Chapter 235 – Ōtsutsuki's Seventy-Two Stage, Divine Art
"This is…"
Kitagawa Gen felt the torrent of foreign information flooding into his mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.
The knowledge was chaotic, fragmented, and far from complete. Sorting through it would take time. Yet even so, gaining access to it at all was already a great harvest.
"I didn't expect… this would actually work?"
His expression twisted with a strange mixture of disbelief and amusement. He had only intended to test the waters—after all, Cixian was merely a vessel, a "Kāma" imprint of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
And the essence of a Kāma was nothing but ultra-compressed datafied chakra.
That was why he had dared to try extracting chakra from the seal, to see if something useful lay within.
Whether it would succeed, he had no idea. No one had ever attempted such a thing before.
But against all odds—his gamble had paid off.
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki truly is a treasure trove… Not only does he hold a complete Ten-Tails, but also the remains of Ōtsutsuki Shibai!"
The Ten-Tails was of paramount importance. The Divine Tree's Source required tailed-beast chakra to bear fruit.
If he were to feed it a full Ten-Tails… perhaps the Divine Tree's Source would immediately reach the stage of flowering and fruition.
"And maybe… even beyond that?"
If one Ten-Tails could trigger fruition once—
What about two?
"Even if I'm unsure whether this can be achieved without planetary energy, I need to prepare. What if it works?"
Besides, something as dangerous as the Ten-Tails was best sealed away under his own hand.
"And then there's Shibai's remains… that's the true prize."
Ōtsutsuki Shibai had likely already transcended, becoming a so-called "Ōtsutsuki God" who abandoned his vessel and departed his dimension.
The body he left behind was priceless beyond imagination.
"So Isshiki's eye techniques… were actually Shibai's divine arts. And in the future, others will even use his corpse to recreate them."
The memory fragments were blurry, and he couldn't be sure if this was fact or illusion.
But one thing was certain: anything left behind by a being of that level was beyond belief.
One only had to look at Hashirama Senju—his cells alone had fueled countless legends.
Then what of Ōtsutsuki Shibai?
"I have to claim it!"
Feeling both the chaotic knowledge swirling in his head and the surging power in his veins, Kitagawa Gen clenched his fist tightly.
It would take time to fully unravel this flood of information, but that didn't matter. The true challenge was obtaining it.
And with his blood burning hotter by the moment, he knew this was the key to robbing Isshiki—perhaps even feeding him to the tree.
---
Meanwhile, as Gen's evolution continued, Tobirama Senju murmured to his elder brother in awe:
"Big Brother, I never thought Gen would manage to awaken Yin–Yang Release."
"Yin–Yang Release… the legendary power itself, fused into one being. It's unbelievable."
Hashirama, however, shook his head. "Nothing is unbelievable. Gen's talent has always been extraordinary. Perhaps he was born for miracles."
But his mind was already turning elsewhere.
"Tobirama, how far has your research into Edo Tensei come? You know what I mean."
"Hmph, now you're the one sounding eager."
Tobirama shot his brother a glance, but answered seriously.
"Without the proper materials, Edo Tensei would only weaken us. Especially you."
"Roughly how much?"
"I can't be certain. We've never tested it properly, and without suitable vessels, it's even trickier."
"Then test it. We'll find a way afterward. We've already lost something important this time, haven't we?"
"…Fair point."
Tobirama gave a reluctant nod, though something about his brother felt off. Still, if Hashirama was willing to attempt it, that was progress.
He, for one, was fed up with the current state of things.
"That brat Obito… he carries Madara's chakra."
What Tobirama didn't know was that Hashirama had sensed something else entirely.
Having once fought Madara in earnest, he was intimately familiar with his chakra.
And within Obito's heart… he could feel the lingering imprint of Madara.
Which could only mean one thing—
Akatsuki was preparing to resurrect Uchiha Madara through Edo Tensei.
"Could it be you?"
Hashirama clenched his fist, whispering in his heart.
"Madara… So it's come to this."
---
Elsewhere—in the Rain Country, within Akatsuki's base—Nagato stared at the "Senju relic" in his hands, his face a mask of disbelief.
Black Zetsu and Obito had told him of the Uchiha Stone Tablet, but this was something tangible, weathered with age, pulsing with hidden messages only his Rinnegan could see.
"Ōtsutsuki Kaguya… sealed not by the Sage of Six Paths alone, but together with his brother."
