Tsunade stood at the rear of the underground shelter, her fists clenched, jaw tight. Every face around her reflected fear, wide eyes darting nervously between her and the distant figure approaching. The air was thick with the scent of dread, but Tsunade forced herself to stand tall. She had to protect them. Even if the odds were impossible, even if she knew deep down that she stood no chance, she couldn't falter now.

Kaguya approached, her presence suffocating. Hinata's body, twisted and tainted by the ancient goddess's will, moved with a deadly grace. The dark robe of the Akatsuki flowed behind her like a shroud, her once-innocent features now cold, predatory. The damaged sweater Hinata once wore had been discarded, replaced by the black and red clouds of the Akatsuki, the very symbol of destruction.

Tsunade watched as a Chunin, young and brimming with desperation, surged forward with a wild battle cry. His eyes blazed with a fire that came from the knowledge that if they didn't act now, they might never get another chance.

"Stay back!" Tsunade shouted, but it was too late.

The Chunin formed hand seals, sending a barrage of rock bullets hurtling towards Kaguya. He gave it his all, hoping that somehow, someway, his attack could reach her. But the instant the bullets neared her, they transformed. The sharp, deadly rocks became soft, fluttering petals, harmless flowers that drifted lazily to the ground.

Kaguya barely acknowledged his presence. Without so much as a glance, she extended a single hand, conjuring a glowing chain of chakra. It whipped through the air, binding the Chunin instantly, causing him to collapse onto the floor, helpless.

Tsunade's heart hammered in her chest, but she forced herself to think clearly. Kaguya wasn't killing anyone… not yet. There had to be a reason. She bit back the instinct to charge forward, choosing instead to observe. If Kaguya wanted something, then perhaps, just maybe, there was room to talk.

Kaguya's voice echoed softly through the tunnel as she approached. "I haven't come to shed blood," she said.

Tsunade raised a hand, signaling her shinobi to stand down. Reluctantly, they lowered their weapons, eyes still filled with fear. Tsunade held her ground, even as Kaguya neared, her gaze like ice, locking onto Tsunade with those eerie Tenseigan eyes.

The pressure in the air thickened as Kaguya drew closer. Tsunade's legs trembled, but she willed herself to stay upright, fighting the overwhelming urge to fall to her knees under the crushing weight of Kaguya's presence. But even she wasn't strong enough to resist forever.

"Know your place," Kaguya commanded, her voice like silk laced with steel. "Get on your knees."

Against her will, Tsunade felt her legs buckle, her body betraying her as she collapsed onto the cold stone floor. She knelt before Kaguya, breath heavy, heart thundering with frustration and fear. But still, she raised her chin defiantly, glaring at the goddess towering over her.

Kaguya squatted down beside her, lowering herself until her eyes were level with Tsunade's. Her expression was unreadable, calm, almost detached. "Tsunade," she said softly, as though testing the weight of the name on her tongue.

Tsunade's chest rose and fell rapidly as she glared back, refusing to break under Kaguya's scrutiny.

"Are you afraid?" Kaguya asked, tilting her head ever so slightly, her voice dripping with curiosity.

Tsunade didn't answer, her glare never wavering.

"I can see your dread," Kaguya whispered, her voice like a cold wind creeping into Tsunade's bones. "What are you afraid of, Hokage?" Kaguya whispered, her voice laced with mock curiosity.

"Is it...death?"

Tsunade's breath hitched, but she didn't respond, content with maintaining her steady gaze on Kaguya.

But nothing could be hidden from Kaguya. She leaned in closer, her expression one of amusement. "Do you fear death, Lady Hokage? Do you fear the cold embrace of darkness, the eternal silence that awaits when breath leaves your fragile shell?"

Tsunade's heart beat faster, but still, she didn't reply. Kaguya smiled slightly, continuing to speak.

"It's logical to be afraid... natural. I expect nothing less."

Tsunade felt the icy fingers of dread claw at her heart, but she kept her expression stoic, fighting to hold onto what little control she had left.

Kaguya studied her closely, searching for the cracks in Tsunade's demeanor. She smiled faintly, a chilling curve of her lips. "Ah… but I can offer you an escape," she whispered. "I can pluck you from the jaws of oblivion, grant you life that never ends. Eternal life, unending… undying."

Her eyes gleamed as she asked, "Will you accept my gift?"

Tsunade's lips parted, and for the first time, she spoke. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice rough but steady.

Kaguya's smile widened. "I admire your character, Tsunade. I want you to join me, Tsunade. Help me achieve my goal. Dedicate your life to the betterment of this world… and in return, you will be free of death's shadow."

