Shinigami in the Ninja World

Madara Uchiha lowered his head, letting out a chuckle as he spread his arms wide. "The cost? There is no cost."

He stared at Naruto, his tone full of pride and satisfaction. The Rinne Sharingan on his forehead glowed with an unusual light.

"Stop trying to break this jutsu."

"Haven't you realized yet? Aside from you, no one else is resisting."

"They've been oppressed by this world for too long, yearning for peace, for a life they've always desired."

"Do you know the cost of shattering their dreams?"

Naruto ignored Madara's words.

The future Madara described was inevitable for some people. There would always be those brave enough to accept life's hardships, to face them head-on, and continue living with passion. But equally, there would be those who would prefer to live in a dream, even if it was false—a fabricated paradise where they could deceive themselves, choosing the illusion of happiness over the reality of pain.

Yet regardless of what any individual might choose, such decisions should not be made by someone else.

Madara hadn't yet grasped the true meaning of the "cost" he was talking about.

Naruto reached out and brushed his hand over Karin's head before pointing at the closest "fruit" wrapped around Kabuto.

A gentle breeze swept over, and the vortex began to erode the outer layer, revealing Kabuto, appearing as though he was lifelessly hanging from the branches.

His face was peaceful, with a smile he couldn't suppress, while a faint glow of white light lingered near his neck.

His life force was stable—he wasn't in danger.

But unlike real trees that produce fruit by absorbing nutrients throughout the year, this "fruit" named Kabuto was instinctively refining chakra, feeding it back to the "cocoon." The tree was merely a facade—the real nourishment was feeding something beyond the tree itself.

As soon as Naruto's vortex retreated, the vines rushed back in, eager to rewrap Kabuto in their grasp.

"It's useless," Madara said softly, shaking his head as he looked up at the moon wrapped in the Rinne Sharingan. "As long as it remains in the sky, those cocoons will never stop forming."

Naruto followed his gaze and pointed at the moon, just as Karin had suggested earlier.

If the Sage of Six Paths could create a moon, perhaps Naruto could destroy it. After all, Kurama possessed great power.

Naruto began to chant, "Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness..."

But he stopped after the first line. The spiritual energy he had summoned gradually dissipated from his palm.

Even from this great distance, beyond the range of his sensing, Naruto could feel something strange emanating from the moon—an unusual life force. There was something immensely powerful sealed beneath the moon's rocky surface, and it bore the distinct presence of the Sage of Six Paths' sealing technique.

Madara's smile grew even wider. "Why did you stop? Have you finally realized how grand this is?"

"I've created a new era."

"I've achieved something even Hashirama couldn't accomplish."

Naruto stared at Madara coldly.

This man still hadn't realized what the Infinite Tsukuyomi truly entailed.

Judging by Kabuto's state, the technique likely created the perfect dreamscape for its victims, but that wasn't its true purpose.

It was extracting the chakra from the ninjas, nurturing the powerful being sealed within the moon. The technique's true aim was to break the seal left by the Sage of Six Paths and release whatever was trapped inside.

This jutsu couldn't succeed.

The moon couldn't be destroyed, so...

Naruto looked down at Karin, now almost completely covered by the vines.

He extended his hand and lightly tapped her.

With a puff of smoke, a summoning scroll appeared.

"Naruto!" Kurama immediately understood what was happening the moment the scroll appeared. Although it hadn't been used often, the contents of that scroll were unforgettable. It contained something of the highest importance—his physical body.

Naruto shook his head gently, speaking to Kurama within their shared mindscape. "The Infinite Tsukuyomi must be undone."

"Just kill Madara," Kurama growled, his tone full of disdain. "He's no match for you."

"And if you drain his chakra like last time..."

Naruto shook his head again. "Madara isn't the issue. Killing him won't end the Infinite Tsukuyomi."

Naruto paused, his words sharp and blunt.

"He's just a fool who thinks he's clever."

"He believes Infinite Tsukuyomi is what he imagines—a jutsu that traps everyone in a perfect dream."

"But the true purpose of this technique is to release whatever is sealed inside the moon."

Kurama froze, lifting his head in surprise, though he couldn't see the moon from within Naruto's mindscape.

"Madara isn't the real threat," Naruto continued. "The true danger is what's inside that moon."

"Is it strong?" Kurama frowned.

Naruto's expression remained cold. "Do you remember what the Great Toad Sage said?"

"The woman who descended with the God Tree? The Sage of Six Paths' mother?" Kurama quickly recalled. "If she was sealed by the Sage of Six Paths…"

Naruto cut him off, his voice soft yet stern. "Chakra is a form of authority."

"As the Sage of Six Paths' mother, her authority over chakra would surpass anything we've seen."

"If a jutsu cast by one Uchiha can control all living beings with chakra and drain it from their bodies..."

"Then what would happen if someone with even greater authority arrived?"

"Wouldn't she simply extract more chakra?"

Kurama's expression turned grim as he nodded.

Refining chakra in moderation wouldn't harm the body, but it still drew from one's life force. If forced to drain too much, it could cost someone their life.

Kurama raised a paw, forming a hand sign.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu."

With a puff of white smoke, another Kurama appeared beside him.

"Let the clone go with you," Kurama said, gripping the hilt of a sword at his waist. "As for Madara…"

"Now that I have the sword, I should be able to hold him off for a while."

Naruto smiled, then returned to his body, casting one last glance at Madara, who stood proudly in the sky. It had been a while since he fully immersed himself in his physical form.

The chakra within his cells surged like an unstoppable tide.

