Chapter 36

The world had long since left behind its old limitations. Under Naruto's rule, his empire had flourished into an existence beyond mortal comprehension, shaping the very fabric of reality itself. However, this advancement was not merely technological or spiritual—it was genetic.

Every warrior who stood beneath the banner of Naruto's empire had been reforged into something beyond human, beyond even Otsutsuki. Through the infusion of Otsutsuki DNA and various celestial transformations, they had evolved into an entirely new species: Shinseijin or Divine Saints.

These beings were no longer bound by chakra coils or natural limiters. The Gate of Earth, the ninth, had been unlocked within them, permanently fusing their essence with the natural order of existence. Their power was inexhaustible, their forms adapted to withstand the destruction of entire worlds, and their minds capable of perceiving the underlying threads of fate itself.

Among them, Sasuke Uchiha stood at the pinnacle.

Once a mere shinobi, Sasuke had transcended far beyond his original self. His body had undergone the same transformation as the elite warriors of the empire, making him a Shinsei no Otsutsuki. But he was more than just another warrior—he was the empire's Dark Lord, the master of shadows to Naruto's radiant throne.

What set Sasuke apart was the entity that now resided within him: a humanoid cosmic wraith, formed from a collapsed galaxy. This being, an energy construct as old as the stars, pulsed with dark radiance beneath his skin, intertwined with his very soul. Though weaker than Kurama, who wielded the power of multiple galaxies, it granted Sasuke unparalleled mastery over dream manipulation, reality warping, and cosmic swordsmanship.

His armor, forged from the remnants of a dying star, shimmered with compressed galaxies, each piece exuding an aura of boundless destruction. His sword was no different—a celestial blade condensed from the raw matter of a galactic core, capable of cutting through existence itself.

But what made Sasuke truly terrifying was his Dream Sovereign Domain, a reality-warping space where dreams, illusions, and nightmares became tangible laws. Within this realm, he could rewrite events, alter time's flow, and manifest the subconscious fears of his enemies into physical horrors.

The Eighth Gate had long been the limit, a point at which one's body burned itself out in exchange for immortallike strength. But Naruto had led his warriors beyond that threshold, uncovering the forbidden Ninth Gate—the Gate of Earth.

Unlike the previous gates, this one did not burn away life force. Instead, it merged the user's existence with the planet itself, drawing infinite energy from the very essence of nature. No longer did they require chakra reserves or stamina; their power was now eternal.

With this transformation, the Divine Saints had become self-sustaining entities, immortals in human form, capable of reshaping existence on a whim.

However, their ascension went far beyond genetic modifications or the weapons forged from celestial matter. It was not just their overwhelming energy reserves or their ability to warp reality at will that made them superior. It was the intricate network of Fūinjutsu seals inscribed upon their very existence that truly elevated them.

These seals were not just ink on skin, nor were they simple barriers or chakra suppression marks. No, these seals were carved into every single cell of their bodies, integrated into their very being like the script of the universe itself. A latticework of divine inscriptions, interwoven like the most complex cosmic equation, reinforcing every fiber of their existence.

And when combined with the Ninth Gate, the Gate of Earth, they surpassed the threshold of mere planetary and star-level beings, ascending to an entirely new echelon of power.

Each warrior bore an interlinked network of seals, a massive system that connected them to one another, allowing for both individual and collective enhancements. These seals served countless functions, forming the very foundation of their superiority:

Limitless Energy Capacity – The seals acted as an artificial core that expanded their energy reserves to near-infinite levels, working in tandem with the Ninth Gate to continuously generate and circulate boundless energy.

Energy Regeneration – Not only could they store absurd amounts of energy, but their recovery rate was equally monstrous. Even after unleashing a technique capable of vaporizing solar systems, their reserves would recover almost instantly.

Cellular and Spiritual Regeneration – Their bodies, reinforced by the inscriptions, could regenerate from absolute destruction. Even if reduced to nothing but molecules, the seals would restore them. More than just their physical bodies, their souls were reinforced—true immortality through Fūinjutsu.

Elemental Supremacy – Their affinity for all elements was heightened to absurd levels, granting them mastery over nature itself. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning—these were nothing but basic elements. The Celestials had gone beyond, controlling primordial elements, such as Void, Chaos, and Celestial Flames.

Elemental Resistance – With their mastery came absolute resistance. They could walk through black holes unharmed, wade through supernovae, and even stand in the heart of a collapsing dimension without taking damage.

Mental Resistance – No illusions could trap them. No mind-control could affect them. Their minds were fortified through thousands of layered seals, making even multiversal telepaths struggle to impose their will upon them.

