Kaguya stood atop the Ten-Tails, her gaze sweeping across the ruins of Konoha. The village lay in a shattered silence, buildings reduced to rubble, and smoke rising in thin, ghostly wisps against the darkened sky. Her sweater fluttered in the cold breeze as she stood motionless, a figure of serene malevolence. She closed her eyes, sensing the life still flickering in the shadows. It was time to summon her disciples.

Extending an arm, she murmured an incantation under her breath. A portal, dark and swirling, materialized before her. Out of the void, three figures emerged: Konan and Kisame—the remaining members of the Akatsuki. As they approached, they fell to their knees in reverence, heads bowed.

"Rise," Kaguya commanded, her voice ethereal, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.

Konan was the first to stand. "Kaguya-sama," she began, her voice steady but laced with respect, "I present myself as the new leader of the Akatsuki. Pain… he overstepped in the past, and he paid the price. We now follow your will alone."

Kaguya's lips curved into a faint smile, a hint of approval in her otherwise stoic expression. "You have done well," she replied. "Reviving the Ten-Tails… it brings us closer to our goal."

Konan nodded, a glint of determination in her eyes. "We serve only you, Kaguya-sama. What would you have us do next?"

Kaguya turned her gaze toward the massive beast beneath her. "The Nine-Tails must be transferred into the Ten-Tails," she began. "That is why I have called you here."

Kisame stepped forward, a slight frown creasing his brow. "But… the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki… you killed him, didn't you?"

A sigh escaped Kaguya's lips, a sound filled with mild irritation. "Yes, I did. Unfortunately, the beast will take time to reform… but there is another way." She paused, letting her words hang in the air. "The Ten-Tails must absorb Naruto Uzumaki. His DNA still holds traces of the Nine-Tails' chakra. With my Tenseigan, I can replicate the Nine-Tails' chakra signature perfectly, restoring it as a flawless clone."

Konan absorbed her words, nodding slowly. "Then we will retrieve his body."

"Do so," Kaguya replied curtly. "There is no time to waste."

Konan turned to Kisame. "You heard her. Find Naruto's corpse and bring it here."

"As you wish," Kisame chuckled, carefully taking in his goddess. "This Leaf girl was your host afterall... I'm grateful you spared me that day, my lady."

"I acknowledge your gratitude," Kaguya replied. "But my patience is running thin."

The Akatsuki members dispersed quickly, their forms fading into the shadows. Kaguya watched them go, her mind turning back to her plan. "The Infinite Tsukuyomi will begin soon," she murmured to herself. "Once the Nine-Tails is restored…" She felt a flicker of irritation—her plan was delayed, but not defeated. She would have what she desired.

Her gaze shifted to her arm, raising it into her line of sight. She studied it intently, examining every inch of Hinata's flesh. "I just need to endure a little longer," she whispered, almost to herself. "Ascension is close. I will complete it, even in this frail body."

Moments later, Kisame reappeared, his face shadowed with a rare look of confusion. "Kaguya-sama," he began hesitantly, "there's… there's no sign of Naruto's body."

Kaguya's eyes narrowed. "No sign?" she repeated, her tone edged with a hint of disbelief. "I killed him moments ago."

Kisame shook his head. "Nothing. No body… no remains… nothing."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Kaguya's expression. She closed her eyes, focusing, her Tenseigan activating. She scanned the area, her vision piercing through walls, through debris, through the very ground itself. Her brow furrowed. "Where…?" she muttered, her voice low, perplexed. "His body… along with the rest of Team 7's corpses… nowhere to be found."

Her eyes shot open, realization dawning on her. "Obito," she hissed. "He's gone too."

She felt a sudden surge of anger, her calm exterior cracking for a brief moment. "That wretched fool," she snarled. "He must have recovered their bodies."

Kaguya's hands clenched into fists, her frustration mounting. She activated her Tenseigan again, searching, searching… but found nothing. Her senses stretched over the entire planet, but there was no trace of them. "Gone…" she whispered, her voice filled with venom. "They are nowhere… not on this entire world."

Her fury blazed, her eyes glowing with a fierce, almost blinding light. "Obito," she growled, "you have put a dent in my plans… but you will not thwart me."

She took a deep breath, calming herself. Her mind raced. "If I delay the Infinite Tsukuyomi, it could give Konoha time to call in reinforcements. I cannot allow that…"

She paused, then a thought struck her. "An army," she mused, her voice cold and calculating. "I will raise an army to hold off any attackers. I have no time or patience to deal with them myself."

Her decision made, she called out, "Konan!"

Konan returned swiftly, bowing her head in respect. "Yes, Kaguya-sama?"

Kaguya met her gaze, her expression firm. "Lead the Akatsuki. I want you to capture any shinobi you find alive. Bring them to me… they will be absorbed into the Ten-Tails. They will serve as my foot soldiers should any attack come."

Konan nodded. "As you command. I will do so immediately."

Kaguya's eyes gleamed with purpose. "They are hiding," she said, her gaze piercing into the distance. "In an underground shelter, just beyond the eastern wall. I can see them… waiting, cowering." She turned to Konan. "You will accompany me there. We will leave now."

Konan bowed her head once more. "Yes, Kaguya-sama."

Together, they set off, Kaguya leading the way, her footsteps light yet commanding. The shadows seemed to ripple around them as they moved, the weight of her power palpable in the air. The bunker lay ahead, a hidden refuge… but not for long.

Kurenai sat in a creaky wooden chair, her eyes darting around the wide expanse of the Kamui dimension. Her body was tense, her fingers gripping the armrests, knuckles white. She still hadn't adjusted to the sudden change in her surroundings. One moment, she had been on the battlefield, and the next, she had found herself here, far away from Konoha. She knew Obito had transported them both, but the abruptness had left her unsettled.

She exhaled, trying to calm herself, but her breath came out shaky. A portal appeared and Obito dropped in, his expression unreadable.

"Will they make it?" Kurenai asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Obito's gaze met hers, and he hesitated for a moment before answering, his tone somber. "I don't know."

Kurenai's heart sank, and she felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "Why… why did it have to be like this?" Her voice cracked, and she clenched her fists. "Why did everything have to happen this way?"

Obito remained silent, his face a mask of restraint.

Kurenai continued, her voice rising with emotion. "Konoha—Tsunade, you, everyone! You all went about this in the worst way possible! Why couldn't you just explain everything to Hinata? Why did you have to kill Neji and then try to capture her like she was some… some animal?" Her voice broke, and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Why did you have to threaten her life like that?"

Obito sighed, looking down, his shoulders heavy with regret. "We had to destroy the Tenseigan," he said quietly. "No matter what. Even if Hinata managed to resist Kaguya's control, the Tenseigan would still reappear in another of Kaguya's descendants. We had no idea if Kaguya could bypass her vessel's consent to take over their body."

Kurenai's eyes widened with disbelief. "So… what? You just decided to eliminate every possible threat?" Her voice shook with anger.

Obito met her gaze, his eyes tired and dark. "Konoha was considering eliminating the Hyuuga clan," he admitted. "They believed the clan was the closest related to Kaguya's original bloodline. It was a desperate attempt to prevent the Tenseigan from ever reappearing."

Kurenai's breath hitched in her throat. "You… you're serious?" She stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the ground. "How could you even entertain such an idea?!"

Obito didn't flinch, his face still composed. "It was a difficult decision, Kurenai. But Kaguya—"

"No!" Kurenai snapped, stepping closer to him, her eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you dare justify this! Konoha's leadership—Tsunade, the council—they're the ones to blame for what's happening! Instead of helping Hinata, they chose to attack her, to kill her cousin, her closest relative, and then paint her as a threat!"

Obito's lips tightened into a thin line. "They panicked, Kurenai. They saw the Tenseigan and thought of the worst possible outcome. They wanted to avoid a disaster."

"They caused the disaster!" Kurenai's voice echoed in the vast expanse, her frustration boiling over. "We were supposed to reach out to Hinata, monitor her, help her deal with Kaguya. But no… instead, they pushed her into a corner, and now look where we are!"

Obito closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "What happened has happened. We need to focus on the current situation, Kurenai."

