The Branch House's territory... The Tenseigan was housed in an underground cave, and compared to the original, it was less than half the size.
To completely defeat the Main House, the Branch House had separated some of the power from the Tenseigan they had formed using a secret technique.
They had failed to obtain the Main House's eyes, and Aoike had destroyed the small Tenseigan they had extracted.
And so, they ended up with this "malnourished" synthetic Tenseigan.
Under their plan, nearly every road leading here had been blasted apart, leaving only one empty main passage.
Everyone knew conventional methods wouldn't work. The family's secret technique, which they had pinned their hopes on, was their trump card.
Everyone stared intently at the only entrance.
The Otsutsuki had paid a heavy price for their arrogance, and that price had turned into a burden dragging them toward the abyss.
Two hungry beasts had crossed paths on the narrow road between survival and ideals;
The winner takes all, and the loser bites the dust!
At the back, Toneri's palms were slick with nervous sweat. The silence was so complete that even the sound of someone swallowing could be heard.
The Moon Rock overhead trembled with a grating rumble. The booming impacts of colliding giants pounded at everyone's hearts.
A dozen seconds later, Aoike rubbed his aching eyes and dispelled Susanoo.
"This turtle shell is tough." Aoike kicked away a pebble, his brow furrowing.
He had tried using the Byakugan to see what was below, but he couldn't see through it. Even Susanoo couldn't pry it open.
In the original story, Toneri had split the moon in half with a single strike after obtaining the Tenseigan. Now that a giant one was hiding inside, Aoike was naturally wary.
His full-power strike might have been enough to shatter the defense, but the weakness and recovery time after such a powerful move would give the enemy an opening.
That would be like unveiling the enemy's cannon for them—they'd be sent flying.
But the battle had reached its final moment. Giving up wasn't an option, either.
He charged into their lair alone, without slowing his pace.
Susanoo, in its silvery skeletal form, protected Aoike.
Dust billowed in his wake. Relying on his powerful defenses, Aoike tried to break through their formation as quickly as possible.
The Branch House members controlling the Tenseigan in the cave realized what he was doing. At their command, the Tenseigan unleashed tremendous repulsive force, like an invisible giant hand forcibly restraining the advancing skeleton.
"That Tenseigan sure has some muscle!"
The six-petaled lotus in his Mangekyo spun furiously. Just as Susanoo's muscles began to grow, Aoike suddenly felt the pressure ease.
Looking at the few nobodies panting from forcibly wielding the Tenseigan, he chuckled.
"Too bad the users aren't much."
Privately, he was relieved that he had gravely wounded the Otsutsuki Branch House's main forces. If Otsutsuki Ikki and the others had activated the Tenseigan, Aoike would have run without a second thought.
The difference was like that between the Flying Thunder God used by some Fourth Hokage's guards and the Fourth Hokage's own Flying Thunder God.
Perhaps they were "used to it." No one spoke up to challenge Aoike. They only showed him their hatred with twisted expressions and hollow eye sockets.
After a few exchanges, Aoike looked puzzled. He had already figured out the pattern.
The moment he activated Susanoo and moved in, it was repelled.
The closer he got, the higher Susanoo's level became, and the stronger the counterattack. It was like a spring, but it didn't push back unless he approached.
They hadn't even used a powerful technique like Tenseigan Blast.
Were they stalling?
Aoike stood outside the attack range. Since forcing his way in with Susanoo didn't work, he would try another tactic.
The people maintaining the Tenseigan from afar saw that Aoike wasn't charging in with Susanoo and hurriedly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although the Tenseigan, formed by their secret technique, was immune to ninjutsu attacks from anyone who wasn't a descendant of Hamura, Susanoo's earlier punch, which had been like a natural disaster, had left everyone with a deep-seated fear.
All they had to do now was stall until that technique was complete. Then, no matter how powerful their opponent was, he would be doomed.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Five identical Aoikes appeared.
Cartoon!
"Great Flame Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The wind fanned the flames, and in the blink of an eye, the fire was right on top of them.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
Layer upon layer of earthen walls surged from the ground, blocking all of Aoike's attacks.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Everyone instinctively took cover behind the crumbling earthen walls, letting the rain of shuriken fall.
The five shadow clones charged forward, while the Branch House members focused on holding Aoike back.
The shadow clones did nothing but keep shifting positions, leading their pursuers on.
The shadow clones roamed across the entire battlefield, but still couldn't break through the core defenses.
With a puff, four of the Aoikes on the battlefield turned into smoke and vanished. One who seemed to be the real Aoike leaped into the air.
"Susanoo!"
A silvery skeleton appeared, its hands poised like hammers as it slammed toward the Tenseigan.
"Has he lost his mind?" The Otsutsuki below, controlling the Tenseigan, smirked at Aoike, whose true form had been exposed.
A torrent of repulsive force surged toward the silvery skeleton.
But the skeleton wasn't knocked flying as they had expected. Instead, it disappeared in a puff of white smoke...
It was obvious: a shadow clone had used the Transformation Technique.
Then where was the real Aoike?
"Chidori!"
The agitated buzz rang across the battlefield. Aoike, who had hidden himself among the shuriken, seized his chance and used Chidori to end the life of a man named Otsutsuki Toneri.
As the arm crackling with lightning pierced Toneri's chest, everything seemed to freeze.
Looking at Toneri, who was only a few years younger than himself, Aoike felt nothing.
That was what war was like. Once someone became your enemy, it was kill or be killed.
The only difference between Aoike and Toneri was that Aoike had achieved his goal, while Toneri had failed.
"Heavenly Controller of Fate."
His overwhelming ocular power instantly refined the dying Otsutsuki Toneri.
Ashes scattered.
Plunder, deconstruct...
He felt every cell in his body seething. No wonder Urashiki had recognized him as a fellow clansman.
This bloodline was purer than all the people on the moon put together! Aoike narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.
Ninety-nine percent.