Chapter 522: Orochimaru: Yes, it is I!
Chapter 522: Orochimaru: Yes, it is I!
Karin, overwhelmed with disbelief, feels the power within her.
"Is this my power? I possess Isshiki's power?" Karin is utterly shocked.
The surge of strength from a genetic level causes a profound impact on her worldview.
She is astounded not only by the sudden increase in power but also by the method through which she has gained Isshiki's power.
Indeed, Karin fought desperately, facing an almost fully released Isshiki who was just half a step away from usurping her body and resurrecting himself. With Yuuji's preemptive setup and precise intervention, she found a sliver of possibility among countless impossibilities.
But merely one desperate fight has granted her this level of power, enough to drive anyone mad.
"This is really..." Karin murmurs, then looks up at Yuuji with intense excitement, "Sir, I no longer need to hide myself. I can serve you with this great power!"
This is the terrifying aspect of Kotoamatsukami. To a degree, it's even more dreadful than the Infinite Tsukuyomi, perfect except for its long cooldown.
Other changes are manageable, but a complete transformation of thought and worldview profoundly impacts a person.
Now, Karin has become a Six Paths-level fighter, possessing the power to look down upon the ninja world, yet her thinking hasn't shifted; her loyalty to Yuuji remains absolute.
Seeing such a Karin, even Yuuji smiles.
"Impressive. You deserve this outcome for risking your life on a tightrope," Yuuji doesn't skimp on his praise.
Now, Karin has all of Isshiki's abilities, including his genes, bloodline, and dojutsu.
But unlike the standard historical scenario, where Karin, similarly exhausting Isshiki and acquiring his power, hadn't fully developed Kama's power, Isshiki never indeed transferred into Karin's body.
So, while Karin needed time to develop and access Isshiki's data from the Kama post-Isshiki's defeat, Karin skipped this phase. She had already taken over all of Isshiki's data at 100% unseal.
"Now, what you need to do is eliminate Isshiki. He's definitely not dead, just dormant inside you. You need to turn his remaining data into your own gradually; eliminating him thoroughly," Yuuji instructs.
Karin naturally responds with reverence.
As Yuuji observes Karin, he grows increasingly satisfied. Now, Karin has become his most potent subordinate, stronger than even Kabuto and others.
Yuuji and Karin float in mid-air, turning their attention to Kaguya.
Kaguya: "..."
What was supposed to be a three-way battle suddenly turned into a 2v1 situation, just absurd.
"Mother, can one really seize all the powers of an Otsutsuki clan member like this?" Black Zetsu is flabbergasted.
Yuuji's handling of Karin directly taps into Black Zetsu's blind spot.
Actually, Black Zetsu's understanding of the Otsutsuki clan was originally quite limited, being created at a critical moment when Kaguya was being sealed and tossed out.
Black Zetsu didn't even know about Isshiki's existence for a long time.
Now, this manipulation leaves it even more confused.
But it's not just Black Zetsu; Kaguya is incredibly confused, too.
"This works?"
Kaguya murmurs to herself, baffled. The Otsutsuki clan's reincarnation method apparently has such a massive flaw.
Kaguya doesn't understand but is deeply shaken.
"You guys' reincarnation method is actually very perfect. Dying, then finding a new vessel to resurrect, is a valuable reincarnation technique."
Yuuji explains: "But nothing in this world is perfect. Placed under different circumstances, it might reveal flaws. You're just unlucky to have encountered me on this planet!"
"Hmph, boastful! You are also an outsider to this world, just like me," Kaguya retorts coldly.
"Yes, I am an outsider, but different from those you know... Anyway, you wouldn't understand, nor will you have the chance to witness me stepping over the corpses of your clan to reach greater heights."
Yuuji immediately acts, using his spatial dojutsu to shut out the endless sands.
Karin, too, gathers courage and rushes towards Kaguya.
She inherits Isshiki's Taijutsu, Chakra, and Dojutsu. If she carefully contended with Kaguya, she could at least hold her ground for a few rounds.
Yuuji, on the other hand, is eagerly eyeing the situation.
The battle among the trio instantly escalates.
This time, Kaguya feels the pressure.
She's uncertain of victory against Yuuji, and now there's also Karin, who has inherited Isshiki's power.
