Otsutsuki Isshiki was indeed the most terrifying and powerful existence among all the Otsutsuki who came to the ninja world. Unlike the naive Kaguya, Isshiki knew how to endure and clearly understood the cunning and greedy nature of humans, using it to his advantage.
With a thousand years of experience in the ninja world and his own strength, Isshiki could truly be said to be invincible.
However, Isshiki could only shrink himself, not hide in the Kamui dimension like Obito. Even when shrunk to a nanoscale, he was still unable to evade saturation attacks.
"Combined Secret Technique: Susanoo's Thousand-Armed Buddha!"
With a roar from Madara and Hashirama, thousands of giant palms slammed down simultaneously towards Isshiki's location, the area of effect encompassing the entire great plain.
One palm strike caused the ground to crack, two palm strikes shattered rocks, three palm strikes altered the landscape... and with a thousand palm strikes, the great plain vanished!
The distant Leaf Village support forces watched in stunned silence as a Thousand-Armed Kannon figure clad in blue armor unleashed a barrage of attacks upon the great plain.
"This, this, is this a ninjutsu that humans can perform?"
The supporting ninjas' voices trembled. They had never witnessed a battle of this magnitude.
"That is... Grandfather's ninjutsu!"
Tsunade, who was treating Konan, gazed with shock at the colossal Kannon statue standing on the great plain. It was undoubtedly the First Hokage's True Several Thousand Hands. But why?
"That is indeed the First Hokage, and the Ninja World's Shura, Uchiha Madara, is also present."
The Fourth Raikage, Ay, who had been rescued and was covered in bandages, stared intently in the direction of the great plain with a grave expression.
Fortunately, such powerful figures were dead. Otherwise, the Leaf Village would sooner or later unite the ninja world, especially since the current leader of the Leaf was no longer the simple-minded Hashirama.
"It's Edo Tensei. That traitorous disciple Orochimaru actually summoned the souls of the deceased!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in battle armor, also arrived on the battlefield. The reason was simple: apart from basic defensive forces, he had brought out all the Jonin, as well as ninjas from other hidden villages.
Rather than guarding them in the village, it was better to bring them all to the battlefield, perhaps serving as cannon fodder to block skills.
Jiraiya pouted and muttered, "If it weren't for Orochimaru, we might have already been killed. That old man is so stubborn!"
"You have no right to speak. Of the Sannin, you're the one who visits brothels all day and neglects his duties!"
Seeing that Hiruzen gave him no quarter, Jiraiya immediately retorted, "I wonder who it is that peeks all day with a glass ball. Not a decent old man!"
"Jiraiya! Are you trying to anger me to death?"
"Alright, the battle isn't over yet, and support could arrive at any moment." Tsunade displayed a helpless expression. This master and disciple had been arguing since childhood, neither willing to yield to the other.
"Has the sealing squad arrived?"
Mebuki, wearing a green ninja outfit, quickly stood at attention and reported, "Reporting, Kushina has prepared the sealing squad, and the surprise attack force is also ready."
Mebuki and Kushina had also arrived on the battlefield. They could not bear to wait in the village for the outcome.
The surprise attack force was composed of ninjas from the Nara, Hyuga, and Uchiha clans of the Leaf Village. Mebuki was also a member of this force.
Tsunade hesitated, "Actually, you could..."
Mebuki shook her head and said, "Since Lin Yu is not here, we should stand up to protect the Leaf, to protect our home."
"That's how I feel, and Kushina too. Isn't that how you feel, Sister Tsunade?"
Tsunade smiled brightly and announced loudly, "Notify them, prepare to head to the battlefield for support at any time!"
"Yes!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tsunade, who was commanding the situation, somewhat dumbfounded. Shouldn't this be his job?
"Old man, it looks like your job has been taken. Why don't you really retire?"
*Slap!*
Hiruzen flicked Jiraiya's forehead, angrily saying, "You ungrateful disciple, what else can you and that Orochimaru do besides anger me? You two are truly a match made in heaven!"
"Nonsense! Old man, you and that scoundrel Danzo are the ones made for each other!"
"Who are you calling a scoundrel!"
"You wanna fight?"
"Do you think I'm afraid of you!"
"Loser is a grandson!"
...
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The earth trembled incessantly, and countless giant fists pounded the ground. The landscape of the great plain had long since been altered.
The great plain, originally uneven from the battle, was now reduced to a deep, dark pit with no intact ground surrounding it.
"Is it over?"
The two figures standing atop the Kannon statue scanned their surroundings. Although the Edo Tensei possessed a body that could resurrect infinitely, meaning their physical energy was theoretically endless and they didn't need rest, always remaining in peak condition, their soul energy was finite. They couldn't maintain peak condition at all times. Without soul energy replenishment, the body's peak state was useless.
