What kind of divine power was this? That child had lifted an entire city. He had saved Wuwang Castle.
Shigeo smiled. With Chōkarugan no Jutsu (Super Light-Weight Rock Technique) combined with Sennin Jutsu (Sage Technique), Wuwang Castle was saved.
The danger had been razor-thin. Once Zero-Tails left, the city dropped too fast, leaving no time to think. Shigeo dove to catch it, but before he could gather enough chakra the city pressed him into the sea. Only by activating Sage Technique instantly did his chakra rise ten-thousandfold. Then he used Super Light-Weight Rock Technique to reverse everything.
Inside the fog, cheers rang from the castle and from those who had fallen into the sea.
On the shoreline the battle was brutal.
The Five Great Ninja Villages had formed a united front, but Zero-Tails' appearance ruined everything. The Fagui warriors were already tough. Each village had only sent a limited number of shinobi. Casualties mounted.
They sent distress signals. Yet the Sky-ninja had already attacked the villages that morning. Each home base would be in chaos. Reinforcements were uncertain.
The commanders faced Zero-Tails head-on. Anbu pressed from both sides. Other jōnin fought Wuyouhua. Chūnin and tokubetsu jōnin clashed against hundreds of Fagui warriors.
Zero-Tails ranked low among the tailed beasts, but it was more than enough to overwhelm jōnin.
As for Wuyouhua's secret, the shinobi still did not understand. They thought they had killed her more than once, only for her to appear again among piles of corpses.
Their numbers dwindled. Defeat loomed.
Kakashi grew anxious. Battling Zero-Tails, he shouted, "Won't you reconsider Shigeo's request? His demand is not excessive. He only asked us not to take revenge on Wuwang Castle's civilians. Can't you agree to something that simple?"
The previously defiant leaders from Iwagakure and Kumogakure fell silent.
The Iwagakure captain had already lost an arm to Zero-Tails. Three of his subordinates were dead. At this point survival itself seemed like fortune.
"He's just a child. You think he has a way to handle Wuyouhua? I don't believe it!" the Iwagakure ninja still blustered.
"What if he does? Stop your whining. Even without your consent he alone protected Wuwang Castle. Didn't you hear the cheers over the sea? Those people were shouting his name. He saved them!"
Might Guy roared the words while clashing with Wuyouhua. Even he had heard the cheers, yet these fools pretended not to.
This woman was troublesome. Her ninjutsu was not particularly powerful, but killing her outright was near impossible. She was like a user of black arts, reviving again and again. Even Eight Gates could not resolve her.
The Iwagakure and Kumogakure leaders flushed red. They had heard the cheers. Reports from their Anbu confirmed Shigeo had lifted the falling city by himself.
They did not fully believe, but against Zero-Tails and Wuyouhua, what choice remained?
"Fine. We agree. Kakashi, negotiate for us. If he helps us destroy Wuyouhua and Zero-Tails, we will pledge on behalf of our villages to sign an accord with Wuwang Castle and swear no revenge."
"Understood."
Kakashi turned and ran toward the sea. He found Shigeo floating high above, one hand holding the city, the other popping peanuts into his mouth.
"What? They agreed? But it's too late. I can't move. If I let go, the city falls. There are still many civilians inside." Shigeo's tone was indifferent.
"But we're about to fail our mission!" Kakashi knew Shigeo's coldness masked a burning heart. Yet if he did not wish to act, he would not.
"Relax. It's just Zero-Tails. Let Kumogakure call Killer B. He'll handle it. Wuyouhua is troublesome, yes. But if her Fagui army is wiped out, her arrogance will fade. So, even if I don't act, it's fine." Shigeo munched peanuts as he spoke.
Kakashi frowned. "Shigeo, help us."
Shigeo switched hands to support the city. "A teacher should not beg me."
He said no more. Kakashi sighed and returned.
Back on shore, Iwagakure and Kumogakure captains raged when they heard Kakashi's failure.
"It's just a tailed beast. Hold out. When the sealing corps or our jinchūriki arrive, we'll take it down!"
"They've withdrawn…"
A shout went up. Wuyouhua had vanished into the mist. The Fagui warriors too retreated. Zero-Tails unleashed one last attack, then sank into the sea. All were gone.
"They've changed strategy again!" someone realized.
"What do we do? Where did they go?"
An Anbu report arrived: "Zero-Tails and Wuyouhua were taken away by the Sky-ninja. Destination unknown."
The captains paled. Orders flew to notify the villages and send scouts.
"Did we fail our mission?"
They thought of their own villages' chaos and grew uneasy.
"Enough hesitation! Whoever opposed Shigeo before must go beg him now. If not, you bear the consequences!" Kakashi roared.
Might Guy raised a brow. "First time I've seen you lose your temper."
Kakashi was always calm. For him to flare meant the crisis was dire.
The Iwagakure and Kumogakure leaders looked at each other, speechless. Seeing the glares from Kirigakure and Sunagakure, they clenched their teeth and ran toward the sea.
What a sight. A scene they would never forget.
As the fog lifted with Zero-Tails and Wuyouhua's retreat, they saw Wuwang Castle floating above the ocean. From afar, they beheld it.
(End of Chapter)
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