Chapter 177: Chapter 177
"Someone's coming."
Uchiha Shin, who had just arrived at the dense island forest, immediately sensed the presence of three individuals soaring through the sky—descendants of the Ōtsutsuki Hamura branch family.
Their chakra signatures were far too obvious, and their aerial movement lacked any real attempt at concealment.
"They're using their Byakugan to manipulate gravity… Quite different from the Hyūga clan."
Even from a distance, Shin could feel the power coursing through their bodies. Their mastery over gravitational manipulation was evident, though still far from the level of true Rinnegan-based techniques.
That said, the mere ability to fly was enough to place them leagues above the Hyūga clan, whose members were still bound to the ground.
"Unfortunately, now that I've awakened the Six Tomoe Rinnegan, my Byakugan abilities are completely overwritten. I can't analyze the unique properties of their variant."
Shin muttered to himself but quickly let go of the thought. Understanding the differences in their dōjutsu wasn't his priority right now.
He gazed at the three Ōtsutsuki branch members with a hunger in his eyes. To him, they weren't opponents.
They were prey.
"Yin-Yang Release: Black Receiver."
Shin clapped his hands together, and in an instant, several pitch-black chakra rods materialized in the air above his palms, humming with power.
"Amenotejikara."
In the blink of an eye, the black rods switched places with air particles right at the chests of the three airborne warriors.
Squelch.
The wet sound of flesh being pierced rang through the air. The three branch family members froze, staring blankly at the rods now embedded deep in their chests.
"When—?"
Before they could even process what had happened, their bodies lost all control, and they plummeted from the sky like birds with shattered wings.
"Hahahaha! Amenotejikara is an absolute cheat!"
Shin couldn't help but burst into laughter. Even he was a little embarrassed by how broken his ability was.
If only his mastery had progressed further… If he could swap an enemy's vital organs—heart, brain, lungs—with open space, it'd be over for anyone in an instant.
But even as it was, using it for sneak attacks was disgusting enough.
As they fell, Shin activated Amenotejikara again, teleporting directly in front of them midair.
"Amaterasu."
With a mere glance from his left eye, black flames surged forth, consuming the three victims instantly.
The two elite Jōnin-level members stood no chance. The all-devouring flames of Amaterasu reduced them to ashes before they could even scream.
However, the third—an experienced Kage-level warrior—reacted swiftly, channeling his chakra to block his tenketsu points and disrupting the flames' spread.
With a sharp glare, his Byakugan flared to life, releasing a powerful pulse of chakra. The sheer force blasted away the Amaterasu flames clinging to his body.
At the same time, he locked onto Shin and unleashed a devastating pulse of compressed pupil force—a raw explosion of ocular power that threatened to crush Shin's consciousness from within.
"Direct soul-level attack, huh?"
Shin remained unfazed. His Six Tomoe Rinnegan spun, absorbing the attack as if it were nothing more than a light breeze.
"Fool."
Extending his hand, he grasped at the air.
"Naraka Path: Soul Extraction."
A spectral force seized the branch member's very soul, yanking it from his body. The moment resistance faded, the Amaterasu flames reignited, consuming what was left of him in an instant.
Shin dove into his memories, absorbing everything at a terrifying speed. Simultaneously, the genetic data of the Ōtsutsuki lineage began fusing into his own DNA.
Every fiber of his being was undergoing forced evolution.
At a microscopic level, his DNA unraveled and reconstructed itself.
The newly integrated Ōtsutsuki genes triggered a chain reaction. It was as if a missing catalyst had finally been introduced.
Inferior, outdated, and redundant genetic material was systematically purged from his body.
His previously jet-black hair paled rapidly, morphing into an ethereal white-blue shade.
The strands lengthened, cascading down past his waist.
His skin turned even paler, almost glowing under the moonlight.
His facial features sharpened into something divine—too beautiful, too inhuman, exuding an aura of supremacy.
And then…
His transformation reached its climax.
A deep, primal roar erupted from his throat as his body expanded. His form twisted, stretched—his muscles coiling as his flesh hardened into gleaming golden scales, streaked with platinum.
A draconic transformation.
The bony protrusion on his forehead cracked open, giving way to a set of majestic, spiraled horns.
What was once a man was now a monstrous dragon over a hundred meters long, exuding an aura of absolute domination.
With a single exhale, he released a pulse of draconic energy.
Everything before him—trees, earth, even the very air—was instantly obliterated, disintegrating into its most basic particles before vanishing entirely.
Satisfied, he returned to his humanoid form, his dragon scales seamlessly morphing into an elegant, pristine white cloak.
"Tch."
"Everything in this world is just an equation waiting to be solved."
"Bloodline Refinement: Truth-Seeking Orbs."
Shin raised his hand, channeling the very essence of his chakra.
The seven fundamental chakra natures converged in his palm, spinning like a Rasengan.
As they condensed further, the center darkened—turning pitch-black, radiating an oppressive void-like energy.
Then—BANG!
The first Truth-Seeking Orb took shape in his hand.
And then another.
And another.
By the time the process was complete, nine Truth-Seeking Orbs hovered around Shin like planetary satellites.
"Even without the tailed beasts' chakra, I've reached the Six Paths level early."
Ordinary ninjutsu could no longer harm him.
But there was one last missing piece.
The Chakra Fruit.
"The next step is clear. I need the power of the Ten-Tails or… the fruit of the Divine Tree."
Shin had already formulated his plan.
He had achieved this transformation on his own power, but he had no reason to reject a shortcut to godhood.
He wouldn't pass up the true immortality possessed by the Ōtsutsuki.
Right now, he was simply an Ōtsutsuki who had yet to eat the fruit. He had achieved a Six Paths transformation by sheer will and talent alone.
In terms of raw power, he was likely on par with Six Paths Madara.
But in terms of ability… he surpassed him completely.
Compared to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, he was still at a disadvantage in raw power.
But in actual combat? She was nothing more than a sheltered princess, lacking the instinct and experience of a true warrior.
If it came down to a fight, he was confident he could break her down, even if he couldn't seal her permanently.
"The next goal is simple."
"Either hunt down the remaining tailed beasts… or claim a Divine Tree of my own."
His mind drifted to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
There was a Divine Tree somewhere under Isshiki's control.
If Shin could find him and kill him, the tree—and the fruit—would be his for the taking.
"So many options…"
"But first—"
His gaze shifted toward the hidden sanctuary of the Ōtsutsuki Hamura branch family.
A smirk played on his lips.
"I'll wait for the Tenseigan to be complete… and then, it's mine."
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Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones