Shihōin Naraku instantly unleashed Shinra Tensei, shielding the Konoha ninja from the damage of the first wave of attacks.
His left arm extended slightly forward, maintaining the barrier's shape as he faced the direction of Katsuchi's impact. Smoke, dust, and fierce flames were forced apart just a few feet in front of him.
He stood at the very center of the storm, utterly motionless.
Behind him, the six people's breathing had grown rapid and heavy with terror, but every breath remained intact. Not one had vanished because of the shock wave or intense heat.
Naraku even breathed a slight sigh of relief the instant he caught the rhythm of their breathing.
But Katsuchi's impact continued.
The ground around Naraku had already sunk more than three meters, forming a semicircular crater.
Only the small patch of ground beneath his feet remained unchanged, like an isolated island carved out of the earth with a blade.
The surrounding area suffered an even more unimaginable blow, the ground continuously breaking apart.
Isshiki stared fixedly at the scene through the smoke, dust, and lingering flames.
"Go!" Momoshiki reminded him in a low voice.
His condition was so terrible now that he was in no shape to keep fighting.
The same was true of Isshiki.
Hearing Momoshiki's reminder, he immediately raised his hand and swept it through the air.
A black-and-red Space-Time Portal appeared before them.
The portal opened rapidly, expanding in the blink of an eye until it was large enough for both of them to pass through at once.
Without looking back, Isshiki stepped into the dark spatial rift first, with Momoshiki close behind.
The portal snapped shut the instant both had passed through completely. The folds in space shuddered violently, then flattened out again.
Like ripples on water after a stone was thrown