"Mother, why not separate them into different spaces to create a temporal advantage?" Black Zetsu suggests.
"Fool, you'd get your mother killed one day," Yuuji scoffs. "She can use Amenominaka to switch spaces, but couldn't I anticipate and counter that, ready to strike at any moment?" Yuuji smirks disdainfully.
Black Zetsu holds back its frustration.
Kaguya has no choice but to follow the suggestion, choosing the super-gravity space this time.
The immense gravity weighs heavily on Yuuji and Karin.
Kaguya opts to attack with the Ash-Killing Bone.
"This move might work against Isshiki and Sasuke, but using it against us is ridiculous."
Yuuji and Karin each counter the Ash-Killing Bone with their respective Spatial Dojutsu.
"Karin, fall back, I'll handle her," Yuuji orders sternly. "You're still too inexperienced. Prioritize your protection; don't give her a chance."
After speaking, Yuuji withstands the terrible gravity and steps through a space door, appearing beside Kaguya.
The two engage in fierce combat, their clashing blows capable of shattering mountains and the roars of their strikes potent enough to cleave planets.
At the Six Paths level, the boundaries between Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu blur, almost all capable of being instantly activated and seamlessly integrated. The techniques they can use are limited, and after a few exchanges, they more or less understand each other's strengths.
Boom!
Yuuji sends a super-large chakra ball flying, blasting Kaguya away.
"This is what you asked for!"
Kaguya is enraged, her entire demeanor turning sinister.
Facing such a formidable enemy, Kaguya finally decides to go all out, preparing her most powerful technique to take down Yuuji in one fell swoop.
The entire space trembles faintly.
Kaguya gathers her tremendous power.
"Such a vast amount of chakra; you're betting it all. Remember, from the moment you resurrected, you've had no chance to recover chakra from those ninjas outside. If this move doesn't take me down, you're finished," Yuuji states.
Kaguya remains silent.
Continuing to delay would mean inevitable defeat for her. She couldn't forget that Yuuji also had a helper called 'Planet Godzilla' at his disposal, and now there was also an Otsutsuki Karin.
If the fight dragged on, she would surely lose.
She could only invest a considerable amount of chakra in this attack, trading it for a chance.
"Sir..."
"Karin, please leave and return to the ninja world. I'm worried that there will be problems on Planet Godzilla," Yuuji commands.
Karin obeys and steps through the space door Yuuji opens for her.
In the vast super-gravity space, only Yuuji and Kaguya remain.
"Now it's just the two of us. You can fight freely now, right? If I'm not mistaken, the only thing you can bring out now is that one."
If there's one attack that defines Kaguya's utmost strength, without doubt, it's the...Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball!
...
Karin was very worried about Yuuji but still strictly followed Yuuji's orders and returned to the Ninja World.
At this time in the Ninja World, because Kaguya took away several Six Paths level powerhouses in one breath, only Planet Godzilla was acting recklessly without any restraint.
But Planet Godzilla had lost its hunting target and, without hesitation, resorted to its old ways—altering the ecosystem.
Planet Godzilla began to unleash its power, eroding everything in its path.
In places covered by Planet Godzilla's radiation, the genetic codes of some cells would inevitably undergo changes at this moment.
A small number of organisms could survive, while the vast majority would die from being unable to withstand the radiation.
Among the few who adapted to the radiation and survived, they would typically evolve and reproduce with time, eventually becoming entirely new life forms dependent on Planet Godzilla's existence.
This was extremely brutal, and the natural selection accelerated by Planet Godzilla was forced, generation after generation, until the final version of the genes was selected.
Not to mention that Planet Godzilla had now devoured a portion of the Ten-Tails, obtaining the genes and chakra of the Ten-Tails.
With extraordinary power added, Planet Godzilla's erosion speed would naturally accelerate countless times, and with the individuals being eroded by it, some also possessed chakra, which could resist it better, thus their evolutionary speed would also increase accordingly.
"Sure enough, once it loses its devouring target, this thing starts to remodel the planet's ecosystem to fit its own pattern..."
Kabuto focused entirely on Planet Godzilla, monitoring its every move.
