章節 24: God Tree = Ten Tails = Sacred Tree

This chapter is where it truly comes into play, and where Arsene grows from roughly into between (Elite/High Jonin - Low Kage) to rapid growth.

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Back in the Hidden Leaf's stadium, a strange stillness hung in the air where Naruto, Sasuke, Momoshiki, and Kinshiki had been fighting moments ago.

The crowd had been evacuated, but in the center of the field stood the four Kage—Gaara of the Hidden Sand, Kurotsuchi of the Hidden Stone, Darui of the Hidden Cloud, and Chojuro of the Hidden Mist. Their eyes were fixed on the faint remnants of the portal that had whisked Naruto and Sasuke away.

Kurotsuchi, arms folded and a frown on her face broke the silence. "Isn't Sasuke supposed to be inhumanly precise? What's taking him so long?" she asked, unable to keep the tension out of her voice.

Darui glanced over, calm as always. "Relax… they're in the middle of a fight. Even for those two, taking on two Otsutsuki is bound to take a while," he said, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern.

Just then, a familiar purple portal shimmered into existence before them, casting an otherworldly glow over the empty stadium. Sasuke's signal.

Gaara's expression remained stoic as he took a step forward. "Seems we're needed," he said, his calm voice masking the quiet urgency he felt. Sasuke had asked them to wait for his call, and that time had come.

Chojuro gripped his sword, the Hiramekarei, as he approached the portal, swallowing the last bit of doubt from his mind. "It won't be too bad... right?" he asked, his voice steady but carrying a hint of trepidation. No one answered, but each of them knew the risks of stepping through that portal.

As they prepared to enter, a small head poked out from behind the stadium seats—a flash of blonde hair and a blue jacket. Boruto Uzumaki, checking his surroundings carefully, saw that the Kage had already begun stepping through the portal. Steeling himself, he darted toward the portal, only to collide with someone in his haste.

"AH!" Boruto yelped, stumbling back. "I wasn't going to the portal or anything, I swear—" he began, but then stopped short, taking in the familiar figure before him. "You?!" Boruto blurted, his eyes wide with surprise.

Standing before him, cool as ever, was Arsene. His black hair hung longer than usual, his expression unreadable under his mask as he stretched his arms. "What, you didn't notice me? A shame, but why are you here? You're supposed to evacuate." Arsene's voice was casual, almost dismissive as if he hadn't just been caught in the act.

Boruto, regaining his composure, pointed at the Konoha headband he wore proudly on his forehead. "I'm here as a Konoha Shinobi!" he said, trying to sound confident. "I'm here to help!"

Arsene blinked slowly, his expression one of pure disbelief. If his eyes had been visible, Boruto would have seen the mixture of doubt and faint amusement—and perhaps the unsettling gleam of his inhuman gaze.

"Lying's a bad habit, you know?" Arsene said, his tone flat but pointed. Without another word, he walked through the portal, leaving Boruto standing there, a bit embarrassed but determined.

Boruto huffed, a small defiant grin creeping across his face. "Tch, whatever..." he muttered to himself before stepping through the portal. The moment Boruto stepped through the portal, he was greeted by a sight unlike anything he'd ever seen.

The alien landscape was otherworldly, a beautiful but haunting scene with galaxies spiraling across the darkened sky, each one radiating colors that seemed almost impossible. It felt like stepping into a dream, a place where space itself twisted and folded into strange shapes.

"Wow..." Boruto breathed, momentarily forgetting why he had come here as he took in the cosmic beauty around him. But as his eyes adjusted, he quickly spotted the four Kage in the distance, already moving toward where Naruto and Sasuke were locked in battle with the Otsutsuki.

Realizing he was alone, he glanced around for Arsene, but his classmate was nowhere to be found. Somehow, in the seconds since they'd entered the portal, Arsene had already disappeared.

Figures, Boruto thought, half-expecting it. There was no telling what that guy was up to. But Boruto had his mission—he wasn't here to worry about Arsene's mysterious motivations.

Focusing on his goal, Boruto took a deep breath and sprinted forward, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he couldn't match the Kage's speed, but he didn't care. His father, his teacher, and his village were all fighting for their lives, and he wasn't about to stand by and do nothing.

As he drew closer to the battleground, the faint sounds of the fight became clearer—the earth-shattering crashes, the sharp clang of weapons, and the occasional surge of energy that made his heart skip a beat. His mind raced with thoughts, but one thing was clear.

I may not be strong enough yet... but I'll do whatever it takes.

Back on Earth, the stadium lay silent, the last remnants of the portal fading away.

...

Sasuke's blade glinted in the strange, starlit atmosphere as he advanced on Kinshiki Otsutsuki. The elder Otsutsuki had fought fiercely but had become noticeably slower, his once-imposing presence reduced to desperation as blood dripped from the gashes on his face and limbs. Missing an arm and a leg, his horn cracked, Kinshiki lay sprawled on the alien ground, gritting his teeth against the pain.

