Meiji lifted her head with trembling arms.
Feeling the crushing pressure radiating from the black Rasengan in Naruto's hand, she swallowed hard.
Within that sphere pulsed an unimaginably dense aura of death.
If that thing hit her… there was no doubt she'd be obliterated without a trace.
"Even if they all teamed up, they still wouldn't be your equal."
Still kneeling, Meiji spoke cautiously, maintaining her submissive posture.
Naruto continued to observe her.
He could tell—her words weren't flattery born of fear.
She was simply stating the truth.
Satisfied, he nodded.
"Good. You may leave."
Relieved as if granted a royal pardon, Meiji dissolved into black mist and returned to her own realm.
One Week Later.
Naruto left the Ninja World, setting course for the planet from Isshiki's memories.
His goal: prepare for planting the God Tree.
Though his power now surpassed even the Six Paths level,
He lacked both the Ten-Tails and the chakra fruit—
And without those, his longevity was still an issue.
The chakra fruit not only skyrocketed strength but extended lifespan, even granting immortality if consumed in sufficient numbers.
Rising into the upper atmosphere, Naruto summoned the Infernal Demon Gate.
With a thought, he began searching for a suitable demon.
Soon, a large crab-like demon, its body covered in purple scales and looking like a walking flying saucer with legs, stepped out of the gate.
Standing over ten meters tall, it didn't speak or move—
It simply awaited Naruto's command.
Naruto leapt onto its back.
Despite its bulky appearance, the crab demon had incredible flying speed.
That was the unique talent of its species, and the very reason Naruto had selected it as his transport.
In a flash, they left the Ninja World and soared into outer space.
But before heading to the target planet, Naruto had one more task:
He needed to find one—or more—lone members of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
To plant a God Tree, an Ōtsutsuki had to be used as fertilizer.
That was the shocking condition Naruto had learned.
Ōtsutsuki grew themselves by sacrificing their own kin to grow divine trees,
Then eating the fruit to evolve back again.
A grotesque cycle of self-cannibalism disguised as evolution.
The crab demon raced through galaxies faster than light, weaving between stars.
It flew so steadily that Naruto could comfortably lie down across its wide back.
But space was massive.
After two weeks, still no signs of any Ōtsutsuki.
He saw several planets full of life, but not what he was looking for.
Naruto wasn't in a hurry.
But someone else was.
Kaguya was growing restless.
Despite her improved relationship with Naruto—thanks in part to Black Zetsu's romantic coaching—
She still feared the worst.
If Naruto couldn't find any Ōtsutsuki…
Would he use her as the sacrifice?
She really couldn't sleep well thinking about it.
Luckily, three days later—
Naruto finally encountered not one, but three Ōtsutsuki.
Hovering above a lifeless gray planet, the trio had just finished draining its vitality.
The planet was completely dead—its color faded to ash, no sign of life.
Clearly, these three had sucked it dry.
There were two males and one female.
Each bore a unique Rinnegan—one red, one green, and one yellow.
They had clearly eaten chakra fruits, judging by their eye traits and aura.
All three bore the distinctive Ōtsutsuki appearance.
Naturally, they spotted Naruto racing toward them at impossible speeds.
Sensing he also carried Ōtsutsuki energy, the female—who appeared to be their leader—smiled warmly.
But to Naruto, the smile screamed "fake."
In a clan of arrogant demigods, her attempt at social grace was amateurish at best.
The two men behind her didn't even bother pretending.
They looked at Naruto the way predators look at prey.
In the Ōtsutsuki world, there's no such thing as "old friends reuniting with tears."
If they don't stab you in the back, that's already rare courtesy.
Naruto glanced down at the dead planet beneath them and had a terrifying realization:
If the universe was a giant's body, and each planet a cell—
Then the Ōtsutsuki, planting God Trees and draining worlds dry… were the cancer.
"Hey there, handsome. What's that thing you're riding on?
It's kinda neat. Where'd you get it?
If I get a chance, I'd love to ride one too."
The tall female with white hair cut into a princess bob casually leapt onto Naruto's crab demon.
The other two men followed suit, hopping aboard and curiously poking at the shell beneath their feet.
The woman turned her head, eyes glimmering, as she studied Naruto up close.
His looks stunned even her.
Originally, she'd planned to use Naruto's body as fertilizer for the next God Tree…
But after seeing his face and the way he carried himself, she changed her mind.
She secretly sent him a telepathic message using her Rinnegan:
"Hey handsome, want to team up with me?
Let's travel the stars together, planting God Trees and growing stronger.
As for these two idiots behind me… we'll split them. One for you, one for me. Sound good?"
At first, Naruto thought it was his system speaking again.
When he realized what was happening, he smirked.
So this is how "alliances" work in the Ōtsutsuki clan, huh?
"No thanks."
He rejected her outright, not even pausing to consider it.
Someone so eager to betray her allies…
There was only one reason she'd ever be allowed near him—
If she was already dead.
The woman's eyes narrowed.
The red Rinnegan in her left eye began glowing with dangerous energy.
"So that's how it is…
Don't blame your big sister here for being a little ruthless!"
Her eye flared.
A massive blood-red net, wide enough to blot out the stars, surged toward Naruto like a tidal wave.
It was far too large to dodge by speed alone.
But Naruto never even tried to dodge.
Demonic energy erupted around him.
He instantly entered Demonic God Form.
In his massive right hand, a long blood-red spear materialized—
Crackling with dark energy.
With a single sweep, the spear sliced the blood net to shreds.
The resulting shockwave didn't stop there—
It surged forward, blasting directly at the three Ōtsutsuki.
The trio's expressions changed at once.
From smug confidence to utter shock.
The aura pouring off of Naruto now…
It made their skin crawl.
"Shit… we kicked the hornet's nest this time."
The woman's eyes trembled.
She regretted everything.
If you had that kind of power, why didn't you say so earlier?!