Kotoamatsukami Shadow, Uchiha Secrets, and the Truth of the Spatial Core

Outside the blockade of the Konoha commercial district, Anbu ninjas were using specialized barrier scrolls to suppress spatial ripples. On the pale blue barrier screen, countless black patterns spread like vines, and every fluctuation caused the ground to tremble violently. As Su Ye approached the blockade, the Rinnegan in his palm floated up automatically. Its scarlet light resonated with the black patterns in the spatial ripples, and the chaotic spatial fluctuations instantly became rhythmic.

"This is..." Tsunade stepped forward quickly, looking at the floating Rinnegan with shock in her eyes. "Is it pacifying the spatial echoes?" Su Ye shook his head. His Rinne Sharingan rotated slightly, his gaze piercing through the barrier screen to clearly see a dark golden crystal slowly rotating within the spatial ripples at the center of the commercial district. The Uchiha clan crest engraved on the crystal's surface flickered in sync with the spatial fluctuations.

"That is the Spatial Core of the commercial district," Su Ye said in a deep voice. "And the crest on the core matches the pattern on the stone tablet in the Uchiha forbidden grounds." Upon hearing this, Sasuke immediately activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, attempting to decipher the information within the crest. However, the moment he touched the energy radiating from the core, he clutched his eyes tightly as blood seeped through his fingers. "It's no use. The core's energy is repelling my ocular jutsu; there seems to be a consciousness inside resisting me."

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan glowed red as he stared at the Spatial Core, his brows furrowed. "That is not an ordinary consciousness; it is more like a residual chakra imprint. And..." He paused. "I can feel that this imprint is very similar to the chakra fluctuations of Shisui."

"Shisui?" Naruto asked immediately. "The Uchiha genius who possessed Kotoamatsukami?" Tsunade nodded and took a yellowed scroll from her ninja tool pouch. "This is a classified Konoha file. It records that before Shisui went missing, he conducted ninjutsu experiments at the Uchiha station near the commercial district. The experimental records from that time show he was attempting to combine Kotoamatsukami with space-time ninjutsu."

Su Ye took the scroll, his Rinne Sharingan scanning the text. As pale purple chakra merged into the scroll, the originally blurred experimental data gradually became clear. "So that's it. Shisui wanted to develop a derivative of Kotoamatsukami that could act directly on a target's consciousness through spatial fluctuations. But during the experiment, the spatial energy spiraled out of control, causing part of his chakra imprint to be sealed into a spatial rift." He looked toward the Spatial Core. "Now, the black mist from the other dimension has awakened this imprint, causing the power of Kotoamatsukami to fuse with the spatial echoes, forming this core."

Just then, the spatial ripples fluctuated violently, and the dark golden core released a beam of dark golden light, shooting toward an Anbu ninja outside the blockade. The ninja had no time to dodge; after being struck by the light, his eyes instantly turned hollow. He dropped his barrier scroll and began walking toward the spatial ripples.

"Not good!" Su Ye immediately unleashed Shinra Tensei, blasting the ninja away. "The power of Kotoamatsukami is controlling him. The core is using spatial fluctuations to expand the range of Kotoamatsukami's influence." Tsunade immediately ordered, "Reinforce the barrier! All Anbu ninjas, fall back and use long-range ninjutsu to suppress the core!"

But as soon as the Anbu ninjas' ninjutsu approached the spatial ripples, they were twisted by the energy released by the core and deflected toward the surrounding buildings. The houses in the commercial district collapsed instantly. Amidst the swirling dust, more Demon Eater phantoms crawled out from the spatial ripples. Their bodies were covered in dark golden patterns, and their speed and strength far exceeded the previous phantoms.

"These phantoms have been strengthened by the power of Kotoamatsukami." Itachi activated his Susanoo, its blue arm shielding the group. "Sasuke, use Kagutsuchi to clear the phantoms. Su Ye, you and I will attempt to approach the core." Sasuke complied immediately; black flames surged from his palms to form a wall of fire. The moment the Demon Eater phantoms touched the flames, they let out shrill screams, but the dark golden patterns flickered within the fire, gradually neutralizing the power of Kagutsuchi.

Su Ye and Itachi exchanged a glance and flew toward the Spatial Core simultaneously. Su Ye's Rinne Sharingan released pale purple chakra, resonating with Nagato's Rinnegan to form a protective shield that resisted the energy released by the core. Itachi manifested the blade of his Susanoo, attempting to sever the spatial fluctuations around the core.

