The boundless, illusory River of Time materialized in an alternate dimension, its ends vanishing into the depths of the void, unseen and without end.
*Splash...*
The sound of water echoed from the distant depths, yet not a single drop was visible. The river surged and ebbed like the tide, repeatedly washing over everything within its flow.
"What is this... the power of time!"
A member of the Otsutsuki clan, inadvertently swept into the riverbed by the River of Time, found their body scoured countless times by its temporal energies. Within mere breaths, a high-ranking Otsutsuki elder dissolved into particles of golden sand, sinking to the riverbed with each rise and fall of the current.
This river, stretching to the very ends of the universe, carried an unknown amount of golden grit in its depths.
The piercing screams of agony jolted the remaining stunned Otsutsuki, their eyes widening in terror. They frantically activated their Rinnegan, attempting to open spatial portals to escape the river's grasp.
"Trying to escape?"
Lin Yu leaned on his knee, sweat pouring down his brow, his face ashen. More than half of his chakra had been instantly depleted. This was the reason for the swift demise of the earlier Otsutsuki member.
A mysterious power from the system had caused the Time Barrier to evolve, summoning an illusory, boundless River of Time from the ether to span across the barrier. This river churned with infinite temporal power, capable of scouring and engulfing all matter in an instant.
However, Lin Yu had no control over it. The appearance of the River of Time was entirely dependent on that mysterious power. All he could do was expend vast amounts of chakra to control the Time Barrier, increasing the frequency of the river's surges.
Perhaps it was because both involved time, or perhaps the River of Time appeared because of him, with that mysterious power acting as a link between them. Lin Yu could faintly interfere with the true power of time.
And that was enough!
A large amount of chakra was once again consumed. The previously illusory river seemed to solidify slightly, its temporal power surging like a wave.
Yet, this seemingly ordinary ripple on a lake's surface was, to the Otsutsuki caught within the River of Time, a tidal wave of absolute silence that engulfed them, irresistible and unavoidable.
The spatial ninjutsu of the Rinnegan failed. Where time resided, space receded!
The appearance of the River of Time had disrupted the space within the Time Barrier, throwing it into utter chaos. Forget opening spatial portals; any ability involving space was now forbidden.
*Splash...*
At this moment, the ordinary sound of flowing water became the death knell for all the Otsutsuki. Anyone swept into the river would have no chance of survival, not even a god!
Compared to the other Otsutsuki, Kaguya Otsutsuki, as a being who had ascended to a higher dimension, understood the power of time more deeply. Precisely because of this, he was the most wary and fearful among them all.
The River of Time could truly erase his entire existence!
Previously, whether it was shattering the Pure Land or the Void Space, he had not paid it much mind. Even if he were to be swept into the Void Space, he could emerge unharmed, at most taking some effort. But the appearance of this River of Time made him truly feel the threat of death.
The river surged and ebbed like the tide. Kaguya dared not look directly at it, charging madly towards the boundary of the Time Barrier. As long as he escaped the river's range, he would remain the God of Otsutsuki, an invincible existence.
The other Otsutsuki members closely followed Kaguya, placing all their hopes on him, this God of Otsutsuki who descended from a higher dimension.
"Reverse!"
The power of time permeated the area, and all the Otsutsuki were forced backward by hundreds of meters, once again enveloped by the river. To make matters worse, one unfortunate Otsutsuki member was caught by the temporal energy and swept into the river. A piercing scream rang out once more, but it quickly turned into a whimper as they were scoured into fine sand and sank to the riverbed.
Kaguya’s face darkened as he glared at Lin Yu outside the barrier. He had been close, so close to being swallowed by the river.
The power of time... He had been so focused on escaping the river's range that he had almost forgotten that this human ant also had a grasp of time's surface.
Outside the barrier, Lin Yu stumbled, nearly falling. After such a prolonged battle, his chakra was already depleted. He still had to maintain the Time Barrier, accelerate the river's flow, and interfere with the Otsutsuki. No matter how fast his recovery rate, it couldn't keep up.
