After fully activating his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Natsuhiko clearly felt his power undergo another leap forward.
The current version was even more extraordinary because it now incorporated the strength of the other Tailed Beasts. Natsuhiko could sense that his overall condition had become far more terrifying than before.
Even the standard Nine-Tails Chakra Mode alone would have allowed him to dominate the shinobi world unchallenged. When combined with senjutsu, he was already comparable in strength to Naruto before the latter had obtained the Yang Release origin—perhaps even slightly stronger in certain aspects.
Now, with the additional fusion of the other Tailed Beasts' powers, his capabilities had reached an entirely new level. Even though the fusion was still relatively basic and his system had not fully activated it, he was already reaping tangible benefits.
Natsuhiko had always known that he was powerful, but he had never been especially clear on exactly how powerful he had become.
He did have reference points. Whether it was Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama, both could serve as comparisons.
However, he had never truly walked the same path as them. The path he had always followed was modeled after those extraterrestrial Ōtsutsuki.
Therefore, he could not properly judge whether those reference points were accurate or not.
"But this time, I should get a rough idea."
Natsuhiko gently clenched his fist, his gaze locking onto Ōtsutsuki Ran not far away.
"And once I go back this time, I will definitely summon that guy Senju Tobirama.
"When the time comes, perhaps I can summon Senju Hashirama as well. That way, I'll be able to obtain more accurate information."
Summoning the two of them was something Natsuhiko had previously been unable to do, so naturally, he had never made any plans for it.
But now that he could do it, he naturally would not get tangled up over whether doing so was good or not.
Techniques existed to be used. Perhaps some techniques violated the will of certain people, but in truth, most people still wished to come back to life.
Even if it was only to see how the world had changed over time, or to see how their family was doing, that could still be considered the fulfillment of their lingering wish.
Thinking this, Natsuhiko's gaze became incomparably cold.
Even with Tailed Beast chakra covering him, his eyes remained a brilliant azure blue.
His gaze swept over Ōtsutsuki Ran, and then he faintly revealed a smile.
That smile immediately gave Ōtsutsuki Ran a bad premonition. He instantly took defensive measures, and at that very moment, Natsuhiko had already rushed right in front of him.
The ninja blade, wrapped in chakra interwoven with gray and white, slashed toward Ōtsutsuki Ran like a violent storm. However, Ōtsutsuki Ran had already prepared himself.
His body continuously dodged, and at the same time, his fists constantly searched for opportunities to strike at Natsuhiko.
Interestingly, the two of them seemed unable to truly hit each other at all.
Whether it was Natsuhiko's ninja blade seemingly cleaving directly into the man's body, or Ōtsutsuki Ran's fist appearing to strike Natsuhiko head-on, the final result was always the same: the attack would be blocked by a transparent, hazy glow, either green or golden in color.
Rumble!
The collision of their chakra instantly caused the entire lunar surface to tremble.
That vast chakra—fused with senjutsu, Tailed Beast power, and Yin–Yang Release—clashed violently again and again.
Any one of those powers alone was already terrifying beyond measure. Combined together, the destruction they could unleash was almost unimaginable.
Faced with the aftermath generated by the clash between those two, the surviving Ōtsutsuki found themselves feeling powerless to resist.
They were proud by nature. Although they still did not know exactly who Natsuhiko was, they were certain of one thing:
He had definitely come from the shinobi world below.
They had always looked down upon the shinobi world. As members of the Ōtsutsuki clan, they regarded its people with nothing but contempt.
Moreover, like their patriarch, they had inherited the so-called "will of their ancestor." Destroying the shinobi world was something they believed they were destined to accomplish.
In their eyes, it was only natural for Ōtsutsuki Ran to possess such power. As an Ōtsutsuki, a casual full-powered strike from him carrying enough force to devastate the world was simply normal.
After all, Ōtsutsuki Ran had long since demonstrated his overwhelming strength.
But now, someone who had risen from the shinobi world actually possessed power on the same level. How could they possibly accept that?
They watched the ground split apart endlessly. They watched that horrifying force crash against the barrier formed by the Tenseigan, sending violent ripples surging across its surface.
Their expressions became incomparably grim—yet even more filled with despair.
If Ōtsutsuki Ran continued attacking like this, then their fate was certain death!
"Who exactly is this guy? Why is he so strong?"
"That golden chakra... it seems a little like the Tailed Beasts described in the ancient texts."
"Speaking of ancient texts, this guy's power seems... seems a little like that legendary Ashura."
The Ōtsutsuki shinobi hiding nearby and watching from the side finally seemed to realize something at this moment.
Although they had once all been members of the branch family, in the end, they had still read quite a few ancient books and records. Because of that, they also knew some things about ancient times.
Even if they had already forgotten most of those things, now that someone suddenly brought it up, the memories in their minds quickly began to surface.
Unfortunately, they remembered far too late, because Natsuhiko seemed to have discovered that competing with Ōtsutsuki Ran in taijutsu was really not very suitable.
It was true that Natsuhiko's taijutsu was very strong, but he found that Ōtsutsuki Ran's taijutsu was even more absurdly exaggerated.
Ōtsutsuki Ran, who had fully erupted with all his strength, showed Natsuhiko what true Gentle Fist was.
At the same time, he also showed Natsuhiko what it meant to truly integrate Yin–Yang Release completely into taijutsu.
Natsuhiko's taijutsu had indeed incorporated Yin–Yang Release, but compared with Ōtsutsuki Ran in the truest sense, he was still far behind.
This was something he had to admit. After all, to him, this was still his first time actually attempting to use such a thing in real combat.
The other party, however, had already used it for who knew how long, and no one knew just how proficient he was in this style of combat.
BOOM!
After one exchange, Natsuhiko used the Flying Thunder God Technique to create distance.
He could have continued the taijutsu exchange, since he could see that Ōtsutsuki Ran's life flame could not burn much longer. However, Natsuhiko had no desire to drag it out. For someone willing to lay down their life, he was willing to grant them some dignity.
Without further hesitation, Natsuhiko let his chakra surge wildly as his expression grew more resolute.
"Planning to go all out?" Ōtsutsuki Ran seemed to see through Natsuhiko's intentions. He also stopped, then asked with a somewhat solemn expression.
"It can't really be called going all out, but I don't plan to keep wearing away your lifespan anymore."
Natsuhiko gently shook his head, then spoke with a serious expression.
"I have always respected people who are willing to risk their lives for something they want to protect. Rather than letting you die in such a stifled way, I might as well let you die more cleanly."
"I appreciate that sentiment, but how are you so certain that I'll be the one to die?"
Ōtsutsuki Ran chuckled softly. Perhaps this was the first time he had revealed a smile since meeting Natsuhiko.
"Descendant of Ashura, confidence is a good thing, but too much confidence becomes arrogance.
"However, if you lose, I will have my clansmen give you a proper burial."
Hearing his words, Natsuhiko merely chuckled softly and gave no response.
He took a deep breath, and then the chakra throughout his body began to surge.
Raising his hand slightly, Natsuhiko's chakra rapidly gathered together.
At the same time, a black sphere appeared in his hand, and behind him, the illusory figure of that silver-haired woman appeared once more.
It had to be said that battle truly was the best way to improve oneself.
Even though Natsuhiko had not entered this battle with the resolve to die, since he had no need to "burn his boats" in order to break through, as his exchanges with Ōtsutsuki Ran continued, Natsuhiko's strength was quietly becoming more integrated and refined.
He had never unleashed his power so recklessly before. After all, aside from the abilities that could be reasonably used under the identity of "Senju Natsuhiko," none of his other powers had origins that could be explained openly, nor were they things he could casually tell others he possessed.
All of these powers were forbidden. Moreover, he had even used these powers to fabricate an alias and create such a massive slaughter in Kirigakure.
He did not want his established persona to collapse, so things that needed to be hidden were better left hidden.
He was the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure, a man who inspired both respect and fear. As for those other identities, they had nothing to do with him.
This time, he had unleashed all of his abilities at once—a rarity even for him—and he had faced an opponent whose strength was genuinely formidable.
The gains Natsuhiko obtained were unimaginable. Even though their battle had not lasted long, he was still someone who possessed a system.
