"Six hundred people? That's enough!"
Shūichi spoke steadily and confidently. "Sunagakure only has a little over eight hundred troops right now. I've already left behind some clones to harass them, so by the time they reach the border, their numbers won't exceed 800."
"Their troop movements can't escape my detection, even at night!"
"So, I'll be able to anticipate their attack direction. While the warning time might be short, it should be enough!"
"I'll leave my clones at each ambush point."
Shimura Feiyan frowned. "Shūichi, although you're strong, how much impact can a single clone have?"
"Setting up three ambush points means that even if we split our forces into three, that's only 200 men per point."
"But clearly, we can't do that. So, we'd be facing waves of Sunagakure's forces—potentially all of them—with fewer troops."
"If we don't get reinforcements in time, the defensive line might collapse!"
Shūichi turned to face Shimura Feiyan with a gentle smile. "My strength?"
Before his words had even finished, Shūichi vanished from his spot, reappearing instantly behind Shimura Feiyan. His right hand, coated with Wind Release chakra, was already resting against Feiyan's neck.
Shūichi chuckled softly. "Did you see the strength of my clone?"
So fast!
The Jōnin in the tent were silently astonished. None of them had reacted in time. Although they hadn't been on guard, it was still incredibly impressive.
The only one who managed to follow Shūichi's movement was Orochimaru. He had tracked Shūichi's motion but was still surprised. "It's just a clone, and even I didn't notice!"
Koharu Utatane furrowed her brow, while Shimura Feiyan's body stiffened, his expression sour. "Shūichi Hoshita, what are you trying to do?"
Shūichi withdrew his hand and patted Feiyan's shoulder. "My apologies, Senior, I was just demonstrating the strength of my clone."
Grinding his teeth, Shimura Feiyan snapped, "You... Don't think that just because you've become a Jōnin at a young age, you can disrespect your seniors! Young people need to stay humble. If you act arrogant and show off, you'll suffer for it eventually!"
Shūichi kept his gentle smile, his tone unchanged. "I've already been very humble, Senior. Besides, if young people don't show off now, are they supposed to wait until they're too old to fight and rely on seniority to act arrogant?"
"Oh, and I forgot to mention: my clone previously eliminated over 40 Mist ninjas and captured Hōzuki Metsuin."
"Seems like Metsuin hasn't been brought here yet."
At these words, a chorus of astonished voices erupted.
"Hōzuki Metsuin?!"
"You captured him?"
"He's a master of many of the Hōzuki clan's secret techniques and Silent Killing. He gave us a lot of trouble during the last Great Ninja War!"
"It looks like we've seriously underestimated Shūichi's strength!"
"With this kind of power, the plan to lure the enemy is completely feasible."
Several of the Jōnin present began to speak up in agreement.
Shimura Feiyan's face darkened. Not a single person spoke up for him. And that brat, Shūichi, was nothing like his teacher, Minato Namikaze!
As Danzo had said, this kid was naturally evil and cunning!
At that moment, Koharu turned to Orochimaru and asked, "Orochimaru, what do you think?"
Orochimaru smiled and replied, "I would go with Shūichi's second plan: lure the enemy into ambush and strike when the time is right."
"Although we lack the numbers, we have the advantage in intelligence, terrain, stamina, and even ninja tools."
"Plus, when luring the enemy, we'll actually have far more forces than Jōnin Feiyan estimates. After all, we can use shadow clones and other techniques to deceive the enemy."
Koharu decisively said, "In that case, I'll leave the frontline arrangements to you, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru immediately nodded. "Understood!"
...
After the meeting ended, Shūichi followed Orochimaru to a secluded spot.
"Shūichi, your power has grown so quickly!" Orochimaru said with admiration.
Shūichi humbly replied, "I'm still not on your level, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "While weakening Sunagakure is important, we also can't let them retreat to seek reinforcements."
"You're strong, but you can't wipe them out in one blow, can you?"
Shūichi nodded, understanding Orochimaru's point. He replied, "Don't worry, Lord Orochimaru. I'll control the pace of the battle, focusing on harassing and wearing them down."
Orochimaru nodded approvingly with a smile. "Very good."
...
After parting ways with Orochimaru, Shūichi found Asuka and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring her back to his main body.
The situation with Kirigakure and Konoha would likely escalate into a battle soon, and Asuka's medical ninjutsu would be essential.
As Shūichi released his clone and processed the memories, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"Is there ever a war without risk?"
Especially when Konoha didn't have a numerical advantage. If they had enough troops, who wouldn't just charge in for an overwhelming victory?
What's more, Kirigakure had an even larger force, and Konoha only had 500 soldiers to face them.
This meant that if Kirigakure started fighting Konoha first, there would be no time to delay the situation with Sunagakure.
For Konoha, either Sunagakure or Kirigakure had to be decisively dealt with first, so they could then focus all their forces on the other.
It was clear that Sunagakure had fewer troops, and they were closer to the Land of Wind, meaning their reinforcements would arrive faster. Therefore, Sunagakure had to be crushed first.
For a swift victory, taking risks was inevitable!
"In that case, the strategy against Kirigakure can't be the same as with Sunagakure."
"We need to weaken their forces as much as possible, hit them hard, and make them afraid to launch a decisive attack!"
"Even if they coordinate a joint assault with Sunagakure later, it's still better than letting Kirigakure strike first."
Shūichi's strategy became clearer.
He wasn't sure if Koharu or Orochimaru had considered this point. Even Orochimaru, who had confidence in him, likely hadn't thought that Shūichi could harass both Sunagakure and Kirigakure simultaneously.
But the truth was, even with clones, the fatigue from continuous battles would eventually accumulate in his main body.
"Good thing my recovery is strong…"
Shūichi silently felt relieved.
...
"So, Metsuin is either captured by Konoha or dead without a trace?"
Shingetsu's face darkened.
He hadn't expected to hear such news after reuniting with the main force.
Hōzuki Metsuin was someone he had high hopes for—the next head of the Hōzuki clan, even with a chance to compete for the position of Fourth Mizukage. And now...
The Kirigakure ninja delivering the report kept his head low, not daring to respond.
Shingetsu took a deep breath and said, "Keep moving. If you encounter this Shūichi Hoshita, notify me immediately!"
"I want to see just what this youngest Jōnin of Konoha is capable of!"
After a brief pause, the nearly thousand-strong Kirigakure force resumed their advance, spreading out in small squads over a range of several miles.
They soon passed through the forest where so many of their comrades had fallen. After looting supplies from a few villages in the Land of Rivers, they continued forward.
On the other side…
Chiyo led the Sunagakure army to the site where the entire Feilian unit had been wiped out. After a brief stop to gather their comrades' remains, the army entered the forest.
Sunagakure's sensory ninja quickly detected three targets with identical chakra signatures.
Upon receiving the report, Chiyo immediately ordered, "That must be him. Surround them!"
With the command given, Sunagakure squads swarmed into the forest.
Deep within the forest, Shūichi's three clones had already revealed themselves.
Lightning Clone, Earth Clone, and Water Clone!
Soon, Sunagakure forces arrived, but stopped dozens of meters away, forming a crescent-shaped encirclement around Shūichi's clones.
The front-line Sunagakure ninja simultaneously formed hand seals, then exhaled powerful gusts of air, which quickly turned into a roaring storm.
As the storm tore through the area, sharp winds sliced through branches, and smaller trees were uprooted completely.
Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!
Layer upon layer of earthen walls rose up, forming a three-sided barrier that successfully blocked the storm.
After the storm subsided, there was a brief vacuum of time, during which the Sunagakure shinobi seized the opportunity to advance swiftly.
Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!
The water clone leapt onto the high wall, with water vapor swirling and rising around it. It then dived down, transforming into a rushing river aimed at the enemies in front.
Almost simultaneously, lightning sparked without sound. In the vacuum of the storm, Chidori—the Lightning Clone shot out with even greater speed.
Then came the Earth Clone.
The Earth Clone provided defense, the Water Clone offered support, and the Lightning Clone executed high-speed assaults on the enemies.
The battle had officially begun!
However, it was clear that the Sunagakure shinobi had no intention of engaging in close combat just yet. Another storm began to brew.
The Water Clone controlled the water flow, surging forward. More earth walls rose from the ground, while the Lightning Clone suddenly disappeared, reappearing behind the attacking Sunagakure forces. Screams filled the air as the lightning tore through their ranks, ricocheting among them.
Chiyo, arriving from the rear, witnessed this scene and scoffed quietly: "A teleportation technique similar to the Yellow Flash, is it?"
She then shouted, "Be careful of his teleportation jutsu—it's likely space-time ninjutsu!"
In an instant, all the Sunagakure shinobi were on high alert.
Chiyo, however, remained calm and composed, continuously issuing commands and coordinating her squads, ensuring their attacks were relentless and well-coordinated.
Even though Shūichi's clones moved around the forest using pre-placed Flying Thunder God markers, the Sunagakure shinobi were quick to react, setting up layers of encirclements.
Boom!
The Earth Clone was the first to be taken down.
Next was the Water Clone!
Finally, the fastest, the Lightning Clone, was destroyed.
However, the entire process lasted a full half hour.
After receiving the casualty report, Chiyo remained silent for a long time.
In just half an hour, thirty-three shinobi were dead or injured.
And the opponent? Merely three clones!
"Advance while avoiding the forest terrain as much as possible," Chiyo ordered after the long silence.
While Chiyo was quiet, the other Sunagakure shinobi were not.
Hearing the earlier news that a hundred-man unit had been wiped out by a single Konoha brat had dealt a huge blow to their morale.
Now, although they had destroyed only three clones, it wasn't as terrifying or unbeatable as they had imagined.
"It's a shame it was just his clones... If the real one had come, we could've killed him and avenged Lord Feilian!"
"Exactly, his teleportation technique may be impressive, but with enough preparation, we can limit him!"
"I heard that brat is only in his teens and already proficient in so many types of ninjutsu. How does someone train like that?"
"Hmph, even if he's a genius, what does it matter? A person can only use two types of jutsu at a time, and clones can be easily destroyed!"