But as they neared the core, the dark golden crystal released an intense light. Su Ye and Itachi were struck by the radiance and instantly plunged into an illusion. In the illusion, they saw the scene of Shisui's experiment: Shisui stood before the workbench, holding a Sharingan in his hand, while spatial energy condensed into a rift before him. Suddenly, a surge of black energy poured out from the rift. Shisui attempted to suppress it with Kotoamatsukami, but was backlashed by the energy, and his chakra imprint was forcibly stripped away and merged into the rift.

"So that's how it was." Su Ye spoke within the illusion. "What eroded Shisui back then was the black mist from the other dimension." Shisui's phantom suddenly turned around, his eyes filled with pain. "Quick... destroy the core. Don't let the power of Kotoamatsukami be fully controlled by the black mist, otherwise..." Before he could finish, the phantom was swallowed by the black mist, and the illusion began to shatter.

Su Ye and Itachi snapped back to reality, discovering that the dark golden patterns of the Spatial Core had already spread to the edge of the spatial ripples. The surrounding space began to distort, and countless small spatial rifts were forming. "We must destroy the core immediately," Su Ye said in a deep voice. "But the core is protected by the power of Kotoamatsukami; ordinary attacks are ineffective."

Sasuke suddenly thought of something and shouted to Su Ye, "Use Nagato's Rinnegan! The power of the Rinnegan can suppress genjutsu; perhaps it can neutralize the influence of Kotoamatsukami." Su Ye immediately complied, holding Nagato's Rinnegan before him. The scarlet light surged, colliding with the dark golden light of the Spatial Core.

The moment the two forces intertwined, the spatial ripples shook violently. The clan crest on the dark golden core began to flicker, and a blurred fragment of consciousness flooded everyone's minds: "Kotoamatsukami: Spatial Projection. Target: Control the ninja with the spatial imprint and open the gate to the other dimension."

"Oh no!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed. The necklace around his neck grew hot again, and the Tailed Beast chakra within him began to surge uncontrollably. "The core's target is me! It wants to use the spatial imprint inside me to open a new rift to the other dimension."

Su Ye reacted immediately, forming hand seals. "Samsara Seal Technique!" Pale purple chains flew from his palms, binding Naruto's body in an attempt to suppress the spatial imprint within him. But the moment the chains touched Naruto, they were shaken off by the Tailed Beast chakra. The golden Tailed Beast Cloak on Naruto began to be covered in dark golden patterns, and his eyes gradually turned hollow.

"Naruto!" Guy immediately opened the Eight Inner Gates and charged toward Naruto, attempting to wake him with taijutsu. But as soon as he got close, Naruto unleashed a Tailed Beast Bomb, firing it at Guy. Kakashi immediately used Chidori to slice through the Tailed Beast Bomb, but the shockwave still sent Guy flying. "It's no use. The control of Kotoamatsukami is too strong; Naruto has already lost consciousness."

Itachi's expression turned grave. "The situation is dire. We must destroy the core while preventing Naruto from being controlled. Su Ye, do you have a plan?" Su Ye stared at the Spatial Core, his Rinne Sharingan rotating rapidly. "There is only one way. Use my Rinne Sharingan combined with Nagato's Rinnegan to forcibly strip the Kotoamatsukami imprint from the core. But doing so may trigger a spatial energy explosion."

Tsunade immediately ordered, "All ninjas, evacuate the commercial district and establish a triple-layered barrier. Su Ye, we trust you." Su Ye nodded. He exchanged a look with Itachi and Sasuke, and the three released their chakra simultaneously. Su Ye's pale purple chakra, Itachi's red chakra, and Sasuke's black chakra intertwined, forming a massive pillar of light with Nagato's Rinnegan that shot toward the Spatial Core.

The moment the light pillar struck the core, the dark golden crystal began to crack, the power of Kotoamatsukami and the energy of the spatial echoes colliding violently. Su Ye could feel the Shisui chakra imprint within the core struggling, attempting to break free. "Now!" Su Ye roared, pouring all his chakra into the light pillar. "Samsara Chakra Extraction Technique!"

Pale purple light separated from the pillar like an invisible hand, grabbing the Kotoamatsukami imprint within the core and forcibly stripping it out. The moment the imprint left the core, the dark golden crystal released terrifying energy. The spatial ripples began to shrink, and the surrounding spatial rifts continuously closed.

But just then, the black mist from the other dimension suddenly surged out from the spatial ripples, entangling the stripped Kotoamatsukami imprint. The black mist fused with the imprint, forming a dark golden figure. The figure had the appearance of an Uchiha, its pupils flickering with the light of Kotoamatsukami, and its body radiating the energy of spatial echoes. "Finally... I have obtained complete power."

"Who are you?" Su Ye demanded sternly. The figure sneered and raised a hand, releasing a spatial fluctuation that shot toward Su Ye. "I am the fusion of Shisui's chakra imprint and the black mist of the other dimension. From today on, call me 'Ying Zhishui'."

