Outside the cordon around Konoha's commercial district, Anbu Ninja were using specially made barrier scrolls to suppress the spatial ripples. Countless black patterns spread like vines across the pale blue barrier, and every fluctuation made the ground tremble violently. As Su Ye approached the cordon, the Rinnegan in his palm floated up on its own. Its crimson light resonated with the black patterns in the spatial ripples, and the chaotic fluctuations suddenly fell into a steady rhythm.
"What is this..." Tsunade hurried forward, staring at the floating Rinnegan in shock. "Is it calming the Spatial Echo?" Su Ye shook his head. His Rinne Sharingan turned slightly, and his gaze pierced the barrier. In the spatial ripples at the center of the commercial district, he clearly saw a dark golden crystal slowly rotating. The Uchiha Clan Crest carved into its surface flickered with every fluctuation in space.
"That's the Spatial Core of the commercial district," Su Ye said gravely. "And the crest on it matches the pattern on the stone tablet in the Uchiha forbidden grounds." At that, Sasuke immediately activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, trying to decipher the information encoded in the crest. But as soon as he came into contact with the energy radiating from the core, he clutched his eyes, blood seeping between his fingers. "I can't. The core's energy is repelling my ocular jutsu. There seems to be a consciousness inside resisting me."
A red glow rose in Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan as he stared at the Spatial Core, his brow furrowed. "That isn't an ordinary consciousness. It's more like a remnant chakra imprint. And..." He paused. "I can feel that its chakra signature is very similar to Shisui's."
"Shisui?" Naruto immediately asked. "You mean that Uchiha prodigy who had Kotoamatsukami?" Tsunade nodded and took a yellowed scroll from her ninja pouch. "This is a confidential Konoha file. It says that before Shisui went missing, he conducted jutsu experiments at the Uchiha residence near the commercial district. The experiment records show that he was trying to combine Kotoamatsukami with Space-Time Ninjutsu."
Su Ye took the scroll. His Rinne Sharingan swept over the writing, and pale violet light seeped into the parchment, gradually clarifying the blurry experimental data. "I see. Shisui wanted to develop a derivative of Kotoamatsukami that could act directly on a target's consciousness through spatial fluctuations. But the spatial energy went out of control during the experiment, and part of his chakra imprint was sealed inside a space-time rift." He looked toward the Spatial Core. "Now, the black mist from the other dimension has awakened that imprint, fusing Kotoamatsukami's power with the Spatial Echo to form this core."
Just then, the spatial ripples surged violently. The dark golden core shot a beam of light toward an Anbu Ninja outside the cordon. The ninja had no time to dodge. The instant the beam struck him, his eyes went blank, and the barrier scroll fell from his hand. He began walking toward the spatial ripples.
"No good!" Su Ye immediately unleashed Shinra Tensei, blasting the ninja away. "Kotoamatsukami's power is controlling him. The core is using the spatial fluctuations to expand its influence." Tsunade immediately gave an order. "Reinforce the barrier! All Anbu Ninja, fall back and suppress the core with long-range jutsu!"
But as soon as the Anbu Ninja's jutsu neared the spatial ripples, the energy released by the core warped them and sent them flying toward the surrounding buildings. The commercial district's houses collapsed in an instant. Amid the billowing dust, more Demon Eater specters emerged from the spatial ripples. Dark golden patterns covered their bodies, and they were far faster and stronger than the specters before.
"These specters have been strengthened by Kotoamatsukami's power." Itachi activated Susanoo, its blue arm shielding everyone. "Sasuke, use Kagutsuchi to clear the specters. Su Ye, come with me and let's try to get close to the core." Sasuke acted at once. Black flames surged from his palm, forming a wall of fire. The Demon Eater specters shrieked as soon as they touched the flames, but the dark golden patterns kept flickering within the fire, gradually negating Kagutsuchi's power.
Su Ye and Itachi exchanged a glance, then flew toward the Spatial Core together. Pale violet chakra poured from Su Ye's Rinne Sharingan and resonated with Nagato's Rinnegan, forming a protective barrier against the energy released by the core. Itachi, meanwhile, formed Susanoo's long sword and tried to cut through the spatial fluctuations surrounding the core.
But as soon as they neared it, the dark golden crystal released a blinding light. Su Ye and Itachi were struck by the glow and immediately fell into an illusion. They saw the scene of Shisui's experiment: he stood before the worktable, holding a Sharingan in his hand, while spatial energy gathered into a rift before him. Suddenly, black energy poured out of the rift. Shisui tried to suppress it with Kotoamatsukami, but the energy retaliated, forcibly tearing away his chakra imprint and drawing it into the rift.