Now, he was on the verge of collapse.
Lin Yu gasped for air, his fists clenching tightly.
This was their only chance for a comeback, yet his chakra was about to run out. The point he had never worried about before was now about to become the final straw that broke him?
Otsutsuki Kaguya also noticed Lin Yu's weakening state and let out a cold laugh, once again charging towards the barrier's edge.
The power of time reappeared, attempting to reverse the Otsutsuki’s movement, but it was torn apart by a hand. Kaguya's face was filled with cold intent. "Even your full power of time couldn't defeat me, let alone your current broken state. It will only hasten your own demise!"
"Cough cough..."
Lin Yu remained silent. His final Sage Art clone dissolved, but it was merely a drop in the bucket. Now, even the Time Barrier was flickering in and out of existence. He had truly reached his limit.
Suddenly, a soft, fair hand grasped his. A surge of chakra flowed into Lin Yu’s body. The previously illusory Time Barrier solidified once more.
"Kaguya..."
Kaguya shook her head, offering Lin Yu a perfect smile, her gaze gentle. "I have waited a long time for this day."
Before Lin Yu could respond, another pair of hands pressed against his back. It was Obito.
"Teacher Lin Yu, after this battle, we can finally create a world with Ka... a peaceful world!"
Kakashi, arriving a moment after Obito, looked confused. He placed his hand on Obito's and scratched his head. "Obito, what strange thing did you just say?"
"Hmph!"
A cold snort echoed. Madara, clad in blood-stained armor, and Hashirama arrived together. Though both were severely depleted of chakra, they still transferred their remaining reserves to Lin Yu.
Uchiha Madara pouted, his gaze scrutinizing Kakashi as if a mother-in-law inspecting a daughter-in-law, or a father-in-law appraising a son-in-law. Finally, he turned to Hashirama beside him. Matters of the younger generation were for them to handle.
Naruto, Sasuke, Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tobirama Senju... anyone who could still stand, regardless of their remaining chakra, transferred it to Lin Yu without hesitation.
Even Might Guy, with only a sliver of his will remaining, had Rock Lee bring him over.
"Everyone..."
Naruto feigned nonchalance. "Teacher Lin Yu, don't be stingy this time! You have to treat all of us to Ichiraku Ramen!"
"Idiot Naruto!"
Sasuke’s expression was cold, but he was rendered speechless by Naruto’s request. Why would this idiot ask for something so simple? If it were him, he would have asked Lin Yu to copy all his hidden techniques for them, surely enough to make this great demon king wince!
Toneri also arrived, but the spirit of Hamura Otsutsuki within him had dissipated. There was no time to reminisce with his brother Hagoromo. They had said everything they needed to before. Now, seeing the vibrant, rising generation of the ninja world once more, he had no regrets.
As the others' chakra surged in, the Time Barrier regained its former brilliance. Kaguya was constantly pushed back by the power of time. Even though he shattered some of the temporal energy, it was immediately replenished.
Seeing the River of Time drawing closer, a fierce glint flashed in Kaguya's eyes. He casually grabbed a nearby Otsutsuki member and absorbed them, replenishing his own depleted energy.
The encroaching power of time was once again torn apart by Kaguya, who used it to advance hundreds of meters. The end of the barrier was just ahead!
The others cried out, their faces filled with madness. Chakra poured into Lin Yu's body, but their chakra was already meager, insufficient to sustain them for much longer.
*Thump!*
Another person was absorbed. Kaguya had reached the barrier's edge. A transparent membrane appeared. As long as this barrier was broken, he, Kaguya, would have no further worries.
*Plop...*
Someone collapsed. Not from rest, but from severe chakra depletion, triggering their body's protective mechanism, forcing them into unconsciousness.
The input of chakra dwindled. Nothing seemed to change; perhaps the outcome was...
*Whoosh!*
The alternate dimension trembled. An incredibly wide spatial portal materialized, and figures poured through it, one, two, three... a hundred... countless!
"Lin Yu, we're here!"