The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken continued to expand rapidly, but even without Biwa Jūzō's warning, Kurosuki Raiga and the others had already sensed the danger.
With such strong chakra, they weren't blind to the threat.
Each of them swiftly retreated, but the expanding energy sphere was just as fast. Realizing they were about to be consumed by the blast, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen reacted quickly.
Kurosuki Raiga crossed his twin blades, lightning crackling violently as he collided with the approaching force. The resulting explosion sent him tumbling backward at even greater speed, using the impact to escape.
Jinin Akebino, wielding the blunt sword Kabutowari, brought down his axe, followed by a powerful strike from his hammer. The tremendous force clashed with the Rasenshuriken's power, but like Raiga, he was knocked back by the shockwave.
Kuriarare Kushimaru, the masked wielder of the Nuibari , had seemingly anticipated the attack. Wrapping his long wire around a tree, he used it to swiftly escape the explosion.
Fuguki Suikazan, the slowest of the group, saw that he couldn't escape in time. He immediately unsheathed the Samehada, still wrapped in bandages. As the bandages exploded away, Samehada unfurled, and with a fierce swing, it sliced through the expanding Rasenshuriken's force.
Jinpachi Munashi, wielding the explosive blade Shibuki, unfurled a scroll covered with explosive tags.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions filled the air, their fiery light scattering the Rasenshuriken's expanding energy.
From the air, Shūichi took in the scene.
However, what surprised him the most was the swordsman he was least familiar with—Hōzuki Chiba, who wielded the Hiramekarei, a pair of fan-like blades stacked together.
As the bandages flew off, the Hiramekarei released a powerful burst of chakra, forming a massive chakra orb. As it descended, it slammed down like a gigantic hammer forged from pure chakra.
Boom!
The expanding Rasenshuriken came to a sudden halt, and then exploded outward, unleashing a windstorm that swept across the battlefield.
However, the storm caused little actual damage.
"This guy must be the strongest of them…"
Shūichi's gaze sharpened as the windstorm swirled. Taking advantage of the moment, he waved his hands, scattering a multitude of Flying Thunder God kunai across the battlefield.
At that moment, Might Duy, having already opened the Seventh Gate, charged into the storm with immense force, launching a devastating kick at Jinin Akebino.
Jinin Akebino retreated quickly, the storm tearing through the ground as dust and debris filled the air. He swung his axe at Duy with his right hand, followed by his hammer in his left.
But Might Duy's speed in the Seventh Gate far exceeded his expectations. In a flash, Duy had already appeared behind him.
Jinin Akebino twisted his wrist, swinging his axe in a spin toward his back.
Boom!
In the next moment, Jinin Akebino was sent flying, crashing into a tree before collapsing to the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he couldn't stand. His axe and hammer lay scattered on the ground.
As the windstorm passed, a thick mist began to rise, quickly engulfing the battlefield.
Hiding in the Mist Jutsu!
Suddenly, a long needle shot up from the ground, aimed directly at Might Duy's back.
Unfortunately for Kuriarare Kushimaru, Shūichi's heat vision was unaffected by the mist. Drawing his sword, Shūichi launched his Totsuka Blade, enveloped in blue flames, straight at Kushimaru's sneak attack.
"Thousand Blades!"
Kurosuki Raiga shouted as thunder roared, lightning tearing through the mist, aimed directly at Shūichi.
In Shūichi's field of vision, the Hiramekarei's chakra flared up once again, extending outward like a massive chakra blade.
Swish!
Shūichi's figure disappeared from the air, reappearing next to one of his Flying Thunder God kunai, only to be met by the Hiramekarei, which was already slashing toward him with tremendous force.
At the same time, Kuriarare Kushimaru gave up his attack on Might Duy and dodged the incoming Totsuka Blade.
Shūichi disappeared once again, evading the strike from the Hiramekarei, and reappeared next to his sword. With a swift motion, he swung the blade, unleashing a crescent-shaped Blue Flame Vacuum Slash toward Kushimaru.
But before it could hit, Hōzuki Chiba, wielding the Hiramekarei, appeared in front of Kushimaru, deflecting the attack with his blade.
Boom!
The Blue Flame Vacuum Slash exploded, creating a fiery windstorm.
Suddenly, from behind Shūichi, the sound of countless senbon needles whistled through the air.
It was Fuguki Suikazan's Needle Senbon, flying at great speed and covering a wide area.
But before they could hit, Shūichi vanished once more.
Meanwhile, Jinpachi Munashi, wielding the explosive blade Shibuki, swung his sword, unfurling a scroll that surrounded Might Duy.
Before the explosion could trigger, Might Duy leapt into the air.
"You're dead!" Jinpachi roared.
As he swung his blade, the unfurled scroll flew toward Might Duy, while lightning from above struck down.
It was Kurosuki Raiga, continuing his support from a distance.
Lightning struck Duy mid-air, causing his body to tense up from the shock.
However, the scroll flying toward him was suddenly sliced in two by a blinding white beam of light.
Jinpachi sensed the danger and dodged, but mid-dodge, his body was cleaved in half by the blinding light.
"Perish!"
Kurosuki Raiga shouted as lightning rained down like branches, targeting Shūichi, who had just unleashed his flaming dragon breath.
Lightning was fast, but Shūichi's reaction was faster.
Having dealt with Jinpachi, he disappeared before the lightning could strike.
"Uncle Duy, are you alright?"
Shūichi appeared beside Might Duy.
"I'm fine!"
Duy shook his head. Although the lightning attack had paralyzed him momentarily, his Seventh Gate power had already helped him recover.
Shūichi placed a hand on Duy's shoulder, leaving a Flying Thunder God mark before turning his gaze toward the remaining four enemies.
Hōzuki Chiba, Fuguki Suikazan, Kurosuki Raiga, and Kuriarare Kushimaru.
Jūzō Biwa was crippled by the Rasenshuriken, Jinpachi Munashi was split in two by the Flame Dragon Breath, and Kuriarare Kushimaru was incapacitated by a single kick from Might Duy.
Despite their losses, these were no weaklings. The coordination among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was impeccable.
Raiga Kurosuki's Lightning Release provided both speed and wide-area attacks, Fuguki Suikazan was a close-combat powerhouse with his swift and broad Needle Senbon, and Hozuki Chiba wielded the strongest blade of all. Shūichi estimated that even his standard Rasenshuriken would be cleaved in two by it.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the others really didn't lose unjustly!
On the other side, amidst the mist, the expressions of Hozuki Chiba and the remaining swordsmen were equally grim.
All the way here, the only group that even remotely posed a challenge to them was that Konoha Anbu squad. Yet, they had still achieved victory.
But now, after just a brief skirmish, they had already lost three members.
Not only was the renowned Shūichi absurdly strong, but even that scruffy-looking man was no ordinary fighter.
"No wonder he's called the Blue Flash of Konoha!"
"His speed… it's even faster than lightning…"
Raiga Kurosuki muttered, his gaze locked on Shūichi Hoshita.
Even through the thick mist, Shūichi's striking appearance couldn't be concealed.
"I'm getting more and more eager to prepare a grand funeral for you!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Raiga's excitement grew. "You're worthy of a funeral that I would lay down my life to prepare!"
He quickly turned his head and shouted, "Chiba, seize the opportunity!"
"This guy can teleport to his kunai. Just like the Yellow Flash of Konoha, he's mastered the Body Flicker Technique."
Hozuki Chiba added, "And don't forget about his sword..."
Hearing Raiga's words, Shūichi couldn't help but feel exasperated.
"The Blue Flash of Konoha… Can't they come up with something new?"
"Duy-senpai, you charge in when I give the signal!" Shūichi called out to Might Duy.
They hadn't had much coordination up to this point.
However, after that initial exchange, had a clear grasp of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's strength.
Now... it was time to unleash their full power!
"Duy-senpai, go!"
With a shout, summoned his Totsuka Blade in his left hand, while blue lotus blossoms bloomed all over his body. In an instant, he shot forward like a bullet.
"The burning spirit of youth, bloom!"
Might Duy declared, his feet smashing into the ground as he followed right behind Shūichi, rushing straight at Raiga Kurosuki.
Boom!
A barrage of lightning bolts rained down from the sky, targeting and Duy, but they dodged them with incredible speed.
Shūichi's Totsuka Blade slashed downward, its blade glowing intensely as it cut toward Hozuki Chiba.
Blue Flame Waterfall Blade!
Chiba swung his sword in response, his blade also glowing brightly. The two sword beams collided, exploding with a violent storm of energy.
Just then, Fuguki Suikazan appeared at Shūichi's side, swinging his massive sword, Samehada.
