Chapter 243: A Blade Hidden in the Serpent's Maw! A Clash of Wills!
In the depths of the Sharingan's crimson gaze, a colossal palm crackling with lightning was reflected.
In an instant—
The surrounding air was compressed and sealed, the layers of atmospheric pressure erupting into a series of explosive roars!
A Lightning Release: Lariat, unleashed in full force by the Eight-Tails' vessel, thundered straight toward Uchiha Ci's back!
It was as if a massive dump truck accelerating to 200 km/h had crashed into him from behind!
PONG!!
Without offering any resistance, Uchiha Ci was sent flying with brutal force!
A sharp arc was carved through the sky as he was launched headfirst toward the ground like a human missile.
"Huuh—"
"Senior B, thank you!"
Successfully interrupting Uchiha Ci's imminent strike on Yugito Nii, both Killer B and Yugito let out a long sigh of relief.
However, at that very moment—
Killer B's expression suddenly changed. A strange feeling crept over him—
Something was off about the impact from his Lariat.
With a sharp turn of his head, his eyes widened in shock just as a loud bang erupted in the air.
Puff!
The Uchiha Ci who had been sent flying—transformed into a puff of white smoke midair!
In the next instant—
The enormous blue serpent coiling around Matatabi suddenly unhinged its massive jaws, revealing Uchiha Ci standing upon its flickering tongue—before he launched himself forward in a flash!
"What were you expecting?"
A cold, mocking voice rang out.
Perched upon Matatabi's burning body, Uchiha Ci extended a hand, catching the Kusanagi Blade as it arced downward from the air.
Holding the sword firmly at his right chest, both hands gripping the hilt, the blade itself instantly ignited with an overwhelming, incandescent brilliance!
Fire Release Chakra Mode: Super Sonic White-Flame Blade!
Clutching a sword that seemed as if it had been plucked straight from the set of Star Wars, Uchiha Ci wasted no time—
He lowered his stance, his body coiling like a spring, before launching himself straight at the stunned Yugito Nii!
His scarlet snake-like pupils dilated, his skin contorted with ferocity, veins bulging across his forehead—
"Die!!"
"When did this happen?"
Killer B's expression darkened. He wanted to intervene, but his previous strike had left him out of position. Uchiha Ci had already darted past the range of his elbow strike—he was too late.
All he could do was watch in vain as the events unfolded.
Even the Eight-Tails' expression grew grim. At last, it spoke in a grave tone:
"It must have been during the summoning of that snake."
"Then, through eye contact with his summoning beast, he likely used Genjutsu to convey his battle plan."
"Kuh!!"
Killer B clenched his fists, his face darkening with anger, his gaze sharp like two piercing daggers.
Meanwhile—
Seeing Uchiha Ci's relentless charge, Yugito Nii was initially startled. But in the next moment, her expression cooled.
"That sword—it's Fire Release?"
"You think you can kill someone who wields the power of the Two-Tails with Fire Release?"
Her face turned frosty in an instant as she uttered coldly:
"How unfortunate. You've chosen the wrong opponent!"
With that, Yugito immediately formed the Tiger seal.
"Fire Release: Mouse Hairball!"
The very next second—
Dozens of blue-flamed chakra spheres erupted from her mouth, each one burning intensely, controlled by her ten fingers as they shot straight toward Uchiha Ci!
This was a unique technique exclusive to the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki—capable of tracking its target and unleashing massive explosions, far exceeding ordinary Fire Release techniques in destructive power.
However—
The sword in Uchiha Ci's hands was far from an ordinary Fire Release technique!
It was the concentrated essence of his Forty-Meter Flowing-Flame Greatsword, formed by completely exhausting his own chakra, the chakra of the Zero-Tails, and what remained of the Heaven's Cursed Seal—
This was his final strike!
A last stand—A life-and-death gambit—this was the moment to wager everything!
Against a top-tier ninja world powerhouse like a Tailed Beast Jinchūriki, from the very beginning, Uchiha Ci had been forced to unleash his full strength!
If this technique failed—then he would perish right here and now.
At this moment—
Having previously lost seven swords to this very blade, Killer B knew all too well just how terrifying Uchiha Ci's sword was.
When he saw that Yugito wasn't retreating—instead believing she could counterattack—he was both furious and exasperated.
Moreover, upon close observation, he realized—
This sword… was even stronger than when they last fought!
In fact—
He could detect a familiar energy within it.
It was none other than his own Lightning Release: Super Sonic Shock Blade!
In just a mere month and a half—
This brat had not only copied his Lightning Release using those accursed eyes—
But had even integrated it into his own fighting style, enhancing his incandescent white sword into an even greater monstrosity!
Seeing this, Killer B couldn't hold back and immediately shouted:
"Yugito, run!!"
However—
Yugito merely shook her head stubbornly, her gaze locked onto the charging Uchiha Ci.
"Senior B, he's full of openings right now. I can kill him!"
This was her first major mission—she could not afford to fail!
Otherwise, she would be betraying everything—
The training, the expectations, the love the village had poured into her ever since she was implanted with the Two-Tails at the age of two!
In Kumogakure, a village built on brotherhood and camaraderie—this was a fate worse than death!
"You—"
Killer B's scalp tingled. He couldn't fathom why this girl was making such a rookie mistake at such a critical moment.
Of course—
The real reason behind this mistake—
Was because Uchiha Ci had planned for it all along!
To kill a Jinchūriki wielding a Fire-natured Tailed Beast, the best choice was a Wind-Water or Water-Lightning hybrid technique.
But instead—
He deliberately chose Fire Release—
To bait Yugito into standing her ground.
Of course, if his knowledge of the original Yugito Nii was incorrect, and she had turned tail and fled, it would have made no difference.
With the raw propulsive force of Uchiha-ryu Kenjutsu, his speed far exceeded hers.
She was dead either way.
However—
If she didn't flee—
Then he had all the room in the world to execute his plan!
Seeing Yugito refuse to run—
Uchiha Ci's lips curled into a twisted grin.
He leapt forward, weaving through three incoming Mouse Hairballs, slipping through the gaps of her jutsu, his approach relentless!
"You can't dodge forever!"
Yugito sneered, forming a seal.
Instantly, dozens of Mouse Hairballs twisted through the air, shifting erratically, sealing off all of Uchiha Ci's escape routes from six directions!
In her eyes, this was the deciding moment.
And yet—
Despite this apparent checkmate—
The boy standing before her—
Showed not even a hint of panic.
This was unlike any Kumogakure youth she had ever seen before.
In this moment—
She could only see—
And only hear—
"Heh... Hehehe... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
A twisted, maniacal laugh erupted from the boy's lips.
His eyes gleamed with madness.
Brandishing the incandescent blade that divided dusk from night—
"Good... Very good... I acknowledge your will!"
"To die by this blade, Yugito Nii—shall not disgrace your name!"
And in that instant—
The boy swung his sword—
Devouring the last remnants of twilight—
And in the moonless night—
A blade of incandescent radiance carved a perfect crescent arc—
"Uchiha-ryu: Momentary Sky Severance!!"
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