and in the very next moment, his fist met Guy’s kick head-on as he swung a punch!

Boom—

Ultimate power erupted violently at this instant. Wave after wave of visible energy shockwaves surged outward in a mad spread!

In that split second, the shield formed by the Truth-Seeking Orbs was shaken so violently that it swayed continuously, as if struggling to bear the load.

And at the same time, that "Golden Tree" piercing heaven and earth also began to tremble!

The enormous energy shock sent everyone in the sky crashing headlong toward the ground. If not for Gaara and Ōnoki and the others rushing to save them, quite a few people would likely have fallen to their deaths.

Now, however, they could not help but look up at the sky, wanting to see everything that was happening above.

"Guy..."

But in the next moment, what they saw was a pitch-black, scorched man falling from the sky, while Kitagawa Gen still stood high in the heavens, as indifferent as ever!

"Damn it... damn it... damn it!"

Kakashi clenched his fist, his Mangekyō tightly shut, yet bloody tears still spilled out uncontrollably.

Scenes of his past rivalry with Guy replayed one after another in his mind—that man who was always brimming with youth, that ninja who never knew defeat.

Today, right before his eyes, he had been defeated like this by his former student, and a wave of desolation rose from Kakashi’s heart.

"As far as taijutsu is concerned..."

At this moment, Kitagawa Gen, still in the sky, spoke again.

"Guy-sensei, I am willing to call you the strongest!"

"Fortunately, you only know taijutsu, and what you use is also only taijutsu..."

"It’s not over yet!"

However, at this very moment, Hashirama and Madara—who had not made a move at all—as well as Naruto and Sasuke, appeared together!

At this moment, immense chakra shrouded their bodies, and strange marks appeared on the palms of their hands.

"We have made so many sacrifices, paid so much..."

"This is the moment we have been waiting for!"

Naruto and Sasuke let out furious roars, and Madara and Hashirama also surged forward together at this very moment.

"A person like you is simply not worthy of becoming Hokage!"

"No matter how broken this world is, it cannot be destroyed by you!"

Humm—

At the same time, several enormous toads instantly appeared in the air under the guidance of Tobirama’s and Minato’s Flying Thunder God.

"Ōtsutsuki Genshiki—even if it costs us our lives, we must resolve you!"

Gamamaru’s aged voice echoed continuously, and as his voice rang out, the power of senjutsu erupted fiercely at this moment.

This was their last chance, and also their only chance. They had to resolve the final trouble of the ninja world!

"A sealing technique using natural energy?"

Kitagawa Gen raised his eyebrow slightly. Mount Myōboku did seem to have kept something in reserve. The information those old toads had given him back then appeared not to have recorded this at all.

Moreover, this sealing technique did indeed seem able to suppress him slightly, and this also gave Sasuke, Naruto, Madara, and Hashirama an opening!

"Now—!"

"Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei!"

Boom—

An indescribable power echoed across the heavens. At this moment, a gigantic illusory human figure appeared before everyone’s eyes—and that figure was the Sage of Six Paths!

As the enormous phantom brought both hands together, invisible power, accompanied by endless fragments of stone, frantically converged toward Kitagawa Gen.

Rumble—

The earth roared, the sky shook, as if a round moon were continuously taking shape before the eyes of the world.

Legend said that the moon had once been created by the Sage of Six Paths. Now, it seemed that all of this was indeed true—and this new moon was the place meant to seal Ōtsutsuki Genshiki!

"It seems you really did leave something behind to deal with me."

Kaguya, who had remained silent all this time, finally could not help but speak at this moment. She looked indifferently at her own son.

"Is this the result you wanted? Then, is it my turn next?"

"Mother, in truth, I really do not want—nor wish—to stand against you..."

The Sage of Six Paths spoke with some helplessness; when facing his mother, he truly felt powerless.

"But back then I said to trust them, to trust the power of belief. Yet you insisted on making use of the God Tree. The facts have proven that you underestimated them."

"Hmph, in the end they are nothing more than a group of lowly... incompetent beings."

"Has their performance still not satisfied you? Belief and will always compose hymns of courage. They proved that they could win—did they not?"

"They didn’t win—never did..."

Kaguya shook her head, as if still unwilling to concede, yet the shocking scene before her genuinely drew her into contemplation.

Emotion was something the Ōtsutsuki clan lacked, and she herself had never felt she needed it.

But watching the performance of these humans—the thing called will, belief, the stubborn resolve to protect their homeland, the friendship toward their comrades, and so on...

When combined, these elements seemed capable of erupting with an extraordinary kind of power.

