Chapter 294: Do You Want To Dance Too?
When the great battle in the Sea of Death was in full swing.
Dramatic changes were also occurring in the Rain Village of the Land of Rain.
The incessant rain, like the eternal tone of this country, pounded against this oppressive village built of steel and drainage pipes.
However, today’s Rain Village center plaza gathered more people than usual.
Most of them were ninjas wearing Rain Village headbands, their faces bearing the fatigue, numbness left by long-term warfare, and a faint bewilderment and expectation for the new order.
Atop the high platform, Konan wore her Akatsuki black-based windbreaker embroidered with red clouds, her blue hair strands slightly swaying in the fine rain, and the pair of wings made of paper behind her made her seem like an angel descending.
Her voice was clear and ethereal, piercing through the rain curtain clearly into every ninja’s ears, carrying a solemnity and infectivity almost religious.
“Fellow countrymen of the Land of Rain!” Konan spread her arms, white wings unfolding, as if to embrace this land full of suffering.
“The dark era under the rule of Hanzo of the Salamander has passed! His tyranny of creating internal strife and suppressing dissent for the sake of maintaining his own power will forever become history!”
Her gaze swept over the faces below, some excited, some suspicious, some numb.
“From now on, Rain Village, and even the entire Land of Rain, will welcome a new ruler—a deity named ‘Pain’!”
“He has heard the cries and wails on this land, felt the endless pain you have endured!”
At the mention of “pain,” many Rain ninjas’ eyes flickered slightly—that was a memory etched into their bones.
“The deity’s ideal is not to benefit only himself.” Konan’s voice suddenly rose: “He wants this ninja world filled with warfare and hatred to feel the same pain as us!”
“Only by personally experiencing this bone-deep despair will those high-and-mighty Great Ninja Villages truly understand the cruelty of war and appreciate the preciousness of peace! Only then will true, permanent peace descend!”
“Let those great nations feel pain too!”
This highly inciting slogan, like a spark thrown into dry firewood, instantly ignited many Rain ninjas who had long suppressed their resentment and unwillingness.
They were fed up with being the battlefield for great nations’ games, fed up with struggling humbly for survival in the cracks.
At this moment, a “god” proclaiming to seek justice for them, to let those who caused the pain taste the pain themselves—this undoubtedly greatly satisfied their deep-seated desire for revenge and expectation for change.
“Follow Lord Pain!”
“Let the world feel pain!”
“For the future of the Land of Rain!”
Excited shouts began to rise sporadically, then quickly merged into a chorus.
Many Rain ninjas on the spot removed their Rain Village headbands, viciously scratching a mark on them with kunai, symbolizing a break with the old era and loyalty to the new god “Pain” and the “Akatsuki” organization.
As Akatsuki officially took over Rain Village, the ninja forces within the village rapidly divided.
About one-third of the ninjas chose to side with Akatsuki, becoming its peripheral members, wearing marked headbands.
Another third, either out of foolish loyalty to Hanzo or fear of Akatsuki’s unknown and radical nature, chose to go into hiding, becoming “Hanzo remnants” wanted and hunted by Akatsuki.
The last portion, fearing the uncertainty of the future, chose to leave the Land of Rain, becoming wandering ninjas.
Under Akatsuki’s initial rule, the suffocating high-pressure policies and endless internal purges from the Hanzo of the Salamander era temporarily stopped.
Rain Village gained a superficial “peace.”
The ones patrolling the streets were no longer Hanzo’s Anbu, but Rain ninjas wearing marked headbands.
Every household’s windows hung white paper angels made of paper, symbolizing peace and protection, silently swaying in the rain, as if praying for the protection of that new “god.”
…
The tallest tower originally belonging to Hanzo of the Salamander has now become Akatsuki’s new core base.
Deva Path sat quietly on the platform at the outer edge of the high tower, that pair of Rinnegan coldly overlooking the village below gradually regaining some vitality.
In the distance, the urban area damaged a few days ago by his battle with Teacher Jiraiya and those two mysterious powerhouses was being repaired by ninjas.
