Naruto: Shadows of the Otsutsuki

Chapter 12: Resurgence of the Infinite

I do not own naruto in any way shape or form, this property belongs to kishimoto, viz media.

Naruto steadies himself, watching the Otsutsuki King intently as they stand on the desolate battlefield. He's spent much of the fight testing the King's limits, but he hasn't yet figured out how to put the final blow on such an elusive enemy. The King's eyes glint, almost amused, as he seems to relish Naruto's determination. But Naruto's mind is already racing with ideas on how to get close enough to exploit any potential opening.

The Otsutsuki King's voice cuts through the silence. "You realize, Naruto Uzumaki, that your struggle is a fleeting effort against something far beyond your understanding."

Naruto smirks, keeping his fists ready. "People like you keep underestimating me. That's a mistake I don't mind you making."

Without another word, Naruto focuses his Force Drive, channeling the kinetic energy around him and amplifying it until the air hums with charged tension. The Otsutsuki King steps back, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden intensity of Naruto's aura. Using the moment, Naruto shifts his position, vanishing and reappearing close to the King in a burst of speed. With a surge of strength, he delivers a devastating punch straight to the King's chest.

The impact sends the Otsutsuki King flying back, crashing into the ground with thunderous force, and for a fleeting moment, Naruto senses a weakness. With resolve, he moves in, not letting the King recover as he follows up with a barrage of construct-formed weapons: massive blades and spears that slam down upon the King with relentless fury.

When the dust clears, the Otsutsuki King's body lies motionless. Naruto watches, breathing heavily, feeling a flicker of hope that the battle might be over.

Naruto stands over the defeated form of the Otsutsuki King, breathing hard as the battlefield goes quiet. For a moment, it feels like victory—a hard-won battle against an impossible foe. But just as he begins to let down his guard, a strange tremor in the air makes him pause. The silence is shattered by the sound of something breaking.

Behind Naruto one of the three palaces shook. Suddenly, a window on the second floor shatters, and Naruto's eyes widen as the Otsutsuki King leaps out, his form radiating with an unnerving energy. The King lands gracefully, his aura intensified, an almost otherworldly sheen to his skin as he exudes an even greater power. Naruto quickly realizes that this isn't simply a revival; the King has returned on an entirely new level of existence, one he can barely comprehend.

The Otsutsuki King dusts himself off, an almost amused look in his golden eyes as he regards Naruto with renewed interest. "You think a single victory against me is enough? My palaces span beyond mere dimensions, each a rebirth into greater power. Welcome to a higher plane of reality, Uzumaki."

Naruto clenches his fists, his mind racing to process this new revelation. He knows that every move he's made so far won't be enough against this advanced version of the King, who is now closer to a god than any opponent he's ever faced. The Otsutsuki King's smile widens as he lifts his hand, a strange energy coalescing around his fingers.

Before Naruto can react, the King snaps his fingers, and suddenly, everything around him seems to shift. The air feels heavier, almost warped. Naruto tries to move, but his body refuses to respond with the speed he expects. Instead, he feels as if he's struggling against an unseen force holding him in place.

The King smirks, watching Naruto's confusion. "I've erased the concept of speed from this battlefield, I move because I am not bounded by such a concept, nor am I bounded by the space around me, you are a lesser being Uzumaki."  he says with a sense of smug satisfaction. "You won't be moving at all, not in the way you're accustomed to. Feel the weight of true power and understand the hopelessness of defying me."

Naruto's frustration mounts as he strains against the invisible bonds. He can still think, speak, and even breathe—but his body remains almost immobile. It's a surreal feeling, one that taps into his deepest fears of helplessness in battle.