Rip!
Dual wings resembling black flames erupted from the back of his robe, fangs elongated, and a terrifying tail sprouted from his lower back. This sudden transformation left everyone stunned.
The Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai was the Sharingan; no one had ever heard of it granting a physical transformation. He already possessed the Crystal Style (Shōton) Kekkei Genkai—could he possibly have another one? This likely went beyond the alteration of just two chakra natures; he might possess three or more. When two chakra nature transformations are fused, a new style is born, known as a Kekkei Genkai. A fusion of three chakra nature transformations is called a Kekkei Tōta!
The Kumogakure ninja stared at Shimizu's monstrous, eerie figure, their hearts filled with immense dread.
"It's not a Kekkei Genkai," Yugito Nii stated flatly.
She knew exactly what her fellow Kumogakure shinobi were thinking. However, she had previously seen Suzumebachi of the Kamizuru Clan from Iwagakure utilize a similar power. Rumors also whispered that Mei Terumi of Kirigakure possessed a transformation capability of her own.
"The Akatsuki will be here shortly," Samui said, her hand gripping the hilt of her red-scabbarded tantō.
These words completely steadied the wavering resolve of the other Kumogakure shinobi. They still had reinforcements; those enigmatic, god-like ninjutsu would undoubtedly deal a devastating blow to the Konohagakure forces.
While the Kumogakure forces were shocked, a stir had also rippled through the Konohagakure camp. After all, none of them had ever heard of such a technique. Was this a man, or a monster?
"A cursed seal capable of drawing upon natural energy? Fascinating," Orochimaru murmured, his golden slitted pupils narrowing even further.
He was already researching the power of the Cursed Seal and had achieved some preliminary results, but it was nowhere near this level of efficacy. Shimizu had already surpassed him!
Something in the atmosphere was flowing steadily into Shimizu's body. Orochimaru knew exactly what it was—natural energy. Even though his attempt to master the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave had ended in failure, that only meant he could not maintain the delicate balance required to wield it. As for simply sensing the presence of natural energy, he was more than capable.
"A cursed seal?" Upon hearing his words, the others noticed the bizarre black markings spreading across Shimizu's skin. They resembled tomoe, yet also looked like stylized, auspicious clouds.
Immersed in their clash, neither Shimizu nor Killer B had the luxury to pay attention to their surroundings. Both fought with blinding speed, focusing entirely on overwhelming the opponent with rapid strikes. In a high-speed duel like this, even a momentary lapse in concentration could slow them down, proving fatal.
A heavy, muffled impact resonated in everyone's ears. Killer B was sent flying backward, crashing behind a massive tree. Frowning, he wiped a streak of fresh blood from the corner of his mouth. Shimizu's raw physical power was staggering—was this truly a strength a human could possess?
Glancing down, Killer B took stock of his own state. Crimson, muscle-fiber-like chakra coated his body, forming a shroud. Chakra horns protruded from his head, and a chakra tail swayed behind him. Neither of them looked human anymore; it was far more accurate to call it a clash of beasts.
My strength has increased significantly. Even in this state, Killer B cannot match my raw power, Shimizu noted, analyzing the capabilities of his Cursed Seal Mode.
In the future, Naruto would be able to flip a giant summoning beast dozens of meters tall upon entering Sage Mode. Shimizu, however, was currently utilizing a Cursed Seal Mode that stacked both the Cursed Seal of Heaven and the Cursed Seal of Earth. In terms of sheer physical strength, he would not lose to Naruto; in fact, he likely surpassed him. Naruto and Sasuke's strengths had always been direct parallels—Naruto possessed the Mount Myōboku Sage Mode, while Sasuke naturally relied on the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
"Now, it's time to end this." With a heavy step, Shimizu lunged directly into the ranks of the Kumogakure ninja.
His overwhelming aura was unstoppable, tearing through several shinobi in an instant. Watching this bloody display, Minato Namikaze frowned slightly before rushing forward to join the fray. The remaining Konohagakure shinobi exchanged glances and followed suit, charging at the enemy lines. Not to be outdone, the Kumogakure forces met them head-on, and a massive clash erupted on the spot.
A pale crimson Tailed Beast chakra cloak manifested over Kushina Uzumaki's body as golden chains erupted from her, tearing toward the enemy forces. Yugito Nii dove into the fray as well, plunging both sides into a chaotic, wide-scale melee. The air grew thick with the deafening roars of battle.
The combat between shinobi was fundamentally similar to that of samurai, with the primary difference being that katana were replaced by kunai and ninjutsu. At every passing second, ninjutsu clashed and explosive tags detonated across the field. As the battle raged on, Killer B unleashed his Full Tailed Beast Transformation, morphing into the colossal Eight-Tails, Gyūki, and ruthlessly laying waste to the shinobi on the ground.
"What a chaotic melee," muttered the newly arrived Six Paths of Pain, who had finally reached the battlefield.
"Shimizu... Uchiha?" the Deva Path murmured.
The Shimizu before him looked starkly different from his usual appearance, radiating an aura far more malevolent and unhinged.
"Prepare to welcome God," the Deva Path commanded, extending a hand toward the Konohagakure forces and unleashing Shinra Tensei.
An invisible repulsive force instantaneously blasted numerous shinobi backward. A few unfortunate souls were thrown directly onto exposed weaponry, dying on the spot.
It's the Akatsuki! Minato Namikaze's heart sank.