Nagato tried to imitate the model he saw in the Land of Stars, having ninjas participate in reconstruction, using ninjutsu to accelerate construction.
However, the effect was far from expected.
Rain Village’s ninjas seemed more accustomed to using ninjutsu for destruction rather than construction; their chakra control and understanding of ninjutsu applications in construction were far inferior to the ninjas of the Land of Stars.
Low efficiency, poor coordination, slow progress, even resentment and dissatisfaction at using chakra on these commoners.
‘Why?’ Nagato’s heart was filled with bewilderment.
‘Same ninjas who have experienced the pain of war, same origin from small ninja villages or even commoners, why can the ninjas of the Land of Stars achieve that level, applying ninjutsu to every aspect of production and construction, while our ninjas of the Land of Rain…’
He couldn’t help recalling the questioning of his “let the world feel pain” ideology by Shura during their previous confrontation.
【The war is over, then what?】 In his memory, the figure who confronted him through Uchiha Shisui’s tone carried undisguised sarcasm.
【Peace maintained by fear and pain—how long can it last? In peacetime, how should countries operate? How should the people live? How to prevent them from being displaced, from enduring hunger and cold? You only saw the surface of pain, never the root of pain, never thought how to end the pain, nor the future.】
Nagato at the time scoffed at these words, firmly believing that as long as the root of war was eliminated, letting great nations and Great Ninja Villages feel pain, they would understand each other, and all problems would be solved.
He only needed to descend punishment as a god, maintaining this “peace” bought with pain.
But now, when he truly overthrew Rain Village’s old ruler with his own hands and tried to “build,” he realized things were far from as simple as imagined.
How to restore the economy?
How to ensure livelihood?
How to make this battered country truly regain vitality?
He had no clue, his mind blank.
The only method he was good at and firmly believed effective seemed to be one—with killing to stop killing.
Eliminate all opponents, disobedients, potential threats completely. As long as there are no voices of resistance, the superficial “calm” can be maintained.
A slight rustling sound of paper friction interrupted his thoughts.
Countless pure white paper pieces gathered behind him, dancing and combining like living things, ultimately forming Konan’s cold figure.
“Pain, what are you thinking?” Konan walked to his side, looking down following his gaze, asking softly.
“…Nothing.” Deva Path’s voice was as cold as ever, without any emotional fluctuation.
“How many people chose loyalty?”
Konan replied: “Preliminary statistics, about one-third of the original Rain Village ninjas are willing to join us. Another third became ‘remnants’ that need to be purged, hiding in various corners of the Land of Rain. Some… chose to leave.”
Pain was silent for a moment, asking no more.
In his cognition, ordinary mortals unable to understand the god’s will was perfectly normal.
He didn’t seek understanding from everyone, only obedience, or… disappearance.
At that moment, the space beside him twisted strangely, forming a vortex-shaped void.
Obito, wearing an orange spiral mask and calling himself “Uchiha Madara,” slowly stepped out from it.
Almost simultaneously, the ground rippled like water, and White Zetsu, like a pitcher plant, emerged from underground, half white body, half black body.
“Oh dear~ There’s some not-so-good news~ ” The White Zetsu half spoke first in his characteristic frivolous and exaggerated tone: “Over at Kirigakure, our ‘Mizukage’… seems to have lost control~”
Obito took over, his voice muffled through the mask: “Kirigakure’s high-level officials seem to have noticed Yagura’s abnormality, using the Byakugan of that ninja called ‘Ao’ to see through and dispel my Sharingan illusion technique.”
This news didn’t surprise Pain and Konan too much.
Controlling a Great Ninja Village’s Kage for years was a miracle in itself; discovery was inevitable.
“No matter.” Deva Path’s voice remained calm: “Kirigakure is already gravely wounded and can’t recover in a short time. Once my Six Paths of Pain are all completed and we officially start the Tailed Beast collection plan, just go grab the Fourth Mizukage directly.”
He changed the subject, Rinnegan sweeping toward Obito and Zetsu: “In comparison, inside the Land of Rain, that mysterious person who fought Shura—still no clues?”
