The shrill alarm blared, making everyone's already frayed nerves snap tighter, shattering the Divine Court headquarters' brief peace.
Shinju didn't dare waste a second. Relying purely on physical speed, he burst forward, racing for headquarters as fast as he could.
This time, he could clearly feel it was different from before. A faint unease kept crawling up his spine.
If it were just the Otsutsuki, that would at least be manageable—he had some understanding and intel.
But this time, power from a different world was getting involved.
Momoshiki!
That damn bastard—dead, and still causing trouble for everyone. Disgusting.
All around him, researchers hurried about, each face filled with shock and unease.
This was the highest-level alarm. They'd just survived it in the last great war—yet not long after, another new enemy had appeared.
Everyone's hearts were hanging in the air, not knowing what to do. Morale was low.
They all stared at the massive central holographic projection screen, expressions heavier by the second.
On the screen, a black rift had abruptly appeared in the sky—so eerie it looked like the heavens had been torn open with bare hands.
Tobirama stood at the main console, both hands braced on the surface, his mind rapidly analyzing the situation.
"Shinju, you're here." Tobirama didn't turn around.
Shinju walked to his side and stared at the black rift as well, his face grim.
Beyond the rift was nothing but void and darkness.
[Warning! Detected unknown high-dimensional energy invading this world!]
[Warning! Timeline stability is rapidly declining!]
System warnings kept popping up and scrolling nonstop.
Every single warning signaled a disaster far beyond Momoshiki's invasion.
Everyone sucked in a cold breath. What was this—was the apocalypse on a rotation schedule now?
"At the very last moment, when Momoshiki was completely erased by you," Tobirama said quickly, syncing everything they currently knew, "his core self-destructed. The energy shock far exceeded our estimates. It tore open a hole at the weakest point of the world's barrier."
"We tried using Jikūkan Ninjutsu (Space-Time Ninjutsu) to repair it, but the results were useless. Any weapon—matter-based or energy-based—gets swallowed the moment it approaches."
From another corner, Orochimaru let out a soft laugh.
"Hehehe…"
He stood before a separate analyzer, its screen packed with complex energy-spectrum charts.
"Interesting. Truly interesting. This universe is vast—our world is not alone."
This never-before-seen energy form was strange, carrying traits that lay between spirit and matter.
The instruments labeled it as Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure).
"A completely new energy system… a new life-form…" Orochimaru's long tongue slid out. "Tobirama-san, don't you find this fascinating? A realm we've never touched before. A brand-new world is right in front of us."
"Fascinating?" Tobirama snapped, finally turning his head. "Orochimaru! Do you even understand what this means? It means our world has opened its doors completely to another unknown world! We don't know what's behind that door—friendly neighbors, or beasts that devour anything they can sink their teeth into!"
"Either way," Orochimaru replied, voice dripping with obsession, "it has research value, doesn't it?"
Shinju didn't bother joining their argument.
"In this universe, does contact always mean it's a good thing? If we were the first to discover life in another world, would we strike first… or make friendly contact?"
"The answer is obvious. Whether it's us or them, both sides would be wary."
"Looks like Momoshiki's final counterattack is even more troublesome than we imagined."
"He didn't just want to destroy this world—he wanted to open a door to hell for us."
The moment Shinju finished speaking, the alarms in the analysis room abruptly climbed to a new pitch.
"Warning! Rift energy readings have instantly exceeded the maximum value—systems overloaded!"
"No! It's expanding! It's expanding violently!"
A researcher screamed, voice cracking.
Black matter spread at a geometric rate.
And then something even more horrifying happened.
From the center of the black void, a pitch-black passageway extended forward, like a tunnel being built out of pure darkness.
At the console, a researcher's voice had already taken on a sob.
Fear of the unknown about to descend—fear of whether they even had the power to resist—choked everyone's throats.
A massive black corridor hung in the sky.
Then, a figure emerged from the deep darkness, unhurried and calm.
He wore a pure white robe, wide sleeves swaying with the wind.
A half, grotesque bone mask covered the right side of his face, leaving only one cold, indifferent eye exposed.
A slender katana hung at his waist. His steps were slow, carrying the arrogance of someone who looked down on all life.
He stood at the mouth of the black corridor, breathing in the dense life energy in the air.
"Where is this…? There are quite a lot of insects. A brand-new world, and a brand-new power system."
"Oh? So this is the new world… full of weak, yet delicious souls."
His voice was brimming with contempt and arrogance.
"I wonder if the insects of this world have any value… whatever. I'll record everything first, then report back to Aizen-sama."
Shinju's eyes narrowed instantly, killing intent surging.
This bastard…!
But in the next second, the masked man made a move that left everyone confused.
He raised a hand—just that simple motion—and a high-density black energy sphere began to condense in his palm.
"I'll start by erasing the most prosperous region, then. Let it be the ceremonial salute celebrating my arrival."
Tobirama's expression turned even darker.
Orochimaru, who had originally looked like he wanted to communicate with the newcomer, seemed to decide there was no point anymore.
On the screen, the uninvited guest glanced toward the place in the shinobi world where chakra was most concentrated—Konoha.
He didn't form a single hand sign. He didn't chant a single spell.
High-density green-black energy compressed in his palm.
The surrounding light twisted. Even the air seemed to screech with strange distortion.
The green-black sphere looked small, not particularly frightening at first glance—
but the power inside it was enough to flatten mountain ranges into nothing.
The entire space-time analysis room fell silent.
Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the screen—locked on that constantly compressing sphere of annihilation.
In that moment, time dragged like years.
"Ōkyo no Senkō (King Hollow's Flash)."
The newcomer spoke those words flatly.
A black, world-ending beam of light that pierced heaven and earth came crashing down toward Konoha with the force to purge everything!
On this day, it was as if the entire shinobi world's sky had been dyed black.
(End of Chapter)
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