Sasuke looked down at him, his expression unbothered, even bored. "Just give up already," he muttered, his tone cold as he raised his arm, a spear of Chidori energy crackling from his hand. With a precise thrust, he drove the Chidori Spear into Kinshiki's back, drawing a strangled cry from the Otsutsuki.

"Argh… Momoshiki…" Kinshiki rasped, gasping as he looked up to see the expressionless face of his opponent. "I have… failed you…"

Sasuke held his gaze, assessing the situation. Kinshiki had been challenging, but ultimately, he was no match. "That man… is he your son?" Sasuke asked, curious about the connection between the two Otsutsuki.

Kinshiki met Sasuke's gaze, his voice strained but steady. "...Adopted… son," he admitted, a flicker of something—perhaps pride, perhaps regret—crossing his face.

Sasuke nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll make it quick then." He raised his sword, ready to finish him off.

But as he stepped forward, Kinshiki's body began to glow, his form shifting, almost warping before Sasuke's eyes. Reacting instantly, Sasuke leaped back, expecting an explosion. But instead, Kinshiki's body transformed, folding in on itself, until he was no longer a living being. Where his body had once lain was now a strange, gleaming fruit, its vibrant color standing out against the alien landscape.

Meanwhile, Momoshiki, his robes tattered and his breathing labored, had created an army of dark, stone-like golems that lumbered across the field. Naruto didn't hesitate, summoning an equal force of Shadow Clones that charged forward, meeting the golems in a thunderous clash.

"Another army?" Naruto scoffed, his voice echoing across the field. "Getting desperate, huh? Running out of moves already?"

Momoshiki's eyes narrowed, his teeth gritting as he watched his creations crumble under the force of Naruto's clones. This fox… he thought bitterly. He had expected Naruto and Sasuke to be powerful, but the sustained strength of the two was overwhelming. And now, his chances were dwindling—until his eyes fell on the strange fruit lying not far from him.

He recognized it instantly. His face twisted into a cruel smile. Perfect. The old fool finally did something useful.

With a wave of his hand, he moved toward the fruit, his intent to consume it clear.

But before he could reach it, a surge of black lightning flashed toward him, morphing into a snarling tiger that lunged at him with ferocious speed. Momoshiki dodged, the black lightning sizzling mere inches from his face. He looked up to see Darui, sword in hand, charging forward, while a barrage of sand attacks rained down on him, forcing him back.

"Ah," Momoshiki muttered, recognizing his new adversaries. The Kage. Standing before him, their eyes cold and determined, were Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Chojuro, and Darui. They had finally joined the battle.

Momoshiki's sneer faded as his gaze fell on Gaara. He could sense it, faint but unmistakable—the chakra of Shukaku, the One-Tail. And more than that, he detected traces of Urashiki's presence. So the Kazekage bested him, he mused, though he kept his face blank.

"Sorry for the delay, Naruto," Chojuro called out, steadying his grip on his twin-handled sword, Hiramekarei.

Naruto grinned, never taking his eyes off Momoshiki. "No problem—it's been ages since I had a fight this fun!" He charged forward again, his clones moving as one, crashing into the next wave of golems with unrelenting force.

But Momoshiki was losing patience. Gritting his teeth, he broke away, sprinting across the field toward the massive God Tree that loomed on the far edge of the battlefield. Its towering, skeletal form seemed to stretch endlessly upward, its branches spread like the fingers of a twisted hand reaching for the stars. At its apex, a huge Rinne-Sharingan pulsed with an eerie red glow, the tomoe marks within it swirling like an endless vortex. It was a disturbing sight—its eerie mix of the Rinnegan's rings and the Sharingan's tomoe, hinting at its power and the history it carried.

Naruto and the Kage watched as Momoshiki touched the trunk of the tree, and something shifted within him. Sasuke, observing from the side, narrowed his eyes. "Of course…" he muttered. "He's using the God Tree to draw power."

Momoshiki closed his eyes, his hand against the ancient bark, tapping into the chakra reservoir within. As an Otsutsuki, he could communicate with the tree directly, merging with its energy as its ancient chakra surged into him, rejuvenating his own. His injuries began to mend, his form straightening as new strength poured into him. The others could feel it too—the oppressive chakra rippling outward, heavier than ever.

Momoshiki's eyes snapped open, burning with renewed vigor. He raised his hand, and with a mere flick of his wrist, the ground trembled as massive golems burst forth, towering over his previous creations. The creatures formed an army, each one a stone colossus with molten veins of chakra glowing through its joints.

Standing tall, Momoshiki glared down at his adversaries, his mouth twisting into a sneer. "Now," he said, his voice resonant with power, "you pathetic ants will know true strength."

Naruto's grin faded as he took in the sight of the enormous golems, their forms shrouded in Momoshiki's power. The Kage braced themselves, weapons ready, their determination unwavering.

Naruto cracked his knuckles, his gaze steady as he took a step forward. "Alright then. If that's how you want to play…" His chakra flared up, the orange aura of Kurama's energy blazing around him.

Beside him, Sasuke activated his Rinnegan, his sword at the ready as he met Naruto's gaze with a determined nod.

