"So, it's you… that Nara Kagetsu?"
Rōshi's gaze swept across the battlefield, searching for the distinctive bun hairstyle of the Nara Clan. As a fellow Jinchūriki, he still cared about Han's fate.
Recently, Han had been single-handedly captured by a Konoha jōnin named Nara Kagetsu. His life or death remained unknown, leaving Rōshi with a heavy heart. Now, he sought Kagetsu's presence, aiming to settle the score.
"Kagetsu-kun?"
Shisui drew his bow, nocking an arrow with precision. The arrowhead pointed straight at Rōshi's forehead.
"If you can defeat me, maybe you'll get to see him."
The arrow shot forth.
In an instant, it crossed the distance between them, appearing right before Rōshi's forehead.
Almost instinctively, Rōshi tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the attack. However, the tailed beast cloak covering his body was torn apart in one spot.
"An archer? You're too close to me!"
In a flash, a thick layer of molten armor covered Rōshi's body—searing lava engulfed him entirely.
With a burst of power from his legs, he instantly closed in on Shisui. His burning fist, as hot as flowing magma, struck directly.
Huh?
Feeling something off in the impact, Rōshi's eyes widened in surprise. A translucent green skeletal structure had formed around Shisui, shielding him completely.
His punch landed on the skeletal armor, but not only was the force absorbed, even the intense heat from the lava was blocked entirely.
At the same time, the giant entity formed from materialized chakra radiated an ominous, sinister aura.
"Be careful of his eyes, Rōshi! Those are Uchiha Madara's eyes!"
A voice suddenly appeared in Roshi's mind.
"Uchiha Madara?" Roshi was slightly stunned. He wasn't surprised by the voice inside him, but the mention of that name left him deeply shocked.
No wonder—this name was as legendary as Senju Hashirama, the one who ended the Warring States period and was hailed as the God of Shinobi!
His gaze locked onto a pair of four-pointed pinwheel-like eyes. In the next instant, the chakra of the Four-Tails erupted violently, forcefully sweeping away the invading Yin Release chakra that had infiltrated Roshi's consciousness.
"Don't look into his eyes!"
The Four-Tails roared within Roshi's mind, its voice filled with both fury and urgency.
Just like Wood Release, the Mangekyō Sharingan was something that the Tailed Beasts both despised and feared. Their freedom had been forcibly stripped away by men possessing these two Kekkei Genkais.
Both Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan had suppressive effects on a Tailed Beast's power.
"Genjutsu…?"
Roshi quickly averted his gaze, cold sweat forming on his skin. As a Jinchūriki, he had been caught in the opponent's illusion the instant he looked into those eyes, without any resistance. This was beyond his understanding of Genjutsu.
Was there truly someone who had reached such a terrifying level of mastery in illusion techniques?
Or were those eyes simply too powerful in enhancing Genjutsu?
So… these were the legendary eyes of Uchiha Madara?
"That's—!"
Floating in mid-air, Ōnoki felt an overwhelming, ominous chakra surge forth—a sinister and suffocating presence. Instinctively, he turned to look in its direction.
Just one glance made his heart pound violently in his chest.
Susanoo!
With a single look, he immediately recognized what that towering, emerald-green chakra giant was!
Although it wasn't as tall as the Susanoo in his memory, the oppressive aura it gave off was even heavier.
There was no doubt about it—both from its appearance and the chakra it emitted—this was the powerful dojutsu known as Susanoo!
If he didn't already know that Uchiha Madara had been dead for years, just one look at it would have shaken Ōnoki to his core.
Even now, his emotions were difficult to calm.
Another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared in the Uchiha Clan?
Ōnoki's heart grew bitter as he speculated. And with that thought came an intense jealousy and frustration toward Konoha.
That village… every time they found themselves in a desperate war, a genius capable of turning the tide would emerge.
During the First Great Ninja War, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Kagami, and Shimura Danzō.
In the Second Great Ninja War, it was the Three Sannin and Konoha's White Fang.
And now, in the Third Great Ninja War, Namikaze Minato, Nara Kagetsu, and an unknown Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan have appeared.
This was enough to break the spirits of every great nation and ninja village that had dreamed of toppling Konoha, hoping to claim its resources and rise as the strongest power in the ninja world.
Even with Ōnoki's unwavering will, when he saw that towering green giant, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
After all this time, after everything Iwagakure had sacrificed in this war, they had still failed to claim victory over Konoha, despite fighting on multiple fronts for two long years.
For two years, they had broken through Konoha's defensive lines again and again. But the final barrier standing between them and Konoha's heart remained as unbreakable as ever.
He hadn't even seen Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, on the battlefield!
"Daydreaming in the middle of a fight isn't a good habit!"
A strong female voice rang out at the moment when Ōnoki was distracted.
In response, Ōnoki hastily summoned a giant rock and pushed it forward, but a pale white fist smashed through the rock, quickly filling his line of sight.
Giant Stone Technique!
A giant stone figure extended its palm, separating Tsunade and Ōnoki. The giant's palm cracked under Tsunade's punch, but with a constant flow of earth chakra, the cracks quickly sealed up.
"This isn't the time to daydream, old man." Kitsuchi gritted his teeth as he controlled the giant to protect Ōnoki, placing him on his shoulder and complaining.
To save Ōnoki, he had just taken a vicious strike from Orochimaru, leaving a massive gash on the giant's body that nearly cut him in half. If he hadn't dodged quickly, he might've lost an arm just to rescue him.
"Though the power is still a bit rough, Kagetsu told me to showcase absolute power in this fight."
Shisui recalled Kagetsu's advice and immediately channeled the power of the Hogyoku Mode into her eyes.
The Susano didn't grow any bigger, but an invisible force of Yin Release spread out like wind from the giant's center, drifting outward.
This time, even the Four-Tailed beast inside Roshi didn't notice the spreading genjutsu.
But behind Roshi, and around the area where the Hidden Stone ninja were, they suddenly seemed to go berserk. Under his gaze, they began fighting among themselves, as if they were mortal enemies.
"What are you doing?!"
Roshi's furious roar echoed, but the Hidden Stone ninja acted as if they hadn't heard him or felt the chakra explosion. They kept fighting, as if they were bound by a deep grudge.
****
Please support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,
https://ko-fi.com/pirateking24/tiers