Tobirama shook his head, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. The soft, rhythmic sound echoed through the hall, striking the heart with inexplicable pressure.
"Kaguya, your way of thinking is still trapped in the era from a thousand years ago."
"The greatest defense has always been offense."
"Since I already know that those so-called gods and cosmic parasites are coveting my world, why should I wait for them to come knocking?"
He slowly rose to his feet.
At that moment, a killing intent so vast it made gods and demons tremble flashed through the heterochromatic eyes of Uchiha Tobirama, eyes now fused with the will of the entire Ninja World.
"Today,"
"I will crush this so-called crisis at its source."
"W–What?!"
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya abruptly looked up, her pale eyes filled with disbelief.
"Master… you're going to take the initiative?"
"No, Master!"
Ignoring any risk of angering him, Kaguya hurriedly tried to stop him.
"The strength of the Ōtsutsuki main family is unfathomable! There are even more terrifying high-level combatants among them!"
"The universe is endless. The Ōtsutsuki clan is scattered across countless star domains, planting Divine Trees, their movements impossible to trace!"
"Even if you now rule the Ninja World, it's impossible to find and eliminate all of them at once!"
"And… there's also Ōtsutsuki Isshiki hiding within this world!"
"He's more elusive than a rat—I searched for him for a thousand years and never found him!"
Her expression looked as if the heavens were collapsing.
Tobirama merely waved a hand calmly, as though soothing a frightened kitten.
"Enough."
"Just watch."
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze overlooking all things, his words steeped in absolute arrogance.
"The universe is vast?"
"They're well hidden?"
"These are no longer problems for me."
"Kaguya, those so-called gods you fear—even that so-called Ōtsutsuki god, Shibai."
"In my eyes, they're nothing more than slightly larger ants."
"They're only called gods because they were born in an era without me."
"Now…"
"I'll show you what a true god looks like."
Tobirama slowly closed his eyes.
The authority of the Lord of the Naruto World activated instantly.
Buzz!
A formless wave of perception—transcending time, space, and dimensions—spread outward from Tobirama, sweeping across the Ninja World and piercing through countless hidden realms.
"I've found you."
"Hiding in another dimension while sipping red wine?"
A cruel smile curved Tobirama's lips.
"Since you like hiding so much…"
"Then all of you—come here."
---
At the same time.
In an unknown alternate dimension.
The headquarters of the mysterious Kara organization.
The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.
At the highest seat, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, inhabiting the body known as Jigen, listened calmly to the reports of his inner circle.
"Lord Jigen," Boro said in a hoarse voice, white hair framing his sinister eyes, "the Ninja World has changed drastically. Uchiha Tobirama has unified everything. Even the moon appears to have been damaged. Our plans may be affected."
"Hmph. Mere humans."
Delta sneered, her mechanical eyes glinting coldly.
"No matter how strong he is, he's still insignificant. Once Lord Jigen regains his full power—"
Isshiki suddenly froze, the wine glass stopping midair.
A deep unease flickered across his patterned eyes.
"This sensation…"
Before he could finish—
Boom!
A force of absolute authority descended like the hand of a god, completely ignoring distance, space, and dimensional barriers.
It seized everyone present.
"W–What is this?!"
"I can't move!"
"Ahhh—!"
The world spun violently.
Spatial displacement.
In the next instant—
The dark, secretive Kara base vanished.
In its place stood a magnificent, resplendent palace.
And upon the throne—
A man sat, gazing down at them as though looking upon insects.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One by one, the Kara inner members—Jigen, Delta, Boro, Code, Victor, Amado, and the rest—were slammed onto the carpet like discarded trash, sprawled awkwardly at the center of the hall.
"W–Where are we?!" Delta scrambled up in panic, staring at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"This is Konoha… the Imperial Palace!" Amado recognized it instantly, cold sweat soaking his back. "We were in another dimension—how did we get here?!"
"This isn't an illusion… it's forced spatial relocation!" Code growled, claws extending as he scanned the area.
The one who reacted most violently was Isshiki.
The moment he landed, terror surged from the depths of his bloodline.
Not only because of the man on the throne—
But also because of the woman kneeling beside it.
"K–Kaguya?!"
Isshiki's pupils shrank violently, disbelief breaking his composure.
"You escaped confinement?!"
"And you're kneeling before a human?!"
Inside the hall, Tobirama lounged lazily on his throne, propping his cheek with one hand, watching the chaos below as if enjoying a play.
"Kaguya," he said lightly, pointing toward Isshiki.
"I see him clearly now."
"This is Ōtsutsuki Isshiki—the one you searched for over a thousand years."
"That partner who terrified you so badly you couldn't sleep."
"Now—"
Snap.
Tobirama snapped his fingers.
"He's kneeling right in front of you."
"Doesn't he look… like a stray dog?"
At the name Isshiki, Kaguya shuddered.
She turned sharply and stared at Jigen.
Her Byakugan pierced straight through the monk's body, seeing the shrunken, parasitic soul hidden within.
That chakra—
The nightmare that had haunted her for a thousand years.
"Iss… Isshiki… it really is you!"
Her breathing grew rapid, fear giving way to overwhelming shock.
With just a single thought…
Her master had dragged out Isshiki, who had hidden the deepest of all.
And even wiped out his entire organization.
What kind of divine authority was this?
"Kaguya! You traitor!"
Isshiki's mind instantly spun out a scenario of betrayal.
"Damn it… damn it all!"
Panic seized him.
His current vessel was already collapsing.
Originally, he planned to slowly seek a perfect container.
But now—
The pressure from Tobirama felt more terrifying than any Ōtsutsuki he had ever encountered.
It felt like standing before a true god.
"There's no escape…"
"We can't win…"
Driven by desperation, Isshiki made his decision.
"If I'm going to die—"
"Then we all die together!!"
Boom!
Jigen's body swelled grotesquely as the black Karma pattern spread across him, horns erupting from his head.
He no longer cared about the vessel's lifespan.
He would force his resurrection—completely and violently.
Even if it lasted only minutes.
"Karma—Stage Two!"
"Mahakasha!"
Countless massive black cubes materialized, carrying gravity powerful enough to crush space itself, crashing toward Tobirama!
"Resistance?"
Tobirama didn't even raise his eyelids.
"Kaguya," he said calmly, his voice echoing like divine thunder,
"watch carefully."
"The Ōtsutsuki clan you fear so much—"
"In my eyes—"
"Crushing him is easier than crushing an ant."
He slowly extended a single finger.
And gently pointed it toward Isshiki, who was on the verge of rampaging.
"Now…"