The barrier opened, and Lin Ye stepped out. Only a month had passed outside, but he had spent ten years within. Those ten years had made him look far more mature. Though his body was still ten years old (the time barrier affected only the mind, not physical age), his eyes carried the weight of the years.
Unfulfilled wishes completed: 1344/1344.
Every unfulfilled wish of the Uchiha had been fulfilled.
"Congratulations, Lin Ye." Yu Ye leaned weakly against the wall, his life drawing to an end. "Now, gather all the eye power imprints and awaken the Jōgan."
Lin Ye sat cross-legged and activated his Rinnegan. The 1,344 eye power imprints flew in from every direction and merged into his eyes. The purple ripples of his Rinnegan began to change. The tomoe fused with the ripples, forming an entirely new pattern-a pair of eyes as clear as water, with pure blue pupils surrounded by a faint golden halo.
Jōgan, awaken.
In that instant, Lin Ye saw so much. He saw the Uchiha's past, the Otsutsuki's history, and this planet's future. He saw Yu Ye's entire life-his loneliness, his longing, and his resolve.
"Yu Ye, thank you," Lin Ye said.
"No need to thank me..." Yu Ye's body began dissolving into motes of light. "I'm happy I could help you. Before I go, let me tell you one last secret: Otsutsuki Yame's weakness is 'love.' Powerful as he is, he has never experienced love, so he doesn't understand the strength it brings. Fight with your hearts, and you can win."
Yu Ye faded away completely, but his chakra did not disappear. Instead, it merged into Lin Ye's Jōgan. Lin Ye sensed that the Jōgan had gained another ability-the Eye of Time, which could briefly manipulate time (speeding it up, slowing it down, or stopping it). Though he could use it only three times a day, for no more than three seconds each time, that was enough to turn the tide of battle.
When he emerged from the Forbidden Grounds, everyone was waiting outside. At the sight of Lin Ye's Jōgan, they all felt its sacred, formidable power.
"Big Brother Ye, your eyes..." Naruto said in astonishment.
"The Jōgan is complete," Lin Ye said. "And I've gained Yu Ye's ability. I can control time."
"That's wonderful!" Karin rushed over and hugged him. "Now we've got an even better chance!"
"But it's still not enough," Lin Ye said. "We need greater strength and more allies. Kakashi-sensei, sorry for the trouble, but please notify all the shinobi villages and activate the 'Planetary Defense Plan.' We're going to intercept the Otsutsuki fleet in space."
"Space?" Everyone froze.
"The Jōgan has given me a new perspective." Lin Ye looked up at the sky. "The Otsutsuki fleet has already departed. It will reach this planet in three years. That's all the time we have to prepare."
Three years was a short time, but enough to accomplish a great deal.
With the help of the knowledge Yu Ye had left behind, the Shinobi World Alliance began a technological revolution. Combining ninjutsu with science, they built spacecraft capable of fighting in space, railguns that could fire Tailed Beast Bombs, and barrier systems capable of defending against Otsutsuki attacks.
Under Lin Ye's guidance, elite fighters such as Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, Koyuki, Killer B, and Gaara began hellish training. The Jōgan could see through the flaws in every technique and devise the most suitable training plans. Over those three years, everyone's strength multiplied several times over.
In the final month of the third year, an alarm came from the space monitoring station: spatial fluctuations had been detected, and a fleet was about to jump in.
"They're finally here." Lin Ye put on a specially designed combat suit (which supplied oxygen and protection against pressure changes) and boarded a spacecraft. Behind him stood the elite forces of the Shinobi World Alliance.
"Let's move out. For our world."
The fleet rose into the sky, broke through the atmosphere, and entered space. In the distance, three enormous black warships emerged from a wormhole. The ships bore the Otsutsuki insignia.
An icy voice came over the communications channel. "Inferior creatures, you dare enter the stars? I am Kaguya, Third Seat of the Otsutsuki Guardians. By my king's command, I have come to harvest this planet. Surrender, and your corpses may remain intact."
"If you want a fight, then fight," Lin Ye replied. "We will protect this planet."
The first battle-the battle in space-began.
But this was only the beginning. The true challenge still lay ahead.
Deep among the distant stars, Otsutsuki Yame was still watching this place.
And Lin Ye was ready.
"The Uchiha's unfulfilled wishes have been fulfilled. But the wish to protect this world will never end."
The vast river of stars was reflected in his Jōgan.
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