"True. No matter how talented he is, he can't compare to the Fourth Kazekage or Lady Pakura, who had mastered Kekkei Genkai. It's such a shame Lady Pakura was killed by those Iwagakure bastards!"
"Don't worry, the Fourth Kazekage will definitely avenge both the Third Kazekage and Lady Pakura!"
…
Listening to the murmured conversations around her, Chiyo wasn't as optimistic. Instead, her heart felt heavy.
The technique that wiped out Feilian's unit clearly surpassed conventional means.
And the strength of those clones just now—aside from the difficulty of handling the Flying Thunder God, they were still within the bounds of normal abilities.
This was definitely not the full power of that brat, Shūichi Hoshita. At most, it was one-tenth of his true capability.
"Such a threat… it might require Shukaku..."
Chiyo considered this for a moment, then secretly instructed someone to leave.
…
As Shūichi received the memories from his defeated clones, he thought to himself, "As expected, even if a ninja is well-rounded, one person alone can't handle a large, well-coordinated army."
"And honestly, shadow clones are still more useful—they can bring out more of the main body's abilities."
"Well then, I'll switch to using shadow clones next…"
Shūichi immediately created four shadow clones. The clones took to the air, transforming into eagles as they headed toward the advancing Sunagakure forces.
Layers of attacks followed—constant harassment, killing, and wearing down their morale and fighting spirit.
As soon as his clones left, Shūichi raised an eyebrow.
The battle with Kirigakure had begun as well!
One of his shadow clones had already been destroyed!
After having experienced two of the Great Ninja Wars, this was the first time Hōzuki Shingetsu witnessed someone using such a large number of shadow clones to charge into battle!
The reason he deduced they were shadow clones wasn't because of some extraordinary sensory ability or sharp vision.
It was simply because only a madman would charge into a thousand-strong army with a group of shadow clones instead of their real body.
Through the forest, over mountains, across plains, and over rivers...
One after another, Shūichi's shadow clones charged at the large Kirigakure force with reckless abandon.
And just like Sunagakure had done, the Kirigakure shinobi responded by launching group-based ninjutsu attacks, with a dozen or so shinobi unleashing Water Release together.
However, Shūichi's clones suddenly took to the air, moving at high speed, then diving down into the crowd, countering Water Release with Fire Release. Using the mist created by the water as cover, they broke into close combat.
For Shūichi, large-scale ninjutsu exchanges put him at a disadvantage.
How could one person withstand a continuous barrage of jutsu from an entire group, even if he didn't need to use hand signs to cast his techniques? Chakra depletion was still a problem.
Breaking into the Kirigakure ranks for a chaotic melee was the most advantageous option. This allowed him to fully utilize his no-hand-sign ninjutsu, high-speed reflexes, and extreme velocity.
Facing the Kirigakure forces, Shūichi also displayed, for the first time, his ability to run through the air.
This was something even Sunagakure hadn't included in their intel, as they hadn't fully grasped this capability of Shūichi's.
Watching Shūichi wreak havoc among his forces, Hōzuki Shingetsu finally understood why Hōzuki Metsuin and the others had been so utterly defeated.
He was simply too fast—not just his physical speed, but his teleportation and jutsu casting speeds were unparalleled.
Moreover, he had no apparent weaknesses. His abilities were so well-rounded that no single type of ninjutsu could effectively counter him.
Having fought in two Great Ninja Wars, Hōzuki Shingetsu had never encountered an opponent like this.
"At such a young age... it's terrifying!"
"If we can't take him down this time, this intel must be sent back to the village…"
Thinking this, Hōzuki Shingetsu rushed forward, all while continuously issuing orders, directing squad after squad to encircle and attack Shūichi.
Though Kirigakure shinobi specialize in Water Release, not all of them are water-type users. Many also know Earth Release, Lightning Release, kenjutsu (sword techniques), and other ninjutsu, though Water Release is their strongest element.
At this moment, he was deploying shinobi proficient in Earth Release, Lightning Release, and Wind Release to work together, aiming to seal off Shūichi's movement and decide the outcome with overwhelming attacks.
But the first attempt failed!
Their attack missed as Shūichi escaped using the Flying Thunder God technique, with the mark hidden on a Kirigakure shinobi that he had previously thrown away.
The second time, Hōzuki Shingetsu used a shadow clone as bait.
It failed again!
Shūichi saw through the shadow clone and didn't take the bait.
The third time, they finally succeeded. One of Shūichi's shadow clones was destroyed, but the Kirigakure shinobi acting as a close-combat bait was severely injured in the process.
With no time to assess the losses, Shingetsu immediately led his men to the other battlefronts to hunt down more of Shūichi's shadow clones.
…
At the rear, one by one, the memories of the shadow clones began returning to Shūichi. He organized these memories and analyzed the experience but also felt the fatigue steadily piling up.
This was more exhausting than fighting in person!
Moreover, when the clones were destroyed, the pain they felt was also transmitted back to him.
The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique truly was a dangerous forbidden jutsu. The fact that the clones dispelled upon injury served as a form of protection for the original body.
Shūichi concluded that next time, when using shadow clones in large battles, he would need to dispel them before unavoidable attacks landed. This would help reduce the mental strain on his real body.
As time passed, all nine shadow clones were eventually destroyed, and night had already fallen.
Half an hour later, Uchiha Shisui received feedback from his crow clone: "Shūichi, the Mist ninja have set up camp."
Now fully recovered, Shūichi, back in human form, felt somewhat tired and remarked, "The Mist ninja will probably launch a large-scale infiltration under the cover of darkness."
Uchiha Shisui smiled and reassured him, "You can rest easy, Shūichi. We'll handle things tonight."
"As much as you might want to carry the burden alone, war is not something one person can solve. You need to trust your comrades more."
Asuka nodded in agreement: "Shisui is right. Even though it's your clones doing the fighting, the fatigue and pain still get transferred back to you. You can seal away memories, but you can't seal away those sensations."
"Chakra may recover quickly, but physical and mental exhaustion takes more time," she added with a smile. "Shūichi, we're not your burden!"
Though wearing a mask, Pakura also nodded in agreement.
Shūichi paused for a moment before smiling. "Got it!"
"Then I'll leave tonight to you all!"
He truly did need the rest. His clones were still conducting harassing operations against the Sand shinobi.
However...
Looking over at Shisui and Pakura, Shūichi said, "Shisui, I've developed a nature-based curse mark called the 'Bijuu Sealing Mark.' It can enhance Fire Release using natural energy."
"Natural energy?" Shisui asked, puzzled. It was his first time hearing about it.
Not just him—Pakura looked equally intrigued.
Shūichi nodded. "Yes, natural energy is a type of energy that exists in the world, similar to chakra, like the air around us."
Shisui nodded thoughtfully, then grinned. "Then I won't be shy about using it!"
Shūichi continued, "I'll also leave a Flying Thunder God mark within the curse seal, which will help us coordinate better during battle."
Shisui nodded again. "Do I need to do anything?"
Shūichi smiled, "No, just stay still. I'll place the seal on the back of your neck, though it might hurt a little."
Shisui immediately crouched down in front of Shūichi, lowering his head.
Shūichi raised his right hand and pressed it onto the right side of Shisui's neck.
With a sizzling sound, as if branding flesh, Shisui felt a sharp, piercing pain. Sweat began to form on his forehead, but the pain quickly subsided. Soon after, he sensed a new energy within the curse mark, and this energy continued to grow.
Shūichi raised his hand and smiled. "It's done. You can activate or deactivate the seal with a simple mental command."
A blue lotus-shaped mark now adorned the right side of Shisui's neck.
Standing up, Shisui activated the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
In an instant, the blue lotus mark began to glow, and blue patterns spread from his neck to his face. In moments, the blue lotus design covered Shisui's entire neck and face.
Seeing this, Shūichi couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.
It reminded him of Orochimaru's curse mark.
Although both used natural energy, Orochimaru's mark led to Sage Transformation, providing an all-around enhancement. While it lacked safety, its overall functionality far surpassed that of the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
Still, Shūichi prioritized stability. Although his seal only boosted Fire Release, it was much easier to adapt to and didn't require any prerequisites.
If he wanted, Shūichi could apply the curse mark to anyone.
"This power is incredible!" Shisui exclaimed with admiration as he formed hand signs.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball burst from Shisui's mouth, growing to an immense size. The brilliant white core and orange-red flames lit up the night sky, shooting forward and obliterating a large tree in an explosive burst.
The intense heat sent waves of hot air rippling through the area, and even beneath her mask, Pakura's expression showed surprise. "That's so powerful!"
She had seen Shisui's Fire Release before, and while it was already strong, this was on a whole different level. The sheer scale and temperature of the fireball now rivaled her own Scorch Release.
"This natural energy… It's truly amazing!" Pakura couldn't help but feel intrigued but also sighed quietly to herself.
She was only a subordinate to Shūichi, whereas Shisui was clearly more than that—he was a close friend.
Those words they exchanged earlier weren't something a mere subordinate would say.
Shisui, too, was astonished. "This is unbelievable!"
"My Fire Release is at least three times more powerful now!"
Shūichi smiled, nodding in approval. "Not bad."
"Alright, Pakura, it's your turn!" he said.
Pakura was taken aback, almost unsure. "Me? Can I really…?"
Shūichi answered matter-of-factly, "Of course. Your Scorch Release is a fusion of Wind and Fire Release, so the curse mark's Fire Release boost will naturally enhance your Scorch Release as well."
Pakura quickly nodded. "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"
For the first time, she called him "Lord Shūichi" with complete sincerity.
She crouched in front of Shūichi, exposing her neck.
The firelight cast a beautiful glow on her elegant neck and the graceful curve of her back. Even Asuka couldn't help but admire her beauty, her eyes lighting up as she whispered, "So beautiful..."
Shūichi, focused, pressed his right palm against the right side of Pakura's neck, placing the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
After enduring the pain, Pakura stood and bowed. "Thank you, Lord Shūichi!"
Shūichi nodded. "Go ahead, try it."
Pakura activated the curse mark. Blue lotus patterns spread across her neck and hands. She extended her arms, and two fireballs instantly formed in her palms.