"So that's what happened," Su Ye said within the illusion. "The black mist from the other dimension was what corrupted Shisui." Shisui's apparition suddenly turned around, pain written across his face. "Hurry... Destroy the core. Don't let the black mist fully take control of Kotoamatsukami's power, or..." Before he could finish, the black mist swallowed his apparition, and the illusion began to shatter.
Su Ye and Itachi snapped back to their senses. The dark golden patterns on the Spatial Core had already spread to the edge of the spatial ripples. Space around them began to warp, and countless small space-time rifts started forming. "We have to destroy the core immediately," Su Ye said gravely. "But Kotoamatsukami's power is protecting it. Ordinary attacks won't work."
Sasuke suddenly thought of something and shouted to Su Ye, "Use Nagato's Rinnegan! Its power can counter illusions. Maybe it can neutralize Kotoamatsukami's influence." Su Ye immediately did so, raising Nagato's Rinnegan before him. Crimson light blazed as it collided with the dark golden glow of the Spatial Core.
As the two forces intertwined, the spatial ripples shook violently. The crest on the dark golden core began to flicker, and a fragment of indistinct consciousness entered everyone's minds: "Kotoamatsukami: Spatial Projection. Target: Control shinobi bearing a Spatial Mark and open the gate to the other dimension."
"No good!" Naruto suddenly cried out. The necklace around his neck was heating up again, and the Tailed Beast Chakra within him surged out of control. "The core's target is me! It wants to use the Spatial Mark inside me to open a new rift to the other dimension."
Su Ye reacted at once and formed Hand Seals. "Samsara: Sealing Technique!" Pale violet chains shot from his palms and wrapped around Naruto, trying to suppress the Spatial Mark inside him. But as soon as the chains touched Naruto, Tailed Beast Chakra blasted them away. Dark golden patterns began to spread across the golden Tailed Beast Cloak covering Naruto, and his eyes gradually went blank.
"Naruto!" Guy immediately opened the Eight Inner Gates and charged at him, trying to bring him back to his senses with Taijutsu. But as soon as he drew near, Naruto fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at him. Kakashi cut through the bomb with Chidori, but the shockwave still sent Guy flying. "It's no good. Kotoamatsukami's control is too strong. Naruto has already lost consciousness."
Itachi's expression turned grave. "We're in a difficult position. We have to destroy the core and stop Naruto from being controlled. Su Ye, do you have a plan?" Su Ye stared at the Spatial Core as his Rinne Sharingan spun rapidly. "There's only one way. I'll use my Rinne Sharingan together with Nagato's Rinnegan to forcibly strip the Kotoamatsukami imprint from the core. But that could trigger an explosion of spatial energy."
Tsunade immediately gave an order. "All shinobi, evacuate the commercial district and establish a three-layer barrier. Su Ye, we trust you." Su Ye nodded and exchanged glances with Itachi and Sasuke. All three released their chakra at once. Su Ye's pale violet chakra, Itachi's red chakra, and Sasuke's black chakra intertwined with Nagato's Rinnegan, forming a massive beam of light that shot toward the Spatial Core.
The instant the beam struck the core, the dark golden crystal began to crack. The power of Kotoamatsukami and the energy of the Spatial Echo clashed violently. Su Ye could feel Shisui's chakra imprint struggling within the core, trying to break free. "Now!" Su Ye roared, pouring all his chakra into the beam. "Samsara: Chakra Extraction Technique!"
Pale violet light separated from the beam like an invisible hand, seized the Kotoamatsukami imprint within the core, and forcibly pulled it out. The instant the imprint left the core, the dark golden crystal released a terrifying burst of energy. The spatial ripples began to contract, and the surrounding space-time rifts rapidly closed.
But just then, black mist from the other dimension surged out of the spatial ripples and coiled around the extracted Kotoamatsukami imprint. The mist fused with the imprint, forming a dark golden figure. It looked like an Uchiha, Kotoamatsukami's light flickering in its eyes as the energy of the Spatial Echo radiated from its body. "At last... I have gained my full power."
"Who are you?" Su Ye demanded. The figure sneered and raised a hand, firing a spatial wave at him. "I'm the fusion of Shisui's chakra imprint and the black mist from the other dimension. From this day on, call me 'Ying Zhishui.'"