But in the next moment, Fuguki's movements froze.
Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories!
In a flash Shūichi, appeared beside Fuguki, his blade sweeping across the swordsman's neck.
Dodging a flurry of needles, Shūichi's figure vanished once again.
This time, he reappeared beside Might Duy. From his shoulder, two dragon heads shot out brilliant beams of light like giant scissors, splitting Raiga Kurosuki in two, who had been stunned by Duy's kick and paralyzed by the lightning.
Raiga Kurosuki, dead!
Shūichi and Duy disappeared again as both the long needles and twin blades of the Hiramekarei launched simultaneous attacks.
"This bastard… we can't even land a hit on him."
Hozuki Chiba gritted his teeth, feeling despair for the first time.
"It looks like our newly rising fame will end here," said Kuriarare Kushimaru, his face hidden behind a mask. "Chiba, retreat. I'll hold them off."
"Take the swords back to the village. We can't let the Seven Ninja Swords vanish."
Chiba, who could summon all the blades of the Seven Swordsmen, hesitated, but then nodded solemnly. "Understood!"
With that, Chiba began to retreat.
"I've already told you, all these swords are part of my collection. Not even the Mizukage could stop me from keeping them!"
Shūichi's voice echoed as chains burst from the ground.
As Chiba retreated, he swung his sword to fend off the approaching chains, but then he noticed that Kushimaru had frozen in place.
Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories!
Might Duy flew in with a powerful sweeping kick, and the bound Kushimaru was sent flying like a ragdoll, his body lifeless as it crashed to the ground.
With one kick, Kushimaru was dead. Duy charged again, appearing behind Chiba and sweeping out another kick.
Swoosh!
Chiba's body liquefied.
But just as this happened, fiery chains from the Fire Nether Chains wrapped around the Hiramekarei, and with a tug, ripped the weapon from Chiba's grasp.
Following up on his kick, Duy threw a punch with all his might, causing the liquefied Chiba to explode into a torrent of water.
However, the water swiftly wrapped around Duy's legs, ensnaring him.
At that moment, Shūichi, surrounded by crackling lightning after deactivating his Fire Release: Chakra Mode, reappeared.
He rescued Duy, and then, without giving Chiba a chance to retreat, flashed forward once again. His hand pierced into Chiba's liquefied body, electrocuting him until he solidified into a jelly-like form.
Shūichi withdrew his hand and gently flicked his fingers, causing a lotus of flames to bloom from his fingertips. The jelly-like Chiba exploded in a burst of fire.
"Even the Demonic Realm—Memory Palace isn't invincible. The liquefied Chiba and the lightning-armored Raiga were both immune to the spirit body invasion."
"As expected, the Sharingan's silent infiltration through eyes is still superior."
Shūichi sighed inwardly.
The mist had now dissipated, and Pakura's voice called out from the distance, "Lord Shūichi, should we finish off these two?"
Kuriarare Kushimaru had been severely injured by Might Duy's kick and was completely incapacitated, but to everyone's surprise, Jūzō Biwa managed to recover a bit and started to crawl back up.
Unfortunately for him, Pakura arrived and promptly dragged him back down.
Shūichi watched this scene, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's keep him alive and send him back to Konoha for interrogation."
Biwa Jūzō struggled, gritting his teeth. "Damn it!"
Pakura immediately knocked him out with a swift chop to the neck.
Shūichi then summoned a shadow clone to heal both Biwa Jūzō and Kushimaru, ensuring they didn't die.
"Uncle Duy, are you alright?" Shūichi asked as he approached Might Duy, who was kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.
"I'm fine… just exhausted," Duy said, shaking his head with a tired but satisfied smile on his face.
Shūichi placed a hand on Duy's shoulder, and Yang Release chakra flowed into his body, nourishing him.
Meanwhile, Might Guy and the others had finally gotten a clear view of the battlefield and were left in shock.
Deep craters of various sizes were everywhere, with large swaths of charred earth.
But the most shocking sight was the number of bodies scattered around.
"This is… incredible!" Ebisu, who wore sunglasses, couldn't help but gulp.
Shiranui Genma, chewing on a senbon needle, looked at the bodies and commented, "These guys were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the ones who tore through our defenses."
"We're on a completely different level compared to Shūichi now," Guy said, stunned as he took in the scene. He then rushed over to his father's side, tears streaming down his face. "Dad!"
Might Duy embraced his son, and the two of them started crying loudly together.
Shūichi awkwardly pulled his hand back, unsure of why they were crying.
It didn't seem like they were sad, nor was it a reaction to surviving a near-death experience… he didn't get it.
At that moment, Ebisu and Genma approached the large body of Fuguki Suikazan. Ebisu couldn't resist poking the lifeless figure and turned to Genma. "Was this guy trapped in one of Shūichi's genjutsu?"
Genma inspected the corpse closely and then pointed to a scorched mark on Fuguki's neck. "No, I don't think so. His neck's been cut."
Ebisu examined the wound and gulped again. "His neck was severed."
They then moved over to the shattered remains of Hōzuki Mangetsu.
"What happened to this one?" Ebisu asked.
Genma shook his head.
Shūichi walked over with a smile. "That's due to the Hydrification Technique."
"The Hōzuki clan from the Mist Village can liquefy their bodies, making them nearly immune to physical attacks."
Genma quickly understood. "So he was taken down by Lightning Release?"
Shūichi nodded. "The Hydrification Technique is weak against Lightning Release."
"As for Fire Release, it depends on who's stronger."
Genma and Ebisu both nodded in agreement and then moved on to Kuriarare Kushimaru's corpse.
"Was this one killed by Uncle Duy?" Ebisu asked, finding it hard to believe as he glanced at the father and son still crying in the distance.
Due to the thick mist, they hadn't witnessed the battle clearly.
But the injuries on the body were clearly the result of pure taijutsu, something that didn't quite match Shūichi's usual fighting style.
Shūichi, happy to give credit to Duy, nodded and explained, "Yes, it was Uncle Duy's taijutsu technique."
"The other guy was also severely injured by one of his kicks."
Genma couldn't help but exclaim, "That's unbelievable."
Shūichi said, "Taijutsu training is extremely grueling. Uncle Duy has been working hard for twenty years, which led to his breakthrough today."
Ebisu and Genma looked over at the crying father and son. It was hard for them to reconcile this Might Duy, whom they had always known as a perpetual genin, with the man who had just taken down members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
It was a complete upheaval of everything they thought they knew.
Shūichi then unstrapped a large scroll from his back and said, "Genma, Ebisu, help me gather the bodies."
"Got it," the two of them replied, quickly moving to help collect the bodies so that Shūichi could seal them into the scroll.
Meanwhile, Shūichi's clone, after providing emergency treatment to the two prisoners, placed sealing jutsu on them.
He used the Five Elements Seal and reinforced it with heavy limb seals.
By this time, Guy and Might Duy had finished their "spiritual awakening," and Shūichi could sense a new resolve from Guy.
It was a determination unlike anything he had ever felt before.
It really is important for people to have hope and a clear goal to strive toward, Shūichi thought to himself. He then released his shadow clone and turned his gaze to the seven swords lying on the ground. "Do any of you want one?"
Genma, Ebisu, and the others exchanged glances.
Ebisu hesitated before saying, "Shūichi, these are yours and Uncle Duy's spoils of war."
Duy quickly shook his head. "I was just assisting Shūichi. These are all his."
Shūichi chuckled. "Even though I said I'd collect them, these swords need proper wielders to fully show their power."
Genma stepped forward, picked up the Nuibari (Sewing Needle), tested it a few times, then shook his head. "Shūichi, I still prefer my senbon needles."
Guy picked up the broken Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) and swung it a few times but soon put it down. "I'm more of a fists and feet kind of guy."
Ebisu first tried the explosive blade Shibuki, but he couldn't handle it properly. Then, he switched to the blunt sword Kabutowari but nearly smashed his own foot, making everyone laugh.
When he went to grab Samehada, the living sword, it immediately bit him, causing him to jump back in shock. "Shūichi, this sword is alive?!"
Shūichi laughed. "Yes, the Samehada is alive. It can absorb chakra, and it especially loves powerful chakra."
As he spoke, Shūichi released a surge of Four-Tails chakra, and the Samehada eagerly devoured it before slithering up his back like a pet, to the amazement of everyone.
However, Shūichi knew that Samehada would betray him in an instant if it sensed stronger chakra elsewhere. With that in mind, he removed the sword from his back and sealed it away.
Shūichi then turned his gaze to Pakura, who shook her head. "My fighting style is already complete."
