A life built on lies

Above them, the hundred-meter-tall Perfect Susanoo and the equally enormous Wood Golem clashed like titans out of legend.

Every collision shook the earth. Chakra shock waves swept outward like tsunamis, throwing the peaceful grassland into utter chaos.

Below, the battle between Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Izuna had also begun.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Facing Izuna's Fireball Jutsu, Tobirama Senju swiftly completed his hand seals. Surging water gathered into an enormous, roaring dragon that lunged headlong into the fireball!

BOOOM!!!

Water and fire collided with a deafening blast! Clouds of scalding white steam instantly spread across the battlefield, filled with the sharp clang of kunai and the muffled thunder of clashing ninjutsu.

"All of you, stop!"

At last, a voice carrying both exasperation and authority forced its way through the roaring giants above and the exploding ninjutsu below, reaching everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

At some point, a figure had abruptly appeared in the center of the battlefield.

He wore a simple, ancient white robe, with horns on his forehead and an aged face. Most striking of all were his open eyes—those Rinnegan!

The Sage of Six Paths had never expected things to get so out of hand after he merely dozed off for a moment.

Looking at the chaos before him, he felt as though he were watching his two troublesome sons making a scene again a thousand years ago.

"Even if you fight now, you cannot kill each other! This realm was not created to give you a battlefield where you could destroy everything at will!"

His warning, however, seemed to have come just a little too late.

BOOOOM!!!!

Almost simultaneously, the battle above reached its height. The Wood Golem's massive fist and Susanoo's Chakra Greatsword hurtled toward each other! And the Sage of Six Paths had