That's right. This is the truth.
In a certain sense, Natsuki actually agreed with Akatsuki's ideals.
Only by making the world feel pain would people cherish the hard-won peace. Only by adding a powerful external enemy would the world's people truly unite.
So the shinobi world needed this war!
So the shinobi world needed to go through this Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi)!
The shinobi world before this was simply too twisted and chaotic. The great nations tore at each other over利益, feuds, and slaughter, while the smaller nations suffered endlessly. Everyone in the shinobi world lived through hardship and pain, as if it would never end.
But this war made everyone, for the first time, put aside their prejudice and unite against a common foe.
That was the right beginning.
Natsuki had originally planned to respect the world's fate, but later he changed his mind.
Because he would live in this "732" world. He and Tenten would have children in the future—so this world couldn't be allowed to remain terrible. The future had to be reformed, not saved every time by some so-called messiah.
If it stayed like that, Natsuki and his family would never know peace.
And after Natsuki opened the Dai Roku Keimon (Sixth Gate: Gate of Joy) for the first time and fought Madara Uchiha to a standstill, he fully understood his own strength.
He was sure he could defeat Rikudō Madara (Six Paths Madara), and he was sure he could defeat Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—even if Naruto and Sasuke, the pair of saviors, never awakened in the end, he could still resolve everything.
But he also knew Kaguya Ōtsutsuki wasn't the only enemy.
The Ōtsutsuki were alien invaders, and more would keep coming in the future. The shinobi world would always be facing an enormous threat.
So Natsuki intended to fight Kaguya Ōtsutsuki once—truly confirm his own limits—and use this moment to make the shinobi world understand: foreign enemies will come. Everyone must unite, and the shinobi world must develop peacefully and quickly, so it can protect itself in the future. If they kept fighting among themselves, the only outcome would be extinction.
Looking back carefully on this war, Natsuki had contributed a great deal, but he hadn't gone all out.
He could have opened the Dai Nana Kyōmon (Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder) earlier and killed the Gedō Mazō (Outer Path Demonic Statue), killed Madara, killed Black Zetsu—then nothing would have gone wrong.
But he didn't.
He had been holding back the entire time—because, in truth, he had been waiting for this moment.
And the way he fought so hard earlier had three reasons. First, to build influence—so that later he would have more voice, and it would be easier to force change upon the shinobi world. Second, to reduce casualties—at the very least, to ensure his friends and loved ones didn't die. Third, to confirm everyone's capability—he wanted to see whether, with his help, they could stop the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi).
The results proved that everyone had some strength.
But it still wasn't enough.
They still couldn't stop the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi).
That was fine. It was the perfect chance to finish off Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and avoid leaving behind unnecessary hidden dangers.
Natsuki glanced at Kakashi. This time, even Kakashi with "double Kamui" had been trapped in the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi). Only the three Hokage were fine—because they weren't living people.
Hashirama Senju's face was grim. "This is bad. We actually failed to stop the Tsukuyomi!"
Tobirama Senju, however, looked as if he'd seen through something. "Kid Natsuki… you had the ability to stop it, didn't you?"
Natsuki didn't deny it. "Some things have to be experienced. Madara worked that hard—how could I let his efforts be wasted? At the very least, he forced the shinobi world to unite. And this Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) will make the shinobi world even more united in the future."
"So you deliberately didn't stop it?"
Minato Namikaze was stunned. "Weren't you afraid it would spiral out of control? If you got caught in the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi), then—"
The three of them all stared at Natsuki in surprise.
Right. Why wasn't this kid affected by the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi)?
Natsuki chuckled. "I'm completely immune to genjutsu. Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu doesn't work on me. The Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) doesn't work either. I knew I'd be fine, and I was waiting for this moment. The shinobi world's hidden dangers need to be resolved—and after this, the shinobi world will welcome long-lasting peace. Just wait and see!"
The three Hokage were speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
They hadn't expected Natsuki to be using this war.
But it wasn't necessarily bad. Madara had been dead-set on playing the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) card anyway, so the war couldn't be avoided. If so, it was better to make use of it.
They had also seen the shinobi world's first true great unity, and they understood Natsuki's thinking.
Maybe the shinobi world really would keep getting better.
Hashirama laughed loudly. "Hahahaha! Kid's got ideas! Young people these days are incredible!"
Tobirama nodded. "Natsuki, you'll be an excellent Hokage."
Minato also gave him a thumbs-up. "Go. Save this shinobi world!"
"I'm not becoming Hokage." Natsuki rolled his eyes. "Being Hokage means waking up earlier than a chicken and sleeping later than a dog. A mountain of chores every day, and not even time to be with your wife… In the end, Hokage is just a village chief. There's nothing worth being. As long as I'm strong enough, that title doesn't matter. What I want to do—no one will be able to stop me."
…Well, damn.
The three Hokage scratched their heads. He wasn't wrong.
Still—someone that outstanding, why wouldn't he be Hokage?
Konoha needed him. The shinobi world needed him. People needed him. He should be Hokage!
Natsuki ignored them and looked up into the sky. Madara spread his arms wide, as if gazing down upon the entire world.
"The Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) will cover the whole world, ignoring all shadows and obstructions. Even people on the other side of the planet will fall into the genjutsu. Next… Shinju Kōrin (Advent of the God Tree)!"
Madara performed another ninjutsu, and an enormous Shinju (God Tree) began to grow across the world. Its branches and leaves blanketed the entire shinobi world, while countless vines extended outward, wrapping everyone up—like cocoons woven from a spiderweb, hanging them in midair. It looked bizarre.
But Madara was clearly satisfied.
He glanced down again and saw Naruto and Sasuke still pinned beneath Susanoo, and three others still safe.
And Natsuki and the three Hokage hadn't been caught by the genjutsu, either.
"Hashirama and the others are Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) bodies, so it makes sense they aren't affected by the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi). Those three are protected by Susanoo, so they're fine too. But why isn't Natsuki affected? It seems this guy's been immune to genjutsu all along—he ignored my Mangekyō genjutsu earlier. This is troublesome."
It was obvious that Madara was extremely wary of Natsuki.
Back when Natsuki relied on the Dai Nana Kyōmon (Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder), he had nearly beaten Madara to death. It was absurd.
Now he would have to fight seriously. He couldn't be killed by these little brats—otherwise the Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) would have been for nothing.
Just as Madara was thinking, Kabuto Yakushi—controlled by White Zetsu—had already reached Madara's back.
Then, with a brutal Black Tiger Steals the Heart, he punched straight through Madara's chest, piercing his heart cleanly.
(End of Chapter)
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