Chapter 163: Light as Paper, Fall of the Dust Release
Chapter 163: Light as Paper, Fall of the Dust Release
In the original timeline, Kaguya's immense power came from merging with Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Madara, combined with the Infinite Tsukuyomi's extraction of chakra from the entire ninja world.
Her theoretical peak state was when she consumed the Chakra Fruit, long before the birth of Hagoromo and Hamura.
However, despite her immense chakra, she was essentially a mindless being with limited combat intelligence. Her sneak attack on Isshiki was more of an instinctive reaction than careful planning.
Now, without the Ten-Tails, without the Divine Tree, and even without Black Zetsu, Kaguya—despite being the nominal progenitor of chakra—had less chakra than Kagami himself.
In this situation, defeating her was far easier than Isshiki.
As Kaguya launched various chaotic techniques, Kagami effortlessly avoided her All-Killing Ash Bones.
He chuckled lightly. "You really aren't suited to be the final boss."
Holding out his hand, a black eye symbol appeared in his palm.
Kaguya's eyes widened with panic, her usually calm expression now filled with fear.
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki!!"
She could never forget those eyes!
In that split-second of distraction, a jet-black spear pierced through her chest, pinning her in place.
"Really…"
"Not only are your techniques messy and uncoordinated, you even got distracted mid-battle."
"And yet, Black Zetsu ran around planning for a thousand years just for you?"
"Isshiki…you…!"
Kaguya's voice trembled. Her obsession with activating the Infinite Tsukuyomi wasn't just due to fear of the main clan's pursuit, but also because she feared Isshiki might still be alive.
And now, her fear had come true.
Another spear of darkness pierced through her, and Kagami spoke impatiently.
"Don't start a drama like Kurama did, assuming Isshiki has taken over my body or something."
"A mere Ōtsutsuki isn't worthy to covet my body!"
"I already told you."
"I'm Uchiha Kagami, the sole ruler of the Ninja World."
"I'll eliminate all the Ōtsutsuki who dare invade from beyond the stars."
"You can be considered an ancestor to the Uchiha, so wait quietly here—I'll deal with you later."
Four more dark spears materialized, pinning Kaguya from all directions. Crimson flames ignited at their tips, and Kaguya's struggles quickly became futile. She felt her consciousness sinking into an endless abyss.
Kagami quickly formed hand seals and said coldly:
"Prison Seal: Six-Stave Flame Prison!"
After the technique was completed, Kagami's spiritual body became visibly weaker. He let out a long breath, a slight smile on his lips.
"Madara, I've prepared everything to this extent. Don't disappoint me…"
---
Ōnoki.
Two-Scale Ōnoki lay battered at the bottom of a crater, half his body destroyed, struggling to breathe. Days of intense battles, culminating with a direct punch from Hamura's stone statue, had left him utterly drained.
A shadow blocked the faint moonlight, and Ōnoki opened his eyes wearily, forcing a self-deprecating smile.
"So, I won't even get to die in the ninja world, let alone Iwagakure…"
Nagato stared coldly at him.
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm killing you?"
Ōnoki shook his head weakly.
"The Third Shinobi War that killed your parents, the fall of Uzushiogakure..."
"You killing me couldn't be more justified."
Nagato's voice turned colder. "Do you regret it?"
"It's you people, greedy for power, who caused war after war and endless tragedies."
Again, Ōnoki shook his head.
"In your eyes, I'm the enemy."
"But I have no regrets as Tsuchikage of Iwagakure."
"I have no reason to consider your pain. My only concern is my village."
"If there's victory, there must be defeat."
"If there is joy, someone must bear pain."
With tremendous effort, Ōnoki forced himself upright, a proud smile on his wrinkled face.
"I, too, have endured great pain, shaped into a stubborn rock!"
"I am the inheritor of the First and Second Tsuchikage—Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage!"
"Don't underestimate me!"
A brilliant white light exploded from Ōnoki's frail body.
One last Dust Release—
Even from the distant ninja world, a brilliant point of light flashed briefly on the surface of the Moon.
Light as paper, scattering in all directions, brilliant yet fleeting.
As the light faded, Nagato stood unharmed, protected by his Rinnegan's ability to absorb ninjutsu. Moreover, most of the Dust Release's power had intentionally consumed Ōnoki himself.
Having seen the fate of Kinkaku and Ginkaku being turned into puppets, Ōnoki chose complete annihilation over becoming such a pathetic tool.
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, was the first to die in the final round of the Ninja World Martial Tournament.
Nagato turned emotionlessly toward Killer Bee's location.
He had begun to realize there was no point hiding his intentions. Uchiha Kagami, hailed as "the Eyes that See the Future," undoubtedly knew his true purpose from the start.
That man would not fear the Ten-Tails.
In fact, Nagato suspected Kagami had deliberately refrained from attacking the Land of Rain, allowing the Ten-Tails to be reborn.
Perhaps, Kagami was waiting for it.
---
In a hidden corner of Konoha, two shadowy figures emerged on a tree branch: Zetsu and Obito.
"Black Zetsu, what's wrong?" asked White Zetsu, noticing Black Zetsu's unusual silence.
Black Zetsu ignored him, his gaze fixed upon the moon above.
He didn't know exactly what had happened there, but an unsettling dread gripped his heart.
"Mother…are you alright…?"
He forced down his unease and spoke calmly to Obito:
"This is our best chance."
"Right now, you're the only Mangekyō Sharingan user left in the ninja world."
"We must seize this opportunity to capture the Tailed Beasts!"
"You want me to take the Nine-Tails from Minato?" Obito replied cautiously.
Obito was confident, but not confident enough to confront someone proficient in the Flying Thunder God technique.
If Kurama had still been sealed within Kushina, they might have tried something. But after the previous incident, they'd settled on reviving the Ten-Tails using the Nine-Tails chakra within Kinkaku and Ginkaku instead.
Unfortunately, before they could enact that plan, Kinkaku and Ginkaku had already been summoned via Edo Tensei and ended up in Nagato's possession.
Zetsu and Obito's carefully laid plans were falling apart. Akatsuki, despite being small, was complicated, divided into multiple factions—Nagato's group, Obito and Zetsu's duo, and even Black Zetsu's solitary, hidden agenda.
Nagato wanted world domination through force. Obito wanted Infinite Tsukuyomi.
But Black Zetsu had just one simple goal—to save his mother.
Obito sighed. "For now, let's forget about the Nine-Tails."
Black Zetsu smiled darkly.
"That's fine."
"After all, there are plenty of other beasts up there right now."
---
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