The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki streaked through the sky, stirring a flash of confusion in Fugaku's mind.
Though he had never personally fought the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, the Uchiha clan had extensive records of Tailed Beasts.
"Among them, only the Seven-Tails can fly… right?"
That fleeting thought crossed Fugaku's mind for a split second. Then, the figure clad in white haori leaped into the air—all doubts vanished.
"Shisui… no, that's not Shisui."
At a glance, Fugaku instinctively recalled his meeting with Shisui. But the figure before him was unmistakably not Shisui..
This person had long, pale-yellow hair; beneath the flowing white haori, smooth, fair skin and an impressively endowed form. A pure white mask concealed their face, but the techniques and aura were unmistakable.
"Princess Tsunade?!"
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Tsunade leaped up, her terrifying explosive power instantly bringing her before the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki. Her slender, fair foot slammed into Killer B's abdomen. Even someone as powerful as Killer B was caught off guard—his eyes widened, mouth agape, saliva spattering from the impact.
Their contact lasted mere moments, but the half-transformed Killer B was blasted back like a cannonball, crashing through trees and kicking up a plume of dust.
"This strength… not even Big Bro hits this hard."
Although his abdomen was shielded by the beast's tentacles, the force made him feel as if his body would shatter.
"She's just a woman… but why—"
"Watch yourself, B!"
A deep voice rumbled in Killer B's mind.
His expression shifted in alarm. With no time to think, he unsheathed the blade at his waist, flooding it with chakra.
Killer B's heart jolted. Without a moment to think, he drew the ninja blade from his waist and infused it with chakra—but before he could act, the blade shattered under an overwhelming force. Shards of metal sprayed outward, and an unstoppable punch crashed into his body, sending him hurtling through the air once more.
His body spun helplessly through the air, blood seeping from his shattered ribs and darkening his shirt.
"Three more ribs broken…"
The Tailed Beast's chakra could heal injuries, but not this quickly. If the battle dragged on, he'd be in serious trouble.
"Same outfit as that clone from before… This secret organization—so terrifying! Ya fool, baka yarou…"
"But never underestimate Uncle B's taijutsu!"
He tossed aside the broken blade, and lightning crackled over his half-transformed form. His pale-yellow hair stood upright, and in a flash, he vanished from sight.
"Lariat!"
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode could drastically increase one's speed and, to a certain extent, strengthen one's physical body, thus achieving the standard of 'speed is power,' with extremely high destructive power.
Though still a step behind his older brother, the Fourth Raikage, Killer B had trained relentlessly in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning since fighting Yagura. He was no longer the greenhorn he once was.
He locked his arms—left braced against right—and drove his right elbow down toward Tsunade's head.
Man!
BOOM!
An explosive roar echoed between heaven and earth, making the ground beneath tremble.
Within the dust, Tsunade neither dodged nor flinched, taking the elbow blow head-on.
"Nani…?"
"That's one powerful strike, kid."
Tsunade slowly lifted her head and seized Killer B's wrist. With brute force, she hoisted him aloft and slammed him violently to the ground.
Smoke billowed, but a roar of fury erupted from within. Killer B's chakra flared; tentacle-like chakra tails formed to block further blows.
Yet with a single mighty punch, Tsunade shattered those chakra limbs and struck his chest.
THUD!
A heavy, heart-stopping impact. Killer B arched forward with agony that felt like his insides were being torn apart. The ground beneath him cracked like a spiderweb.
His ribcage shattered, bones pulverized, and eyes glazed over.
His consciousness collapsed; he lay still, eyes rolled back.
"B… B…"
Gyūki's voice echoed deep within, accompanied by a surge of chakra. Slowly, Killer B's awareness returned.
"What do we do, Gyūki? This one's way beyond that clone."
"She wasn't easy, but manageable. This one… she's stronger than Big Bro…"
Killer B's mind felt dwarfed by Gyūki's presence—filled with fear and helplessness. This was the first time, apart from against his brother or the Third Raikage, he'd been overwhelmed head-on.
"Her taijutsu—her raw power—it's insane."
Gyūki rumbled: "And like that clone, she shows no chakra imprint whatsoever…"
"What do we do, Gyūki? Should we fight, or pull back?"
"Retreat. Also… I sense another chakra—cold and sinister."
