Chapter 369: I'm Actually Being Quite Serious
Roshi never imagined he would see the late Second Tsuchikage again...
The man with the katana said he was the "living dead"—so that was what he meant.
The moment he saw Mū, Roshi abandoned any thought of victory. Even though he had been a child during Mū's era, he knew exactly how terrifying the man's strength was. Combined with the Uchiha who possessed an unreal level of visual prowess...
Escape was the only option!
However, in the next instant, a bandaged figure appeared behind him. A fist slammed into the small of Roshi's back.
Crap! It's the Fission Technique!
Izuna Uchiha stepped forward, his Mangekyou Sharingan spinning. He intended to finish this with Genjutsu; knocking a Jinchuriki unconscious through pure blunt force was far too tedious.
Roshi clamped his eyes shut, trying to tank the assault with his innate durability.
Massive amounts of lava erupted from his skin, his body turning a deep, angry crimson as three tails sprouted from his back. This was his current limit. While his relationship with the Four-Tails (Son Goku) was decent, he was still far from being a Perfect Jinchuriki.
But even this surge of power couldn't change the outcome.
The Four-Tails Jinchuriki was kicked around like a literal sandbag. It was a pathetic sight.
Five minutes later, under the combined weight of physical trauma and mental intrusion, Roshi finally lost consciousness.
"An effective method," Izuna remarked. "This ninja's natural talent seems mediocre, but his strength is respectable once he draws upon the beast."
Mū, the former Tsuchikage, showed no emotion at having just captured his own village's Jinchuriki. From the moment of his reanimation, he had been trapped under the Genjutsu of the Rinnegan woven into the Edo Tensei. He followed only Madara's will.
"Yes. We chose him back then simply because his body could withstand the beast. His other talents were indeed average," Mū replied. "Now, let us return to Madara-sama."
Just as they prepared to depart with the captive, a streak of rainbow light cut through the horizon. It drew closer at a blinding speed.
Izuna frowned. "Is that the Heavenly Transfer Technique my brother mentioned? There's someone on that? Can a human body withstand that pressure?"
Mū shook his head. "I am seeing it for the first time as well. Such technology did not exist in my time. Regardless, we must leave. Madara-sama warned us that the Cloud-Thunder Federation is not to be underestimated; they possess the power to suppress us. We should avoid a direct confrontation if possible."
They didn't have much time. Once a Heavenly Transfer streak entered the field of vision, impact was less than ten seconds away.
Mū had just begun to lift off when the rainbow light veered toward them. Instead of crashing, the light dissipated directly overhead, replaced by a monumental, burly figure.
Hovering in the air, delivered by his own physical strength through the teleportation, was Yotsuki Dana.
Dana's eyes immediately locked onto the two figures below and the unconscious Roshi.
Mū's bandages were unmistakable. The purple Rinnegan in his sockets surprised Dana slightly—it seemed the reanimated Kage was being puppeted.
But when he looked at the second man, Dana froze.
Is that... Adult Sasuke?
What is this? The Dragon Vein? Or is an Otsutsuki time-traveling?
The man had both arms, and his features were slightly different, but the resemblance was uncanny. Wait... butterfly effect?
Izuna pointed his katana at Dana. "That towering frame... you must be the one Brother mentioned. Yotsuki Dana."
"And who are you?" Dana asked.
"Merely a ghost of the Uchiha. Brother said you were a shinobi of this era who rivals himself and Hashirama Senju. I wonder if he was exaggerating."
Dana realized who it was. The resemblance to Sasuke made sense now—Izuna was the donor for Madara's Eternal Mangekyou. As a genius second only to Madara, he had died before the village era. He was a true relic, confused by the modern world but deadly nonetheless.
I wonder what his Mangekyou abilities are...
While Izuna was curious, Mū was pragmatic. He cared only for Madara's mission. Dana was a variable he didn't want to deal with.
"Dust Release: Dustless Bewildering Cover!"
A thin layer of water vapor and dust enveloped Mū, Izuna, and Roshi. They vanished instantly. Even their chakra signatures were erased.
This was the ultimate invisibility jutsu developed by the Second Tsuchikage—total visual and sensory erasure.
Dana let out a playful smirk.
Visual invisibility? Hiding chakra?
His "Pulse" Vision functioned more like radar, mapping physical outlines and density. To him, the two of them were as obvious as a neon sign in the dark.
