Chapter 76 – The Green Serpent Unleashes Its Might
"Roar—!"
On the other side of the battlefield, the Green Serpent, trapped deep within the swamp, raised its head to the sky and released an earth-shaking hiss.
Above its head, Ryūya—wearing a mountain-oni mask—blurred and leapt onto a wall of earth.
"Green Serpent! Activate the Cursed Seal!"
Standing atop the earthen wall, Ryūya shouted the command.
At once, vast amounts of natural energy began gathering around the serpent's body. Black tomoe-like markings flowed across its scales like running water, spreading over its entire form.
In an instant, the aura surrounding the Green Serpent surged explosively.
"Roar—!"
With a furious hiss, its massive tail lashed out, sending mud flying everywhere.
"Quick! Don't let it break free!"
The Kumogakure jōnin organizing the encirclement turned pale and shouted urgently.
Clenching his teeth, he desperately squeezed the remaining chakra from his body and funneled it into the ground, struggling to maintain the A-rank ninjutsu, Swamp of the Underworld.
The remaining Earth Release users joined forces and performed Earth Release: Heavenly Descending Clay.
From the sky above the serpent, massive quantities of clay summoned from another space rained down, piling continuously onto its enormous body.
The clay possessed extreme adhesiveness. Just as the serpent showed signs of breaking free, it was firmly restrained once more.
At the same time, more than a dozen Kumogakure shinobi combined their Fire Release techniques.
The powerful flames bombarded the serpent's body. Though they failed to inflict serious damage, they baked and hardened the descending clay, gradually fixing the serpent in place.
Minutes later, most of the Azure Serpent's body had been completely encased in porcelain-like hardened clay, resembling a gigantic crimson statue slowly sinking into the swamp.
"Hmph. You think that's enough to end this?"
From the earthen wall not far away, Ryūya showed not the slightest trace of anxiety. Glancing at the visibly exhausted Kumogakure shinobi around him, a cold smirk curled at his lips.
The moment his words fell, the situation changed again.
Rip—!
The black tomoe markings on the serpent's body spread rapidly, covering its entire length within seconds. Its scales shifted from green to gray.
A tearing sound like cloth being ripped echoed through the night.
At the serpent's vital seven-inch point, massive bulges swelled out from both sides, stretching longer and longer until they extended nearly twenty meters—
They unfurled into two enormous gray flesh wings.
The serpent's head elongated, razor-sharp fangs protruding from its jaws. Its appearance became ferocious and monstrous.
With a gentle flap of its massive wings, the porcelain-like clay encasing its body shattered inch by inch.
Crash—!
Fragments of hardened clay rained down in a crisp cascade. The serpent's massive body slowly rose into the air. It not only broke free from the clay prison but was no longer affected by the swamp below.
"W-What kind of monster is that?!"
The drained Kumogakure shinobi were on the verge of despair.
This was the Green Serpent's Cursed Seal Level Two state.
Boom—!
Freed from the Swamp of the Underworld, the serpent immediately went berserk. Its colossal body thrashed violently, its tail smashing into the surrounding Kumogakure forces.
Against the rampaging beast, they were powerless to restrain it.
Some exhausted shinobi were crushed into pulp by the tail. Others fled in panic.
Under the assault of the Cursed Seal Level Two Azure Serpent, the Kumogakure formation was obliterated in an instant.
Not far away, Rei and the others—who had been preparing to strike at Kakashi's group—were all drawn to the commotion.
Their expressions darkened at the sight of the winged serpent.
"So this is Ryūya's summoning beast…"
Kakashi muttered in a daze. Shisui and Guy stood silent.
The power of the Green Serpent in Cursed Seal Level Two far exceeded everyone's expectations.
"We can't wait any longer! We move now!"
At the top of the valley slope, C sensed the shifting tide of battle and spoke gravely to Darui and Samui.
"Let's go."
Without hesitation, Darui flashed down the mountainside.
"C, stay here and wait for the Boss!"
After giving the order, Samui followed, leading two squads of Kumogakure ANBU down the slope.
On the battlefield, the Azure Serpent continued its rampage, leaving the Kumogakure shinobi utterly helpless.
Elsewhere—
"Gate of View… Open!"
Guy activated the Sixth Gate once more. He charged ahead to clear a path while Kakashi supported the injured Shisui close behind.
"Don't let them escape!"
Rei immediately led the Kumogakure shinobi to intercept them again.
Even against Guy in the Gate of View state, Rei—empowered with Lightning Release Armor—could barely contend.
With additional Kumogakure shinobi assisting from the side, the trio quickly fell into peril.
"Green Serpent! Head to them—now!"
Sensing the danger, Ryūya leapt once more onto the serpent's head and pointed toward Kakashi's direction, shouting the command.
The Azure Serpent snapped out of its frenzy. No longer entangled with the Kumogakure forces, it surged swiftly toward the other battlefield.
Its speed was astonishing. In moments, it closed to within a hundred meters of Kakashi's group.
Crackle—
Lightning Release: Black Panther.
Just as relief flashed across Ryūya's face, a sharp cry of lightning erupted from a nearby earthen slope. Illuminated by firelight, a black panther-shaped bolt of lightning tore through the air straight toward him.
Ryūya's expression changed instantly. He rolled on the spot, narrowly evading the attack in a miserable scramble.
Boom—!
Hiss—!
The black lightning struck the serpent's head. Even in Cursed Seal Level Two, the Azure Serpent let out a piercing shriek of agony.
Damn it!
Before Ryūya could even catch his breath, the black lightning that struck the serpent split and scattered, forming a net that enveloped him.
Black Lightning—it was Darui of Kumogakure.
Trapped within the black lightning net, Ryūya's body stiffened, unable to move. Wherever the lightning struck, his flesh split and burned.
The moment he felt the technique, he recognized his attacker.
After the death of the Third Raikage, Darui became the sole inheritor of Black Lightning. Possessing immense chakra capable of wielding the Sage of Six Paths' treasured tools, his kenjutsu and ninjutsu were both masterful.
Though still young, Darui already stood among the strongest of Kumogakure.
Sure enough, before the lightning net dissipated, Ryūya saw a beam of light shooting straight toward him—
Storm Release: Laser Circus.
Boom—!
His body slowed by paralysis, Ryūya had no time to dodge. The laser blasted him off the serpent's head and sent him flying.
Whoosh—
"Ryūya!"
While still airborne, a gust of wind split the air. Guy's vigorous voice rang beside him.
"Are you alright?"