The slash Kyomu delivered shattered Isshiki's Daikokuten, reducing the cubes falling from the black and red spatial rift to mere dust.
With a graceful flourish of his sword, Kyomu turned to face Isshiki.
He looked quite disheveled.
Perhaps Isshiki never imagined he would find himself in such a state.
Just ordinary Lightning Style chakra, yet when developed to its peak, it could unleash such immense power.
But the truth was evident. Isshiki had no choice but to believe it.
"You've lived for so long, calling yourself a god, even the source of chakra, yet you've ended up as nothing more than a joke."
Kyomu mocked Isshiki, further shaking his confidence. "Five nature transformations, yin and yang chakra, the power of yin-yang release—such fascinating and limitless potential.
Yet, in your hands, these powers are just thrown together without proper utilization or deep development.
Do you really think that power is just a simple matter of adding and subtracting quantities?
Your clan is truly laughable and pitiful. You squander treasure without understanding how to delve deeper into its true potential. No wonder you failed a thousand years ago, sacrificed as mere nourishment for the Divine Tree."
"Kyomu! Kakashi! You two have infuriated me beyond measure!"
Sure enough, Kyomu's taunts enraged Isshiki, his furious roars echoing across the land. The ocean-like chakra within him was squandered recklessly, relying purely on brute force.
But having great strength doesn't guarantee success. With equal strength, a jet fighter would certainly outmatch a thrown brick.
Both Kyomu, who had refined his skills for years, and Kakashi, now unleashing his pent-up potential, were the latter.
By mastering the art of precision, the power one can unleash is fundamentally stronger than sheer quantity.
"Still the same old routine, like a primitive man with a torch," Kyomu shook his head. "I expected some surprises and challenges from you, but all you are is a brute relying on sheer numbers."
As Kyomu finished speaking, the frenzied Isshiki clasped his hands together, unleashing the ocean of chakra within him. The waves of chakra stirred the sky into a storm, dark clouds rolling in, and bolts of lightning brewed within the thickening clouds.
Rumble.
The ground beneath Isshiki's feet crumbled, defying the laws of physics, rising from the earth to the heavens.
At the same time, the chakra waves around Isshiki surged upwards like solid pillars of light, punching a vast hole through the heavy clouds.
Roar!
A thundering roar echoed from the horizon as a giant figure appeared behind Isshiki, its head touching the sky and feet planted on the earth. Although semi-transparent, its form was solid, every detail of its body clear, resembling a colossal version of Isshiki.
"Quantitative change leads to qualitative change. The philosophy of the Ōtsutsuki clan is beyond the comprehension of you insignificant insects!"
Isshiki, hands still clasped, shouted. His chakra seemed endless, continuously pouring into the colossal figure behind him.
The towering giant expanded further, its head breaking through the atmosphere, looking down from the starry sky like a child stepping on a fitness ball.
The planet that housed the ninja world seemed like a mere toy in Isshiki's hands.
He intended to destroy the entire ninja world!
There was no doubt that Isshiki, at his peak, possessed the power to obliterate a planet.
"Hah!"
With a shout, Isshiki unclasped his hands, palms facing downward, making a motion as if to grasp a ball.
The giant behind him followed suit, its massive hands nearly covering half the sky of the ninja world, causing the light between heaven and earth to suddenly dim.
"Kyomu!" Kakashi shouted, turning back. "It's up to you!"
Though Kakashi had refined his Lightning Style chakra to its peak, his chakra reserves were always a limitation. He could handle foes of a similar size, but Isshiki's gigantic avatar was beyond his reach.
This demonstrated the limitation of sheer quantity, perhaps validating the Ōtsutsuki philosophy.
Indeed, quantitative change can lead to qualitative change.
But when quality and quantity are both ensured, the one who uses power more skillfully can win with overwhelming superiority.
And that was Kyomu.
His chakra reserves might not match Isshiki's, but the gap was not insurmountable.
In terms of precision and control of power, Kyomu was miles ahead of Isshiki.
