Just as he was momentarily distracted, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's eyes lit up. Seizing the opportunity, he instantly summoned a crimson spatial gate in an attempt to flee.
It seemed he had already glimpsed hope of escaping. Excited, he stepped through the portal.
However, just as he thought he had successfully escaped, he found himself still standing in the exact same spot.
A look of shock and disbelief crossed his face, as if he couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Hikaru merely watched his little performance with a faint smile.
'Do you even understand the value of mastering Spatial Control (Gold)?'
This ability not only allowed him to travel freely through space—it let him control space itself.
So if Ōtsutsuki Isshiki wanted to leave, he'd need Hikaru's permission first.
The failure of his ability—combined with the smile on Hikaru's face—might've triggered Isshiki's rage.
He could no longer contain his fury and roared out:
"If that's how it is, then let me see just how strong you, this anomaly, really are!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he prepared to unleash his full power to battle Hikaru to the death.
In an instant, his form blurred as a surge of terrifying energy exploded around him, as though it would obliterate everything nearby.
Yet at the very moment he activated his ability, he suddenly realized—he couldn't move.
His body was bound by an invisible force, tightly restrained. Only his consciousness remained free.
And then came the realization he could barely believe.
Time around him had frozen.
Everything affected by his previous burst of energy now hung suspended in midair. The entire area around him had ground to a halt.
The only thing left moving—was his own mind.
And all of it, of course, was the work of Hikaru.
The Mangekyō Sharingan ability: Candle Dragon, had long since evolved during his time under the Idle Training System.
This ocular technique might not boast flashy effects like other powers—but its impact was shockingly potent.
The current version of Candle Dragon allowed Hikaru to control the flow of time at will.
He could reverse time, freeze it, accelerate it—all as easily as breathing.
However, every ability had its limits.
Despite its strength, Candle Dragon wasn't omnipotent.
At present, it could only affect a small area, and regardless of whether time was reversed, frozen, or accelerated, the effect could only last for one day.
Once the time limit expired, even Candle Dragon would become powerless.
Since the abilities of the Ōtsutsuki clan were so varied and unpredictable, Hikaru didn't dare take chances.
When dealing with such foes, one must strategically underestimate them but tactically take them seriously.
Thus, he revealed one of his trump cards early—to prevent a potential disaster.
And that trump card didn't disappoint. Candle Dragon successfully immobilized Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, leaving him completely unable to move.
Judging by his current state, he didn't seem to possess the power to resist.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was dealt with—but one problem still remained.
Hikaru turned his gaze toward Uchiha Madara, who was trying to sneak away.
Madara had planned to slip away during the clash, thinking this was his chance.
But what he hadn't anticipated was how easily Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had fallen—completely overwhelmed by Hikaru in mere moments.
As shock flooded his heart, so too did unease.
Just as that thought passed through his mind, he experienced the same fate as Isshiki.
He, too, was locked in place by Candle Dragon's temporal control—unable to move a single muscle.
"Don't be in such a rush. There's someone I want you to meet—you'll love it, I promise."
Hikaru strolled leisurely over to Madara, a twisted smile on his face.
He was planning to let Madara, Hashirama, and Mito meet. And frankly, he was looking forward to that scene.
Off to the side, Hyūga Hinata appeared visibly unsettled.
A complex and indescribable emotion flickered in her eyes, as though she were undergoing an inner storm.
She could hardly believe what she was seeing—that the one who had brought her endless suffering and pushed her to the brink of despair, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, had been utterly defeated by Hikaru.
That figure who once symbolized destruction and hopelessness in her heart was now nothing more than a doll, toyed with at Hikaru's whim.
The stark contrast overwhelmed her with a sense of unreality… and emptiness.
She had dreamed countless times of someone defeating Ōtsutsuki Isshiki—of avenging her broken world.
But now that it had finally happened, she realized… she wasn't as excited or overjoyed as she imagined she'd be.
On the contrary, she was filled with confusion and a hollow sadness.
She didn't know whether to feel joy or sorrow, relief or loss.
She had lost everything—and now, in this very moment, she had also lost her final enemy.
The sudden emptiness and aimlessness engulfed her like a bottomless abyss, swallowing her whole in the darkness.
And yet, amidst that darkness… Hikaru's presence shone like a guiding light in her heart.
This anomaly she had been searching for all along—had, without her even noticing, become her source of support.
So, in her daze, she instinctively turned her gaze to Hikaru, hoping to find direction through him.
At that moment, he was still fantasizing about the Madara–Hashirama–Mito reunion, when he suddenly sensed someone watching him.
He turned around—only then realizing he had almost forgotten Hinata's presence.
Hikaru may have been unbeatable—but he wasn't all-knowing. Simply put, he couldn't read minds.
So when he saw Hinata's expression, it was only natural that he had no idea what she was thinking.
Still, after years of dealing with people like Tsunade, he'd learned something:
If you don't know—don't guess. Just ask.
So, after transferring Madara and Isshiki into his personal pocket space, he turned to Hinata and asked gently:
"Is there something on your mind?"
Hinata, lost in confusion and desperately hoping for answers from Hikaru, found herself even more helpless when asked.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally whispered:
"I don't know… but it feels like I've lost everything."
Hearing that, Hikaru's heart sank slightly.
Maybe it was just his imagination—but he felt like Hinata might be having suicidal thoughts.
Even though they were strangers, she had once been one of his favorite characters in his previous life. He didn't want to see her walk down that path.
So after thinking a moment, he said:
"What nonsense are you thinking? That Ōtsutsuki guy isn't dead yet, is he? Don't you want to take revenge with your own hands?"
The moment she heard Hikaru's words, Hinata's eyes lit up. The thought of revenge reignited her fighting spirit.
The haze clouding her mind vanished in an instant.