Gyūki spoke in a deep voice. Although he hadn't sensed that particular chakra in many years, any Tailed Beast would feel an instinctive revulsion upon sensing it.
Combined with the overwhelming strength of the woman before him—whose presence carried an oddly familiar aura—and that cold, sinister chakra lingering in the air, memories long buried began to resurface in Gyūki's mind.
Memories of when he was turned from a wild, free-roaming beast into the so-called 'nuclear weapon' of the Land of Lightning…
"You slipped away on your own. If you go missing, they'll nag you forever."
"…Uncle Dodai's nagging? We must retreat now!"
Killer B's face hardened as his mind snapped back. The red Tailed‑Beast chakra erupted from him, surging and expanding with an oppressive aura that radiated outward.
But in an instant, an even more powerful and terrifying force descended from the sky, landing directly on Killer B's body.
Killer B's Tailed Beast transformation hadn't even fully begun before this strike directly knocked him unconscious, leaving him limply collapsed on the ground.
"Hmph, quite fast on your feet..."
Tsunade snorted softly, clapped her hands, signaling the end of the battle.
In the past, even without hemophobia, she'd never have defeated the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki so easily. But as a Shinigami, her power had soared—no seal or Zanpakutō needed to take care of him.
"Without Killer B, things should be much easier for Konoha now..."
"Lady Tsunade?!"
A sharp voice cut through the silence. Fugaku leapt into view atop a tree.
"Lady Tsunade—it really is you!"
"Was I that obvious?"
Tsunade paused slightly, muttering to herself, then turned to look at Fugaku: "Fugaku, huh...
That guy told me that a ninja's chakra-sensing jutsu can't see through disguises. How was I recognized with just a glance...?"
If Yoru were to hear Tsunade's thoughts at this moment, he would surely be speechless.
If you properly conceal your identity and wear your mask well, of course, people wouldn't be able to tell.
Neither Sharingan nor Byakugan can detect a Shinigami's identity. Only the Rinnegan could.
But with your outfit being basically no different from your usual attire, and not even wearing your Captain's haori properly, just draping it like a cloak, fighting with nothing but punches and kicks, and even having your own sound effects, which familiar person wouldn't recognize you?!
Tsunade still wanted to conceal her identity. The current her was not the Princess Tsunade who left Konoha, but the Captain of the Fourth Division of the Hidden Mist's Soul Society.
"You've mistaken me for someone else."
"Lady Tsunade, why hide your identity… Wait—that outfit?" Fugaku's eyes sharpened. "Have you joined the Soul Society, like Shisui?!"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"You know about that? Shisui secretly met you?"
"Indeed!"
Fugaku's heart pounded as he fought back excitement and tension. "Lady Tsunade—what is the Soul Society? Why would Shisui betray Konoha and the Uchiha to join it? And why you…?"
Compared to Shisui, Tsunade's status was far more extraordinary: Third Hokage's disciple, Legendary Sannin, rightful Hokage heir, granddaughter of the First Hokage. She should never abandon Konoha.
Yet here she was.
The Land of Fire princess had betrayed her nation and joined the Soul Society.
Fugaku massed dozens of questions. With Konoha on its knees, Tsunade could reclaim the Hokage position immediately upon her return—so why had she chosen this path?
"Some things can't be explained in words."
Tsunade sighed, removed her white mask, revealing the face every Konoha ninja knew well.
"I'm aware of the village's situation. We had no choice. The Nine-Tails' rampage was inevitable, but I didn't expect it to be this severe." She paused, voice softening. "If Konoha hadn't been utterly defenseless against Hidden Cloud, I'd never have come."
She'd been stunned when Yoru permitted their aid. Kushina had been slated to help—but she was still mastering Shinigami abilities. Tsunade took her place. And for Shisui… it was because of him that Yoru accepted their help.
"Our hearts are with Konoha—and with the future. So Fugaku… ask no more."
"…Future?"
Fugaku still didn't understand what charm the Souil Society held, or what this 'future' that Tsunade and Uchiha Shisui spoke of truly was. Why could it make the Uchiha clan's most outstanding genius, and the Senju clan's princess, willing to abandon Konoha and their own families to join it?
But clearly, he also knew it would be impossible to get an answer from Tsunade through ordinary means.