Black Zetsu’s half emitted a low voice: “None at all. It’s like he evaporated into thin air, leaving no traceable marks.”
“However, one thing can be speculated: Sand Village of the Land of Wind has declared war on the Land of Stars, Shura is suspected to have returned to the Land of Stars to take command. That mysterious person… likely suffered heavy injuries in the clash with Shura, or even…” He didn’t finish, but the meaning was clear.
White Zetsu added: “Also, the ten White Zetsu clones responsible for surveillance in the village lost contact, all during that chaotic battle earlier. Don’t know if Shura casually cleaned them up or if that mysterious person did it…”
The sudden battle between Shura and that mysterious person in Rain Village, displaying terrifying strength and chakra black rods only Six Paths level could master, brought great shock to Nagato, Obito, especially Black Zetsu who planned for a millennium behind the scenes.
Black Zetsu’s heart hidden in the shadows was filled with shock and doubt.
He thought he knew the ninja world like the back of his hand, planned for a thousand years, but these two overly powerful existences popped up out of nowhere, completely beyond his cognition, possibly disrupting his plans.
What Black Zetsu cared about was that Shura and that person’s conversation even mentioned Mother Kaguya!
This made Black Zetsu, while extremely cautious, conceive an idea.
Could he approach that Shura?
If that mysterious person was truly Mother’s enemy, then Shura…
This guy with equally powerful strength and grudge against Mother’s enemy—could he be used as a new pawn?
“The war between the Land of Stars and the Land of Wind won’t last long.” Deva Path spoke again, interrupting Black Zetsu’s thoughts: “Sand Village is no match for Shura. Our time is running out.”
Nagato was well aware that as the Land of Stars grew stronger and his Six Paths of Pain plan completed, Akatsuki’s Tailed Beast collection would inevitably put them at odds with the Land of Stars seeking to unify the ninja world, and with Shura.
An inevitable conflict was approaching.
As for the traditional Five Great Shinobi Villages, even the strongest Konoha and Cloud Village, after witnessing Shura and the mysterious person’s battle, Nagato didn’t take them too seriously.
What he focused on most now was still that misty Shura, and that equally mysterious enemy who could contend with Shura.
…
In another corner of Rain Village, inside the underground laboratory of the Regenerative Medical Technology Company.
Sanzu Amado, wearing a white coat, pushed his orange-framed glasses, expressionlessly observing a clone in the nutrient pod that had just lost vital signs.
This was his 19th batch of cloning experiments, ending in failure again.
In his mind, the words of the mysterious boy who suddenly intruded that night resurfaced involuntarily—
【No matter how many clones you make, they’re just wearing your daughter’s face, but with a completely different soul.】
Soul…
This ultimate problem he had always ignored, or deliberately avoided, trying to bypass with scientific means, was laid bare by the other.
“Doctor, 19th batch experimental subject… vital signs gone.” A lab personnel carefully reported.
Amado waved his hand, signaling them to dispose of the failed subject, tone flat: “Record the data, prepare the next batch.”
Alone, he entered the data monitoring room, looking at the dense failure records and chaotic vital sign curves on the screen, deep in thought.
That mysterious person’s words were like a thorn in his heart.
Just as he was fully focused on analyzing data, the space beside him rippled without warning, a dark red spiral portal quietly opening!
Amado was startled, instinctively stepping back, warily looking at the portal.
A figure gracefully stepped out from the door.
It was Jigen.
He still wore that white haori, composed as if just visiting an old friend.
Unlike last time, his aura seemed more restrained, but upon careful sensing, a faint weakness could be detected.
“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Amado.” Jigen nodded slightly, tone maintaining his usual politeness, but deep in his eyes, there was a new gravity.
“Originally, after the battle with that person, I should have left temporarily. But after much thought, I felt it necessary to visit again, to… open our hearts and talk.”
He still couldn’t let go of Amado, this “native” with exceptional scientific talent.
On this planet, finding a scientist who could understand and advance his plan was too difficult.
Amado looked at Jigen, face calm.
