Yakumo had changed into new attire today—his expression stern, a far cry from his previous clown-like demeanor. He now looked every bit the dignified noble.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man, his aura tightly restrained yet impossibly deep—like staring into a cosmic black hole.
Naruto's blue pupils reflected the man's silhouette.
"Reincarnation appears… Shinigami rise… the eternal epoch returns…"
The visitor's eerie voice echoed not from his mouth, but from the space around them itself.
He wore angular black armor, cold-faced and composed, quietly observing Naruto and Sasuke.
"I never expected such a minor world to produce beings like you."
"But I suppose it isn't impossible… this planet is undergoing miraculous changes."
The man's tone was slow but penetrating. In this void, he could clearly feel the energy endlessly converging, transforming the nearby star systems into natural cultivation grounds—a treasure even by the universe's standards.
This was not Elder Hadō from last time.
The Shinigami Clan had sent someone far stronger—someone fit to confront Naruto's rapidly rising power.
His name was Yushento, the Blazing Fire—a renowned member of the Shinigami Clan, wielder of devastating fire-elemental techniques, flames rumored to surpass even Amaterasu.
"A blessed land like this… seized by a group of natives?"
Yushento's cold gaze swept over everyone. A crushing spiritual pressure erupted from him.
As the suffocating aura descended, Naruto stepped forward, his voice steady and clear:
"You must be a high-ranking member of the Shinigami Clan. Reincarnation belongs to us. If you want it, aren't you afraid of shattering your bones—of severing your own future?"
Yushento released an invisible pulse, followed by a cold laugh.
"In the universe, the law is simple: the strong survive. Victory decides truth."
Such dominance.
Uchiha Madara and the others bristled with irritation. They understood the principle well enough—power determined authority, and a big enough fist dictated the rules.
"Then allow me to experience your so-called supremacy."
Naruto extended a hand, taking a defensive stance.
Everyone immediately tensed.
"Step back. His aura… it surpasses mine."
Sasuke's voice was low, serious.
Orochimaru added quietly, "Retreat. This battle isn't one we can interfere with."
Even Shisui, although unwilling, could only grit his teeth and obey. The overwhelming aura around Yushento made the reality clear.
Yushento chuckled as the others withdrew.
"So, you are the ruler of this planet… A being like you would be cherished even among the stars. A pity—those not of my clan can never truly belong."
"Were things different, I might have welcomed you as an affiliate of our race."
Naruto only smiled, rolling his shoulders and stretching his limbs.
"Beat me first—then we'll talk."
A fierce fighting spirit ignited within him. Since reaching the Six Paths level, he had yet to encounter a worthy opponent. Feeling Yushento's aura, Naruto estimated him to be at least two minor realms above his current state.
But true strength could only be decided in battle.
Golden chakra erupted from Naruto's body, illuminating the void—majestic, radiant, divine.
Yushento's eyes sharpened, predator-like.
With a flick of his hand, a long crimson scythe materialized—etched with intricate patterns, connected by a trailing chain.
Naruto launched a massive Rasengan, the swirling energy bending space itself.
Yushento swung the Shinigami Scythe, releasing a blazing red arc of flame. The two attacks collided mid-space, neutralizing each other instantly.
Then—without warning—Yushento vanished.
This was not speed.
This was teleportation.
And he reappeared right behind Naruto.
Demigod-level powerhouses had refined their manipulation of space to an extreme—far beyond anything a Six Paths-level shinobi could hope to match. If they wished, they could even create space itself.
Naruto twisted mid-air, gathering strength, and threw a punch filled with condensed power directly at the descending Shinigami Scythe. The impact sent him hurtling away like a launched cannon shell.
He crashed violently into one of the moon's peaks.
Yushento appeared immediately above him, gripping the scythe with both hands, bringing it down in a brutal overhead strike. Naruto caught the descending blade with both palms.
BOOM!!
A massive crater split open beneath him as he was smashed into the ground.
The gap of two minor realms finally showed itself.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!
A rain of blazing fire meteors erupted from above, crashing relentlessly into the crater.
Inside, Naruto had already risen. Dust engulfed the surroundings, and above him he sensed waves of fire-element energy—its temperature rivaling even the flames of Amaterasu.
Frost spread beneath his feet.
"Ice Age!!!"
The entire crater froze over in an instant.
An enormous ice pillar burst out of the frozen ground, shooting straight toward Yushento.
"Fiery Lava!!!"
Yushento swung the Shinigami Scythe.
Lava roared through the sky, melting the spreading ice in an instant.
Naruto shot upward into the air, raising one hand as if supporting the heavens themselves—energy swelling and compressing rapidly in his palm.
"Wind Release: Spatial Severing Shuriken!!!"
A brilliant silver shuriken formed, warping space around it with terrifying pressure.
Sensing danger, Yushento opened a black void behind himself, preparing to shift into another dimension.
"Spatial Lock!!!"
Naruto's other hand moved at the same time—multi-tasking flawlessly.
Space for tens of miles locked down instantly, preventing dimensional escape.
Naruto hurled the shuriken. Its path tore open faint lines in reality itself.
A perfect fusion—Wind Release combined with space.
The ultimate evolution of the shuriken.
BOOOOM!!!
Yushento was struck head-on.
But instead of panic, a faint smile curved his lips.
"Naruto-kun!!!"
"Naruto!!"
The spectators cried out in shock.
Because in the next moment, Naruto's own attack appeared behind him, the silver shuriken slicing toward him at impossible speed. Even with his emergency reaction, the attack still severed one of Naruto's arms.
Blood scattered through the void.
"It appeared… Elder Yushento's Absolute Conversion!"
Yakumo's voice trembled with a mix of excitement and awe.
The sudden reversal—Naruto's attack being redirected behind him—was caused by Yushento's innate ability.
Absolute Conversion allowed him to transfer any attack to any location of his choosing.
Even members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan dreaded this ability.
It had no recognizable weaknesses, no consistent pattern—its activation always caught opponents off guard.
And now, Naruto was facing it head-on.
(End of Chapter)
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