Ka! That was the sound made at the moment the blade's tip touched the Tailed Beast Ball.
It wasn't the sound of the sword breaking, nor was it the sound of the Tailed Beast Ball shattering.
Instead, near where the two made contact, a black crack appeared in space itself, like a tear in time and space.
Of course, Saitama, who had mastered the [Flying Thunder God Technique], knew those cracks were exactly spatial rifts.
"Haa!" Saitama roared. With his left hand pressed against the end of the sword hilt, every muscle in his body tensed straight.
Zilaa! His body still got pushed backward by the force of the Tailed Beast Ball. His feet scraped along the ground, leaving long marks behind.
"Open up!" Gritting his teeth, Saitama tightly gripped the hilt with both hands. Crackling arcs of lightning surged around him, sending his hair flying as if charged with pure energy.
But the Tailed Beast Ball wasn't an ordinary ninjutsu attack—it wasn't something easily destroyed.
It was, after all, a ninjutsu created from Yin-Yang Release mixed in a two-to-eight ratio. Even for Saitama, forcibly destroying it wouldn't be that simple.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Roshi—or rather, Four-Tails Son Goku—flashed a vicious look the moment he saw Saitama withstand the Tailed Beast Ball.
His limbs slammed into the ground as he shot straight toward Saitama.
Burning hot chakra streams surrounded him. Each step melted the surface beneath him into molten lava.
Soon, he arrived just meters away from Saitama.
Grr! A punch smashed straight into the chest. Roshi extended the chakra-formed arm completely, the fist radiating intense heat.
This blow aimed directly at Saitama, who remained locked in battling the Tailed Beast Ball, clearly intended to catch him off guard.
Siiiii! Seeing Roshi suddenly appear before him, Saitama's eyes narrowed slightly but without panic.
Fighting off the Tailed Beast Ball had simply been a spur-of-the-moment idea; it didn't mean he'd run out of other options.
Taking a deep breath, Saitama tightened his grip on the sword again. He spun sharply to the side, almost like a dancer dodging death itself.
At that exact moment, the Tailed Beast Ball seemed to turn like a shattered crystal ball, its surface covered in countless fractures.
Because Saitama had secretly used the sword as a medium to inject some Yin-Yang attribute chakra into it.
Roshi showed surprise in his eyes. The fist already launched hastily pulled back.
The Tailed Beast Ball had spiraled out of control and was about to detonate at any moment. As a tailed beast, he naturally understood the full destructive power of a Tailed Beast Ball.
Swish! Seizing the opportunity, Saitama threw the sword in his hand. The blade shot through the night sky like a dazzling shooting star, flying rapidly toward one side.
Whoosh! While still midair, the sword disappeared from sight as Saitama himself vanished on the spot, leaving behind a somewhat confused Roshi and the unstable Tailed Beast Ball.
Blazing rivers of molten lava erupted and sprayed in all directions. Roshi under Four-Tails' control didn't retreat further—he couldn't move quite fast enough.
Graaah! Letting loose a guttural roar to the heavens, he smashed both fists into the earth. From where he struck, waves of cracks radiated outward like ripples on water.
And from these countless cracks surged even more boiling-hot lava.
The scorching heat grew stronger. The air itself started trembling mysteriously, distorting the surroundings like looking through rippling glass.
[Lava Release - Granite Technique]
Roshi's eyes blazed with terrifying red light. Innumerable magma instantly engulfed him, then cooled rapidly, hardening into solid rock.
Boom! The [Tailed Beast Ball] exploded at the same time. A small mushroom cloud billowed upward while clouds of dust scattered like shockwaves in all directions.
[Wood Release - Wood Rampart Wall]
Following the flying sword into the distance, but as soon as Saitama landed, he didn't relax. He immediately slammed his palm onto the ground.
Rings of wood instantly rose from the earth under Saitama's chakra control, forming layers of protective barriers around him.
Finally, a cocoon-shaped wooden structure created through [Wood Release] tightly adhered to the ground.
At the exact moment Saitama used his ninjutsu, the explosion began.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Countless flying debris slammed into the wooden cocoon surrounding Saitama but failed to harm him in the slightest.
Far enough from where the [Tailed Beast Ball] had detonated, he remained completely unharmed by the blast as well.
"That should've felt pretty awesome, huh!" Saitama felt the commotion outside and waited for the chaos to pass before releasing his technique and bouncing out.
Looking toward the blast site, there was now a crater dozens of meters wide and nearly ten meters deep.
Yet, Roshi's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"He shouldn't die so easily like this, right?" Saitama murmured to himself. Tailed Beasts really were strange creatures—they were powerful, undeniably so—but oddly easy to kill.
The [Tailed Beast Ball]'s power wasn't weak, so Saitama couldn't be certain whether Roshi survived or not.
Staying alert, Saitama quickly approached the crater, scanning every detail while searching for traces of Roshi.
