Shinigami in the Ninja World

Kurama's evolution, on the other hand, was different. It was using itself as the vessel, absorbing and acquiring the authority held by the other tailed beasts, thereby growing to a level equivalent to the Ten-Tails in terms of power and authority.

The golden blade in Naruto's hand began to emit a bright light, drawing the attention of all the tailed beasts.

It still looked the same, but at the hilt of the sword, there were small changes. On the eight masks, representing the chakra of the eight tailed beasts, patterns began to appear—simple depictions of animals: an elephant, a cat, a turtle, a monkey… The clean, white masks now bore their corresponding emblems.

Not only that, additional patterns appeared on the edges of these masks. Alone, they didn't seem significant, but when put together, they formed the image of nine tails, coming to life on the sword.

"This sword…" Eight-Tails murmured, "It's strange."

"Is it actually changing with our power?"

Four-Tails nodded. "I don't remember the Sage of Six Paths having such a weapon."

"This isn't one of the Sage's treasures," Kurama laughed softly. "It's something that belongs solely to Naruto and me."

Kurama paused for a moment before saying, "A higher level of power…"

"I can feel it."

Naruto echoed Kurama's sentiment. "I can feel it too."

After greeting the other tailed beasts, Naruto left the inner world.

Back in the Infinite Tsukuyomi version of Konoha, the changes happening within the inner world were reflected in the "reality" of the dream.

"What's going on with that sword?" Hashirama Senju stared in puzzlement.

Having fought through the Warring States era and faced countless ninja, he had never seen such a strange transformation.

A sword?

It seemed reminiscent of a samurai's weapon. But the fact that Naruto had easily overpowered Tobirama Senju earlier proved that this was no ordinary sword.

"He's strong," Madara Uchiha extended his hand. "Hashirama, we'll have to team up to deal with him."

The Truth-Seeking Orbs began to form—one, two—Madara summoned as many as he could.

Hashirama remained silent, merely nodding as he brought his hands together in a seal.

Natural energy gathered around his body, and moments later, patterns began to appear on his face.

This was his unique Sage Mode.

He immediately activated a second jutsu.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands."

This version of the jutsu was vastly larger than the one Naruto had previously encountered, as it was Hashirama's full-power technique, unlike the diminished version he had used while reincarnated with Edo Tensei. Ṝ

"Top Transformed Buddha!"

The massive wooden Buddha statue began to move, throwing its first punch slowly, followed by a second…

It grew faster and faster, until, after a few punches, the flurry of fists became as rapid as a torrential storm, each one striking with overwhelming force.

All of the blows were aimed at Naruto.

Madara added to the attack, sending his Truth-Seeking Orbs silently toward Naruto's location. They didn't carry the same dramatic impact as the Top Transformed Buddha, but when they hit the dust-shrouded area where Naruto stood, they exploded violently, distorting the space around them.

Minato Namikaze stood in a tree on the outskirts of the battlefield.

"Hashirama's jutsu is as formidable as ever," Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, marveling at the spectacle.

Minato said nothing, simply watching, his special Flying Thunder God kunai in one hand and a spinning Rasengan in the other, though he couldn't shake a strange feeling of unease.

For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to fully dislike this "Naruto Uzumaki" from another world, even if the boy claimed to want to destroy this world.

He didn't seem like a bad person.

The onslaught of attacks continued without pause, Hashirama's and Madara's efforts seamlessly coordinated, almost obliterating the entire area.

This was the pinnacle of what two of the strongest ninja in the Five Great Nations could unleash.

But then, a gentle breeze blew, dispersing the dust cloud. The intense winds they had summoned also softened, blending with the breeze, and drifted away.

There stood Naruto, the golden-haired youth.

Hashirama's eyes widened in disbelief. Naruto's clothes were slightly disheveled, but he was otherwise completely unharmed—not a single scratch on him.

"Top Transformed Buddha" was his most powerful Sage Art.

Hashirama could confidently say there was no stronger technique in the entire ninja world. Yet, it had no effect.

Madara's face remained cold, though he wasn't surprised that their attacks had failed. He had expected this. Whether it was the nearly invisible shield that could neutralize any attack, the strange wind that erased anything it touched, or the other sealing techniques in Naruto's arsenal, he had been prepared for a challenge.

But still…

He was surprised.

Naruto had countered their combined attack using a new technique—one that was both familiar and unsettling.

Madara could sense something familiar about the chakra Naruto was using, similar to the power he now possessed.

It was… almost like the Ten-Tails' power. The same in scale, yet completely different in nature.

"What is this…" Madara muttered.

Naruto raised the golden sword in his hand, its blade ringing with a clear, melodious sound, and smiled. "Chakra is a fascinating power."

"I asked you before."

"What is the price of using it?"

"Have you figured it out yet?"

Madara's expression flickered between confusion and wariness.

The price? That question again.

"How pitiful," Naruto lifted the sword higher, until it was above his head. "And I have to thank you."

Madara paused in surprise.

Thank him?

What was he talking about?

"No matter how smart a person is, they'll always set limits for themselves," Naruto continued, his tone light and almost playful. "When the power they gain exceeds those limits, that power clouds their vision."

"And turns a genius into a fool."

"I'm thankful, because before I turn into a complete fool myself, I've had the chance to watch smart people like you turn into fools."

Naruto had seen this happen many times.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto had done it, limiting himself because of his overwhelming strength. The evaluation that Yamamoto was holding back might not have been wrong, and neither might Aizen's assessment.

Aizen had done it, too, boxing himself into the limits he set as a Shinigami.

And now…

Madara was the same.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Madara frowned, sensing that something was wrong. His tone grew heavier with suspicion.

