Chapter 18

The group stood in shocked silence before the ancient gateway.

Sasuke was still catching his breath from the vision.

Naruto had never seen him shaken like this. Not even during the Fourth War.

Onoki's voice was quiet. "So that's the kind of enemy we're dealing with…"

Tsunade clenched her fists. "We were struggling against Momoshiki. If this god is beyond that… then what the hell are we supposed to do?" If you're hearing this, then the person creating this audiobook did not obtain permission. This work was created by shredder121

Mei took a deep breath. "Maybe there is no fight. Maybe this is just—"

"Don't say it," Gaara interrupted, his voice firm.

But the thought was already in everyone's mind.

Maybe this wasn't a war. Maybe it was an execution waiting to happen.

A fight they had already lost.

Naruto gritted his teeth. This wasn't like him. The fear, the hopelessness—it was like he was a kid again, staring up at the impossible.

Then, he clenched his fists.

"Screw this."

The others turned to him.

Naruto's eyes burned with determination. "If there's one person who might know how to fight these guys, it's Kaguya. And I'm not gonna sit around waiting for the end of the world."

He looked at his old team. "Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi—we're going to her world."

Sasuke, still tense, exhaled. "…Fine."

Sakura hesitated, but then nodded. "If there's even a chance we can get answers, we have to take it."

Kakashi sighed. "I hate this plan already." But he adjusted his headband. "Let's go."

Naruto turned to the Kage. "You guys head back. Get the villages ready for… whatever happens next."

Onoki grumbled. "Be careful, brat."

Sasuke activated his Rinnegan. A portal ripped open, revealing a swirling void.

Naruto took a deep breath. Then, they stepped through.

Arrival in Kaguya's World

When Team 7 landed, they immediately realized something was wrong.

They were expecting a wasteland—the cold, lifeless dimension Kaguya had originally fled to.

Instead…

They were standing on a massive floating island, surrounded by an endless sky filled with hundreds—no, thousands—of similar islands.

A giant sun-like sphere burned in the sky, providing light.

The air was filled with strange energy, like chakra but… different.

Naruto blinked. "This is way different from last time."

Then—

They saw them.

The Endless White Zetsu

At first, they thought the ground was moving.

Then, their eyes adjusted—

And they realized the landscape was covered in millions of White Zetsu.

Rows and rows of them, moving in perfect formation, training in unison.

Some were fighting hand-to-hand. Others were wielding weapons unlike anything they had seen before—crafted from some dark metal, infused with pure energy.

Massive structures stretched across the floating islands—black fortresses, strange-looking temples, and huge constructs resembling battle formations.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "This isn't just an army." His Rinnegan glowed as he analyzed everything.

"This is an empire."

A World Built for War

Kakashi exhaled. "I hate to say it, but… Kaguya isn't just hiding here."

Sakura stared at the endless waves of White Zetsu, her skin crawling. "She's preparing for something."

Naruto took a step forward. "Then let's find her."

A familiar presence suddenly flickered into existence behind them.

A voice filled with praise and admiration.

"You're as perceptive as ever, my lady's enemies."

Team 7 turned.

Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows, his golden eyes gleaming.

His voice was calm. Confident. Proud.

"My dear mother has been expecting you."