Thus, Kyomu had no reason to lose!
Clang.
Kyomu sheathed his blade and took a stance for a powerful sword draw. Gripping the hilt with one hand, he stepped back with his left foot and took a deep breath.
Divine-Cleaving Sword Technique!
Buzz.
With a swift motion, Kyomu unsheathed his shadowy blade, pushing his body's strength, speed, and explosiveness to their limits.
As he swung the sword, his chakra of five nature transformations, combined with yin and yang, merged into the blade's light, embodying the power of the bloodline limit.
The blade's light shot out, its speed unimaginable, as if defying space itself, striking its target instantly.
Boom!
The long, narrow blade light cut across the sky, slicing through the towering figure without any obstruction, severing its near-clasped hands at the root.
It continued forward, slicing through the chest, severing the spine, and still had power to spare.
The light pierced through the atmosphere, entering space, extending to twice the equator's length of the ninja world.
Swish, swish, swish.
The blade light swept through space, reducing numerous meteors and asteroids to dust. It wasn't clear how many it destroyed before dissipating into the void.
Back on the planet of the ninja world.
Boom!
The towering giant began to shatter. Although Isshiki tried to salvage it, his efforts were in vain.
Tap.
Kyomu sheathed his sword, then instantly appeared beside Isshiki, his blade swiftly drawn again.
Swish.
The two passed each other, Isshiki mechanically turning his head to stare at Kyomu in disbelief.
"How can you have…"
Kyomu, standing with his blade sheathed, turned to cut Isshiki off. "Why do I possess the power to harm, seal, or even control souls?"
Kyomu shook his head, stepping closer to Isshiki and grabbing the horn on his forehead with one hand. "You've never understood the power of this world. If you were still your original self and hadn't resurrected using Naruto's body and soul, then the power of this world wouldn't affect you.
Do you think I let you use Naruto's body to revive just for fun? It was to brand your soul with this world's mark, you fool! With the world's imprint, as long as this world exists, its rules can affect you. Naturally, your soul is subject to this world's laws."
With one hand, Kyomu lifted Isshiki's head, severing it cleanly.
Blood spurted out as Isshiki's headless body fell to the ground. Kyomu sidestepped swiftly, avoiding even a single drop of blood.
Raising his left hand, Kyomu beckoned towards Isshiki's fallen body, and a purple-black seed flew into his palm, which Kyomu carefully put away.
Turning to face the others, Kyomu instructed, "Reassure the people. I'll be back shortly."
"Your Majesty, what about Naruto…" Kushina stepped forward, her voice trembling with concern.
"He'll be back. I promise," Kyomu assured Kushina, taking a step into a spatial rift beside him.
The scene shifted as Kyomu appeared in the Pure Land.
"Kyomu, I didn't expect you to defeat Isshiki…"
"I've told you all along, Isshiki is nothing more than a paper tiger."
Kyomu glanced at Hagoromo, opening his palm to reveal the Divine Tree seed. "Where should I plant the Divine Tree?"
"Follow me."
Hagoromo led the way, with Kyomu following closely. Hamura trailed behind, subtly positioning themselves to flank Kyomu.
"Need a hand?"
Upon reaching the center of the Pure Land, Hagoromo turned back. "I watched your battle with Isshiki. Your sword slash was powerful enough to destroy a star, but it must have drained you significantly.
Furthermore, the strike that killed and sealed Isshiki's soul also invoked the laws of the Pure Land. I'm concerned about your well-being…"
"No worries, I can handle it," Kyomu shook his head. "Just watch over me for a while. Once Isshiki is sacrificed and the Divine Tree is planted, I'll take a rest."
Hagoromo and Hamura exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with intent, nodding in agreement.
"Rest assured, we'll take care of the rest."
Hearing this, Kyomu nodded, tossing the Divine Tree seed onto the Pure Land's soil, followed by Isshiki's head.
Thud.
The head rolled and fell atop the Divine Tree seed, immediately being devoured.
