Chapter 228 – Genshiki vs Isshiki
The Second Elder felt like he had just seen a ghost.
He had expected that the Ōtsutsuki Gen on the moon would eventually come looking for him—after all, he had recklessly drawn upon the power of the Tenseigan.
But never in his wildest imagination did he think the man would arrive this quickly!
"Don't tell me… he was in the Shinobi World all along?"
Before he could even finish the thought, his Byakugan caught sight of that figure turning his gaze toward him.
That look was calm—too calm. Yet it sent a bone-chilling terror through him, as if he had fallen into an endless frozen abyss.
In that instant, even breathing became difficult.
"I can't stay here. Those two 'Byakugan Princesses'… he must already have set his sights on them. If I remain, the only outcome is death!"
He didn't know why a 'Heavenly Being' like the Ōtsutsuki would bother with these so-called 'inferior beings.'
But one thing was certain: if he didn't move now, not only would he die here, but he would also drag Toneri down with him.
BOOM!
Chakra exploded around him, his already withered body surging with one last burst of strength. Without hesitation, he bolted into the distance.
"Running already?"
Gen hadn't expected his mere glance to send the old man fleeing.
Still, this was within his plans—if he wanted to cut the weed at its root, he had to let the elder regroup with Toneri first.
More importantly, Gen had confirmed one thing: the man had recognized him.
"Strange… on the moon he shouldn't have been able to see me clearly. Did he recognize my chakra signature instead?"
"Gen-senpai, thank you."
While Gen pondered, Neji and Hinata spoke up gratefully.
"If not for you, we would have—"
"Enough. Don't dwell on it."
Gen cut them off with a shake of his head. His gaze swept over the three Hyūga before he gave them their orders.
"Listen carefully. Your priority is to evacuate the women and children. Ensure their safety.
After that, coordinate with the Konoha shinobi to surround and eliminate the invaders. Support the other battlefronts. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Neji responded at once, Hinata biting her lip before her eyes hardened with resolve.
"Senpai, we'll do it. We won't let you down."
"This isn't about me." Gen's tone was calm but firm. "You're shinobi. You should strive not to disappoint yourselves."
With that, his gaze drifted into the distance. For a moment, the corner of his lips twitched faintly before he added, almost offhandedly:
"And if you get the chance… lend your clan head a hand. You might be in for a surprise."
"Huh?"
"Father?"
Both Neji and Hinata froze, but Gen didn't explain. He simply shook his head.
"That's all. I'll be going now."
And with that, his figure vanished.
"…Senpai is incredible."
Neji whispered, staring at the empty spot where Gen had stood.
"That old man—what was he? He had the Byakugan, his power was overwhelming… I couldn't even breathe in his presence. But…"
Gen had swatted him aside with a single move—and saved all three of them in the same instant.
The sheer gap in strength was unfathomable.
"Truly amazing…"
Hinata nodded softly. In her arms, little Hanabi gazed wide-eyed at where Gen had disappeared.
"So that's the legendary Gen-senpai? Why… why does he feel so familiar, so kind?"
"Gen-senpai has always been like that. It's nothing strange."
Neji's quiet reply made Hinata nod again, the both of them sharing that same inexplicable sense of warmth and familiarity from Gen.
But Neji quickly shook it off.
"Enough. Let's do as he said. You two help with evacuation—I'll reinforce Clan Head. Wait—what?!"
His Byakugan flared—and froze.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
Hiashi Hyūga, the clan head, was locked in a desperate battle against a man. His guards stood paralyzed, none daring to intervene.
That man was—
"Father?!"
"Uncle?!"
…
Meanwhile, in a hidden chamber, Toneri paced in unease. A gnawing dread had been clawing at him ever since the battle began.
The barrier suddenly rippled. A staggering figure stumbled through, drenched in blood.
"Toneri—no time."
The Second Elder's breath was ragged. He seized Toneri's arm, dragging him forward, even as he pulled out a pair of Byakugan from his robes.
He pressed them into Toneri's eye sockets with trembling hands.
"Endure it. They're not 'pure Byakugan,' but they aren't cursed by the Caged Bird either. They'll do—for now."