Shūichi didn't push further. He sealed the remaining swords one by one into the scroll and stored it away.
If none of them wanted the swords now, he could train others or find suitable wielders later.
Maybe it would be nice to have his own Seven Ninja Swordsmen team under his command someday.
With everything packed up, Shūichi said to Guy and the others, "Uncle Duy, Guy, take the prisoners back to Konoha and hand them over for interrogation."
The four immediately straightened up. Duy nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Shūichi. I will give everything I have to ensure they're safely delivered to Konoha!"
Shūichi smiled. "With you around, Uncle Duy, it won't be a problem."
"Alright, let's move out!" he commanded.
The four nodded in unison before taking the scroll and prisoners, leaping into the distance.
"Lord Shūichi, where are we headed next?" Pakura asked.
Without hesitation, Shūichi replied, "I'll leave a shadow clone to team up with you. The Suna battlefield still needs me."
Pakura understood and was deeply moved. "Thank you, Lord Shūichi."
Shūichi created a shadow clone and instructed, "Head over to Jiraiya's camp. I'll return to the Land of Rivers."
With that, his body flickered and disappeared.
As his real body vanished, the shadow clone suddenly turned to Pakura and said, "I just realized we have no idea where the Mist's frontline base is."
Behind her mask, Pakura froze in shock.
Why does Lord Shūichi's shadow clone seem a little unreliable?
...
When Shūichi returned to the Land of Rivers, it was already evening.
Orochimaru was still there, however.
Seeing Shūichi return, Orochimaru looked up and smiled, "You're a bit slower than I expected."
Shūichi sat down across from Orochimaru, grabbed some grilled meat from the table, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Lord Orochimaru, rushing all the way for such a distant rescue is tiring, you know."
"Flying Thunder God takes up a lot of chakra, and the Mist Village's Seven Ninja Swordsmen aren't weak."
Orochimaru's interest was piqued. "Anything special about them?"
Shūichi thought for a moment. "Apart from one Hozuki Clan member, the people themselves weren't anything special. But the swords? They were pretty remarkable."
"One sword, the Great Blade Samehada, can absorb chakra—even tailed beast chakra."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest. "No wonder even Jiraiya found them troublesome."
Shūichi pulled out a sealing scroll and brought out Samehada for Orochimaru to examine, then asked, "Has the village made any further plans?"
While fiddling with Samehada, Orochimaru replied, "Besides sending reinforcements, there haven't been any new developments."
"So far, there's no sign of collaboration between the Sand and Stone Villages. The Anbu and the Root division haven't uncovered any relevant information either."
After finishing his meat, Shūichi grabbed a drink and downed it in one go. "I have a feeling the Sand Village is about to make a move."
"They can't afford to engage in a prolonged standoff with us. We can replenish our supplies from the Land of Rivers, but they can't."
"Lord Orochimaru, I suggest you secretly head to the Land of Fire's border to prepare for a Sand Village surprise attack."
Orochimaru set Samehada aside, which quietly crawled back onto Shūichi's back. With a slightly surprised glance, Orochimaru remarked, "That's certainly one way to approach it."
Shūichi added, "Of course, you could send Lady Koharu, but if the Sand Village strikes, she might not be able to hold them off."
Orochimaru chuckled, "Shūichi-kun, don't underestimate them."
Shūichi shook his head with a sigh. "It's not underestimating—it's a difference in mindset."
After a moment of thought, Orochimaru smiled. "If the Sand Village does make a move, you could use your Flying Thunder God to transport me there, no problem, right?"
Shūichi nodded. "That's doable."
"But I probably won't be able to go in person. If that happens, the Sand Village will likely launch a feint here."
He wasn't yet confident in fully controlling Shukaku and Bunpuku.
The power of the Fire Nether Chains wasn't strong enough yet.
And the Demonic Realm – Memory Palace would definitely not be able to hold Shukaku and Bunpuku together.
Orochimaru grinned. "A clone will suffice. Flying Thunder God is fast enough—I can arrive ahead of time and make some preparations."
Shūichi asked, "But wouldn't our forces be insufficient?"
Orochimaru asked with a smile, "What do you think the Sand Village's goal would be if they launch a surprise attack?"
Shūichi thought it over. "Their first step would still be the Land of Rivers."
"Seems like their main target is us here…"
"If they can divert our forces from the village and launch a surprise attack on the border, they'd cause us to lose ground quickly."
Orochimaru pointed at the map. "The Sand Village would break through our border defenses, take up a defensive position, and only a small portion of their forces would be needed to hold off our reinforcements for a while."
"That would free up another group to cut off our supply lines, leaving us trapped between two fronts."
"Even with your strength, Shūichi-kun, you wouldn't be able to protect everyone. The chances of us being overwhelmed are high."
"After that, the Sand Village would concentrate their forces to launch another offensive on the Fire Country's border, using the Land of Rivers as their supply base."
Shūichi nodded, his eyes falling on a red-circled spot on the map. "So, Lord Orochimaru, you plan to hold the Sand Village forces at this location?"
Orochimaru smiled and nodded. "Exactly."
"This is Kikyo Pass. There's a fortress there, with terrain that's easy to defend and hard to attack."
"I'll hold the Sand Village forces here until reinforcements from the village arrive."
"As for you, Shūichi, your task will be to stop Chiyo's army and Shukaku."
Kikyo Castle!
Shūichi suddenly realized and gave Orochimaru a thumbs-up. "As expected of Lord Orochimaru!"
"Although it looks like my task is going to be quite heavy too."
Orochimaru laughed, "I trust in you, Shūichi-kun."
"Of course…" Orochimaru's tone shifted, and his smile faded as fleeting images of various figures crossed his mind. "If it becomes impossible to hold the line, don't force it."
"With your Flying Thunder God, you can retreat to Kikyo Castle at any time."
Shūichi nodded seriously. "I understand!"
After chatting for a bit longer, Shūichi finally left the tent.
By now, the sky was filled with stars.
Shūichi exhaled deeply, feeling a bit of exhaustion.
It wasn't physical—rather, it was mental.
All the fighting… He didn't particularly enjoy it. Training and research were far more interesting to him.
But, alas, fate had other plans.
"Shūichi."
Uchiha Shisui appeared, interrupting Shūichi's thoughts.
With a friendly wave, the two headed toward the medical camp together.
Shisui asked, "Shūichi, you seem a bit worn out…"
Shūichi nodded. "I don't like war."
Shisui nodded back. "As you've said before, war isn't something we can decide."
"But there is one thing we can decide on: victory!"
Shūichi nodded, then asked, "Shisui, have you ever thought about how we could make this world free of war?"
Shisui paused, then shook his head. "That's a bit too far off. My priority is protecting the village and my loved ones."
"Ending war across the entire world… that seems almost impossible."
"The First Hokage once managed it, though…"
Shisui looked at Shūichi and smiled. "Shūichi, I think you can surpass the First Hokage. Maybe you'll even be able to end the wars in the shinobi world."
Shūichi put his arm around Shisui's shoulder and laughed. "That's not something I could do alone."
"Even the First Hokage had many supporters."
"I've heard that the First Hokage's original intention in founding the Konoha Village was to protect future generations, so kids wouldn't have to go to war."
"I feel the same. If there were no wars, I'd probably be enjoying academy life back in the village, carefree and happy!"
"To be honest, I don't want my child to grow up like me. I want him to face these things when he's ready—or maybe never at all."
Shisui was stunned, trying to imagine such a world, but found it difficult.
After all, going to war upon graduation had become so ingrained.
"If only things could be like that…"
Shisui couldn't help but dream, then he stopped and looked at Shūichi seriously. "I believe you can make that happen, Shūichi."
"Of course, I'll always be here to support you!"
Shūichi extended his hand.
Shisui immediately reached out, and with a clap, their hands met in a firm handshake.
The endurance of the Sunagakure was far more astonishing than both Shūichi and Orochimaru had anticipated.
May and June passed in the blink of an eye.
On the side of the Land of Rivers, the standoff between Konoha and the Sunagakure persisted, with both sides engaging in small skirmishes.
The only notable disturbance was Shukaku's eagerness to fight—every two days, it would challenge Shūichi to a battle.
Although neither could gain the upper hand, Shūichi was more than happy to take the opportunity to observe Shukaku. Occasionally, he'd even siphon some of its chakra to replenish his own research needs.
If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't yet perfected the Fire Nether Chains sealing technique, Shūichi would have likely already attempted to split off a piece of the One-Tail.
...
Meanwhile, the war between Konoha and the Kirigakure was still raging intensely. The annihilation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had caused another massive upheaval in the Kirigakure.