Tsunade's gaze hardened, her fear momentarily overshadowed by a surge of bitter amusement. She smiled sarcastically at Kaguya. "You have the Tenseigan. You've probably already guessed my answer."

Kaguya's smile faded slightly, her expression becoming neutral once more. But Tsunade sensed the faint flicker of anger behind her calm facade.

"I will never work for a narcissistic witch like you," Tsunade spat, her voice dripping with venom.

For a moment, the air grew deathly still. Kaguya's eyes darkened, and the weight of her power pressed harder against Tsunade's chest. But her expression remained composed, her voice soft and even as she replied, "I expected you to resist."

Kaguya rose gracefully to her feet, towering over Tsunade. "But you don't have much of a choice. Whether you agree or not, I will make use of you… one way or another."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Tsunade's heart raced, but she remained kneeling, her mind spinning as Kaguya's ominous presence loomed above her.

"And one more thing, miss Hokage," Kaguya purred, a slight smile gracing her features. "I'd like to thank you for making it easier for Hyuuga Hinata to grant me control. It was your paranoia after all, that set us on this path."

Tsunade could only look up at her, speechless. For even if she hated to admit it... Kaguya was right.

And then, the Otsutsuki turned, walking away without another word, leaving Tsunade trembling on the cold floor, her body aching under the weight of her defeat. The shelter fell into an eerie silence as Kaguya's figure receded into the shadows, her chilling promise echoing in Tsunade's ears.

Sakura's eyes fluttered open to an expanse of nothingness. Her head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache as she slowly sat up, rubbing her temples in an attempt to soothe the pain. The ground beneath her felt unnervingly solid, yet unremarkable—a vast, empty plane stretching infinitely in every direction.

"What… where am I?" Sakura mumbled, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She scanned the horizon, but there was nothing but a blank void. Her mind felt foggy, and she struggled to piece together the last moments before she woke up here.

She recalled Hinata pulling her with some kind of gravity manipulation, but her memory after that was a blank. Why would Hinata attack her? The thought felt too bizarre to be real.

As Sakura rose to her feet, her memories began to reassemble like a jigsaw puzzle. She remembered the fierce battle against Kaguya, the terrifying presence of the goddess possessing Hinata's body. Team 7 had fought with everything they had, alongside Konoha's forces. But then, a blankness had consumed her.

"Am I… dead?" Sakura wondered aloud, her voice trembling. "Is this the afterlife?"

Before she could ponder further, a familiar voice called out her name. She whipped around, searching the empty expanse. To her shock, she saw Naruto waving at her with a broad grin.

"Naruto!" Sakura exclaimed, disbelief coloring her voice. She stumbled towards him as he ran up to her, relief evident on his face.

"Hey, Sakura!" Naruto greeted her with his usual enthusiasm. "I finally found you!"

Sakura's confusion only deepened. "Where are we? What's going on?"

Naruto's grin widened. "We're dead. We're in limbo."

Sakura stared at him, stunned. "Wait what? Say that again."

Naruto sighed, clearly exasperated. "Oh my...we're dead, Sakura. We're in the plane between life and death," he explained while gesturing with his hands. "Do you want me to spell it out for you?"

Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "That can't be true. There's no way."

Naruto let out a loud sigh, clearly frustrated. "What's so hard to believe? We faced Kaguya and got obliterated. What's surprising about that?"

Sakura's frustration flared. "That's not what I meant! I'm asking how we ended up in this limbo dimension!"

Naruto shrugged, scratching his head. "I don't really know. Old man Six Paths would probably explain it better."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Who the hell is Old Man Six Paths?"

Naruto's face lit up with a smirk. "Oh, he's some guy me and Sasuke met. Apparently, he's the legendary Sage of Six Paths."

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. "Sasuke's here? Is he okay? Is he hurt? Can he walk?"

Naruto noticed her sudden shift in focus and rolled his eyes. "Chill out Sakura, Sasuke's fine. At least as fine as a soul wandering around between life and death can be."

Sakura glared at him. "Forgive me for worrying about my boyfriend, Naruto. Especially when he's, you know, dead!"

Naruto chuckled to himself, shaking his head in pity. "Poor guy has to deal with your overbearing ass even in death."

"We're literally dead, and you're acting like it's just another day!" Sakura shot back at him, gesturing with her hands at their surroundings.

