As the black serpent summoned by Kurama Arashiyama was shattered by the Moonwheel Bat, Kurama Murakumo and Kurama Unkai raised their canvases and began to paint, attempting to seize control of Shiraishi's five senses.
Yet within the mental illusion realm, the Moonwheel Bat's Dark Burst swept through once more.
"Be careful—this light will interfere with your perception of the five senses. Black-Mist Shiraishi's genjutsu can inflict real damage on the body through the mind. Watch his movements closely!"
As a veteran powerhouse, Kurama Arashiyama immediately recognized that Shiraishi's genjutsu style was strikingly similar to the Kurama clan's techniques. This monster was not an illusion construct at all—it was an exceedingly rare spiritual-type summoned beast.
Techniques similar to their own?
The Kurama clan's ancestral records spoke of many special summoning beasts that had existed in the shinobi world's past—some of which could only appear within the spiritual realm.
The colossal bat before them clearly belonged to that category.
Shiraishi gave the Kurama clan no time to think.
A massive surge of darkness erupted around the Moonwheel Bat and swept forward. The Kurama brothers formed seals simultaneously as countless canvases appeared around them, forcibly absorbing the dark radiance.
"Absorbing that darkness is not a good thing for you."
The words had barely fallen when the canvases detonated violently, splattering black ink in every direction.
As the Kurama brothers retreated, several other Kurama clan shinobi were struck by the black ink and let out horrifying screams.
They fell into a peculiar dreamlike state, their spiritual power being devoured through dream-eating, absorbed and consumed by the Moonwheel Bat.
Those with weak willpower were drained on the spot.
In the real world, their breathing soon ceased.
Black-Mist Shiraishi—true to his name—dark, eerie, and brutally merciless.
At that moment, the Moonwheel Bat transformed into a stream of chakra and merged into Shiraishi's forehead, reforming as the Moonwheel Mark.
Fusing with the summoner greatly reduced chakra consumption while amplifying Shiraishi's genjutsu output. Kurama clan illusionists were notoriously difficult to deal with—their resistance to genjutsu was extremely high.
Bathed in the glow of the Moonwheel Mark, countless bubbles erupted around Shiraishi.
Kurama Arashiyama formed seals once again. The black serpent that had dispersed earlier reappeared, spewing terrifying high-temperature flames.
As bubbles and fire collided, Shiraishi's long blade was already in motion.
Cold light flashed, reflecting a chilling brilliance.
Kurama Arashiyama raised a single hand to block—and his body instantly transformed into a tide of black fluid, releasing strange, toxic fumes.
The current head of the Kurama clan was truly formidable—an absolute menace within the realm of genjutsu.
The instant Shiraishi thrust his blade forward, the surrounding mental space twisted once more.
The Moonwheel world vanished.
They had entered the Kurama clan's illusion domain.
The Kurama clan would never allow a mere junior to trample them with genjutsu.
Canvases rose one after another, projecting countless creatures into the surroundings. Ferocious beasts leapt from the painted surfaces, lunging straight at Shiraishi.
Between overlapping canvases, Kurama Murakumo and Kurama Unkai wielded brush and ink wildly, projecting one fantasy monster after another.
Kurama Arashiyama personally seized control, dragging Black-Mist Shiraishi into the Kurama clan's illusion world. The two brothers spared no effort in supporting their father.
Yet just as countless beasts tore forward—
Shiraishi dissolved into countless bubbles and vanished before their eyes.
He's gone?
"Use chakra sensing!"
The Kurama brothers lacked combat experience. Seeing this, Kurama Arashiyama formed seals again. The beasts dissolved into streams of light, returning to the canvases before exploding outward in waves of multicolored radiance.
Damn old fox!
Kurama Arashiyama's battlefield experience was immense. Shiraishi's small tricks were useless against him.
With a cold glint in his eyes, Shiraishi leveled his blade. The silver sword spun as the power of his Round Pupils surged, and he thrust forward at blinding speed.
With a thunderous crack, the canvases shattered.
Shiraishi carved through them with overwhelming force, his body transforming into countless Cyclone Blades as he charged Kurama Arashiyama head-on.
Before the blades could reach him, an invisible barrier blocked them.
Kurama Arashiyama clenched both fists, chakra light gathering as he warped and layered the surrounding illusionary space.
Blade in hand, Shiraishi locked eyes with the Kurama clan leader.
Dark power from the Moonwheel Mark surged into the silver blade.
The mark faded.
And Shiraishi unleashed his strongest slash.
The world fractured like shattered glass.
Kurama Arashiyama caught the strike, blood spilling from his hand—yet at the same time, his kunai pierced into Shiraishi's shoulder.
As illusion and reality switched, both men retreated, wounded.
Shiraishi formed seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"
While guiding Shiraishi in developing Scorch Release, Pakura had also taught him several Fire Release techniques—this was one of them.
The Dragon Flame Technique was fast, compressing fire into a single explosive point.
Kurama Arashiyama reacted instantly, forming a chakra sphere in his palm to forcibly block the attack.
The violent explosion shook the ground beneath the Kurama clan's position, the soil turning loose and unstable.
Shiraishi formed seals rapidly, creating four earth clones as he activated:
Earth Release: Four-Corner Formation!
Four earth clones identical to Shiraishi surged forward, silver blades in hand, attacking the Kurama clan.
Young Kurama shinobi met them head-on, weapons clashing violently.
Within towering earth walls, Kurama Arashiyama quietly observed Shiraishi's next move.
This battle had been expected—but he hadn't anticipated Shiraishi's genjutsu to be this overwhelming.
Once dragged out of the illusion world and back into reality, the Kurama clan's combat power dropped sharply. Meanwhile, the Sunagakure shinobi previously trapped in genjutsu were gradually awakening.
Kurama Murakumo stepped forward—
And a sharp blade flashed behind him.
As he turned to block, Nagase Bizen struck in an instant, Cyclone Blades(Whirlwind Blades) sweeping out—techniques born of the same lineage as Shiraishi's.
"Brother!"
Kurama Unkai rushed forward—only to face a massive humanoid figure.
Hoshino Mai transformed into a two-meter-tall brute, her Ox-Head Crescent Halberd crashing down with terrifying force.
Blood sprayed.
Caught completely off guard, Kurama Unkai staggered back several steps, severely wounded by the sudden, overwhelming blow.
Shiraishi's squad had been lying in ambush all along, waiting for his signal.
Unkai retreated, blood pouring from his wounds. Kurama clan shinobi rushed to support him—
But from the darkness, a longsword burst from the ground.
One precise thrust aimed at Kurama Unkai's throat.
Blood splashed—life and death decided.
As Unkai clutched his neck and collapsed, Morimoto Ryoji faded back into the earth like a ghost.
With their genjutsu protection shattered, the Kurama clan's advantage collapsed completely.
"You… will die for this!"
With his child slain, Kurama Arashiyama finally lost all reason.
Both hands surged with chakra, compressing into a single point—
And then erupted into a violent, rampaging torrent.
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