Ying Zhishui's attack speed was extremely fast. Su Ye had no time to dodge and was struck by the spatial fluctuation, his body instantly twisting. Itachi immediately activated his Susanoo to shield Su Ye, but the Susanoo armor was struck by the spatial fluctuation, causing a massive crack to appear. "His power fuses Kotoamatsukami and space-time ninjutsu, and..." Itachi's expression turned ugly. "He can attack our consciousness directly through spatial fluctuations."

Sasuke activated his Complete Body Susanoo, wielding a long sword as he slashed toward Ying Zhishui. "No matter who you are, you won't destroy Konoha!" Ying Zhishui chuckled, his body turning into a spatial ripple to easily avoid the attack. "It's useless. I can travel freely through space; you cannot hurt me. And..." He looked at the Naruto controlled by Kotoamatsukami. "As long as I control Naruto to open the gate to the other dimension, countless Demon Eaters will flood into Konoha."

Su Ye struggled to stand up, his Rinne Sharingan and Nagato's Rinnegan simultaneously erupting with extreme light. "You are wrong." His voice was filled with determination. "The guardians of Konoha will never let you succeed." The pale purple and scarlet lights intertwined, forming a massive sealing formation that enveloped both Ying Zhishui and the Spatial Core. "Samsara Final Space Seal!"

Within the sealing formation, countless chains entangled Ying Zhishui, attempting to seal him. Ying Zhishui roared, unleashing the power of Kotoamatsukami in an attempt to control everyone within the formation. But Su Ye had already used the power of the Rinnegan to shield them from the influence of Kotoamatsukami. Itachi and Sasuke immediately seized the opportunity, their Susanoo blades piercing toward Ying Zhishui simultaneously.

The moment the blades pierced through Ying Zhishui's body, he let out a shrill scream, and his body began to dissipate. But at the very last moment of his dissipation, Ying Zhishui injected a portion of his chakra imprint into the closing spatial ripples. "I will return. Next time, I will bring an army from the other dimension and completely destroy Konoha."

With the dissipation of Ying Zhishui, the Spatial Core shattered completely, and the spatial echoes in the commercial district gradually subsided. The controlled Naruto also regained consciousness; the golden Tailed Beast Cloak dissipated, and he fell to the ground weakly. "Just now... I'm sorry, I almost..." Su Ye walked up and patted his shoulder. "It's okay. We all know you didn't mean it."

Tsunade looked at the calm commercial district and breathed a sigh of relief. "Although the spatial echoes have been resolved, the threat of Ying Zhishui remains. And..." She looked at the Rinnegan in Su Ye's hand. "Nagato's Rinnegan has consumed too much energy in this battle and has lost most of its power."

Su Ye gripped the Rinnegan tightly, his eyes filled with resolve. "No matter how many threats the future holds, we will protect Konoha." Itachi nodded, his Susanoo slowly dissipating. "Next, we need to strengthen Konoha's defenses while investigating the clues left behind by Ying Zhishui. Sasuke, go to the Uchiha forbidden grounds and decipher the information on the stone tablet to see if you can find a way to counter Ying Zhishui."

Sasuke nodded and turned to walk toward the Uchiha forbidden grounds. Naruto stood up and stretched his body. "I'll go too. Maybe my Tailed Beast chakra can help." Su Ye watched their retreating figures, his Rinne Sharingan flickering slightly. He knew that the appearance of Ying Zhishui was only the beginning of a greater crisis. And 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 Mangekyo Sharingan, deciphering the text on the tablet. Suddenly, the stone tablet released a red light, projecting an image. In the image, Shisui stood before the tablet with a grave expression. "If in the future, an enemy appears who has fused the powers of Kotoamatsukami and the other dimension, go find the 'Guardian Fire of the Uchiha'. It is hidden in..." The image suddenly cut off, and the text on the stone tablet became blurred.

"Guardian Fire?" Naruto asked in confusion. Sasuke frowned. "This should be a secret treasure of the Uchiha, known only to the clan head." He looked toward Konoha. "It seems we need to find Tsunade and retrieve the inheritance records of the Uchiha clan heads."

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the Konoha Hospital, Su Ye stared at the Rinnegan in his hand, pale purple chakra merging into the eye. Suddenly, the Rinnegan released a scarlet light, and a blurred vision flooded his mind: deep within the other dimension, countless Demon Eaters were surrounding a massive spatial rift. Within the rift, a figure wearing a black robe was slowly opening their eyes.

"Who is that?" Su Ye felt a jolt of alarm. He knew this vision foretold that an unprecedented crisis was about to descend upon Konoha. And he had to be prepared to lead everyone to meet this battle of protection.