But unlike her previous fireballs, these were now blue on the inside and white on the outside.
Pakura also noticed that her control over the Scorch Release fireballs had become much more precise.
The two fireballs danced through the air, moving with greater speed and fluidity.
Watching this, Shūichi was reminded of the Scorch Release Chakra Mode.
With the Bijuu Sealing Mark, Pakura should be able to develop the Scorch Release Chakra Mode, even without the Hundred Healings technique.
That was the direction he'd always intended to explore.
"Once you calm your mind and link your chakra, you should be able to fully awaken the power of Scorch Release, unlocking its full potential."
This thought briefly crossed his mind as he smiled and said, "Alright, I'll leave tonight to all of you!"
Asuka raised her fist and laughed, "Rest easy, Shūichi!"
Both Shisui and Pakura, now with their curse marks deactivated, nodded in agreement.
Shūichi then created two more shadow clones to monitor the movements of the Mist and Sand ninja. Sitting down by the campfire, he closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
As his owl-shaped shadow clones soared into the sky, Shisui's crows took flight once again.
...
The night sky was dotted with stars, and the darkness was peaceful.
Yet, the Mist and Sand Ninja launched their operations simultaneously, like ghosts in the night, moving stealthily from different directions toward the borders of the Land of Fire.
Both Chiyo and Shingetsu knew that despite the trouble Shūichi Hoshita's shadow clones caused them during the day, they understood the limitations of the Shadow Clone Jutsu. They knew that Shūichi was only human—overusing clones would cause fatigue to build up, and he couldn't stay active indefinitely without rest.
Not to mention, chakra was another limiting factor.
Moreover, with the distance closing in, Shūichi had less space to intercept them effectively.
Both Chiyo and Shingetsu shared the same thought: they could take advantage of Shūichi's fatigue to locate him and surround him.
However, they temporarily abandoned that idea.
Firstly, finding Shūichi's real body wouldn't be easy.
Secondly, Shūichi himself wasn't the key to determining the outcome of this war.
At this point, he still wasn't influential enough to decide the battle's fate.
...
In a forest.
Asuka closed her eyes and focused, sensing her surroundings. "1, 2… 12 people. They're fast. They'll reach us in about three minutes."
After finishing her sensory analysis, she signaled to Shisui and Pakura, who were hidden in the darkness.
Moments later, both Shisui and Pakura noticed the movement.
They were coming!
Shisui already had several shurikens in hand.
Just then, the leading Mist Ninja abruptly stopped and raised his hands, signaling to the others behind him.
"They've realized we're here..."
Shisui was about to take the initiative to distract them, but Asuka moved even faster.
With a metallic clatter, three adamantine chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around three of the Mist Ninja who had just landed.
"Careful!"
"There are enemies!"
"Damn it, it's a sealing jutsu! I can't move!"
The Mist Ninja shouted.
Without hesitation, Shisui flung his shurikens, each one striking the necks of the Mist Ninja bound by the chains.
At the same time, Pakura also made her move, launching two fireballs.
"They're here!"
"Be careful!"
"Damn it! It's Pakura of the Scorch Release! Use the Hiding in Mist Jutsu!"
Shouts echoed as water surged up to extinguish the incoming fireballs. Others threw kunai toward Asuka, who quickly dodged.
Two Mist Ninja flanked her, swinging their blades, but in mid-air, they were pierced by the adamantine chains. Their chakra went out of control, and their bodies weakened as their swords fell to the ground.
Another Mist Ninja began weaving hand signs to activate the Hiding in Mist Jutsu, sensing danger as his neck twisted. His eyes met a pair of blood-red Sharingan.
"Sharingan…"
That thought flashed in his mind as he tried to retreat and cast his jutsu, but his body wouldn't obey.
In the next instant, his throat exploded in a spray of blood, silent in the night.
Shisui swiftly dispatched the Mist Ninja with a single strike, not pausing as he moved toward the next. His left hand flicked, sending shurikens flying toward the kunai aimed at Asuka. The explosive tags on the kunai ignited, and with a boom, the area lit up.
"Three-tomoe Sharingan!"
The leading Mist Ninja's eyes widened in horror as he yelled, "Retreat!"
But in the next moment, he found himself frozen in place.
"Damn it… a paralysis jutsu!"
The Mist Ninja trembled but couldn't break free, and firelight now illuminated him.
Boom!
A water dragon collided with a fireball, creating a cloud of steam.
One Mist Ninja dashed in, rescuing the paralyzed leader and retreating swiftly.
The remaining Mist Ninja threw kunai with explosive tags to cover their escape.
"Don't chase them!" Shisui ordered, stopping Pakura and Asuka, who were ready to pursue.
"The Mist Ninja are definitely making a large-scale move. Let's go!"
Receiving the intel from his crow clone, Shisui immediately led Pakura and Asuka to ambush another group of Mist Ninja.
At the same time, on the other side, the Sand Ninja had once again encountered Shūichi Hoshita's shadow clones.
But, just as Chiyo and Shingetsu had predicted, it was impossible for one person to lock them down entirely.
However, Shūichi's shadow clones observed the movements of the Sand and Mist Ninjas from the sky and relayed the information to the Konoha forces in the rear.
By the second half of the night, teams of Konoha Ninja, just like Shisui's, began engaging with the Sand and Mist forces along the borders of the Land of Rivers, near the Land of Fire.
After having experienced two of the Great Ninja Wars, this was the first time Hōzuki Shingetsu witnessed someone using such a large number of shadow clones to charge into battle!
The reason he deduced they were shadow clones wasn't because of some extraordinary sensory ability or sharp vision.
It was simply because only a madman would charge into a thousand-strong army with a group of shadow clones instead of their real body.
Through the forest, over mountains, across plains, and over rivers...
One after another, Shūichi's shadow clones charged at the large Kirigakure force with reckless abandon.
And just like Sunagakure had done, the Kirigakure shinobi responded by launching group-based ninjutsu attacks, with a dozen or so shinobi unleashing Water Release together.
However, Shūichi's clones suddenly took to the air, moving at high speed, then diving down into the crowd, countering Water Release with Fire Release. Using the mist created by the water as cover, they broke into close combat.
For Shūichi, large-scale ninjutsu exchanges put him at a disadvantage.
How could one person withstand a continuous barrage of jutsu from an entire group, even if he didn't need to use hand signs to cast his techniques? Chakra depletion was still a problem.
Breaking into the Kirigakure ranks for a chaotic melee was the most advantageous option. This allowed him to fully utilize his no-hand-sign ninjutsu, high-speed reflexes, and extreme velocity.
Facing the Kirigakure forces, Shūichi also displayed, for the first time, his ability to run through the air.
This was something even Sunagakure hadn't included in their intel, as they hadn't fully grasped this capability of Shūichi's.
Watching Shūichi wreak havoc among his forces, Hōzuki Shingetsu finally understood why Hōzuki Metsuin and the others had been so utterly defeated.
He was simply too fast—not just his physical speed, but his teleportation and jutsu casting speeds were unparalleled.
Moreover, he had no apparent weaknesses. His abilities were so well-rounded that no single type of ninjutsu could effectively counter him.
Having fought in two Great Ninja Wars, Hōzuki Shingetsu had never encountered an opponent like this.
"At such a young age... it's terrifying!"
"If we can't take him down this time, this intel must be sent back to the village…"
Thinking this, Hōzuki Shingetsu rushed forward, all while continuously issuing orders, directing squad after squad to encircle and attack Shūichi.
Though Kirigakure shinobi specialize in Water Release, not all of them are water-type users. Many also know Earth Release, Lightning Release, kenjutsu (sword techniques), and other ninjutsu, though Water Release is their strongest element.
At this moment, he was deploying shinobi proficient in Earth Release, Lightning Release, and Wind Release to work together, aiming to seal off Shūichi's movement and decide the outcome with overwhelming attacks.
But the first attempt failed!
Their attack missed as Shūichi escaped using the Flying Thunder God technique, with the mark hidden on a Kirigakure shinobi that he had previously thrown away.
The second time, Hōzuki Shingetsu used a shadow clone as bait.
It failed again!
Shūichi saw through the shadow clone and didn't take the bait.
The third time, they finally succeeded. One of Shūichi's shadow clones was destroyed, but the Kirigakure shinobi acting as a close-combat bait was severely injured in the process.
With no time to assess the losses, Shingetsu immediately led his men to the other battlefronts to hunt down more of Shūichi's shadow clones.
…
At the rear, one by one, the memories of the shadow clones began returning to Shūichi. He organized these memories and analyzed the experience but also felt the fatigue steadily piling up.
This was more exhausting than fighting in person!
Moreover, when the clones were destroyed, the pain they felt was also transmitted back to him.
The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique truly was a dangerous forbidden jutsu. The fact that the clones dispelled upon injury served as a form of protection for the original body.
Shūichi concluded that next time, when using shadow clones in large battles, he would need to dispel them before unavoidable attacks landed. This would help reduce the mental strain on his real body.
As time passed, all nine shadow clones were eventually destroyed, and night had already fallen.
Half an hour later, Uchiha Shisui received feedback from his crow clone: "Shūichi, the Mist ninja have set up camp."
Now fully recovered, Shūichi, back in human form, felt somewhat tired and remarked, "The Mist ninja will probably launch a large-scale infiltration under the cover of darkness."
Uchiha Shisui smiled and reassured him, "You can rest easy, Shūichi. We'll handle things tonight."
"As much as you might want to carry the burden alone, war is not something one person can solve. You need to trust your comrades more."
Asuka nodded in agreement: "Shisui is right. Even though it's your clones doing the fighting, the fatigue and pain still get transferred back to you. You can seal away memories, but you can't seal away those sensations."
"Chakra may recover quickly, but physical and mental exhaustion takes more time," she added with a smile. "Shūichi, we're not your burden!"
Though wearing a mask, Pakura also nodded in agreement.
Shūichi paused for a moment before smiling. "Got it!"
"Then I'll leave tonight to you all!"
He truly did need the rest. His clones were still conducting harassing operations against the Sand shinobi.
However...