Roar! Just as his foot touched the edge of the pit, a furious roar erupted. A massive red monkey climbed up from inside the crater.
Though his body bore no injuries, his overall mental state appeared clearly disturbed.
Bang! Bang! Bang! He pounded his broad, muscular chest a few times before opening his giant mouth and lunging at Saitama.
"Hehehe!" Saitama curled his lips into a smile. He didn't feel fear—at fact, he felt a bit thrilled.
Four-Tails leaped skyward as endless red chakra gathered around him. Scorching magma started surging from the ground.
Swish! He returned his sword into the waist strap, closing his eyes.
"Die!" Four-Tails spat the human word filled with killing intent.
If it hadn't been for that defensive ninjutsu and the last-second Tailed Beast transformation that boosted his physical defenses, Saitama might've actually killed Roshi. Naturally, he was extremely angry—his rage like an about-to-erupt volcano.
Ceng! Blue-white chakra swirled around Saitama before finally converging on the crown of his head.
Roar! Saitama launched himself upward, levitating midair.
A massive blue-white giant appeared above—its size surpassing even Roshi's Tailed Beast form.
In its left hand appeared a red longsword blazing with endless flames, while in its right was an ever-exploding navy-blue long blade.
[Susanoo]
Saitama's eyes flew open once again, displaying within them his unique Mangekyou pattern—an intricate design beyond comprehension.
This time, facing the fully awakened Four-Tails, Saitama directly summoned his complete form of [Susanoo], although this time it took full humanoid shape instead of the previous partial body manifestation.
The [Susanoo] barely appeared before swinging a massive blade toward the leaping Four-Tails. The crimson sword blazed brilliantly against the night sky.
But the Four-Tails wasn't easy prey either. With a quick twist of its body, it dodged the attack. Then pushing off the ground with both legs, it created distance between itself and the [Susanoo].
"This is..." Roshi, seeing through the Four-Tails' eyes, felt deeply shocked by what lay before him.
It was the first time he had ever seen someone actually using such a jutsu. Overwhelming pressure continued radiating from that giant form.
The [Susanoo] Saitama had summoned now was covered in muscles formed from blue-white chakra, making this colossus appear majestic like a god.
"I don't know either. This ominous aura truly feels unsettling! Roshi, we'll have to go all out now!"
The Four-Tails and Roshi communicated. Even a tailed beast like him sensed great danger coming from Saitama.
"Hmm!"
"Still, I'll keep controlling our body for the fight."
"Alright!"
After their brief exchange, the Four-Tails focused again on the giant summoned by Saitama. Molten lava continuously flowed beneath its feet.
Rather than attacking first, it wanted to observe Saitama's tactics.
Suspended at heart level within the [Susanoo], Saitama hovered more than ten meters above the ground. Arms crossed over his chest, he watched the distant crimson monkey as if observing a pet.
The [Susanoo] bent its body forward slightly, its left and right hands extending forward one after another. Equally, two weapons of contrasting natures came forth in perfect succession.
Whoosh! The [Susanoo] vanished in an instant, despite its massive size, leaving the Four-Tails completely unable to track its movement.
Swoosh! A sound split the air from above. Only then did the Four-Tails react.
[Lava Release - Undersea Needle]
A fierce grimace distorted the Four-Tails' rugged features as endless torrents of searing magma began swirling around its body, bubbling violently.
Its right arm raised high into the air, pointing toward Saitama's [Susanoo].
Hissing steam burst from its wide palm, with red-hot magma continuing to surge upon it.
All its chakra gathered into that arm, making it shine brightly like a brilliant lighthouse.
[Lightning-Fire Release - Sword Art Domain]
Controlled by Saitama, the [Susanoo] brought both hands—spear in left and sword in right—to waist level diagonally, the blades gleaming increasingly radiant.
This technique was one he'd developed himself. In simplest terms, it was an evolution of the famed 'dual-hand combat technique.'
The dual-attribute weapons each underwent their own nature transformation before slashing through the air in wild arcs!
Quickly, the [Susanoo] dove downward toward the Four-Tails, crashing down like a mountain falling from the heavens.
Yet the Four-Tails stood unflinching, raising one finger to the heavens as if challenging the very decree of fate.
Crackle! The two gigantic forms collided, producing searing heat and a chilling sound reverberating across people's skin.
...
The place where Saitama and Roshi fought wasn't far from the village, so these shocking disturbances had long since alarmed everyone within the entire village.
But no one dared to come out and watch the commotion — after all, they were ordinary villagers, far beneath the level of ninja.
Curiosity brings death — this was their unwritten rule to avoid danger. Roshi had even coined it into a saying during his recent storytelling sessions in the village.
Yet at the edge of the village, in the broken house closest to the battlefield, someone crouched just below the window, peering out with wide eyes, his face filled with shock as he stared at the distant fighting scene.
