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OPI Chapter 467: War of Attrition Begins
🕑 Added 2025-07-16 02:28:08 +0000 UTC“Ah, right—Lord Imu issued a special order to compensate the shinobi world for this loss. I believe it will make you quite pleased,” Enma suddenly said with a smile.
“Go ahead.”
Ōtsutsuki Hamura had no choice. He stared at her expressionlessly.
“Lord Imu has ordered that, with the exception of the Starfish World, the souls of all shinobi who die in other worlds will be returned to the shinobi world’s Pure Land for processing.”
“…!”
Ōtsutsuki Hamura’s pale white eyes widened.
Was he pleased?
He was genuinely surprised—and delighted.
He had worried about this very matter before.
With shinobi soon to be traveling frequently across other worlds—
Wouldn’t the Pure Land end up missing a large number of souls?
After all, shinobi souls contain chakra too.
And this chakra was truly toxic—once afflicted, it could be inherited, and even the soul would be “contaminated.”
And now, the World Government was voluntarily offering to return those souls?
Not to mention—Hamura could already foresee that with the establishment of the shinobi school system, the number of future shinobi would skyrocket.
And since the World Government constantly waged war beyond its borders, the number of fallen shinobi would hardly be small.
No matter how he looked at it, the “soul income” of the Pure Land would far exceed what it had ever been before.
This brings us to the fundamental difference between Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura, and their mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, in how they treated the shinobi world.
While all three regarded the shinobi world as a chicken farm, and shinobi as chickens to be raised—
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya would actively harvest them on a regular basis, whereas the two brothers simply waited for the chickens to die on their own.
As for how they died, they didn’t really care.
So to the people of the shinobi world, Hagoromo and Hamura couldn't be called saints—but they were certainly not villains either.
Compared to Kaguya, they at least showed a bit more mercy and care.
This likely had to do with the fact that they emerged in the shinobi world.
Though Hamura and Hagoromo called Kaguya their mother, the truth was that they were products of the chakra fruit Kaguya consumed—specifically, excess energy she couldn't digest, expelled from her body.
In that sense, they were quite similar to Black Zetsu—but only similar.
“Heh… Lord Imu once said that the shinobi world is different from the worlds before. The World Government must engage with it based on mutual respect and equitable benefit. That’s why we will never demand anything unilaterally.”
Enma beamed brightly, her smile warm and friendly.
“Then… would it be possible for us to meet this Lord Imu?” Ōtsutsuki Hamura asked, trying his luck. His curiosity was too strong to suppress.
“Hm… I can submit a report on your behalf. But even if permission is granted, what you’ll see is only one of Lord Imu’s avatars.”
Enma responded in a melodious voice while putting on a thoughtful look.
“Lord Imu’s true body must constantly remain attuned to the cosmic breath of the stars across the galactic sea, searching for worlds that are truly extraordinary. That is the true essence of the Dimensional Gates.”
“That’s why Lord Imu rarely leaves the Holy Land, Mary Geoise. However, in order to guide the development of the World Government, he left behind an avatar. It's said to be insignificant in power—but even that remains far beyond our reach.”
“U-Understood. Then… I’ll leave it in your hands,”
Ōtsutsuki Hamura stammered slightly.
An avatar?
As someone from the shinobi world, he was all too familiar with that concept—so it was easy to grasp.
But precisely because he understood it—
His heart grew heavy.
Sensing the starlight across the universe and using it to open a gate connecting two worlds?
That’s the realm of a true god.
...
The next day.
Enma once again summoned Ōtsutsuki Hamura—who was feeling rather uneasy—into the great hall.
“As for your request for a meeting, Lord Imu has already issued a reply,” she announced. “He said: ‘There is no need for a meeting at this time. If Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo fails to resolve the “Gate of the Underworld,” then I shall personally travel to the ninja world and lend my aid. Besides, I find that so-called 'Rabbit Goddess' quite intriguing.’”
Ōtsutsuki Hamura’s expression froze.
Although Imu’s words were phrased politely...
The underlying message was clear—he wasn’t qualified to meet with Imu directly!
Even if he was merely a clone.
