Author's Note: This chapter is still a bit rough, so any feedback is appreciated. Certain concepts might be a bit confusing, but will be expanded on next chapter. As always, thanks for your support!
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It was several hours before the first intruders made their break into this place. The arena had not been that which Jigen had lured the pair to before, no; this was truly another world – set apart from their own, and unclear if it were in the same universe or not.
The arid environment stirred, albeit a pale orangeish-red hue, rather than the true desert which the Hokage had previously been captured within. His companion's arrival had come just hours after being abandoned here, though a forced travel in this case.
Thirteen hours since Sasuke had arrived… that's what the Uzumaki's internal clock told him, and the pair had been struggling for all that time.
The lack of escape, but clear presence of and utilization for their chakra in all other aspects, had both concerned. Regardless, other aspects of the Uchiha's spacetime ninjutsu worked, it was simply escape – or travel over a certain distance – from this place which had somehow been barred.
A moment of respite, as bruised and bloodied human forms struggled to regain their strength.
They were not going to win this.
Sasuke's mind had scanned every possible angle, and his friend's creative insight kept fresh on new possibilities. Still, there was no sign to capitalize on, no shy indicator that may lead them to discover a way out. It wasn't like the last time.
As with all things, the moments of despair could at times, fleeting and wonderful as they are, lead to possibilities of renewal.
A multitude of spacetime portals opened, and from them, familiar faces rushed forth – these moved to defend the pair, and the rest – shinobi from many nations – rallied ahead of them.
Naruto's expression broke – these people, mothers, fathers, children, siblings… were going to be slaughtered. And still, they came. 'Not for us,' the blonde set a hand on his knee, though understanding of their commitment, full of love for that – he knew, as Hokage, as a leader – and as a father, that they needed to protect their home far more than either him or Sasuke.
A hand placed upon his shoulder, and turning to see the other that had offered it, a friend formed long ago ready to help him up, just as had been during the war. Pale blue eyes slighted at the Uzumaki's pained face, and as he accepted the offer to help to stand, Naruto asked, "…Why-" "Stop acting clueless," Darui interrupted from ahead of him, as medic-nin moved to attend the pair's wounds. Among them, no bob of pink was seen – he'd have not been surprised otherwise if they were all younger. That thought alone, and the flash of memories that ran back through his head with it, were pushed from the blonde's focus as the mob trained its focus on the abomination floating just fifty meters off.
There'd been no response, and no attack. Jigen had simply paused and observed for a few moments as these new prisoners of his realm came forth.
They'd all have to figure that out soon – though the Uchiha had noticed several pieces of new ninja technology hidden beneath some of the various jounin's clothing.
A terse moment passed before the silence was broken, the abomination's expression plain and unamused.
"You lost the advantage," the Uchiha spoke, pointing out Jigen's limit on high-powered combat. Granted, that limit had clearly increased since their first battle with him, but given the time that had passed thus far, his and Naruto's renewal, and the presence of the Five Kage… it was far more likely that they'd beaten his game.
The man-monster remained motionless, practically not even breathing, for an unnerving two seconds before laughing.
At first a chuckle, which rolled again, before growing into a fuller body and cutting itself short.
His mouth opened as if to speak, and remained in that position as a multitude of hushed, coarse voices emanated from his direction: "Human viewpoints shall ever falter."
In the fraction of a breath, Jigen's hands spread open and pointed down and away from him, an amorphous sphere appeared from a void in spacetime oriented just behind him, and the sound: "Γ°óλ'γε 𧠇°¬Œ'óï'", though it was less spoken out and more a hiss, on the inhale of that quiet multitude. The sounds meant nothing to the shinobi present, but as the words came, so too did spacetime and reality unfold – undulating about the jounin and few chunin present, ripping the borders of dimensionalities to reveal copies of their own selves present on the other sides. Expressions of shock, concern, and mild confusion met the gazes of all as they realized they were looking into themselves – rather than being a separate soul, every being became acutely aware that the experiences of each and every one – despite disparate timelines, nuances, and varying lifetime experiences – were in fact, the very same individual soul.
That moment of cognitive dissonance was all Jigen had wanted, pouring forward and sundering their forms in a moment's brutal attack, before rallying what remained of their essences towards – not his hands – but the mouth.
Shock registered on the remaining party's faces, horror, anger, and disgust as the clothing and various equipment each had readied into this world fell to the ground, now freed of their owners. The spacetimes faded, wounds restoring themselves and barring up the other sides just as quickly as they had come.
The creature's head lowered, a threatening gaze directed at the six, as he remained now within twenty meters of them.
Their expressions turned, grimaces taking hold, and righteous indignation burning.
"…You-!" Through gritted teeth, the Tsuchikage reigned in her need for immediate action, as closed fists readied from more than just herself. As one of them was about to speak, a voice of logic emanated: "What is your purpose?"
The Uchiha, ever two steps ahead, ever analyzing the situation for any possible angles. Even monsters acted on drive, and even in light of the fresh horror, Sasuke had chosen reason over immediate vengeance and emotion.
His lips still parted, the being remained there for a moment before seeming to relent, at least somewhat, its aggressive posture. Despite taking several moments in answering, none of the Kage moved or spoke further – uncertain as to Jigen's intentions, or his capacity to perform that cruel technique once again.
"The default nature of creation is a void," it responded once again with many voices, reiterating the statement from before: that given enough time, eventually, even their own galaxy would disappear. "Every cell combats entropy; it's laws, it's own hand, tear it asunder."
"To destroy everything…!?" Kuroitsuchi spoke, and in his mind, the Uchiha quietly considered: 'To destroy for the sake of destroying… that…' It hadn't been his own path, though many had misinterpreted it. Yes, he'd gotten lost – severely so, but… this couldn't be what it looked like, could it?
"Really…" the female Kage's voice shook in rage, and Darui now commented, unamused, "This has already gotten old." To that, the creature before them grinned, "Being given enough time, every non-zero probability will occur." Those words set them on high alarm, each fully readied for action – prepared for some ridiculous attack Jigen may have been saving for them.
"Whatever you're pla-" the Mizukage was cut short as the thing moved forward, clearly not in his top speed but relentless and terrifying all the same. The critical battle ensued once again, with each Kage clearly taking near-damning blows as the monstrosity expanded its efforts to toy with them for some time as well.
Eventually, they managed to wrestle a pair of the ninja-tech into their hands, just as Jigen was forming a spacetime technique to rip the tools from his enemy's possession. The weapons fired, chakra pooling and acting on the same point, resulting in uncontrolled and rapid shifting in the wave functionalities of each spacetime technique. Soon after, in mere femtoseconds, a non-euclidean implosion occurred.