Knowing full well they were outmatched, yet still charging forward; knowing full well they would die, yet still willing to create opportunities for others.

’Kitagawa Gen is so powerful—besides the reason of his own bloodline, is it also because he possesses emotions?’

Kaguya could not help but ponder this, but then she frowned again.

’Only... if he continues like this, it seems he won’t be able to remain in this world for much longer...’

Kaguya thought with some confusion. As for Kitagawa Gen’s situation, she was not truly worried.

That technique was indeed formidable, but for Kitagawa Gen, it was still far from enough!

...

"Did it succeed?"

Countless shinobi stared at the ever-growing "new moon," unable to stop themselves from speculating.

No one could truly set their mind at ease. Even though the miracle before their eyes was so overwhelming, no one paid it undue attention.

They only wanted to know what had become of that man—the one who was both savior and destroyer combined!

Boom—

At that moment, everyone’s expression changed, because they discovered that countless vines had suddenly erupted beneath their feet, surging wildly toward them!

"Run!"

Countless people let out furious roars, but at this moment everyone was entangled by the vines!

Boom—

Another deafening roar suddenly exploded. Golden radiance surged over the "new moon" that had just condensed in the sky, and in the next instant it shattered into two pieces!

That ultimate energy shockwave, accompanied by smoke and dust filling the sky, shot straight upward, forming an enormous mushroom cloud.

But this mushroom cloud did not even last for a second before it was instantly smashed apart by the tremendous impact!

Sasuke, Naruto, Madara, Hashirama, and all those great toads were all blasted away.

In that same instant, their bodies were caught by the God Tree’s vines, and tightly sealed by those vines.

And within that hazy smoke and dust, Kitagawa Gen’s figure appeared once more—he held a blade as he drifted in midair.

The surrounding smoke and dust was like clouds, circling around him.

"How... is that... possible..."

When everyone saw this scene, their hearts turned ice-cold. They had never expected the course of events to turn out like this!

Kitagawa Gen, however, looked at them calmly, and in the end he gently shook his head.

"Very good coordination, but it’s a pity that I know every single move you make like the back of my hand."

As he spoke, the vines constructed a massive road. The high-altitude branch connected to the fruit had already drooped down before him.

He walked toward that fruit at an unhurried pace, stretched out his hand, and lightly rested it on the fruit. In that moment, everyone seemed to hear the sound of a heartbeat.

"My God Tree has already linked to this world’s chakra. The chakra communication channel constructed by the ’Mind Body Switch Technique’—I can listen in as well."

"..."

These words instantly caused everyone’s pupils to dilate. Everything they had done had been under someone else’s observation?

"First, you used the attacks of tens of thousands of shinobi to force me into a state where I could not use Truth-Seeking Balls. Then, through coordination with one another, you sought out flaws in my defenses—or moments of carelessness."

Kitagawa Gen gently awakened the fruit. In an instant, the seemingly boundless energy within the fruit continuously surged into his body.

His entire form was already enveloped in golden energy. He looked incomparably sacred—yet in the eyes of the world, just as incomparably evil!

"Of course, you were also waiting for a moment when my consumption became too great, so that you could seize a final opportunity to seal me."

Kitagawa Gen continued absorbing the fruit’s energy. Feeling the bloodline within his body boiling madly, the smile on his face grew even more radiant.

"If it were at another time, perhaps you really would have had a chance. But the God Tree not only let me know your plan—it also provided me with inexhaustible energy."

At this point, he paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd still struggling at the scene.

"In other words, you actually never had any chance at all..."

As he spoke, the energy within Kitagawa Gen’s body grew increasingly vast, and increasingly solemn and sacred.

And in his eyes, the world seemed to change once more—everything, everything, as if returning to its very origin.

It was as if the very origin of the world had already been seen through by him.

Space became a kind of plane in his eyes, and the long river of time seemed perceptible even without relying on dōjutsu.

The power of life, the power of destruction, the so-called true essence of chakra, the so-called natural senjutsu, and even the power of creation—he seemed to understand all of them in an instant.

The world was infinitely deconstructed in his eyes; everything within it seemed controllable as long as he willed it!

’Why does this feel a bit like that Ōtsutsuki Shibai’s ’Omnipotence’?’

"Omnipotence" is the ability to materialize anything, to turn one’s thoughts and intentions into reality.

This is the power truly used by gods when creating the world—an ultimate power that only deities can control!

’Am I really about to become the God of the Ōtsutsuki?’

...