After five minutes of continuous bombardment, Madara and Hashirama ceased their attacks. It wasn't that they had reached their limit, but if such an attack couldn't kill the opponent within five minutes, further duration would be in vain.
It was better to conserve more mental energy for the subsequent battle.
The ground was scorched black, and in the desolate landscape, only a giant Kannon statue stood in the center of the dark pit.
No, upon closer inspection, a tattered black speck floated in the air.
Compared to the Kannon statue, the figure was like a mere speck of black.
Isshiki floated in the air, gasping for breath. His condition was dire; his ornate robes were completely torn, and one of the horns on his head was chipped.
The thousands of palm strikes had come too swiftly and fiercely, leaving him no time to open a portal to escape into another dimension. He could only shrink himself and summon black cubes to block the crushing palms.
However, he ultimately couldn't withstand the Thousand-Armed Buddha imbued with Uchiha Madara's Susanoo, and his body was almost shattered.
It wasn't that his strength was insufficient, but rather that Hashirama Senju's Wood Style countered him. His pride and joy, Daikoku-ten and Sukunahikona, were ineffective against Wood Style.
This was also one of the reasons he feared Uzumaki Lin Yu. If it were a taijutsu battle, Isshiki was confident that neither Uchiha Madara nor Hashirama Senju would be his match.
"Sage Art: Mardōmon!"
Several red torii gates descended from the sky, pinning Isshiki to the ground. However, they were shattered and broken in an instant.
The moment the red torii gates were broken, the sound of red armor plates rubbing against each other entered Isshiki's ears. Without giving him any time to react, Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan appeared, and he engaged Isshiki in close-quarters combat.
They exchanged dozens of blows, appearing to be evenly matched. However, with every block Madara made against Isshiki's attacks, fragments would chip off his arms and chest.
The Edo Tensei body was still no match for a flesh-and-blood body. Isshiki's strength was also terrifyingly immense. If it weren't for the battle-hardened Uchiha Madara fighting him, his body would likely have been pierced through in one or two rounds.
*Bang!*
Uchiha Madara was sent flying back by a heavy punch. Just as Isshiki was about to pursue and break Madara's Edo Tensei to bind him with black rods, his feet were entangled by several wooden branches.
"Tsk, what an annoying ability!"
Isshiki's feet exerted force, the wood shattered, and he dodged Hashirama's attack with a sidestep, flinging him away. A sharp pain radiated from his waist as Madara struck him, sending him flying dozens of meters.
Uchiha Madara's pupils contracted. He extended his hand, and an attracting force pulled Isshiki towards him. Hashirama Senju, standing beside him, immediately summoned a Wood Golem to entangle Isshiki.
*Poof!*
Isshiki shrunk himself, evading the Wood Golem's attack, and reappeared not far away, panting. His stamina had been significantly depleted by this point in the battle.
Most importantly, Isshiki could constantly feel his life force draining away. He didn't have much time left.
He couldn't be dragged down here by two dead men!
This was meaningless!
At this moment, Isshiki saw Urashiki lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. An idea surfaced in his mind.
He then flipped his palm, firing several black rods at Madara and Hashirama, and instantly shrunk himself to Urashiki's side.
"Urashiki, you've worked hard. I'll free you."
Urashiki's heart filled with terror. He struggled to escape, only to find a black rod already piercing his chest.
"Isshiki, we are of the same clan, how could you!"
"Trash is not worthy of being an Otsutsuki. Die!"
Isshiki bit off one of Urashiki's arms. Accompanied by Urashiki's agonizing screams, Madara and Hashirama witnessed a horrifying sight.
"He's actually eating his teammate."
A thought simultaneously arose in both their minds: Otsutsuki Isshiki had to die, or he would become an endless scourge.
"Universal Pull!"
Uchiha Madara unleashed his full power with Universal Pull, attempting to snatch Urashiki from Isshiki's grasp. But Isshiki, with blood on his lips, coldly glanced back. He let Urashiki's corpse be pulled away, though the golden Rinnegan on Urashiki's forehead was gone.
"What a pity, it's too late!"
A heavy pressure descended. Otsutsuki Isshiki, having devoured the golden Rinnegan and evolved, had arrived!
...
At this moment, in a valley deep within a certain forest, a red-haired youth covered in weeds opened his eyes.
They were incredibly bright eyes, devoid of complex patterns, like a golden star, shining brilliantly.
"Finally, it's done... a brand new ocular jutsu... Space-Time!"
PS: As for why it's Space-Time, and not Rinne Sharingan or Reincarnation Sharingan... that will be explained in the extras, so stay tuned!