Inside Naruto, spiritual energy surged.

"Smart people are hard to deal with."

"But fools… they're much easier."

He paused.

The golden sword in his hand gleamed even more brilliantly.

"Bankai—"

"Three Evils, Three Virtues: Six Paths Nine-Tails."

In the incantation, Madara caught two sharp-sounding words.

Six Paths.

So…

After acquiring the Six-Tails' chakra, had Naruto also gained the Six Paths Power? But without the Gedo Statue or the Ten-Tails' body, how could he have done it…

Golden light enveloped Naruto's body, forming a robe around him.

It was a form completely different from Madara's Ten-Tails Jinchuriki mode.

Naruto's entire form shone gold, his face now bearing six thick whisker marks, symmetrically placed to signify the Six Paths Power.

There were also six tomoe markings on his chest.

His eyes were now those of a fox, burning with a crimson flame-like intensity.

"Six Paths Power, huh," Kurama murmured in the inner world, clicking his tongue in surprise. "I didn't think that old man would be able to wield such power."

Naruto said nothing, only raising his hand.

Like forming a Rasengan, a black sphere began to coalesce in his palm.

It was a Truth-Seeking Ball.

As he wielded this power, Naruto instinctively understood the principles behind the technique.

It was the fusion of wind, fire, lightning, earth, water, and yin-yang, pushed to the absolute limit.

"You… actually obtained this power too?" Madara's voice trembled, his emotions visibly shaken. The realization struck him harder than the fact that even as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, he still wasn't a match for Naruto. "You can wield it too!"

To attain the Six Paths Power as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Madara had schemed for decades, gambling his life.

He had gone through endless struggles, expending tremendous effort…

But this boy had so easily acquired it simply by gaining the Nine-Tails' power.

Could it really be so easy?

Naruto didn't answer him. Instead, he raised his head, looking at the moon of this world. With the Six Paths Power unlocked, along with a deeper level of "authority," he could now see things he couldn't before.

The moon of this world also bore a Rinne Sharingan with nine tomoe.

And it was emitting chakra waves that he hadn't been able to sense before.

This world's very existence depended on that moon.

"Chakra is the power of authority," Naruto spoke softly. "To grow stronger, you must trace it back to its source."

"Have you noticed?"

"The stronger you become, the more your appearance and existence resemble the Sage of Six Paths."

Madara stiffened and looked down at the robe and markings on his body.

He didn't deny it.

Obito had also reflected this. After becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, his body had begun to resemble the Sage of Six Paths, though not as closely as Madara's.

But so what?

Naruto continued, "You've probably heard the legend?"

"The story of the Sage of Six Paths and his mother."

"The Sage of Six Paths… wasn't the final form of chakra. Beyond him, there's the existence of his mother."

Madara's expression flickered, as though something had dawned on him.

No…

He believed in the things he had experienced and witnessed.

Those memories couldn't be false.

All of his accomplishments were achieved through his own hard work.

Unless there was someone controlling everything from the shadows without his knowledge.

But in the entire ninja world, there was no one who could do that except the person standing in front of him—Naruto Uzumaki. Not even Hashirama had the brains to pull off such a plan.

Wait…

There was one other person.

The figure of someone with a pitch-black body came to mind.

Zetsu had claimed to be born from his will, absolutely loyal to him.

But what if that wasn't true?

Though it seemed improbable, if Zetsu wasn't actually an extension of his will, and if it had the ability to read the stone tablet without using the Mangekyō Sharingan or Rinnegan…

Then it might be the only other person, aside from Naruto, capable of influencing his decisions and manipulating his plans.

A surge of anger welled up in him.

Naruto extended his hand, sending a Truth-Seeking Ball hurtling toward the moon.

"Minato, stop him!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, turning to the one person capable of stopping the attack.

But Minato, who shared the same golden hair as Naruto, simply shook his head. "Let's wait, Third Hokage."

Hiruzen was stunned.

Minato tilted his head, wearing a gentle smile. "I don't know why…"

"But I don't think this Naruto kid is a bad person."

As he spoke, the Truth-Seeking Orb hurtled across the space, colliding with the moon.

A loud explosion echoed.

Fragments of the moon broke off and began to fall, crashing down.

The entire Tsukuyomi world shook and trembled, as though it were on the verge of collapse.

The effects of this destruction reverberated into the real world.

On top of Madara's cocoon, Black Zetsu glanced up at the trembling moon and the flickering Rinne Sharingan with nine tomoe, his expression grave. "Even after gathering the chakra of an entire world, it seems Madara Uchiha can't handle that Naruto brat?"

"What a nuisance!"

"This isn't even the power of chakra…"

"Whatever. Mother will be able to deal with him."

He stood, placing his hand on Madara's cocoon.

"Mother, please awaken," Black Zetsu said, and without hesitation, he plunged his hand into Madara's heart, gripping it tightly.

And then he activated his power.

With a soft snap.

Back in the Tsukuyomi world…

Madara instinctively tried to stop it, but just as he formed the Truth-Seeking Ball, his body began to shake and distort, as if a violent current was coursing through him.

"What's happening to that guy, Madara?" Kurama noticed.

Within that grotesquely mutating body, a terrifying presence was stirring, a presence so overwhelming that just a small leak of it sent chills down Kurama's spine.

"The seal has been broken," Naruto whispered, his voice calm. "Kurama, can you sense it?"

"This is what I mentioned before…"

"The presence hidden within the moon."

"I think she's the mother of the Sage of Six Paths."

The world quaked, the ground trembled.

In the Tsukuyomi world, all the people, except for those ninja who had physical forms in the real world, began to collapse, becoming nothing more than soulless husks.

~~~

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