"Grandfather…"
"Listen to me!" The elder coughed violently. "That man… he's faster than we imagined. I fear… he's been in the Shinobi World this whole time!"
"That man?!"
Toneri's heart sank. The 'Heavenly Being' who had usurped their family… here, in the Shinobi World?!
"Once your eyes settle, I'll hold him back. You must run—run with everything you have!"
The elder's own Byakugan dulled, but Toneri's new pair shone brilliantly as his vision cleared for the first time.
"Inside Konoha… there are two 'Byakugan Princesses.' Their eyes can awaken your true Tenseigan. And with them… our lunar bloodline can continue."
"Grandfather…"
For the first time, Toneri clearly saw the world, clearly saw his grandfather's face.
And at that moment—terror gripped him.
A man was already approaching.
"From here on… everything rests with you, Toneri."
The elder felt the presence behind him, but instead of fear, a faint smile crept onto his pale face.
"Farewell… my boy."
With that, he shoved Toneri away and unleashed all the chakra he had left.
He was completely engulfed in dazzling chakra—clearly, he had entered Tenseigan Chakra Mode!
Spinning around in fury, his entire being roared with power. With a shout, he lunged toward the figure behind him.
"You dare use my own power against me?!"
Yet the voice that answered was calm—unnervingly calm. His opponent didn't even stir at the incoming assault.
Hum—
With a soft radiance of chakra rising, the Second Elder suddenly saw a black orb materialize before him.
In the next instant, the orb elongated into a gleaming ninja blade. The weapon swept forward with a single elegant motion—an arc of force that seemed to erase everything before it.
"This—!"
In that slash, the Second Elder felt his chakra slip completely out of his control.
The blade sliced through his body, and in an instant his protective "chakra cloak" was torn apart.
Worse—his connection to the Moon was severed, completely and utterly.
Boom!
A powerful kick slammed into his chest. The impact was so immense it felt as though his ribcage had been crushed. His body shot through the air like a meteor before crashing into the ground with bone-shattering force.
But even that wasn't what froze him in shock—because when he looked up, he saw Toneri standing just a few steps away!
"You wonder why I let you escape earlier?"
The calm, resonant voice drew his gaze. That figure approached unhurriedly.
In the glow of surging chakra, his form shifted. The black cloak vanished, replaced by a flowing, ethereal robe of purest white.
Moonlight-like chakra coiled around him, divine and awe-inspiring.
And his eyes—deep azure, glowing with otherworldly brilliance—left no doubt about who stood before them.
"Ōtsutsuki… Genshiki!"
The Second Elder's teeth clenched, his body locked in place. He couldn't move. He couldn't even breathe.
The suffocating pressure weighed upon his very bloodline. For the first time, he felt the closeness of inevitable death.
"So… you remember me. You recognize me."
Gen inclined his head slightly, his gaze shifting toward the wide-eyed Toneri.
"The only reason I allowed you to flee was to follow you here. Otherwise… did you really think you could wield the Tenseigan's power so easily? Did you truly believe you could live this long?"
The weight of his words pressed down like a mountain. The Second Elder's breathing grew ragged, and even Toneri trembled uncontrollably.
There was no mistaking his intent. He meant to wipe them out—completely, utterly, leaving not a trace behind.
So cruel. So absolute.
"…Enough."
No longer willing to waste words, Gen raised the blade once more. The Truth-Seeking Orb shimmered along its edge, a radiant brilliance gathering in the swing.
"Farewell."
The blade fell.
BOOM!
The ground split with a deafening crack, a deep fissure tearing through the earth. Dust billowed as power thundered outward.
But Gen's eyes narrowed. His strike had not landed. His gaze flicked sideways. There—three figures stood, chakra still rippling.
"Space–time ninjutsu?" he murmured.
Even as his blade descended, a dimensional vortex had opened at the last moment, whisking Toneri and the elder to safety.
Across the battlefield, a monk-like figure stepped forward. His voice was calm, yet filled with authority.
"Truly unexpected, to meet you under such circumstances… my kin."
He smiled faintly.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."
Gen's eyes did not waver.
"Your name—I already know."
Isshiki's gaze sharpened.
"Greetings… Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."