Chapter 71: The Gathering Storm

The night was eerily silent. The sky stretched endlessly, speckled with stars that shimmered like ancient watchers, indifferent to the tides of fate below. Ryūsei stood atop the Hokage Mountain, his six-magatama Rinnegan gleaming in the dim light. Beside him, Tsunade's golden Rinnegan reflected the same quiet intensity.

Hamura's words echoed in his mind.

"With power comes war. The moment you reached this level, you became a beacon. They will come for you."

He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of those words settle deep within his soul. The true sovereigns of the Ōtsutsuki were watching, and their descent was inevitable.

But when?

That question gnawed at him. He needed an answer.

The Final Calculation

Back in his private chamber, Ryūsei activated his Rinnegan, opening his mind to the vast, complex weave of space-time. He reached out, tracing the disturbances that marked the movements of celestial forces.

He felt them.

Beyond the edges of the known universe, an overwhelming force slowly but relentlessly made its way toward Earth. Their presence was like a shadow cast across the fabric of existence—a force too great to be ignored.

He traced their trajectory, their speed, their scale. Numbers began to form in his mind, complex calculations unraveling like an ancient prophecy.

And then—the answer struck him.

"A hundred years…"

His expression hardened.

"We have exactly one hundred years before they arrive."

A century.

That was all the time they had—to unify the world, to strengthen its forces, to prepare humanity for the coming storm.

A war unlike anything seen before was on the horizon, and if they weren't ready… they would be erased.

The Bloodline Purification Project—Final Stage

At dawn, Ryūsei made his way to the research facility. The air was thick with the scent of ink and burning chakra as intricate seals glowed across the walls. Orochimaru was already there, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"We've reached the last step," Orochimaru announced, gesturing toward the massive array of chakra-infused seals and genetic data. "With your transformation, your presence alone will stabilize the final purification."

Ryūsei nodded and stepped forward. His chakra flared, intertwining with the system that Tsunade, Mito, and Orochimaru had spent years perfecting. The seals reacted instantly, pulsing with ancient power.

Tsunade entered the room, arms crossed. "Let's finish this."

With a synchronized effort, they activated the final purification. The air crackled as immense chakra surged through the facility. Bloodlines that had once been separate—Senju, Uzumaki, Uchiha, Hyūga, Kaguya—all merged into a single, unified force.

Hours passed.

Then, silence.

A new bloodline—perfected, stable, and free of the weaknesses of the past—had been created.

For the first time, humanity possessed a foundation capable of evolving beyond mortality.

Tsunade wiped the sweat from her forehead. "We did it."

Orochimaru smirked, stepping forward. "And now… what comes next?"

Ryūsei studied the results, his Rinnegan gleaming. "Now… we prepare."

Tsunade's Full Awakening

That evening, Ryūsei and Tsunade sparred again—this time to test the full extent of her divine abilities.

She moved like a phantom, effortlessly slipping past his attacks. The glow of her golden Rinnegan intensified as she used her new ability—Time Rewind.

Every time he managed to land a blow, she reversed time by several seconds, undoing the impact.

Ryūsei smirked. "That's almost unfair."

She grinned. "Jealous?"

He activated his six-magatama Rinnegan. "Let's see if you can rewind this."

The ground shook as they clashed. Tsunade unleashed her All-Creation Punch, combining her monstrous strength with her divine chakra. Ryūsei countered with God of Destruction, their attacks colliding with the force of a cataclysm.

But then—something unexpected happened.

As Ryūsei rushed her, she extended her hand and—for the first time—activated Kaguya's Deadly Ash Bones.

A bone lance materialized, laced with her chakra. She hurled it at him.

Ryūsei dodged—but the sheer pressure of the attack disintegrated everything behind him.

They both stopped, staring at the destruction.

Tsunade looked at her hands, her breath unsteady. "That… wasn't supposed to happen."

Ryūsei exhaled. "Looks like your power is still evolving."

She clenched her fists. "Then I need to master it before the gods arrive."

He smirked. "Then we'll train until we're ready."

Mito's Concern

Later that night, Mito called Ryūsei aside.

She studied him carefully, her Byakugan piercing through his very being. "You paid a price for Tsunade's transformation, didn't you?"

Ryūsei hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."

Mito's expression darkened. "What did you give up?"

He glanced at Tsunade, who was resting nearby, oblivious to their conversation. "A part of my Genesis ability… it's on cooldown for a year."

Mito sighed. "You'd give anything for her, wouldn't you?"

Ryūsei smiled faintly. "I already have."

Mito placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then be ready for the consequences."

The Truth Revealed—Orochimaru's Transformation

As the night deepened, Ryūsei met with Orochimaru in a secluded chamber.

"You've changed," Ryūsei said, his Rinnegan analyzing Orochimaru's altered chakra signature.

Orochimaru chuckled. "You're not the only one evolving."

Ryūsei narrowed his eyes. "How far did you go?"

Orochimaru smirked. "I fused with the bloodline purification process. Unlike you, I didn't inherit a divine eye… but I gained something else."

With a flicker of chakra, Orochimaru's body momentarily shimmered with a strange, silver light. His lifespan had extended, his genetic makeup altered beyond recognition.

Ryūsei exhaled. "You took the first step toward eternity."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "And soon, I'll take the next."

Ryūsei turned away, gazing at the night sky.

A hundred years.

That was all they had.

And the war had already begun.