Looking over at Shisui and Pakura, Shūichi said, "Shisui, I've developed a nature-based curse mark called the 'Bijuu Sealing Mark.' It can enhance Fire Release using natural energy."
"Natural energy?" Shisui asked, puzzled. It was his first time hearing about it.
Not just him—Pakura looked equally intrigued.
Shūichi nodded. "Yes, natural energy is a type of energy that exists in the world, similar to chakra, like the air around us."
Shisui nodded thoughtfully, then grinned. "Then I won't be shy about using it!"
Shūichi continued, "I'll also leave a Flying Thunder God mark within the curse seal, which will help us coordinate better during battle."
Shisui nodded again. "Do I need to do anything?"
Shūichi smiled, "No, just stay still. I'll place the seal on the back of your neck, though it might hurt a little."
Shisui immediately crouched down in front of Shūichi, lowering his head.
Shūichi raised his right hand and pressed it onto the right side of Shisui's neck.
With a sizzling sound, as if branding flesh, Shisui felt a sharp, piercing pain. Sweat began to form on his forehead, but the pain quickly subsided. Soon after, he sensed a new energy within the curse mark, and this energy continued to grow.
Shūichi raised his hand and smiled. "It's done. You can activate or deactivate the seal with a simple mental command."
A blue lotus-shaped mark now adorned the right side of Shisui's neck.
Standing up, Shisui activated the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
In an instant, the blue lotus mark began to glow, and blue patterns spread from his neck to his face. In moments, the blue lotus design covered Shisui's entire neck and face.
Seeing this, Shūichi couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.
It reminded him of Orochimaru's curse mark.
Although both used natural energy, Orochimaru's mark led to Sage Transformation, providing an all-around enhancement. While it lacked safety, its overall functionality far surpassed that of the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
Still, Shūichi prioritized stability. Although his seal only boosted Fire Release, it was much easier to adapt to and didn't require any prerequisites.
If he wanted, Shūichi could apply the curse mark to anyone.
"This power is incredible!" Shisui exclaimed with admiration as he formed hand signs.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball burst from Shisui's mouth, growing to an immense size. The brilliant white core and orange-red flames lit up the night sky, shooting forward and obliterating a large tree in an explosive burst.
The intense heat sent waves of hot air rippling through the area, and even beneath her mask, Pakura's expression showed surprise. "That's so powerful!"
She had seen Shisui's Fire Release before, and while it was already strong, this was on a whole different level. The sheer scale and temperature of the fireball now rivaled her own Scorch Release.
"This natural energy… It's truly amazing!" Pakura couldn't help but feel intrigued but also sighed quietly to herself.
She was only a subordinate to Shūichi, whereas Shisui was clearly more than that—he was a close friend.
Those words they exchanged earlier weren't something a mere subordinate would say.
Shisui, too, was astonished. "This is unbelievable!"
"My Fire Release is at least three times more powerful now!"
Shūichi smiled, nodding in approval. "Not bad."
"Alright, Pakura, it's your turn!" he said.
Pakura was taken aback, almost unsure. "Me? Can I really…?"
Shūichi answered matter-of-factly, "Of course. Your Scorch Release is a fusion of Wind and Fire Release, so the curse mark's Fire Release boost will naturally enhance your Scorch Release as well."
Pakura quickly nodded. "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"
For the first time, she called him "Lord Shūichi" with complete sincerity.
She crouched in front of Shūichi, exposing her neck.
The firelight cast a beautiful glow on her elegant neck and the graceful curve of her back. Even Asuka couldn't help but admire her beauty, her eyes lighting up as she whispered, "So beautiful..."
Shūichi, focused, pressed his right palm against the right side of Pakura's neck, placing the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
After enduring the pain, Pakura stood and bowed. "Thank you, Lord Shūichi!"
Shūichi nodded. "Go ahead, try it."
Pakura activated the curse mark. Blue lotus patterns spread across her neck and hands. She extended her arms, and two fireballs instantly formed in her palms.
But unlike her previous fireballs, these were now blue on the inside and white on the outside.
Pakura also noticed that her control over the Scorch Release fireballs had become much more precise.
The two fireballs danced through the air, moving with greater speed and fluidity.
Watching this, Shūichi was reminded of the Scorch Release Chakra Mode.
With the Bijuu Sealing Mark, Pakura should be able to develop the Scorch Release Chakra Mode, even without the Hundred Healings technique.
That was the direction he'd always intended to explore.
"Once you calm your mind and link your chakra, you should be able to fully awaken the power of Scorch Release, unlocking its full potential."
This thought briefly crossed his mind as he smiled and said, "Alright, I'll leave tonight to all of you!"
Asuka raised her fist and laughed, "Rest easy, Shūichi!"
Both Shisui and Pakura, now with their curse marks deactivated, nodded in agreement.
Shūichi then created two more shadow clones to monitor the movements of the Mist and Sand ninja. Sitting down by the campfire, he closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
As his owl-shaped shadow clones soared into the sky, Shisui's crows took flight once again.
...
The night sky was dotted with stars, and the darkness was peaceful.
Yet, the Mist and Sand Ninja launched their operations simultaneously, like ghosts in the night, moving stealthily from different directions toward the borders of the Land of Fire.
Both Chiyo and Shingetsu knew that despite the trouble Shūichi Hoshita's shadow clones caused them during the day, they understood the limitations of the Shadow Clone Jutsu. They knew that Shūichi was only human—overusing clones would cause fatigue to build up, and he couldn't stay active indefinitely without rest.
Not to mention, chakra was another limiting factor.
Moreover, with the distance closing in, Shūichi had less space to intercept them effectively.
Both Chiyo and Shingetsu shared the same thought: they could take advantage of Shūichi's fatigue to locate him and surround him.
However, they temporarily abandoned that idea.
Firstly, finding Shūichi's real body wouldn't be easy.
Secondly, Shūichi himself wasn't the key to determining the outcome of this war.
At this point, he still wasn't influential enough to decide the battle's fate.
...
In a forest.
Asuka closed her eyes and focused, sensing her surroundings. "1, 2… 12 people. They're fast. They'll reach us in about three minutes."
After finishing her sensory analysis, she signaled to Shisui and Pakura, who were hidden in the darkness.
Moments later, both Shisui and Pakura noticed the movement.
They were coming!
Shisui already had several shurikens in hand.
Just then, the leading Mist Ninja abruptly stopped and raised his hands, signaling to the others behind him.
"They've realized we're here..."
Shisui was about to take the initiative to distract them, but Asuka moved even faster.
With a metallic clatter, three adamantine chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around three of the Mist Ninja who had just landed.
"Careful!"
"There are enemies!"
"Damn it, it's a sealing jutsu! I can't move!"
The Mist Ninja shouted.
Without hesitation, Shisui flung his shurikens, each one striking the necks of the Mist Ninja bound by the chains.
At the same time, Pakura also made her move, launching two fireballs.
"They're here!"
"Be careful!"
"Damn it! It's Pakura of the Scorch Release! Use the Hiding in Mist Jutsu!"
Shouts echoed as water surged up to extinguish the incoming fireballs. Others threw kunai toward Asuka, who quickly dodged.
Two Mist Ninja flanked her, swinging their blades, but in mid-air, they were pierced by the adamantine chains. Their chakra went out of control, and their bodies weakened as their swords fell to the ground.
Another Mist Ninja began weaving hand signs to activate the Hiding in Mist Jutsu, sensing danger as his neck twisted. His eyes met a pair of blood-red Sharingan.
"Sharingan…"
That thought flashed in his mind as he tried to retreat and cast his jutsu, but his body wouldn't obey.
In the next instant, his throat exploded in a spray of blood, silent in the night.
Shisui swiftly dispatched the Mist Ninja with a single strike, not pausing as he moved toward the next. His left hand flicked, sending shurikens flying toward the kunai aimed at Asuka. The explosive tags on the kunai ignited, and with a boom, the area lit up.
"Three-tomoe Sharingan!"
The leading Mist Ninja's eyes widened in horror as he yelled, "Retreat!"
But in the next moment, he found himself frozen in place.
"Damn it… a paralysis jutsu!"
The Mist Ninja trembled but couldn't break free, and firelight now illuminated him.
Boom!
A water dragon collided with a fireball, creating a cloud of steam.
One Mist Ninja dashed in, rescuing the paralyzed leader and retreating swiftly.
The remaining Mist Ninja threw kunai with explosive tags to cover their escape.
"Don't chase them!" Shisui ordered, stopping Pakura and Asuka, who were ready to pursue.
"The Mist Ninja are definitely making a large-scale move. Let's go!"
Receiving the intel from his crow clone, Shisui immediately led Pakura and Asuka to ambush another group of Mist Ninja.
At the same time, on the other side, the Sand Ninja had once again encountered Shūichi Hoshita's shadow clones.
But, just as Chiyo and Shingetsu had predicted, it was impossible for one person to lock them down entirely.
However, Shūichi's shadow clones observed the movements of the Sand and Mist Ninjas from the sky and relayed the information to the Konoha forces in the rear.
By the second half of the night, teams of Konoha Ninja, just like Shisui's, began engaging with the Sand and Mist forces along the borders of the Land of Rivers, near the Land of Fire.
"Huh?"
"Is Konoha planning to launch an attack?"
Hozuki Shingetsu was puzzled as he watched Shūichi split into clones.
At that moment, a commotion broke out within the Mist Ninja army.
"Watch out! Poisonous snakes are crawling out!"
"Quick, kill them all!"
…
At six different locations, poisonous snakes emerged, slithering around. The Mist Ninja were initially startled, but they quickly acted, easily taking down the snakes.
"Why are there poisonous snakes here?"
Shingetsu frowned and turned his head to look, then suddenly recalled a certain person from Konoha.
"Orochimaru's handiwork... this is bad!"
He remembered the Sand Ninja's mention of a space-time jutsu, and cold sweat drenched his back.
Shingetsu turned toward the Konoha forces just in time to see Shūichi disappear.
"Lit—"
Before Shingetsu could finish his sentence, three Shūichi Hoshitas appeared in the midst of the Mist Ninja army.
One was at the left flank, another at the middle rear, and the third on the right flank.