With the system's assistance, Natsuhiko gained deeper insight into powers he had never deliberately used before, as well as abilities he had never attempted to combine.
Now, what he needed to do was turn some of those ideas into reality.
An opportunity like this was simply too rare. If he wanted another chance like it, he would likely have to wait eleven or twelve years.
Because of that, he cherished this moment all the more. He wanted to properly test the true extent of his power.
As his chakra surged, the Moon's surface trembled once again.
And the moment that silver-haired woman appeared, an unimaginable aura of destruction began to gather at a terrifying speed.
Seeing this scene before them, every Ōtsutsuki watching from the sidelines broke out in cold sweat. That aura of destruction nearly made it impossible for them to breathe.
As for the patriarch of the Ōtsutsuki clan on the Moon, his face was currently filled with disbelief as well. The strength of this technique was truly too high. Even if he were the one to face it, the outcome would not be good.
Unless he directly used the power of the Tenseigan. But using the Tenseigan came with a price.
"Have the descendants of Ashura already grown to this extent?"
The patriarch of the Ōtsutsuki clan silently thought through gritted teeth, his grip tightening around the shakujō in his hand.
He was thinking, considering exactly what he should do. However, that contemplation did not last long. Soon after, he directly closed his eyes.
At that moment, a terrifying aura quietly appeared, and a faint yellow light slowly emerged along with it.
He had already made his decision, and he had already begun preparing.
"This power..." Ōtsutsuki Ran sensed the change in Natsuhiko's condition and felt the black chakra sphere filled with an aura of destruction.
His expression suddenly darkened. Then the chakra throughout his body also began rising madly.
Of course he could feel exactly how terrifying this power was, but at this moment, he no longer thought about so much.
No matter what the result was, he was already certain to die. And he could also be sure that his patriarch was watching.
If he could probe out this man's upper limit, that would also be a good thing. That way, if he failed, it would be more convenient for the others to deal with this man afterward.
Drawing a deep breath, Ōtsutsuki Ran vanished from sight. In a single explosive step, he appeared right in front of Natsuhiko. His speed was breathtaking. Brilliant chakra gathered in his hands as he leaped high into the air, condensing his power to the absolute limit.
His life flame flickered unsteadily, but he paid it no mind. With ferocious force, he slammed his palm downward.
"Yin–Yang Release: Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack: Tenth Form!"
At that instant, an extreme sense of oppression surged toward Natsuhiko like a roaring flood. Natsuhiko also sharply discovered that what this man was using at this moment was not Gentle Fist at all.
It was a far more domineering and terrifying taijutsu technique.
"Could it be the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack?" Natsuhiko seemed to realize something. This domineering technique, completely different from Gentle Fist, was very likely Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's ultimate taijutsu.
The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack had a total of eighty forms, and every single form possessed lethal power.
If he took this blow head-on, Natsuhiko feared he would immediately be turned to dust.
However, although Ōtsutsuki Ran before him had an extremely imposing aura, it seemed he only had one move.
That instantly made Natsuhiko understand that this fellow was probably only using a single form.
Even so, just one form alone was already terrifying beyond measure.
Fortunately, Natsuhiko's technique was also ready. At the instant Ōtsutsuki Ran was about to strike him, he released his own technique as well.
"Yin–Yang Release: Sage Art: Tailed Beast Bomb!"
Natsuhiko had to admit he was terrible at naming techniques, but at his level of strength, names hardly mattered anymore. A technique was ultimately just the manipulation and fusion of chakra. Names existed merely for easier recall.
This time, he had fused every power at his disposal—Sage Arts, Yin-Yang Release, kekkei genkai, and Tailed Beast power—without holding anything back. Although the technique felt slightly unstable, he believed he could still control it.
The pitch-black Tailed Beast Bomb, streaked with silver-gray patterns, shot forward and collided violently with Ōtsutsuki Ran's attack.
In an instant, the world seemed to lose all color.
BOOM!
When Natsuhiko's Tailed Beast Bomb collided with Ōtsutsuki Ran's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, a deafening roar echoed across the Moon.