Without this deadly spearhead, the Mist found itself gradually pushed back on the battlefield of the Land of Fire, where they held no geographical advantage.
Still, one had to admit that the Kirigakure was as tenacious as it was crazed.
Take, for example, the Kaguya clan.
Orochimaru had once told Shūichi while passing on information that the Kaguya clan was full of war fanatics, bound to face extinction sooner or later.
In the past two months, the Sunagakure had launched two large-scale offensives against the Iwagakure.
Both failed.
Afterward, Shūichi noticed that both the Suna and Iwa had fallen into an eerie silence.
It appeared they were conserving strength for an impending decisive battle, but Shūichi had a gut feeling that the Fourth Kazekage and the Third Tsuchikage were planning something more sinister.
On the night of July 18th, Year 45 of Konoha…
Shūichi, who was resting in the medical camp, suddenly opened his eyes and immediately appeared inside Orochimaru's tent.
"It seems the Sunagakure is making a move?" Orochimaru, noticing the drenched Shūichi, asked with a serious expression.
Shūichi nodded gravely, "A group of elite Sand ninjas is rapidly advancing from the north to the east, numbering around 800."
"This movement won't escape the notice of the Iwagakure. It's clearly intentional."
Orochimaru nodded, "The Iwagakure needs the Sunagakure to further stretch our forces."
"It seems the Iwagakure is about to act as well."
Shūichi added, "If the Iwagakure makes a move, the Kumogakure won't be far behind."
Orochimaru smiled, "Shūichi, no need to overthink it. Let's first focus on defeating the Sunagakure!"
Shūichi nodded and, without hesitation, unlocked the Yin Seal on his forehead, releasing a surge of chakra.
Boom!
An identical shadow clone appeared.
Orochimaru said, "I'll leave things here to you for now."
"Lady Koharu should arrive by tomorrow at the latest."
Shūichi nodded.
It was indeed a bit challenging for him to command an army of a thousand.
This wasn't as simple as waving a hand and sending everyone charging forward.
After Orochimaru left with the shadow clone, Shūichi immediately sent a clone to inform Koharu and ordered Uchiha Shisui to gather the available Konoha jōnin under Orochimaru's command.
Half an hour later, six jōnin without pressing duties arrived.
Seeing Shūichi seated in Orochimaru's place startled them.
Without giving them a chance to question him, Shūichi said directly, "A portion of the Sunagakure forces, who were battling the Iwagakure, are now heading straight for the Fire Country's border. Lord Orochimaru left immediately to confront them."
"I've already sent a shadow clone for Lady Koharu, who will arrive by tomorrow."
"For tonight and tomorrow, until Lady Koharu arrives, please continue following Orochimaru's arrangements, but remain on high alert."
Hearing this, the jōnin were startled. Sarutobi Shinichi was the first to speak, "Shūichi, don't worry, we will not let anything go wrong."
Following him, the jōnin from the Nara and Yamanaka clans, who were close to Shūichi, also voiced their agreement.
Only Shimura Feiyan remained silent. Though he was dissatisfied with Shūichi taking charge, he nodded reluctantly in this situation.
Shūichi, satisfied, nodded back, "Very well. In that case, everyone, return to your posts."
Sarutobi Shinichi and the others nodded, then took their leave.
Once they were gone, Uchiha Shisui entered and asked, "Shūichi, do you think the Sunagakure will launch a large-scale attack tonight?"
Shūichi shook his head, "If we don't act, it's unlikely they will."
"But we still need to be prepared for anything."
Shisui nodded, then said, "In that case, I'll head to the frontlines."
Shūichi nodded, "Let's go together!"
"The Sunagakure will probably try to probe if I'm really here."
The two headed to the frontlines, where the presence of Shūichi's real body instantly boosted the morale of the Konoha ninjas on guard.
Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Shisui couldn't help but think to himself, "Shūichi has already become the heart of the Konoha ninjas."
As his friend and teammate, Shisui felt proud of this.
Meanwhile, on the other side, in the Land of Wind, a Sand ninja responsible for sensory duties opened his eyes behind a rock pillar.
"Another surge of Shūichi's chakra—this one is likely his real body."
Another Sand ninja immediately said, "I'll report to Lady Chiyo right away."
It was difficult to discern shadow clones from the real body, even for those with chakra sensing abilities.
And Shūichi was particularly hard to identify.
Chiyo soon received the report and said, "We'll need the One-Tail to test if it's really his body."
She turned to Bunpuku and said, "I'm afraid we'll need your help."
"Every now and then, provoke him and start a battle to ensure Shūichi's real body stays here. We can't let his true form appear near the Fire Country's border."
Chiyo knew full well that the Sunagakure's movements were being monitored by Konoha.
That flying ninja beast of theirs was too powerful.
Therefore, she had to ensure Shūichi's real body remained on this front.
As for his clones, there was nothing they could do about those.
But the distance posed a challenge for chakra transmission to clones, which meant she could minimize their impact.
Bunpuku nodded in agreement, and Shukaku, eager to play in the sand, was more than happy to have another go at teaching Shūichi a lesson.
...
One hour had passed since Orochimaru left.
Suddenly, Shūichi, who was resting on the frontlines, opened his eyes. "The One-Tail is coming!"
His shadow clone had sent back the memory.
Without hesitation, he leapt into the air, his figure disappearing into the night. Beside him, Uchiha Shisui also stood up and whistled.
In an instant, numerous Konoha ninjas hidden within the forest appeared.
Sarutobi Shinichi approached Uchiha Shisui. "Shisui, are the Sand ninjas attacking?"
Shisui shook his head. "No, the One-Tail is here."
"They're probably trying to confirm whether Shūichi's real body is still around."
Sarutobi Shinichi frowned at this. "The forces at the Fire Country border are insufficient. At the speed of the Sand ninjas, they could reach it before reinforcements."
As they spoke, Shukaku's distinctive howl echoed from the distance: "Hahaha, brat! This time, I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
One by one, the Konoha ninjas leapt into the trees, looking toward the source of the voice.
Shukaku's enormous figure was clearly visible, even in the darkness of the night. The moonlight was bright enough to make the sight even more pronounced.
Sarutobi Shinichi and the others also saw Shūichi floating in the air, already clad in his signature blue chakra cloak.
"Konoha's Blue Flash—it's a fitting title!" Sarutobi Shinichi exclaimed in admiration.
This nickname hadn't come from the Konoha ninjas; it was a title earned from the respect of their enemies.
For Sarutobi Shinichi and the others, this was one of the greatest honors a ninja could receive!
...
In the air, Shūichi looked down at the roaring Shukaku and said calmly, "Shukaku, you've been saying the same thing for months now."
"Honestly, if it weren't for Monk Bunpuku, I would've sealed you long ago."
He still held some respect for the elderly Bunpuku.
On Shukaku's head, Bunpuku saw right through Shūichi's provocation. "Shukaku, he's trying to goad you."
"Hmph! Does he think I can't tell?" Shukaku scoffed.
This pesky brat was underestimating him!
Raising his massive paw, Shukaku pointed at Shūichi from a distance and roared, "Bunpuku, let's take him down together!"
Before the words even finished, sand erupted from the ground, swirling like a dragon toward Shūichi in the air.
"It seems you've made some progress recently," Shūichi remarked as he watched the sand dragon approach. In an instant, blue lotus flowers bloomed behind him, and with a flash, he drew his sword, slicing through the sand dragon with a blue blade of chakra.
Boom, boom, boom!
Below him, more sand surged upward, trying to ensnare him.
But Shūichi moved through the air like a butterfly, weaving in and out with agility, making it impossible for Shukaku to catch him.
"Damn it!" Shukaku growled in frustration. He opened his mouth wide and fired several wind bullets.
Shūichi effortlessly dodged them, then a Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken appeared in his left hand, the sharp screeching sound filling the air as he hurled it toward Shukaku.
However, Shukaku merged several streams of sand into a massive barrier, blocking the shuriken.
The intense glow lit up the night sky as a sandstorm erupted.
Suddenly, Shūichi ascended higher and darted behind Shukaku, where twin flames formed into a fiery dragon on his shoulders. They lunged forward like giant scissors, aimed to slice at Shukaku.
Shukaku leaped into the air, spinning as he shot two more wind bullets before swinging his left claw, forming a massive wave of sand bullets.
At the same time, Bunpuku clasped his hands together atop Shukaku's head.
"Sand Scatter Shot!"
This time, the jinchūriki and Shukaku worked together to execute the technique.