Kurenai paced back and forth, her hands running through her hair in frustration. "I still believe Hinata's alive," she muttered, her voice tinged with hope. "We just need to reach her… help her fight back against Kaguya's control."

Obito let out a weary sigh. "I wouldn't count on it, Kurenai. Kaguya's hold is—"

"No!" Kurenai cut him off sharply, turning to face him. "We have to try, Obito! We've already messed up, we've already failed Hinata… maybe there's still a chance to fix things. We've lost so many people trying to fight her. Maybe it's time we tried something different. Maybe we should help her like we should have from the beginning."

Obito stared at her, his face conflicted. "And the Tenseigan?" he asked quietly. "The danger it represents?"

Kurenai's voice grew more resolute. "We deal with that later. Think short term first, one step at a time. We have to try something. Anything." Her eyes softened, filled with determination. "We owe it to her."

Obito remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Kurenai sighed, a mix of frustration and hope washing over her. She lowered her gaze, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. "I just… I pray she's still holding on, somewhere in there. I pray we can still reach her."

The expanse of the Kamui dimension fell silent, the tension thick in the air, and Kurenai's whispered plea seemed to hang there, a fragile hope in the face of overwhelming despair.

In a wide expanse that existed in a reality different from ours, Hinata remained on her knees, bound in heavy, unyielding chains, her body limp and trembling. The oppressive silence of the limbo realm bore down on her, so thick and suffocating it felt like it was swallowing her whole.

Her vision blurred as she blinked through the pain, her head pounding, her nosebleed dripping slowly onto the cold, endless void beneath her.

Every part of her was screaming. Physically, emotionally, mentally — she was ruined. Itachi's Tsukuyomi had fractured her mind, the unrelenting nightmares clawing at her even now. But what truly broke her was the fact that she had watched, helpless, as Kaguya used her body to massacre the people she loved most.

Team 7…

Tears streamed down Hinata's face, leaving streaks on her pale, sweat-soaked cheeks. She had witnessed it all — through the Tenseigan, she had been forced to see everything. Every horrible moment, every cry of anguish, every expression of sheer terror. She couldn't escape it.

Her mind replayed the memory that tormented her more than any other.

She saw Naruto first. His face, twisted in horror as Kaguya brought him closer to her, the agony in his eyes as his body convulsed under her power. Hinata had tried to scream, to fight, to do anything, but she couldn't. She was trapped, a mere spectator to the slaughter unfolding in front of her.

Sasuke was next, his Sharingan wide with disbelief as Kaguya's inhuman strength overwhelmed him. He fought desperately, but it was useless. In the end, his defiance crumbled into raw despair as he, too, was torn apart by the spiritual agony Kaguya inflicted.

And then Sakura… Hinata's heart shattered all over again as she saw the memory of her friend's final moments, her eyes filled with fear and pain, her body collapsing in defeat.

Hinata gasped, her sobs choking her as she tried to murmur their names, but her voice broke under the weight of her grief.

"N-Naruto… Sakura… Sasuke…"

Their names were barely whispers, fragments of a broken heart. She couldn't believe they were gone. The people she cared for most had been wiped from existence by the very thing she had become.

Suddenly, a hand gently patted her head. She didn't flinch. She didn't move. There was no one else who could touch her in this realm buther.

Kaguya.

The ancient goddess loomed over Hinata, her cold, ethereal presence a stark contrast to the warmth that had once filled Hinata's life. Her hand remained on Hinata's head, stroking her hair softly, as if offering comfort. But it only made Hinata feel more hollow.

"Hinata…" Kaguya whispered, her voice almost kind, though laced with a twisted satisfaction.

Hinata didn't respond. She couldn't. Her body felt too heavy, her spirit shattered beyond repair. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Kaguya's, her vision swimming with tears, her eyes bloodshot from both the mental and physical agony she had no She tilted her head slightly, as if intrigued by Hinata's suffering. "It seems my plan for the infinite Tsukuyomi has been delayed… unforeseen circumstances." Her voice was calm, almost clinical.

Hinata barely blinked, her breath shallow. She didn't care. She couldn't care.