It was really troublesome, this big guy... even though it had its own intelligence, it was more about assimilation and instinctively protecting the planet, wasn't it?
Beside him, Kazue was also observing this immensely towering creature and murmured, "Are we just going to watch?"
"What else can we do? Are we supposed to join the battle of the Six Paths level? At most, we can ensure we won't be killed in a short time, we can't do anything else," Kabuto said.
Indra sneered, "Look, no matter who wins, Kaguya or Yuuji, this planet will not fare well, and you will definitely regret it."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're not suited for such poor rhetoric?" Kazue said impatiently, drawing out the Sword of Totsuka and aiming it at Indra. "Should I just get rid of him now? Keeping this waste around is meaningless."
"No, wait, wait until my brother returns; let's see how he arranges things," Kabuto said.
"Our greatest enemy isn't Kaguya or even the Otsutsuki clan. But on the path to our ultimate goal, we certainly need many powerful soldiers, just like Kaguya created White Zetsu. Though these two brothers..." Kabuto added.
"Like me?" Hashirama asked wryly.
"Yes, just like you. Be content; at least I didn't erase your reason, and I gave you a pair of Rinnegan," Kabuto nodded.
"But I'm still dead."
"For now, you're dead, but before long, you might be alive again. Don't judge your state with the old view of life and death," Kabuto said.
Joking aside, the Pure Land had already been breached, and the world that absorbs the undead had fallen into their hands.
By then, giving new bodies to this group of souls, wouldn't the problem be solved? As long as the soul wasn't shattered, the boundary between life and death was not a problem.
Kabuto knew that Yuuji's choice to attack the Pure Land wasn't just about clearing the potential threat from the Haguromo and Hamura brothers; it should also be one of his goals to control the two worlds of life and death.
"What is your ultimate goal then? Controlling the entire planet, manipulating the lives and deaths of countless people, and then what? Even the Otsutsuki clan is not taken into account?" Asura was very puzzled.
Kabuto just remained silent and shook his head because he didn't know either.
If even wiping out the Otsutsuki clan and taking away all their legacy wasn't the true goal... what else was worth Yuuji's struggle?
Kabuto didn't understand.
The action of Planet Godzilla assimilating life was immediately stopped. Yes, it was the flesh blanket that was everywhere and attached to all materials, acting as the first line of defense against assimilation.
Planet Godzilla spat out atomic breath to clear the area, but as soon as part of it was burned, new flesh blankets grew immediately.
In any case, Planet Godzilla would not be allowed to erode the entire planet.
"Hmp, my brother also wants to do things like assimilate the world, but the process is not right. This process must be started under his leadership. You cannot be allowed to do it alone." Kabuto sneered.
At this moment, Planet Godzilla suddenly stopped its attack and abruptly changed direction.
Everyone present turned their heads to look.
"Oh! Is that Isshiki? Perfect timing, let's...," Might Dai eagerly tried to intervene.
Kabuto stopped the father and son, "Look carefully, that's not Isshiki, that's Karin! I see, my brother still has this means, really impressive."
With Kabuto's intelligence and his understanding of the Otsutsuki clan's resurrection ceremony, he barely managed to figure out Karin's condition through guesswork.
Perhaps it was for some reason that she replaced Isshiki but still possessed Isshiki's data?
Truly remarkable.
"Be careful; it's probably the part of the Ten-Tails in your body that's attracting it," Kabuto reminded.
Karin's face paled, hastily retreating.
But Planet Godzilla relentlessly chased after her.
If it didn't consume the Ten-Tails within Karin's body, this monster clearly wouldn't stop.
"How's the battle over there?"
"Yuuji-sama said he would deal with Kaguya, so he asked me to come here just in case."
"Understood..."
Kabuto pondered for a moment, lost in thought.
At the same time.
A man who had long been out of sight of others was greedily observing the changes in the Ninja World.
"Fortunately, I was prepared early and hid in the sealing barrier otherwise I wouldn't have been able to escape the effects of the Infinite Tsukuyomi," Orochimaru laughed hoarsely.
Beside him, a giant white snake with cracks all over its body was spitting out its tongue, saying maliciously, "So, what can you do? With your current condition, another death would completely shatter your soul. What else do you plan to do?"
"I have prepared an extremely crazy plan..."
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