...

Naruto's voice echoed in his mind, his tone both eager and insistent. "C'mon, Kurama! Just this once! Fuse with Sasuke's Susano'o—imagine how cool it'll look!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox grumbled in response, his deep voice laced with reluctance. "What? You want me to fuse with that Uchiha?" Memories of past conflicts, of being used and controlled, flashed through his mind. Madara's cruel, manipulative face, and Hashirama's stoic expression—all reminders of why he had hated humans for so long.

"Yep! C'mon, it's different this time. Sasuke's not like Madara, and it'll be epic!" Naruto's enthusiasm was infectious, his playful grin breaking through the serious atmosphere. Kurama, though still hesitant, felt something he rarely allowed himself to feel—trust. Naruto and Sasuke were different. They weren't using him as a weapon, and for that, he would tolerate this… and yeah, Naruto was right. It would look pretty cool.

"Fine," Kurama sighed, his massive form relaxing as he gave in. "Just don't get used to it."

As Kurama's chakra exploded around Naruto, a massive golden Kurama Avatar emerged, towering above the battlefield. Moments later, the purple armor of Sasuke's Susano'o enveloped it, shimmering in the alien twilight with an otherworldly glow. The fusion took form—two powerful wings sprouted from its back, while twin chakra-forged swords gleamed in its hands. The golden and purple energies mixed, creating an awe-inspiring sight as the two energies melded in perfect harmony.

"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Naruto cheered, admiring the fused avatar with a grin. It had been a while since they'd used this fusion, and the thrill of it never got old.

Sasuke, standing within the avatar, cast a side glance at Naruto, unimpressed. "You're almost 30. Try not to act like a kid," he muttered, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Even he had to admit—it looked incredible.

As the Kage watched from afar, their faces a mix of amazement and awe, Momoshiki's expression darkened. His massive golems, conjured from the depths of his chakra, were sliced apart in a single stroke of the fusion's massive blade, their stone bodies crumbling like dust.

Momoshiki gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. He had not anticipated this level of resistance. As the fused avatar carved a path through his golems, Momoshiki held up the Chakra Fruit—the fruit that was once Kinshiki—feeling its immense energy radiate from his palm. He watched as the Kage prepared to approach, but Darui moved faster, closing the distance between them.

"Hmph," Momoshiki sneered, his hand tightening around the fruit. "Goodbye, human." He prepared to consume it, but his eyes flickered in confusion as Darui disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

A shadow clone.

Before he could process what had happened, Momoshiki saw a figure emerge from the smoke—the 'real' Naruto Uzumaki, smirking as he hurled a kunai straight at the Chakra Fruit in Momoshiki's hand.

Momoshiki scoffed, unconcerned. A mere kunai can't harm a Chakra Fruit, he thought, kicking the clone aside dismissively. But when he turned back, he felt a rush of dread as he noticed the kunai had exploded into smoke, revealing a figure he had not expected—Arsene.

Before he could react, Arsene lunged forward, snatching the Chakra Fruit from Momoshiki's grasp. Without hesitation, he took a final, decisive bite, the glowing remnants of the fruit disappearing as he consumed its powerful energy.

[Explanation: Arsene turned into Darui, but instead of turning back into himself, he turned into Naruto, threw a kunai that was the real him, but disguised using Transformation Jutsu, and then ate the Super Senzu Bean.]

For a second, there was stunned silence. Momoshiki's face twisted with fury, his gaze locked on Arsene. He dashed forward, his expression a mask of rage, intent on crushing the insolent shinobi. If he could kill that brat quickly enough, perhaps he could salvage some of the fruit's energy.

But before he could reach Arsene, a thick wall of sand erupted between them, forming a solid barrier. Gaara stepped forward, his hand raised in concentration as he reinforced the wall, his gaze steady.

"You're furious," Gaara observed, his voice calm, "which means him eating it was important." He cast a glance at Arsene, who gave him a thumbs-up, surprisingly unbothered. Whatever strange effects the Chakra Fruit was having, he was handling it well.

Momoshiki's fists clenched, his anger boiling over. The fruit's power was meant for him, the culmination of countless lifetimes of conquest and sacrifice. He had killed planets for that power. And now, because of these humans, it was gone.

"You… miserable insects!" he spat, his voice shaking with hatred. His chakra spiked, more intense than ever as his mind raced. Without the Chakra Fruit, he was weakened, but he would not leave here defeated. He would make them all pay.

On the other side of the sand wall, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look. Arsene's bold move had shifted the battle in their favor, and Momoshiki was more furious than ever.

Naruto grinned, nodding at Gaara. "Nice save, Gaara. Looks like he's ticked off now."

Sasuke's eyes remained on the sand wall, his Rinnegan glowing. "Then let's finish this before he pulls any more surprises."

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[Auther: Yo. Were you expecting this? In my notes, I had thought of a protagonist with full knowledge of Boruto who'd use this specific event to 'power' himself up but gave up on it. Why? Because my editor loved Arsene more...simp.]