The Otsutsuki corpse rose from the stone coffin. The gaping hole in his chest had healed completely, and black veins surfaced beneath his skin like living patterns. His golden Rinnegan swept over the group before settling on Lin Ye.
"Your eyes... an embryonic Jōgan, combined with the Rinnegan, and the aura of Lord Isshiki's 'legacy.' A perfect fusion." The corpse's voice was hoarse and echoed. "Unfortunately, this body is too weak to bear Lord Momoshiki's power. But your body... can."
"Momoshiki wants to descend into my body?" Lin Ye sneered. "Then let him come take it himself."
"Lord Momoshiki need not act. We are more than enough." Urashiki flicked his fishing rod, sending the red hook darting toward Lin Ye's eyes like a venomous snake. "I'll be taking those eyes!"
"Shinra Tensei!" Lin Ye raised his hand, unleashing a burst of repulsive force. But the hook ignored it and kept coming. This was no physical attack, but "concept extraction" operating on the level of rules-one of Urashiki's Rinnegan abilities.
"Amenotejikara!" Lin Ye instantly switched places with a rock, and the hook missed. But Kinshiki had already closed in from the side. His black axe cleaved downward, tearing cracks into space itself.
"Kurama!" Naruto instantly entered Nine-Tails Mode, wrapping nine golden tails around Kinshiki's axe. But Kinshiki's strength was overwhelming. He severed three tails, and Naruto staggered back, coughing up blood.
"Naruto!" Sakura treated Naruto with the Mystical Palm Technique while throwing a punch at Kinshiki. Her Monster Strength Fist struck his chest, but left only a shallow dent.
"An ant's struggle." Kinshiki swung a backhanded punch. Sakura defended with Cherry Blossom Impact, but was still sent flying.
Sasuke's eyes were still regenerating, but his Mind's Eye let him sense the battle. He drew his sword and infused it with Lightning Release. "Chidori Sharp Spear!"
The spear of lightning thrust toward the Otsutsuki corpse. The corpse made no attempt to dodge, allowing the Chidori to pierce his chest. But the wound healed instantly, and he reached out to seize Sasuke's sword. "Indra's reincarnation. Your body is also quite good. But Lord Momoshiki desires that anomaly more."
"Get away!" Karin wrapped the corpse's arms in Adamantine Sealing Chains, but he wrenched free, shattering the chains. Karin grunted, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"We're in trouble. This corpse holds part of Momoshiki's consciousness. With Kinshiki and Urashiki here too, we can't win." Lin Ye rapidly assessed the situation, his Rinnegan sweeping across the chamber. "We have to retreat, but they've blocked our escape routes."
"Then we'll make one," Sasuke suddenly said. His new eyes had finally finished regenerating-they no longer bore the Mangekyo pattern, nor were they Rinnegan. They had silvery-white pupils with a single black tomoe at their centers. "My eyes... can see it."
"See what?"
"The nodes in space." Sasuke's silvery-white eyes turned toward the ceiling of the burial chamber. "There's a hidden teleportation array up there, an escape route the Senju Clan left behind. But it needs Hashirama cells to activate."
"Hashirama cells..." Sakura looked toward the culture fluid. "There are still some left!"
She dashed toward the operating table, but Urashiki's hook shot toward her. Lin Ye warped the hook away with Kamui, only for Kinshiki's axe to arrive overhead.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!" Naruto unleashed his full strength, slamming a massive Rasengan into the axe. Boom! The explosion shook the entire burial chamber.
Seizing the opportunity, Sakura grabbed the culture fluid and rushed toward the ceiling. But the Otsutsuki corpse blocked her path.
"You shall not pass."
"Summoning Technique!" Karin bit her finger and pressed it to the ground. Bang! A giant toad appeared amid the smoke-it was Gerotora, carrying a scroll in his mouth.
"Reverse Summoning, hurry!" Gerotora spat out the scroll. It unfurled, revealing a complex teleportation array.
"You go first!" Lin Ye stood in front of the others, driving his Rinnegan to its limit. "Modified Chibaku Tensei!"
He pressed his palms together. The entire burial chamber began to collapse, rocks converging on Kinshiki, Urashiki, and the corpse to seal them away. But the corpse merely raised his hand. "Devour."
The corpse absorbed the Chibaku Tensei's chakra, unraveling the seal. But those few seconds of delay were enough. Karin completed the Reverse Summoning, and light enveloped the group.
"Trying to run?" Urashiki pursued them with Yomotsu Hirasaka, but Lin Ye used the last of his strength. "Limbo: Border Jail!"
Four shadows blocked Urashiki. They held him back for only an instant, but it was enough. Light flashed, and the group vanished.
"Damn it!" Urashiki flicked the blood from his hook-at the last moment, it had sliced Lin Ye's shoulder. "They got away."
"They won't escape," Kinshiki said. "Reverse Summoning leaves traces of its coordinates. I can track them."
"No, there's no need to pursue them." The Otsutsuki corpse spoke, his voice turning commanding. "That Uchiha brat bears my Kāma mark. It's only a temporary mark, but it's enough to locate him. Let them live a few more days. Once Lord Momoshiki descends, we'll wipe them all out in one stroke."
"Lord Momoshiki is coming in person?"
"Yes. This planet holds far too many surprises: the 'legacy' Isshiki left behind, the Uzumaki's Eye of Prophecy, and that anomaly. Lord Momoshiki is very interested." The corpse turned and walked toward the stone coffin. "I need time to adapt fully to this body. Go prepare the descent ritual. In three days, I expect to see a completed altar."
"Yes."
Kinshiki and Urashiki left. The corpse lay back in the stone coffin and closed his eyes, but an eerie smile curled his lips.
"Uchiha Ye... soon, you will be mine."
Before you continue