"My kinsmen..."
A voice like the roar of the heavens descended, and an immense pressure swept over everyone.
A colossal figure, encompassing a star-filled sky, materialized within a luminous, ethereal gateway. Its face, adorned with vertical stripes of black and white, bore three sapphire eyes, akin to Byakugan, gazing down at all with indifference.
Otsutsuki Shibai!
Or perhaps, the God of the Otsutsuki, having shed its physical form and ascended to another dimension.
"Wh-what in the world is going on?"
Some gaped in astonishment at the colossal figure appearing in the starlit sky. This was entirely different from anything they had been taught.
Aliens were one thing, and a humanoid appearance was somewhat acceptable, but what in the blazes was this?
A giant of light? Ultraman? Descending across dimensions?
Everyone's understanding was once again shattered, followed by a profound sense of helplessness and pressure.
Who knew how much more the Otsutsuki clan had in their arsenal? If they expended everything to defeat the enemy before them, only to have another, or even more, appear, how despairing would that be?
This was no longer just a matter of strength; their perspectives and ultimate limits were on entirely different planes.
The ninja world was, after all, too small.
"Everyone, don't give up! Peace in the ninja world and protecting the village has always been my wish, and I absolutely will not allow anyone to destroy it!"
Naruto stepped forward, his chakra flaring once more. Perhaps because everyone carried a Greel Crystal, their chakras were interconnected, and all felt Naruto's unwavering resolve.
Minato Namikaze smiled in understanding, stepping forward to pat Naruto's shoulder, his eyes filled with pride. His stolen private funds had not been in vain.
"Naruto is right. We've come this far; there's no turning back."
"We fight!"
"Hmph."
Madara Uchiha snorted, positioning himself at the forefront of all the Uchiha. He said coldly, "The Uchiha fear battle the least."
The Uchiha clan was notoriously warlike, radical, their bloodline coursing with the honor of protecting the Uchiha!
Hashirama Senju remained silent, standing steadily before everyone. He would give his all, even his life, to shield everyone and the village he had dedicated his life to, from the strongest enemy!
Compared to others, Lin Yu appeared unusually conflicted. He was neither Uchiha nor Senju, and he didn't hold much attachment to the village or the ninja world.
If the village was destroyed, another could be rebuilt. If the ninja world was gone, another planet could be found. But once a person was gone, they were truly gone.
From the beginning until now, Lin Yu had fought only to protect certain individuals. He never considered himself a good person, and sometimes he even felt cold and ruthless, not valuing human lives at all.
Upon seeing Otsutsuki Shibai descend, Lin Yu felt a desire to retreat. He knew clearly that he was no match, and he would likely die within a few exchanges.
However, if he were to flee, taking Kushina and the others with him, hiding in a corner of the universe, it should still be possible.
But…
His hand was grasped, cold and soft…
Lin Yu turned his head and saw Kaguya smile sweetly at him, her eyes seeming to say: Whatever decision you make, I will always follow you.
Lin Yu opened his mouth, unsure what to say, yet it felt as if nothing needed to be said. For a long time, he had acted with certainty because he knew the outcome.
But this time, he didn't know. He didn't even know where hope lay.
Thump, thump, thump…
"I say, Lin Yu, are you scared?"
Jiraiya, covered in wounds and with his clothes in tatters, walked up. Despite his bruised face, he still offered Lin Yu a lewd smile he thought was quite dashing.
"Don't worry! Follow this Sage behind me; taking a beating is my specialty."
Orochimaru quietly approached, sinisterly remarking, "Hehehe, Lin Yu isn't like you perverted old men, lacking strength and just putting on a brave front."
"Orochimaru, that's enough! So many old friends are here, show some respect!"
"Hehe…"
Naruto also grinned, "Teacher Lin Yu, just charge forward later, and I, Naruto Uzumaki, will handle all the enemies blocking your way!"
"Tch, idiot Naruto!"
Sasuke gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes as sharp as ever, standing to Lin Yu's right, alongside Naruto.
Lin Yu closed his eyes, tightened his grip on the smooth hand, and sighed softly.
These idiots…
In the distance, the Otsutsuki Ancestor seemed to be communicating with the colossal figure. The being that stepped out of the light gate seemed to have its power suppressed; it didn't possess the overwhelming pressure from within the gate, but it was still at the ceiling of this universe's power level.
"Revenant… resurrection… Pure Land…"
Otsutsuki Shibai seemed to be recalling. He had consumed the fruits condensed from the essence of countless planets, and the uniqueness of the ninja world had left an impression on Shibai's mind, as it was the place where he had "entered nirvana" and ascended.
Otsutsuki Shibai did not look at his damaged physical body. For someone of his caliber, the body was a cage that restricted self-power and had to be discarded.
The brilliant blue light in his eyes flickered. Shibai casually made a cut towards the ninja world, and a dimensional rift appeared before him. Within the rift was a mysterious space filled with a yellowish mist, where flame-like blue fires drifted. Upon closer inspection, each was a soul in human form.
The Pure Land!
The forbidden land of the dead, opened so casually by Otsutsuki Shibai!
Otsutsuki Shibai reached his palm into the rift, attempting to shake the Pure Land. However, he was resisted by an inexplicable force, but the gap between them seemed considerable. Shibai's palm, within the Pure Land, transformed into a colossal hand, slamming down upon it.
The scattered souls drifting within fled in all directions, and the entire Pure Land began to rumble.
The Otsutsuki Ancestor watched all this indifferently. The reason he decided to destroy the Pure Land was that it was an unstable factor. Who knew if after killing Lin Yu and his group, someone might appear in the future to revive them all?
The planets they, the Otsutsuki clan, had invaded, would never leave any survivors, not even the dead!
Moreover, with the exposure of the Pure Land, the Otsutsuki Ancestor now knew its secret. It was less of a Pure Land and more of a symbiotic space of the planet Earth. All beings born in the ninja world, from the moment of their birth, were branded by this planet, and their souls would fly to the Pure Land for rest after death.
The Pure Land was only effective for native lifeforms, rendering it useless to the Otsutsuki clan. There was no value in researching it, nor was it necessary. The Otsutsuki clan was immortal!
Rumble, rumble!
Loud noises echoed. The Otsutsuki Ancestor turned, his pale face shifting slightly. He dodged a katana radiating black flames and, with a glare, a massive repulsive force sent the attacker flying.
"How can an ant shake a divine tree."
Lin Yu wiped the corner of his mouth and chuckled, "How can you know without trying."
Lin Yu had made up his mind. He had never retreated in his life, and this time… he wouldn't, nor did he want to!
Elsewhere, the injured ninjas of the ninja world faced the Otsutsuki once more. Despite having just gone through a major battle, their faces were filled with fighting spirit.
They knew in their hearts that if they won this battle, true peace would finally arrive.
Therefore, they had to win, no matter the cost!
Suddenly, a cracking sound reverberated in everyone's minds. All intelligent lifeforms in the ninja world felt a jolt.
The Pure Land had a corner shattered…