He instantly deduced that the mysterious person who found him that day must have also gone to Jigen, and from Jigen’s current concealed effort and proactive visit, Jigen likely suffered a loss at the other’s hands.
Amado didn’t hide, straight to the point: “After you left that day, a mysterious person did come. He mentioned the matter of clones having no souls. Mr. Jigen, shouldn’t you give me a clearer explanation on this?”
Jigen seemed not surprised, elegantly pulling a chair to sit, propping his forehead with one hand, showing a slightly troubled expression.
“It seems that guy… didn’t tell you the truth either.” Jigen shook his head lightly, tone meaningful: “About the ‘Pure Land’ matter.”
“Pure Land?” Amado frowned.
The mysterious person indeed didn’t mention “Pure Land,” but legends of souls returning to the Pure Land after death had always circulated in the ninja world.
“Correct, Pure Land.” Jigen looked at Amado, eyes serious: “Mr. Amado, regarding your desire to revive your daughter, my previous confirmation withheld something. Because, neither I now nor that mysterious person who found you can bring your daughter’s soul back from the ‘Pure Land.'”
He paused, throwing out his chip: “So, my original plan was to have you first complete cloning technology, create perfect vessels and a batch of high-combat clones, join my organization, assist me in completing the ‘planting God Tree’ grand plan. Once the God Tree absorbs enough energy and bears the ‘Chakra Fruit,’ after we harvest the fruit, we’ll have enough power to break the Pure Land’s barrier and retrieve your daughter’s soul.”
“Planting God Tree? Chakra Fruit?” Amado’s eyes under orange sunglasses grew grave.
It was the first time he heard Jigen mention these unfamiliar terms, keenly capturing the key: “What does this have to do with retrieving my daughter’s soul?”
Jigen leaned forward slightly, voice lowered, carrying a bewitching magic: “Because, to forcibly bring back a specific soul from the Pure Land, we might directly face the existence guarding the Pure Land—Otsutsuki Hagoromo.”
“Otsutsuki… Hagoromo?” Amado repeated the unfamiliar name, but Amado without ancient family inheritance had never heard this name.
“He is… the Shinigami of the Pure Land?”
Jigen shook his head, face showing a complex expression mixed with contempt: “By your ninjas’ legends, he is called the ancestor of the Ninja Sect, Sage of Six Paths.”
“Sage of Six Paths?!” Amado was completely stunned, face full of disbelief.
How did this involve mythical figures?
And the Sage of Six Paths actually existed?
“Correct, Sage of Six Paths.” Jigen nodded, tone more inciting: “To retrieve your daughter’s soul from the Pure Land, we must find a way to weaken or confront Otsutsuki Hagoromo’s control over it. Planting the God Tree, gathering this world’s chakra, bearing the Chakra Fruit, is the only path to gain power to contend with him!”
Jigen’s words half true half false, packaging the purpose of devouring planetary energy into Chakra Fruit as gaining power to fight the “Pure Land guardian.”
For Amado unaware of the truth, single-mindedly wanting to revive his daughter, this rhetoric was highly impactful and tempting, hard to discern true from false.
And Jigen’s ultimate goal remained: bind this genius scientist completely to his chariot, use his technology to cultivate qualified “vessels” for his reincarnation.
………………
Land of Stars eastern border, Tottori Mountain Castle.
This fortress dominating the treacherous upstream of the Ghost River was once the Land of Demons’ important barrier against foreign enemies.
Now, it has become the core hub of the Land of Stars’ eastern border defense line.
The towering keep overlooks the roaring Ghost River below, and that grand giant dam on the river regulating water volume for the downstream Ghost River Plains.
East of Tottori Mountain Castle is the Land of Earth’s vast, barren, strange rock-strewn Gobi plateau, desolate like an alien planet surface.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside and outside the fortress was tense.
Teams of Star Ninjas in deep blue Chakra Powered Armor were tense, reinforcing defenses, checking large kunai guns mounted on the walls.
The air was thick with the heaviness of impending great battle.