Naruto gave a half-hearted apology, wanting to defuse her anger. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, no need to throw a fit. Follow me. We're going to meet Sasuke and the Sage of Six Paths. They're waiting for us."

Sakura grumbled under her breath but followed Naruto as he led the way. "I swear, Naruto, sometimes I don't know how you manage to be so casual about everything."

Naruto chuckled, guiding her through the emptiness. "Hey, I've had a lot of practice being casual. It's a skill."

Sakura muttered angrily but followed, her mind still whirling as she tried to come to terms with their bizarre predicament. As Naruto led her toward their destination, the tension of their situation hung in the air, mixed with the odd familiarity of Naruto's humor.

And so, amidst the vast, empty expanse of limbo, the two of them made their way towards the unknown, with Naruto's casual banter and Sakura's frustration marking their path.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stood in silence before the two figures that were before them. Their forms were distinct, yet ethereal, as if they were only half-present in this strange dimension. One of them, a tall man with long white hair and markings resembling the Sage of Six Paths, stepped forward, while the other stood slightly behind him, his presence softer, yet no less commanding.

Sakura, her heart racing, broke the silence. "Wait… are you two... Hagoromo and Hamura?"

The second figure nodded, his expression serene. "Yes, you are speaking to our souls," Hamura confirmed. His voice was calm, almost soothing, but there was a heaviness to it as if he carried the weight of centuries on his shoulders.

Sakura's breath caught. "H-how? I mean… how is this possible? Why are we even here?" Her mind raced with the implications, trying to grasp the reality before her.

Hamura exchanged a glance with Hagoromo before speaking. "When Kaguya's influence began to manifest, her presence rippling across time, my brother and I sensed it. Your souls… they were tethered to this place when Kaguya manipulated the spirit realm. We acted quickly."

Hagoromo stepped forward, his deep voice reverberating through the empty expanse. "Your connection to the spirit realm allowed us to pull you here, into this dimension, before your souls could be lost to death entirely."

Sasuke, ever direct, narrowed his eyes. "Why us? Do you do this for every random soul on the verge of death?"

Hamura shook his head. "No, we had to act quickly. Your souls were in great danger. Kaguya's hold on the spiritual realm is unlike anything we've faced before. We intervened before it was too late."

Naruto frowned, crossing his arms. "But you still haven't answered our question—why us specifically? Why did you transfer our souls to this… limbo?"

There was a pause, a moment of silence that stretched between them, before Hagoromo spoke again, his voice low. "Because, Naruto… you are our descendants."

Sakura blinked in surprise. "Well, sure, that's common knowledge, right? You're the ancestors of the great shinobi clans, but that doesn't explain anything."

Hamura raised a hand, drawing their attention. "You are more than just distant descendants. The three of you—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—are directly connected to us in ways that no others are. You carry our blood more closely than anyone else in this world."

Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed in thought, his voice careful. "Are you saying… that we share a relationship with you the same way Hinata does with Kaguya?"

Hagoromo nodded gravely. "Yes. My descendants include Indra and Asura, but I also had a third child after Kaguya was sealed away—my daughter, Mai. She married a man from today's Fire Nation, and together they founded the Uzumaki clan."

Hamura spoke softly, his gaze shifting to Naruto. "And I, too, had children. My son, Toneri, founded the Hyuuga clan, while my daughter, Takara…" His voice trailed off, a shadow of sorrow crossing his face.

Sasuke, growing impatient, glanced between the two brothers. "We've heard of this story before, what's the point of this history lesson? Why does it matter?"

Sakura shot him a look. "Sasuke, pay attention."

Hamura's voice turned grave. "It matters because Takara, my daughter… when she turned thirteen, something terrible happened. She was nearly possessed by a strange being. It took us years to understand, but eventually, we realized it was Kaguya, trying to return through her."

Sakura's eyes widened, horror settling in. "You're saying Kaguya tried to take over your daughter's body?" Her voice shook. "What… what happened to her?"

Hamura's eyes filled with regret. "The possession lasted only minutes, but it was enough. We knew that Kaguya's spirit was still searching for a way to return. To prevent further danger, our families made a mutual decision. Takara… she was too much of a liability. We decided she had to die."

Sakura gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "You… killed your own daughter?"

Hamura's expression was pained. "It was one of the worst days of my life, Sakura. Even though Takara understood—she knew the risk—nothing could ease the pain of that decision."

Hagoromo stepped in, his tone somber. "Now that Kaguya has returned, using Hinata's body, we believe the reason she couldn't fully possess Takara was because she had not yet awakened the Tenseigan."