The appearance of Shūichi stunned the surrounding Mist Ninja for a moment, followed by a series of frantic screams.
"Watch out!"
"It's Shūichi Hoshita!"
"Kill him, now!"
…
Despite the army being assembled together, the Mist Ninja's formation was still relatively sparse.
Shouting in fury, the Mist Ninja attacked, drawing the attention of others, which only caused further chaos.
But Shūichi's movements were even quicker. The moment he appeared, two blue flame dragon heads had already formed on his shoulders. As their mouths opened, a blazing white light began to gather, and then a white beam shot forth.
Dragon Flame Breath!
Pew pew pew… Like skewers, the high-temperature beams pierced through one Mist Ninja after another until a water-style jutsu blocked it.
In that instant, Shūichi's real body and his clones had already inflicted over thirty casualties on the Mist Ninja.
At the same time, as the attack unfolded, chains whipped out from behind Shūichi with a metallic clatter. They moved like dragons and snakes, deflecting the incoming shuriken, piercing through the Mist Ninja who had leapt forward, igniting them like torches. Their anguished screams filled the air before they were flung away.
Boom!
Water-style techniques erupted, and more Mist Ninja reacted, launching water dragons and massive torrents toward Shūichi's position.
Shūichi's Fire Nether Chains retracted, burrowing into the ground and transforming into a barrier.
Boom!
Various water-style jutsus collided with the three barriers, causing steam to rise and rapidly spread.
Inside the barrier, Shūichi had already brought his hands together in a seal.
At this point, Hozuki Shingetsu was drenched in sweat, shouting orders repeatedly: "Don't panic!"
"Spread out the formation!"
"Encircle him heavily!"
"Stay alert for Konoha's forces!"
If Konoha were to charge at this moment... Shingetsu continued to issue commands while keeping a watchful eye on the Konoha army.
Thankfully, the opposing side didn't seem to have any immediate intention of advancing. Was there some sort of hidden plot?
A sense of unease welled up in Shingetsu's heart.
Meanwhile, on the Konoha side, many of the ninja had their eyes wide open, unable to stop gulping in disbelief.
"He's... just charging in by himself?"
"Shūichi... is incredible!"
"But... are we just going to watch?"
...
Even the ordinary Konoha ninjas, let alone the jōnin, couldn't help but voice their concern as they saw the Mist Ninja army fall into disarray. One jōnin from the Sarutobi clan, Sarutobi Shinichi, couldn't hold back and asked, "Lord Orochimaru, are we just going to stand here? Isn't this the best opportunity to strike?"
Orochimaru, who was intently watching the Mist Ninja forces, his body tense, smiled when he heard Shinichi's question. He spoke with a calm demeanor, "No need to rush, Shinichi. We haven't reached the moment that Shūichi and I agreed upon yet."
Agreed upon? What agreement?
The Konoha ninjas were all curious.
Meanwhile, within the Mist Ninja army, in just a short amount of time, the Mist had surrounded Shūichi, forming three concentric circles around him. No longer on the outskirts of the army, Shūichi was now completely surrounded.
As the water vapor dissipated, Shūichi retracted his barrier. Immediately, water-style jutsu from all directions rushed at him. In response, fire lotus flowers bloomed on Shūichi's body, launching smaller, blue fireballs—each about the size of a fist—like a barrage of blue lotus seeds.
Each blue lotus seed collided with the incoming water streams and exploded, blooming into blue petals of fire.
This was a Flame-Wind Vacuum Slash, a combination of fire and wind-style techniques.
The collision between fire and water created continuous booms, but some of Shūichi's Blue Flame Vacuum Slashes cut through the water, piercing the Mist Ninja.
Boom boom boom!
The blue lotus seeds were launched one after another, continuously exploding, tearing apart the Mist Ninja's encirclement. What was once a formation became a deadly sea of flames, filled with Mist Ninja's anguished screams.
At that moment, the combination of wind and fire had overcome the water-style jutsu! This was yet another improvement of Shūichi's Fire Prison Lotus.
The intense collision between fire and water generated a thick mist, preventing the outer layer of Mist Ninja from seeing the battlefield clearly. They could only hear the terrifying screams of their comrades, filling them with fear.
When the explosion and screams subsided, and the mist was blown away, a sharp screeching sound echoed through the Mist Ninja ranks.
"What is that…"
"That chakra… it's overwhelming!"
"Damn it!"
The Mist Ninja stared in horror as Shūichi raised a rapidly spinning, blinding wheel of light, resembling a giant windmill.
Hozuki Shingetsu turned to look as well, muttering, "Wind-style… Fire-style… and… Lava-style… Damn it!"
"Scatter!"
"All units, use water-style jutsu!"
Shingetsu shouted with all his might.
Not only him, but other high-ranking Mist Ninja, including many jōnin and chūnin, also began barking orders, urging their forces to retreat and quickly form seals.
The other Mist Ninja followed suit, using the fastest hand seals they knew to cast their water-style jutsu.
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!
Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken!
Lava Release: Rasenshuriken!
Shūichi's real body used the Lava Release Rasenshuriken, while his two clones each used one of the other two variants.
"If you've started a war… then first, feel the pain!"
Shūichi spoke, and then his clones dispersed. His real body vanished from the battlefield, reappearing next to Asuka.
Immediately, Orochimaru and the Konoha ninjas witnessed two rapidly expanding orbs of light, one of which contained swirling lava. The brightness not only illuminated the night sky but was so intense that they had to avert their eyes.
Under the light of these orbs, the hundreds of Mist Ninja appeared insignificant, swallowed in an instant by the blazing radiance.
"He's… so strong!"
"That kind of jutsu… it's unbelievable!"
"This level of power is beyond us… It's like he's on a completely different level!"
"Gulp… Could Lord Shūichi wipe out all the Mist Ninja by himself?"
…
"Shūichi-kun, you never cease to amaze me!" Orochimaru grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he watched the overwhelming display of ninjutsu.
"Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! This is the true allure of ninjutsu!"
Shūichi accepted Orochimaru's praise with a smile, reminding him, "A storm is coming next."
As his words fell, the massive orbs of light abruptly shrank, and a powerful wind swept through the area, accompanied by pouring rain that drenched the Konoha ninjas.
The rain wasn't cold—it was hot!
On the other side of the battlefield, atop a hill covered in shrubs, Zetsu, half-buried in the ground, also gazed at the dazzling display of light. "What an incredible jutsu!"
"This guy, Shūichi Hoshita… is he really that strong?"
"They say he's only twelve years old?"
"What was I even doing when I was twelve?" Zetsu mused to himself, genuinely reflecting.
At the forest's edge, Orochimaru turned to Shūichi and asked, "Shūichi-kun, is it time to attack?"
Shūichi nodded. "Yes, it's time."
Without hesitation, Orochimaru raised his hand and ordered, "Charge!"
He was the first to leap into action.
Shūichi followed, leading Uchiha Shisui and the others, and soon the Konoha ninjas, their blood boiling with excitement, rushed out of the forest and charged toward the Mist Ninja.
But… weren't the Mist Ninja already taken care of by Lord Shūichi?
...
The three Rasenshuriken had left behind a massive crater, filled with water like a lake, with numerous Mist Ninjas floating on the surface, their condition uncertain.
Not only inside the crater, but even outside, in the areas covered with pooled water, there were Mist Ninjas lying everywhere.
Some of them appeared unharmed, while others were charred black from head to toe.
With a splash, the liquified form of Hozuki Shingetsu emerged, his body gradually reforming. As he surveyed the battlefield strewn with bodies, his mind went blank for a moment.
"Hmm?"
"Ahh!"
One by one, Mist Ninjas who had been knocked unconscious by the impact started waking up.
Shingetsu finally snapped back to reality, almost weeping with relief.
More and more Mist Ninjas began to rise to their feet, but when Shingetsu turned toward the Konoha forces, his expression changed.
Konoha was charging!
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!"
"Withdraw toward the river!"
Shingetsu shouted his orders.
Even though more Mist Ninjas were getting up, it was clear that continuing to fight was impossible under these circumstances.
And that Shūichi Hoshita...
With unwavering decisiveness, Shingetsu led over a hundred Mist Ninjas in retreat.
Shūichi and his group quickly caught up, and the Mist Ninjas who had just regained consciousness were struck down again by shuriken as soon as they rose.
Without pausing, Orochimaru led part of the force in pursuit, while a smaller group of Konoha ninjas remained behind to clear the battlefield.
Although the three Rasenshuriken had covered the entire Mist Ninja force, it was clear that not all had been killed.
...
Watching the fleeing Mist Ninjas ahead, Shūichi's feet bloomed with fire lotuses, propelling him high into the sky.
Under the watchful eyes of Orochimaru and the others, the lotus patterns on Shūichi's chakra cloak began to come alive.
In an instant, layers of blue lotuses bloomed behind him.
Boom!
With a sonic boom, Shūichi broke the sound barrier, trailing a long tail of flame as he shot forward like a meteor, cutting through the night sky.
"So fast!"
The Konoha ninjas exclaimed in amazement.
In mere moments, the fleeing Mist Ninjas looked up, only to see a streak of fire descending from the sky.
Boom!
Shūichi landed directly in front of them, blocking their path.
He raised his hands, and two dragon heads materialized, one on each shoulder.
Dragon Flame Breath!
High-temperature beams shot out, piercing through the bodies of the Mist Ninjas, who screamed in agony as they fell.
"Scatter and retreat!"
Shingetsu dodged nimbly, forming hand seals, but before he could complete his jutsu, the sound of something cutting through the air reached him. Shūichi appeared right in front of him, gripping his throat with his right hand.
Splash!
Shingetsu liquefied, his body collapsing into a stream of water.
At that moment, Shūichi deactivated his fire-style chakra mode. Accompanied by the chirping sound of a thousand birds, lightning surged from his body, crackling outward.
Chidori!
The electrified Shingetsu was instantly paralyzed, his liquified form solidifying like jelly.
"Captain!"
"Lord Shingetsu!"
Several Mist Ninjas cried out, some of whom had already retreated but turned back upon seeing this. However, in the next moment, their advancing bodies collapsed and rolled across the ground.