Uchiha Hikari stood at the top of Tottori Mountain Castle’s keep, the hem of her deep blue clan robes fluttering in the wind, the Uchiha Clan crest on her collar trembling slightly in the plateau’s strong winds.
Her jet-black long hair also blown by the wind, but her scarlet eyes with three tomoe slowly rotating, gazing at the vast barren Gobi plateau to the east.
Uchiha Hikari merely standing there, her emitted presence made the surrounding garrison Star Ninjas subconsciously hold their breath.
She had flown here directly from the Sea of Death frontline in Perfect Susanoo form, crossing the entire Land of Stars.
Clearly, Onoki’s action was fast, but tens of thousands of troops couldn’t outpace one person.
Natsuhi Jonin came to Uchiha Hikari’s side, knelt on one knee, reported gravely: “Lord Hikari, the defenses centered on Tottori Dam and Tottori Mountain Castle have been reinforced to the highest standard. All border patrol teams report consistently—no exact location of Rock Village’s main force yet.”
“They’ve come.” Uchiha Hikari didn’t turn, voice cold like the wind over the plateau.
She relied not on ordinary reconnaissance.
But through Engraved Tsukuyomi’s chakra network, receiving continuous intelligence from spies lurking in Rock Village.
Natsuhi’s heart tightened upon hearing, peering far following Uchiha Hikari’s gaze.
Initially, the horizon showed only a vague, wriggling black line.
But soon, that black line spread and approached at astonishing speed, turning into a sea of people across mountains and plains.
Thousands upon thousands of Stone Ninjas in earth-yellow ninja armor, like a breached flood, carrying raised sand and dust, pressed toward this key fortress guarding the Ghost River upstream.
On the walls, Star Ninjas clad in deep blue Chakra Powered Armor gripped their kunai guns tightly, all large defense weapons’ muzzles and cannons aligned eastward, the air thick with the heavy pressure of impending battle.
The Stone Ninja army halted slowly several li from Tottori Mountain Castle.
At the forefront, a diminutive figure hovered in mid-air—the Third Tsuchikage Onoki.
Arms crossed, strawberry-like big nose below, white beard fluttering in wind, squinting eyes seriously scrutinizing the Tottori Mountain Castle ahead.
Behind him, Rock Village’s elite Jonin quickly gathered.
Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, Bun’ya, Kari, Sasori, Muga, Shisu, and others all present.
Even the usually uninvolved Four-Tails Jinchūriki Roshi, who quarreled with Onoki recently and was wandering outside, was forcibly recalled by Onoki, standing alongside Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han.
For this raid, Onoki nearly emptied Rock Village’s reserves; tens of thousands of ninjas enough to suffocate any ninja village—even the Third Raiden was worn to death by this move.
Kurotsuchi stepped forward, low voice: “Father, proceed with original plan? I lead a thousand to besiege Tottori Mountain Castle, pin down defenders. Meanwhile, send Kari’s explosion squad to raid Tottori Dam. Once dam destroyed, downstream Ghost River Plains become ocean. Main force follows you south directly to Star Capital!”
Onoki nodded slightly, about to command, when Bun’ya suddenly pointed toward Tottori Mountain Castle: “Tsuchikage! Someone’s coming down from the castle!”
Onoki squinted to look, seeing a figure like a light bird leaping from the keep, landing steadily on a protruding giant rock after a few bounds.
A girl with cold features, black long hair, deep blue high-collar Uchiha Clan clan robes, Star Ninja headband on forehead reflecting cold light in sunlight, ninja sword at waist.
Most striking were her three-tomoe Sharingan calmly watching the tens of thousands army.
“It’s her… Star Ninja’s Uchiha Hikari.” Bun’ya said gravely, tone with a hint of dread.
“Hmph, of course old man recognizes this unpleasant pair of eyes!” Onoki huffed discontentedly, but the eyes evoked extremely unpleasant memories.
He floated forward a distance, voice spreading across battlefield: “Little girl over there! What, no one left in Land of Stars? You alone think you can block my Rock tens of thousands army? Even the Third Raiden—no, even if Uchiha Madara revives, impossible!”