Naruto's voice broke through the heavy silence. "Wait, hold on a minute. You're telling me Kaguya got sealed centuries ago, right? How is she just… back? How can she come back after all that time?"

Hagoromo's face darkened. "We believe Kaguya made a pact with a shinigami. Before she was sealed, she locked her soul into the Tenseigan. She used her knowledge of the dark arts to cheat death."

Sakura, her voice shaking, asked, "But how could she do something like that?"

Hamura's expression was grim. "Kaguya was a powerful sorceress. She had deep understanding of realms and worlds outside of our own. Through that knowledge, she contacted beings far beyond anything we know—including shinigami."

Sasuke, his voice filled with amazement and trepidation, asked, "How many worlds are out there? How much more do we not know?"

Hamura shook his head slowly. "Even I do not fully know. Kaguya's knowledge extends far beyond our understanding."

Naruto, his brow furrowed, raised a hand. "Wait, you just called Kaguya a sorceress. What does that mean exactly?"

Hagoromo's eyes met Naruto's. "Sorcery is what you know as the dark arts. It is incredibly dangerous and difficult to master. Kaguya was the greatest practitioner of these arts—so skilled that she was seen as a goddess."

Sakura, her voice filled with disbelief, asked, "Are you telling me that Kaguya… wasn't actually a goddess?"

Hagoromo nodded. "She was not. In fact, her greatest fear was her mortality. No matter how powerful she became, she couldn't escape the fact that she would die one day, just like anyone else."

Naruto looked stunned, his eyes wide. "But… we were always taught that Kaguya was like… this all-powerful deity."

Hamura's voice was soft but firm. "Everything you've been taught about the mother of chakra… it is not entirely true."

The air around them was heavy with the weight of revelation, the truths of the past unraveling before them in ways none of them could have expected. The three members of Team 7 stood in stunned silence, the enormity of what they had just learned settling deep in their bones.

Everything they thought they knew… had just been turned on its head.

The limbo realm felt like it stretched endlessly in all directions, the dark expanse illuminated only by a faint, eerie glow. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stood before Hagoromo and Hamura, still reeling from the revelations they had just heard. The air around them seemed heavier, weighed down by the grim history unfolding before them.

Hagoromo's voice, deep and solemn, cut through the silence. "After escaping the restraints of her clan, Kaguya proclaimed herself the matron of the world." His eyes, glowing faintly with the wisdom of countless ages, flickered as he spoke. "But she didn't claim that title with mere words. She imposed her will through overwhelming power."

Sakura blinked, her brows furrowing. "Overwhelming power? What do you mean by that?" She was intrigued, but also unsettled. The more they learned, the more monstrous Kaguya seemed.

Hamura, standing beside his brother, sighed deeply. "Kaguya... laid waste to any power structure that she regarded as a roadblock to her dominance. Her ascension was not peaceful. She crushed those who opposed her, obliterated those who sought to rise against her. And when the world was finally pacified under her rule, she stood as its sole ruler."

Sakura's mouth parted slightly, her voice quiet, almost reverent. "She ruled the whole world?"

Hamura nodded. "Yes. And, for a time, the world seemed to improve. People accepted her rule. They had no other choice." His tone carried an edge of sorrow, as though the memories of those times were not just ancient history, but a personal burden he still carried.

"Some worshipped her as a goddess," Hagoromo added, his voice low. "Others obeyed her as they would a tyrant. And she allowed it. For Kaguya, it didn't matter how people viewed her, as long as they fell in line."

Sasuke, arms folded across his chest, looked between the two brothers, his face stern. "So, she was just the strongest tyrant around then?" His voice carried a note of skepticism, but also understanding.

Hagoromo regarded Sasuke with a measured look. "It depends on how you look at it. To some, she was a protector. To others, a dictator. But it is true... Kaguya wasn't always that way." His eyes darkened as he remembered. "At first, she sought to rule with understanding, trying to reach out to others, to form alliances. But she quickly learned that in this world, only through sheer dominance could she command obedience from all."

Hamura nodded gravely. "For every devout follower Kaguya had, there was someone else waiting, praying for the day she would fall."

Naruto, who had been silent for some time, finally spoke up. "But why... why do they call her the mother of chakra?" His voice was tinged with both awe and confusion.

Hagoromo turned toward Naruto, his expression grim. "In her quest for power, Kaguya made pacts with several beings—beings that transcended human understanding. They granted her pieces of their power in exchange for sacrifices. But Kaguya couldn't fully make use of her newfound power."

