Chapter 15: More than one life

The dust settled from team 7's last attack, and the air was thick with tension. Tsunade, kneeling a distance away, focused her last reserves of chakra to close her wounds, her breathing heavy and labored. She knew she couldn't last much longer, and every ounce of energy she had left was being funneled into keeping her conscious and alive. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, feeling the throb of pain in her chest, "I can't… I can't help them…"

She watched from a distance, unable to do more than offer a prayer for Team Seven's success. The fate of the world now rested in their hands.

Kaguya, possessing Hinata's body, stood tall, her expression impassive but her eyes sharp, keenly watching her opponents. Naruto, Sakura, Obito, and Itachi encircled her, preparing for another onslaught. She could see their movements with absolute clarity through her Tenseigan, every twitch, every muscle contraction, all laid bare to her perfect sight. "You think you can challenge a goddess," Kaguya sneered, "you're making a mistake."

She sensed her enemies' hesitation, the uncertainty in their eyes. They were wary of her powers, counting on her to use them. Clever. But they would learn that even without her full arsenal, she was still far more formidable than they could comprehend. She would rely on her taijutsu to defend herself and bide time until her chakra reserves could replenish.

Kaguya raised her arms, adopting a stance familiar to Hinata. The ground beneath her feet cracked with the release of her inner energy, the atmosphere thickening with anticipation.

"Come," she beckoned, her voice resonating with an otherworldly undertone.

Naruto, Obito, Itachi, and Sakura exchanged a glance. "We strike together!" Naruto commanded, his voice urgent. "Keep her on her toes; don't give her a chance to replenish her chakra!"

The group moved as one. Naruto darted in with his Flying Raijin jutsu, warping to various kunai he had thrown around Kaguya, trying to flank her. Sakura charged head-on, fist clenched, eyes determined.

Kaguya's hands blurred as she blocked each of their strikes with precise movements. Her reflexes, borrowed from Hinata's vast experience in taijutsu, allowed her to parry, dodge, and counter with perfect form. Each palm thrust she made sent shockwaves through the air, clashing with Naruto's kunai and Itachi's sword.

Kaguya's movements were restricted, her Tenseigan observing their every move, her mind reading their intentions before they could act on them.

She parried Naruto's initial punch with a deft sidestep, grabbing his wrist and flipping him overhead. He twisted mid-air, righting himself, and vanished with a flicker, only to reappear behind her, aiming a kick at her ribs.

She twisted, avoiding the strike by a hair's breadth, but a barrage of kunai from Obito forced her back.

She blocked them with her red orb, redirecting the projectiles with a flick of her wrist. Itachi was on her before she could lower her hand.

He thrust a kunai toward her throat, but she caught his wrist, twisting it painfully until he dropped the blade. She kicked him back with an explosion of strength, sending him skidding across the broken ground.

Naruto, moving in and out of his marked points, aimed a Rasengan at Kaguya's exposed side, but she twisted away, catching his wrist and flipping him over her shoulder with effortless strength.

Before he could hit the ground, Obito phased in behind her with a kunai aimed at her neck.

Kaguya shifted her weight and spun around, her Tenseigan tracking Obito's movements. She grabbed his arm mid-attack, but he turned intangible just in time, slipping through her grasp.

"You're getting slower," Obito taunted as he reappeared a few feet away.

Obito's form began to waver as he moved through Kamui, causing a lightning bolt from Kaguya to fly straight through him.

"This one's a bit troublesome," she noted.

Kaguya waited for the right moment, and she froze Obito in time mid-phase with her spell just as he approached her, locking him in place.

"One down," She smiled with satisfaction.

Sakura suddenly darted in from the side, her fist raised. She swung hard, aiming for Kaguya's temple. Kaguya ducked, countering with a rapid flurry of strikes.

The two exchanged a brutal series of blows, each strike faster than the last.

Sakura felt the force behind Kaguya's punches; it was like being struck by a sledgehammer. She gritted her teeth, keeping her movements fluid, but Kaguya's precision was inhuman.

Kaguya's arm lashed out like a whip, her palms thrusting toward Sakura's face in a vicious combo, but Naruto flashed in with his Flying Raijin, grabbing Sakura and teleporting them both to safety before his teammate could suffer any more punishment.

"She's good," Sakura panted, wiping the blood from her lip. "She's using Hinata's instincts and her own abilities perfectly. We've got our work cut out."

Naruto nodded in agreement. "Sakura, if you can get into Sage Mode, you might be able to turn the tide."

