In the "audience seats" of Heiya Gambling House.
Shizune looked at Black Hawk and Shisui, who had suddenly fallen into a disadvantage, and exclaimed in surprise, "Lady Tsunade, what's wrong with them? Why did their strength drop so suddenly?"
"That's right! They were in top form just now. How come they've weakened so quickly? Are your companions all this short-lived?"
Aozora seized the opportunity to mock Black Hawk and Shisui, hoping to distance himself from Konoha.
Upon hearing that, Shizune's face instantly flushed red, but Tsunade, having experienced countless storms, remained expressionless and composed.
Her eyes sharp as daggers, she carefully observed the sudden stiffness in their movements before glancing toward Murakumo Kurama, who stood nearby idly throwing shuriken without real intent.
"They've been injured by genjutsu, which is why their strength has decreased."
Aozora narrowed his eyes slightly, puzzled in heart. Considering Shisui's dojutsu, what kind of genjutsu could be cast upon him?
"They still seem able to move freely, not showing signs of being caught in any illusion?" Shizune helpfully asked. "Besides, people caught in genjutsu should normally be able to wake themselves up through pain. During this period, although they haven't sustained any major injuries, minor ones have been frequent enough!"
"For ordinary genjutsu techniques, yes, pain and chakra manipulation can stimulate self-release from the illusion. However..."
Tsunade paused briefly before seriously continuing, "These two methods don't work against two types of genjutsu—specifically, those of certain clans."
"Which two clans' genjutsu are you referring to?" Shizune curiously asked.
"The first one is the Kurama clan," Tsunade explained. "They once were a prestigious family within Konoha, renowned for their superior skill in genjutsu. The Kurama clan's genjutsu can manipulate others' five senses, causing people to exist within an illusory space where those affected also suffer real physical damage.
Their genjutsu can create tangible forms out of nothingness, transforming illusion into reality by tapping into the essence of Yinton (Yin Release), rightly regarded as the pinnacle of genjutsu.
However, this ability requires their clan's unique bloodline limit to perform, and in recent years I haven't heard of anyone from the Kurama clan awakening such bloodline abilities."
Thinking about today's target for capture, Shizune seemed to grasp something, then asked, "Then what about the other clan?"
Tsunade paused again before responding, "The other clan is the Uchiha."
"Do you mean Sharingan-based genjutsu?"
Shizune couldn't help but think—if Sharingan genjutsu was this strong, how could it still fall short of being called "the essence of genjutsu"?
Seeing Black Hawk and Shisui take two more wounds, Shizune's eyes revealed some anxiety and suggested, "Lady, shall we go assist them?"
Tsunade shook her head. "If they needed help, they would say so."
The Shadow Guard Team had only two members. If they needed help, they'd handle it themselves. It wasn't time for her to personally intervene yet.
Then she subtly glanced at Aozora. If the mission went smoothly, she wouldn't mind capturing this bounty hunter with unknown origins who stood beside her.
Though her glance appeared casual, Aozora still sensed the attention she directed toward him.
He kept up the casual look of a spectator, but inside, he was fully alert, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger.
In the Ninja World, valuable intel was worth its weight in gold.
Tsunade's detailed explanation gave him a chill down his spine. He felt like Tsunade might either prepare to detain him, or not intend to let him go free.
The audience prepared to depart, and the performers readied themselves for their final curtain call.
Shisui and Black Hawk leaped to the center of the room after exchanging blows with the enemy, standing back-to-back.
Both men were panting heavily, their bodies riddled with wounds of varying severity. Even worse, mysterious burns had begun to spread across their skin, searing them with unbearable agony.
Shisui's burns were relatively mild—though painful, his skin was only slightly reddened.
Black Hawk, however, was covered in blisters, especially on his hands. Each time he clenched his fists, the blisters burst, oozing a clear, sticky fluid that brought excruciating pain.
"We can't keep this up!" Black Hawk said.
"Hn!"
Shisui gave a slight nod. The enemy's strength had exceeded his expectations.
