On the battlefield, Might Guy, enveloped in crimson steam, had activated the Eight Gates Released Formation. After years of recuperation and training, Guy's body had surpassed its previous strength against Momoshiki. With modifications by Orochimaru and Amado, the duration of the Death Gate had significantly increased, though the drain on his life force remained unavoidable.
However, nourished by the dense life-affirming chakra from the Greed Mine crystals, Might Guy's current state was quite formidable.
It was a pity, though, that his opponent was an Otsutsuki taijutsu master with a robust physique, capable of directly withstanding Guy's Elephant Gate and even matching him blow for blow: Momoshiki Hiazuki.
With scarlet-gold Six Tomoe Rinnegan, formidable taijutsu, and terrifying defensive power, he could endure the continuous barrage of punches from the Death Gate and fight Guy to a standstill.
"I absolutely cannot let him get near Kakashi!"
Due to Kakashi's severe injuries, Might Guy had activated the Death Gate prematurely. This was a terrible predicament when the opponent's full capabilities were still unknown. If he couldn't defeat the enemy within the duration of the Death Gate, both he and Kakashi would be in grave danger!
Might Guy roared, his already fierce visage seeming to ignite with roaring flames. His punches became faster and heavier, forcing Momoshiki Hiazuki to the side. But this also accelerated the depletion of his Death Gate's duration.
Compared to the clash between Might Guy and Momoshiki Hiazuki, the battle between Itachi and another female Otsutsuki member with pale purple Six Tomoe Rinnegan was far more peculiar. Though they were fighting, their combat wasn't particularly fierce; it was almost too ordinary. This was highly illogical for Itachi, who was proficient in all forms of taijutsu.
However, upon closer observation, one could notice that both their pupils appeared slightly dazed, as if a significant portion of their consciousness had entered another realm: a genjutsu space!
In the spiritual world, also known as the genjutsu space, a large portion of the sky was occupied by a pale purple hue, with only a small patch of sky where a few black crows flew.
In their genjutsu confrontation, Itachi was at a significant disadvantage. No, if it weren't for Shisui expending all his ocular power to help Itachi stall the opponent, Itachi would have already become their puppet.
Momoshiki Kureha, a rare female Otsutsuki and the sole female member among the higher ranks, possessed mental control genjutsu. No eye contact was necessary, and there were no conditions; as long as the range was sufficient, she could pull targets into her mental space and turn them into puppets. She could control others' minds, and within her genjutsu space, Kureha could create any item at will and read others' deepest thoughts.
Once their minds succumbed, the targets would eternally become Momoshiki Kureha's playthings. The only ones who could resist her were ninjas proficient in genjutsu, or those whose mental strength far surpassed Momoshiki Kureha's.
Black crows stood forlornly on the branches of a withered tree, cawing "caw, caw," before flapping their wings and transforming into black shadows, crashing towards the spreading pale purple sky.
*Swoosh!*
The crows were consumed by the purple sky, becoming part of it. The crows' world shrank a little further.
"It's futile. The gap between us is immense. Had it not been for the suicidal attack of another insignificant ant, you would have long since become my puppet, Momoshiki Kureha."
With pale purple eyeshadow around her eyes and a silver nail through her lips, Momoshiki Kureha floated in the sky, a small black hole on her right arm gradually healing.
This was Shisui's decisive action to protect Itachi. His mind had suffered severe backlash, and his body was impaled to the ground by black rods, all to buy Itachi a little time.
Itachi's expression was cold, his eyes slightly red. He knew he was inferior to the opponent in both mental and ocular power, but... this was precious time bought with Brother Shisui's sacrifice.
Even if he couldn't win, he had to leave an indelible scar on the opponent, even if it meant his own death.
The pale purple sky continued to spread, and the black crows were continuously drawn in, consumed, and digested.
This wasn't just about the black crows; it represented Itachi's ocular power and his mental world, which were being devoured bit by bit. If everything were swallowed by Kureha, Itachi would become Momoshiki Kureha's puppet, obeying her commands for eternity.
Fortunately, Itachi and Shisui, two ninjas proficient in genjutsu, were the ones facing Kureha. Had it been someone else, like Might Guy, their spirit might have already been consumed, turning them into a Death Gate puppet.
Soon, the entire genjutsu space was enveloped in purple. Only a single withered tree and the last crow remained in the center. Itachi gently stroked the black crow on his shoulder, his eyes softening for a moment before becoming resolute.
Rather than have his spirit devoured, he would choose self-destruction over becoming the opponent's puppet and living a life of indignity!
In the sky, Momoshiki Kureha transformed into a colossal figure, her eyes filled with a savage smile. She had a peculiar hobby: she particularly enjoyed tormenting and humiliating her enemies after turning them into her puppets, controlling them to crawl at her feet like dogs, begging for her mercy.
"Don't worry, a puppet as high-quality as you can be toyed with for a very long time."
The giant purple figure lunged from the sky, delivering a fatal blow towards the lone withered tree.
Itachi slowly closed his eyes. Just as he was about to self-destruct his spirit and detonate the genjutsu space, he felt a weight on his shoulder. A broad palm landed on his shoulder.
"Brother Itachi, I'm sorry, I'm late."
Itachi abruptly turned his head, his eyes turning red. "Brother Shisui!"
Shisui smiled and patted Itachi's shoulder. "I won't leave you alone anymore. I promise."
"Brother Shisui, your eyes..."
Shisui smiled. The Mangekyo Sharingan pattern, originally shaped like a pinwheel, began to twist and spread outward. Eyes with a spiral pattern appeared in Itachi's vision—Shisui's Rinnegan!
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Shisui stood in front of Itachi, raised his head, and met Momoshiki Kureha's descending gaze with his Rinnegan, softly saying, "Kotoamatsukami: Radiance: Annihilation!"
*Voom!*
A brilliant, dazzling white light bloomed within the genjutsu space. Wherever the light passed, the purple receded. Momoshiki Kureha let out a scream of pain as the colossal figure formed by her spirit had half its body scorched by the white light, quickly retreating backward.
Shisui stepped forward, waving his left hand. Black crows once again occupied half the sky, standing in equal opposition.
"Uchiha Shisui, core member of the Eternal Organization, codename... God of Illusions!"
...
On another battlefield, Toneri entered his Tenseigan Chakra Mode, but there was still a gap between him and the Otsutsuki high-ranking members. Gaara and Kimimaro already lay near, covered in wounds.
"To associate with mere ants as an Otsutsuki, you truly shame our clan!"
Toneri was once again slammed into a pile of rubble by a palm, his Tenseigan Chakra significantly dispersed, his face pale.
An Otsutsuki high-ranking member with green Rinnegan raised their hand towards Gaara and Kimimaro. Their bodies were gripped in mid-air, then, taunting Toneri, they said, "Look at these ants by your side. I can crush them with a single finger!"
Toneri struggled to rise from the rubble, bracing himself on his legs. His voice was weak but unwavering.
"They... are not ants! Gaara and Kimimaro are the life companions acknowledged by me, Toneri Otsutsuki!"
Toneri unleashed his remaining chakra, roaring towards the sky, "Ancestor, please grant me strength! I want to protect them!"
Within a dilapidated ruin deep inside the moon, this was the graveyard of the Otsutsuki Hamura lineage, where all of Hamura's descendants, including Otsutsuki Hamura himself, were buried.
At this moment, a speck of faint green light floated out from each tombstone, rising continuously until it converged into a cluster of green fireflies. Slowly, the green light gradually took on a human form. A sigh echoed from within the ruined ruins, and then...
*Boom!*
The green light figure broke through the graveyard, flying towards the place that had awakened its final trace of true spirit. Everything within its sight was a cascade of past memories.
The green light figure's gaze seemed to penetrate all things. It let out a soft exclamation. It saw Otsutsuki Hagoromo, who was chattering incessantly in the mysterious consciousness space. His normally somewhat rigid face lifted slightly.
"I never imagined we would meet again in such a manner, Brother..."