Genjutsu – Binding Illusion!
As he watched the remaining Mist Ninjas scatter in all directions, Shūichi decided not to pursue them.
With the leader captured, the rest could be left to Orochimaru and the others.
By now, the rest of the Konoha forces had caught up. Some stayed with Orochimaru, while the others spread out to chase down the remaining Mist Ninjas.
This battle was destined to end in the total annihilation of the Mist Ninja army.
"Shuichi-kun, how do you think we should deal with the Sand shinobi next?"
Under the starry sky, with the evening breeze blowing, Orochimaru stood on a hilltop overlooking the busy Konoha shinobi below. He asked this question with a smile, clearly in a good mood after the annihilation of the Mist shinobi.
Shūichi responded with a question of his own, "Orochimaru-sama must already have a plan, right?"
Orochimaru chuckled, "How about we cut off the Sand shinobi's communication, making them believe we're still locked in battle with the Mist, while also drawing their forces to where we want them? What do you think?"
Shūichi nodded, genuinely impressed, "As expected of one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru-sama. I agree that this is the best approach. Even though we now have enough forces to launch a direct attack on the Sand shinobi, the casualties would be high."
"By following the original plan and luring the Sand shinobi into a trap, we can minimize our losses. With our increased numbers, we can handle things more smoothly."
Orochimaru teased, "With how outstandingly you're performing, Shūichi-kun, as the commander, I naturally want to make our victory even more impressive."
"Then, I'll leave the task of cutting off their communication to you."
Shūichi immediately accepted, "Understood!"
…
After parting ways with Orochimaru, Shūichi returned to the forest where Asuka and the others were resting.
"Shūichi, Shisui made fish soup. Come have some!" Asuka called out with a smile.
"It's been a while since I had Shisui's cooking," Shūichi grinned, sitting down and taking the bamboo cup filled with fish soup from Asuka. He enjoyed it thoroughly.
After eating, Uchiha Shisui asked, "Shūichi, are we going to attack the Sand shinobi next?"
Asuka added with a smile, "With our current forces, we could easily attack from both sides."
Shūichi glanced at Pakura, who had been quiet, and shook his head, "Not just yet. Our next mission is to cut off the Sand shinobi's communication with the now-defeated Mist shinobi."
Then he turned to Pakura, "Scorch, return to the Land of Fire and prepare for the battle with the Mist shinobi."
Pakura was momentarily surprised, but quickly nodded, "Understood, Lord Shūichi!"
She was about to get up when Shūichi waved his hand, "Leave tomorrow morning."
"Alright, everyone, get some rest."
The group split up and retreated to their tents for the night.
The night passed uneventfully, and by early morning, Shūichi was feeling refreshed as he began his daily physical training.
As always, he used Earth and Water Release to create a waterfall, under which he practiced wielding his large sword—a custom-made weapon he kept sealed in his ninja tool scroll.
After two hours of training, the Konoha camp had become bustling with activity.
Asuka and Shisui were roasting rabbits and simmering fish soup.
Just as Shūichi finished his workout, Pakura appeared, "Lord Shūichi, I'm heading out."
"Alright," Shūichi nodded. "Stop by the research base first. I'll come find you later."
"Yes!" Pakura bowed respectfully and left.
Shūichi watched her go, a smile tugging at his lips. Good, she's becoming more obedient.
…
After breakfast, Orochimaru led the army's retreat.
Some of the forces escorted the injured and the Mist shinobi prisoners back to Konoha, while the majority followed Orochimaru.
Shūichi sent out shadow clones to monitor the movements of the Sand shinobi. After finishing breakfast, he, Shisui, and Asuka, along with the shadow clones, began the task of cutting off communication between the Sand shinobi and the no-longer-existing Mist forces.
This mission was relatively easy.
When the Sand shinobi saw Shūichi, they turned and fled.
If they had sensory ninja, they would detect Shūichi's chakra from a distance and immediately retreat.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, two days had gone by.
In the Sand shinobi's main camp, Chiyo frowned.
Two days had passed without any communication from the Mist shinobi.
That brat, Shūichi Hoshita, hadn't come to harass them but had instead cut off their communication with the Mist forces.
What exactly was going on?
"Is Konoha in a critical situation?"
Chiyo pondered, If it were truly that urgent, why would they leave someone like Shūichi, even if it were only a shadow clone?
"So, is the Mist in trouble?"
"Has Konoha's reinforcements arrived, or have they secretly gathered forces to eliminate the Mist first?"
There were many possibilities.
With no intelligence coming from the direction of the Land of Rain, Chiyo wasn't sure whether Konoha had sent reinforcements.
But there had been no unusual movements from the Konoha shinobi in the past two days.
At that moment, a voice came from outside, "Chiyo-sama, there's intelligence from the Land of Rain."
Chiyo's heart lifted, "Come in!"
A young Sand shinobi brought in a scroll. Chiyo quickly scanned it.
Konoha hasn't sent reinforcements!
"So, they must have redeployed their front-line forces?"
Chiyo turned to the map. "Koharu Utatane wouldn't have the guts for this. It must be the work of Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin. As expected of someone so young!"
Though in her eyes, the thirty-something Orochimaru was still considered young.
Despite having pieced together her theory, and after probing Konoha's defenses over the past two days, Chiyo refrained from launching an all-out attack.
That night, Chiyo gave the order for a more aggressive assault, targeting the previously identified weak points in Konoha's defenses.
However, the attack was met with fierce resistance from Konoha shinobi, shattering their assumptions about those weak spots.
Back in her brightly lit command tent, Chiyo listened to the reports from the front lines while studying the map. Her confidence in her theory only grew stronger.
"Konoha's flying ninja beasts have been monitoring our movements, so they can anticipate our attacks. Konoha must have a specialized unit that can quickly support these points, which is why the previously weak areas suddenly became so well-defended."
As Chiyo analyzed the situation, a voice from outside interrupted her, this time brimming with excitement, "Chiyo-sama, the reinforcements from the village have arrived!"
Finally!
Chiyo's face lit up with joy as she stepped out of the tent, only to see her brother and the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Bunpuku!
Without delay, she summoned all the present jōnin for a meeting.
There was no need to wait any longer.
...
By a river, Shūichi raised an eyebrow as he received the memory feedback from his shadow clone: "The One-Tails' Jinchūriki has arrived!"
"It seems the Sand Shinobi are preparing for an all-out attack!"
Shūichi stood up and turned to Shisui and Asuka, saying, "We need to return to the main camp. The Sand Shinobi are likely preparing for a full-scale assault!"
Both of them were taken aback.
Shisui quickly asked, "Shūichi, did something change with the Sand Shinobi?"
"Yes," Shūichi nodded, "They've received reinforcements, including the One-Tails' Jinchūriki."
With a light chuckle, he added, "They might have sent him just to deal with me."
Asuka immediately tensed and said seriously, "I've heard the Tailed Beasts are terrifying. Shūichi, I can help you with a sealing technique when the time comes."
"Of course!" Shūichi responded with a smile.
Shisui added, "My Sharingan might come in handy too."
"Don't worry, I won't leave you guys behind!"
"Let's go!"
With that, Shūichi leaped forward, leading the way.
The three of them rushed toward the Konoha main camp at full speed, but Shūichi left a few shadow clones behind to continue monitoring the Sand Shinobi. These clones could shift to airborne surveillance once their interception role was no longer needed.
Two hours later, the trio arrived back at the main camp on the Land of Fire side.
By this time, Orochimaru and the others had already learned of the arrival of the Tailed Beast Jinchūriki at the front lines.
Naturally, Konoha wasn't relying solely on Shūichi to keep an eye on the Sand Shinobi; the Land of Wind's direction was another key area of surveillance.
As soon as Shūichi entered the tent, Koharu Utatane spoke up, "Shūichi, you've come at the right time. I assume you're aware of the One-Tails' Jinchūriki arriving?"
Shūichi nodded, "Yes, I've encountered the One-Tails during the battle between the Sand and Stone Shinobi before, so I'm quite familiar with its chakra."
"It seems likely that the Sand Shinobi will launch their main offensive today."
Koharu nodded gravely, "The key issue is the Tailed Beast..."
Jōnin Sarutobi Shinichi asked, "Shūichi, as someone who's witnessed a battle between the One-Tails and Four-Tails, how strong are they?"
Everyone in the tent turned their attention to Shūichi.
Most had never witnessed the power of a Tailed Beast firsthand.
Apart from Shūichi, only Koharu and Orochimaru had seen them in action—Koharu due to her vast experience, and Orochimaru, because he had once tried to ambush the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki.
After a brief pause, Shūichi explained, "The Four-Tails' Jinchūriki is different from the One-Tails'. The Four-Tails' Jinchūriki has already mastered the Tailed Beast's power and even gained the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai through it."
"So, the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki typically fights using the Tailed Beast's power, mainly employing Lava Release."
"In general, there are three stages."
Shūichi went into detail: "The first stage is when the Jinchūriki uses their own strength. The second is when they don the Tailed Beast's cloak, using the One-Tail form while still in human shape."
"The next step is partial Tailed Beast transformation, reaching the Four-Tails state. In this form, their speed and other abilities increase dramatically, and they can also use the Tailed Beast Bomb, an attack strong enough to destroy an entire town."
"During the last battle with the One-Tails, the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki was forced to fully release the Four-Tails because he was losing, but that's something non-perfect Jinchūriki resort to as a last-ditch effort, and there's a high risk of losing control. At that point, it's the Tailed Beast itself fighting."
Someone asked, "Shūichi, how does this Tailed Beast Bomb compare to the move you used a few days ago?"
How could they compare? The power varies depending on how much chakra is put into the attack.
Still, after a moment of thought, Shūichi answered, "My technique is an S-rank forbidden jutsu, so with equal chakra, they should be about the same."
"However, my chakra can't be compared to a Tailed Beast's, so against a Tailed Beast, the most crucial thing is sealing techniques."
Koharu immediately said, "Shūichi, you've trained in sealing jutsu with Minato's team, right?"
"Hmm?"
Shūichi nodded, "Indeed."
