"Shigeo, you're from Konoha. Didn't Konoha suffer attacks too? Killing that witch is what you should be doing. Talking about conditions? Ridiculous…"
The Iwagakure ninja was furious. This kid never played by the rules. Since he was from Konoha and claimed to know a way to kill the witch, why not use it? Why capture them and stall? Was he joking?
"I said I have conditions. Take it or leave it. I'm not here on my village's orders anyway." Shigeo folded his arms and faced the five leaders in silence.
After a long pause, Kakashi finally asked, "You really can deal with the Fagui?"
"I can."
"What are your terms?" Kakashi knew Shigeo well. If he had gone this far to gather the five villages' commanders, it was not for selfish reasons.
"My demand is simple: if I end this war, you must spare Wuwang Castle and the tens of thousands of ordinary people inside. The attack of the Five Great Ninja Villages has nothing to do with them."
"I refuse," one said. "During the Second War the sky-ninja joined in. Who knows if these townsfolk all support their lord? If we let them go, isn't that just letting the tiger return to the mountain?"
"I refuse as well," the Iwagakure ninja added. To them, Shigeo was in some sense an enemy. No matter what condition he raised, they would oppose it.
"Good." Shigeo nodded. "That's why I needed all five villages here. If even one refuses, negotiations collapse. That's it. Go back to your business."
He waved his hand. His four clones vanished. He turned and drifted toward the sea. After a short distance he turned again.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Wuwang Castle still has a weapon unused. Do you know what it is? A tailed beast known as the Zero-Tails…"
He grinned, then vanished through space-time.
The five leaders were stunned.
"What's Zero-Tails?" someone asked.
Blank looks all around. None of them had heard of it clearly.
"The sea is fogging up!"
They turned to the horizon. A thick mist spread. Wuwang Castle was gone in the haze. Fighting stopped in the confusion.
"Let's fight together," someone finally said.
Kakashi sighed. The first alliance of the Five Villages had come from Shigeo.
"Fine."
Their plans shifted. But so did Wuwang Castle's.
Every Anbu sent into the city had vanished without a trace. It was as if they had evaporated. Even sensory jutsu failed in the thick fog. Wind-style users tried to disperse it, but no matter how they drove whirlwinds, the fog only twisted and refused to clear.
Several ninja fell in ambushes. At last, the leaders ordered all forces back to the shore.
Something larger and darker seemed to be forming within the mist.
A rasping cry rang out. A strange creature's call, like a ghost's wail from hell, echoed across the sea.
Inside Wuwang Castle chaos reigned.
Soldiers threw down armor and fled. Buildings swayed and collapsed.
Shigeo stood atop the wall, staring at a massive twisted monster crawling out from the underground vault. His brow furrowed.
Wuyouhua's laughter cut through the air like a specter.
Suddenly the whole city tilted east, forty-five degrees, nearly fifty. The entire castle seemed ready to topple. Citizens slid like down a giant slide. Guards fell off the walls into the ocean.
Shouts and cries for help filled the air.
"Wuyouhua, do you want to destroy Wuwang Castle?" Shigeo hovered in the fog, glaring at her smile.
"So what if I destroy it? Did you think I'd stay in the Sky Country forever? My ambitions are far greater. Now I will take my Fagui army and follow the Zero-Tails to annihilate the Five Villages. What use is Wuwang Castle to me?" Her gaze was cold and decisive.
No, something was wrong. If she didn't care for the city, why had she ordered corpses gathered during the battle? Clearly, she had only just realized the castle was doomed.
The ninja's attacks weren't the cause. Then what was bringing the city down?
All Fagui warriors surged out. Wuyouhua abandoned the city. Zero-Tails leapt into the sea with Shinnō, vanishing. As it left, the entire city plunged toward the water.
Shigeo dove, bracing himself beneath it, arms straining…
He tried to lift the whole city.
"Impossible! Move, get out of the way!"
Citizens who had already fallen into the sea shouted. Wu Qianling, the heir of Wuwang Castle, wept. She herself had given up. Why was he still fighting?
The colossal mass pressed down on the boy, his body tiny beneath it.
On the surface the watchers cried out. The city was still sinking. He would be crushed.
"Move away! Get out!" they screamed.
He did not. The descent slowed, but did not stop.
The weight of a city with tens of thousands of people and the underground halls could crush countless Shigeos.
The city forced him beneath the waves.
Wu Qianling sobbed. "Stop! We don't need it! Please, oniisan, let it go! I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry I didn't listen before. I don't want you to die!"
On the surface his head was gone from view. Despair spread.
Then a roar of water. The whole city began to rise.
As it lifted, Shigeo appeared beneath it, body glowing faint golden. A rainbow mask pattern blazed on his face. His robes flared like banners. He held the massive city aloft, carrying it skyward like a god.
The sea boiled. Everyone screamed in disbelief.
(End of Chapter)
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