Sakura gave a curt nod. "Buy me some time!"

Naruto nodded, his expression determined. "You heard her!" he shouted to Itachi. "Keep her busy!"

Kaguya's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Your tricks will not save you." She raised her hand, summoning a red orb to block an incoming fireball from Itachi.

As the fire dissipated, Itachi's eyes flashed red, and the world around them seemed to shatter like glass.

[Tsukuyomi]

The illusion realm enveloped Kaguya, trapping her within.

Kaguya's face was expressionless as her eyes flickered, recognizing the attack. Instantly, the genjutsu reflected back onto Hinata's mind.

Itachi felt a momentary panic as he felt Hinata's consciousness strained against the illusion. "She's still in there," he realized, quickly dispelling his own jutsu before any damage could occur.

Kaguya's cold gaze fixed on him once more. A hint of a smirk tugged at her lips. "You should be more careful."

Naruto's heart pounded in his chest. "Hinata," he whispered, hope flickering in his eyes. "She's still in there... We can save her!"

Kaguya, sensing a shift in their strategy, created a long staff out of pure chakra energy. She spun it with blinding speed, her movements fluid and graceful, a mix of Hinata's weapon mastery and her own otherworldly power.

She swung the staff at Naruto with lethal force, but he dodged at the last second, reappearing behind her with Flying Raijin, his kunai slashing toward her back.

Kaguya twisted, catching the blade of the kunai with her staff, and kicked out, striking Naruto in the ribs and sending him sprawling across the battlefield.

"Naruto keeps on stealing my chakra reserves," she noted with frustration. Naruto always teleported away her blue chakra orb whenever it appeared, severely limiting her ability to cast spells and use ninjutsu.

Kaguya pivoted to face Itachi, who rushed her with a flurry of shuriken and kunai, all aimed at her vital points. Kaguya deflected each one, moving like a blur, her eyes never leaving his.

Naruto staggered to his feet, his chest heaving. "She's… she's too fast."

"Focus!" Itachi barked, weaving through Kaguya's attacks. He managed to get close enough to thrust his sword toward her.

Kaguya shifted her weight, avoiding Itachi's strike, but she was slowly being pushed on the defensive.

Behind them, Sakura's eyes shot open, now jet black with sage energy. "I'm ready!" she shouted, rushing back into the fray.

Kaguya's expression hardened as she saw Sakura approach with renewed vigor. She spun her staff, slamming it into the ground and creating a shockwave that tore through the battlefield. Sakura jumped over the wave, her fists glowing with sage chakra. She punched at Kaguya with all her might, but Kaguya twisted her body, dodging the blow by inches.

"Acid!" Kaguya hissed, as Hinata's sweater was signed by Sakura's chakra cloak.

Sakura, preparing another attack, gritted her teeth. "Don't let up!" she yelled to the others.

Kaguya switched to a two-handed grip on her staff, her strikes becoming a blur of motion. She blocked Naruto's kunai, parried Itachi's katana, and dodged Sakura's heavy punches.

For a moment, it seemed like she had the upper hand, but she was aware that the longer this fight went on, the more her enemies were adapting to her style.

Sakura and Naruto continued their assault, now moving in perfect coordination. Itachi circled around, his Sharingan tracking Kaguya's every move.

She countered their blows with the grace and fluidity of a dancer, her staff moving like an extension of her body. But the combined assault was relentless, and she was slowly being driven back.

Kaguya parried, deflecting attacks with her staff. She swung her staff, striking Itachi's kunai away and countering with a kick aimed at his chest.

Itachi managed to block but was pushed back several meters.

[Rasengan]

Naruto seized the chance and came in from above with a spiraling Rasengan, but Kaguya evaded and swiped at him with her staff.

But then, Sakura struck. With her newfound Sage strength, she landed a powerful punch that caught Kaguya off-guard, sending her stumbling back.

Kaguya's eyes widened at the force behind the blow. "You…!" she hissed, feeling her arm numb from the impact.

"Keep pushing her!" Naruto shouted, as he teleported Sakura to another position, giving her a better angle.

Kaguya swung her staff to keep them at bay, creating another red barrier to block an incoming fireball from Itachi. But she could feel the pressure mounting.

"They're pushing me… harder than I anticipated," she thought.

She drove her staff forward in a wide arc, aiming to create space, but Naruto teleported again, snatching the staff from her grasp and flinging it far away. "Now!" Naruto shouted.