"The Nine-Tails jinchuriki's corpse is missing," Kaguya continued, as though discussing something trivial. "But I will find it soon enough."

At the mention of Naruto, Hinata's lips parted, and she could only manage a hoarse whisper. "N-Naruto…" Another tear rolled down her cheek, her heart unable to take the weight of it all.

Kaguya's lips twitched, her eyes narrowing as she observed Hinata's broken state. "Your lover," she murmured, a trace of amusement in her voice, "was unwise to try to stop me. But… I must admit, he fought well. He and his team."

Hinata clenched her fists weakly, her nails biting into her palms. 'Naruto… Sasuke… Sakura…'

"They died noble deaths," Kaguya said softly, almost as though it were a kindness. "You should hold onto that thought. It's rare that people can die with such courage."

Hinata's chest heaved as she struggled to breathe through her tears. Her mind reeled, unable to reconcile the horror of what she had seen with Kaguya's detached words. How could their deaths mean nothing?

Kaguya's hand moved to Hinata's cheek, gently wiping away a tear with her thumb. "I pity you, Hinata. I can only imagine how you must feel… watching your loved ones die before your very eyes. Powerless. Helpless."

Hinata's entire body trembled at the words. She could still see Naruto's face in her mind — the way his eyes had softened when he looked at her, even in his final moments. He had been brave. So brave.

But he was gone. And it washerfault. Kaguya had usedherbody to kill him.

"Naruto's death was necessary," Kaguya continued, her voice soft, almost motherly. "It had to happen. The world needs cleansing, and his sacrifice was a step toward that. You should feel honored, Hinata. After all, you were the vessel that brought me back to this world. To restore order."

Hinata shook her head weakly, her voice nothing but a broken whisper. "N-no…"

Kaguya's hand lingered on her head, a mockery of comfort. "When I ascend," Kaguya murmured, "I will restore everything. Just as I used to help you, Hinata. You remember, don't you?"

Hinata blinked through her tears, her mind too fractured to understand. Kaguya's words felt like poison, dripping into her thoughts, distorting the memories she held dear.

"When I am done, you will see," Kaguya promised, her voice low and commanding. "The world will be as it should be. And you, Hinata, will have played your part in bringing about this new era."

With that, Kaguya slowly rose to her full height, her presence towering over Hinata like an impenetrable shadow. She turned, her form beginning to dissolve into the swirling darkness of the portal.

"Feel honored," Kaguya said as she vanished. "You will be remembered as the one who helped bring me back to mankind's aid."

And then, just like that, she was gone.

Hinata was left alone. Alone with her shattered mind. Alone with the memory of Naruto's death, of Sasuke's pain, of Sakura's final breath.

Her tears fell silently, her heart heavy with the unbearable weight of it all.

Tsunade lay on a makeshift bed deep in the underground shelter, her body heavy with fatigue. Her chakra reserves were low, and the pain in her muscles had become a constant hum. She had been pushing herself for hours, healing as many shinobi as she could. Now, in the brief moments of rest, her mind raced. Kaguya had appeared, and they were losing ground fast.

What am I going to do? she thought. How can we possibly stop her?

Shizune, ever faithful by her side, sat quietly, her worried eyes darting between Tsunade and the entrance to the bunker. The silence between them was heavy, tense, and uncertain. Finally, Shizune broke it.

"Tsunade-sama… what about Team 7?" Shizune asked softly. "Are they… are they doing alright?"

Tsunade opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, the doors to the shelter swung open violently. Shikamaru, panting heavily, stumbled inside, his eyes wide and frantic.

"I need to see Lady Tsunade," he gasped, his voice strained.

Tsunade immediately sat up, her instincts flaring. "I'm here!" she called, urgency creeping into her voice. "What is it?"

Shikamaru was ushered to her side, his face pale and covered in grime. Tsunade didn't wait for pleasantries. She eyed him sharply. "What's happening out there? What's the update on the battle?"

Shikamaru hesitated, a defeated look settling on his face. Tsunade's heart sank at the sight of it.

"Obito and Kurenai's team… they failed," Shikamaru said, his voice breaking with quiet despair.