From afar, a single point of blazing white light suddenly erupted upon the lunar surface.
In an instant, that white light expanded rapidly from the point of collision, growing into a radiance so dazzling that it illuminated the entire Moon.
At that moment, the massive Moon itself seemed to have transformed into a world of pure white.
Faced with such overwhelming power, Natsuhiko had no choice but to close his eyes briefly and summon his Nine-Tails form to withstand the shockwaves that were about to erupt.
Ōtsutsuki Ran also wanted to defend himself, but at this point, he was completely incapable of doing so. He could only endure the full impact of that terrifying eruption head-on.
The two opposing forces collided, warping everything around them as if space itself were being twisted out of shape.
Amid the thunderous roar, countless rocks on the lunar surface began to deform before being shredded apart. In the end, not even dust remained.
Ōtsutsuki Ran's body also began to twist under the pressure, but a layer of green light suddenly emerged over him, stabilizing his form against the devastation.
That was Yang Release protecting him—but even so, he could no longer sustain it for long.
The flame of life within his body had grown increasingly dim, while the aura of death had already begun to envelop him.
"Pfft!"
Suddenly, Ōtsutsuki Ran spat out a mouthful of blood. His complexion turned waxen white, and he could no longer hold on.
The green light that had been covering his body began to fade. And when the flame of his life was finally extinguished completely, that light vanished as well.
At that moment, his body began to distort. Then, without resistance, it slowly crumbled into ash.
Under the relentless scouring of the shockwaves, his body was completely erased from this world.
Only after everything finally calmed did Natsuhiko slowly open his eyes.
He looked down at the bare ground—the lunar surface flattened as if it had been sliced cleanly by a blade. Natsuhiko could not help but take a slow breath.
Even he himself was not sure just how much destruction that attack had caused.
But there was one thing he knew very clearly: the ground where he stood had dropped by more than ten meters.
As for how far the attack's impact had spread, even his Jōgan could not perceive its full extent.
He raised his head slightly, his gaze shifting toward the barrier suspended in the sky.
Clear cracks had already appeared across that barrier. Even though it was rapidly repairing itself, those spiderweb-like fissures were still extremely distinct.
No matter what kind of barrier it was, there would always be an upper limit to the power it could withstand.
The collision between Natsuhiko's power and Ōtsutsuki Ran's power had touched the limit of this barrier.
However, Natsuhiko still felt some lingering fear. Had he not released his Nine-Tails form at the critical moment, then perhaps he would now be just like Ōtsutsuki Ran, who had vanished without leaving a trace.
One had to know that the defense of his Nine-Tails form was extremely strong. Naruto had used this form to block who knew how many attacks.
And yet, at that moment, even this form had been directly destroyed by that terrifying impact.
Moreover, he still felt a faint sense of unease. That protective barrier was clearly the key to maintaining oxygen on the lunar surface.
If that barrier had been shattered, then he would truly have been in trouble.
"Fortunately, this is a defense provided by the power of the Tenseigan. Otherwise, things really would have been terrible."
Natsuhiko silently sighed to himself, then leaped forward and ran ahead.
That attack had just destroyed the Wood Release he had unleashed, along with the Ōtsutsuki who had been watching from the side.
However, Natsuhiko still remembered the direction they had withdrawn earlier. He could follow that trail without difficulty.
Moreover, Natsuhiko knew they were all underground. As long as he found an entrance, that would be enough.
His speed was extreme. In the blink of an eye, he had already vanished from the depths of the crater.
...
"Damn bastard! Damn bastard!"
Inside Hamura's Temple within the Moon, the patriarch of the Ōtsutsuki clan had a face full of fury.
He had already seen Ōtsutsuki Ran's death. That miserable sight, where not even bones were left behind, truly pushed the rage in his heart to the extreme.
However, while he was furious, he was also very calm, because he felt that he had more or less figured out the limits of this descendant of Ashura's power.
It had to be said that this descendant of Ashura's power was extremely complicated.
Just as recorded in the clan's ancient texts, he seemed to possess the enhancement of many different powers and could use them without conflict.
The power of nature. It seemed this power was also called senjutsu.