"Wait..." Kaguya whispered to herself, realizing that one of her enemies was missing.

"It's him!"

But before anyone could capitalize, Kaguya channeled a silver orb, summoning a massive water dragon. It roared forward toward Sasuke, who had just appeared on the battlefield. Sasuke sprinted towards Kaguya, undeterred.

"Naruto!" he commanded.

Naruto, without hesitation, used Flying Raijin to teleport the water dragon away, clearing Sasuke's path.

"Uchiha Sasuke!" Kaguya called out, ready to defend herself.

But Sakura was already upon her. "Not so fast!" She called out.

[Wood style: binding roots]

Thick roots suddenly grew from the ground, binding Kaguya in place.

Kaguya's eyes widened, realizing Sasuke was mere steps away. Desperately, she tried to create a blue chakra orb to enable her defend herself, but it was too late. Sasuke was already upon her, his Chidori-infused blade crackling with electricity.

In a single, swift motion, Sasuke slashed his sword across Kaguya's neck.

With a sickening sound, Hinata's head flew from her shoulders, spinning through the air, and landing on the ground with a dull thud.

Naruto just stared, his mind unable to process what had just happened. "No... Hinata... NO!" he screamed, his voice raw with grief.

Sasuke quickly spun around, a cold fire in his eyes, forming hand signs.

[Fire style: Fireball Jutsu]

Without hesitation, he launched a massive fireball to incinerate Hinata's remains.

Naruto, tears streaming down his face, lunged at Sasuke, rage blinding his vision. "You… BASTARD!"

In the nick of time, Itachi appeared in front of Naruto, intercepting him with a firm grip. "Naruto, stop! We had no choice!"

Sakura rushed to Naruto's side, trying to calm him. "Naruto, please! No one else has to get hurt!"

Naruto shook his head, disbelief etched across his face as he glared at Sasuke. "You killed her you bastard! Hinata… she… she could have been saved!"

In the distance, Obito blinked, feeling the effects of Kaguya's time-stopping spell fade. He saw Hinata's lifeless body on the ground, her head severed, and his heart sank. "Is it… over?" he whispered, not wanting to believe it. Not wanting to believe it could end this way.

Meanwhile Naruto was still blind with anger.

"I'll kill you myself Sasuke!" He called out, struggling against Sakura's wood style holding him in place. His eyes turned blood red as his pupils took the shape of thin, animal like slits.

"I'm sorry..." Sasuke managed to say, sheathing his sword. "We had no choice Naruto... I'm really sorry."

Ignoring his friends words, Naruto struggled against Sakura's wooden restraints, desperately trying to free himself. Managing to free a hand, he tossed a kunai towards Sasuke.

[Kamui]

Naruto watched as his weapon vanished in thin air, with Obito making his presence known. "Naruto, calm down."

But Obito's words had no effect on the jinchuriki. Naruto was still overcome by grief. He was prepared to fight Kaguya, to do whatever it took to stop her.

But he didn't intend for this to happen.

Naruto's body trembled as he fought against Sakura's plant restraints, his eyes locked on the lifeless body of Hinata sprawled on the ground. Blood seeped into the dirt, staining the earth beneath her, and in his mind, her final moments played on repeat. Sasuke's sword had cleaved through Kaguya's neck, but by extension… through Hinata's too. Naruto's breath came in ragged bursts, his heart a shattered mess.

"Get off me, Sakura!" Naruto struggled harder. "Hinata was—she was still in there, I know it!"

Obito stepped forward, his expression grim. "Naruto, listen—"

But before he could finish, Naruto's head snapped back as a voice, deep and ancient, echoed in his mind.

"Calm down, you fool."

Naruto's surroundings blurred, and suddenly he found himself in the familiar darkness of the mind plane, the endless black expanse stretching around him. He stood before the immense cage, the great iron bars that held back the Nine-Tails. Behind them, Kurama's red eyes glowed with a mixture of frustration and something else—urgency.

"Kurama? What do you want?!" Naruto shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion.

Kurama's snarl was like a rumble of thunder. "Stop trying to fight that Uchiha brat and focus your rage where it counts."

Naruto's eyes widened. "What… What are you talking about? Sasuke just—he just—"

"Listen to me, idiot!" Kurama barked, his voice booming. "Kaguya is still out there. I can sense her presence."

Naruto's breath hitched. "No… that's impossible! I saw her—Sasuke… he—"

Kurama's gaze sharpened. "You think I'm lying? I'm telling you, she's not dead. Not yet."

