The energy contained within their bodies had reached an entirely new level.
At such a stage, jutsu no longer mattered, what truly decided the outcome was the most primal, the most extreme raw power.
Chakra and natural energy simultaneously engulfed the entire sky.
Two ultimate energy domains collided and merged, forming a twisted realm of broken laws.
Because their domains intermingled and the very rules became chaotic, neither Aoba nor the Sage of Six Paths could use direct energy attacks.
Thus, they engaged in pure taijutsu, battling each other high in the sky.
As a direct descendant of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, the Sage fought using Gentle Fist.
Even without chakra-based attacks, the power of his Divine Vacuum Fists was still terrifying.
Meanwhile, Aoba countered move for move with precision.
"Hmph. Even if your power hasn't fallen, how could a human body from the Shinobi World possibly compare to a true Ōtsutsuki?
No matter how much you modify your body, it can never match mine, Kamikawa Aoba.This war is over. I have already—"
The Sage, having gained the upper hand, was just about to announce his victory... When Madara Uchiha kicked him flying.
"Hmph. We spent all this time preparing... just to deal with this level of opponent?" Madara sounded unimpressed.
The Sage of Six Paths completely lacked the overwhelming presence they had expected from a so-called final boss.
Entry to this battle was limited to those with the Rinnegan or Tenseigan. Only at that level could you shield yourself and step into this twisted domain.
Thus, on Aoba's side, there were actually seven fighters.
Black Zetsu, still clinging to Kaguya like Venom, could extend its body and launch sneak attacks, making it "seven and a half" versus one.
It didn't take many exchanges before the Sage of Six Paths couldn't keep up.
He truly hadn't expected that, after personally stepping onto the battlefield full of confidence, the situation would collapse so quickly.
"What's so impossible about it?" Aoba said calmly.
"We spent so much time, made so many preparations. Achieving this result is only natural. Must it always be some cliché where a 'Child of Prophecy' saves the world in a dramatic, last-minute turnaround for it to count as a proper story?
Sorry, but I prefer meticulous planning and overwhelming force to crush my enemies."
After a few more exchanges, seeing the situation turn grim, the Sage of Six Paths tried to flee.
But it was already too late.
He attempted to retract his domain, only to find there was now something extra inside him.
"...What did you do?"
"I gave you a little gift," Aoba said, "made entirely of natural energy."
When the Sage withdrew his domain, Aoba had deliberately abandoned his own, letting the Sage draw both the chakra field and the natural energy field into himself.
Now, within the Sage's body, the two domains were clashing violently.
"Aoba Kamikawa... You sacrificed your own power just to kill me?!"
"You're wrong," Aoba replied.
"True, I abandoned most of the divine authorities.
But I retained the most fundamental authority, natural energy. Those other powers aren't truly mine.
Sage of Six Paths, the reason I must kill you is simple, You wish to become a god above the Shinobi World. But to me, this world needs no gods."
"It is my will, combined with the power of this world, that will kill you."
The Sage of Six Paths could no longer control the energies raging inside his body.
Seeing this, the others... Madara, Sasuke, Itachi, Kakashi, Toneri, Kaguya, and even Black Zetsu acted in unison, using the repulsive forces of their ocular powers to launch the Sage into the sky.
There was no grand explosion, at least, not one perceptible to ordinary people.
But the Rinnegan and Tenseigan users present could feel it clearly, everything had changed.
Originally, in the Shinobi World, chakra and natural energy existed together but were mostly in conflict.
That was why so few individuals could ever successfully master Sage Mode.
But after this fusion of domains, everything underwent a fundamental transformation.
Chakra and natural energy began to truly, perfectly merge.
From this moment forward, the Shinobi World would never be the same...