"Get out of my way," Artoria said in a cold, clear voice that echoed through the devastated forest like a judgment.
"Or die."
Even now, after everything they had just witnessed, many of the gathered ninja still flinched when her words struck them.
Then her gaze settled on Danzō.
"And you, Danzō. When I return with my student, I want his entire inheritance prepared for him."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Otherwise... I may truly have to let go for once."
The ninja, who still had not fully processed the sight of Rhongomyniad, instinctively stepped back.
"What kind of monster..." one of the shinobi muttered from the ranks. "Compared to that, the Nine-Tails three years ago was a joke..."
These men and women were warriors. They had been trained to face any enemy, even when death was certain.
But this was no longer something that could still be called a fight.
Not against her.
A single movement from her would have been enough to wipe them all out.
There was no hope in an attack.
No glory.
No victory.
Only one possibility remained to them:
to retreat.
Even Danzō recognized it.
What stood before him was power in a form for which even that word was no longer enough.
She was stronger than Madara Uchiha.
Stronger than Hashirama Senju.
Against those two, one might perhaps still have hoped to survive through a miracle.
Against her?
Not even miracles felt sufficient.
His gaze lifted toward the sky.
More and more cracks were spreading across the moon, while the massive hole in its center remained like a divine scar.
It was not merely proof of her strength.
It was a warning.
And deep down, Danzō knew it was only a matter of time before the moon itself would break apart beneath that wound.
He forced himself to lower his gaze again.
"I, Danzō Shimura, will ensure that Your wishes are fulfilled," he said in a controlled voice. "I wish You a pleasant journey."
But inside him, another thought was gnawing its way through his mind.
Never come back, you monster.
I will find a way to kill you. If even the Shiki Fūjin has no effect on you, then I will find something else. A seal. A weapon. Anything.
Thanks to you, I will become Hokage... and then we will see how I destroy monsters like you.
The Uzumaki scrolls must contain something. They do not descend from the Sage of Six Paths for nothing. And if the Uzumaki have nothing, then the Uchiha or the Senju must. There has to be a weapon made for a being like you.
Artoria's gaze drifted to the little fox in her arms.
"Hey, Kurumi. Why didn't you do what I asked you to? That little maggot got away."
The gentle smile that touched her lips frightened Kurumi more than any scream could have.
No. No, you monster. Your attack nearly killed even me...
"M-Mistress..."
Kurumi swallowed the last remnants of her pride.
By now, she knew very well when it was wiser to behave like a sweet little pet.
And it seemed she would spend the rest of her life as a vixen.
"Your attack... opened my eyes," she said hastily. "I couldn't help but admire your beauty... and your strength."
Please just buy it. Please don't punish me. Please, please... I want to go back to Naruto's seal. It was warm. It was safe. It was good.
"Hmm."
Artoria studied her for a moment.
"How about this," she said gently, "you receive a small punishment for disobeying me?"
Her gaze slowly traveled over the little Nine-Tails in her cat-sized form — and finally came to rest on her neck.
No... no, please not. Father, I—
With a light snap of her fingers, Artoria made a pink ribbon appear around Kurumi's neck. On the band, in golden letters, stood only six letters:
Kurumi
"Ah," Artoria said with satisfaction. "Much better."
No... I was once a man, and now I'm almost nothing but a doll. I hate my life.
Then she stroked her head with her fingers.
A soft purr escaped Kurumi.
What was that?! How could I make that sound?!
"You see?" Artoria said with a faint smile. "You like it."
Then she gently picked Naruto up and took him into her arms.
"There," she said calmly. "We should go now. The little flies have already scattered."
Without any haste, she began to walk away.
Kurumi remained behind for a moment, staring after her, and felt cold panic rise in her little body.
Artoria glanced over her shoulder.
"Come along. Or would you like a little bell on your collar too?"
"Wait, Mistress!"
At once, the little Nine-Tails shot after her.
Obito continued advancing his plan in the Land of Water.
He wanted to turn the country into a place of blood — a realm where people slaughtered one another until nothing remained of them.
That was how the world would pay for Rin's death.
A cold smile slid across his face.
My sensei was not fast enough. Not even when it concerned his own wife. And that was supposed to be the Yellow Flash?
More like the Yellow Snail.
"Every clan with a bloodline will be wiped out," Obito muttered coldly into the darkness. "Kill one another. That is your punishment. Live by my rules."
His voice grew softer.
Almost gentle.
"I will create a world... just for you, Rin."
"Obito, we have a problem!"
The voice came suddenly from behind him.
Obito turned his head only slightly.
"What is it, Zetsu? Everything is going according to plan. No one can stop the great plan. The Akatsuki are moving exactly in the direction we need. What could possibly interfere with our plan now?"
Zetsu's voice sounded unusually tense.
"I have been keeping an eye on all the jinchūriki. But something is wrong with the Nine-Tails. For several days now, he has been behaving strangely — as though someone invisible were with him. Something... or someone is teaching him things."
Obito's visible eye narrowed.
"And?"
"That's not all," Zetsu continued. "I keep being drawn to an unknown power. There is something about it that disrupts even my perception. If this continues, it could cause problems for our surveillance and observation."
Obito was already about to answer and reprimand Zetsu.
Then the sky split open.
Without warning, a gigantic pillar of energy tore across the sky and struck the moon.
It pierced through it as though it were made of nothing more than thin paper.
For a moment, even Obito froze.
His gaze followed the direction from which the pillar of energy had come.
Konoha.
"What... happened there?"
Beside him, Zetsu sank to his knees.
His voice no longer sounded frightened.
But like something far deeper.
Something instinctive.
Something reverent.
"Motherrrrr…"
Obito stared at him.
Uh... what? Mother? What mother?
Isn't he supposed to be Madara's will?