Absolute Stat Boosts – Strength, speed, agility, endurance—everything was enhanced to absurd degrees. A single Celestial could rip through a planet with a flick of their fingers, punch apart the fabric of space, and outrun light itself.

Passive Barriers – The seals continuously generated shields that countered external threats, absorbing and nullifying attacks before they could even reach the body. This made them nearly untouchable unless one could match or surpass the might of the Celestials' reality-warped existence.

Spiritual Enhancement – Their souls burned like miniature stars, becoming divine constructs capable of interacting with the fundamental forces of reality. Even without their bodies, a Celestial's soul alone could crush entire armies.

Shared Power Network – The Celestials were not merely individuals, but an interconnected force. Their seals formed a massive network, allowing them to lend or borrow power from one another instantly. A wounded warrior could draw strength from the entire army, restoring themselves in moments. If needed, Naruto himself could empower every single Celestial at once.

A golden palace floated within the vast expanse of space, its structure eclipsing entire planets. The Emperor's Throne, the very heart of Naruto's empire, stood as an indomitable beacon of his rule. Inside its sacred training grounds, a battlefield forged from collapsing stars and crystallized void, two figures stood across from each other, their mere presence distorting reality.

Naruto Uzumaki, the undisputed sovereign of this dominion, gazed at his brother-in-arms with an easy yet regal confidence. Opposite him, Sasuke Uchiha stood in dark resplendence, his gaze as sharp as the sword resting at his hip. The flickering remnants of distant galaxies swirled within Sasuke's pupils—a testament to his dominion over space, time, and dreams. His very being had transcended mortality, reforged through countless evolutions, standing now as a Divine Saint, the pinnacle of warrior refinement.

"I see you've called me here for a reason," Sasuke remarked, rolling his shoulders. "You wouldn't have wasted my time unless you actually had something worth testing."

Naruto smirked, running a hand through his golden hair. "Still as sharp as ever, huh? I just unlocked something new… something meant to refine my swordsmanship to its peak. Who better to test it on than the best swordsman I know?"

Sasuke scoffed, his fingers ghosting over the hilt of his blade. "Then come at me, Emperor. Show me if it's worth my time."

A spark of golden energy crackled across Naruto's fingers as he gripped the hilt of his katana. The blade itself shimmered as though reality struggled to define its true form. Ancient kanji glowed upon the steel, shifting and rewriting fate itself. This was Ōtenshin, the Celestial Heart of the Emperor—a weapon not merely forged, but willed into existence.

Naruto raised the blade skyward, his voice calm yet unyielding.

"Erect the Throne, Ōtenshin!"

A tremor resonated through the cosmos. The kanji on the blade ignited in golden fire, unraveling the very fabric of existence. The air shimmered, laws altering upon command, and the battlefield itself bent to Naruto's authority. The golden katana extended, its edge pulsing with an unseen force—no longer just a weapon, but a decree of dominion.

Sasuke smirked. "Interesting. Let's see what it can do."

Shikai – The Emperor's Law

Naruto vanished in a flash, appearing inches before Sasuke with impossible speed. He swung his blade in a wide arc.

Edict of Dominion – "Ten'i no Ritsu!"

The moment the attack connected, laws rewrote themselves. Sasuke's movement halted—not by force, but by decree. He had been forbidden from dodging.

Tch. So that's how it works.

Sasuke barely lifted his own sword in time, the compressed galaxy within his blade shimmering with a blue-black glow. Their swords clashed, and the impact sent ripples through space, shattering entire dimensions in the wake of their battle.

Naruto pressed forward. Another slash, and the effect intensified. Sasuke's ability to counter diminished. His instincts dulled. His will resisted, but it was like fighting against an immutable truth.

"Will of the Ruler – Ha no Ishi!"

With every stroke of Ōtenshin, Sasuke's defenses cracked. His very resolve wavered under the weight of Naruto's decree. Even for him—a warrior of absolute conviction—Naruto's will was a force beyond reckoning.

"Tch. If it were anyone else, they'd have lost already," Sasuke admitted, eyes narrowing. "But I am not anyone else."

Dream Blade: Sword World – Dimensional Severance.

Sasuke's blade flickered, and reality itself fractured. A second later, Naruto found himself standing in a different plane entirely, a world made purely of swords. The sky, the ground—everything was steel, infinite blades stretching beyond sight.

"Your laws don't extend here," Sasuke said coolly, stepping forward. "This is my domain."

Naruto laughed, eyes burning with excitement. "Then let's make things more interesting."

Bankai – The Celestial Throne

"Shinsei Ōtenshin."

The universe froze. Time itself knelt before the Emperor's decree. The golden flames of Naruto's Shikai erupted outward, engulfing his entire being. His body became clad in celestial armor, woven from fate itself. A second blade manifested in his left hand—one sword to enforce law, the other to rewrite it.