Ying Zhishui attacked at incredible speed. Su Ye had no time to dodge and was struck by the spatial wave, his body instantly warped. Itachi immediately activated Susanoo and shielded Su Ye, but a huge crack appeared in Susanoo's armor when the spatial wave hit it. "His power combines Kotoamatsukami with Space-Time Ninjutsu, and..." Itachi's expression darkened. "He can attack our consciousness directly through spatial fluctuations."
Sasuke activated Perfect Susanoo and swung its sword at Ying Zhishui. "I don't care who you are—you won't destroy Konoha!" Ying Zhishui chuckled and turned into a ripple in space, effortlessly dodging the attack. "It's no use. I can move freely through space. You can't hurt me. And..." He looked at Naruto, who was under Kotoamatsukami's control. "Once I control Naruto and make him open the gate to the other dimension, countless Demon Eaters will pour into Konoha."
Su Ye struggled to his feet. His Rinne Sharingan and Nagato's Rinnegan blazed with their full power. "You're wrong." His voice was firm. "Konoha's protectors will never let you succeed." Pale violet and crimson light intertwined, forming a massive sealing array that enveloped Ying Zhishui and the Spatial Core. "Samsara: Final Space Seal!"
Within the sealing array, countless chains bound Ying Zhishui, trying to seal him away. He roared and unleashed Kotoamatsukami's power, trying to control everyone inside the array. But Su Ye had already used the Rinnegan's power to shield them from its influence. Itachi and Sasuke seized their chance and drove Susanoo's swords into Ying Zhishui at the same time.
As the swords pierced Ying Zhishui's body, he let out a bloodcurdling scream and began to disintegrate. But in the final instant before he vanished, he injected part of his chakra imprint into the spatial ripples just as they were about to close. "I'll be back. Next time, I'll bring an army from the other dimension and destroy Konoha once and for all."
With Ying Zhishui gone, the Spatial Core shattered completely, and the Spatial Echo in the commercial district gradually subsided. Naruto regained consciousness as well. His golden Tailed Beast Cloak faded, and he collapsed weakly to the ground. "Just now... I'm sorry. I almost..." Su Ye stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. "It's okay. We all know you didn't mean to."
Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the now-calm commercial district. "We've dealt with the Spatial Echo, but Ying Zhishui is still a threat. And..." She looked at the Rinnegan in Su Ye's hand. "Nagato's Rinnegan used too much energy in that battle. It's lost most of its power."
Su Ye tightened his grip on the Rinnegan, determination filling his eyes. "No matter how many threats lie ahead, we'll protect Konoha." Itachi nodded as Susanoo slowly faded away. "Next, we need to strengthen Konoha's defenses and investigate the clues Ying Zhishui left behind. Sasuke, go to the Uchiha forbidden grounds and decipher the stone tablet. See if you can find a way to fight Ying Zhishui."
Sasuke nodded and turned toward the Uchiha forbidden grounds. Naruto got to his feet and stretched. "I'll go too. My Tailed Beast Chakra might be useful." Su Ye watched them go, his Rinne Sharingan flickering faintly. He knew that Ying Zhishui's arrival was only the beginning of a much greater crisis. The threat from the other dimension was far from over.
In the Uchiha forbidden grounds, Sasuke and Naruto stood before the stone tablet. Sasuke activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and deciphered the writing. Suddenly, the tablet released a red glow and projected an image. In it, Shisui stood before the tablet, his expression grave. "If, in the future, an enemy appears who has combined Kotoamatsukami with the power of the other dimension, go find the 'Guardian Fire of the Uchiha.' It's hidden..." The image abruptly cut off, and the writing on the tablet blurred.
"Guardian Fire?" Naruto asked in confusion. Sasuke frowned. "It must be an Uchiha treasure. Only the clan head would know where it is." He looked toward Konoha. "Looks like we need to find Tsunade and access the records of the Uchiha Clan Head's inheritance."
On the rooftop of Konoha Hospital, Su Ye stared at the Rinnegan in his hand as pale violet chakra seeped into it. Suddenly, the Rinnegan emitted a crimson glow, and a blurred image entered his mind: deep within the other dimension, countless Demon Eaters surrounded a massive space-time rift. Inside it, a figure in a black robe slowly opened his eyes.
"Who was that?" Su Ye thought, startled. He knew the image foretold that an unprecedented crisis was about to descend upon Konoha. He had to be ready to lead everyone and face the battle to protect it.
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