Naruto's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. "And why should I trust you, huh? Why would you want to help me?"

Kurama's lips curled into a fierce grin. "If Kaguya wins, I die too. So I'll help you—for now."

Naruto glared at him, still wary. "Why now? Why after all this time?"

Kurama's tail flicked behind him in irritation. "Because you're too weak to handle this on your own, that's why! Even if I were tricking you to be free, Kaguya and the Akatsuki would capture me in a heartbeat. I'd be right back here, stuck in another wretched seal. There's no point in me lying to you, Naruto. You need me if you want to stand a chance."

Naruto's gaze wavered, uncertainty in his eyes. "So… you're saying I should just trust you? Just like that?"

Kurama leaned closer, his breath hot and powerful like a gale. "Do you have another choice? Decide now, Naruto. Trust me… or face her alone and die."

Naruto's heart pounded in his chest as he weighed Kurama's words. The fury still burned inside him, but beneath it, a cold realization began to form. "Fine… I'll trust you. Just this once."

A wide grin spread across Kurama's face, fierce and almost approving. "Smart choice, kid. Now, let's take her down."

In the real world, a sudden surge of energy exploded from Naruto's body, bright orange chakra spiraling around him. The Nine-Tails Chakra Mode flared to life, the powerful aura illuminating the battlefield with a soft light.

Naruto's eyes snapped open, glowing with the intensity of Kurama's energy. With a newfound strength, he tore through Sakura's plant restraints like they were paper.

Sakura staggered back, eyes wide with shock. "Naruto! What are you—"

"There's no time!" Naruto cut her off, his voice urgent. "Kaguya is still alive."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his sword still stained with blood. "That's not possible. I severed her head myself."

Naruto shook his head, his chakra radiating with fury. "The Nine-Tails can sense her presence. That's why… that's why he agreed to share his chakra with me. Now that I'm using his power, I can sense her too."

Obito stepped forward, quickly assessing the situation. "Alright, we need to regroup. Reorganize and prepare to deal with her if she's still out there."

Suddenly, Hinata's body on the ground began to shimmer, like a mirage in the desert heat. The shimmering grew more intense until, before their eyes, her form faded away completely.

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. "No… no, what is this?!"

From the shadows of a nearby rooftop, Kaguya emerged, her presence serene yet malevolent. Her eyes gleamed with an ethereal light, her lips curving into a mocking smile. "A commendable fight, truly. But did you truly believe it would be that easy to rid yourselves of me?"

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. "Hinata… no…"

Itachi, always perceptive, took a step closer, his Sharingan focused sharply on Kaguya's face. "One of her Tenseigan… it's faded."

Kaguya's smile widened, as if amused by the realization. "Ah, so you've noticed. A small price to pay for such entertainment, don't you think?"

She extended her hand, and a staff of pure chakra materialized, glowing with an ominous light. "You should have known better than to challenge a goddess with such feeble efforts. Your desperation is almost… endearing."

Sasuke's grip tightened around his sword, frustration flaring in his voice. "Damn it… she's mocking us."

Sakura whispered to her team, trying to steady her breath, "Get ready… this isn't over yet."

Beside her, Naruto's eyes burned with a renewed fire as he faced Kaguya, determination flooding back into his veins. "Hinata… I swear… I'll save you. No matter what it takes."

Kaguya's laughter filled the air, cold and condescending. "Save her? Foolish child… You cannot save what is already mine."

The tension in the air was electric, crackling with the promise of a renewed clash. And as Naruto's determination burned even brighter, the team braced themselves, ready for the battle that would decide everything.

Naruto stood firm, Kurama's chakra blazing around him like a furious inferno. His eyes were focused, burning with determination. "We need to end this now," he muttered, clenching his fists.

Obito, standing beside him, nodded gravely. "Kaguya's not going to make it easy. Be prepared for anything."

A short distance away, Kurenai and Shikamaru were watching, concealed within the shadows of a ruined building's rooftop. Shikamaru's eyes widened at Naruto's transformation below. "He's… using the Nine-Tails' chakra?"

Kurenai nodded, her face taut with concern. "He must have made a deal with Kurama." She turned to Shikamaru. "I'm going in."

Shikamaru's brow furrowed. "Kurenai, wait—this is too dangerous. You should stay back."

"No," Kurenai interrupted, her tone firm. "Hinata is still in there. I have to help."

Before Shikamaru could respond, Kurenai leapt from the building, darting towards the battlefield with a determined look on her face.

