Inside the Moon

Both tangible and intangible matter was crumbling away. The Otsutsuki Clan's castle floated there in isolation, with only a hazy veil of Yin-Yang Release supporting it.

The lunar rock that had once been buried deep below was gone. Roughly one-tenth of the moon's surface had vanished beneath those two sword strikes. The castle now seemed to be suspended in the pitch-black void of space.

Crack~~ Crack~~

Crisp cracking sounds rang out as the barrier protecting the castle continuously shattered, accelerating with each passing moment. At the same time, under the multiplying pressure, the surrounding space faintly gave off a sense of collapse.

The Otsutsuki Clan Head's hand holding the staff began to tremble, while the wrenching pain within his body intensified. He was old, after all. Even by Otsutsuki standards, his lifespan was nearing its end. If a battle of this intensity dragged on too long, he would be risking his life.

"All the clansmen have already withdrawn. There's no need to defend this castle to the death. We'll return to the interior of the moon first."

With that thought, the Sage Staff spun in his hand. The crisp clash of its rings sounded out, and a sacred chakra flowed into his body.

"Yin-Yang Release, Void Conversion!"

He held the staff horizontally before himself while his other hand formed seals. The next instant, his figure turned illusory, then abruptly vanished within two breaths.

Boom!

At the very moment the Otsutsuki Clan Head disappeared, two chilling sword energies broke through the barrier. The entire castle shattered in an instant, turning into rubble that drifted through the vacuum of space.

"He disappeared?" Uchiha Madara asked in a low voice from within the Complete Body Susanoo. His eyes slowly spun, and there was a trace of surprise in his tone.

"It's a spatial