He hadn't expected Murakumo Kurama's genjutsu to be impervious even to his Three Tomoe Sharingan—or worse, to cause actual physical damage to both him and Black Hawk.
Gripping his hands tighter despite the torn skin and bursting blisters, Black Hawk said, "Hold them off for a moment!"
Without hesitation, Shisui replied, "Got it!"
[Fire Release - Great Fireball Jutsu!]
[Wind Release - Great Breakthrough!]
This time, back-to-back, their techniques didn't truly combine but covered a wide area, forcing Murakumo Kurama and his two companions to evade.
Though their jutsu were powerful, they didn't hit the enemies at all. However, they successfully created space for themselves to prepare further attacks.
Shisui formed hand seals rapidly with one hand while drawing his blade and rushing forward. With every step he took, an identical illusionary copy instantly appeared beside him.
In an instant, eight Shisuis emerged within the room, charging toward Murakumo Kurama and his group.
To the naked eye, all these illusions seemed real. However, under the gaze of dojutsu, they were all revealed as illusions.
This wasn't an ordinary Body Flicker Technique—it was Shisui's own variation.
As Murakumo Kurama and his allies became fixated on tracking the illusions, Black Hawk began forming hand seals quickly with both hands.
[Wind Release - Tempest Net!]
A torrent of wind-natured chakra poured from Black Hawk's hands, merging into the swirling cold winds already present in the room.
The cold winds began to take shape, forming into a massive net that descended upon Murakumo Kurama.
The wind net surged forth like a raging storm, covering every inch of space—there was no way to escape. Murakumo Kurama was struck and tightly bound within its grasp.
Meanwhile, the other two Anbu Jonin, unable to distinguish the true Shisui from the false illusions, found themselves overwhelmed by a single opponent and in dire straits.
Seeing this, a smile tugged at the corners of Black Hawk's mouth beneath his mask.
Yet before his joy could last even a moment, the bound figure of Murakumo Kurama suddenly dissolved into smoke.
"Shadow Clone?!"
A chill ran through Black Hawk as he realized he'd been tricked. Just as he attempted to move, a vine suddenly sprouted from the floorboards beneath his feet, ensnaring him tightly.
As it coiled tighter, illusionary vines erupted into blazing flame-like petals that scorched his body.
Knowing it was an illusion, he continuously stimulated his chakra trying to dispel it—but the searing pain told him otherwise: it was painfully real.
At the same time Black Hawk fell victim to the trap, Shisui spotted openings in the remaining two Anbu and killed them instantly.
Without the slightest pause, the eight Shisuis immediately surrounded Murakumo Kurama.
Murakumo Kurama remained unfazed and even smiled. "Shisui the Teleporting Flash? I didn't expect you to have joined the Shadow Guard Team!"
Shisui, holding his blade, asked, "Where is Danzo?"
Giving Shisui a surprised glance, Murakumo Kurama said, "You actually think you've won? Although I've often heard of your Genjutsu talent, it seems underwhelming today."
As he spoke, his body transformed into flames, igniting the entire room in blazing fire.
Shisui stood amidst the inferno, enduring what should have been unbearable burning pain—but his expression stayed calm, his crimson eyes burning even brighter.
In the next moment, all the images of Shisui flickered and merged into one. He reappeared and thrust his blade toward a spot in the flames, repeating, "Where is Danzo?"
Instantly, the surrounding flames vanished. Murakumo Kurama appeared before Shisui's blade.
With his genjutsu shattered, Murakumo Kurama's composure crumbled instantly into pure shock and disbelief.
"Why? Our Kurama clan's Genjutsu is supposed to be the strongest in the Ninja World. Even if I haven't mastered its peak, it shouldn't be something that can be pierced by a Three Tomoe Sharingan!"
He turned toward Shisui in disbelief, only to see that Shisui's crimson pupils contained not three black tomoe, but four diagonal-bladed shuriken-like patterns.
It wasn't the Sharingan Genjutsu that rivaled the Kurama clan's Ultimate Art—it was the Mangekyou.
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