In that case...
"Shisui has eyes equal to mine—but Princess Tsunade, you don't possess that power… right?"
Fugaku whispered as he looked into her eyes.
In a heartbeat, his three-tomoe Sharingan became a swirling Mangekyō with a complex, intricate design.
Tsunade realized he activated it—and cried a bloody tear. The world around them shifted to stark black-and-white, everything blurred into surrealism.
A massive Mangekyō hovered like a blood moon—the only light in that monochrome void. It mirrored Fugaku's own with triple-shuriken blades and black dots at their edges.
"A Mangekyō Sharingan, huh?"
Tsunade was not surprised—only intrigued.
As Squad Four Captain, she had mastered all the Zankensoki (Zanjutsu, Kidō, Hakuda, Shunpo) and studied Yoru's findings—including Wood Style and the Sharingan. The deeper her knowledge, the more astounded she became.
She already knew Kirigakure's foundation was formidable—but even she hadn't anticipated it being this advanced. The once-rare Kekkei Genkai that other shinobi villages treasured—like Ice Release, Lava Release/Corrosion Release, and Boil Release—had mostly been unraveled by Kirigakure. They were now openly studied and even becoming public knowledge!
But it was their research into the Sharingan that truly impressed her.
Kirigakure maintained a complete collection of Sharingan—from the single tomoe all the way up to Mangekyō—made available to its researchers.
Although Tsunade wasn't a kekkei genkai specialist, she was the strongest medical-nin in the world. Her understanding of these techniques was not only comprehensive but top-tier. Out of curiosity—and because this power was once said to rival her grandfather's—Tsunade decided to join the research on the Sharingan herself.
"The dōjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan are all different. Fugaku, is this the dōjutsu hidden in your left eye?"
Tsunade curiously observed the surrounding space. Such a flippant attitude made a vein throb on Fugaku's forehead.
This was his Mangekyō Sharingan! This was the ultimate power of the Uchiha clan!
Even the Sannin shouldn't underestimate him like this!
"Princess Tsunade, answer me! What is this 'future'? What is the Soul Society? Why do you all join?"
"..."
Tsunade paused. Then shook her head.
"Foolish."
"If you won't speak, I'll dredge the answer from your mind."
Fugaku's voice grew increasingly authoritative and sacred, and the light of the blood moon became even more dazzling. The entire dim world completely lost its brilliance, as if everything was being swallowed by the blood-colored Mangekyō in the sky.
Even the light on Tsunade's body began to be taken away little by little.
"So it's still just genjutsu, huh?"
Tsunade's eyes showed a hint of disappointment: "Forget it, I'm done playing with you."
"Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred Seal Release!"
Just as the light on Tsunade's body grew scarcer, an incredibly powerful aura suddenly erupted from within her, making her light-yellow hair flutter.
In an instant, Tsunade's inner light flared back to life—and the world around them snapped out of its distortion.
Fugaku let out a grunt as his left eye burned fiercely. The illusion collapsed in a blink.
"How… is this possible?!"
Tsunade replied with calm precision, kicking the unconscious Killer B toward Fugaku, who cradled his wounded eye in agony.
"Genjutsu is always about chakra tricking the five senses. Lose your chakra focus—and the illusion collapses."
She straightened, her voice resolute.
"Put your tricks away. If I'd known you'd used your Mangekyō, I never would've come."
"Without the Eight‑Tails Jinchūriki, Cloud won't bother Konoha much. Do your best—for Konoha… and for the Uchiha."
"Lady Tsunade…" Fugaku growled, but Tsunade disappeared, leaving only her fading words behind:
"I'm now Captain of Fourth Division in Kirigakure's Soul Society, and Shisui leads Second Division. You can keep this secret—or report it to the elders. Your call.
But don't act rashly against the Hidden Mist. Yuki Yoru's temper isn't something you want to provoke."
Her silhouette faded into the shadows. Fugaku, trembling and clutching his eye, tasted the sting of his prized Mangekyō being outmatched yet again.
He paused—then, planting his feet, lifted the limp form of Killer B from the ground.
At least the Eight‑Tails Jinchūriki was secured…
"Poof!"
A cloud of white smoke erupted—revealing Killer B's body morphing into a single octopus tentacle. Fugaku froze, utterly dumbfounded.