NOVEL NEXT Chapter 156: The Hunt Across Time
He froze.
He had used an Ōtsutsuki treasure to return to the past—so how had Kaede come here too? He couldn't sense a single ripple of space-time on Kaede at all.
His plan had been simple: arrive in the past, rewrite everything, then seize Kaede's body and resurrect himself.
He hadn't expected the other to follow… and to have arrived even earlier.
"The Ōtsutsuki come from another world. Your power may be greater than what's here," Kaede said with a light smile, "but every world has power born from itself. When you use an Ōtsutsuki treasure to tear through time and space, you leave scars on this land. That makes you very easy to track."
From the moment a planet is born, a dragon-vein condenses—gathering the breath of that land. Past and future both leave anchors upon it. Follow the dragon-vein, and prey cannot hide.
"I underestimated you," Isshiki gritted out.
He spun, trying to urge the treasure again—to ride space-time and flee. He didn't believe Kaede could chase him forever. Even if it cost the last tatters of his lifespan, he would finish what he had started.
"Where do you think you're scurrying off to, little rat?"
Kaede finally got serious. Isshiki was no harmless thing; if he slipped back through time again, he'd spawn disasters in the future. And the Ōtsutsuki as a whole were a blight—fat on the life of other worlds, planting god-trees to feed their own strength, turning entire planets into bridal robes for their glory.
If left alone…
No. End it today.
Kaede stepped into Sennin Mōdo (Sage Mode).
Black Amaterasu (Heavenly Illumination) flames fused with ambient nature energy, blooming into a roaring firestorm all around. When Jikū (space-time) force braided into the storm, its heat shook the nations.
Even clans beyond the Land of Fire felt it.
Land of Wind.
"Such power… is this a kami?"
Land of Water.
"I've never felt flame like this. Too strong. Before it, I'm an insect."
Land of Lightning.
"My body is locked—why does such strength exist in this world? Even Rikudō Sennin couldn't…"
Land of Earth.
"This power… this power—"
All five great lands turned their eyes toward Fire. Even at vast distances, the irresistible pressure reached them. Those within the new village felt it tenfold.
"Sensei… I knew you were the strongest in this world, on par with Rikudō Sennin—but I never realized how much you'd been hiding. I haven't even touched a fraction of your strength," Madara whispered, shaken. Even if he trained four or five more years, he wouldn't reach this.
"Lord Kaede's power…" Tajima was at a loss. Words couldn't hold what he felt.
Butsuma's breath hitched. The Senju had always revered Mokuton (Wood Release) as a lineage that, passed down, would be unmatched. He believed once Hashirama bloomed, none could defeat him. But watching Kaede now, his belief cracked. No one here could wield such force. This had already stepped beyond human into the realm of gods—and even among gods there were ranks. The white-robed man was beyond them—but Kaede stood beyond him.
"Madara, be silent. Watch," Tajima said.
Far off, the battle raged. The flames twisted into a dragon-whorl. Isshiki, eyes flaring, unleashed dōjutsu over and over, but the fire clung like a shadow, never leaving him. Nature energy gnawed at his body, shaving away his meager remaining lifespan. Three days left—if he couldn't break free, he would die here.
Impossible.
He was Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
How could he die in this place, by the hand of a native? He was a god—born to rule them.
"—Yaa!"
Disregarding everything, Isshiki forced the treasure to its utmost, wounding himself to open a Jikū no Mon (space-time gate). His body shrank—then shot toward the rift.
"Running?" Kaede's chuckle was cold.
Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Orbs) on his palm unraveled into ten thousand razor lances, a rain of black thorns that screamed toward the gate like a storm of blades.
Isshiki threw his all into flight—and dove through the rift. The spears followed. The gate began to close. Even Kaede, if he wanted to chase now, would be a heartbeat too late.
Just as the rift's seam sealed, a scream ripped out—ragged, soul-deep. Everyone who heard it could imagine the pain—like a spirit torn in two. Swallowing hard, they glanced at one another; fear and awe reflected back.
Butsuma, in that moment, understood how blessed he'd been that Kaede had tolerated his tone earlier. Had Kaede willed it otherwise, he would already be dust.
(End of Chapter)
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