Chapitre 155: Ch.155 Giant Tenseigan!
Facing the impregnable Ōtsutsuki branch family's castle, Uchiha Shinji didn't rush in. Instead, he hid in the dense forest nearby, carefully observing.
Although he possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, here on the moon, he knew he didn't have the right to move around recklessly.
If the Ōtsutsuki branch family discovered him, not only would his ambitions for the Giant Tenseigan be in jeopardy, but he might not even make it off the moon alive. So caution was the key. Just finding the secret passage to the moon was already a success in itself.
At that moment, Neji pointed into the distance. "Sir, look over there!"
Following Neji's direction, Shinji gazed into the distance and saw a group of Tenseigan puppets marching toward the Ōtsutsuki branch family's castle.
"A guard shift?"
Shinji's eyes narrowed.
Even puppets needed chakra replenishment and regular maintenance. So the fact that these Tenseigan puppets were heading back to the castle presented an opportunity for Shinji.
He motioned for Neji to get closer, and Neji used his Byakugan to observe the route the Tenseigan puppets took back into the castle.
Before long, they discovered a hidden corner where there was a concealed tunnel leading to the castle.
Whenever the Tenseigan puppets approached the entrance, the barrier outside would automatically open, allowing the puppets in and out of the castle.
Seeing this, Neji suggested, "Sir, we could capture one of the puppets and use that tunnel to sneak into the castle!"
Shinji hesitated.
Ordinary Tenseigan puppets were about as strong as Chūnin, so capturing one or two wasn't a problem.
The issue was that they knew nothing about the interior layout of the branch family's castle. Once inside, if they were discovered, they'd be swarmed by countless Tenseigan puppets, and possibly hunted by the branch family members themselves.
If that happened, escaping wouldn't be easy!
"Ōtsutsuki Toneri is only a year or two older than me right now and hasn't fully matured. The other branch family members are likely elderly. This is a period when the Ōtsutsuki branch family is at its weakest. If we don't take the risk now, once Toneri grows stronger, it'll be even harder to make a move on the Giant Tenseigan!"
After weighing the risks, Shinji turned to Neji and instructed, "Remember, our main goal this time is to gather intel. Once we're inside, don't act rashly. Follow my lead at all times."
"Yes, sir!" Neji replied seriously.
Having accepted Ōtsutsuki Hamura's request and learning the full history of the war between the branch and main families, Neji understood the potential catastrophe the branch family posed to Earth. Thus, he approached this mission with the utmost caution.
Soon, they set their sights on an isolated Tenseigan puppet.
Swish!
With a flicker, Shinji used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind the puppet. In an instant, Susanoo activated, and the massive skeletal hand of his Susanoo grabbed the Tenseigan puppet, immobilizing it.
Shinji then carried the puppet to the secret tunnel's entrance.
Sensing the Tenseigan chakra within the puppet, the barrier at the tunnel's entrance opened, revealing the pathway inside.
Shinji and Neji exchanged glances. In a flash, both dashed into the tunnel.
Once inside, Shinji activated Susanoo again and crushed the captured Tenseigan puppet in his hand.
Clang clang.
As the broken puppet's parts scattered, Neji asked, "Sir, what do we do next?"
While deactivating Susanoo, Shinji replied, "Without the barrier, your Byakugan should be unrestricted, right? Our first objective is to locate the Giant Tenseigan."
Neji nodded and carefully surveyed their surroundings using his Byakugan.
After some time, he reported, "Sir, there are several areas within the castle that I can't observe with my Byakugan. I suspect the Giant Tenseigan might be hidden in one of them."
Shinji vaguely recalled that the Giant Tenseigan was likely stored in a floating temple within the branch family's territory. He asked, "Which directions are these areas located?"
Neji pointed out several locations.
Shinji assessed the positions and said, "Let's start by investigating this one."
The two of them stealthily moved through the passageways, with Neji's Byakugan allowing them to avoid the patrolling Tenseigan puppets. After a close call, they managed to reach the upper levels of the Ōtsutsuki branch family's castle.
Once outside, their view opened up significantly.
They stood atop the majestic castle of the Ōtsutsuki branch family. Surrounding the castle were massive floating stone mountains.
Each stone mountain had structures built atop it—some were towers, others temples.
The mountains were connected by floating rock paths, creating a breathtaking, almost ethereal landscape.
Neji marveled, "I never expected such a place to exist on the moon!"
Shinji quickly asked, "Look closely at those floating stone mountains. Which one is blocking your Byakugan?"
Neji pointed to a mountain that had a temple on it. "Sir, it's that one!"
Shinji's eyes lit up.
The Giant Tenseigan was most likely hidden within that temple atop the floating mountain!
Suppressing his excitement, Shinji carefully observed the surroundings.
Even within the barrier, Tenseigan puppets patrolled the sky, riding mechanical birds. These puppets appeared to be more advanced and refined than the ones outside the barrier.
They resembled the high-level Tenseigan puppets that Ōtsutsuki Toneri had sent to capture Hanabi in the original timeline.
"These advanced Tenseigan puppets are capable of fighting against Naruto after the Fourth Shinobi War. Individually, they're probably as strong as jōnin. If we get caught by them, I might not even be able to escape!"
Realizing the danger, Shinji led Neji back into the tunnels, patiently waiting for the right moment.
Hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Finally, the advanced Tenseigan puppets patrolling the skies landed on the various towers atop the stone mountains, likely to replenish their Tenseigan chakra.
"Let's go!"
Seizing the opportunity, Shinji darted out of the tunnel.
Neji followed closely behind.
They avoided the gaze of the distant towers and used the floating rock pathways as cover, inching closer and closer to the floating stone mountain that housed the Giant Tenseigan.
As they got nearer, Shinji grew more and more composed.
