At the same time, on a distant cliff, Shimura Danzō's lips curled into a cold smile.
This is exactly the scene I wanted. Not bad at all, Hyūga Shigeo. No wonder Orochimaru wanted you so badly, even at the cost of his life. The secrets in your body are simply too many.
Seven tailed beasts sealed inside a single jinchūriki? A true monster.
He raised his hand slightly, and ANBU Root operatives appeared from the shadows.
"Alive, I want to see the person. Dead, I want to see the corpse!"
"Yes!"
The Root operatives received the order and rushed down into the battlefield.
At the torii of the Myōjinmon, Shigeo faced the entire Uchiha clan alone. Itachi still hadn't moved, but Shisui was a different matter—he was troublesome.
His speed was frightening, his Lightning Cutter (Shōrai Kirikiri) swept across the battlefield like a torrential storm of falling stars. Combined with the clan's Fire Release techniques, the entire area was chaos and scorching heat.
The two clashed at speeds so fast the naked eye couldn't follow. Waves of ninjutsu tore through the air in succession, arcs of lightning-like blades shooting skyward and blasting in every direction.
Shigeo, clad in his black cloak, danced through the battlefield with dizzying agility. His Wind Release gleamed azure in his hands, slicing the night air into brilliant arcs of power.
The Uchiha surrounded him on all sides. Though Shigeo focused on Shisui, the duel gave the rest of the clan precious breathing room. Despite his overwhelming speed, not one Uchiha had yet fallen.
Then—Mangekyō Sharingan manifested.
"Susanoo!"
A colossal yellow half-body Susanoo rose up. The Uchiha froze in shock. They knew their clan's history inside and out, yet never had they heard of a Hyūga wielding the Sharingan—much less Susanoo.
But there was no time for questions. This was a battlefield.
Shisui, ever brilliant, didn't hesitate. His own Mangekyō flared. A green Susanoo emerged, wielding a spiraling sword, and charged Shigeo.
Now it was a clash of gods. The surrounding Uchiha could only watch, powerless to join. Their "Genius Shisui" had revealed Susanoo at last.
Far off, Danzō's eyes shone with greed. His hunger surged. If only I possessed such eyes… then all this power would belong to me.
The two Susanoo collided, golden and green. Blinding light erupted skyward, exploding outward in devastating shockwaves. Even seasoned Uchiha shielded their eyes from the blast.
The sound of their clash echoed through the Forest of Death like thunder.
The war-gods traded blows—colossal, relentless.
Meanwhile, in Konoha's Hokage Office, tension was thick. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, watched through his crystal ball, jaw agape. His mind reeled with endless "impossibles."
Just when it seemed the battle might rage on, Shigeo suddenly released his Susanoo.
"It's dangerous!" shouted Itachi, who saw it clearly. Fearful for Shigeo, he cried out.
Shisui's spiral sword swung down—about to strike—when Shigeo's hand flashed through seals.
"Mokuton: Shin Sūsenju (Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands)!"
A titanic wooden Buddha erupted into existence. Thousands of colossal hands rained down like a storm, each blow thunderous and unrelenting.
The sight froze every soul present. Such a jutsu couldn't exist—it was beyond comprehension. Even the Third Hokage leapt to his feet, gripping the crystal ball with shaking hands.
The True Several Thousand Hands. The legendary technique of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Not seen since his death, half a lifetime ago.
Why would Shigeo even need the power of tailed beasts? With Wood Release alone, he could plunge the shinobi world into war.
Farther out, ANBU operatives from other villages watching in secret nearly lost control of their bladders. A power like this was heaven-shaking, ghost-weeping. If this child ever became their enemy, they had no chance of victory.
Shisui's green Susanoo staggered back under the Buddha's onslaught. The thousand hands did not relent—they rained down endlessly.
"Shigeo!"
The voice boomed across the battlefield like a temple bell.
Behind him, the hands of the Buddha still pummeled Susanoo. Ahead, a familiar figure called his name.
Shigeo turned, lips curling coldly. "Danzō?"
So this was his scheme—to disgust him, to bait him.
Shigeo's eyes flicked to the Myōjinmon torii behind Danzō.
An Eight Trigrams sealing matrix.
The curse marks lay dormant, hidden beneath the earth, ready to spring the moment he stepped into the torii's range. Once activated, sealing squads would descend, cutting off his chakra and escape routes.
Danzō's shout had been a lure—forcing him to turn, to move, to stumble into the trap.
But Danzō didn't know one crucial fact: Hyūga Shigeo was a sealing master.
Shigeo's lips twisted in a smile. Then, with a sudden burst, he charged straight ahead.
Danzō gestured sharply—sealing squads readied themselves.
He was charging directly at them, but the Shin Sūsenju Buddha still fought behind him? A technique of such magnitude—shouldn't it require constant chakra control?
He crossed into the torii's range. Sealing squads surged in, but—nothing. No activation, no trap, no sealing field.
The matrix failed.
Danzō's eyes widened in shock. How could this be?
Before he could react, Shigeo stood before him.
And his hand lashed out to strike.
(End of Chapter)
[50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[10 Reviews = 5 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]