Kaguya stood amidst the debris, her eyes surveying the group below with disdain. In her mind, she acknowledged the limitations of Hinata's mortal body, her chakra reserves barely sufficient to maintain her presence. She needed more. Much more. And she knew just where to find it.

Naruto's voice cut through her thoughts like a knife. "Kaguya!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury. "For what you've done to Hinata, I'll make sure you pay!"

Kaguya's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Such bold words from a foolish boy. If you think you can stop me, then by all means… try."

Naruto's determination burned even brighter. "I'll kill you... I'll kill you and rescue her, I swear it!"

Kaguya's responding laugh was cold, dismissive. "Empty threats, child."

Raising her arms, she called out in a voice that seemed to echo across the whole village, "Come to me, Ten-Tails!"

The ground beneath her erupted, stone and earth exploding upwards as a massive, monstrous shape emerged. The Ten-Tails burst forth, tearing apart the building Kaguya had been standing on, sending debris flying in every direction. The beast towered over the battlefield, its massive form casting a shadow over the village. Kaguya stood confidently atop its head as it rose, seemingly undisturbed by the chaos around her.

Naruto and the others quickly retreated several buildings back, regrouping as they watched in disbelief.

Itachi's eyes narrowed, his Sharingan active as he assessed the situation. "Damn it," he cursed under his breath. "This just got worse."

Obito's gaze remained fixed on the towering creature. "She's trying to compensate for her weakened state," he muttered. "We need to act fast."

Atop it's head, Kaguya stroked the Ten-Tails gently, almost affectionately. "My dear child," she whispered, her voice laced with a twisted sense of care. "You've been asleep for so long… but you will serve me well now."

The Ten-Tails growled in response, its massive eyes glowing. Kaguya's smile widened as she declared, "I'll need some of your chakra to stabilize myself."

At her command, a surge of chakra flowed from the Ten-Tails into Kaguya, enveloping her in a brilliant aura. Sasuke's eyes widened in alarm. "She's replenishing her reserves," he warned. "This is bad… she's offsetting her disadvantage."

Sakura cursed under her breath. "What the hell are we supposed to do now? We have Kaguya and the Ten-Tails to deal with!"

Obito studied the scene carefully. "We should have destroyed the Akatsuki when we had the chance… now the Ten-Tails is back." He glanced at the group, his expression serious. "Kaguya could call in more reinforcements from the Akatsuki at any moment. We can't back down. We stand our ground here—the fate of the world depends on it."

Naruto's expression was resolute. "We fight her with everything we've got. I won't let her take any more from us."

At that moment, a figure landed gracefully on the rooftop where they were gathered. It was Kurenai. "I'm here to help," she announced, her eyes blazing with determination.

Naruto blinked in surprise. "Kurenai-sensei, what are you doing here?"

She glanced at the Ten-Tails, its massive form looming over the village. "I'm here to help you deal with Kaguya. She's the key. If we can stop her, we'll have a better chance against that thing," she said, pointing towards the Ten-Tails.

Sasuke nodded, eyes narrowed. "She's right. Kaguya's controlling it. We need to take her out first."

Naruto turned to Kurenai. "Can you trap Kaguya in a genjutsu? Maybe we can break her hold on Hinata somehow."

Itachi quickly interjected, his voice low. "Any illusion we cast on Kaguya would only affect Hinata. She's using Hinata as a vessel, remember?"

Kurenai nodded. "I understand. But I believe I can reach Hinata within that prison. If there's even a sliver of her left, she'll fight back against Kaguya's control."

Obito stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Alright, Kurenai. You and I will take the lead. Team 7, Itachi, stay ready for her counterattack."

Naruto's fists clenched, his voice filled with determination. "Hinata… I'm coming for you. We'll bring you back."

From afar, Kaguya watched them from atop the Ten-Tails, her eyes cold and amused. "A futile struggle," she mused softly to herself. "But let us see how long your resolve lasts against a goddess."

The group steeled themselves, the air thick with tension. Kurenai and Obito exchanged a determined glance, and with a nod, they launched forward, leading the charge against Kaguya.

The battle for the future had only just begun

The dim light of the underground bunker flickered, casting shadows on the rough stone walls. The air was thick with tension and the faint scent of antiseptic. Tsunade winced as Shizune carefully wrapped a fresh bandage around her arm, the fabric taut against the jagged wound.

"Damn it," Tsunade muttered under her breath, shifting to ease the pain that flared in her side. She clenched her teeth, her eyes narrowed with determination. "How's the village, Shizune?"