"The One-Tails is different from the Four-Tails. The One-Tails' Jinchūriki, Bunpuku, doesn't seem to have mastered the Tailed Beast's power, yet he can still control the One-Tails."
Orochimaru, who had been silent until now, asked, "Shūichi-kun, what do you mean by that?"
Shūichi explained, "In the last battle, Bunpuku released the One-Tails directly, so he hasn't mastered its power for his own combat use."
"But he has an extremely powerful sealing ability that can restrain the One-Tails and prevent it from going berserk and attacking the Sand Shinobi."
"Additionally, aside from the Tailed Beast Bomb, the One-Tails' Wind Release is incredibly strong."
After thinking for a moment, Shūichi added, "It's probably on par with my own."
The Jōnin in the tent couldn't help but smile wryly, while Shimura Feiyan's face darkened. "This brat—so full of himself!"
Orochimaru remarked, "According to Shūichi-kun, ordinary shinobi shouldn't get close to the Tailed Beast at all."
Shūichi nodded, "Yes, normal attacks are like scratches to a Tailed Beast."
"Moreover, the One-Tails has formidable defense. Especially in the desert, its power is amplified—it can manipulate sand and even turn its own body into sand."
"Last time, when the Four-Tails broke its front limb, the fallen limb turned into sand, and the One-Tails quickly regrew it."
Everyone in the tent grew increasingly serious.
Even Orochimaru felt a weight in the air.
Though he had once taken down the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, he didn't underestimate the power of the Tailed Beasts.
In a direct confrontation, he had to admit he didn't have many effective means to deal with such a massive force.
One Tailed Beast Bomb could force you to either flee or rely on Rashōmon to block it.
As for summoning Manda, that snake couldn't be counted on.
"Well then, Shūichi-kun, I'll leave the One-Tails to you."
Orochimaru said, "There isn't a sealing squad available right now, and it's too late to request one from the village."
Shūichi nodded, "No problem, Asuka also knows sealing jutsu."
"But once the One-Tails appears, everyone needs to stay far away!"
Koharu quickly added, "We'll make sure that message gets out!"
"Understood!" everyone responded.
Shortly after, the meeting concluded, and everyone went about their tasks. Koharu led a group back to the medical camp, while command of the front lines was officially handed over to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru efficiently organized the troops, showing his skill in leadership.
The skirmishes along the Fire Country border appeared unchanged, but both Konoha and the Sand were preparing for a larger conflict.
As time passed, night fell.
Shūichi, Shisui, and Asuka waited quietly, while Shūichi's shadow clones in the form of hawks continued to monitor the Sand Shinobi from the skies.
But as midnight approached, the Sand Shinobi remained inactive, just like the previous days.
"Are they waiting for dawn to launch their attack?"
Shūichi frowned.
Orochimaru quickly ordered the Konoha ninjas to rest in shifts—otherwise, they'd lose the advantage of striking after preparation.
Both sides acted like everything was normal, yet continued to quietly prepare.
...
As the moments before dawn arrived, the time when people are most exhausted, Shūichi Hoshita, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide. "They're coming!"
"Shisui!" he shouted as he stood up. "Go inform Lord Orochimaru. The Sand Shinobi are moving, target point 3!"
"Understood!" Uchiha Shisui immediately used his Body Flicker Technique and vanished, while Shūichi and Asuka headed straight for the front lines.
Soon after, the Konoha forces stirred. The previously resting ninja quickly mobilized in their squads and began moving toward their assigned locations.
Target point 3 was one of the three traps set by Orochimaru.
Meanwhile, in the darkness, Chiyo, advancing at high speed, glanced at the disappearing flying beast overhead but didn't alter her course.
The Sand Army, advancing rapidly, crossed the border between the two countries within half an hour and arrived at Konoha's defensive line.
Konoha's defense was based around the vast forest, their most favorable battleground.
...
Whistle! Whistle!
As the Sand Shinobi approached, sharp whistles echoed through the forest. When the Sand forces charged across rivers into the forest, Konoha ninja began a tactical retreat.
"Wind Style!"
The leading Sand Jonin and Chunin shouted as the rear forces immediately began forming hand seals.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the darkness, the sound of projectiles cutting through the air arose. A barrage of shuriken was launched, but the vanguard of the Sand forces intercepted them all. Then, they stepped aside, allowing the completed Wind Style users to unleash a fierce gale, whipping forward with a thunderous roar.
Within the forest, Konoha ninja took cover behind trees, but many of the traps set, especially the explosive tags, were destroyed by the wind.
Most importantly, the blast of wind temporarily thinned the air, rendering explosive tags ineffective.
Although the forest favored Konoha, the Sand Shinobi had their own means to neutralize the traps.
As soon as the windstorm subsided, the Sand Jonin and Chunin commanders ordered, "Move quickly!"
The Sand forces pressed forward through the now relatively safe area, clashing head-on with Konoha ninja as short-range combat began.
The Sand forces, bolstered by their numbers, advanced quickly. Konoha ninja fought while retreating, the clash of steel ringing through the forest, punctuated by the occasional screams of the wounded.
But as the Sand Shinobi pushed deeper, the resistance they encountered grew stronger. More and more Konoha ninja appeared from both flanks.
Boom!
A Konoha ninja fell, only to explode into a cloud of smoke.
"A clone?"
A Sand ninja scoffed.
The same scene played out in the distance.
At that moment, the sound of projectiles filled the air from the front and both sides. The Sand forces, on high alert, shouted, "Careful, Konoha is launching a counterattack!"
To their surprise, however, what was thrown at them was not aimed directly at them, nor were they shuriken. Instead, strange egg-shaped objects flew through the air.
Though unfamiliar, every Sand ninja knew these were likely some form of ninja tool.
Almost instinctively, they began to distance themselves from the objects.
Before they could react, the "eggs" exploded—Konoha's version of hand grenades.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless tiny steel balls shot out like a storm, scattering in all directions.
Splatter! Splatter!
Blood sprayed as Sand ninja were hit, and their screams of agony filled the forest.
Caught off guard, many were hit, some falling dead on the spot, riddled with holes, while others, less fortunate, were left writhing in pain on the ground. A few quick-moving Sand ninjas managed to avoid the attack with Body Flicker.
"Don't let those things get close!"
The Sand forces warned each other, throwing shuriken to intercept the incoming grenades or using Wind Style to blow them away.
But just then, more grenades exploded underground and from the trees above, lighting up the night with flashes of fire. Steel balls once again sprayed through the air.
The grenades hidden underground were strung together with steel wire, designed to be triggered and launched into the air before exploding. However, many had lost their functionality due to the Sand's earlier Wind Style, exploding beneath the ground with reduced power.
But those set in the trees remained intact. These were aimed at the Sand's advancing direction, their explosive force focused outward.
These well-concealed traps caught even the more experienced Sand Jonin off guard, some of whom were too close to dodge the dense spray of steel balls and were turned into human sieves.
Meanwhile, the Konoha ninja who had been fighting the Sand forces up close were also hit—but instead of being injured, they vanished into puffs of smoke.
Clones!
They were all clones—Shadow Clones, Earth Clones, Water Clones.
Realizing this, the Sand forces suddenly understood: they had walked into a trap!
Amidst the flashing explosions and the sight of their comrades falling like wheat, Chiyo's face darkened as she issued orders for the forces to pull back and tighten their defenses. At the same time, she instructed those skilled in Fire Style to set the surrounding grass and trees ablaze to provide light.
The darkness, which had once been their cover, had now become their enemy, aiding Konoha in thinning their ranks.
The Sand forces deployed all sorts of defensive techniques—Earth Style to shield them, Wind Style to blow away incoming grenades, and shuriken to destroy the explosive tags within the grenades—yet despite their efforts, more Sand shinobi fell to the relentless bombardment of steel balls.
A few moments later, the explosions ceased. By the light of the fires, the Sand ninja could see a large number of Konoha ninja appearing ahead and on both sides.
"Lady Chiyo, we're...we're surrounded!" the sensory ninja reported, sweat beading on his forehead. "At least 700 enemies!"
Ebizo asked, "Is the rear blocked off by a large force of Konoha ninja?"
The sensory ninja quickly replied, "There's no large force behind us."
Chiyo, however, remained calm. "There will be, but they haven't shown themselves yet."
"If we try to turn back now, we'll walk right into an ambush. They'll strike us from the flanks and split our forces in two!"
Ebizo nodded grimly. "Then our only option is to break through the enemy in front of us!"
Chiyo agreed, her voice resolute. "Yes. We push forward, break through, and then redirect our attack to Konoha's weak point."
Ebizo turned to Bunpuku. "Let the One-Tail open a path."
Chiyo also looked at Bunpuku expectantly.
By now, the Konoha forces had begun to engage the Sand ninja on the front and flanks, and the real battle had begun.
Amidst the screams outside, Bunpuku sighed and nodded. "Understood."
"I've already spoken to the One-Tail. Follow behind him closely."
"However, after this battle, he'll want to play with sand for a whole month."
Chiyo quickly agreed. "No problem. I will personally speak with the Fourth about that. Of course, the Sealing Team will be there to keep watch."
"Of course."
Bunpuku leaped forward.
"That monk—he's the One-Tail's Jinchūriki!"
"Retreat!"
"Scatter!"
At that moment, both the Sand ninja on the front lines and the Konoha forces on the flanks quickly began to fall back.
In front of the Sand forces, Shūichi and Orochimaru also revealed themselves.
"The One-Tail's Jinchūriki...just like the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki from back then," Orochimaru muttered, his eyes fixed intently on Bunpuku as he moved to the forefront of the Sand forces, a smirk playing on his lips. "Shūichi-kun, I imagine you're eager to get your hands on the One-Tail's chakra?"
Shūichi responded with a question, "And what about you, Lord Orochimaru? Aren't you just as interested?"
Orochimaru chuckled lightly. "Then I suppose you'll have to work hard for it, won't you?"
At that moment, Bunpuku spoke up, "Konoha shinobi, would you consider letting us pass?"
Orochimaru laughed. "As the invaders, making such a request is quite bold."
"If you surrender, I can ask Lord Third Hokage to allow the Fourth Kazekage to ransom you back!"
