What peace are you talking about?!
Oh, no. Even Uchiha Madara failed at Isshiki's place...
Damn it, he's practically an "Uchiha Hiruzen" now!
Aomi, we must..." Senju Tobirama couldn't help but speak up, the thought crossing his mind.
"Wait a moment, Tobirama..."
Aomi conveyed the information about the consciousness of the planet and the God of Otsutsuki to Tobirama in succession—"This is my last method to deal with them..."
Senju Tobirama took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing anger, anxiety, and many other emotions, and seriously went through the information Aomi passed to him.
"I know, these two methods are either too risky or too esoteric, the likelihood of success isn't high..."
Aomi said slowly:
"Though I've convinced Kaguya to help me gain power from the God of Otsutsuki's shell, it might still hide great dangers... I won't touch it until the last step."
"As for the consciousness of the planet, although it exists only as a legendary myth even among the Otsutsuki Clan... I can actually feel this planet is gradually endowing me with authority..."
"Do you remember when I extracted natural energy from the ocean?"
Senju Tobirama barely snapped out of the massive amount of information and nodded, "I remember, Aomi... you drained the natural energy of an entire ocean in just a moment..."
"I once asked the Six Paths Sage and those Immortals of the Three Holy Lands, they all said they couldn't do it, not even the God Tree of the Otsutsuki Clan was as efficient as you..."
"The so-called God Tree is plundering natural energy from the ocean... but I was granted permission from the planet, as if signing a contract with the sea."
Aomi said softly:
"You know my Dojutsu, Tobirama... after the ninja war and the battle with the Otsutsuki, everyone's emotions converged onto me, triggering a mysterious reaction between me and the planet."
"That's also why I decided to play the role of this villain..."
"The history of the Ninja World proves that without external conflicts, it's impossible to unite. I need to be the villain, so everyone has a common goal, to temporarily set aside personal goals and strive as a united group."
"Even if I ultimately don't succeed in awakening the consciousness of the planet, those united will experience a taste of peace from this shared effort, temporarily cutting the chains of past hatred..."
"And if everyone becomes stronger, perhaps they'll provide some help when the Otsutsuki Clan invades as well."
"I don't mind my reputation, playing the villain is no big deal..."
Senju Tobirama closed his eyes.
Even though he knew Aomi was a great person, he was still amazed by Aomi's perspective.
To play the devil uniting everyone in the Ninja World, to let the ninjas grow stronger, to make them feel peace and to have a sliver of hope in an uncertain future...
Senju Tobirama couldn't help but think—Is this awful Ninja World and these hopeless ninjas truly worth Aomi's sacrifice?
Why do people like Aomi, who are so capable, have to bear such heavy pressure?
This is not fair!
"Aomi, I will urge those damned ninjas to unite and work harder!" Senju Tobirama said solemnly, enduring the pain that felt like tearing inside him:
"What can I do, Aomi? Let me share some of this with you!"
"Tobirama, I'm just here to chat… Actually, the path of the consciousness of the planet will most likely bring calamity, like with the God of Otsutsuki's shell."
Aomi gave a little laugh, "These extradimensional forces, each have strong self-consciousness… perhaps the consciousness of the planet sees humans as parasites for all we know..."
"When I obtained the Power of the Ocean, for a brief moment, I only wanted to kill all beings with Chakra and natural energy..."
"I barely controlled myself, so after regaining clarity, I returned the natural energy to the ocean."
Senju Tobirama recalled and shuddered.
Just as Aomi said, at that time when Aomi gained the Power of the Ocean, the indifference and murderous intent in his eyes had even made Senju Tobirama feel fear...
No wonder Aomi voluntarily relinquished the natural energy within him.
"Isn't this akin to asking a tiger for its skin? The God of Otsutsuki's shell, the energy of the planet's consciousness, they're terrifying third parties on par with Otsutsuki reinforcements for ninjas…"
Even the wise Senju Tobirama felt somewhat at his wit's end.
Yet Aomi laughed heartily.
"Tobirama, even you can't think of a good strategy! I thought it was just me getting dumber, it seems the situation is truly tricky to handle..."
"This lightened my mood quite a bit."
Senju Tobirama glared fiercely at Aomi.
Is this the time to joke like this? No, it's not joking about him, it's joking about your life!
"External power is ultimately unreliable… Tobirama, this time, you'll likely need to resurrect me."
Aomi stretched and lazily said, "Currently, my plan is this—"
"The Ninja World unites against me as a villain, growing strong and awakening the planet's consciousness, and if those from the Otsutsuki Clan arrive, if our combined strength can't win..."
"I will burn myself against them! And if activating the Death Gate does not secure victory, only then will I ask Kaguya to guide me through the power of the God of Otsutsuki..."
Aomi suddenly grew serious:
"And to counter the God of Otsutsuki, Tobirama, you need to help guide the consciousness of the planet's arrival, facilitating the fusion of these extradimensional powers within me!"
"After I open the Death Gate, I can't guide these extradimensional presences alone, so I'll need you and Kaguya to assist..."
"If things reach that stage, I will strive to unify my consciousness with the God of Otsutsuki's shell and the planet, aiming to merge and nullify the three, leaving only the driving force of the Soul Engraving..."
"This way, my body becomes an incredibly powerful Ninja Tool, and the only ones able to wield it will be you and Kaguya, as possessors of my Soul Engraving."
"And your authority is even greater than Kaguya's, so you understand, right? With power in your hands, I can rest easy..."
Aomi gently patted Senju Tobirama's shoulder with a smile, "So, Tobirama, maybe you'll be the Jinchuriki within my body forever after!"
"For the peace of the Ninja World, sorry for the trouble, ha-ha..."
Senju Tobirama's mouth was full of a metallic tang.
Due to his own incompetence and guilt for Aomi, he unconsciously bit his teeth, causing his gums to bleed...
"No way! This isn't right! Are you planning to turn yourself into a puppet, Aomi?!"
Senju Tobirama waved his hand furiously, "I refuse to assist you! Surely there's another way; must you be the sole sacrifice to save the Ninja World?"
"I'm telling you, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, stop trying to act tough!" Senju Tobirama shouted, nearly yelling, tears reddening his eyes.
"There's no way, Tobirama… I hope I can beat the Otsutsuki Clan's forces, even if I open the Death Gate, I'll have a way not to die..."
Aomi shrugged, "But what if we lay all our cards out and still can't win? I need a backup for the Ninja World... can't just shrug and surrender, right?"
"About the final method I mentioned, study it extensively these days, Tobirama..."
"It might actually come in handy."
Tobirama stubbornly remained silent, refusing to accept Aomi's idea.
Aomi looked deeply into Tobirama's eyes, "Well, will see you again if we get the chance, Tobirama..."
"I hope we can successfully save the Ninja World together."
"Don't leave, Aomi! I'm sure I can research a better Kinjutsu!" Senju Tobirama shouted in panic, watching Aomi's figure slowly turn translucent.
But Aomi just smiled at him and disappeared.
Leaving behind only cold data about Soul Engraving, planetary consciousness, and more...
"No!!" Senju Tobirama sat up abruptly, yelling.
"Hey, are you asleep?"
Outside the door, Uchiha Izuna's voice sounded, "Are you having nightmares?"
"Come in..." after a moment, Senju Tobirama answered, panting heavily.
The room door opened.
Uchiha Izuna stepped in, his heart trembling.
A pair of Mangekyo Sharingan filled with bloody tears gazed at him with terrifying resentment and ocular power!
Damn Senju Tobirama...
What happened?!