Within the Consciousness Space, the spiritual wills of Minamoto Takuya and Kaguya were locked in a silent yet soul-stirring clash.
And yet, at that decisive moment...
Outside, the body of Kaguya hovering in midair, formed from an immense mass of Chakra and on the verge of fully solidifying, underwent a horrifying change.
Buzz!
An eerie hum shuddered outward. Across Kaguya's nearly perfect body, which radiated a luminous white glow, countless fine black cracks suddenly surfaced!
These cracks were not still. They spread wildly like living things, as if something inside was about to tear her apart by force!
"No!!"
Black Zetsu's hoarse, grating scream instantly tore through the dead silence. His shadow-formed body twisted violently, filled with utter terror and rage.
"This is impossible! How could this happen?! It's that guy... It has to be that bastard Collector!
How dare he... how dare he touch Mother's body...!"
He instantly locked onto the only possible "culprit."
Aside from that "Collector," who else could have tampered with Kaguya's soon-to-be-revived true body at such a critical moment?
Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju stood shoulder to shoulder. Witnessing this sudden turn of events, there was no surprise on their faces.
Only a deep solemnity, and a sigh that escaped them almost at the same time.
They both knew very well that the being who called himself Collector had absolutely no intention of saving the world or helping them seal Kaguya.
His gaze had always been fixed greedily on Kaguya herself, on that power that surpassed the mortal realm.
He was merely using this crisis, using them as stepping stones and tools to achieve his own goal.
"Even so..." Tobirama's gaze swept over Kaguya's body as the cracks grew deeper and deeper.
"At this moment, it seems we have no other choice but to pray...