Hagoromo cleared his throat. "For to perform dark magic, one will feel a strain on their spiritual energy. This could have devastating effects after a long time, or outright kill one who is weak in spirit. But Kaguya found a way to combine spiritual energy with much more resilient physical energy, creating chakra."

Hamura nodded in agreement. "By using chakra as her 'fuel', Kaguya found a way to perform magic at much lower cost, and for much longer."

Naruto's eyes widened, absorbing the weight of Hagoromo's words. "So... she created chakra by making deals with gods?"

"Not just any gods," Hagoromo continued. "She made pacts with the gods of death, the god of the sun, and the god of the moon. In return, she was granted access to several Spirit Eyes... the dojutsu you know today as the Byakugan, Rinnegan, and Sharingan."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the mention of the dojutsu, and Sakura's hands instinctively covered her mouth in horror. "How... how many souls did she sacrifice?" Sakura whispered, dread filling her voice.

Hagoromo's gaze lowered. "Dozens. Sometimes more. Each audience with those ancient gods required a terrible price."

Sasuke muttered under his breath, eyes flickering with dark thoughts. "And she thought it was worth it?"

Hamura looked away, his face shadowed with regret. "In Kaguya's eyes, every sacrifice was justified. She believed that the ends always justified the means. But her most dangerous, and costliest deal, came when she sought to obtain the Tenseigan."

The air around them grew colder as the brothers paused, the weight of what they were about to say hanging in the silence. The trio stood motionless, waiting, dread filling the void in their hearts as the story of Kaguya's unrelenting thirst for power slowly came to light.

Hinata knelt on the cold, barren ground, her body bound by chains that grew from the very earth beneath her. They coiled tightly around her limbs, digging into her skin, but she barely felt the pain anymore. It was a dull throb compared to the aching void in her chest. The limbo plane was eerily silent, devoid of life, light, or hope. Just an endless, gray expanse that mirrored the emptiness inside her.

She barely registered Kaguya standing before her, still wearing her face—herbody—but with none of the warmth or compassion that once resided there. It was a mockery of her existence, seeing Kaguya inhabiting the shell of who she used to be.

Hinata's voice was weak, trembling as she spoke. "What do you want?" Her eyes remained downcast, her voice hollow, devoid of any emotion. "You've already taken everything from me. What more could you possibly want?"

Kaguya's voice was calm, almost serene as she responded. "I am not here to take anything more from you, child."

Hinata's eyes fluttered shut as her head drooped further. "Liar…" she whispered, her voice hoarse. What could she take now? Her body was already claimed, her mind shattered, her heart hollowed out by grief. She had nothing left to give.

For a moment, Kaguya was silent. When she spoke again, there was no malice in her tone, just cold calculation. "I am searching for Naruto," she said, her words cutting through the stillness. "Tell me where he is."

Hinata's body tensed at the mention of his name. Naruto. Her heart lurched painfully, but there was nothing she could offer. She barely managed to shake her head, her voice meek, barely more than a breath. "I… I don't know."

Kaguya's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "You expect me to believe that? You, who were always so close to him? You must know where his body could be hidden."

"I don't…" Hinata's voice was fragile, like glass on the verge of shattering. She didn't even have the energy to lift her head. Her entire world was crumbling, and she felt trapped beneath the weight of it all. "Please… just… leave me alone."

Kaguya remained still, her eyes never leaving Hinata's defeated form. "I do not think you understand," Kaguya said, her voice now firmer. "I will find him. And I will ask you again. You will give me answers, whether you realize it now or later."

Hinata's shoulders sagged further, her body heavy with the weight of exhaustion. She didn't respond. What was the point? Kaguya was relentless, unstoppable. It didn't matter what Hinata said. None of it mattered anymore.

There was a long silence, and Hinata could feel Kaguya's steady gaze on her, as though she were trying to pry open her thoughts, to see through the cracks of her broken mind. But Hinata didn't care. She kept her head bowed, her eyes fixed on the chains that bound her. The chains that felt more like an extension of her despair than a prison.

Without warning, Kaguya turned on her heel, her voice cold and impassive. "I will return."

Hinata blinked, surprised by the sudden retreat. She dared a glance upward, watching Kaguya's retreating form disappear into the gray expanse. For a brief moment, confusion flickered in her mind. Why had Kaguya not just read her mind? Why hadn't she forced the information from her? She sounded quite desperate...

But the thought was fleeting, and soon enough, it slipped away. None of it mattered. Nothing did.