Before Bunpuku could respond, a Sand ninja shouted angrily, "Never!"
"That's right! Even if we die here, we will never surrender, especially since the battle isn't over yet!"
"Do you think you can stop the One-Tail's power?"
"Charge! Kill them all and avenge our fallen comrades!"
...
The Sand shinobi's eyes turned bloodshot as they shouted and cursed.
Orochimaru paid them no attention and retreated further.
Without saying another word, Bunpuku lowered his gaze, and a surge of crimson chakra erupted from his body, transforming into a colossal figure.
Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, had appeared!
"This… is this a Tailed Beast?"
"It's enormous!"
"That chakra is overwhelming! No wonder we were ordered to retreat!"
…
One by one, the Konoha shinobi looked up in awe at Shukaku, who towered over even the tallest trees, swallowing nervously.
It was huge!
Especially in the dim light, it seemed even more terrifying.
"Continue retreating!" Orochimaru commanded.
Almost simultaneously, Chiyo ordered the Sand shinobi to fall back as well.
Shūichi glanced up at the roaring Shukaku and said to Shisui and Asuka behind him, "Shisui, Asuka, you should retreat for now as well."
"Understood!"
Without hesitation, Shisui and Asuka withdrew.
In an instant, Shūichi flickered and appeared on top of a tree.
Even from here, he had to crane his neck to look up at the towering Shukaku. As the dawn light gradually broke through, the scene became clearer.
"A little brat?" Shukaku looked down at Shūichi, then glanced at the Konoha shinobi hiding in the forest and chuckled, "There are quite a few of you. I should've stayed sealed for another month."
Shūichi entered Fire Release Chakra Mode, catching Shukaku's attention. The beast's eyes narrowed, "A mere human shinobi can reach this level? No wonder you dare to stand before me."
"Very well, in that case… die!"
Shukaku's voice grew sharp as he pressed his left forelimb to his stomach and fired a massive wind bullet straight at Shūichi.
Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!
"Such a bad temper!" Shūichi muttered as he drew his sword. As the Totsuka Blade unsheathed, a crescent-shaped blue slash shot out.
Blue Flame Vacuum Slash!
The blade of light collided with the wind bullet, causing a massive explosion that sent violent shockwaves in all directions. Orochimaru and the others took cover behind the trees to avoid the blast.
Shūichi leaped into the air, his blade surging with power, and in the blink of an eye, a giant sword tens of meters long materialized, slashing down towards Shukaku.
Blue Flame Waterfall Blade!
Shukaku raised a claw to block, but with a deft twist of his hands, Shūichi redirected the massive blade mid-swing, slicing cleanly through Shukaku's right claw.
Boom!
The enormous claw crashed to the ground, turning into a pile of sand.
"Damn it!"
"I'm going to kill you!"
Enraged, Shukaku launched a series of wind bullets at Shūichi, who nimbly dodged each one while simultaneously releasing high-temperature rays from a dragon-shaped apparition on his shoulder. The rays scorched Shukaku's body, but the beast quickly healed the charred holes, growing even more furious.
Shukaku leaped into the air, unleashing more wind bullets from above. Shūichi swung his sword, cutting through them.
"Brat, I'll kill them all first!" Shukaku sneered, aiming his wind bullets at the Konoha shinobi in the forest.
But the Konoha shinobi worked together to block the attack.
Meanwhile, Shūichi appeared beside Shukaku, his Blue Flame Waterfall Blade slashing toward the beast's head. He wondered if Shukaku could regenerate even after being decapitated.
Just as the massive sword came down, Shukaku's claw caught the blade, followed by a quick Drilling Air Bullet fired directly at Shūichi.
The Blue Flame Waterfall Blade dissipated as Shūichi raised his sword and palm, activating a sealing technique. The wind bullet vanished in front of him, only to explode violently in the distance, raising a fierce gale.
Shūichi then hurled the Totsuka Blade at Shukaku's eye.
Shukaku leapt backward, firing more Drilling Air Bullets in quick succession.
Shūichi, now higher in the air, didn't have to worry about hitting the Konoha forces below. Blue lotus flowers bloomed around him, allowing him to move swiftly while dodging Shukaku's attacks and closing the distance.
"Persistent brat!" Shukaku grumbled, as he gathered a massive amount of chakra in his mouth. A Tailed Beast Ball began to form and was launched directly at the Konoha shinobi on the front lines.
In an instant, the ball obliterated everything in its path.
But Shūichi had completed his Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, throwing it to intercept the attack.
Boom!
A brilliant flash of light erupted, like a miniature sun consuming the forest, followed by a devastating shockwave.
The once dense forest was reduced to a barren wasteland with a massive crater at its center.
Orochimaru ordered another retreat.
Chiyo did the same, realizing things had spiraled out of control.
She had thought Shukaku would be enough to deal with Shūichi, but now it seemed less like a battle between a shinobi and a Tailed Beast, and more like a clash between two Tailed Beasts.
In the air.
After throwing one Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Shūichi quickly formed two more, hurling them one after the other at Shukaku.
From earlier exchanges, he could tell that his Dragon Flame Breath and Blue Flame Waterfall Blade weren't doing much against the beast.
Boom! Boom!
The Rasenshurikens collided with Shukaku's wind bullets, creating destructive storms.
For a moment, all the shinobi, both Konoha and Sand, were left in stunned silence.
Shūichi, encased in blooming blue lotus flowers, charged headlong into the storm, defying the violent winds.
When the storm subsided, he threw several Flying Thunder God Kunai at Shukaku.
Shukaku responded by spitting out a barrage of sand bullets instead of wind bullets.
Swish!
Shūichi disappeared midair and reappeared beside the Totsuka Blade.
The next moment, both Shūichi and his blade vanished.
When Shūichi reappeared, he was right in front of Shukaku, grabbing a Flying Thunder God Kunai.
At that moment, Shukaku's claw was about to crush all the kunai, trying to prevent Shūichi's teleportation.
Seeing Shūichi appear, Shukaku's eyes widened, his strength and speed suddenly surging. "Die!"
With a loud clang, chains shot out from Shūichi's back, wrapping around Shukaku's claws, head, body, legs, and tail.
"You can't move!"
"What…?"
Shukaku's pupils dilated in shock. "A sealing technique?!"
"I can't use my chakra... how is this possible?!"
Shūichi gritted his teeth, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "As expected of a full-power One-Tail. You're on a whole other level compared to the Four-Tails' single tail."
The chains from the Fire Nether Chains strained, making cracking sounds as if they could snap at any moment.
Asuka, who had been watching from the back, immediately moved. "Shisui, let's go!"
Shisui followed closely as both rushed toward Shukaku.
At the same time, Chiyo and the others, realizing the danger, shouted in alarm.
"Charge! We can't let Konoha seal the One-Tail!"
Chiyo ordered the Sand shinobi to attack.
Orochimaru also gave the command to engage the Sand shinobi the moment Asuka and Shisui started moving.
By now, the sun was fully up. From above, Konoha's forces resembled three surging waves avoiding Shukaku, crashing into the Sand shinobi.
The Sand forces, in contrast, formed a single stream, charging straight toward Shukaku.
Quickly, the Sand shinobi were split in half by the Konoha forces, and those continuing to charge forward collided with Orochimaru's group.
Meanwhile, Shūichi unlocked the seals on his stomach and heart that he had been holding back.
His chakra surged as even more chains shot from his abdomen, piercing Shukaku's body.
Crimson chakra began to flow out of Shukaku, through the Fire Nether Chains, and into Shūichi.
He couldn't drag Shukaku out all at once, so instead, he was slowly draining Shukaku's chakra to weaken him.
"Damn you!"
Shukaku roared, trying to gather chakra for another Tailed Beast Ball, but the intense pain made it impossible.
"Shukaku, lend me your power!"
"I'll handle his sealing technique!"
Bunpuku's voice echoed within Shukaku, who quickly agreed. "Fine!"
Shūichi frowned as he sensed another force inside Shukaku's body.
"Bunpuku?"
"They've teamed up now… I suppose it's to be expected."
Shūichi was slightly surprised but quickly came to terms with it.
Shukaku was smart, and he had surrendered rather decisively.
"This power... it's also a sealing technique!"
Shūichi's gaze sharpened as he saw black runes linking together like a black serpent crawling up his Fire Nether Chains, blocking the power of his sealing technique while continuing to entwine around it.
Then, crimson chakra appeared on the black runes, causing them to tighten immediately.
Crack!
Crack!
The Fire Nether Chains started to fracture!
"What an incredible Monk Bunpuku!" Shūichi thought, astonished. He raised his right hand, and a Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken quickly formed.
At that moment, the Fire Nether Chain shattered completely.
Shūichi flung the Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken and vanished, reappearing next to the just-arrived Asuka.
Meanwhile, Shukaku blocked the Rasenshuriken with his left claw, but it was destroyed in the process.
"I'm going to kill you all!" Shukaku roared in fury, launching a Tailed Beast Bomb straight at Shūichi and his two companions.
And as soon as he launched the first one, he started preparing another.
Shūichi snorted coldly, expanding the Flying Thunder God seal to swallow the Tailed Beast Bomb.
On a mountain in the Land of Rivers, the Tailed Beast Bomb suddenly appeared and exploded, causing the entire peak to collapse and disintegrate.
As Shukaku was about to unleash a second Tailed Beast Bomb, a massive toad descended from the sky, landing on top of him.
The Tailed Beast Bomb exploded in Shukaku's mouth, and he let out a painful grunt.
Gamabunta glanced down. "This guy… Shukaku..."
He quickly jumped up and landed with a thud behind Shūichi and the other two. Bowing slightly, he said, "You're Minato's disciple, right?"
"First time meeting, and it's already this intense... Shukaku is no easy foe."
Shūichi quickly apologized, "Sorry for summoning you at such a tough time!"
At that moment, golden chains burst from the ground, attempting to bind Shukaku.
Uchiha Shisui also locked onto Shukaku with a genjutsu, but it was broken almost instantly.
Simultaneously, black rune-formed chains, tainted with scarlet chakra, shot out from Shukaku's body, blocking Asuka's Adamantine Sealing Chains.