The power of the Tailed Beasts, the power of chakra fusion, and the power of Yin–Yang Release.
In truth, there was one point he had not completely figured out, because according to the records left by their ancestor, Indra and Ashura seemed to have each inherited one type of power.
But this descendant of Ashura before him had actually grasped complete Yin–Yang Release. This truly surprised him somewhat.
However, even if he was surprised, he did not pay too much attention to it. He did not know what had happened in the shinobi world, and he did not care either.
What he cared about was that the strength of this descendant of Ashura before him was truly absurdly powerful.
So many complicated and powerful forces were actually being controlled so well in his hands.
He did not know whether this man was an isolated case, or whether all of Ashura's descendants, and even Indra's descendants, in the entire shinobi world were like this.
Lightly shaking his head, he could not be bothered to think about these things any longer.
He admitted that this descendant of Ashura's power was terrifying.
Even if he faced this man without relying on the power of the Tenseigan, the outcome would likely still be death.
It was not that he truly could not win. Rather, the injuries inside his body made it impossible for him to sustain a prolonged battle.
It was very possible that he would not die because he was defeated in battle, but because that damned man would drag him to death alive.
He shook his head slightly and tightened his grip around the shakujō in his hand.
Looking at the enormous yellow eye before him, now blooming with even more brilliant light, he turned around and walked out of the temple.
As he departed, the shakujō in his hand inexplicably emitted a rhythmic pulse, and that enormous Tenseigan resonated with it.
He wanted to kill that descendant of Ashura. So many clansmen had died at that man's hands. As the patriarch, he had to make that man pay the price.
In order to ensure that he could kill this man smoothly, cleanly, and decisively, he had already decided to use the power of the Tenseigan.
Ōtsutsuki Ran could give his life to protect their clansmen. As the patriarch, he naturally could as well.
...
Boom!
With a loud crash, the pale yellow transparent membrane-like object shattered apart, and Natsuhiko slowly descended from the sky.
After he landed completely, he could not help but raise his head and size up everything around him.
It had to be said that everything around him now was truly very different from what he remembered Naruto and the others seeing when they came here.
The space inside the Moon was extremely vast. When he looked up, clouds drifted across the sky.
Within the clouds, a small sun scattered light downward, making the entire interior of the Moon appear incomparably bright.
On the ground, Natsuhiko could also see lush forests and villages built in an ancient style.
Beside the villages, streams wound their way through the land, making everything look so peaceful and comfortable.
It had to be said that this place was truly beautiful. It was almost impossible to tell that this was actually the interior of the Moon.
If not for the crescent-shaped island floating in the distant sky, the belt of meteor-like terrain surrounding it, where rocks of varying sizes gathered together, and the floating buildings standing above the clouds reminding him of where he was, Natsuhiko would almost have thought he had returned to the shinobi world again.
His gaze shifted slightly, and Natsuhiko locked onto the glowing sun in the sky.
"That sun is artificial. No wonder they can survive here.
"I was confused at first. The surface of the Moon is so barren, and even if these Ōtsutsuki are who they are, they still need to eat and drink.
"Naturally, there shouldn't be a sun inside the Moon, and without one, they wouldn't be able to farm at all. So how exactly did they survive?
"So the secret is here. But the chakra consumption needed to maintain this small sun is practically astronomical. Are they using the Tenseigan to provide energy?"
Thinking carefully, Natsuhiko suddenly realized that he seemed to have remembered incorrectly. In the original story, there was still light inside the Moon.
Besides, if there really were no such sun, how could those Ōtsutsuki have survived for so long?
Even in the future, when only Ōtsutsuki Toneri remained, no matter how few resources he consumed, and no matter how powerful his bloodline was, if he truly did not eat or drink, one month would probably be enough to take his little life.
Under those circumstances, how could he still go looking for trouble with Hinata and Hanabi?
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Natsuhiko's brows furrowed slightly. Immediately afterward, his figure vanished from where he stood.
And at the instant he had just left, a beam of light struck the place where he had previously been standing.
The rocks there instantly turned to powder, and then vanished without a trace along with the breeze.
Natsuhiko's figure appeared on the ground not far away. He raised his head and looked toward the sky.