Hinata's gaze fell back to the ground, her mind returning to the empty pit inside her. She wondered what her future held, though she knew there was nothing to look forward to. No joy, no light, no hope. Everything had been taken from her. The life she once dreamed of—fighting by her comrade's sides, standing strong—was nothing more than a distant memory, a cruel mockery of what could have been.

Now, all that remained was this emptiness.

And Hinata didn't even have the strength to care anymore.

The air in the limbo realm was thick with tension as Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stood before Hagoromo and Hamura. Their minds were still reeling from the shocking revelations about Kaguya's past, her dealings with gods, and her unyielding thirst for power. Naruto broke the silence first, his voice tight with emotion.

"The Tenseigan," he began, his eyes narrowing. "That's the eye Hinata has, isn't it?"

Hagoromo nodded solemnly. "Yes, Naruto. The Tenseigan is a power passed down from Kaguya herself. After obtaining the three sacred eyes—the Byakugan, the Rinnegan, and the Sharingan—she entrusted them to her sons. I received the Rinnegan and the Sharingan, while my brother Hamura was given the Byakugan. Kaguya's intent was that we would continue her work, maintaining order in the world after her passing. But in truth... she feared what would happen once she was gone."

Sakura's brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of it all. "What do you mean she was afraid? She had so much power—how could she possibly be afraid?"

Hagoromo sighed, his voice low and steady. "Despite her strength, Kaguya was terrified of what the future might hold. She had sacrificed so much of herself—her very lifespan—to create a world she controlled, yet she knew that no matter how powerful she was, she would eventually die. And once she was gone, her hold on the world would slip."

Hamura, standing beside his brother, added quietly, "At first, Kaguya sought to empower us with the sacred eyes. But we lacked the understanding of the dark arts she mastered. We couldn't make full use of them the way she could. Frustrated, Kaguya scoured ancient texts and legends, searching for a solution. That's when she discovered the myth of an immortal eye—one said to belong to the ancient god Izanagi. It was called the Tenseigan."

Naruto's fists clenched. "So she just sacrificed everything to get that eye?"

Hagoromo nodded grimly. "Yes, Naruto. To gain an audience with Izanagi, she made her greatest sacrifice—her own independence. Izanagi took Kaguya as his wife. But with her proximity to the god, Kaguya got what she wanted. She obtained the Tenseigan, but its use came at a cost. Every time she activated its power, her lifespan was shortened. Sometimes by mere days, sometimes by entire years."

Sakura's eyes widened in horror. "And she accepted that?"

Hamura's voice was somber as he spoke. "Kaguya believed it was a price worth paying. With the Tenseigan, she unlocked the true potential of chakra. She breathed new life into it, allowing us, her sons, to finally wield the power she had intended for us—even without the mastery of magic."

Sasuke's voice was cold, cutting through the weight of the conversation. "None of this explains why Kaguya's back now. Why is she destroying everything we've fought for?"

Hamura's face darkened. "After she attained the Tenseigan, Kaguya began using its power to control the world more thoroughly. She created a method to read the minds of others, giving her insight into the thoughts and desires of her subjects. But... when she looked into their minds, she discovered something she could not accept."

Hagoromo closed his eyes, his voice filled with sorrow. "She reasoned that many people despised her, despite her efforts to rule as a goddess, and seeds of rebellion were already sowed. But what she saw... it broke her. People feared her, yes, but there were those who secretly wished for her death, who longed for a world without her... to erase her legacy after she passed away."

The silence that followed was suffocating. Naruto's breath hitched, and he stared at Hagoromo in disbelief. "She couldn't handle people hating her name... so she decided to destroy everything?"

Hamura nodded, his expression grim. "Her pride could not bear the thought of her story ending with her. She had sacrificed so much—her lifespan, her humanity—to let that happen. In desperation, she sought a final solution. She made one last pact, with a being known as the 'one above all.' This god promised her eternal life—true immortality—if she sacrificed her husband, Izanagi."

"And the fallout of killing the embodiment of life itself, half of the interwoven dynamic of life and death that balances our world," Hamura continued. "Is an equal amount of souls on this plane falling with Izanagi—half of the life on earth."

Sakura gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Half the world?"

Hamura's voice was steady but filled with pain. "Yes. She planted the seeds of the Divine Tree, the very tree you know as the Ten Tails, borne from Izanagi's body. Its roots would absorb the life force of those trapped within, completing the sacrifice and leading the One-above-all to listen to Kaguya's heart's desire.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his face hard. "And now... Kaguya has the Ten Tails again. The Akatsuki cult... they've helped her revive it. That's what they've been after all this time."