[Name: Kitagawa Gen]

[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development Level: 91%)]

[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan (Full Moon Eye)]

[Shinjutsu: Yomitsu, Kamiten, Omnipotence]

[Special Ability: Source of the God Tree (Level Ten)]

[Special Bloodline: Kekkei Mōra (Intermediate)]

...

When this status panel appeared before his eyes, he could not help but raise an eyebrow.

The God of the Ōtsutsuki had not arrived yet—but he had become "Mr. 91%" instead?

Whoosh—

Just as Kitagawa Gen was pondering, a sudden sound of something tearing through the air rang out. He abruptly turned his head and immediately saw a blond figure.

This caused his eyes to widen slightly, and his hand had already seized the wrist that was tightly gripping a kunai!

"Ino?"

Kitagawa Gen wore an odd expression; he truly had not expected this girl to run all the way here.

"Gen..."

Ino’s gaze was firm and resolute, her voice carrying accusation and a trace of coldness.

"Didn’t you once say that the flowers you like most are those that seem ordinary—flowers that don’t mind being accompanied by other plants, don’t see themselves as noble, and can bloom at any time?"

"Ino, run! He’s already gone mad!"

Seeing this scene, Naruto could not help but shout loudly, but Kitagawa Gen only smiled and shook his head.

"Seems like I also said that what I like most are flowers that bloom on cliffs, didn’t I?"

"So it turns out—you were the one who had been waiting all along to take that step across the cliff?"

Ino seemed to gain some understanding, and at this moment she revealed a relieved smile.

"Actually, I had already prepared myself long ago to take that step toward the sky!"

Suddenly, she erupted with the maximum amount of her chakra, forming something like ropes that coiled toward Kitagawa Gen.

At the same moment, the explosive tags hidden on her body were ignited—she had made all her preparations; even death would be the same!

But very quickly she realized something was wrong, because her explosive tags seemed to have been isolated.

Not only the explosive tags—she even discovered that she seemingly could not mobilize her chakra at all!

"Indeed. But this step is not easy to take. Even after taking it, what you face may not be the sky—it is even more likely to be the abyss."

Kitagawa Gen’s voice sounded leisurely. He also turned his gaze toward the distance, then slowly spoke again.

"Then, everything should come to an end, everyone."

"I have to say, your performance truly satisfied me..."

As his words fell, golden radiance burst forth violently, and the entire world was already covered in golden light.

Roaring energy accompanied by golden brilliance continued to spread across the sky. At this moment, no one’s eyes could withstand it.

Moreover, the vines binding their bodies tightened more and more, as if a suffocating sensation surged into their hearts!

"Is it... over..."

Countless shinobi murmured inwardly, that sense of despair and powerlessness continuously battering them.

"Damn it..."

Madara forced his eyes open, struggling to see everything clearly, while Hashirama kept trying to gather chakra.

But no matter what they did, they could not succeed—the restraint and control of the vines far exceeded their imagination!

"Damn it... why is it like this..."

Sasuke and Naruto also clenched their teeth. They were unwilling to give up as well, yet there was nothing they could do!

The golden radiance grew ever more blinding. At last, such intense light made it impossible for them to keep their eyes open.

That ultimate pressure caused their breathing to slow, and in that moment their minds gradually began to empty.

They did not know how much time passed. For no apparent reason, they felt as if their bodies had become light, an indescribable sensation rippling through them.

It was like bathing in a spring breeze, refreshing and soothing, as if one were about to sink into it.

"So this is what it feels like after death? It doesn’t seem so bad..."

An absurd emotion could not help but arise in everyone’s hearts. The battle just now had been too desperate—so desperate that it was unbearable to look back on.

Everything that had happened had been so painfully searing that no one truly wished to recall it, hoping only that it had all been a nightmare.

Never think of it again, never have to face it again...

"Hey, how long are you all planning to sleep?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice—one that plunged everyone’s hearts into collapse and despair—rang out.

That voice sent a chill through everyone’s hearts, filling them with fear!

But unexpectedly, this time the voice did not seem as indifferent and cold as before. Instead, it carried a trace of strange teasing?

"And also, Sage of Six Paths, shouldn’t it be over now?"

"If this keeps up, they really are going to die..."

Words like these seemed to pull everyone back from dreams and death. They could not help but open their eyes.

In the next instant, they saw that the enormous "Golden Tree" was still standing tall.

Kitagawa Gen, however, was no longer "lofty above." He had already descended from the sky to the ground.

And he had come to the Sage of Six Paths’ side—yet the Sage of Six Paths’ face was deathly pale!

"What exactly... is going on..."