"True… art?"
Deidara, having already faced death once, calmed down slightly. Still, Uchiha Chiga's words stirred something inside him.
Chiga did not continue speaking. Instead, he suddenly turned his head toward the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, who was locked in combat with Onoki.
Bang!
Without warning, Mu's body detonated right before Onoki's eyes. Both master and disciple froze, their hearts seizing in shock. After several tense moments, Mu's body reformed, his expression filled with bewilderment.
"What just happened?"
Deidara's gaze locked firmly on Chiga. Yet no matter how intensely he stared, Chiga's eyes remained ordinary, their black pupils unwavering.
Deidara had devoted his life to the art of explosions, yet never had he seen a technique that could ignite destruction without a medium. This was the kind of ability he had always sought, the very essence of his art.
He suddenly forgot about the Uchiha name, about the war, about everything else. All that remained was burning curiosity.
"Can you tell me how you did that?" he asked, his tone uncharacteristically earnest.
Chiga's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "It's just a trivial trick."
The more casually Chiga dismissed it, the more restless Deidara became. His eagerness was exactly what Chiga intended.
"You're already a prisoner," Chiga said calmly. "Go back and stay put."
At his command, Mei Terumi stepped forward, binding Deidara with practiced ease. Surprisingly, Deidara did not resist, allowing her to drag him toward the rear.
From the opposite side of the battlefield, Nagato watched this scene unfold and could no longer remain still. His body surged into the sky as he soared directly toward Chiga.
Obito, observing quietly, made no move to intervene. In his mind, Nagato was rushing toward his own doom. Yet for the rest of the battlefield, this was a clash of kings — the confrontation that would decide the war's future.
As he flew, Nagato's arm transformed into a cannon, firing an azure beam of pure energy at Chiga.
Chiga did not dodge. He allowed the laser to tear through his body and erupt in a violent explosion. When the smoke cleared, Chiga remained untouched, standing tall amidst scorched earth.
The sheer devastation around him made it clear how deadly Nagato's attack had been, yet Chiga looked as if nothing had touched him.
Nagato appeared in front of him moments later. Wasting no words, he extended his hand and unleashed Almighty Pull. But Chiga didn't move. Not even an inch. The sight left Nagato reeling.
"Impossible," he muttered, then roared, "Shinra Tensei!"
This time, the force pushed at Chiga, causing his long white hair to flow back from the impact. It was the only effect.
Nagato's composure shattered. His voice trembled. "How can this be?!"
Brushing aside the loose strands of hair from his forehead, Chiga replied coldly, "Are you finished performing? Then it's my turn."
A crimson glow burst into his eyes as his Mangekyo Sharingan awakened.
A surge of dark purple chakra erupted from his body, quickly forming into a colossal skeletal giant.
Susano'o.
Nagato's instincts screamed danger. He tried to retreat, but Chiga's raised hand commanded the giant forward. Susanoo's bony fingers clutched Nagato, its grip tightening until cracks echoed from his body. Nagato's face twisted in pain.
Before more damage could be done, a storm of paper swirled across the battlefield, converging into countless spears that shot toward Susanoo.
The paper spears pierced into Susanoo's frame, but they shattered harmlessly against its form. This was only the first stage of Susanoo, yet it was already far beyond what ordinary jutsu could harm.
Straining under Susanoo's grip, Nagato shouted desperately, "Konan… run!"
The floating paper gathered together, shaping into Konan herself. Her expression wavered between fear and determination.
"No! I won't leave you!" she cried.
Clap, clap, clap.
Chiga's slow applause echoed through the battlefield. He smiled faintly, his voice almost mocking. "How touching. Since you're here, you can stay together."
At once, Susanoo's other hand reached out, grabbing at Konan.
But her body dissolved into sheets of paper once again, scattering into the air like a logia user in the One Piece world.
Chiga's eyes narrowed. He lifted his palm, preparing to unleash his Dark Water technique.
Nagato's heart clenched. Refusing to allow harm to fall on her, he unleashed his power with everything he had.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The explosive wave of repulsion rocked Susanoo's frame. Its grip loosened for a brief moment, enough for Nagato to wrench free, seize Konan, and retreat to safety.
The entire battlefield fell into silence. The Ninja Alliance forces stared wide-eyed, their morale soaring. Even the Rinnegan seemed powerless before Uchiha Chiga.
Not far away, Sasuke broke the neck of a White Zetsu before flickering to Itachi's side. His gaze was fixed on the towering Susanoo in awe.
"Is Susanoo really that strong, brother? Even the Rinnegan couldn't stand against it?"
Itachi's face was grave. "No, Sasuke. It isn't Susanoo. It's Hokages's might."
He knew better than anyone — what stood before them was only Susanoo's first form. Its true power had not even begun to awaken.
Nagato, retreating with Konan in his arms, shared Sasuke's confusion. Turning to Obito, his expression grim, he demanded, "How can the Mangekyo Sharingan be this powerful? Do you have a way to counter Uchiha Chiga?"
Obito's lips curved into a cold smile. "I warned you not to underestimate the Uchiha. Do you know? That Susanoo hasn't even shown one-tenth of its true strength."
Nagato's face drained of color. "What!?"
If that was true, then this war was already lost before it began. Against a serious Uchiha Chiga, no army could stand.
Black Zetsu, silent until now, watched Chiga closely, his mind racing.
"That man shouldn't be Indra's reincarnation. Why is his power so overwhelming? And that hair… white. Not the black of the Uchiha clan."
But no matter how hard he thought, he could not guess the truth — that Chiga had transcended mortality, bearing the blood of the Ōtsutsuki. His white hair was the mark of that ascension.
While the others fell into unease, Kabuto's tone was unsettlingly calm. "What now? If this continues, not even Edo Tensei will be enough. We'll lose this war." His eyes slid toward Obito. "If you don't release him soon, it's over."
Obito understood exactly who he meant. Madara.
But fear no longer gripped him. He chose instead to place his faith in Chiga.
Slowly, he nodded. "Let him out."
_____
Milestone,
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter