A vast hollow space had been carved out.
This was the core of the Forbidden Jutsu and Technology Fusion Research Institute—an underground shipyard that existed for a single purpose.
Namikaze Shinju stood on the highest observation platform, looking down over everything below.
Beside him were Senju Tobirama and Orochimaru.
All three of their gazes were fixed on the colossal object at the center of the dock.
Kaguya-1.
It lay moored there in silence.
The hull was covered in densely packed jutsu-formula patterns—so complex they were enough to make any sealing master dizzy just from looking at them.
Those patterns stretched from the prow all the way to the stern, finally converging inside the vessel, linking to the beating "heart" within.
Through a specially designed observation window in the outer armor, the ship's power core could be seen.
A massive crystal floated within a restraining field, radiating an ominous, pounding chakra fluctuation.
It was the extracted origin core of the Three-Tails, Isobu—after countless rounds of modification and calibration, it had become a stable-output "Tailed Beast Chakra Engine."
Only half a month.
Shinju provided conceptual blueprints from another world.
Tobirama contributed his ultimate understanding of space ninjutsu and fujutsu.
Orochimaru poured in all his fanaticism for biotechnology and energy conversion.
Countless researchers worked without sleep, forcibly kneading three different systems of knowledge into one.
And so—
A creation never before seen was born.
Tobirama took a few steps forward.
"Success…"
"We really succeeded!"
"Using spatial formulas to distort the space around the hull, we can cancel out planetary gravity. Using multiple layered Shishō Fūin (Four Symbols Seal) to construct an energy shield, it's enough to withstand meteor impacts…"
"This is a miracle only a god could accomplish!"
Orochimaru stood on the other side, his excitement aimed at something completely different from Tobirama's.
Spatial formulas and sealing were exquisite, yes—
But to him, nothing compared to the energy source at the core.
"Hehehe…"
"To filter and convert the tailed beast's violent chakra layer by layer… turning it into pure, stable, efficient propulsion energy."
"This is the most perfect way to use energy."
"Compared to becoming jinchuriki weapons, this is the true value of the tailed beasts."
Shinju's expression didn't change.
His gaze passed over Kaguya-1, as if seeing something even farther beyond.
"This is only the beginning, Tobirama-sama."
"Kaguya-1 is only our first step toward the stars."
Shinju turned to face the two greatest geniuses in the shinobi world.
"Our future is to build a fleet capable of crossing the cosmos—"
"A god-slaying armada!"
Those words made Tobirama's breathing catch.
A god-slaying armada.
The ambition behind that phrase seemed to cool the scorching air of the underground dock.
One hour later.
Above Konoha, an invisible barrier covered the entire village.
All villagers were informed that an important drill would take place tonight—no one was permitted to go outside.
Inside the institute's highest command center, the room was packed.
The Fourth Raikage, A.
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
The Fifth Mizukage, Mei.
The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara.
Every top leader of the Allied Shinobi Forces was present.
They had been summoned urgently, yet none of them knew why.
They stood before a massive screen showing a real-time feed of the underground dock.
When they saw the enormous unknown object at the center of the screen, everyone fell silent.
"Shinju-sama… what exactly is that…?" Onoki hovered in midair.
Shinju didn't answer.
He simply issued a command into the communications device.
"Kaguya-1, prepare for the first test flight."
On the screen, the shipyard's ceiling began sliding open from both sides, revealing the night sky above—covered by the barrier.
"All personnel withdraw to the safe zone."
"Launch shaft cleared."
"Kaguya-1, anti-gravity formulas—activate."
A researcher's voice came through the broadcast system, calm and rapid as he reported each step.
"Countdown begins."
"Ten, nine, eight…"
Inside the command center, every Kage held their breath, eyes locked on the screen.
"Three, two, one!"
"Ignition!"
There was no earth-shattering roar.
No violent shaking.
No blasting flames.
On-screen, the colossal vessel rose steadily from its berth.
That eerie silence was more frightening than any thunderous explosion.
Kaguya-1 ascended vertically, passing through the open ceiling and emerging beneath Konoha's night sky.
The command center's view immediately switched—now a wide-angle shot from above the Hokage Rock.
Everyone saw it:
A dark green spacecraft hovering silently over the village, like a ghost from another world.
"T-This… how is this even possible?" Onoki blurted out.
He was a master of flight himself, yet what he was seeing completely violated everything he understood about levitation.
"Main engine at thirty percent power. Enter low orbit."
"Confirmed."
In the next instant, everyone in the command center witnessed a scene they would never forget.
At the rear of Kaguya-1, two massive exhaust ports lit up.
Then—
Kaguya-1 disappeared.
It didn't shoot away at high speed.
It vanished from everyone's vision—out of thin air.
On the wide-angle screen, only an empty night sky remained.
The command center fell into dead silence.
"Lost—target lost!" a sensory ninja responsible for tracking shouted in panic.
"Switch to the global chakra monitoring network," Shinju said, still calm.
The main screen instantly changed into a world map formed from chakra lines.
A point of light appeared above the Land of Fire, then in the blink of an eye crossed the sea, passed the Land of Water, swept over the Land of Lightning, and cut straight across the Land of Earth.
Electronic readouts continued reporting data.
"Speed cannot be calculated! Exceeded maximum detection limit!"
"Altitude—three hundred kilometers!"
"Orbiting the planet! Estimated time to complete one orbit—three minutes, thirty seconds!"
Three minutes and thirty seconds.
A full loop around the world.
In that moment, the Kage finally understood why Shinju had called them here.
The era where shinobi only formed hand seals and fought on the ground—
Was over.
Three minutes and twenty-seven seconds later, the researcher's voice sounded again.
"Target has completed orbital loop. Returning to designated airspace."
"Confirmed. Shut down main engine. Begin vertical landing program."
In the sky above, Kaguya-1 appeared again—as if it had never left.
It descended soundlessly, returning with perfect precision to its berth in the underground dock.
The shipyard ceiling slowly closed.
The main screen froze on the image of Kaguya-1 resting still.
A deathlike silence covered the room.
After a long time, the Fourth Raikage, A, finally forced out a sentence through clenched teeth.
"What… kind of monster is that?"
Shinju turned around, looking at the faces filled with shock, confusion, and even fear.
His power, at this moment, officially stepped from "shinobi world level"—
Into "planetary level."
The ship was ready.
Next—
They would choose the fangs capable of wielding this star-devouring beast.
A planet-spanning war was about to begin.
And the first step of war—
Was selecting the members of the "god-slaying legion" who would go to battle.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]