To be safe, they hid in the shadows of the floating rock pathways for hours, slowly but surely making their way to the stone mountain.
At last, they reached the interior of the mountain's temple without incident.
Only after entering the temple did Shinji let out a sigh of relief.
Neji, too, clutched his chest, breathing heavily.
The journey here hadn't been easy.
Then, the two of them cautiously made their way deeper into the temple.
Because of the Giant Tenseigan's presence, Neji's Byakugan's vision was severely limited inside the temple, reducing its observational range significantly.
Fortunately, there were no advanced Tenseigan puppets guarding the area, allowing them to move forward without hindrance. Soon enough, they reached the grand hall where the Giant Tenseigan was stored.
Unlike the dim corridors of the temple, the grand hall was brightly lit with a golden glow. Suspended in the center of the hall was the Giant Tenseigan itself.
Surrounding the Giant Tenseigan were large, golden rings orbiting it.
These rings circled the Giant Tenseigan, making it resemble a massive globe.
After a few quick leaps, Shinji and Neji landed on one of the rings, observing the Giant Tenseigan up close.
"This..." Neji paused for a moment, then said, "This one is even bigger than the one I saw in the orb!"
Shinji explained, "That's to be expected. What you saw was the original Giant Tenseigan formed by the branch family. After they defeated the main family, they gathered the Byakugan of the main family and added them to this Giant Tenseigan. So it's now larger and more powerful than during the Ōtsutsuki civil war."
Neji looked troubled. "Sir, Ōtsutsuki Hamura asked me to destroy this Giant Tenseigan. What should I do?"
Gazing at the radiant Giant Tenseigan before him, Shinji slowly said, "This Giant Tenseigan isn't just the treasure of the Ōtsutsuki clan. It's a treasure of the shinobi world. Destroying it just because of the branch family's foolishness would be a great waste."
Neji looked at Shinji. "So, what do you propose?"
Shinji narrowed his eyes. "As long as we can take control of this Giant Tenseigan away from the Ōtsutsuki branch family, there's no need for the 'fist of the moon' to fall."
Even if he weren't tasked with protecting the shinobi world as the "Lantern Bearer," even if he had no duty to safeguard it, he wouldn't want to destroy something as mesmerizing and powerful as the Giant Tenseigan!
Neji hesitated.
Deep down, he wanted to follow his ancestor's request and destroy the Giant Tenseigan. But now that he had seen it with his own eyes, he wavered.
As a descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hamura, Neji felt a profound connection to the Giant Tenseigan that even Shinji couldn't understand.
He could sense the immense power contained within it.
Compared to this Giant Tenseigan, the malevolent spirit Moryō, which had once haunted his nightmares, seemed insignificant.
He knew that if he wanted to break free from the curse of the Caged Bird, he would have to rely on the power of the Giant Tenseigan.
Suddenly, a stern voice called out from behind them, "How dare you trespass here!"
Shinji turned around to see an elderly man dressed in the garb of the Ōtsutsuki clan standing in the temple, glaring at them with fury.
"Damn it!"
"This isn't good!"
Both Shinji and Neji realized they were in serious trouble.
This old man was clearly not a Tenseigan puppet but a living, breathing person. His identity was obvious!
In an instant, Shinji activated the Body Flicker Technique and appeared right in front of the elder. Susanoo surged to life, and a giant skeletal fist swung toward the elder.
"Hm? The Mangekyō Sharingan!?"
The Ōtsutsuki elder was startled by the sight of Shinji's Susanoo but swiftly dodged the blow. He began forming hand seals, clearly intending to activate the Giant Tenseigan.
Swish!
At that moment, Neji dashed forward using Gentle Fist.
The elder sidestepped, disrupting his hand seals. A look of surprise flashed across his face. "Byakugan!? Who are you, and why have you intruded upon our temple!?"
While the elder's attention was on Neji, Shinji focused his gaze and thought, "Amaterasu!"
Instantly, black flames appeared on the elder's chest.
"Ah!" Caught off guard, the elder cried out in pain before shouting angrily, "You filthy shinobi, prepare to die!"
Despite the agony from the Amaterasu, he raised his arm and tried to form hand seals.
To him, as long as he could control the Giant Tenseigan, these two intruders wouldn't stand a chance.
After all, the Giant Tenseigan could absorb all chakra except for that of the Byakugan. Once he completed his hand seals, the black flames of Amaterasu would be instantly absorbed by the Giant Tenseigan.
Shinji, having unleashed his full power with the intent to kill, wouldn't let the elder complete the hand seals to control the Giant Tenseigan.
The moment he cast Amaterasu, Shinji lunged forward.
As he flew through the air, his Susanoo evolved from its skeletal form into a half-armored warrior form. Drawing its sword, it slashed fiercely at the elder.
Boom!
The temple echoed with a deafening roar!
Shinji's eyes widened as he saw the Ōtsutsuki elder, engulfed in the black flames of Amaterasu, blocking his half-bodied Susanoo's sword with just one hand.
Moreover, the sword seemed to be dissolving, as if something were absorbing it, and the entire Susanoo began to disintegrate as well.
Not only that, but the black flames of Amaterasu also started to fade, being absorbed into the Giant Tenseigan.
This reminded Shinji of the time in the original timeline when Ōtsutsuki Toneri had used the Giant Tenseigan to absorb all of Naruto's chakra in an instant!
The Giant Tenseigan had a profound suppressive effect on all chakra not related to Ōtsutsuki Hamura's lineage!
Swish!
Just as Shinji realized the gravity of the situation and considered retreating...
A figure flashed behind the Ōtsutsuki elder, followed by a glint of steel, and the elder's head spun into the air, his face frozen in shock!
Standing behind the headless elder, gripping a bloodied kunai, was none other than Neji.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone