Chapter 249: Saving Madara?

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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"Colt!"

Ino turned around in surprise, her half-dreamlike state fading as she returned to reality.

Stepping forward and pulling her into his arms, Colt smiled and asked the women, who were clearly relieved.

"So, how was your time in the world of dreams?"

He was curious about what had transpired inside Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Hinata smiled softly, her demeanor slightly altered—she seemed gentler and more dignified, her earlier shyness gone.

"If it weren't for your warning, I would never have realized that it was an illusion. It felt too real," Hinata said.

As the one most skilled in illusions among the women, Kurenai had the most to say.

Her eyes still held a trace of disbelief—she couldn't fathom that an illusion could feel so much like reality.

The women began recounting their experiences, each one describing a different scenario.

Colt quickly understood the mechanics of the ultimate illusion that was Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Madara had described it as one world, but in essence, the Infinite Tsukuyomi was composed of countless illusory worlds. Each person lived out their deepest desires in their own unique reality.

In Hinata's world, she and Colt grew up together, the Hyuga clan never faced trouble, and they lived happily in peace.

In Ino's world, she and Colt opened a flower shop together, having been friends and childhood sweethearts.

In Yakumo's world, her parents never died due to her bloodline limit, and she became a ninja without issue. The other women's worlds followed a similar pattern.

The one common thread in all these worlds? There was no war.

Each world was filled with happiness and tranquility.

"In a way, Uchiha Madara achieved his ideal," Colt remarked.

Despite everything, he didn't really hate Madara.

If Infinite Tsukuyomi hadn't required White Zetsu to drain chakra, Madara would have essentially created a perfect, dream-like world.

Hinata squeezed Colt's hand and gently shook her head.

"Even if it's perfect in a dream, it's still fake in the end. Life may be full of difficulties, but that's what makes it real, right?"

Temari nodded in agreement.

"Yes, a life too perfect is inherently flawed."

In her dream, Colt had been a Sunagakure ninja, and her father had never died.

Yet when Temari woke, she found she had no real attachment to those perfect days—it all felt too contrived.

"Haha, that's true"

Colt laughed softly, realizing he had spoken casually.

With his strength now, he could create any life he wanted.

There was no need to chase after a perfect dream.

But... Colt's eyes turned to Kaguya.

"Is Madara still alive?" He recalled that, even after Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had been sealed, Madara had lived for a time, even making peace with Hashirama before his death.

Kaguya nodded, flicking her sleeve.

Madara, now much older and barely clinging to life was thrown to the side from a crack of space.

His chakra had been drained by the Tailed Beasts, the Gedo Statue, and Kaguya herself.

What kept him alive now was the remnants of the Six Paths' power.

Hinata looked cautiously at Kaguya, noting the terrifying chakra emanating from her, as well as her familiar white eyes.

There was an undeniable feeling of kinship between them, a connection buried deep within their shared bloodline.

Colt treated Madara's wounds while explaining Kaguya's background to Hinata.

After hearing that Kaguya had lived for thousands of years and was the origin of chakra in the ninja world, the women were in awe.

Hinata, especially, was nervous—Kaguya was her direct ancestor.

Soon after, Madara awoke, his eyes weakly focusing on Colt, who was still healing him.

"You… succeeded?" Madara asked, his first concern being Kaguya's fate.

Colt nodded.

"Yes, in a way. Kaguya has given up on her plan to destroy the ninja world, and I didn't reseal her."

A faint smile crossed Madara's lips.

"You are truly strong… worthy of my approval." Even on the brink of death, Madara still couldn't resist boasting.

Colt smirked.

"Still trying to act tough, huh?"

Madara's smile faded slightly.

"Why did you save me?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"You don't? Even after all I've done?"

"Then think of it this way—I'd hate to see someone who could fight me for so long just die like that." Colt shrugged, offering a casual excuse.

In truth, there wasn't a grand reason behind it.

Perhaps he simply felt it would have been a waste to let Madara go so easily.

As the fire of life reignited in Madara's body, Colt heard the system's prompt signaling his success.

He withdrew his arm, satisfied with his work.

As for what to do with Madara now? He hadn't quite decided.

In the distance, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed.

Led by the Kages and Naruto, a group of high-ranking members of the ninja alliance was making their way over.

They had just learned what had transpired during the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

After learning of Madara's death and Kaguya's emergence as the final threat, they were stunned.

For the ninja world, everything they had fought for seemed to amount to nothing more than the Ōtsutsuki family affairs.

Even though Kaguya had agreed not to destroy the world, her very existence was a ticking time bomb.

A being with the power to reclaim chakra from every living soul was a terrifying concept.

Even Tsunade was baffled as to why Colt had chosen to keep Kaguya alive.

The group quickly made their way to Colt.

As they approached, they saw Kaguya floating midair, talking softly with Hinata.

Instantly, any hostility they carried vanished.

Kaguya's mere presence overwhelmed them with a sense of powerlessness.

This woman was beyond anything they could ever face. And the person who could beat her…

They didn't want to cross him even more.