Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 330: Is Living So Bad?

In the stillness of the night, with the blood moon hanging overhead, the top of the Divine Tree loomed large.

As time passed, the purple petals began to expand once more, revealing the increasingly active Rinne Sharingan within, which now locked eyes with the blood moon above, waiting for the final moment to arrive.

Half of the five-minute countdown had already passed.

Resting quietly by the Divine Tree, with one hand supporting his head, Hagoromo Gengetsu was meditating when he suddenly sensed something.

He opened his eyes and looked into the distance.

A red figure, trailing thick smoke, charged towards him with great momentum.

"So, you're the first to arrive."

Aware that his subordinates had failed their mission, Hagoromo Gengetsu remained calm.

It would just require a bit more effort on his part.

However, facing such an opponent, it would be too arrogant to remain seated.

Slowly, Hagoromo Gengetsu rose to his feet.

Soon, the red figure, accompanied by strong winds and flying sand, formally appeared before him.

"Red Steam..."

Hagoromo Gengetsu's gaze fell on the entirely red Might Guy.

"I didn't expect to witness the Eight Gates Released Formation in this battle, but it seems you've arrived after all."

"Isn't living a good option?"

"Huff... Huff... Huff..."

Wrapped in red steam, even his eyebrows turned red, Might Guy stopped in his tracks, breathing heavily.

With all Eight Gates open, the strain on his body was unprecedented.

And after a rapid advance, even someone as accustomed to pain as Guy had to grit his teeth, enduring the overwhelming agony that wracked his bones.

Hearing Hagoromo Gengetsu's words, he lifted his head and solemnly replied:

"Life is youth! It's passion! It won't yield! The more the enemy fears youth burning to its reddest, the more I must act!"

"Even if I die, becoming a fallen leaf in the wind, withering and perishing, I will become the nourishment for new green leaves. When the fallen leaf burns the brightest red, that is the most passionate moment of youth!!"

Guy's eyes were filled with determination, unwavering.

Hagoromo Gengetsu observed all this and faintly smiled:

"That does suit your character. But you got one thing wrong."

"Fear? No! I just don't want too much trouble, especially when the greatest challenge is yet to come."

"Of course, if it can't be avoided, then I'll just crush the withered leaf."

Hagoromo Gengetsu extended a hand towards Might Guy.

"Come, show me the power of the Eight Gates Released Formation."

Cold winds howled.

His Six Paths white robe fluttered in the wind as Hagoromo Gengetsu awaited the attack of the Red Beast.

Suppressing the overwhelming pain in his body, Might Guy focused his gaze on Hagoromo Gengetsu. Without hesitation, he gathered all his strength and shouted:

"Burn bright! This is the final youth of the Red Beast of the Leaf!"

"Evening Elephant: First Step!"

Boom!!!

The deafening sound of air being shattered echoed.

Hagoromo Gengetsu had just turned his head to the left.

In an instant, the red-steamed Guy arrived, his right fist swinging, generating a powerful air cannon that carried unimaginable force and speed, roaring towards him.

"To challenge a god's power with mere taijutsu..."

Hagoromo Gengetsu, his Rinnegan capturing everything around him, extended his hand with interest, prepared to block the Evening Elephant's First Step.

However, when the air cannon generated by Guy's punch arrived, Hagoromo Gengetsu's expression changed. He immediately raised his other hand, fully defending against the attack.

But...

Boom!!!

Realizing that the power was far beyond his expectations, Hagoromo Gengetsu had no time for other actions. His entire body was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing down and creating a massive crater.

"Evening Elephant: Second Step!" Without hesitation, Might Guy accelerated once more, diving downwards with even more power than before, unleashing the Second Step with a thunderous impact aimed at the crater.

"If my true body were here..."

Rising from the crater, appearing largely unscathed, Hagoromo Gengetsu looked up at the descending Red Beast, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

The power difference between his true body and his clone as the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki was still noticeable.

If his true body were present, Hagoromo Gengetsu was confident in blocking the Evening Elephant's First Step.

But now...

Hagoromo Gengetsu extended his hand, and before Guy's Second Step could strike, a Truth-Seeking Ball flew before him, transforming into a massive shield that covered him completely.

The next second...

An even more ferocious air cannon struck.

But this time, the air cannon couldn't damage the shield formed by the Truth-Seeking Ball at all.

The residual power of the air cannon could only sweep past the sides of the shield.

Dust and debris flew, leaving two deep, terrifying scars on the ground above the crater.

Yet, none of this affected Hagoromo Gengetsu in the slightest.

Seeing this, Might Guy's pupils suddenly shrank.

The seemingly insignificant black orb hovering behind Hagoromo Gengetsu was actually capable of fully defending against the Evening Elephant's attack!

Realizing that the Truth-Seeking Balls were no simple matter, Might Guy landed on the ground and immediately began to run.

In an instant!

Rapid sonic booms sounded all around Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu looked around and saw a red blur, moving at a speed even his Rinnegan struggled to capture, circling him continuously.

"Looking for a gap in my defense?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't give Might Guy any chances. The Truth-Seeking Ball beside him once again transformed into a massive spherical shield, completely enveloping him.

Seeing this, Might Guy didn't give up and unleashed the Evening Elephant once more.

"First Step!"

"Second Step!"

"Third Step!"

One after another, powerful air cannons blasted towards Hagoromo Gengetsu from all angles.

When Might Guy unleashed the Fourth Step with another punch...

Crack.

Hagoromo Gengetsu was surprised to find that a tiny crack had appeared on the Truth-Seeking Ball shield surrounding him.

So, this truly is the Eight Gates Released Formation.

Hagoromo Gengetsu waved his hand, and the other six Truth-Seeking Balls behind him flew out of the shield, rapidly closing in on Might Guy, who was about to unleash the Fifth Step—the most powerful move of the Evening Elephant.

There was no Minato Namikaze or Kakashi Hatake here to perfectly synchronize with Might Guy.

Watching the Truth-Seeking Balls fly towards him, with his senses strongly warning of impending danger, Might Guy's eyes flashed with a hint of regret. He halted his Fifth Step and swiftly dodged the approaching Truth-Seeking Balls.

Thus, the once intense battlefield suddenly fell silent.

The six Truth-Seeking Balls that had failed to hit their target returned to Hagoromo Gengetsu, while the shield around him dissipated, and the other Truth-Seeking Ball reverted to its original form, hovering once more behind him.

At that moment, with his appearance unchanged, Hagoromo Gengetsu calmly looked at Might Guy again.

Meanwhile, having used the Evening Elephant multiple times, with his bones cracking and the pain in his body growing more intense, Might Guy continued to breathe heavily through his nose.

Despite this, he remained silent, his gaze firmly locked on Hagoromo Gengetsu.