Chapter 185: Bishamonten: "Mirror"
"Hey, kid Shisui—how's Kagami doing these days?"
Unexpectedly, Uchiha Madara asked this question.
"He's fine. My brother occasionally mentions you, Madara-san."
"Oh?"
Madara raised an eyebrow. "What does he say?"
Shisui smiled faintly. "It's not anything good; I suspect you wouldn't like hearing it."
…
"Heh, that brat was always arrogant."
Whoosh!
With three Ōtsutsuki before him, Madara took the initiative to attack!
"By the way," he said in passing, "if you want to deal with them, make good use of clone techniques. Normal ninjutsu is useless. If you know Sage Mode, use it—or use taijutsu."
Meanwhile, in Shisui's mental domain, Tobirama's voice rang out:
"Any idiot can see that. You need someone to remind you? Hmph."
"Using clones against Byakugan… Isn't that standard Academy knowledge?"
Hearing Tobirama's sardonic remarks, Shisui retorted quietly:
"Tobirama, you really hate the Uchiha, huh? Must be tough, stuck inside an Uchiha's body."
…
"No. I only hate Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Kagami."
"But now… those three give me an even fouler impression."
At least the Uchiha only looked down on weaker folks.
Those creatures… seemed to harbor extreme contempt for the entire human race…
…
"Hey, Shisui-sama, what're you thinking about?"
Startled, Shisui realized Urashiki had somehow slipped inside his Susanoo, approaching from behind.
If not for him speaking up, Shisui wouldn't have noticed his presence at all!
Urashiki tilted his head, smiling. "This is what you call… Susanoo, right? In special situations, it's kind of useful.
But your combat experience is lacking, you see? Notice how that Madara guy isn't using any Susanoo at all?"
Whoosh!
Urashiki flicked out the fishing line toward Shisui's face.
Zzt—
Urashiki's expression hardened. In his vision, a tall white-haired, red-eyed phantom brandished a sword to cut his fishing line.
"Oh… So you too possess a power similar to Madara's. But your ocular strength is lower than his, hmm?"
Gripping his short sword, Shirayuki, Shisui sneered. "Your weird, sarcastic tone is grating."
With that, the green Susanoo around him vanished. In the same instant, dark markings formed beneath Shisui's eyes.
"Oh~like that man earlier, you're drawing on natural energy?"
Urashiki grinned, producing a wad of faint green chakra and swallowing it. He smacked his lips approvingly.
"Tasty! Great purity! Let me taste yours, too!"
Whoosh, whoosh!
Shisui flickered away, with Urashiki in hot pursuit.
…
Elsewhere, Madara was battling Momoshiki and Kinshiki. Facing Kinshiki one-on-one, Madara had the advantage, but two-on-one was pushing him into a slow retreat.
With the help of his Limbo clones, he managed to keep balance for now.
Momoshiki and Kinshiki had expended considerable chakra traveling between worlds; otherwise, dealing with Madara at his present level wouldn't require both of them.
Both sides paid heed to the Ten-Tails.
Madara needed it to complete his metamorphosis;
Momoshiki needed it to replenish his own chakra.
Once he absorbed that chakra, he was confident he could deal with "that Uchiha Kagami."
A mere lower life-form who dared imprison a grand Ōtsutsuki—unforgivable, even if the captive was the clan's disgrace, Kaguya.
This was an offense to the gods!
---
Unlike the Ninja World Tournament, this confrontation between top-tier powers had no constraints.
In mere moments, the shockwaves alone wrecked half the Land of Rain.
That wretched country once more experienced war's agony.
Cries of despair resounded around Nagato's ears.
I…still…
can't die yet.
There are still people I must protect…
Though tears of sorrow streamed down his cheeks, a hand rose gently, wiping away Konan's tears.
With his other hand, he formed seals.
Orochimaru frowned. "Don't move. I'm using natural energy to keep you alive. You haven't escaped death's door yet."
"It doesn't matter…"
Nagato's voice was extremely weak.
Moments ago, a hint of color had returned to his hair; now it again turned ashen.
His eyes—hollow and empty—focused on Konan.
Though losing them, never had his sight felt so keen.
"Konan…"
"You must…live on, no matter how painful, no matter how hopeless."
"You're all that remains of me and Yahiko…"
…
His voice cut off abruptly, and his body convulsed. Pale green branches erupted from his flesh, with Nagato as the core—
Wood Release: Flower Tree World Arrival.
Countless thick vines sprouted in an instant, protecting the crying civilians of Amegakure who had no time to escape.
Shattered rubble and tree roots wove together.
Over the decaying earth, red blossoms bloomed, representing new life.
As those flowers blossomed, Nagato finally vanished entirely.
Jiraiya clenched his fists so tightly his nails drew blood, yet he didn't notice.
He'd seen far too many tragedies.
Why hadn't Kagami intervened…?
He quietly recognized that each person had their own chosen path. Kagami had told him so.
So Jiraiya, resolved, turned and ran toward the battlefield—
Even if he knew it was hopeless, almost certainly lethal, he would avenge his disciple or die trying.
…
Orochimaru watched Jiraiya dash out and shook his head.
"Still the same fool… I've taught him so many times, yet he never learns."
"…But those guys might provide interesting materials indeed."
---
Boom!!!
A crater gaped beneath Shisui, who'd been smashed into wreckage, white steam rising from his wounds.
"Heal so quickly… That's on par with our clan's healing factor," Urashiki mused, making no hurry to kill him. Step by step, he tested Shisui's jutsu.
"A while ago, you used that illusory slash—and even influenced my emotions somewhat with illusions. Shisui-sama, any other interesting powers?
If you don't mind… enlighten me about Uchiha Kagami's capabilities?"
Shisui spat blood, smiling grimly.
"Explaining is a hassle. Why not…
experience it for yourself?"
…
Since the first time he'd used it, Shisui hadn't encountered a foe requiring that fourth Mangekyō ability.
By now, with his current ocular power… he should be able to at least exert a fraction of his brother's skill.
Boom!!
Shisui poured all his ocular strength forth:
Bishamonten: "Mirror"!
---
All space-time froze in a flash.
Urashiki's pupils widened, shifting to a bright blue Rinnegan.
Mid-battle, Momoshiki and Kinshiki paused, glancing over as well.
…
An ethereal black robe fluttered about. Tiny crimson sparks drifted.
Downcast crimson eyes, with edges like blossoming black lotuses, glimmered with a faint gold-and-blue sheen—dreamlike and mysterious.
He raised a hand impassively, while everything else seemed paused, as though time had lost all momentum.
Zzt—
There was no grand visual spectacle.
A black line simply stretched out from his fingertip, crossing the air silently.
…
Skkkrrrch…
Urashiki's face twisted in disbelief.
How could this be…
I obviously reversed time!
Something that slow shouldn't possibly strike me!
…
But a neat slice traced across his body.
He saw that parted line…
Half his torso—cleanly severed—came crashing down.