Chapter 1262 Future

Three years after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, the peace of the shinobi world, like fragile glass, quietly cracked under the shadow of the Spirit Refining Technique. The Feather Robe Secret Realm on the border of the Land of Fire, once a sacred place where Shangguan Mo purified the Ten-Tails' spirit refining energy, was now completely shrouded in black spirit refining runes. At the center of the secret realm, on the spirit refining pillar, Shangguan Mo's eyes were closed, the golden spirit refining energy surrounding him now tinged with an eerie dark purple. The Starfall Scorpion lay prostrate at his feet, its green tailed beast chakra intertwined with the black energy, losing its former vibrancy.

“Lord Shangguan Mo’s Spirit Refining Technique has begun to erode the Tailed Beasts’ origins.” Yamashiro Aoba stood on the outer edge of the secret realm, the reconnaissance crystal in his hand emitting a dazzling red light. “The intelligence department has detected that for the past month, he has been drawing natural energy from various countries and injecting it into the Spirit Refining Pillar. Even Shukaku of Sunagakure and the Eight-Tails of Kumogakure have been drawn in by the energy.”

Naruto, clad in a white cloak reminiscent of Six Paths Mode, had Truth-Seeking Balls slowly rotating behind him, golden Six Paths chakra gathering in his palms. "I don't believe Shangguan Mo would betray the ninja world. Three years ago, he used the Spirit Refining Technique to purify the Ten-Tails' dark energy, saving us all." He turned to Sasuke beside him, the tomoe of his Rinnegan spinning rapidly in his pupils. "Sasuke, you used Amaterasu to investigate the interior of the secret realm. Has he truly turned evil?"

Sasuke's lips still bore the scorch marks of Lightning Release, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind: "His Spirit Refining Energy is mixed with the dark chakra of the Otsutsuki. When the Ten-Tails' Spirit Refining Core was purified, a wisp of its remnant soul entered his body, and now it has completely merged with the Spirit Refining Technique." He raised his hand and activated Universal Pull, drawing a tailed beast hair corrupted by the Spirit Refining Energy into his palm. "He didn't betray us, he lost control—the power of the Spirit Refining Technique has exceeded his control."

Just then, the barrier of the Feather Robe Secret Realm suddenly exploded, and black spirit-refining energy surged out like a tsunami, turning the surrounding forest into scorched earth. Shangguan Mo's figure appeared in the center of the energy vortex, his light golden hair now dyed black, and in the pupil of his Eternal Spirit-Refining Eye, black runes and golden patterns intertwined to form a strange pattern: "Naruto, Sasuke, you've finally arrived."

The Meteorite Scorpion suddenly raised its head, its tail crackling with meteoric fire, transforming into a black energy cannon that hurtled towards Naruto. Naruto instantly activated the Six Paths: Super Giant Rasengan, the golden energy ball colliding with the black cannon beam, creating a chasm several meters wide in the ground: "Shangguan Mo! Wake up! Look what you're doing!"

Shangguan Mo slowly opened his eyes, and dark purple spiritual energy formed giant wings of light behind him: "I am creating true peace." He raised his hand and pointed towards the direction of the ninja world, and the spiritual energy transformed into an image—in the image, ninja clans from various countries broke out into conflict again due to the uneven distribution of resources, the dust release of Iwagakure and the sandstorm of Sunagakure devoured each other, and countless ninjas fell in pools of blood. "Three years of peace is just an illusion. The order of the ninja world needs a stronger force to maintain it."

Sasuke's Rinnegan glowed red as he activated Kagutsuchi, black flames forming a barrier in front of him: "Your method is destruction. Using Spirit Refining Technique to control the energy of the Tailed Beasts, how is that any different from Obito back then?"

“The difference is that I can truly control this power.” Shangguan Mo’s spirit-refining energy surged into the spirit-refining pillar, and the roar of the tailed beast echoed from the depths of the secret realm. “The origin of the Ten-Tails’ spirit-refining core is the same as the chakra of the Otsutsuki. As long as I fuse the spirit-refining technique with the power of the Six Paths, I can create the ‘Six Paths of Spirit Refining’ that surpasses all other powers, and make the ninja world forever submit to order.”

Naruto's expression changed drastically. He could clearly feel the tailed beast chakra from all over the ninja world converging on the Hagoromo Secret Realm: "You want to forcibly fuse the spiritual energy of the nine tailed beasts? This will cause the tailed beasts to die completely, and the natural balance of the ninja world will collapse!"