Chapter 12: The Awakening of the Kage

The air was thick with tension. The long-awaited moment had arrived—Team 7 and Obito stood in the center of the room as the revived Kage slowly regained their senses. It was as if the moment they had been waiting for had finally come. The past and present merged in this singular moment, and now, both the living and the dead had to grapple with the harsh realities that awaited them.

The revived Kage, as Edo Tensei, slowly rose, each of them shaking off the remnants of their long slumber. The familiar faces of the past Kage now looked at the world through the eyes of their old students—Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the ever-watchful Obito.

Each Kage felt a weight pressing on them, the knowledge that the world had changed. They hadn't been part of the recent battles, hadn't seen the rise of the new threats. They hadn't seen Kaguya's return or the growing power of the Ōtsutsuki. They hadn't heard about the looming shadow of Isshiki, the Ōtsutsuki god, and the plans of the one who was now at the center of it all—Kaguya.

Naruto stepped forward, breaking the silence. His usual enthusiasm was tempered with the weight of responsibility. "Everyone, there's so much to explain. You've been asleep for far too long."

Gaara, the youngest of the Kage, was the first to speak. His face was a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "What happened while we were gone? What threat do you speak of?"

Naruto's hand brushed against the back of his head, a nervous habit. "Well... it's a long story. But we have a new problem. You're going to have to trust us, and soon you'll need to prepare for something much bigger than anything we've faced before."

Tsunade stepped forward next, her eyes narrowing. "This better not be one of your jokes, Naruto. The tension in your voice tells me otherwise."

Sasuke, his arms crossed, let out a slow breath. "The problem is bigger than we imagined. Kaguya's return is just the beginning. The Ōtsutsuki have more plans, and if we don't act, everything we've fought for will be destroyed."

Mei's eyes widened in shock. "Kaguya? I thought she was sealed away..."

Naruto nodded. "She was, but... now, she's out there again. And from what we've learned, she's been planning for something much bigger. Something even more dangerous."

Tsunade clenched her fists. "But why come back now? What could she possibly want?"

"That's what we need to figure out," Sasuke replied. "Her true motives aren't clear, but she seems to have a different agenda than before. She has her own creations now, her own world. And she's growing stronger by the day."

Obito stood off to the side, quietly observing. His mind raced as he processed everything that had been revealed. He had been revived not just to witness the world's changes, but to help guide them through the storm ahead.

"The Zetsu," Obito began, his voice carrying the weight of knowledge. "We thought they were just tools Kaguya used, but now it seems they've evolved—grown in strength. The White Zetsu, from what I've learned, are growing more powerful, much faster than any of us anticipated."

Kakashi, who had been standing quietly by, added, "And the Ōtsutsuki... Kaguya is trying to prepare the world for a new era, with her creations growing stronger and spreading across lands. She's building a whole new reality."

"Does anyone understand what that even means?" Mei asked, bewildered.

Naruto stepped forward and explained. "She's creating a new world—a place where her White Zetsu and summoning beasts grow stronger. The more they grow, the more chakra fills the air. The stronger the Zetsu become. And it's not just the land; the beasts themselves are becoming living generators of chakra."

"So she's building an army," Gaara mused.

"Yes," Naruto confirmed. "But that's just part of it. Kaguya's ultimate goal is to become stronger than the Ōtsutsuki God himself. She wants to reshape the world, but she needs time. Time to grow her forces."

Sasuke's voice was calm but serious. "And to do that, she's going to make sure we don't interfere until she's ready. Which is why she's going to manipulate the situation, using our emotions against us."

Sakura turned to Sasuke. "What do you mean?"

Kakashi's eye narrowed. "Kaguya knows how much the bond between the Tailed Beasts and Naruto matters. She knows that if she plays on his sympathy, she might be able to buy enough time to grow even stronger. Her plan is to get us to hesitate. To make us feel pity for her."

"Pity?" Mei echoed. "Why would anyone feel pity for someone like her?"

Tsunade looked gravely at the others. "Because Kaguya's not the same as she was before. She's not just the same being who tried to dominate the world. She's... something different now. A new force, one we don't fully understand."

Naruto's hands clenched into fists. "She told me that she's not evil. That she only wanted to protect her sons, but they betrayed her. It's not an excuse, but maybe it's part of the reason why she's doing all of this."

"So she's manipulating you?" Gaara asked.

Naruto hesitated, then nodded. "I don't know. Maybe. But it's more than that. She wants us to let her live—let her grow stronger so she can face the Ōtsutsuki God. She's trying to avoid being sealed until she's strong enough to be the one who calls the shots."

Tsunade looked concerned. "And you're letting her?"

"No," Sasuke said firmly. "But we have no choice. We can't seal her yet. Not until we know everything. We need time to understand what she's planning and what the Ōtsutsuki will do next."

Obito nodded slowly. "The threat is far bigger than any of us realized. The Ōtsutsuki God—Isshiki—could destroy everything if we're not prepared. Kaguya's actions might be the only thing that buys us time."

The Kage exchanged wary glances. No one was ready to trust Kaguya completely. But the looming threat of the Ōtsutsuki was undeniable, and the tension in the room was palpable.

Finally, Kakashi broke the silence. "We need to prepare, then. We need to train, gather more allies, and figure out a way to stop Isshiki."

Naruto's eyes were filled with resolve. "Right. We can't let Kaguya win, but we also can't ignore the threat that's coming. We'll figure out what to do, together. No matter what."

The revived Kage exchanged glances, the weight of their responsibilities settling over them. They were warriors once more—duty-bound to protect the world they had fought for. And with the looming specter of the Ōtsutsuki and the unpredictable Kaguya, they would need to fight harder than ever before.