"So that Kitagawa Gen… could he be a descendant of the Sage's brother?" Orochimaru mused aloud, eyes gleaming. With knowledge of such "core technology," he could slither his way into any seat of power.
"No wonder he's so unique. Wood Release, Dust Release, Ice Release, Sage Arts, Flying Thunder God—he's mastered them all. Incredible."
"It's possible," Black Zetsu admitted. His mind was still reeling from the clash of the Ōtsutsuki, the impact too overwhelming to settle quickly.
"What's there to investigate?" Obito scoffed, sweeping his gaze over them.
"Whether he is or isn't doesn't matter. He's our enemy now."
"Even so, if it comes to a fight, we'll just draw him toward Konoha. Let's see if he can sit still then."
Nagato clenched his teeth. The relic had already proven much of his suspicion—now their path forward was clear.
"But I've heard Ōtsutsuki Genshiki appeared again… battling someone strange."
"Someone who looked like his kin," Obito muttered, then shook his head.
"Whoever it was, they're probably dead. Genshiki is far too terrifying."
"Another Ōtsutsuki?"
"Similar, but not the same. Strong, but lacking the crushing pressure Genshiki radiates. A very strange figure."
"Could there really be others like the Ōtsutsuki?"
No one could answer. Only confusion lingered, the shadows of an even greater truth hidden beyond their reach.
Black Zetsu, who had been silent all along, suddenly froze as a spark of realization struck him.
"The purpose…?"
He muttered softly, his eyes gradually lighting up.
"Yes… that man's goal seemed to be Ōtsutsuki Genshiki. But not exactly… no, his true target must have been—"
Kitagawa Gen.
Piecing it together—the altered bark relic, Genshiki's unhesitant strike, and Obito's remark that the figure resembled an Ōtsutsuki but not quite—
The answer surfaced with chilling clarity.
"That man came from the moon. He likely wanted to confirm Gen's condition… and also warn him of the crisis."
"He found the mark I left behind and altered it, knowing Gen could probably see it. But he was unlucky—Genshiki discovered him. That's why he fought desperately, luring the battle away from Konoha so it wouldn't be destroyed."
Everything connected. Perfectly.
Even if the logic felt slightly forced, it explained enough: his mark was tampered with, Genshiki appeared, a mysterious Ōtsutsuki-like figure fought, and yet Konoha remained untouched despite such a terrifying clash.
All of it made sense.
At that thought, Black Zetsu finally allowed himself a breath of relief. There were still details to confirm, but at least it didn't seem like he was the one being targeted.
"After all, if they really wanted to blame me, they would've made it clear already."
As he eased his worries, Isshiki—still hidden—quietly clenched his fist.
"A bunch of lowly creatures… daring to judge us?"
But he didn't act. His gaze merely shifted toward Nagato.
"The Rinnegan… not his own. Yet his potential far surpasses that Uchiha Obito."
Even Isshiki hesitated. This man's constitution was remarkable—enough to make him consider using him as a new Kāma vessel.
But then he scoffed to himself.
"No… just a short-lived mortal."
He discarded the thought. Nagato was too willful, even willing to face Genshiki head-on. To Isshiki, that was laughable.
Against that being, death was absolute. Every last one of these "small fry" would be wiped away without exception.
"Still clinging to Ōtsutsuki pride, are we?"
Isshiki knew why Genshiki had spared them. It wasn't mercy—it was disdain. Killing them outright would be a disgrace. Worse, it would squander precious energy meant for the Divine Tree.
And if Isshiki chose Nagato as his vessel, Genshiki would undoubtedly strike with full force.
"Better to settle for Uchiha Obito. His space-time technique alone makes him useful… at least he has some interesting dōjutsu."
---
Meanwhile, as storms raged across the shinobi world, within the Amenominaka—
Wild, violent chakra swirled in endless concentration. No one knew how much time had passed.
Until suddenly—
A strange aura surged outward, rippling through the entire realm. Space itself trembled. Even the colossal Divine Tree's Source shuddered as if stirred by the vibration.
"Haa…"
Kitagawa Gen slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze shone like radiant starlight, flowing with shifting brilliance—mystical beyond words.
Lowering his head, he looked upon the towering, ever-growing giant tree beneath him, its vast crown blotting out the heavens.
A faint smile curved his lips.
And at that very moment—his status panel appeared before him:
[Name: Kitagawa Gen]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development: 72%)]
[Divine Art: Yomi-no-Tsukuni (黄泉津)]