Hinata had always been gentle—a woman of kindness and compassion.
She had spent years following Naruto's path, supporting him with unwavering love and faith.
But now…
Now, she understood that faith alone was not enough.
She had seen too much in these past months.
The world was chaos—a swirling storm of greed, betrayal, and destruction.
And at the eye of that storm stood them.
Naruto, Ino, herself…
All of the true power rested within their hands.
And if they didn't take control, someone else would.
Hinata had spent a lifetime believing in peace through understanding.
But now, she had seen a world without conflict—a world Naruto had unintentionally created within his empire.
And she realized…
That was the true path.
A world without suffering.
A world where children did not cry for their dead parents.
A world where no one had to fight for scraps or bleed for power.
It was an impossible dream—and yet, Naruto had brought them closer to it than anyone ever had.
He was the only one who could lead them there.
Because Naruto did not seek power for power's sake.
He loved the world and its people—no matter how broken they were.
No matter how many times they betrayed him.
He forgave.
He sacrificed.
He would give himself to the world, piece by piece, until there was nothing left of him.
And that was why Hinata could not allow it.
Naruto was a soldier, a warrior born in war and raised in pain.
He did not even consider the importance of being a ruler.
Not because he was incapable.
But because he was too pure.
He would never seize the throne for himself.
So they would do it for him.
Hinata knew it would sadden him—this choice they had made.
Ino knew it too.
But it was for his own happiness.
And when he returned—
When he saw what they had built for him—
He would understand.
He would forgive them.
And he would finally accept the destiny that had always been his.
The atmosphere inside Konoha's hidden laboratory was thick with tension. The soft glow of the healing chambers reflected off Tsunade's worried expression as she gazed at the warriors encased within.
Kiba.
Sai.
Choji.
Konohamaru.
Moegi.
Udon.
Tenten.
Anko.
Kurenai.
And finally… Gai.
Each of them floated in suspended animation, their bodies undergoing a transformation that would reshape them forever.
The Otsutsuki transformation—a process so unnatural that even Orochimaru, the scientist responsible for countless genetic experiments, was in awe of its effects.
But something had gone wrong.
Despite their calculations, the transformation had stalled.
The problem?
Energy.
They had run out of power to fuel the process, and without it, their comrades were on the verge of death.
Hinata clenched her fists. "Why is it taking so long?" she demanded, her voice filled with urgency.
Orochimaru turned his snake-like gaze toward her, his expression unreadable. "The energy supply depleted before the transformation could be completed," he admitted, his voice eerily calm despite the grim reality.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was visibly distressed. Her people—her family—were trapped in a state between life and death. If the process wasn't completed soon, their bodies might never recover.
Just as despair began to settle in, Ino stepped forward.
"There's still a way," she said, her voice firm. "Naruto left behind an energy reserve within the security system. It's enough to fuel the final phase of the transformation."
A moment of silence followed.
Then—
Tsunade's shoulders relaxed, and for the first time in hours, hope returned to her eyes.
"Ino… you just saved them."
Without wasting another second, Ino linked herself to the security system, drawing from the limitless well of power Naruto had infused into the world's foundation. The energy surged through her, crackling like lightning before she channeled it into the lab.
The transformation resumed immediately.
A blinding golden light filled the chamber, as the healing liquid in each pod boiled and pulsed with divine energy.
The Otsutsuki were awakening.
And the first to rise—
Was Maito Gai.
The glass of his chamber shattered, sending a torrent of glowing liquid flooding onto the laboratory floor.
From within the cascading light, a figure emerged.
At first glance, he was still Gai.
The same man whose unbreakable will had carried him through countless battles, who had defied death itself by unleashing the Eighth Gate.
But now—
He was something more.
His skin had taken on a pale, almost ethereal glow, reminiscent of the Otsutsuki clan's divine heritage. His once-thick eyebrows had sharpened slightly, taking on a sleek, angular form that gave him a more refined, celestial appearance.
Most notably, his eyes had changed.
The whites of his eyes had turned pitch black, while his irises shone with a brilliant golden hue, marked by intricate six-pointed star patterns—a mutation unique to his transformation.
His hair had grown longer, cascading down his back like flowing obsidian silk, and his body—though still maintaining its signature powerful physique—now radiated an aura that was unmistakably divine.
His green jumpsuit had been replaced by an elegant white and gold robe, embroidered with intricate flame patterns, symbolizing the undying spirit of the Eight Gates.
And most astonishingly—
A single golden horn extended from the side of his forehead, a mark of his newfound celestial power.
As Gai stepped forward, the very air around him trembled, distorted by the sheer force of his presence.
Tsunade, Ino, and Hinata could only watch in awe.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a fascinated smile.
"Fascinating…"
Gai slowly opened and closed his fists, feeling the immense power coursing through his body. The sensation was… unfamiliar, yet exhilarating.
He turned his golden gaze to Tsunade, his voice as passionate as ever.
"I feel… unstoppable."
His mere words caused the ground beneath him to crack, as his newfound energy rippled outward.
Ino exchanged a glance with Hinata.
They had done it.
The first of their allies had awakened.
And now…
It was time for the others to rise.
After Maito Gai emerged from his transformation as a Celestial Taijutsu Master, the others soon followed, one by one awakening from their slumber inside the glass chambers. Each of them had undergone a monumental evolution, their bodies now infused with Otsutsuki genetics and the power supplied by Naruto's security system.
The air in the Konoha lab felt electrified. The energy radiating from the newly transformed warriors was overwhelming, filling the space with an almost divine presence. Hinata and Ino took a moment to observe their friends, whose appearances had changed drastically. Their bodies were now refined, enhanced beyond human limits, and their chakra had transformed into something otherworldly—vast, celestial, and limitless.
Yet, power alone was not enough. They needed to understand what had changed.
Hinata took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Your chakra levels have skyrocketed, and your appearances have changed… but what else has awakened within you?" she asked, her Byakugan glowing faintly as she observed the swirling energies within them.
Ino nodded. "Yeah. What kind of abilities have you all gained?"
Maito Gai, now standing taller and exuding an aura of pure golden flames, stepped forward. His signature confident grin was still there, but his presence was different—commanding, overwhelming, and radiant like the sun itself.
"I feel…" Gai clenched his fists, testing his new strength. "Stronger than I ever imagined. The Eight Gates were a limit, a shackle. But now… I have surpassed them." He lifted his foot slightly off the ground, and in that instant—
BOOM!
He disappeared.
A sonic boom followed a second later, shaking the entire lab. Within that brief moment, Gai reappeared behind Ino and Hinata, standing there as if he had never moved.
"I call this technique Divine Lotus Step." Gai explained. "I move faster than light itself, and every step leaves behind afterimages… but these are not just illusions. They are real clones, capable of attacking alongside me."
Gai chuckled. "That's just the beginning."
He stomped his foot, and suddenly the air felt heavier. Hinata gasped as she felt a pressure trying to push her to the ground. Ino staggered for a moment before countering it with her own chakra.
"I can control gravity now," Gai said, raising his hand. Instantly, the crushing force disappeared. "I can increase or decrease it at will. Enemies will find themselves too heavy to move… or I can make myself light enough to teleport instantly."
Hinata and Ino exchanged glances, realizing the tactical potential of such an ability.
"And of course, there's my Shockwave Strikes," Gai continued, throwing a casual punch into the air.
"Every punch and kick I throw now releases a shockwave strong enough to shatter mountains," Gai said with pride.
"Wait," Ino interrupted, piecing things together. "If your strikes release that kind of force… what happens when you use your kicks?"
Gai's grin widened. "My kicks don't just send shockwaves. They tear through dimensions."
He raised his foot and performed a casual roundhouse kick—reality itself warped. A dark fissure in the air formed where his kick had passed, a black void that seemed to open into another dimension before sealing shut a second later.
"I call this Space-Tearing Kicks. Even if my enemies teleport away, my kicks can reach them across dimensions."
Hinata felt a chill run down her spine. Gai had truly become something beyond human.
"And if that's not enough…" Gai's eyes gleamed with fiery excitement. He clenched his fists, and his body ignited with golden flames.
"This is my Sun immortal's Lotus," he declared. "A taijutsu technique where I move beyond time itself. To my opponent, it looks like I strike only once… but in reality, I hit them an infinite number of times in an instant."
The sheer magnitude of that ability left both Hinata and Ino speechless.
Hinata took a step forward, her Tenseigan activated to analyze Gai's energy. "Your aura… it's different from before."
Gai nodded. "Yes. Before, my burning aura consumed my own life force. But now… it feeds on my enemies." His grin became sharper. "The longer I fight, the stronger I become."
Ino narrowed her eyes. "Wait… you mean—"
"Yes. Every time I hit an enemy, I absorb their energy, adding it to my own."
That alone was terrifying. A fighter who became stronger the longer they battled was a nightmare to face.
"And there's more," Gai added, his aura shifting. The golden flames intensified, but instead of destruction, they radiated a sense of peace.
Fire of Will: His body passively radiated golden flames that burned away negative energy, making him completely immune to genjutsu and mental attacks.
Absorption Resistance: Unlike other chakra users, his energy couldn't be absorbed, because it burned anyone who tried.
Healing Flames: His aura naturally healed allies who stood near him, restoring their injuries just by being close.
"That's incredible…" Hinata whispered.
"But there's one final form," Gai said, his voice becoming more serious. "A state where I am truly… unbreakable."
He took a deep breath. His golden flames turned blue.
"This is my Undying Blue Lotus. In this state… I recover from any damage instantly, and my strength doubles every second."
Hinata and Ino felt an overwhelming presence from him. It was as if he had become an indestructible warrior, an unstoppable force of nature.
Gai exhaled, letting his aura settle. "And, perhaps the most terrifying ability I've gained… is Divine Combat Instinct."
Hinata and Ino listened closely.
"My fighting intuition has evolved to immortal-level."
Predictive Reflexes: "I can now see seconds into the future, allowing me to dodge attacks before they even happen."
Subconscious Combat Mode: "Even if I lose consciousness, my body fights automatically, responding to danger on pure instinct."
Absolute Killing Intent: "And my mere presence… paralyzes my enemies."
Hinata shuddered. "You mean—"
"Yes. If an enemy is too weak, they won't even be able to move in my presence."
The room fell silent.
Gai had always been one of the strongest shinobi, even without chakra. But now… he was a immortal of taijutsu, a warrior whose very existence broke the limits of combat.
Ino exhaled deeply, shaking her head in disbelief. "Gai-sensei… you really are insane."
Gai laughed, placing a hand on his hip. "Of course! But remember…" His grin softened. "I will use these abilities to protect my comrades. That will never change."
Hinata and Ino shared a look. If Gai had become this powerful… what had the others gained?
And one by one, their friends would reveal their own divine awakenings.
With their transformations complete, Konoha no longer had mere shinobi—they had immortals among them. Each warrior radiated divine power, their mere presence shifting the atmosphere of the village.
Tsunade and Orochimaru stood in awe. The power in this room was enough to reshape the entire world.
Hinata and Ino exchanged glances, their determination unshaken.
Now, they were ready.
The Uzumaki Clan had declared war… but Konoha would respond with divine wrath.