Shūichi dodged the wind bullets and landed on the ground. In front of him, a thick wall erupted from the earth, adorned with intricate lotus carvings.
"Earth Release: Lotus Earth Flow Wall!"
Kakashi carved dogs, but Shūichi carved lotus flowers.
As the wall blocked the sand scatter shot, a Quagmire Swamp formed beneath Shukaku.
As soon as Shukaku landed, the swamp began to envelop him.
"Such a trivial technique won't stop me!" Shukaku sneered before his expression twisted into a grin. "Got you, brat!"
A surge of sand had grabbed hold of Shūichi's ankle and quickly climbed up, wrapping around him like ropes. Within moments, Shūichi's entire body was encased in sand.
"Hahaha! Now, get buried!"
Shukaku laughed maniacally as wave upon wave of sand crashed down, layer after layer, sealing the mass with sealing tags.
But Bunpuku frowned and warned, "Be careful—that's not his real body. He's behind you!"
Sensing the danger, Shukaku immediately tried to turn around, but he was still trapped in the swamp. He couldn't move fast enough.
Behind him, Shūichi, who had used his hair as a substitution clone, had already raised a Lava Release: Rasenshuriken in his hand, ready to strike.
Direct hit!
The Rasenshuriken spun furiously, enveloping Shukaku's massive body in molten lava.
"Damn it! I swear I'll destroy you!" Shukaku roared in agony.
From the rear, Chiyo's eyes narrowed as she watched. "So, he really has mastered Lava Release—without any of the Four-Tails' chakra."
"This guy…"
For a moment, Chiyo couldn't be sure. Was the Lava Release used in the scene of the Third Kazekage's disappearance and death caused by Shūichi, or by the power of the Four-Tails?
Even if Shūichi had gained the Four-Tails' power, could he have mastered Lava Release so quickly?
...
The melted sand fell away, revealing a smaller version of Shukaku.
Shūichi had already closed in, and chains shot out from his back, binding Shukaku tightly. One of the chains even pierced into Shukaku's body.
"Damn it…"
Just as Shukaku was about to turn around and Bunpuku was preparing to counter with a sealing technique, both of them suddenly froze. Their consciousnesses were pulled into a mental realm, and they found themselves inside the village of Konoha.
Demonic Realm – Palace of Memories!
"This is Konoha Village?"
"It's an illusion, Shukaku! Break the illusion quickly!" Bunpuku warned.
Shukaku, however, looked around in confusion. "This isn't like that Uchiha brat's illusion. How do I break this?"
From atop Shukaku's head, Bunpuku examined the seemingly real Konoha Village and said, "Chakra! Eliminate everyone who possesses chakra!"
Shukaku grinned broadly. "Excellent!"
"This method is right up my alley!"
"Then I'll destroy this Konoha Village!" Shukaku's eyes locked onto the Hokage Rock.
At that moment, figures leapt toward them from all directions—Konoha ninjas.
…
Outside the illusion, the Fire Nether Chains that bound Shukaku continued to burrow into his body.
This was the first time Shūichi had used Demonic Realm – Palace Memories on Shukaku and Bunpuku.
Earlier, he hadn't directly teleported to Shukaku using the Flying Thunder God technique because it would've been far too dangerous to appear right on top of him.
Instead, Shūichi had deliberately used the Lava Release: Rasenshuriken to weaken Shukaku's strength, knowing full well it wouldn't be enough to finish him off in one strike.
Compared to the past, Shūichi had indeed improved.
He was now able to completely suppress both Shukaku and Bunpuku by himself.
And now came the final step—extracting Shukaku from Bunpuku's body!
Shūichi clasped his hands together and pulled with all his might, using the Fire Nether Chains to drag Shukaku toward himself.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Chiyo saw that Shukaku and Bunpuku had been restrained and immediately led her forces into battle.
On the other side, Uchiha Shisui and his comrades also charged forward.
Within the illusion, both Shukaku and Bunpuku could feel their physical bodies being disturbed.
"That brat… He's actually trying to pull me out of your body!" Shukaku roared. "Old monk, you better figure out where that kid's real body is, or you're dead meat!"
Shukaku shouted as he effortlessly slaughtered Konoha ninjas one by one.
By now, Konoha Village lay in complete ruins—the Hokage Rock had even collapsed!
Bunpuku, with his hands clasped together, remained silent as he searched thoroughly, trying to locate the target.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. "I found him!"
Within the illusion, inside the Root base, Shūichi, playing the role of Danzo, smiled. "Have they finally found me?"
Accompanied by a loud rumble, a massive figure descended from the sky, crashing through the Root base. Wherever it passed, bridges crumbled.
Boom!
Shukaku landed, raising a paw to smash down. "Hiding here, and looking so ugly too!"
"Die!"
Shūichi leapt into the air, ending his role-playing, and began battling Shukaku.
He needed to buy time.
But it was clear that tailed beasts were exceptional beings.
Even in a mental space, Shukaku's immense power was wreaking havoc, causing the entire Root base to collapse.
Whoosh!
Shūichi suddenly vanished, teleporting using the Flying Thunder God technique.
Shukaku immediately gave chase, gathering a Tailed Beast Bomb in his mouth and firing it at the ground.
The earth quaked, and the entire illusion began to collapse.
The spiritual body acting as the illusion's vessel could no longer withstand the rampage of Shukaku's overwhelming power.
…
Under the night sky, Konoha and Sand shinobi clashed on the battlefield, with Shukaku at the center.
The Sand shinobi sought to free Shukaku, while Konoha fought to stop them.
Meanwhile, behind Shukaku, Shūichi, who had already pulled a third of Shukaku out of Bunpuku, sighed. "What a pity…"
The illusion had been broken!
Shukaku and Bunpuku both woke up.
At the same time, Chiyo had managed to break through Uchiha Shisui's defenses, allowing two Sand shinobi to rush in.
Seeing this, Shūichi acted decisively. A shadow clone appeared beside him, summoning the Yagakigami Sword.
Blue Flame Waterfall Blade!
A massive blue blade materialized, and just as Bunpuku was about to pull Shukaku back, Shūichi sliced down, severing the third of Shukaku that had been pulled out.
The enormous chakra, wrapped in Fire Nether Chains, was absorbed into Shūichi's body. As he sealed it, he cast another genjustu on Shukaku and Bunpuku.
Binding Jutsu!
Both Bunpuku and the tanuki were frozen in place.
But the effect lasted less than a second before they broke free.
Still, Shūichi had completed the sealing, and his ninjutsu burst forth in rapid succession.
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
Lightning Release: Sixteen Pillar Bind!
First, he trapped Shukaku's now smaller form in the swamp again, followed by stone pillars rising from the ground, surrounded by crackling electricity that formed a field of lightning.
This alone wasn't enough to stop Shukaku's sand-based body.
But then came the Firing Biscuit Jutsu.
Intense blue flames emerged, enveloping Shukaku and finally restraining him. Shūichi then sprang into action, as fast as lightning, knocking away the two approaching Sand shinobi and blowing a retreat whistle.
The Konoha ninjas retreated like a tide, fighting as they fell back. Shūichi created some clones to assist, and alongside Uchiha Shisui, they held the rear.
After Chiyo and the Sand shinobi surrounded Shukaku, they didn't pursue.
Shūichi's strength was extraordinary; without Shukaku, they didn't dare to challenge him head-on.
Carrying their wounded and the bodies of fallen comrades, the Konoha forces successfully retreated back to the Land of Rivers.
Shūichi halted, giving orders. "Immediately take the injured to the medical team. The rest, follow the plan for shifts and rest."
"The Sand shinobi won't stop provoking us just to hold my real body here."
Sarutobi Shinichi and the others nodded. "Understood!"
Everyone swiftly vanished into the forest.
Shūichi turned to Uchiha Shisui, who had stayed behind. "Shisui, you should rest too."
"Restore your strength, so we can face Shukaku together next time."
Shisui smiled and replied, "Got it!"
With that, Shisui disappeared in a flash.
Shūichi leaped up and sat on the treetop, gazing toward the Sand shinobi's direction. His spiritual body, however, was already inside the Eight Trigrams Seal on his abdomen.
The little Four-Tails saw him appear and spoke up, "It looks like it won't be long before you capture that Shukaku guy."
Shūichi, staring at the massive chakra of Shukaku, smiled. "I have no intention of capturing Shukaku."
The little Four-Tails pondered this.
Shūichi ignored him, continuing to focus on the power contained within Shukaku's chakra.
…
Kikyo Mountain, Kikyo Castle.
This castle in the Land of Rivers originally belonged to a noble, but it had since become a military fortress for Konoha.
After Shūichi's shadow clone met up with Orochimaru at the Land of Fire border to take command, they quickly headed here.
However, Konoha's forces only numbered about 300 ninja.
Fortunately, upon arriving at Kikyo Castle, Shūichi immediately summoned Gamabunta and sent a message to Konoha through Mount Myoboku's toads, requesting reinforcements.
This method was even faster than if he had returned to Konoha himself.
After all, Shūichi couldn't teleport directly to the village, while Mount Myoboku had a direct passage to Konoha.
If his teacher, Minato Namikaze, were in the village, he could have simply performed a reverse summoning and then canceled it immediately.
Orochimaru busied himself organizing the troops and setting up defenses.
Meanwhile, Shūichi found a secluded spot, transformed into a miniature Four-Tails form, and began recovering his chakra.
With Konoha's limited forces, he clearly couldn't let the transformation fade.
They had to hold out until Konoha's reinforcements arrived.
However, it was apparent that the Sand's elite forces would arrive before Konoha's reinforcements.
The distance from the Sand's northern battlefield to Kikyo Mountain was much shorter than from Konoha to Kikyo Mountain.
Even if Konoha rushed their forces overnight, they would still only arrive after dawn tomorrow.
The Sand's 800 ninja versus Konoha's 300—a significant advantage!
Time passed slowly.
At 3 a.m., Ebizō led the elite Sand forces to the base of the mountain.
The vanguard squad had already scouted Konoha's troop movements.
After receiving the report, Ebizō furrowed his brows. "Kikyo Mountain, huh?"
"That place is easy to defend and hard to attack…"
A Sand Jonin beside him remarked, "Even so, we have enough numbers."
"Konoha only has 300 people."
Just then, a figure swiftly arrived in front of Ebizō and reported, "We detected Konoha's Blue Flash chakra in Kikyo Castle!"
The surrounding Sand ninja were startled.
But Ebizō, having already anticipated this, calmly said, "Relax, it's just a shadow clone of Shūichi Hoshita."
"With Shukaku holding his real body in check, he can't be here."
He glanced at the dimly lit Kikyo Castle in the distance and commanded, "Begin the attack in half an hour!"
…
Inside Kikyo Castle, Orochimaru and Shūichi stood on the rooftop, overlooking the gathering Sand forces.
Orochimaru chuckled, "Less than three times the numbers, and the Fourth Kazekage didn't even come in person. They're underestimating you, Shūichi-kun."
Shūichi replied calmly, "While shadow clones can indeed replicate all of the real body's abilities, it's not the same in practice."
"My shadow clone can't use the Fire Release Chakra Mode, and Lava Release Chakra Mode isn't my forte. It's still within normal expectations, so the Fourth Kazekage doesn't need to come himself."
"Moreover, he wouldn't dare leave his position."
If the Fourth Kazekage left, the Third Tsuchikage could order an Iwa-nin counteroffensive.
At present, the Suna and Iwa hadn't formally allied.
Shūichi glanced toward the Land of Earth and said, "Once our war with the Sand reaches a stalemate, Iwa-nin will likely take action."
Orochimaru nodded, unconcerned. "Don't worry too much. Though the old man's become more cautious, that just means he has enough strength to handle it."
Shūichi withdrew his gaze and nodded slowly.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
The Sand ninja reached the foot of the mountain and attacked from all sides without hesitation.
Under the cover of night, the battle erupted!
From the rooftop, Shūichi watched the charging Sand shinobi. Lightning erupted from his limbs, accompanied by the chirping of a thousand birds.
Lightning surged across his body. With a standard sword in his right hand and a kunai in his left, Shūichi shot down from the rooftop in a flash of lightning, leaving a trail of scorched earth in his wake.
"Be careful, Konoha's Blue Flash is here!"
"It's just a shadow clone! Use Wind Release to limit his speed!"
"Prepare the puppet weapons!"
…
Seeing the lightning approaching, the Sand ninja immediately sent their elite to surround Shūichi.
However, after killing three Sand shinobi in quick succession, Shūichi vanished, reappearing elsewhere to rescue a Konoha ninja and sending the Sand forces flying.
With effortless control over Earth Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Fire Release, Water Release, and Genjutsu, wherever Shūichi went, the Sand ninja quickly crumbled.
The Sand ninja had no way to set a proper ambush.
They couldn't predict where Shūichi would appear.
Though his shadow clone didn't carry many Flying Thunder God kunai, every Konoha ninja acted as his marker. He could appear beside any of them, unleashing a barrage of ninjutsu that halted the Sand's advance.
This was the tactic Shūichi and Orochimaru had agreed upon beforehand.
Rescue and dismantle the Sand's offensive!
Though the Rasenshuriken was powerful, it consumed too much chakra.
Even with this shadow clone, Shūichi couldn't wipe out all of the Sand forces.
The Sand shinobi, unlike the Mist ninja from before, weren't gathered together. They had turned the entire Kikyo Mountain into a battlefield, attacking the castle from all directions.
Given the situation, sustained conventional ninjutsu was the best choice.
Half an hour later, the Sand ninja's fierce assault retreated like a tide.
Shūichi halted, panting heavily.
His chakra was nearly depleted!
If the fight continued, he wouldn't be able to keep going.
Though the battle had only lasted thirty minutes, his output had been overwhelming.
After briefly greeting Orochimaru, Shūichi disappeared, heading to a secret chamber where he transformed into the miniature Four-Tails to recover chakra.
But before half an hour passed, the Sand launched another attack.
This time, Orochimaru himself joined the fray, summoning Manda.
The Sand ninja responded by summoning two large creatures—a scorpion and a burrowing sandworm—to hold Manda at bay.
Shūichi continued to dart across the battlefield, extinguishing fires and halting the Sand's relentless assault.
On the mountainside, Ebizō's face darkened as he watched the flickering blue lightning.
"Though it's only a shadow clone, with spatial ninjutsu, Shūichi Hoshita's clones could keep coming from over there…"
Ebizō felt a deep sense of helplessness.
There was nothing he could do about Konoha's Blue Flash—his teleportation technique was impossible to counter.
Initially confident that his 800 troops would overwhelm Konoha's forces, Ebizō now foresaw failure.
After thinking for a moment, Ebizō dispatched someone to the northern battlefield in the Land of Wind.
They had to request reinforcements, or this strategic assault would fail.
Time continued to pass.
The Sand ninja launched one fierce attack after another.
By dawn, they had already assaulted the castle six times.
At 6 a.m., the first wave of Konoha reinforcements finally arrived.
Upon detecting them, Ebizō immediately sent 200 men to intercept the 100 reinforcements from Konoha.
But seeing Shūichi casually walking through the air, Ebizō reconsidered.
He feared that sending 200 men would be like throwing dumplings to a dog—there would be no return.
Thus, the 100 reinforcements were smoothly escorted into Kikyo Castle by Shūichi.
However, Shūichi was not pleased, as the reinforcements included Yakushi Nonō and Shizune, members of the medical corps.
Nonō and Shizune, on the other hand, were overjoyed to see Shūichi. Their worries vanished upon his appearance.
But there was no time for conversation, as the battlefield was filled with wounded, even Orochimaru had been injured. So Nonō and Shizune immediately got to work, too busy to rest.
"People are really double-standard…" Shūichi muttered to himself, watching the two work tirelessly, before heading off to recover his chakra.
The Sand's attacks wouldn't stop just because 100 reinforcements had arrived. In fact, they might become even more frenzied.
…
On the western side of the Land of Rivers, just as Shūichi had predicted, Shukaku was still eager for battle despite taking a severe beating. Now, an additional helper had joined Shukaku—Chiyo!
Shūichi brought Uchiha Shisui along and summoned Gamabunta to continue sparring with Shukaku and his allies.
They fought three rounds throughout the night, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
At 7 AM, Koharu Utatane finally arrived and took over command, allowing Shūichi to focus entirely on dealing with Shukaku.
Meanwhile, in the northern part of the Land of Wind, the Fourth Kazekage received Ebizō's plea for reinforcements and fell silent.
Eight hundred troops were already the limit of what he could afford to allocate. Any further reduction in manpower would weaken his position.
"It seems I'll have to recruit more forces from the village..."
The Fourth Kazekage quickly made his decision.
Even at this stage of the war, Sunagakure's full military potential hadn't been fully tapped.
He sent the order back to Sunagakure via a flying ninja beast. That afternoon, 600 reinforcements left the village, headed straight for the Kikyo Mountain battlefield.
However, by this time, Konoha had already sent three waves of reinforcements. The arrival of these fresh troops made it impossible for Ebizō to quickly seize Kikyo Mountain.
The next day, Sunagakure's reinforcements arrived, boosting their total fighting force to over a thousand.
At the same time, the number of Konoha ninjas within Kikyo Castle, capable of fighting, had grown to over 700.
With Shūichi Hoshita's shadow clone acting as a firefighting unit, the two sides reached a stalemate.
What was meant to be a quick victory had now inevitably turned into a protracted war.
...
In Iwagakure, within the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki was deep in thought as he reviewed the latest intelligence.
The current situation presented a prime opportunity for Iwa to take action.
Suna's movements had prompted Konoha to repeatedly send more troops to the front.
Rough estimates indicated that Konoha had already committed over 3,000 soldiers due to the wars with Kirigakure and Sunagakure.
After a moment's consideration, Ōnoki rose to his feet.
He decided to personally head south to meet the young Fourth Kazekage face to face.
...
At the border between the Land of Birds and the Land of Wind.
Under the cover of night, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, met with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, across the national boundary.
"Fourth Kazekage, I have already ordered my army to withdraw," Ōnoki began.
Rasa responded promptly, "I've also ordered my troops to retreat."
"However, if Iwa dares to provoke us again, Sunagakure will commit its full force to battle."
Ōnoki remained unfazed by the threat and said calmly, "Iwa fears no one."
"Fourth Kazekage, you should focus on investigating the death of the Third Kazekage."
"Of course, it's already quite obvious who was responsible."
Rasa remained indifferent. "That's none of your concern, Tsuchikage."
...
Though the meeting between the Fourth Kazekage and the Third Tsuchikage wasn't exactly amicable, they reached a mutual understanding.
That same night, both armies began their respective retreats.
At the western border of the Land of Rivers, Shūichi had just finished another fight with Shukaku when he received the memories of his shadow clone and immediately sensed something was off.
With both Suna and Iwa withdrawing their forces, a major problem was now headed straight for Konoha.
"Shisui, I need you to report to Lady Koharu immediately. Let her know that both Suna and Iwa have retreated."
Shūichi spoke to Uchiha Shisui, who had just sat down to rest.
"What?" Shisui was shocked. His expression quickly turned serious as he nodded. "Understood!"
In the blink of an eye, Shisui disappeared.
Shūichi rubbed his temples.
He had been using the Strength of a Hundred Seal for the past few days, keeping every cell in his body active with small amounts of chakra, even during non-combat periods, to relieve fatigue.
But mental exhaustion was far more difficult to alleviate.
"I'm so tempted to just raid their headquarters directly..."
A fierce glint flashed in Shūichi's eyes.
This constant back-and-forth was getting on his nerves.
Inside the tent, Sarutobi Shinichi and the others listened to Koharu Utatane's report, all wearing grave expressions.
The fact that the Sand ninja were retreating from the north clearly meant they weren't returning to Sunagakure. The most likely scenario was that they were heading in their direction.
"Lady Koharu, can we request reinforcements from the village?" a Jōnin asked.
Koharu shook her head, "There's no time."
"If the Sand ninja are coming straight from the north, we won't be able to wait for reinforcements from the village."
Shimura Feiyan spoke up, "Shūichi's skills are exceptional. Perhaps he could intercept the Sand ninja forces on their way south, just like he did with the Mist ninja."
Koharu glanced at Shimura Feiyan, "Shūichi is strong, but even he has limits."
"If he leaves, who will handle the One-Tail?"
Shimura Feiyan immediately responded, "Shūichi has a vast amount of chakra. Even though his clones aren't as powerful as his real self, they could at least keep the One-Tail occupied for a while, right?"
"If we retreat first, we wouldn't be a burden to Shūichi."
Sarutobi Shinichi's face changed, "You want Shūichi to stay behind and cover our retreat by himself?"
"That's impossible!"
"Shūichi's chakra reserves may be large, but they're not infinite."
"Handling Shukaku, covering the rear, and attacking the Sand ninja reinforcements? He'd exhaust himself!"
The other Jōnin all looked at Shimura Feiyan with displeased expressions.
Shimura Feiyan quickly defended himself, "We wouldn't even be able to get close in a fight against a tailed beast. To him, we're actually a burden."
Koharu frowned and cut him off, "Enough."
"I've already decided—retreat!"
"We'll head to Kikyo Castle to regroup with Orochimaru."
Koharu then turned to Uchiha Shisui, who was representing Shūichi. "Shisui, go inform Shūichi that he only needs to stall the One-Tail."
"Once we've retreated a safe distance, he should immediately fall back and join us."
Uchiha Shisui sighed in relief and quickly nodded, "Understood, Lady Koharu!"
He promptly turned and left.
Under a large tree at the border, Shūichi listened to Shisui's report and couldn't help but smile.
"They've chosen their path to destruction!"
He sent a shadow clone, transformed into an eagle, soaring into the sky, and then said, "Though we're from the same village and call each other 'comrades,' not everyone is worthy of that trust."
"The most important thing is to understand your own abilities, and when it comes to taking action, it's crucial to understand others."
"The greatest danger isn't a powerful opponent, but the 'comrades' who drag you down!"
There's nothing more dangerous than incompetent teammates, no matter how capable the enemies are.
Shūichi chuckled.
Uchiha Shisui agreed wholeheartedly but still tried to offer reassurance. "Shūichi, Lady Koharu and the other Jōnin are on your side."
Shūichi didn't seem convinced, smiling, "Shisui, you should retreat with them."
Shisui quickly protested, "I should stay behind to support you!"
Shūichi shook his head, "No need. I can retreat faster using the Flying Thunder God."
"Besides, I'm not planning to fight Shukaku or even the Fourth Kazekage head-on."
He smiled mischievously, "I intend to use a more peaceful and harmonious approach to ensure the Kazekage doesn't participate in this war."
Shisui was puzzled, "Wait... You're planning to negotiate?"
"But that's something only Lord Hokage can authorize, right?"
When he thought of peace, negotiation was the only thing that came to mind.
Shūichi turned to Shisui, still smiling, "You can't achieve peace with just words. It's been that way since old times."
"Without sufficient strength to back you up, no one will listen to your soft-spoken reasoning."
"If your fists aren't strong enough, your argument will be weak too."
He drew his Totsuka Blade. "The truth is always found at the edge of a blade!"
"Shisui, the First Hokage was able to end the Warring States period because he had enough power to make the other villages sit down and negotiate."
"Because he was strong enough, he was able to capture all the tailed beasts and distribute them to maintain the balance of power in the ninja world."
"So, Shisui, keep working hard!"
"Our current strength is still far from enough."
Uchiha Shisui nodded solemnly, "I understand…"
He started to walk away but turned back with a smile, "Shūichi, I can feel my Dōjutsu power growing. I promise I won't hold you back."
With that, Shisui disappeared.
Shūichi was momentarily stunned.
"Dōjutsu power is growing?"
Could it be…
Shūichi hesitated for a moment. "Is he about to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Honestly, he wasn't well-versed in the specifics of the Sharingan.
Most of his understanding came from a "God's-eye perspective" (AKA Watching Anime or Reading Manga Xd) and his own knowledge of chakra fundamentals.
Bloodline limits often stemmed from the fusion of two different chakra natures.
So, what chakra nature fusion creates the Sharingan?
Based on what he knew, Shūichi believed it to be a combination of Yin Release and Yang Release.
And Yin Release likely played the dominant role!
For example, Scorch Release is primarily Fire Release, with Wind Release as a secondary.
Lava Release is mainly Fire Release, with Earth Release as the secondary.
This primary and secondary distinction isn't about chakra ratios but about the dominant chakra nature displayed.
The Sharingan, while known for its genjutsu, also enhances physical abilities, especially at the Mangekyō level, where its powers vary greatly.
So, the only reasonable explanation is Yin Release combined with Yang Release!
And since Yin Release is the main component, the activation and enhancement of the Sharingan's tomoe levels are closely tied to one's mental state.
Strong emotional stimulation triggers chakra changes, causing a transformation in the optic nerves and eyes.
Shūichi had met several members of the Uchiha clan, including those with three tomoe. Most of them, especially the three-tomoe users, had chakra that felt cold and dark.
There were only two exceptions he knew of.
One was Uchiha Shisui, and the other was Uchiha Yu, whom he had met before.
Shisui's chakra gave Shūichi a warm, radiant feeling—very comfortable.
Yu's chakra was similar to Shisui's but more intense, with an undercurrent of obsession.
"Mental changes... don't necessarily stem from negative emotions. The Uchiha typically awaken their eyes through negative stimuli because positive emotions likely don't reach the threshold required for activation—or for the Mangekyō's awakening."
"After all, loss tends to leave a deeper impact."
"But this still needs further observation, especially in Shisui's case... maybe I can do some research."
Clearing his thoughts, Shūichi turned his gaze toward the Land of Wind, silently waiting.
An hour later, the Konoha ninjas finished packing and began their orderly retreat.
Chiyo quickly received word and immediately understood, "It seems the Fourth Kazekage has already led the troops south."
"Lady Chiyo, should we pursue?" a Sand Jōnin asked.
Chiyo didn't answer right away and instead asked the sensory ninja, "Where is Shūichi Hoshita?"
The sensory ninja quickly replied, "Lady Chiyo, he's still near the border. It seems like he's preparing to cover the retreat by himself."
Chiyo frowned at this.
One of the Sand Jōnin remarked, "Even if he's strong, it's not realistic for him to cover the retreat alone, right?"
"Could Konoha be pretending to retreat?"
After a brief moment of contemplation, Chiyo decided to pursue them.
In fact, she had no choice but to chase them down.
If the Konoha ninjas here regrouped with those at Kikyo Mountain, Ebizō's position would be in jeopardy.
The order was given, and the Sand ninja quickly packed up and moved out.
...
Beneath the tree on the border, Shūichi stood tall, observing the massive form of Shukaku in the distance, with Chiyo still atop its head.
On both sides, Sand Shinobi split into two groups, heading towards the Land of Rivers. Shūichi paid no attention to the ordinary Sand Shinobi, as he did not possess the resolve of the Third Raikage, who once single-handedly blocked ten thousand Iwa Shinobi.
Soon, the Sand Shinobi crossed the border.
Shūichi glanced at them, and then a Fire Style clone appeared beside him.
In the next moment, the Fire Style clone vanished and reappeared above Shukaku's head.
Both Chiyo and Shukaku, along with Bunpuku, were already familiar with this technique and had prepared for it.
However, this time, Shūichi's intent was entirely different from previous encounters.
The Fire Style clone above Shukaku's head transformed into a fire lotus and exploded.
A wave of scorching heat spread out, with vacuum blades of fire petals scattering in all directions.
This unexpected attack caught them off guard, as Shūichi had never used this move in his previous battles with Shukaku.
Seizing the moment of distraction caused by the exploding Fire Style clone, Shūichi appeared behind Shukaku.
Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!
The sand beneath Shukaku, and even under Shūichi himself, turned into a swamp.
Then, a fire lotus bloomed beneath his feet. Suspended above the swamp, Shūichi instantly activated the Yin Seal on his forehead, abdomen, and chest. Simultaneously, his Bijuu Sealing Mark also activated, and the lotus patterns on his chakra cloak were dyed purple.
The flames flickering on his body took on a faint purple hue.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three shadow clones appeared beside him.
Whoosh!
Fire Nether Chains roared through the air. Two shadow clones moved simultaneously—one binding Shukaku's limbs, tail, and head with chains, and the other piercing Shukaku's body.
The third shadow clone stood guard nearby.
At that moment, Chiyo sent her puppets charging towards him.
Earlier, Shukaku had used sand to block the explosion, so the Fire Style clone's self-destruction hadn't harmed her.
With a cold snort, Shūichi threw a Binding Jutsu at her. Chiyo's body stiffened, and she, along with her uncontrolled puppets, fell from Shukaku's back. The nearby shadow clone quickly entangled her with a Fire Nether Chain.
Just then, Bunpuku activated a sealing technique, but Shūichi used Spirit Transformation Jutsu in response.
His spirit left his body and entered Shukaku.
Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories!
In an instant, both Shukaku's and Bunpuku's consciousnesses were pulled into the illusion.
Bunpuku furrowed his brow. "Shukaku, this illusion is different from the previous ones..."
Shukaku also looked serious. "It's stronger than before!"
"This guy... huh?"
He turned his head and saw a blue flame streaking towards them like a shooting star.
"This guy isn't dodging?"
Shukaku stared at Shūichi, who had stopped in place.
Hovering in the air, Shūichi gazed down at Shukaku and Bunpuku, smiling. "You two should be able to feel it, right?"
"This time, I'm giving it my all. So, you better put in your best effort as well."
"Otherwise..." His smile faded as he said seriously, "Monk Bunpuku, you will die."
"And Shukaku, you will become my captive!"
Shukaku immediately reacted, lifting his paw and firing a barrage of sand bullets in all directions.
"Shukaku, I've told you, none of your attacks will work on me."
Shūichi chuckled. "The game begins now!"
With that, he disappeared, leaving Shukaku's attacks to hit nothing but air.
Meanwhile, outside the illusion, Shūichi's shadow clones continued pulling Shukaku's power out.
Previously, Shūichi had handled this personally.
However, the spirit-based Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories wasn't enough to trap Shukaku and Bunpuku for long, so this time, Shūichi altered his strategy and unleashed his full strength.
One shadow clone restrained Shukaku, another was responsible for drawing out Shukaku's power, while the third guarded the area.
Shūichi's true body, using the Spirit Transformation Jutsu, engaged Shukaku and Bunpuku directly within the illusion.
This allowed him to maintain control over them for a longer period, but it was also extremely dangerous, as his real body had no protection during the process.
The previous master of the Spirit Transformation Jutsu, Kato Dan, had died after his spirit left his body and his defenseless body was attacked by enemies.
Therefore, Shūichi had taken all necessary precautions, unleashing his full power and leaving strong shadow clones to protect his real body.
Moreover, with the other Sand Shinobi off pursuing the retreating Konoha forces, there was no interference for now.
However, just as Shūichi's clones were gradually pulling Shukaku's power out, a head popped up from a distant rock pillar.
"It's over! This is the end for Shukaku!"
White Zetsu wailed, "This blue flash of Konoha is truly impressive! He actually came up with a method like this to deal with Shukaku. Amazing!"
"But too bad Madara doesn't care about the intel I gather!"
White Zetsu muttered to himself, laughing, "Still, if Shukaku gets captured, maybe Madara will finally take an interest?"
"After all, anyone capable of capturing a Tailed Beast is a force to be reckoned with—and this guy's so young, too."
"Speaking of which, at this age, Madara wasn't as strong as this kid, was he?"
"Ha, I better not mention that to Madara, though. If he gets mad, he's scary enough to melt me down and remake me!"
...
Shūichi, deeply focused on his task, didn't notice that someone was spying on him.
Five minutes later, half of Shukaku had already been pulled out.
Inside the illusion, Shukaku grew more and more frantic, rampaging through the mock version of Konoha. Unfortunately for him, this illusion space was far more stable than any before.
As half of Shukaku's power was extracted, the process began accelerating.
Three minutes later, Shukaku let out a furious, unwilling roar inside the illusion: "Damn brat, one day I'll make sure you pay for this…"
Before he could finish his threat, Shukaku's form vanished like a dream dissipating, leaving only Bunpuku standing alone.
Unlike Shukaku's rage, Bunpuku remained calm. Looking at Shūichi, he spoke serenely, "I didn't expect this day to come so soon."
"You are truly remarkable, young friend."
"But from now on, please treat Shukaku kindly."
"Though he possesses great, destructive power, he's not evil by nature."
Shūichi looked at the peaceful Bunpuku and nodded. "Don't worry, senpai. I'll make sure to train him well."
Bunpuku chuckled at this. In the next moment, his body also faded away.
...
As his spirit returned to his body, Shūichi opened his eyes.
Bunpuku was now seated with his hands clasped in prayer, head bowed, sinking bit by bit into the swamp beneath him.
With Shukaku extracted, Bunpuku's life as a Jinchūriki had come to an end.
Shūichi sighed as he glanced at the bound Shukaku, restrained by two of his shadow clones with the Fire Nether Chains.
"Damn brat, you actually…!"
Shukaku glared at Shūichi with pure hatred.
Shūichi remained expressionless. "For Bunpuku-senpai, this is a form of release."
It was a shameless thing to say, but Shūichi didn't care about Shukaku's resentment. Chains shot out from his abdomen, wrapping around Shukaku. With the help of the shadow clones, Shukaku's massive form was pulled into Shūichi's body.
Ssshhh!
Smoke rose from his abdomen as Shukaku's tailed beast chakra, highly corrosive, made Shūichi grit his teeth in pain.
Fire Nether Chains!
Eight Trigrams Seal!
First, Shukaku was tightly bound, then locked inside an iron cage, completely sealing his power and leaving him unable to use any chakra.
Shukaku, the One-Tail—captured successfully!