With Ryūjin's current strength, reclaiming the Tailed Beasts across the ninja world was effortless. No jinchūriki had any chance of resisting him.
One after another, he extracted the Tailed Beasts and sealed them within his own body with ease.
During the process, he also released the Four-Tails and Six-Tails separately for thirty minutes each. At their respective locations, he used the Sign-in System and obtained miniature versions of both.
Increasing chakra reserves was not the main goal. What mattered was balance.
The Nine-Tails originated from the Ten-Tails, and only a complete set could recreate it properly. If even one portion was missing, the balance would be off, and the resulting Ten-Tails would be flawed.
"Everything's ready. Just one step left."
Feeling the presence of all eighteen Tailed Beasts within him, Ryūjin's eyes sharpened with anticipation.
Six Paths level.
The peak of this world was right in front of him.
"Uchiha Ryūjin, are you about to merge them and form the Ten-Tails?"
Black Zetsu stood nearby, his voice carrying a trace of unwillingness.
"Obviously. What, you want me to wait around for no reason?"
Ryūjin smirked, then clapped his hands together.
Summoning Jutsu, Gedo Statue!
Boom!
A massive, grotesque figure appeared before him, the empty shell of the Ten-Tails.
At the same time, far away beneath Kannabi Bridge, Obito's expression changed drastically.
The Gedo Statue had disappeared.
"It was him..."
There was no need to guess. Only Ryūjin could have summoned it like that.
Without hesitation, Obito activated Kamui and vanished.
Moments later, he appeared above the Valley of the End.
There, he saw Ryūjin, the Gedo Statue, and someone else he did not expect.
Black Zetsu.
"Zetsu, why are you here?" Obito asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Oh, Obito." Zetsu glanced at him casually.
Obito had countless questions, but this was not the moment to ask them.
Instead, he focused on Ryūjin.
"What are you planning by summoning the Gedo Statue?"
Ryūjin didn't even bother hiding his annoyance.
"Does it concern you?"
Then his gaze sharpened.
"You can stay and watch, but I'm sealing you in a barrier. If you don't like that, leave."
"Dammit..."
Obito clenched his teeth, but he didn't move.
He knew better than to test Ryūjin.
Clap!
Four Wood Clones appeared and set up the Four Violet Flames Formation, trapping Obito inside.
Zetsu received the same treatment.
Both of them were confined, watched closely by the clones.
Ryūjin wasn't taking chances.
Clap!
He brought his hands together again.
From the Gedo Statue's mouth, eighteen chakra chains shot forward and pierced into Ryūjin's body.
In an instant, they bound all eighteen Tailed Beasts within him and dragged them out.
The statue swallowed them whole.
"Eighteen Tailed Beasts?"
Obito and Zetsu stared in disbelief.
There had only ever been nine.
Hum!
The moment the Gedo Statue absorbed them, a terrifying aura spread across the entire world.
Its withered body filled out, its eyes snapped open.
The Ten-Tails had returned.
"Damn it!"
Zetsu's voice was filled with frustration.
Once Ryūjin absorbed it, Kaguya would never regain her power.
Still, a faint glint of calculation flashed in his eyes.
There was one last method.
If he used it, Kaguya could still be revived through Ryūjin himself.
That was his final card.
Outside the barrier, Ryūjin stared at the Ten-Tails.
"So this is it."
The sheer weight of its power made his pulse rise.
Once he absorbed it, everything would change.
He took a breath and acted immediately.
"Six Paths Ten-Tails Coffin Seal."
The massive Ten-Tails began to collapse inward, pouring into his body.
Within moments, it was gone.
Absorbed completely.
Hum!
Ryūjin's aura changed instantly.
Before, his strength had been overwhelming.
Now, it was something else entirely.
A higher existence standing above everything.
His appearance shifted as well.
His black hair turned white. His clothes transformed into a white robe like the Sage of Six Paths.
Nine Truth Seeking Orbs formed behind him, and a Six Paths staff appeared in his hand.
Two horns emerged from his forehead.
Then, a third eye opened between his brows.
A Rinne Sharingan.
At this moment, Ryūjin had fully stepped into the realm of the Ōtsutsuki.
Stronger than Madara had ever been.
Stronger than Kaguya had been when she was revived.
Inside the barrier, Zetsu's expression darkened.
"He's surpassed Mother... and even the Sage."
Obito felt it too.
The pressure was suffocating.
The gap between them was now absolute.
"Yeah... so this is Six Paths level."
Ryūjin looked at his hands, satisfied.
Before, he had been unbeatable.
Now, it felt like the entire world was within his grasp.
Still, something bothered him.
"This look is a bit much."
With a thought, the Truth Seeking Orbs vanished into his body. The staff disappeared as well.
The horns twisted and retracted.
His aura settled, his third eye closed.
In an instant, he looked completely normal again.
But the power remained.
Only after that did he turn toward Obito and Zetsu.
The barrier dropped.
Zetsu stepped forward immediately.
"You've achieved Six Paths level. It's time to release Mother."
Obito's expression shifted sharply.
So it was true.
Everything Ryūjin had said before.
Zetsu had been behind it all.
Madara, himself, all of it had been manipulation.
The realization hit hard.
"I'll keep my promise," Ryūjin said.
Then his tone turned cold.
"But first, I deal with you."
He raised his hand.
Several black receivers formed instantly and slammed Zetsu into the ground, pinning him in place.
"Ryūjin, what are you doing?" Obito shouted.
Ryūjin didn't even look at him.
"Cleaning up a problem."
His voice was flat.
He had no intention of repeating Madara's mistake.
Even at this level, carelessness wasn't an option.