He saw that, in the sky, around the palace standing above the clouds and surrounded by a ring of stones, roughly a hundred Ōtsutsuki clansmen had appeared.
And at the very front of them, a man holding a shakujō floated in midair, looking down at Natsuhiko from above.
That figure slowly descended from the sky. At this moment, Natsuhiko also saw his appearance clearly.
This was an old man with graying hair, but the chakra throughout his body was incomparably terrifying.
Especially the shakujō in his hand. It made Natsuhiko feel a lethal threat.
However, what was very strange was that, through his Jōgan, Natsuhiko also discovered that this shakujō seemed to be connected to something.
Moreover, the power radiating from this shakujō did not only make Natsuhiko feel fear. It also gave him a sense of familiarity.
"A sense of familiarity? What is going on?"
Natsuhiko's expression became extremely vigilant, but in his heart, he already had some guesses.
The only power capable of making him feel fear from the bottom of his heart was probably the Tenseigan.
"Descendant of Ashura, do you know how great a sin you have committed?"
After descending to a certain height, the old man stopped in midair.
His voice sounded exceptionally cold, and within that coldness, it was filled with hatred.
"Today, you will die. You must pay for your sins."
"Why is everyone so sure I'm going to die?" Natsuhiko raised his brows, seeming somewhat curious as he asked.
"That man just now—sorry, I don't even know his name.
"He also said I would definitely die, but in the end, he was the one who vanished into dust.
"Now you're saying the same thing to me. What exactly makes you people so confident?"
"Strength. Strength that you can never reach." The old man's voice remained just as indifferent, and at this moment, his chakra had already condensed to the extreme.
He slightly raised the shakujō in his hand. In the next instant, vast chakra filled with an aura of destruction had already gathered around him.
"Remember this. The man you killed was named Ōtsutsuki Ran. He was my friend.
"And the one who will kill you is named Ōtsutsuki Shinya!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ōtsutsuki Shinya swung his shakujō downward. The tip erupted with dazzling light as an endless torrent of energy blasted toward Natsuhiko.
Sensing the terrifying power, Natsuhiko instantly activated the Flying Thunder God Technique. Brilliant white light flashed once more, and the ground was instantly erased as though turned to ash.
When the light faded, nothing remained where the attack had struck. The distant forest had vanished, and the once peaceful village and stream had been completely annihilated.
"Space-time technique?" Ōtsutsuki Shinya frowned. Then he snorted coldly, and the shakujō in his hand moved once more.
As that strange power spread, Natsuhiko's expression changed.
Space itself seemed to grow heavy, and his spatial perception turned completely chaotic.
Natsuhiko knew that he could no longer use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Although he could still sense the Flying Thunder God marks, there was no way to predict where they might lead him.
Natsuhiko did not dare take that risk. Unlike Jiraiya, he would not casually experiment with space-time techniques without preparation.
Jiraiya had been fortunate—after attempting it, he had been transported to Mount Myōboku.
But if Natsuhiko used the Flying Thunder God Technique in this clearly disordered space, he would likely be cast into some unknown dimension.
And there was a real chance he would never find his way back for the rest of his life.
"Now, you little rat have nowhere to run."
Ōtsutsuki Shinya's voice rang out again. His figure descended once more, stopping roughly ten meters above the ground.
His expression was cold to the extreme. His white eyes revealed no emotional color at all, while the chakra on his body was so vast it could make one despair.
"I told you that you would die. Even if I fall because of it, your ending has already been decided!"
"You really are confident." Natsuhiko looked at him indifferently. Suddenly, the corner of his mouth revealed a smile. "Speaking of which, aren't you curious about my eyes?"
"Your eyes?"
Ōtsutsuki Shinya looked at Natsuhiko indifferently. He was indeed very curious about Natsuhiko's eyes. After all, those eyes truly resembled the Tenseigan.
But after observing for so long, he had not discovered anything particularly special about them.
"That's right, my eyes."
Natsuhiko laughed softly. Then he slowly closed his eyes.
"I was originally thinking that there didn't seem to be any need to use them, but now it seems I have no choice..."
...
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