Shizune hesitated, pausing for a moment before continuing with the bandage. "Almost all the civilians… they made it to the shelters. They're safe, for now." Her voice wavered slightly. "But it was only possible because… because of the sacrifices… of all the Shinobi who went to stop Kaguya."

Tsunade closed her eyes, taking a slow, deep breath. She could almost see them—the faces of all those who had fought and fallen. Brave men and women who'd given their lives for their home. Her chest tightened, and she whispered softly, almost a prayer, "They fought for their village… and they gave everything."

For a long moment, there was only the distant rumble of the battle above, the echoes reaching down into the depths of the bunker like distant thunder. The bunker felt like a graveyard—cold, heavy, and silent.

Shizune's hands trembled as she finished tying off the bandage. "Tsunade-sama," she began, her voice barely more than a whisper, "is there anyone left… anyone still fighting?"

Tsunade opened her eyes, staring into the middle distance. "Team 7 is still out there," she said, her voice heavy with the weight of their situation. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura… and some of the Jonin. They're engaging Kaguya right now."

Shizune's eyes widened with a mixture of hope and fear. "They're… they're our last hope, aren't they?"

Tsunade nodded, her face grim but resolute. "Yes… they are. If they fail… if they fall…" She paused, swallowing hard. The words felt like shards of glass in her throat. "Then everything is lost. The village, the people… everything."

Shizune's hands clenched into fists at her sides, her knuckles turning white. "They've always been strong… But Kaguya… she's—"

"A goddess," Tsunade finished for her, her voice steady. "A force unlike anything we've ever faced. But…" Her gaze softened, and a small, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips. "If anyone can pull off a miracle, it's them. Naruto… he's never stopped fighting for what he believes in. For us. For her."

Shizune nodded, her eyes glistening with tears she refused to let fall. "He's grown so much… all of them have. They're stronger together than they ever were alone."

Tsunade took a deep breath, feeling the ache in her bones, the weight of her own age pressing down on her. "I've seen them overcome the impossible time and time again. This… this is the ultimate test. And I believe in them. I have to."

Shizune's voice was thick with emotion. "But what if… what if it's too much? What if—"

Tsunade cut her off, her tone firm, but not unkind. "Then we prepare ourselves for whatever comes next. We hold the line, no matter what. We owe it to them… to everyone who's sacrificed everything."

The room fell silent again, the sound of distant explosions and crumbling buildings filtering through the walls like a haunting lullaby. Shizune lowered her head, her hands still trembling. "I'm scared, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade reached out, placing a hand on Shizune's shoulder. Her grip was strong, reassuring. "I am too, Shizune. But fear is what keeps us moving forward. It's what keeps us alive."

Shizune looked up, her tears finally spilling over. "I just… I don't want to lose anyone else. Not now. Not after everything…"

Tsunade's expression softened, and for a moment, she seemed younger, less burdened by the years. "None of us do, Shizune. But sometimes… we don't have a choice. All we can do is fight, and trust that the ones out there fighting now… are giving it their all."

Shizune nodded slowly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "They're strong… they won't give up."

"No," Tsunade agreed softly, her voice filled with a quiet, unyielding determination. "They won't. Because they know what's at stake. They know what they're fighting for. And they know… they're all we've got left."

Shizune took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Then we keep going. We keep doing what we can down here, and… and we pray they come back."

Tsunade squeezed her shoulder once more before letting go. "Yes. We pray… and we wait. But no matter what, we don't give up. Not now. Not ever."

The two women sat in silence, side by side in the dim light of the bunker, listening to the sounds of the battle above, each holding on to the fragile thread of hope they still had left.

The air crackled with a palpable tension. The battlefield was alive with energy, trembling beneath the weight of power that seemed almost too vast to be contained within the space of reality. Kaguya floated effortlessly above, her expression serene yet disdainful, her Tenseigan glowing like an ominous moon. Below, Team 7 and their allies stood in grim determination.

Sakura breathed heavily, her fists clenched tightly. Her slug Sage Mode had been activate for a while now, chakra coursing through her body like wildfire. Naruto stood beside her in his Kurama Chakra Mode, golden flames radiating from his form, his eyes narrowed with a mix of anger and desperation. Sasuke stood firm, his gaze locked on Kaguya with deadly intent. Itachi and Obito stood nearby, sharing a brief glance.

They had given it their all against Kaguya, fought with all their strength.

