Chapter 346: If He Doesn't Come Soon, Victory is Inevitable

Chapter 346: If He Doesn't Come Soon, Victory is Inevitable

The time limit of the Heavenly Absolute Order had expired.

As the Golden Paper attached to the Great Sealing Pole disappeared, the effects of the forbidden technique dissipated completely.

Upon witnessing this, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and her two companions finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Finally, we can fight properly now!"

Naruto clapped his hands with excitement as he looked at the five Truth-Seeking Balls that had reformed behind him and hadn't been used yet.

"Naruto!"

Suddenly, the voice of the Sage of Six Paths echoed in his mind.

"I have a plan..."

Naruto froze in place.

At the same time, the long-suppressed Kaguya Ōtsutsuki sprang into action without saying a word.

A dozen or so All-Killing Ash Bones, which would disintegrate anything upon contact, shot out from her outstretched hands, either directly targeting Hagoromo Gengetsu or appearing unpredictably around him through her Yomotsu Hirasaka technique.

Having engaged in combat for a while, especially with intense hand-to-hand combat, the once rusty Kaguya, who had been sealed away for a millennium, now fought with much more precision and strategy.

Not only Kaguya but also her kin, Ōtsutsuki Toneri, showed similar improvement. After all, anyone who could ascend to the Six Paths level was naturally talented beyond measure.

However, while dodging the All-Killing Ash Bones, Hagoromo Gengetsu remained unfazed.

To him, it made no difference whether his opponent was a young novice or a seasoned warrior.

Moreover, whether they were novices or veterans, their stamina was now depleted.

Though the Heavenly Absolute Order had ended, the three Ōtsutsuki members had not escaped unscathed.

Under Hagoromo Gengetsu's relentless assault, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Toneri Ōtsutsuki, and Naruto all appeared uninjured, but their chakra had been significantly depleted.

Whether it was defending against Hagoromo Gengetsu's attacks or healing their own wounds, they had all consumed a considerable amount of chakra.

In comparison, Hagoromo Gengetsu, who had maintained the upper hand throughout the battle, had expended very little energy.

As the fight resumed, Hagoromo Gengetsu continued to hold the advantage.

And as time passed, with the Heavenly Absolute Order's cooldown nearing completion, his advantage would only grow.

The Sage of Six Paths was acutely aware of this.

Thus, he not only communicated once more with Naruto but also, for the first time, reached out to his mother, Kaguya.

His goal was to eliminate Hagoromo Gengetsu as quickly as possible.

In the past, Naruto might have had his own reservations.

But having witnessed firsthand how effortlessly Hagoromo Gengetsu held his own against three formidable opponents, Naruto, now bolstered by Toneri's assistance and reassured by the Sage of Six Paths that the Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei technique could be replenished after use, no longer hesitated.

"Let's take down Hagoromo Gengetsu first, then deal with Kaguya. Everyone, attack!"

With a burst of white smoke, Naruto summoned a massive army of shadow clones and charged forward, resuming the battle with practiced ease.

Naruto had agreed to the plan.

Though Kaguya Ōtsutsuki said nothing, she sprouted All-Killing Ash Bones from her back, shoulders, and palms, and joined the fray with renewed vigor in her new form.

She understood Hagoromo's intentions.

But it didn't matter.

As long as she absorbed Hagoromo Gengetsu's chakra afterward, she would be unstoppable.

"Has it begun?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu calmly observed the scene before him. He spread his hands wide, and a massive repulsive force emanated from him, surging in all directions.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki extended her palm, releasing her own Shinra Tensei technique.

The two forces collided, neutralizing each other. Amidst the roaring winds, Naruto's army of shadow clones closed in, each one reaching out with a right hand marked with the Sun and Moon Seals, attempting to strike Hagoromo Gengetsu.

"A strategy to wear me down?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced around at the swarming clones. With a single thought, the nine Truth-Seeking Balls floating behind him transformed into a massive fan, slicing through the advancing Naruto clones. A thick cloud of white smoke rose as countless clones were dispelled.

Suddenly!

A small black portal opened behind Hagoromo Gengetsu, and a hand marked with the Sun and Moon Seals emerged, aiming to strike him from behind.

In an instant, an identical black portal appeared in front of the hand.

Unable to stop in time, the hand passed through the portal.

In the next moment, the hand reappeared in front of the Truth-Seeking Ball fan.

With a "poof," familiar white smoke billowed out—another shadow clone.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, his expression unchanging, withdrew his gaze and clapped his hands together, releasing the Chakra Integration technique once more.

Realizing the critical nature of the moment, Naruto spared no chakra, continuously summoning shadow clones to confuse Hagoromo Gengetsu and lull him into a false sense of security.

Meanwhile, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki did her best to distract Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Toneri Ōtsutsuki, on the other hand, matched his Truth-Seeking Balls against Hagoromo Gengetsu's, blocking his attacks to buy Naruto more time.

As time ticked by, the four fighters gradually shifted away from their original location. Though still in the desert, the terrain was now dotted with ruins and debris, indicating they were approaching a more populated area.

Hagoromo Gengetsu was slightly surprised.

The three opponents, especially Naruto, were far more patient than he had expected.

There had been several moments when Hagoromo Gengetsu thought Naruto's true body would join the fray, but to his surprise, the boy hadn't taken the bait.

A wildcard, but a crucial player nonetheless.

However, after going along with this game for so long, it was about time to bring it to an end.

If this continues, even if I don't want to win, I'll have no choice but to claim victory.

With this thought in mind, Hagoromo Gengetsu continued to fight the seemingly endless army of Naruto clones, his expression finally showing a hint of fatigue.

At last, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and her companions made their move.

"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"

Just as Hagoromo Gengetsu dispersed the Naruto clone in front of him, Toneri Ōtsutsuki's true body suddenly appeared behind the clone, gripping his right hand tightly. In an instant, a dazzling beam of golden light emerged as a Truth-Seeking Ball transformed into a powerful chakra lightsaber, extending rapidly forward.

Hagoromo Gengetsu managed to turn his body slightly, but the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion still pierced through his left shoulder. The lightsaber plunged deep into the ground, pinning him firmly in place.

In that moment, a nearby decoy of Toneri Ōtsutsuki dissipated into particles of light.

At the same time, Naruto appeared in the sky above Hagoromo Gengetsu, shouting as he descended rapidly, his right hand outstretched.

"Is this the real one or another clone?"

Lying on the ground, Hagoromo Gengetsu's pupils reflected Naruto's descending figure as he muttered to himself in a barely audible voice.

Then, he found himself in a new dimension.

Amenominaka!

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Rinne Sharingan on her forehead opened wide, transporting everyone to a gravity dimension.

The moment the crushing force descended, even those at the Six Paths level were unable to withstand it.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and Toneri Ōtsutsuki, who had been hovering in the air, immediately plummeted to the ground.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, already lying on the ground, found himself momentarily immobilized.

However!

In that instant, Naruto's descent, aimed directly at Hagoromo Gengetsu, became even faster.

Hagoromo Gengetsu observed this, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile.

The fish had taken the bait!