Let's see if I can bait out more information...
Dana raised a finger. A bolt of lightning shot out, crossing the distance instantly and shattering the arm of the "invisible" Second Tsuchikage.
Mū flickered out of his invisibility, his arm slowly regenerating from the paper-like debris of Edo Tensei. "Indeed... not to be underestimated."
"Some sort of sensory ability?" Izuna mused. "Shall we test him?"
Mū settled into a stance, steepling his hands. "Then let us see what kind of power the man Madara-sama praised truly possesses."
"Particle Style: Atomic—"
Before he could finish, Dana appeared at Mū's side. He was at point-blank range before the sound of his movement even registered.
The hands followed the wind. Dana's massive palms clamped over both of Mū's hands, crushing the forming Particle Style cube into nothingness.
He crushed the bandaged arms along with it.
"A jutsu that dangerous... shouldn't be fired off so carelessly," Dana whispered.
So fast!
Mū, who didn't specialize in Taijutsu, couldn't react. But Izuna did. His Mangekyou Sharingan was no joke.
His katana slashed through the air with the speed of a thunderclap.
Dana tilted his head slightly, letting the blade whistle past his ear. Simultaneously, he slammed the Second Tsuchikage into the ground like a broken sack of flour.
The earth shattered upon impact.
Izuna retreated rapidly, his hands blurring as he formed seals mid-slide.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A wall of flame, no less powerful than Madara's, swept across the valley.
Dana clasped his hands together, pointing them forward like a sword. Intense Lightning Chakra surged from his fingertips.
He thrust his arms outward.
The sea of fire was torn apart, parting like the Red Sea before Moses.
As the flames split, Dana found himself staring directly into Izuna Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan.
Izuna had timed it perfectly, pouring his ocular power into the moment of visual contact. Being an Edo Tensei, he didn't care about the strain on his eyes.
However, Dana's reaction speed was on another level. Even against an intentional ambush, he was faster.
His gaze dropped a fraction of a second before the Genjutsu could take hold, avoiding direct eye contact.
At the same time, he increased his altitude, diving toward Izuna.
He didn't close his eyes entirely because he was wary of whatever unique ability Izuna's Mangekyou held. Some abilities might bypass his Pulse Vision; having a layer of visual confirmation was safer.
Izuna's heart sank as his Fire Style and Genjutsu both failed.
He's troublesome. No wonder Brother acknowledged him.
Izuna twirled his katana and sheathed it with a sharp click.
Facing the incoming Dana, he didn't flinch. Instead, he initiated his own charge.
A ninja of the Warring States possessed nerves of steel. His Mangekyou calculated the perfect timing for the intersection.
As they crossed paths:
"First Form: Iai!"
The katana left the sheath at a speed far greater than before. A cold arc of light flashed like a ribbon.
But Dana performed a graceful mid-air flip, leaping directly behind him.
Dana glanced at the katana in the ghost's hand. It looked like a famous blade with a history.
"Decent swordsmanship... Now then... where is your brother?"
Izuna leaped back several meters, landing beside the newly-regenerated Mū. The unconscious Roshi was still held in Mū's grasp.
"Truly a ninja that Madara-sama is right to be wary of... Izuna-sama, should we retreat separately?"
Izuna shook his head. "The speed difference is too great. Escape isn't realistic. But together, we still have a chance."
After that brief exchange, Izuna felt that while Dana was strong, he wasn't invincible—especially since he hadn't used his Mangekyou's trump card yet.
I can counter-kill him!
Just as Izuna was formulating a winning strategy, a resonant, deep voice echoed through the canyon.
"Don't get it twisted, Izuna... This guy hasn't even started being serious yet."
Madara Uchiha, clad in his signature red armor, stepped slowly out of the shadows of the canyon.
"I thought you two were taking a bit too long. It seems an 'accident' occurred," Madara said, his gaze fixed coldly on Yotsuki Dana. "So, Yotsuki Dana... what intel tipped you off? You arrived faster than I expected."
Dana broke into a brilliant grin. "As I thought, Madara-senpai was nearby... and I am being quite serious."
Madara sneered. "Your hair color hasn't even changed. Quit lying."
Dana's smile faded. "Spotted, have I...? Well then, is Black Zetsu here? I'd like to wipe you all out in one go."