At the same time, Isshiki's soul, sealed by the blade, made its final struggle.
To be sacrificed twice in a thousand years, how could he be at peace?
"Kyomu, one day I will return, and when I do, your descendants will be wiped out!"
"Silence!"
Kyomu waved his blade, a flash of light cutting Isshiki's soul into two.
In the Pure Land, wielding the shadowy blade, Kyomu was akin to the Grim Reaper. Any soul belonging to this world could be manipulated at his will.
Isshiki's threats at this moment were nothing short of ridiculous.
"Kyomu, I…"
Isshiki attempted to continue his rant, but before he could finish, his soul was absorbed and devoured by the Divine Tree seed, turning into nutrients for its growth.
However, after all this, Kyomu noticed an ugly black mark on the back of his right hand.
"It's Isshiki's Karma mark," Hagoromo said solemnly.
"It is, but it's not a big problem."
"Do you have a way to break the Karma mark?" Hagoromo asked again.
Simultaneously, Hamura stepped forward, positioning himself to Kyomu's side, aligning with Hagoromo, effectively trapping Kyomu between the two of them.
"Not yet, but…"
Hagoromo interrupted Kyomu, "If you don't, Isshiki will eventually use the Karma mark to consume your soul and body, resurrecting as he did today."
"Hagoromo, it seems like you have something on your mind," Kyomu said, glancing at Hagoromo before turning to look at Hamura on his other side. "Why don't you tell me what you're planning?"
"To eliminate any possibility of Isshiki's resurrection, we have no choice but to ensure your death!"
Hamura suddenly lunged forward, and without saying a word, Hagoromo did the same. The two brothers, joining forces for the first time in a thousand years, unleashed the same technique they used to seal Kaguya.
"I didn't want to kill you both, but you insist on dying. And... even if given a chance, you still wouldn't make it worthwhile!"
From their earlier probing and behavior, Kyomu had already deduced that the two brothers planned to betray him, like a fisherman waiting for the clam and the snipe to exhaust themselves.
But even before proposing the alliance, Kyomu had anticipated this possibility. He was the true fisherman or perhaps the last lurking hunter.
Swish, swish.
Like a child's play, two ordinary slashes, devoid of much power, flickered swiftly, each landing on Hagoromo's chest and Hamura's sleeve.
The slashes caused no harm to either brother, only damaging their Six Paths robes and triggering a 'second kill mark' that only Kyomu could see and sense.
"Kyomu, after two bursts of power, you truly are at the end of your strength. Such attacks are nothing like you," Hagoromo and Hamura had no intention of blocking, judging the attacks harmless. As Hamura moved in for the kill, he even took the opportunity to taunt.
Finally, he had a chance to release some of the pent-up frustration from their earlier interactions with Kyomu!
But Kyomu's gaze was filled with the kind of concern one might show a fool. He shook his head, not bothering to respond.
"Uh…"
Suddenly, both Hagoromo and Hamura froze, their eyes wide with terror. They tried to speak, only to find their throats gripped by an invisible force, their power and life force draining rapidly, as if a dam had burst.
"This…"
"That's a secret you'll never know, even in death." Kyomu added dismissively, watching as the two brothers disintegrated into dust, vanishing within the Pure Land.
"What's the point?" Kyomu sighed as he sheathed the blade, "I have the capacity to tolerate others. If only they had been obedient and submitted, they wouldn't have met such an end."
As his words faded, a wind picked up in the Pure Land, carrying chakra mixed with the unique soul energy of the Pure Land.
These energies continuously surged into the seedling of the Divine Tree, nourishing its rapid growth.
The Divine Tree sprouted and grew visibly, its progress evident to the naked eye.
"Well, with this, everything is settled. The only remaining issue is dealing with the Karma mark."
Kyomu looked down at the black mark on his hand, feeling confident.
Isshiki's attempt to use his body for resurrection was a fool's dream. He would meet a fate worse than death.
(End of Chapter)