The primary reason the leadership had agreed to deploy Kushina in the first place was due to the threat of the Akatsuki. Both Konohagakure and Kumogakure had suffered heavy casualties, and their troop reserves were nearly depleted. Yet, at this critical juncture, Kumogakure had managed to bring in external reinforcements. This put Konohagakure at a severe disadvantage.
"Our reinforcements are here!" In stark contrast to the grim-faced Konohagakure shinobi, the Kumogakure forces gloated. They could already see the scales of victory tipping in their favor.
"The Yellow Flash," the Deva Path stated. His deep purple Rinnegan reflected Minato Namikaze's figure, entirely devoid of emotion. Anyone who dared obstruct the path to peace would be eliminated—even if Master Jiraiya himself were to stand in his way, he would not hesitate to strike him down. He would willingly bear the sin of patricide.
From the vast amount of intelligence gathered on Konohagakure, Nagato knew that Minato Namikaze was Jiraiya's disciple. In fact, Minato had become Jiraiya's student even before the three of them. Minato was a child Jiraiya had taken in during the war.
"Minato, that person feels strange," Kushina warned, sensing the bizarre entity. Every living being harbored at least some trace of malice or emotion; it was impossible to find someone completely void of it. The lack of such a presence could only mean one thing—it wasn't a living person, but a puppet.
Is that man the leader of the Akatsuki? Minato warily scrutinized the orange-haired Deva Path, wondering if this individual was Yahiko, the rumored leader of the organization.
"Now, accept pain. Know pain," the Deva Path said, leveling his palm at Minato.
Minato's muscles tensed. Just moments ago, the Deva Path had merely extended his hand toward the other shinobi before blasting them away without warning. Whoosh! A terrifying gravitational pull suddenly took hold of him. Minato felt his entire body snagged by an invisible force, dragging him toward the Deva Path like a magnet drawn to steel.
"Minato!" Kushina cried out in alarm.
Minato's form flickered, instantly reappearing on a tree branch a short distance away. He reached up, wiping cold sweat from his brow. If he didn't possess the Flying Thunder God Technique, that imperceptible pull alone would have rendered him completely helpless. Suspended in midair, a ninja had no leverage and would be left entirely at the enemy's mercy. More importantly, he had no idea how to counter or anticipate such techniques.
"Handle the others. I'll take care of him myself," Minato instructed, drawing a handful of his custom-made three-pronged kunai. He had decided to go all out.
"Understood!" Kushina responded immediately.
"Shimizu-kun, allow me," Orochimaru said, gliding over to Shimizu's side after having slacked off through most of the fight. He hadn't forgotten that his sole purpose for participating in this battle was to garner prestige, and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki was a perfect target.
"Then I'll handle the Two-Tails Jinchūriki," Shimizu replied. Disengaging from Killer B, he darted straight toward Yugito.
Yugito raised an eyebrow in surprise. Shimizu Uchiha actually had the audacity to seek her out. She immediately assumed a combat stance, locking her wary gaze onto him. Ever since falling victim to his Sharingangenjutsu during their last encounter, Yugito had meticulously researched the Uchiha upon her return. The Uchiha clan had once resided within the Land of Lightning, and Kumogakure possessed extensive records from that era.
The primary methods to counter the Sharingan were to avoid eye contact entirely and to remain prepared to disrupt one's own chakra flow using an external surge of massive chakra to dispel the illusion. While this tactic was incredibly difficult for ordinary shinobi, it was second nature to a Jinchūriki. As long as she could cooperate with her Tailed Beast, the Sharingan posed no threat.
"Shimizu Uchiha! Do you really think you can catch me off guard with a sneak attack like last time?" Yugito sneered.
To her shock, Shimizu didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he executed a Fire Body Flicker, instantly materializing right behind Samui. Before the poor blonde beauty could comprehend what was happening, Shimizu snatched her up and launched himself straight into the sky. His black wings flapped violently, shedding a few feathers that drifted downward like falling embers of black fire before dissolving into the air.
"If you don't want her to die, follow me! We're changing battlefields!" Shimizu's voice boomed, carried and amplified by the rushing winds of the upper atmosphere.
Fighting in this crowded area would restrict his abilities. Furthermore, Shimizu had no desire to clash with the Rinnegan just yet; that headache could be left entirely to Minato Namikaze. The Deva Path's strength was easily Beyond Kage-level.
At this point in time, Nagato had only recently mastered the control of the Six Paths of Pain, and his physical body had not yet been emaciated and drained to the extent it would be a decade later. In other words, Nagato's current strength was infinitely close to that of his Reanimated state. Fighting him now offered Shimizu absolutely no benefits—only an exhausting, brutal struggle. Although Shimizu could utilize the Flying Thunder God Technique himself, it was merely one of many tools in his arsenal. He could never match the sheer versatility and finesse of Minato Namikaze, who had dedicated himself entirely to mastering that single technique.
According to the future deduced by the simulator, Minato Namikaze's strength will be weakened here. Shimizu had run a simulation ten days prior and knew that Minato would sustain non-fatal injuries in this battle. This outcome would perfectly serve his long-term plans.
"Let me go!" Samui thrashed frantically, sinking her teeth deep into Shimizu's arm. Yet, instead of the burst of blood she expected, her jaw vibrated with a dull ache as if she had bitten into solid steel. "Are you even human?!" she gasped.
Yugito watched in utter disbelief at Shimizu's underhanded tactic. In the blink of an eye, he had abducted Samui and flown hundreds of meters away. Glancing around at the chaotic battlefield, she gritted her teeth and bolted after them. After all, the heavy hitters remaining on this battlefield were Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, and the newly arrived Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
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