In the next instant, the towering wall of mist erupted, transforming into countless razor-sharp spikes.
With just a flick of Shigure's hand, the cloud of spikes surged forward, slamming violently toward Utakata.
The dense, hardened mist struck with the force of steel, making Utakata cry out as the first impact landed. Immediately, more clusters of cloud-mist followed, each one sprouting spikes that stabbed at him from every direction.
From within, Saiken's roar reverberated.
Shigure lifted his hand.
"Gluttony! Devour!"
The black substance seeped through the gaps in the mist, wrapping itself wildly around the Six-Tails, tearing away at its chakra once more.
But then, Saiken's chakra suddenly shifted—its pale blue glow intensifying. The corrosive power it radiated began to eat away at Shigure's mist, dissolving what he thought was a solidified defense.
For a brief moment, Shigure was caught off guard. Even my solidified mist can be corroded…
But corrosion was not unique to the Six-Tails—he too wielded that power.
Channeling his will, Shigure manipulated the mist. Transformation didn't have to be absolute—he could alter only part of it if he wished.
And so, he gave it form.
Acid Mist Condensation!
The once-solid cloud spikes became infused with acid, resisting Saiken's corrosive chakra. Though the mist weakened, its resistance improved dramatically.
Even so, the barrier was not enough to restrain Utakata. With a powerful leap, he burst free and sprang into the air.
From above, Utakata descended with a flurry of strikes. The Six-Tails' six tails lashed out in tandem with his clawed hands, each blow carrying crushing force.
Shigure drew his blade, Zangetsu, parrying the relentless strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of steel rang out again and again as sword clashed with chakra-empowered claws.
Landing heavily, Utakata's entire body was now cloaked in the bubbling red aura of a tailed beast. The oppressive weight of his chakra rolled out in waves.
"As expected of a Tailed Beast…" Shigure muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"Great Sage, come forth! Analyze it for me."
[Great Sage: Analysis has already begun]
[Current progress: 45%]
Shigure smirked. Good. I don't even need to tell it anymore.
Boom!
A glob of acid shot past, sizzling as it struck the ground where Shigure had been standing a heartbeat earlier. He tilted his head aside, dodging by the narrowest margin.
The Six-Tails roared and suddenly charged. Its massive frame barreled forward like a maddened bull, raw power surging through every motion as it rushed headlong at him.
Shigure gently waved his left arm, and the rising clouds and mist from the ground coiled tightly around the Six-Tails' legs, holding it in place.
But in the next instant, Saiken's chakra shifted into a deep blue hue, radiating corrosive force that dissolved the mist at its feet. With a sudden burst of strength, the beast lunged forward and rammed straight into Shigure's chest.
Caught off guard, Shigure barely managed to bring Zangetsu across his body in time. The impact was brutal—he was blasted backward more than ten meters before finally driving the blade into the ground to stop himself.
He looked up to see the Six-Tails exhaling clouds of smoke, its massive jaws gaping wide as it roared in challenge.
Shigure twirled his blade with a smirk.
"Really? Headbutting? That's just childish."
He tightened his grip. In the next moment, Shukaku's chakra surged through his body, enveloping him in its power. His strength and defense rose sharply.
Boil Release: Heat Breath Blade!
Hissss—
White steam rolled off the weapon.
The Six-Tails' tails lashed behind it, one wrapped in dark blue chakra, and shot forward like a spear aimed at Shigure.
But this time, the same trick wouldn't work twice.
With a swift backhand slash, Shigure's Heat Haze Blade—empowered by Shukaku's chakra—met the incoming strike. The cutting edge flared with corrosive heat.
A howl tore from Saiken's throat. One of its tails had been sliced clean off.
The Six-Tails, itself a beast of corrosion, had been wounded by corrosion.
Shigure found the irony amusing.
From within the tailed beast's chakra cloak, Utakata's eyes widened in disbelief. He could feel it clearly—the blade carried both searing heat and a terrifying corrosive effect, one even stronger than Saiken's own. Combined with Shigure's raw strength, the attack was overwhelming.
What kind of jutsu is that…?
Saiken roared again, its voice echoing through the mist.
"Shigure-sama! Are you alright?!"
Haku and Chōjūrō shouted, their voices edged with panic. The dense fog kept them from locating him, though Saiken's chakra was impossible to miss.
"I'm fine!" Shigure called back lightly. "But at this rate, the Six-Tails might end up the Five-Tails instead."
His words made Utakata's expression tighten. The boy realized with a sinking feeling that he had no chance of winning. Escaping was the only option.
If I can't overpower him… then I'll use a Tailed Beast Ball.
The Six-Tails braced itself, planting its four tails and both hands firmly into the ground, steadying its body like a living cannon.
Shigure narrowed his eyes. "So… the Tailed Beast Ball?"
The destructive power of that technique was immense—so much so that even Shigure wasn't confident in taking it head-on.
But he had no intention of standing idly by while his enemy charged such a move. In his eyes, the long preparation time made it little more than an invitation.
The moment Utakata opened his maw to gather chakra—
Shigure raised his hand, and the surrounding mist surged, binding Saiken's massive form.
Yet Utakata stubbornly continued, determined to blast an exit.
Shigure sighed and shook his head. "Not only weak, but reckless too."
Transformation: Snow Mist!
A wave of chilling air swept out, enveloping Utakata. Even through the Tailed Beast's chakra cloak, the icy cold seeped in, slowing his chakra flow and freezing his limbs. Frost crept across his body.
In that instant, Shigure dashed forward.
Heat haze rippled along Zangetsu's edge as he struck, his blade carving from Utakata's left shoulder down to his right ribs.
The two passed each other in a blur. Blood sprayed from Utakata's lips, his chakra cloak dissipating in tatters before vanishing altogether.
Encased in frost, Utakata's body solidified into ice and collapsed heavily to the ground.
Shigure exhaled, sliding Zangetsu back into its sheath.
"Great Sage, the analysis is done, right?"
[Great Sage: Completed]
"Good. Then calculate a sealing jutsu tailored for Utakata. I don't want his Tailed Beast causing trouble again."
[Great Sage: Calculating…]
[Congratulations. Host has obtained a new ability: Six-Tails Chakra Sealing.]
Shigure placed his hand on Utakata's head. Strange, cloud-like markings spread across his face like the war paint of some forgotten tribe.
Clapping his hands, Shigure grinned. "That's it? Not bad. This sealing jutsu is pretty unique."
...
TN:
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