Hagoromo and Hamura exchanged horrified glances. The weight of the realization settled over the group like a dark cloud.

"We have no more time, Kaguya must've shared her plan with some of her followers," Hagoromo said, his voice urgent. "If Kaguya succeeds, the world as you know it will cease to exist. We cannot allow her to carry out her plan."

Naruto's jaw tightened, and his fists trembled with barely restrained rage. "But what about Hinata? You said the Tenseigan has to be destroyed... does that mean we have to—?"

Hamura's eyes softened, but his words were harsh. "If it comes to it, Naruto, you may have to destroy the vessel of the Tenseigan. It's what has been done in the past."

Hagoromo nodded in agreement. "Our offspring have always ensured that Kaguya doesn't return to this world through a descendant of hers born with the Tenseigan—"

"By killing her reincarnates..." Sakura's voice was low, her pale expression matching the turmoil in her heart. The group was silent, but the unspoken agreement hung between them like a shroud.

Hinata most likely had to die.

Naruto's eyes blazed with defiance. "No! Hinata isn't going to die because of some ancient, undead narcissist! She doesn't deserve to die for this—she's risked everything for everyone!"

Sakura stepped forward, placing a hand on Naruto's arm. "Naruto... I don't want to kill her either. There has to be another way."

She stammered, clearly torn, her eyes pleading with Hagoromo and Hamura for any alternative.

Sasuke, his tone steady, interjected. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, we need to know how to stop Kaguya."

Hagoromo nodded, his gaze shifting between the three of them. "You will know everything when you return to your world. We will grant you the power to seal Kaguya back into the limbo realm, but you must destroy the Tenseigan. There is no other way."

Naruto's expression was a mix of fury and determination, but he said nothing, swallowing hard as he stared at the ground.

Hamura spoke again. "We will leave you with seals that transfer our knowledge into you. You are our chosen reincarnates, the bearers of our will."

Sasuke's eyes widened. "What... what do you mean?"

"You will know what to do when the time comes," Hagoromo said softly. "For now, you must return."

The air crackled with energy as Hagoromo and Hamura summoned a shinigami, its presence cold and terrifying. Team 7 stiffened as the grim figure appeared before them.

"We made a vow with the shinigami," Hamura explained, "to remain in limbo until we passed on the seals to the chosen ones. Now that time has come."

Naruto, overwhelmed by the responsibility being thrust upon them, looked at the brothers with wide eyes. "So... what happens to you now?"

Hamura's face was solemn. "Once we transfer our seals, our souls will perish. We will exist neither in the afterlife nor in limbo."

Sakura, feeling the gravity of the moment, stepped forward. "We won't fail you. We'll stop Kaguya, no matter what."

Hagoromo gave a small nod. "For the sake of the world, you must not fail."

With that, Hagoromo and Hamura formed a series of hand seals. They pressed their hands to the ground, and a wave of exhaustion washed over Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. The last thing they heard was the whisper of Hagoromo's voice as the darkness claimed them.

"Good luck... my children."

And then, all went black.

Kurenai's breath was shaky as she knelt beside the bodies of Team 7, her fingers trembling as they ghosted over Naruto's cold hand. The stillness in the Kamui dimension felt unbearable, pressing down on her with a weight too heavy to carry. It was silent here — no winds, no sounds, just the oppressive void. And in the silence, Kurenai whispered prayers, her voice barely audible, as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Please, Hinata… wherever you are... be safe," she muttered, her voice cracking. Her heart was heavy with the knowledge of Konoha's devastation, the countless lives lost trying to stop Kaguya. She had seen it all before Obito whisked her away here—smoke rising from the village, screams of pain, and despair echoing through the streets. So much had been sacrificed, and yet it felt like all of it was for nothing.

Her gaze fell on Naruto's lifeless form, his usual warmth gone. "You were our hope," she whispered. "You were supposed to stop her." She remembered the hope she felt when they set out to face Kaguya, the belief that they could somehow stop this goddess of destruction. But now... that hope felt distant, almost laughable in its naivety.

She stood slowly, her knees weak from exhaustion and grief, and turned away from the bodies. She couldn't bear it anymore. But just as she started to walk, a sudden noise stopped her in her tracks.

A gasp.

Kurenai whirled around, her eyes wide, as she saw Sasuke's eyes snap open, his body jerking upright. He took in his surroundings with heavy, erratic breaths. Before she could even process what she was seeing, Naruto sat up beside him, equally disoriented and breathing heavily.