The Sword World shattered instantly, unable to contain the weight of Naruto's authority. They were back in reality, but now… the battlefield itself had changed.

Sasuke's instincts screamed in warning. His connection to space trembled. His ability to bend time resisted. His very reality was dictated by Naruto.

"Edict of Suppression – Tenritsu no Kin!"

Sasuke's blade dimmed. His reality-warping was sealed—his power, forcibly silenced.

"Tch!" Sasuke leaped back, his form flickering, attempting to manipulate dream-space to counter.

"Blade of the Final Verdict – Shūshin no Ken!"

Naruto swung downward. A single, absolute stroke.

The battlefield cracked apart.

Sasuke felt it—his fate had already been decided. That single attack erased all possibilities except one: Naruto's victory.

For the first time in millennia, Sasuke was forced to retreat. His form flickered, reappearing a few hundred meters away, a thin cut tracing across his cheek.

A slow smirk crossed Sasuke's lips. "Not bad," he admitted.

Naruto exhaled, his golden eyes flashing with satisfaction. His Bankai receded, though its effects still lingered—his mere presence now dictated the laws of battle.

"I'm not done yet," Naruto said, rolling his shoulders. "This is just another step toward becoming a universal powerhouse."

Sasuke chuckled, wiping the blood from his cheek. "Hmph. Then I suppose I should take my own evolution seriously." His gaze darkened, the humanoid entity within him shifting—a being woven from the cosmos itself.

The duel had ended, but the path to absolute power was far from over. The Emperor's throne had been erected, but the universe had yet to bow.

The golden glow of Ōtenshin shimmered in Naruto's hand, its blade humming softly, resonating with the fabric of existence itself. The kanji along its edge constantly shifted, rewriting fate with every flicker of light. The sheer presence of the weapon bent the air around it, warping reality just by existing. Even for Sasuke, a being who could shape dreams into reality and cut through space itself, the power radiating from Naruto's new zanpakutō was overwhelming.

They sat on a floating stone in the middle of Naruto's personal dimension—a boundless space where time, matter, and existence bowed to his will. Around them, golden rivers of energy flowed like veins through the void, and distant celestial bodies spun in unnatural harmony. It was a realm befitting an emperor.

Sasuke exhaled slowly, gazing at the weapon with a mixture of awe and resignation.

"Ridiculous." He shook his head. "Every time I see you, you've evolved into something even more absurd."

Naruto smirked, resting Ōtenshin across his lap. His golden armor, now infused with the essence of his Bankai, gleamed under the unseen light of the dimension.

"Jealous, Sasuke? You should be," Naruto teased, his voice carrying that infuriating mix of amusement and smugness. "You're stuck playing catch-up while I keep breaking through every limit imaginable."

Sasuke scoffed, crossing his arms. "Don't flatter yourself. I'll surpass you eventually. It's just... frustrating how fast you move forward." He gave Naruto a sidelong glance. "And don't give me that 'I'll wait for you' speech. We both know you won't slow down."

Naruto chuckled, twirling the blade effortlessly in his hand before stabbing it into the ground beside him.

"Damn right, I won't. But you'll keep up, won't you?" His tone, despite the teasing, held an unshakable confidence in Sasuke. "After all, I'd hate to be the only interesting person left in this universe."

Sasuke rolled his eyes but smirked slightly. "Hn. It's a burden being your rival, you know."

"Oh, absolutely. Just think—without me, you'd still be stuck brooding under the moonlight, complaining about your tragic past. Instead, you're here, with celestial power, fighting multiversal beings. I've really done you a favor."

"You really are insufferable."

"And yet, you keep coming back."

Sasuke sighed, looking at the weapon again. The sheer fact that Naruto's abilities had now manifested into a blade meant one thing—Naruto was stabilizing his power in a way that made it more refined, more absolute. It wasn't just a raw overwhelming force anymore; it was focused. That was the terrifying part.

"So this sword," Sasuke finally said, nodding toward Ōtenshin. "It makes your abilities stronger?"

Naruto nodded. "It's not just an extension of my power, Sasuke. It's a physical manifestation of my will. My laws were always absolute, but now I have a medium to enforce them with more power.."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "That means the gap just got wider."

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, but I know you'll find a way to close it."

Sasuke scoffed again but smirked. "Don't regret saying that."

"Never."

The silence between them stretched for a moment, filled only by the soft resonance of Ōtenshin. Despite their rivalry, despite the endless competition, there was an understanding between them that needed no words. They weren't just rivals—they were the only ones who could truly walk this path together.

And Sasuke, for all his complaints, wouldn't have it any other way.