Boom!
An indescribable sound, a barely perceptible movement.
Kaguya still stared blankly toward the sky, but there was nothing in front of her now.
"How does that Ōtsutsuki body feel?"
Kaguya suddenly spoke.
"Its potential is beyond imagination. Just as you said, I have to admit that the Ōtsutsuki Clan truly is a higher form of existence than humanity as it is now."
Hiruzen's voice came from below. He made no attempt to conceal it, admitting it openly.
"Heh. Yet despite having the same kind of body, I'm no match for you at all."
"Humans..."
Kaguya withdrew her gaze and instinctively raised a hand to her chest.
There, too, was nothing.
"Have they already attained such power...?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had passed straight through Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's body with a single strike. Just one.
Kaguya slowly closed her eyes and let her body fall freely.
After eating the God Tree Fruit, death was no longer a concept that applied to her.
In theory, there was no way to defeat her except by sealing her.
So even though Hiruzen Sarutobi's kick had wounded her more severely than ever before, it was merely a matter of spending chakra to repair her body.
But her remaining chakra was no longer enough to heal her injuries immediately, and Kaguya understood that her opponent would not give her the time or opportunity.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to use Sealing Jutsu, something unexpected happened.
Boom, boom, boom!
Enormous impacts thundered from every direction, as though the entire world were trembling.
"The barrier is under attack?"
Hiruzen froze, then immediately looked up at the sky.
The Shinobi War's barrier, which even Six Paths Hashirama could not break, was now developing tiny cracks under the bombardment.
The Shinobi War's barrier had supposedly been constructed by the tailed beasts,