He tried to crush her momentum with words, also probe her reality.
From intelligence traded with “Akatsuki” organization, he knew this girl was no ordinary Uchiha ninja, but one mastering Susanoo, suspected Uchiha Madara’s descendant!
But Onoki firmly believed that with Dust Release and tens of thousands ninjas, he couldn’t be blocked by one person.
Uchiha Hikari arms crossed over chest, posture aloof and cold, as if the dense army before her were mere ants.
She recalled Menma’s instructions before departure; though inwardly finding this “old selling old” lines awkward, she followed plan, speaking in an elder, condescending tone: “Uchiha Madara… you know that kid?”
“Ki… kid?!” Onoki nearly choked.
He lived decades, first time called the man who left lifelong trauma by a girl who could be his granddaughter.
“Impudent little girl! Uchiha Madara was from old man’s generation! In terms of seniority…”
“Oh?” Uchiha Hikari interrupted, scarlet Sharingan flashing amusement.
“Right, heard back then some cocky kid followed Second Tsuchikage to Konoha, dreaming to negotiate with Ninja God Hashirama Senju. Didn’t even see Hashirama, scared shitless by Uchiha Madara, fled rolling back to Land of Earth. That kid, was it you?”
These scar-revealing words like sharpest kunai, precisely stabbing Onoki’s deepest wound.
That unbearable past was his lifelong nightmare to forget.
Now publicly mentioned, especially by a Uchiha junior, he felt hot blood rush to head, beard trembling in rage: “You… you you yellow-haired girl! Nonsense! Even if Uchiha Madara’s descendant, today old man will discipline you for your elders!”
“Descendant?” Uchiha Hikari snorted coldly, voice not loud but clear to every Stone Ninja’s ears.
“You got it backward, Onoki kid. By seniority, that Uchiha Madara boy has to respectfully call me grandma ancestor.”
“Gram… grandma ancestor?!”
Not just Onoki, even the elite Jonin behind him exchanged stunned looks, faces full of absurdity and disbelief.
This girl looking merely fifteen-sixteen, if Uchiha Madara’s grandma ancestor—what old monster lived how long?
Impossible!
Uchiha Hikari ignored their shock, continuing flatly: “By the way, Onoki kid, have you… seen Uchiha Madara’s power at his prime?”
With these words, an invisible yet mountain-heavy pressure suddenly descended.
Onoki felt heart clench, cold sweat uncontrollably beading on forehead.
Clearly opponent just standing, not even drawing ninja sword, yet felt back to that day dominated by Uchiha Madara’s figure.
That bone-deep fear, after decades, resurfaced clearly.
He forced composure, blustering roar: “Of… of course seen! Old man was a powerhouse who clashed head-on with Uchiha Madara back then!”
Onoki mentally added: Though unilaterally crushed.
“Is that so?” Uchiha Hikari lips curved slightly, arrogant arc: “Perfect then. Next, use those old eyes to see clearly how laughable comparing me to that Uchiha Madara kid.”
She slowly lowered crossed arms, body leaning forward into charge stance.
“Ready… to dance? Kids.”
Before words finished, her figure vanished from the giant rock.
Next instant, appeared hundred meters away, charging straight at the tens of thousands Stone Ninja army!
Speed so fast, leaving faint afterimage in place.
Onoki’s face changed drastically, shouting: “Everyone careful! Don’t look directly at her Sharingan!”
“Arrogant!” Sasori Jonin hottest-tempered, seeing her really dare solo charge, instantly furious.
“Just a god-tricking little girl! Let me meet you!” Beside him, Muga Jonin also provoked by her stance, waved: “Attack!”
Hundreds of Stone Ninjas like startled bees, amid various angry roars and shouts, charged at Uchiha Hikari.
They’d use facts to tell this boastful girl, numbers gap not made up by lip service!
Suddenly, kunai, shuriken rained down, plus dozens ninjas hand sealing simultaneously.
“Earth Style: Earth Rising Spears!”
“Earth Style: Rock Pillar Spears!”