"Wha–?" Kurenai choked, stumbling back, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "What…? How…?"

Sasuke's eyes were darting around in confusion before his expression quickly shifted to one of dread. He spun towards Sakura's unmoving form, his voice strained. "Sakura!"

Naruto, panicked, turned as well, his eyes wide. "Sakura! She's not moving!"

Sasuke knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he gently lifted her head into his lap. "Sakura, wake up. Come on…"

Kurenai dropped to her knees in disbelief, her mind racing, trying to make sense of what she was witnessing. How could this be? They were dead. She had checked their bodies herself.

"Sakura, please!" Sasuke's voice cracked, desperation creeping into his tone as he shook her gently.

Naruto hovered over them, his worry etched into every line of his face. "Come on, Sakura, don't do this…"

After what felt like an eternity, Sakura's eyes fluttered open, a soft groan escaping her lips. Her green eyes met Sasuke's, and a smile formed on her mouth. "Sasuke…"

Sasuke let out a shaky breath of relief and pulled her into an embrace, holding her close. "I thought… I thought I lost you," he murmured.

Sakura's hand came up to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing against his skin. "I'm right here," she whispered softly. Her gaze shifted to Naruto, who was kneeling beside her, relief flooding his face. "And you're here too."

Naruto sighed, the tension in his body finally releasing. "We all made it," he said, his voice quiet with gratitude.

Sakura reached out, gently touching Naruto's arm, her smile widening. But then her expression faltered, her eyes widening as she noticed something—or rather, someone.

"Kurenai-sensei?" Sakura's voice was soft, almost disbelieving as she saw the woman kneeling a few feet away, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock.

Naruto followed her gaze and quickly scrambled to his feet, rushing over to Kurenai. "Kurenai-sensei!" His voice was filled with concern as he approached her carefully. "Are you okay?"

Kurenai's body shook, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she struggled to process what was happening. She had seen them dead—lifeless—and now they were alive. Her throat tightened with emotion, and she couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled Naruto into a tight embrace, her tears spilling freely now.

"Y-You're alive…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "You're all alive…"

Naruto hugged her back gently, his voice soft. "Yeah, we're here. We're okay."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a confused glance as they both rose to their feet, Sasuke's arm still around Sakura's shoulders for support. It was Sakura who noticed it first—the change in Sasuke's eye.

"Wait… Sasuke," she said, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Your eye…"

Sasuke blinked, turning to her. "What about it?"

"Your left eye… it's—" Sakura hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's purple."

Sasuke's brow furrowed in confusion, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch his face. "Purple?" He turned his head slightly to look at Naruto. "Do you see it too?"

Naruto squinted, leaning in a bit closer to inspect Sasuke's eye. "Huh… yeah, it is purple. What the hell? That's new."

Sasuke exhaled, trying to make sense of the situation. "It must be the power the Sage of Six Paths and his brother mentioned…"

Naruto looked back at Sakura and suddenly paused. "Hey, Sakura, you've got something on your forehead too."

"What?" Sakura frowned, bringing her hand up to touch her forehead. Her fingers brushed against the skin, and she felt it—a strange diamond-shaped mark. "What the—" She murmured, confused. "Is this... a seal?"

Sasuke leaned in to get a closer look. "You've got some kind of mark there."

Naruto leaned in closer, squinting his eyes. "Looks like the Sage left you a little present too, Sakura. Bit too on-the-nose, leaving it on your forehead of all places."

Sakura's eyebrow twitched, her hand moving faster than lightning as she smacked Naruto upside the head. "Keep it up, Naruto, and there'll be no Sage of Six Paths to save you when I kill you this time!"

"Ow!" Naruto rubbed his head, pouting dramatically. "What happened to the whole 'we're all alive and happy' moment?"

Sasuke smirked at the exchange, and even Sakura couldn't help but let out a small laugh, though she tried to hide it. But the light-hearted moment was short-lived. Kurenai, still kneeling, her voice trembling, asked the question that had been burning in her mind.

"H-how…?" she stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How are you alive? I-I saw you… you were…"

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance, the weight of what had just happened settling in.

"It's a long story," Naruto finally said, his voice quiet but resolute.

Kurenai stammered, her mind spinning with questions. "A long story? But—"

Before she could ask anything more, Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle smile. "We'll explain it all. But right now, I think we need to focus on what comes next."

Kurenai looked at him, still overwhelmed, but there was a sense of calm in Naruto's voice that reassured her, even amidst the confusion. They were alive. Against all odds, they were alive.