Although he couldn't see clearly, he still recognized one side of the conflict: it was the traveling monk who had been telling stories in the village recently.
"Didn't expect this old man to be so powerful!"
This person peeking secretly was none other than the man who never missed a story session — always the first to arrive and last to leave.
Whoa! The man gasped as he saw the monkey-formed old man slashed down by the other giant's blade, lying motionless for quite a while.
"Huff!" The Four-Tails struggled to stand, but Saitama gave him no chance, delivering several more slashes that left wounds behind.
"Roshi, four-tailed jinchuriki!" Saitama looked downward toward the gradually de-transforming figure of Roshi, who was returning to human form, slowly speaking out.
[Wood Release - Silent Binding Technique]
After dispersing his [Susanoo], he descended toward the ground and extended his right hand toward Roshi.
First, countless sturdy branches sprouted from his right arm, then following Saitama's direction, bound Roshi — who had already transformed back into a human form.
Once securely tied up, the branches detached from Saitama's arm.
Saitama then walked close to Roshi, simultaneously condensing [Yin-Yang Release] in both hands, creating two black rods capable of blocking chakra flow.
Pshhh! Pshhh! Two swift strikes hit Roshi's left hand and both legs, restricting movement as well as chakra flow.
"It's over, Roshi!" Using the branches to lift up Roshi under control, Saitama stared directly at his face.
After transforming from the tailed beast state, Roshi's clothing had become ragged and torn. Additionally having lost his right arm previously, he indeed appeared pitiful.
"Heheh!" Roshi weakly opened his eyes, memorizing Saitama's face before fainting away.
The previous battle had drained all his energy, plus multiple injuries across his body; even Four-Tails sustained severe damage during the fight, retreating deep within its seal (the mystical containment used to bind tailed beasts).
With Roshi unable to fight back, Saitama smiled slightly.
That battle was rather thrilling — the continuous mutual punches between [Susanoo] and Four-Tails eventually ending with his victory.
Glancing toward the village, seemingly sensing something, he looked toward the nearest window.
Finding no chakra fluctuations, he activated his [Wood Release], lifting Roshi high into the air.
"What an amazing fight!" Zetsu emerged slowly from solidified earth created after magma cooled, with White Zetsu speaking playfully.
"Alright, you take Four-Tails with you. He won't be causing any trouble for now, so it should be relatively safe."
Saitama shot a sidelong glance without commenting further, walking away into the distance.
White Zetsu looked happily at Roshi's motionless but still breathing body, while Black Zetsu fixed his gaze upon Saitama's tall receding back, wearing an expression of interest.
Defeating a jinchuriki single-handedly and coming out nearly unscathed.
Seemed like Saitama's combat power surprised even Black Zetsu.
"Bring him along. Let's leave too!"
Black Zetsu only looked at White Zetsu, before he extended his hand. A layer of white paste-like substance wrapped around Roshi, then they all sank into the ground.
Inside a house on the village outskirts, a man clutched his chest, still shaken.
"Did he just notice me? That gaze was terrifying!"
He kept patting his chest, calming himself down with deep breaths.
After waiting for a long time, curiosity got the better of him again. He approached the window and glanced toward the battlefield.
Only red molten remnants remained; no one was there anymore.
"Gone already? Well good. I was just bored, watching for fun anyway."
Not seeing anyone finally eased his anxiety—he felt safe again.
This village belonged to the Land of Grass—it was poor and backward.
The man who had witnessed the entire battle between Saitama and Roshi couldn't comprehend what it all meant.
He simply thought both men were extremely powerful—far beyond his ability to challenge.
...
In Konoha Village,
At Root headquarters, a ninja wearing a tanuki mask anxiously paced back and forth in the room.
Left behind by Danzo in the village, he was tasked with leading the remaining Root ninjas.
But not long ago, the insects left behind by an Aburame clan ninja who had accompanied Danzo on his trip suddenly died off, casting a dark shadow over his heart.
In the Aburame clan, their insects die when the host dies—which is why he feared Danzo must have met trouble.
Even an elite Aburame ninja had met with disaster.
Still believing in Danzo, he decided to wait longer, though he felt increasingly uneasy inside.
In the Hokage Building,
Minato Namikaze and Shikaku exchanged glances as an Anbu had just reported some intelligence.
One of the intelligence reports confirmed Danzo's recent departure from the village.
"What was Danzo doing leaving the village?" This question lingered in Minato and Shikaku's minds.
Danzo hadn't stepped outside the village in years. Lately, because of political disagreements with Minato, he'd practically vanished into the Root base—never stepping foot outside.
But this time, according to the report, he had taken nearly all of Root's elite forces with him.
Send an Anbu team out there—find out what Danzo's really planning!
Minato gave the order without hesitation.
As the Fourth Hokage, he respected the older generation of ninjas—but only under the premise that they peacefully retired and did not endanger the village.
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