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!”
Countless sharp stone spears burst from ground, mixed with violent wind pressure, instantly covering large area ahead of Uchiha Hikari, trying to drown and shred her.
Facing this composite ninjutsu attack enough to instantly destroy an elite squad, Uchiha Hikari’s expression unchanged.
Her Sharingan spun rapidly, capturing and analyzing all ninjutsu trajectories, chakra flows clearly.
Her figure ghosted through gaps in stone spears and wind blades, sometimes sidestepping, leaping, or diving headfirst by millimeters—all attacks couldn’t even graze her clothes!
“So fast!”
“Impossible?!”
Several frontmost Stone Chunin saw blue blur, deep blue figure penetrated ninjutsu zone like teleporting before them.
Uchiha Hikari struck like lightning.
Her offense integrated Sharingan insight and Uchiha style taijutsu’s sharp attacks.
Fists’ gathered chakra precisely hit several Chunin’s acupoints, disrupting their chakra flow.
Pfft!
“Urgh!”
Muffled thuds mixed with screams, those Chunin flew like kites with cut strings, smashing heavily to ground, instantly losing combat ability.
“Damn!” Explosion Release user Kari rushed close, right fist clenched, highly compressed Explosion Release chakra gathered.
“Explosion Release: Landmine Fist!” He roared punching at Uchiha Hikari’s face, trying to blast her violently.
However, Uchiha Hikari just sidestepped slightly, left hand out grabbing Kari’s wrist precisely.
Sharingan coldly stared at his shocked wide eyes.
“Too slow.”
Chakra erupted instantly, huge force through wrist—Kari felt irresistible power swing him up, smashing viciously at sneaking Sasori beside!
Bang!
Both screamed colliding, rolling into Stone Ninja crowd, causing chaos.
Muga held long sword, soundlessly behind Uchiha Hikari, blade sharply slashing her nape.
‘Got her?!’ Thought just rising, saw front figure like eyes in back, head unturned backhand slap hitting his blade’s weakest side spot.
Clang!
Shock force came, Muga felt palm numb, long sword nearly flying.
He incredulously saw her fair palm contain such terrifying power and precision.
“Get lost.”
Uchiha Hikari scolded lightly, spinning swift side kick viciously hitting Muga’s abdomen.
Muga no time to block, body like hit by boulder, spewing blood flying back, crashing through rock wall before stopping.
In mere breaths, Kari, Sasori, Muga and several other renowned Rock Village elite Jonin lay wretchedly, some groaning in pain, some fully unconscious.
And those hundreds of Chunin and Genin, their siege not only failed to slow Uchiha Hikari, but became backdrop highlighting her terror strength.
Kunai and shuriken futilely nailed ground behind her, Earth Style stone walls rose only after she passed, Wind Release and Fire Style couldn’t touch her hem.
She truly strolled like in her courtyard, deep blue figure carving unstoppable path through earth-yellow crowd.
Wherever passed, Stone Ninjas fell like wheat reaped by invisible scythe, in patches.
Bone cracking crisps, ninja tools dropping clangs, and unstoppable pain cries interwoven into cruel battlefield symphony.
Her movements concise, efficient—Sharingan precisely predicting every attack, every dodge and counter perfect, no excess, as if slaughter itself an art.
In moments, the hundreds Stone Ninjas’ aggressive charge formation center torn open huge “void.”
Uchiha Hikari stood alone in this “vacuum zone” center of downed ninjas, over two-three hundred Stone Ninjas at her feet, over half breathless.
On ninja battlefield, strength gap this cruel—Jonin killing Chunin or Genin like crushing ants.
Uchiha Hikari paused slightly, raised hand lightly patting dust off clan robes, posture composed.
Plateau breeze blew, tousling her black hair, revealing cold exquisite face.
Her scarlet Sharingan calmly swept surroundings—every Stone Ninja her gaze touched felt chill from spine to head, subconsciously stepping back half-step, weapon-gripping palms sweaty, none daring advance.
“This guy…” Four-Tails Jinchūriki Roshi and Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han now at ashen-faced Onoki’s side.