As the moon, with its Rinne Sharingan, cast its light down on Naruto, the vines immediately stirred, wrapping around his body. They spun layers upon layers of a cocoon, eventually suspending him from the branches above.

"I didn't expect Naruto Uzumaki to voluntarily submit to this jutsu." A raspy voice echoed behind Madara. "Will the Infinite Tsukuyomi affect him?"

Madara turned to see the shadowy figure of Zetsu, his creation born from Yin Release and his own chakra—someone he trusted more than anyone.

"Since he's willingly entering…"

"We should properly welcome him."

Madara noted that Kurama had not fallen under the influence of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but it no longer mattered.

The Eye of the Moon Plan had succeeded.

Once Naruto and the remaining troublesome individuals were dealt with, he would deal with the fox, a creature he had easily toyed with decades ago, even without the Rinnegan.

Madara raised his hand.

The God Tree extended its vines, wrapping him up and forming a cocoon, which hung from the highest branch, the largest of them all.

As the cocoon fully formed, Zetsu climbed up and looked toward the moon, muttering to himself, "Mother, just wait a little longer, endure for a little while more."

The moon seemed to respond, emitting an even stronger pulse of energy as the Rinne Sharingan glowed more brightly.

Naruto opened his eyes, blinking in confusion as he surveyed his surroundings.

This place...

He vaguely recognized it.

It was a park in the Konoha Village, with people walking around, their faces filled with happiness.

"So this is the world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi?" Kurama muttered from Naruto's shoulder. "It looks so real."

"I thought it would be more surreal, like a dream."

Naruto shook his head. "This is a dream shared by countless people. With enough minds contributing, it's bound to feel real."

"How do we break this jutsu?" Kurama asked, tilting his head. "Have you figured it out yet?"

Naruto stayed silent for a moment before raising his hand, forming a summoning seal in his palm. "I have an idea."

With a puff of smoke, a scroll appeared.

It was the scroll containing the Rinnegan.

"Since Madara used the Rinnegan and the power of the Ten Tails to cast this jutsu…" Naruto didn't open the scroll but instead put it away. "Now I have the Rinnegan."

"And the power of the Tailed Beasts…"

"We only lack the Six Tails."

Kurama chuckled. "Do you think the Six Tails exists in this world? Would Madara have included it here?"

Naruto shook his head. "Even if it doesn't exist, there must be some kind of pillar holding this world together."

"We just have to find and break it."

Kurama nodded, about to say something when Naruto suddenly turned around, raising a hand. His chakra, mixed with spiritual energy, spread rapidly, prepared for an attack.

"Menma, long time no see." A blond man smiled gently, waving. "No need to be so tense, it's your father."

"Your mother has been worried sick with you gone for so long."

Naruto stared at him.

The man's aura, his appearance, and even his personality were identical to the Minato Namikaze he had known, but there was something off. He wasn't wearing the white Hokage cloak he was known for.

And the way he addressed Naruto...

"Menma?"

Was that his name in this world?

"Come home," Minato said warmly. "No matter what's happened, your mother and I will always be there for you."

Naruto glanced up, looking toward the distant mountain.

The Hokage faces were still there.

From left to right, there were the familiar faces of Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen, unchanged. But the fourth face—Minato's—had been replaced by someone else, a man with a small mustache.

"I'm not ready to go home yet," Naruto replied bluntly. "I want to walk around the village for a while."

Minato didn't hesitate. "Do you want me to join you?"

Naruto shook his head.

"I won't tell your mother you're back, then." Minato smiled softly. "You can surprise her whenever you're ready."

Naruto smiled and nodded, then turned to leave. Just as he reached the steps, he stopped and looked back. "Where's home?"

Minato frowned slightly but answered honestly, "Same place as before. We never moved."

He gave Naruto the address, and Naruto left without hesitation.

Minato watched him go, his expression deepening.

"That had to be Minato," Kurama muttered. "His aura, voice, and even chakra are identical."

Naruto responded firmly, "It's not him."

Kurama blinked in surprise.

"This is a fabricated illusion," Naruto explained. "I realized that when the Infinite Tsukuyomi was cast."

"The two Edo Tensei, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, weren't affected by the technique."

"They're just two examples, but considering I wasn't affected either, I think only the living, those with chakra, are influenced by the Infinite Tsukuyomi."

Kurama nodded thoughtfully. "So this Minato..."

"Some people wish to reunite with their deceased loved ones," Naruto said, glancing over the bustling crowd. "But the dead can't enter this world."

"So their lingering desires manifest in physical forms."

He paused, considering the strange way Minato had addressed him earlier.

Kurama caught on. "You didn't enter this world immediately, Naruto."

"And the way Minato called you 'Menma'…"

"So in this world, there's another you, created from someone's desires?"

"His name is Menma Uzumaki?"

Naruto nodded. "That seems to be the case."

Suddenly, he looked up.

Two figures, one in blue and one in red, rushed toward him from opposite sides.

Naruto stepped back to avoid them.

The figures landed.

"Naruto!"

"Menma!"

They spoke simultaneously, but each called out a different name.

The girl in blue, wearing a kimono, was Hinata Hyuga. She had long hair, a noble and dignified aura that contrasted her tearful eyes, which were fixed on Naruto. Upon hearing the other voice, she glanced to the side, displeased.

The girl in red, who looked almost identical to her real-world counterpart, was Karin Uzumaki. Her red hair was tied into a bun, and she wore a light-colored floral dress with white strappy sandals.

"Don't talk about the strange things you dreamt up," Hinata scolded Karin with the commanding tone of someone used to authority.

~~~

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