But it wasn't enough. Kaguya seemed to shrug off all their attempts, and they were unable to even touch her with any of their attacks.

As Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Obito and Itachi positioned themselves around the body of their comrade, possessed by an ancient being, they shared a collective breath, summoning their courage.

This would be their last stand.

Kaguya yawned, her voice echoing with a lilting mockery. "Is this truly all you have to offer? Come now, entertain me a little longer before I end this farce. Or perhaps you're already giving up? How pathetic."

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Keep your focus!" he shouted to his comrades. "Attack together! Don't give up!"

With a shared battle cry, they charged. Sakura leapt forward, her fist aimed directly at Kaguya's midsection.

Naruto vanished with Flying Raijin, reappearing behind her with a Rasengan swirling in his hand. Sasuke moved like a streak of lightning, his Chidori crackling, ready to strike.

Kaguya's lips curled into a lazy smile as she waved a delicate hand. A glowing circle of time manipulation flared around her. The moment Sakura's fist and Naruto's Rasengan crossed its edge, they froze mid-motion.

The chakra of the Rasengan hung suspended in the air like a miniature star, its spiraling winds caught in an endless loop. Sasuke's Chidori flickered, held in stasis inches from her face.

"Is that all?" Kaguya chuckled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You are hardly worthy of my time. Try harder, insects."

[Tsukuyomi]

Itachi's Mangekyo sharingan appeared, sending a surge of chakra into his eyes. A world of red and black formed around Kaguya, an unending night where the moon itself seemed to weep.

But Kaguya's own eyes gleamed with amusement. She felt Hinata's soul writhe within her, a mere nuisance. With a casual wave, Itachi's illusion was reflected to the Hyuuga. Hinata's soul resisted but Kaguya smiled.

"Is that what you think?" Kaguya sneered. "Amusing. Do you even understand the power you are trying to wield? This Tsukuyomi you call your own... do you know what it cost me to obtain this?"

She clenched her hand, freezing Itachi in time. "You, with your borrowed power, you dare threaten me?" Her voice grew cold, her composure slipping as old fury began to surface. "You use my own power as if you are entitled to it!"

Sasuke, eyes blazing, tried to rush to his brother's aid as Kaguya's time circle fizzled off. But with a mere flick of her wrist, Kaguya sent him flying backward with an almighty push. He crashed through the stone remains of a house, dust billowing into the sky.

Kaguya turned her gaze back to Itachi, her smile slowly twisting into a scowl. "How ungrateful humanity is," she muttered, her voice thick with disdain.

"Veil, be shattered...and return."

Itachi's face contorted in agony as the Tsukuyomi he cast was reversed upon him. His body trembled, his eyes widened in pain.

Kaguya whispered, "Tsukuyomi," and the illusion took hold, expanding into a hundred years of suffering in the blink of an eye. Itachi's scream was silent; his body froze, then dropped like a stone to the earth, lifeless.

Sasuke's howl of grief cut through the air like a blade. "No!" His Mangekyo Sharingan flared to life, fueled by a rage deeper than he had ever known.

He charged, his speed blurring the edges of his form, but Kaguya's hand rose again, her fingers extending gracefully. Sasuke's body was seized in midair, frozen by an unseen force.

She turned her attention back to the others, her smile wide and unsettling. "Do you see now? Do you understand how futile your struggle is?"

Kaguya spread her arms wide, Hinata's damaged sweater fluttering behind her. Team 7, even the mighty Obito, were suddenly yanked towards her by an invisible force.

Thinking quickly, Obito managed to teleport himself and Kurenai away at the last moment, using Kamui.

But Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke were caught within her grasp. Their bodies floated helplessly around her in a circle, suspended like marionettes in a cruel puppet master's hands.

"I've grown tired of this charade," Kaguya murmured. "It is time to end this, once and for all."

Her Tenseigan shone brighter, an ethereal light pouring forth. "You have no place here," she declared, her voice booming with the weight of judgment. "Let me show you the truth of despair."

With a pulse of energy, Kaguya's power forced their minds to access the spirit realm. Time froze as they were transported, yet their consciousness remained painfully aware. In the spirit realm, they felt every death, every sorrow, every pain that had ever existed in the world. Their minds screamed in torment, the agony too great to comprehend.

When the spell ended, Kaguya released them. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke fell to the ground, their bodies limp, their eyes empty. The life had drained from them completely, leaving only husks of what they once were.

