Three layers of defense formed a fragile barrier against the spatial turbulence of the Void.
The water curtain bore the brunt of the assault, instantly torn into countless tiny droplets. But that fraction of a second was enough.
The stone wall withstood the second wave of impact. Though its surface was covered in cracks, it didn't collapse right away. Lightning Armor crackled at the outermost layer, diverting some of the spatial distortions to either side.
"Charge!"
Naruto and Sasuke burst into action at the same time.
Golden Six Paths Power and the purple power of the Rinnegan intertwined, propelling the entire passage forward at a speed beyond its limits and sending it crashing toward the black rift.
Rumble!
The world spun around.
Everyone felt an irresistible force hurl them away. The earsplitting sound of space tearing filled their ears, while the scene before their eyes blurred into warped patches of color.
No one knew how long it lasted.
Maybe just a second. Maybe a century.
Thud!
Nine people crashed heavily onto the hard ground.
"Cough, cough..."
Naruto was the first to struggle upright, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He looked around and found himself lying amid a field of ruins.
No—not ruins.
It was a Training Ground on the outskirts of Konoha.
"Did we make it?" Gaara asked, getting to his feet with a hand pressed to his back. He stared in disbelief at the familiar woods around them and Hokage Rock in the distance.
"We made it." Sasuke leaned against a boulder, eyes closed as he caught his breath. Blood still seeped from his eye sockets; he had almost completely depleted the power of his Rinnegan.
"Are we... really back?" Mei Terumi touched the dirt beneath her, her voice trembling slightly.
"We're back." Ōnoki slumped onto the ground,