Inside Shigeo's inner system, the nine tailed beasts had already merged—forming the complete Jūbi (Ten-Tails).
A small divine tree now stood within his body, no longer a concept but a living entity.
Even beyond his Jiton (Magnet Release) barrier, immense chakra flooded outward, shaking the very air.
That surge of energy forced open the Gedo Mazō's nine eyes.
From its gaping maw burst massive chakra dragons, roaring toward the magnetic barrier in relentless waves.
Atop the cliffs, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched and laughed.
"I thought he was some unstoppable monster," Black Zetsu sneered. "Looks like we just didn't use the right method before. Now he's nothing special."
White Zetsu grinned wide. "Once we take him, we can start the Eye of the Moon Plan within days! This world owes us—and now it will pay us back!"
They had their vision: once they seized the nine beasts within Hyūga Shigeo, the rest would soon follow, feeding the divine tree.
When Ōtsutsuki Kaguya revived, her power would surpass all imagination, and no one could ever threaten her again.
But as they plotted, the earth itself screamed.
The Gedo Mazō went berserk, hammering the valley with its monstrous chains, attacking Shigeo's barrier with mad fury.
Even with Shigeo's vast chakra reserves and Sennin Mōdo (Sage Mode) active, defending himself and Gaara became nearly impossible.
The magnetic barrier cracked.
Layer by layer, it peeled away, turning into glittering black dust that scattered into the wind.
"Shigeo-sama, are you all right?" Gaara called out within the barrier.
"I'm fine," Shigeo answered calmly, though his eyes glinted coldly. "The real show is about to begin.
Gaara—protect yourself. If you can't, I'll have to send you into a different space. Choose."
"Don't worry, I'm not a kid anymore!"
"Good."
Then, within the fading magnet dome, a golden glow appeared.
The tiny divine tree—newly born—emerged in its true form. Though only a sapling, its chakra radiated like the sun, filling the space with dazzling light.
A chakra blade sprouted from its trunk, slicing cleanly through the chain that bound Shigeo's arm.
With a flash, the entire magnetic barrier disintegrated, and the small divine tree shot upward like a radiant comet.
Those watching from the cliffs barely registered what they saw.
"What was that?!"
Even Pain's Rinnegan and Obito's Sharingan failed to discern its form.
Indeed, this Ten-Tails seedling, formed within Shigeo, was unlike any Gedo Mazō creation—its body pure gold, small and strangely cute, yet brimming with power beyond comprehension.
It leapt into the open air, and the Gedo Mazō immediately turned toward it.
Nine chakra chains whipped forward, chasing the glowing sapling through the sandstorm.
Freed at last, Shigeo vanished and reappeared atop the Gedo Mazō's head.
For now, they were connected by a blood contract.
Moments ago, they had been enemies—the statue trying to devour his chakra.
But now that he no longer carried the beasts' energy, their relationship had shifted to that of summoner and servant.
"What just happened?" Obito muttered, frozen in disbelief.
Even Black and White Zetsu, usually unreadable, were taken aback.
"What was that thing that flew out of him?" Black Zetsu demanded.
Before they could find an answer, the "little Ten-Tails" suddenly split apart.
With a burst of light, it divided into nine tailed beasts—each darting off in a different direction across the desert.
Among them, Gaara too was swept up, his body half transformed into Shukaku form.
Though his mind was hazy, instinct told him the truth: if those chains caught him again, he would die.
Shigeo raised his hand. Through the blood contract, his consciousness overlapped with the Gedo Mazō's.
The raging chains stilled. The massive statue stopped moving.
Gradually, the roaring ceased; the Gedo Mazō's chakra quieted.
The ten beasts—Gaara included—were gone, vanishing into the sandstorm, hiding their signatures from detection.
"Something's gone wrong," Obito hissed, realizing too late.
He turned, space twisting as he dove into the valley.
The other eight followed, their cloaks whipping violently in the storm.
They had believed this plan foolproof—an operation designed to trap Hyūga Shigeo completely, rendering him immobile.
But he had overturned the board again, cutting off their strategy at its source.
Now they surrounded him—nine shadows against the sand, the Akatsuki standing at full strength.
Obito's voice was frigid beneath his mask.
"Well played, Shigeo. Very clever."
In a single motion, Shigeo had seized control of the Gedo Mazō through blood contract—turning Akatsuki's greatest weapon into his own.
Pain's Rinnegan glimmered.
If they didn't act now, the situation would spiral beyond recovery.
"Likewise," Shigeo replied simply.
Then he froze.
Space warped behind him.
Two black rods shot forward, aimed for his back.
The "Obito" before him flickered—it had been a clone.
The real Obito had coordinated with Tendō Pain, using Kūkan Idō to launch a surprise strike from behind.
The attack was silent, precise, deadly.
But Shigeo's senses were unparalleled.
His body twisted at the last instant—his heel lashed out.
Pain dodged, Obito phased through, and both were forced back, separated by the blast of pressure.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique)!"
From the side, Animal Path shouted.
A burst of chakra—multiple Rinnegan summons erupted from the ground, rushing at the immobilized Gedo Mazō.
"That energy—it's the tailed beasts!"
White Zetsu's voice trembled as he watched Shigeo atop the statue.
Their chakras had fused—summoner and statue, linked as one consciousness.
The Gedo Mazō could no longer be used to harvest the beasts' power.
"It's over," Black Zetsu growled softly. "We can't extract the chakra anymore."
All their careful calculations were ruined.
He had turned the weapon of Akatsuki into his ally.
If they'd known he would come to Sunagakure in person, they might have mobilized the entire organization.
Perhaps then, they could have claimed everything.
"Damn it—too late!" Zetsu shouted in frustration.
Obito's clone pressed on, engaging in battle.
From above, Sasori received Pain's silent order.
He turned and fled with Human Path, Preta Path, and Naraka Path—their objective now clear: capture the escaped beasts while Shigeo and Obito clashed.
Outside the valley, the storm howled.
Among the nine scattered beasts ran Gaara, half-merged with Shukaku.
He sprinted through the dunes—until several figures appeared, blocking his path.
(End of Chapter)
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