Kaguya looked down at their fallen forms, a flicker of genuine pity crossing her face. "Brave, but foolish," she whispered, almost softly. "You fought well, but in the end, you are only human."

She turned, her gaze settling on the distant form of the resting Ten Tails. Her path was clear now; the last obstacles had been removed. With a calm smile, Kaguya floated away, leaving behind the broken bodies of her foes, ready to fulfill her final plan.

The battlefield was silent, a graveyard of shattered dreams and still hopes.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the shattered remnants of Konoha. The village lay in ruins, its streets torn apart, buildings crumbling to dust. Bodies lay strewn across the ground—silent, lifeless. Kaguya, still possessing Hinata's body, stood over the corpses of Team 7, her expression cold, devoid of any remorse or humanity. She lifted her gaze to the heavens, her eyes—Hinata's eyes—glowing with an unnatural, cold, blue light.

With a single leap, Kaguya ascended, landing gracefully atop the massive head of the Ten Tails, its enormous form towering over the ruins of the village like a monolith. She raised an arm, her palm glowing with a soft, green light. Her lips moved, barely a whisper, but her voice carried with a strange, otherworldly resonance.

"Ilâhiy rezonans."

Her Tenseigan pulsed with blinding intensity for a moment, sending ripples of energy across the air, invisible yet undeniably powerful.

Far below, in the depths of an underground bunker, Tsunade suddenly felt a strange presence prickling at the edge of her consciousness. She gasped, her hand instinctively reaching up to her temple as if trying to fend off an unseen intruder.

"Shizune… do you feel that?" she murmured, her voice strained with confusion.

Shizune, standing beside her, clutched her own head, her eyes wide with panic. "Tsunade-sama… what's happening? I… I can hear… something…"

Suddenly, they both went still, their breath catching in their throats. A voice, cold and commanding, echoed inside their minds, clear as day.

On the head of the Ten Tails, Kaguya stood tall, her presence radiating a terrifying authority. She cast her gaze over the ruined village, and her lips curled into a cruel smile. Her voice rang out, not just in the bunker, but everywhere in Konoha. It was inside every mind, permeating every thought, impossible to block out.

"Insects," she began, her voice dripping with disdain, reverberating in the minds of every living soul within Konoha. "Hear me and know that you live only by my mercy. I am Kaguya, the divine matron of your world. I have returned to cleanse the filth that I allowed to fester."

There was a pause, a chilling silence, and then her voice continued, colder, more resolute. "Your world has been one of suffering, of injustice, for far too long. Under my impartial judgment, I will make it into what it was always meant to be—a paradise under my rule. A paradise for those who obey."

In the bunker, Tsunade's face twisted in anger and fear. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "How… How is she doing this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Shizune's face was pale, her eyes wide with shock. "It's… it's in my mind, Tsunade-sama. I can't… I can't block her out."

"Know this," Kaguya's voice continued, relentless and unwavering. "Anyone who tries to challenge my authority, anyone who dares to leave, will die by my hand. None shall escape the paradise I shall build. Defy me, and you will be erased, forgotten like the dust beneath my feet."

Shikamaru, hiding on the rooftop of a nearby building, his breath shallow and his heart pounding, listened to Kaguya's proclamation in stunned disbelief. His body felt frozen, his mind racing with the implications of what he'd just heard. His voice was barely a whisper, trembling with shock.

"No… no… this can't be… the mission… it failed…"

He clutched his chest, his eyes wide with tears that he did not let fall. His lips moved soundlessly, as if trying to make sense of the incomprehensible reality he found himself in. "Naruto… Sasuke… Sakura… gone? No… it can't be… they can't be…"

The names of his comrades slipped from his lips, one by one, his voice choked with grief. The realization hit him like a crushing wave—Team 7 was gone. The strongest among them had fallen. And now… there was nothing left to stand in Kaguya's way.

High above, Kaguya stood on the head of the Ten Tails, her eyes scanning the ruins of Konoha with a predatory gleam. The soft smile on her lips widened into one of cold satisfaction. Everything was falling into place. The village, broken and beaten, was hers for the taking.

She felt the Ten Tails stir beneath her, sensing her mood, feeding off her satisfaction. Kaguya's eyes gleamed with a mix of victory and anticipation as she gently caressed the beast's head. "Soon," she whispered, her voice carrying only to herself, "soon the world will be reborn in my image. As it was always meant to be…"

And with that, she stood tall, her gaze fixed on the smoldering remains of the once-great village, the smile never leaving her lips. Everything was going according to plan.