And by referring to his mother by her title, Imu was making a statement: only Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was worthy of speaking to him as an equal. Not only that, he was aware she was sealed on the moon... and possibly had the power to release her—or even enter the seal himself to interact with her!
At least, that was how Hamura interpreted it.
To be honest, it was terrifying.
But buried within Imu’s words... was he also implying that his elder brother might not be able to handle the “Gate of the Underworld”?
Hamura instinctively thought that was impossible. Though his brother was no longer the Jinchūriki of the Ten Tails, his strength and abilities were still among the most formidable in the ninja world.
But then again, what method did his brother actually have to close the Gate?
Hmm... come to think of it, his brother really didn’t have many means when it came to space-time techniques. At best, he could try sealing it with a Truth-Seeking Orb?
Which would just block the exit—prevent demons from escaping.
But that didn’t truly make the Gate disappear.
Hamura’s expression gradually turned grim.
'I must return as soon as possible!'
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Swamps in the ninja world—
Under the combined assault of the two main battle divisions led by Charlotte Oven and Dalmatian, with backup from three artillery regiments and relentless aerial bombardments from airships, the devils on the ground had been slaughtered nearly to the last.
The few remaining were either fleeing madly back into the “Gate of the Underworld” or scattering toward the eastern and western coasts, where they were locked in fierce combat with the allied ninja forces attempting to intercept them.
Charlotte Oven and Dalmatian, however, paid them no mind.
They ordered their troops to encircle the “Gate of the Underworld” completely and unleash concentrated firepower on it—obliterating any devil that tried to emerge.
Wave after wave of explosions lit up the sky, growing and swelling until they engulfed the massive black rift suspended in midair.
From time to time, dazzling plasma bursts and brilliant golden light joined the carnage.
Thunderous blasts boomed in a deafening barrage, hurling gusts of violent shockwaves that shattered and tore apart the ground below.
And so, both sides were locked in a war of attrition.
The devils were burning through sheer numbers, while the army was draining its stockpiles—ammunition, shells, etc.
No one knew which side would run dry first.
...
Today, the reinforcements finally arrived.
Within the solemn, heavily-guarded military camp—
Onigumo, Doberman, and the others watched as a pair of young warriors—one man and one woman, both with striking golden-blonde hair—descended from the ship.
The young man had short, side-swept bangs and clear, lake-blue eyes. His hands were empty, and he wore a black uniform that unmistakably gave off a distinct Japanese aesthetic.
The young woman had her hair tied in a single ponytail, her eyes a serene aquamarine. In her right hand, she held a wooden staff shaped like a coiled serpent. Graceful and poised, her elegant figure remained striking even beneath the crisp lines of her uniform.
From the subtle expressions they exchanged when their eyes occasionally met, it was clear they were lovers deeply in love.
“It’s an honor to meet you. We’re members of the Empire’s Imperial Guard from the Teigu World, here at the invitation of the World Government’s Other Worlds Strategic Committee,” the young man said first with a polite smile. “I’m Natala, wielder of the Teigu: Dimensional Formation.”
The young woman followed with her own introduction. “I’m Gin, wielder of the Teigu: Asclepio, responsible for healing the wounded in this campaign.”
As they spoke, their gazes drifted—subtly but unmistakably—toward Najasho, who stood at the back of the group.
“Do you need to rest? And how should we coordinate with you?” asked Lieutenant General Onigumo in a deep voice, towering over them with a commanding presence.
Natala and Gin exchanged a glance. Then Natala stepped forward to reply, “We rested well aboard the ship. We’re ready to begin immediately.”
“First, I’ll need a large, open area to deploy the Dimensional Formation. Once the coordinates here sync with those back in Rōran, personnel and supplies will be able to transfer instantaneously between the two points.”
“Meanwhile, Gin will need to head to the frontlines to treat the injured. We’ll need capable escorts for her protection.”
Onigumo nodded, visibly more at ease.
“In that case… Najasho, take a platoon and escort Gin. Head to the Fifth Division first—Dalmatian’s forces suffered heavy losses.”
“Yes, sir!” Najasho responded without hesitation.