Roshi arms crossed, lava-like chakra faintly restless inside, sidehead low to airborne Onoki: “Her tone toward Uchiha Madara without respect… doesn’t seem like Uchiha Madara’s descendant at all.”
Onoki brows locked, wrinkles deeper.
Her repeated “kid” calls, and recounting past in condescending elder critiquing junior manner, bred doubts.
When did Uchiha Clan produce such figure?
Could Uchiha Madara have unknown peer powerhouse alive?
This thought made him uneasy.
Just then, battlefield-center Uchiha Hikari hands suddenly clasped before chest, forming simple “Nei” seal.
Yet this simple action made Onoki’s pupils contract sharply, strong ominous premonition surging.
“Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!”
Cold voice not loud, yet clearly spread across battlefield.
Next instant, Uchiha Hikari red lips parted slightly, vast sea-tsunami chakra surged out, turning sky-covering blazing fire wave!
Flames dark red, surging instantly forming near-ten-meter high, hundred-meter wide giant flame wall, overwhelming toward Stone Ninja army!
Air twisted steaming under heat, ground sandstones instantly melted crystallized!
“Impossible?!”
“What joke! This range too exaggerated!”
“Great Fire Annihilation… really B-rank ninjutsu scale?!!!”
Facing this heavenly disaster-like Fire Style, Stone Ninjas’ prior courage instantly fear-replaced, cries and gasps resounding.
Scorching blast not yet touching already made front row ninjas breathless, skin stinging.
“Don’t panic! Water Style ninjas, forward! Joint Water Encampment Wall!” Experienced Bun’ya suppressed shock, hoarse roar trying steady lines.
Immediately over a dozen Water Style-proficient Rock elites gritted teeth forward, rapid hand seals.
“Water Style: Water Encampment Wall!”
“Water Style: Water Turbulent Wave!”
“Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!”
They poured chakra into surging water flows.
Water walls, currents, even roaring water dragon erupted from mouths or hands, trying jointly block this destructive flame storm.
Sizzle——!!!!
Giant firewall clashed violently with joint Water Style, producing earth-shaking boom.
Blazing flames and cold waters eroded annihilated each other, instantly bursting massive scalding white steam, like explosion shockwave rapidly diffusing all directions!
Impenetrable dense steam instantly enveloped half frontline battlefield, visibility dropping to under meters, hot water droplets slapping Stone Ninja faces stinging, gale blowing eyes shut, formation inevitably chaotic.
Ninjutsu clash aftershocks not fully settled, thick steam like heavy curtain blocking all sights.
“Careful!” Usually taciturn, red-armored, steam-device-backed Han suddenly shouted a warning.
His steam sense far superior; just now, keenly detected steam curtain forcibly torn by extremely swift power!
But his warning still late.
Dense steam slashed like by blade, deep blue figure at visual-limit speed shot out!
Ever-vigilant Onoki never expected after such scale Fire Style, she could instantly erupt such terrifying speed, precisely using steam to mask raid trajectory!
He only felt old eyes blur, irresistible huge force kicked viciously at his chest-abdomen!
“Puh—!”
Onoki no time for effective defense or dodge, diminutive body like cut-string kite, spewing blood arrow flying back, smashing heavily into Stone Ninja crowd, causing cries and chaos.
“Father!”
“Tsuchikage!”
Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi etc. confidant Jonin eyes cracking, horrified discovering they couldn’t even see her movement trajectory!
“You bastard!” Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han roared.
“Steam Armor: Open!”
His back device’s valves suddenly sprayed high-pressure steam, shrill whistle, simultaneously powerful chakra surged from body, condensing white tail behind.
Using steam burst instant thrust and Five-Tails chakra boost, Han’s speed soared astonishingly, turning red afterimage charging at just-landed Uchiha Hikari seemingly preparing next move!
Red steel fist wrapped high-temp steam tore air, muffled whoosh smashing viciously at seemingly frail Uchiha Hikari back!
【PS: 30k words updated, end of month, cast idle monthly tickets if any.】