Shizune gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Tsunade felt as though someone had slammed a fist into her chest. For a moment, she couldn't breathe, her mind reeling.

"Failed?" Tsunade whispered, almost not wanting to hear the answer. "What… what happened? How bad is it?"

Shikamaru exhaled slowly, as if steeling himself to deliver the worst possible news. His eyes met Tsunade's, and she could see the weight of what he was about to say.

"The casualties… they're heavy," he began, his voice raw with grief.

Tsunade's hands gripped the edges of the cot, her knuckles turning white. "How bad?" she pressed, though her voice trembled now. "Who… who did we lose?"

Shikamaru swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor. He took a breath, then said the words that Tsunade had feared most.

"Team 7… they're dead."

The words hit like a hammer to her chest. Tsunade stared at him, disbelieving, the room suddenly feeling too small, the air too thin.

"No," Shizune whispered, shaking her head as tears filled her eyes. "No… they can't be…"

Shikamaru looked at both of them, his voice thick with sorrow. "Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura… they were killed in battle. Kaguya… she was too strong."

Tsunade felt as if the ground had opened beneath her, pulling her into a chasm of despair. Her vision blurred for a moment, and a hot wave of rage and helplessness surged through her.

"We're done for," she muttered, the bitterness in her voice palpable. "We… we can't recover from this. Not without them…"

Shizune clutched at Tsunade's arm, tears spilling down her face. "Tsunade-sama, we can't give up. We have to—"

"I know that!" Tsunade snapped, but her voice cracked under the pressure of her grief. She shook her head, trying to focus. "We need another plan. Another option…" But the options felt scarce, and the dread creeping into her heart was suffocating.

"Maybe…" Tsunade began, her mind racing again. "Maybe there's still time to get help. We need to send word to Suna. They'll back us if we're fast enough."

Shikamaru nodded, though his face was grim. "If we can get word to them without Kaguya noticing… it's risky, but it might be our only chance."

Tsunade looked around, spotting a Chunin nearby. "You!" she barked, pointing at him. "Fetch Sai immediately. We need him to send a message."

The Chunin froze, his face paling. "Lady Tsunade… Sai… he's…"

"Spit it out!" Tsunade snapped impatiently.

"Sai is dead."

For a moment, the room was silent, and Tsunade felt her world collapse a little further. She closed her eyes, fighting the urge to scream. Another ally lost. Another door slammed shut.

Before she could muster the strength to curse again, a cold wind swept through the shelter. The temperature in the room dropped, and every sound seemed to vanish into nothingness.

Tsunade's heart stopped.

A portal, dark and swirling, materialized in the center of the bunker. The air grew thick with a palpable, ancient energy. The few remaining shinobi gasped in terror, stepping back as a figure emerged from the vortex.

Hinata–No, Kaguya.

Her presence filled the room with an overwhelming sense of dread, and Tsunade felt as though the weight of the world had crashed down on her shoulders. Every instinct screamed for her to run, to flee… but she couldn't. Not now.

Tsunade clenched her fists, her heart hammering in her chest as she forced herself to her feet, her body shaking from exhaustion and fear. I have to protect them. I have to protect what's left of the village.

Shizune's hand gripped her arm, trembling. "Tsunade-sama… what do we do?"

Tsunade swallowed hard, her voice steady despite the terror coursing through her veins. "Shizune, you take as many people as you can and get out of here."

"Tsunade-sama—"

"Go. That's an order."

Shizune hesitated, but then she nodded, tears still streaming down her face. She grabbed Shikamaru's arm, and the two of them began to usher people toward the back exit in an attempt to escape.

Tsunade turned to face Kaguya, steeling herself, her body tensing with the knowledge that this might be her last stand. She squared her shoulders and stepped forward, standing tall despite the fear constricting her chest.

"If you think I'm going to let you take this village without a fight," Tsunade said, her voice low but unwavering, "you've got another thing coming."

Kaguya's expression was unreadable, her eyes cold and distant, as though Tsunade's defiance was nothing more than the buzzing of a fly. But Tsunade stood firm, her resolve unwavering.

For her village, for her fallen comrades… she would sacrifice everything.