The moment Hiruko made his move, Reion and Minamimura Yoru had no choice but to follow.
Minamimura Yoru rapidly formed hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground.
"Earth Release!"
The earth beneath Shadow Clone Aosui instantly cracked apart. What had been solid ground turned soft and unstable, collapsing like tofu beneath his feet.
The technique forced immediate imbalance, creating a perfect opening for a coordinated strike.
Though Hiruko's talent could not compare to monsters like Tsunade, he was still a seasoned Jonin. He would never miss such an opportunity.
In a blur, he rushed forward and thrust his kunai at Aosui's chest.
Clang!
The blade was blocked.
The shadow clone raised his ninja sword just in time, sparks flying as steel collided.
Reion attacked at the same moment.
"Lightning Release: Swift Thunder Arrow!"
Brilliant white bolts shaped like arrows shot forward, crackling violently through the air.
Just as she believed victory was within reach—
A torrent of water erupted from the ground.
Water surged upward, forming a massive defensive barrier that not only swept Hiruko away but also blocked Reion's lightning technique completely.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
And it had been performed with a single hand seal.
"He can use one-handed seals?!"
Reion and Yoru stared in disbelief.
One-handed seal casting was an ability that existed only in legends—something far beyond ordinary shinobi.
Yet this was merely a shadow clone.
Before their shock could fade, the water wall twisted and condensed, transforming into a roaring water dragon.
Its target—
Hiruko, still airborne.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Hiruko hurriedly formed hand seals mid-air, but he was too slow.
The water dragon opened its jaws and swallowed him whole.
Then—
Poof!
Smoke burst into the air.
The body inside the dragon transformed into a wooden log.
Substitution Jutsu.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Hiruko reappeared behind the shadow clone, kunai raised for a fatal strike.
But before he could move—
A streak of white flashed toward him.
So fast!
His instincts screamed danger.
His body twisted on reflex, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.
Even so—
Slash!
The sword carved across his abdomen.
Blood sprayed violently.
A horrifying wound split his stomach open, exposing bone and writhing organs beneath torn flesh.
The injury was catastrophic.
Even if he did not die immediately, he would not survive long.
"How… how is this possible…?"
Hiruko collapsed to the ground, disbelief etched across his face.
He could not accept it.
He had known Aosui was powerful.
But to lose to a shadow clone?
The gap between them was so vast it crushed his spirit completely.
The sight shattered the will of Reion and Minamimura Yoru.
Without hesitation, they turned and fled.
A shadow clone capable of killing a Jonin so effortlessly—
What kind of monster was the original?
Their earlier arrogance—treating Nonou like prey in a game—vanished entirely. Terror filled their eyes as they ran.
The shadow clone did not chase immediately.
Instead, he crouched beside Hiruko's dying body.
Placing his hand on Hiruko's head, he activated the power of the Human Path.
Memories poured into him.
Hiruko lacked combat talent, but his research abilities were noteworthy. His understanding of biological modification and summoning experiments held value.
After extracting all useful information, the clone ended his life without hesitation.
Hiruko's corpse would not go to waste.
It would become the second Pain.
Specifically, it would serve as a research-focused body—one dedicated to studying special summoned beasts.
The Animal Path of the Rinnegan allowed the summoning of creatures bearing Rinnegan eyes. However, these creatures were not inherent; they had to be captured, modified, and bound by contract.
Hiruko's body would serve that purpose.
After sealing the corpse away, the shadow clone finally set off in pursuit of Reion and Yoru.
They knew too much.
They could not be allowed to escape.
Meanwhile—
Aosui's true body stood before the raging Seven-Tails.
Moriryo lay nearby, severely wounded.
The moment he had tried to restrain the Tailed Beast, he had been nearly killed in a single strike. The shinobi he brought with him were already dead.
Before a Tailed Beast—
Even Jonin were fragile.
The Seven-Tails charged forward, its massive wings generating violent gusts.
Aosui channeled chakra into his feet, anchoring himself to the ground.
The enormous beetle-like creature lowered its horn.
Its primary attack.
Moments ago, that horn had nearly ended Moriryo's life.
"Watch out!" Moriryo shouted weakly.
Aosui did not need the warning.
He vanished in a Body Flicker.
In the next instant, he appeared atop the Seven-Tails' back.
Chakra surged into his leg.
"Super Strength…"
"Painful Sky Leg!"
Boom!!!
His heel slammed downward.
The impact was devastating.
Even the Seven-Tails could not withstand it.
The enormous creature was driven straight into the ground, creating a massive crater as earth exploded outward.
Moriryo's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
A human—
Using only taijutsu—
Had knocked down a Tailed Beast.
Was this even possible?
Was Aosui truly human?
Aosui did not pause to admire the result.
He prepared to strike again.
But suddenly—
The Seven-Tails opened its mouth and expelled a dense cloud of shimmering powder.
Scale Powder Hiding Technique!
The powder filled the air, obscuring vision and inducing paralysis.
Caught off guard, Aosui inhaled some before he could react.
His muscles stiffened.
Taking advantage of the opening, the Seven-Tails flapped its wings and soared into the sky.
It did not dare approach again.
That kick had left a lasting fear.
From high above, it unleashed a barrage of wind blades.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The blades sliced through trees and gouged deep trenches into the earth.
"Hurry and dodge!" Moriryo yelled helplessly.
But Aosui's body was still partially paralyzed.
Just before the wind blades struck—
He completed his hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent gale erupted from his mouth.
The wind dispersed the powder and scattered the incoming wind blades.
The force continued upward—
But the Seven-Tails dodged.
Aosui stood once more.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
A massive lightning spear shot into the sky.
This time, it hit.
Crack!
Electricity surged across the Seven-Tails' body.
But the damage was minimal.
Instead, it only enraged the beast further.
It unleashed an even denser rain of wind blades.
The ground below became riddled with craters.
Dust filled the air like a sandstorm.
When it settled—
Aosui was gone.
Elsewhere—
Two Aosuis appeared simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Head Hardship!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Wind fueled fire.
The techniques combined.
"Flame Wind Wild Waves!"
A colossal sea of flames engulfed the Seven-Tails midair.
The inferno roared like a living entity.
Even the Tailed Beast screamed in agony.
Within the blaze, its massive silhouette writhed.
Finally, it burst out of the flames—
Burned.
Scorched.
Smoke rising from its shell.
Moriryo gasped.
"He actually injured the Seven-Tails…"
In the past, Takigakure had paid heavy sacrifices to reseal it.
Yet Aosui alone stood his ground—and inflicted real damage.
"As expected of a Tailed Beast," Aosui muttered. "Still standing after that."
Then—
A terrifying chakra fluctuation began gathering.
"Oh no… that's a Tailed Beast Bomb!"
A sphere of condensed chakra formed before the Seven-Tails' mouth.
A fully charged Tailed Beast Bomb could level mountains.
Aosui would not allow it.
He hurled a shadow clone into the sky.
The clone infused his blade with Wind Release chakra.
In a flash—
He slashed downward.
The incomplete Tailed Beast Bomb split in two.
The strike continued—
Severing one of the Seven-Tails' wings.
Boom!!!
The unstable Tailed Beast Bomb exploded midair.
The blast destroyed the shadow clone instantly.
The Seven-Tails roared in agony.
Its severed wing crashed into the earth like a colossal blade.
Having exhausted its chakra, it retreated.
Its massive form shrank—
Returning to the unconscious body of its Jinchuriki, Eriko.
Silence fell.
Moriryo stared at Aosui, his throat dry.
"You… cut off its wing…"
In just this battle alone, Aosui had shattered everything he believed possible.
Jonin?
Compared to him, Moriryo felt like a newly graduated Genin.
But just as calm began to return—
A sudden killing intent erupted from the surroundings.
Figures emerged from the shadows.
A group of shinobi launched a coordinated surprise attack toward Aosui.
The true battle—
Was not yet over.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)