Prince Suigen's calm and unrestrained demeanor deeply affected everyone present.
For a moment, the heavy atmosphere surrounding inheritance, sacrifice, and destiny was slightly eased.
Takero Tategen gently held Prince Suigen's hand, like a child supporting his aging father.
"Master," Takero said in a low voice,
"the Ōtsutsuki clan has already entered our star domain."
"The barriers we deployed have been breached."
"They have discovered us."
"Our outer clansmen have already fought with them several times."
Prince Suigen responded with a soft "Hmm."
The smile in his eyes faded, replaced by a deep, unfathomable seriousness.
"How are things now?"
Miyayama Suigen stepped forward.
"Our clan is not inclined toward prolonged warfare."
"After several rounds of engagement, we launched a concentrated counterattack and retreated to the second defensive line according to plan."
"When we withdrew, all four junior brothers and I joined the battle."
"The ambush units hidden in the second line also attacked."
"We managed to kill several members of the Ōtsutsuki clan."
Prince Suigen nodded slowly.
"Very good."
"Excellent."
Then he spoke in a firm voice:
"Deploy the Golden Mountain Gate, Earth Mountain Gate, and Wood Mountain Gate in sequence."
"Behind them, arrange the Water Mountain Gate."
"The Fire Mountain Gate will remain stationed on the main planet to protect the civilians."
Chuigen Sky Burial frowned.
"Master, but our Fire Mountain Gate has the strongest combat power."
"If we don't participate in the front lines, won't the others be under too much pressure?"
Before Prince Suigen could reply, Natsuki spoke displeasedly.
"Senior Brother, what are you saying?"
"Are you implying that only your Fire Mountain Gate knows how to fight?"
Chui Gensen nodded seriously.
"That's right."
"We're not decorations either."
Chuigen Yanshan barely suppressed his laughter.
Sky Burial coughed awkwardly.
"That's not what I meant. You people are just too sensitive!"
Prince Suigen raised his hand, stopping their argument.
"I know what you mean."
Then he said slowly,
"Remember this well."
"Protect Naruto."
"As long as he lives, our clan lives."
His gaze became distant.
"I cannot die yet."
"Even if I die…"
"I must die after seeing his future."
He sighed softly.
"I haven't seen my brother for many years…"
Takero remained silent, still holding Prince Suigen's hand tightly.
Inside the Secret Chamber
Naruto slowly opened his eyes.
In an instant, sensation flooded back into his body.
Power surged through every meridian and chakra pathway.
It was vast.
Deep.
Boundless.
"Haaa…"
Naruto exhaled a long breath, white mist escaping his mouth.
He stretched his body and stood up.
"Grandpa… Grandpa?"
He looked around.
No answer.
It seemed Prince Suigen had already left.
Naruto walked toward the black boulder.
Now that he had inherited tens of thousands of years of cultivation, his perception was completely different.
The stone no longer felt mysterious and distant.
Instead…
It felt familiar.
Like an old book waiting to be read.
"Who carved these runes…?"
Naruto murmured.
He examined the surface carefully.
The runes were extremely complex.
Yet now, many of them were understandable.
They carried the comprehension Prince Suigen had accumulated over countless years.
Naruto began reading softly.
"When heaven and earth first opened…"
"When chaos was undivided…"
Some inscriptions were still unclear.
Even Prince Suigen had never fully deciphered them.
"My grandpa couldn't understand this for tens of thousands of years…"
"Can I really do it?"
Doubt rose in Naruto's heart.
But then—
He saw it.
Among the runes, there was a sequence of symbols that clearly corresponded to:
Uzumaki Naruto.
His name.
His soul imprint.
His destiny.
Naruto froze.
"So… everything was written?"
"From the moment I was born?"
"Then who arranged all of this?"
"Who left this message?"
A chill ran down his spine.
This universe clearly hid an enormous secret.
And the key might lie within this stone.
Naruto clenched his fists.
"Grandpa… you want me to understand it, right?"
"Alright."
"I'll do it myself."
He sat cross-legged in front of the boulder.
Raising his right palm, he cut it lightly with his left hand.
Blood emerged.
He pressed his palm firmly against the stone.
"Come on."
He closed his eyes.
His consciousness plunged inward.
Far Beyond – Outside the Star Domain
At the outer edge of the Chuigen Clan's star field, countless figures gathered.
They were all members of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
At the front stood their leader.
Ōtsutsuki Shiki.
Beside him were the strongest elites:
Ōtsutsuki Zan,
Ōtsutsuki Retsu,
Ōtsutsuki Hikari,
Ōtsutsuki Rai…
Behind them stretched an endless army.
The Great Elder, Ōtsutsuki Tsukishiki, had already been killed during the second-line defense battle.
His Kāma could not revive him.
Because—
The Fire Mountain Gate's secret flame technique burned away all dark matter.
Stronger even than Amaterasu.
Nothing remained.
This loss triggered the highest alert in the clan.
After receiving the report, the God of Ōtsutsuki remained silent for a long time.
Then—
He issued one command.
Full mobilization.
He would conquer this place personally.
Shiki narrowed his eyes as he gazed into the distance.
He knew his clan's history.
He never expected this hidden lineage to become such a threat.
To kill the Great Elder…
That meant true power existed here.
"Shiki."
A voice echoed from the void.
"Attack."
Shiki turned respectfully.
"Yes."
He raised his hand.
A black Truth-Seeking Staff formed from Yin–Yang Release appeared in his grasp.
"Begin."
He waved.
The army moved.
Ōtsutsuki Retsu led the vanguard with ten elites.
They launched a frontal feint.
The rest split into two flanks.
Standard formation.
Overwhelming force.
Retsu swallowed a chakra pill.
The Rinnegan opened in his palm.
A massive chakra sphere condensed.
"Fire!"
Boom!!!
The vanguard attacked simultaneously.
Their philosophy was simple.
If one blast isn't enough—
Blast again.
Chuigen Clan – Main Planet
Miyayama frowned.
"Senior Brother!"
Takero drew his sword.
"I know."
"Hahaha!"
"All junior brothers and sisters!"
"Follow me!"
"Yes!!!"
Six streaks of light shot into the sky.
Then—
Thousands followed.
The Chuigen Clan responded.
Ichiro watched, trembling.
Tears streamed down his face.
He instinctively wanted to rush forward.
But Prince Suigen stopped him.
"It's not your turn."
"But Grandpa—!"
"Go."
"Guard Naruto."
Ichiro clenched his teeth and turned away.
Prince Suigen lifted his gaze.
Looking beyond space.
Beyond stars.
As if he could see his long-lost brother watching from the void.
"Brother…"
"You're here, aren't you?"
"Yes…"
"You've finally come."
Inside the Stone – Naruto's Consciousness
Naruto's mind drifted endlessly.
He felt himself enter a vast, ancient realm.
Purple and golden energy intertwined.
Time seemed meaningless.
Space collapsed.
Countless fragments of history surged toward him.
He saw:
The birth of the Sacred Tree.
The rise of the Ōtsutsuki.
The fall of civilizations.
The cycle of harvest.
The birth of hatred.
And…
A boy with blond hair standing against destiny.
"That… is me…"
Naruto whispered.
The boulder responded.
Its consciousness slowly awakened.
A voice echoed.
Not words.
But understanding.
"You are the bridge."
"You are the choice."
"You are the continuation."
Naruto's soul trembled.
"I… won't run."
"I won't fail."
"For Earth."
"For my friends."
"For everyone."
Golden light erupted.
The resonance was complete.
Outside, war had begun.
Inside, destiny awakened.