Advance or Retreat

Power that was both mighty and perfect might exist in the Shinobi World, but it would not appear so easily.

Even Mizuki had only just found the path to becoming strong enough to control himself. He was still far from truly reaching that stage.

Without mastery of Yin-Yang Release, he was ultimately a tier weaker in terms of power, incapable of threatening a true enemy—a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.

As for theoretically using taijutsu and other physical attacks to forcibly defeat every opponent, Mizuki decided not to dwell on it. Even Might Guy, after opening the Eight Inner Gates, had fallen short at the final hurdle. With Mizuki's level of taijutsu, it was simply impossible—and likely nobody in the Shinobi World could do it.

Theoretical possibilities were, in the end, nothing more than vague wishes.

Those who did not know the truth might feel that this world was filled with limitless possibilities. But once they reached Mizuki's level, they would understand just how narrow the road ahead was, how it was blocked by barriers at every turn, and how difficult it was to find the right path.

There were only a few keys that could lead one forward: senjutsu, Yin-Yang Release, the Rinnegan, and becoming a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Everything else was beneath notice, not power capable of determining the course of the Shinobi World or controlling one's own fate.

Mizuki still had many things to prepare. There were matters where he could not afford to slack off yet. Until Kaguya Otsutsuki was completely sealed away at the very end, it would not be too late.

And even if he defeated Kaguya Otsutsuki, it might not necessarily mean the end for Mizuki.

After a fairly long period of discussions, the Five Great Shinobi Villages, which had once been deeply divided, finally reached