Gekko Chizan performed a Transformation Technique, then leapt out.
At the same time, Ichikishimahime spread her hands wide, and her Genjutsu began to take shape.
A cold, chilling voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Clearing out my insects... you, do you think you can dance as well?"
Under the effect of the Genjutsu, the sky seemed to freeze, as endless darkness began to swallow the moonlight.
The twenty-five Iwagakure shinobi who had been clearing insects, including Kitsuchi, all felt their hearts jolt. They immediately halted their attacks and turned toward the rear.
What did they see?
A black-haired middle-aged man stood there, staring coldly at them. He wore a tight black combat suit, overlaid with layers of crimson armor plates.
He looked as though he didn't belong to this era.
But that wasn't what shocked them most. What truly terrified them were those scarlet eyes.
"Sharingan... an Uchiha?"
Kitsuchi felt things were spinning further out of his control. How had even someone from the Uchiha Clan shown up now?
But as a jonin of Iwagakure, fear was not an option. He stepped forward with a powerful stride and roared:
"Hmph! To act so brazenly in the Land of Earth—how dare you!"
"Who are you!"
Facing Kitsuchi's furious roar, Gekko Chizan sneered inwardly, then raised his voice and spoke with cold gravity:
"A disciple of Ōnoki's? I never thought that little boy from back then would become Tsuchikage."
"But clearly, his education of his subordinates is sorely lacking... you don't even recognize me."
"Fine then. Since you dared to destroy my insects, you'll pay with your lives!"
As he shouted the last line, his eyes widened, and the Sharingan began to spin.
A chill ran down Kitsuchi's spine. He instantly closed his eyes and shouted:
"Don't look into his eyes!"
Though his reaction was fast, not everyone else moved as quickly.
Aside from a few jonin, most of the chunin were a moment too slow.
At that very instant, Ichikishimahime's Genjutsu erupted. Countless massive snakes appeared before them, jaws gaping wide as they lunged to devour the shinobi.
The chunin froze in terror, eyes wide.
"Damn it! Earth Release! Earth Flow Wall!"
Not willing to let his men be slaughtered, Kitsuchi quickly closed his eyes and formed hand seals. A massive earth wall surged upward, shielding his comrades from Gekko Chizan.
"Hmph, trying to block my Genjutsu like this?"
"Then I'll change methods—let force itself bring you to your knees!"
"Come! It's been too long since I've fought. Entertain me, ants!"
Crossing his arms before his chest, Chizan suddenly released his Transparent Release. Behind him, a colossal crystalline giant took form.
But under Ichikishimahime's influence, what the enemy saw was completely different.
They beheld a massive skeleton giant glowing with eerie blue light, its entire frame horrifying and oppressive.
"What... what is this?"
Even Kitsuchi was dumbfounded. He had heard whispers of such a thing, but had never seen it with his own eyes.
"Everyone, retreat! Now!"
Facing this unknown horror, Kitsuchi immediately ordered withdrawal.
Unfortunately, Chizan already controlled the crystalline giant, which smashed through the earth wall with a single blow.
The pressure bore down mercilessly upon all the Iwagakure shinobi.
"Heavens! What is this thing!"
"Run! This isn't something we can fight!"
Panic consumed them. The shinobi's resolve collapsed entirely. Without waiting for Kitsuchi's command, they were already fleeing backward.
But fate was cruel—their rear led straight into the swarming insects.
"Ahhhh! Insects!"
"Don't bite me!"
Screams erupted one after another. Kitsuchi's face flushed red with rage.
"Damn you! Whoever you are, you won't get away with this!"
"Earth Release! Golem Technique!"
He spewed rocks from his mouth, which quickly grew into a massive stone giant.
But how could mere stone ever compare to crystal?
The crystalline giant's hands instantly manifested two great blades.
Yet in Kitsuchi's eyes, it was the skeleton giant's bony hands igniting with twin blades of blue flame.
The flaming blades fell, and the stone golem was reduced to rubble.
Chizan snorted disdainfully.
"You want to dance as well?"
"Since the night is so long... I'll give you some fire to keep it warm!"
"Fire Release! Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A sea of flames surged forth again. Chizan didn't care whether the insects were caught in it—using the chakra granted by Chōmei, he spewed fire wildly.
The inferno exceeded anything Kitsuchi had ever imagined.
"This level of Fire Release..."
"Damn it! Retreat!"
At last, Kitsuchi displayed his strength. His hands blurred through hand seals as he seized two nearby jonin.
He roared:
In the next instant, he and the two jonin dove into the earth and vanished.
Watching this, Chizan's mind flickered with recognition.
So this was that technique—channeling chakra to soften soil into fine grains, tunneling forward.
Tch.... Not bad.
As the flames raged, all the remaining shinobi, save Kitsuchi and the two jonin, were buried alongside the insects in the sea of fire.
When it was over, Chizan felt an emptiness inside.
To make the Fire Release so overwhelming, he hadn't held back in the slightest—every bit of chakra he had went into it.
"Chizan, they've all fled."
"The rest are dead."
Ichikishimahime flew to his side, reporting the situation around them.
Chizan nodded, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"They didn't escape—I let them go."
"Burrowing into the earth like that... if I wanted to chase them, they wouldn't get away."
Hearing this, Ichikishimahime frowned in puzzlement.
Chizan spoke again.
"Who do you think I just transformed into?"
"Who?"
"Heh... that was the shadow haunting Ōnoki's first half of life. No... the shadow of fear itself."
But he left it at that, refusing to say more, which irritated Ichikishimahime.
No matter how she pressed him, Chizan kept silent.
Only in his heart did he mutter: Heh heh heh... Madara-sama's Fire Release, combined with my Crystal Release and Genjutsu illusions, to forge a 'Crystal Release: Susanoo.'
Kitsuchi, oh Kitsuchi... you got to experience quite the privilege, didn't you?
I wonder—when you bring this news back to Ōnoki, what kind of reaction will he have?
Tch... I'd really love to see it.
But now isn't the time.
"Ichikishimahime, thank you for your help this time. I won't be staying in the Land of Earth any longer—the battle just now risked exposing me."
"And besides, the anaconda you released will also draw Iwagakure's attention."
"I need to leave quickly."
Ichikishimahime understood, but still reminded him:
"Got it! But don't forget my snakeberries!"
"I want five baskets! No—six baskets!"
Chizan: ... What an appetite!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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