Looking at the shadow clone of Kyoichi brimming with confidence, everyone still harbored deep doubts. Yet since Kyoichi was determined to go his own way, they were helpless. Dazen could have invoked the authority of the clan leader to command him—but he restrained the impulse, choosing instead to trust Kyoichi one more time.
After all,
without Kyoichi,
they would never have led their people safely out of Iwagakure.
Had they followed his own original plan, the Koeda Clan might not have even two handfuls of survivors left. It was Kyoichi who overturned that disastrous course and created a miracle Dazen himself had never dared to imagine.
Perhaps,
Kyoichi could create another miracle this time?
That said,
he was deeply curious—what exactly was this "trump card" Kyoichi spoke of?
These shadow clones sitting as still as stone statues hadn't shown anything remarkable so far.
Seeing that the clan leader himself had fallen silent, seemingly persuaded by Kyoichi, Seinosuke had no words either. All he could do was silently pray that this reckless brat wouldn't capsize in the gutter. After all, as a medical shinobi, unless the situation was utterly dire, he would never be thrown onto the frontlines of battle.
Just then—
Boom!
The unmoving shadow clone of Kyoichi seated at the center vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Huh?"
Seinosuke's eyes widened.
"What's going on?" he blurted out.
"...The true body has played its trump card."
The shadow clone seated on the right answered, then added:
"From here on, I don't have time to talk with you all. I need to calm myself and prepare."
With that, he closed his eyes, resuming his silent, meditative posture.
But at this point, no one bothered him further.
Everyone's attention had shifted entirely to the sudden changes on the battlefield ahead.
——
Slate, Iwami, Ishiza, and Bantō—the four of them hadn't rushed headlong toward the Koeda Clan's encampment. Instead, after avoiding the billowing poisonous mists spewed by the salamander, they came upon Akaishi, who was being pursued by the stone colossus Kyoichi had summoned.
The four didn't hesitate. They struck immediately to aid him.
"Earth Release: Mud Mage!"
The solid earth beneath the colossus suddenly turned to sucking mire. With one heavy step it sank down to its ankles, powerful suction tugging it down and slowing its movements. Such was the power of Earth Release: Mud Mage—to transmute rock into mire and engulf the foe.
Of course,
the colossus was far too massive to be swallowed whole. At best, its movements could be hindered. But that was precisely Slate's purpose: to restrict the colossus and buy his comrades—and Akaishi—the time to regroup.
In the next instant—
"Earth Release: Earth Maosoleum Dumpling!"
"Water Release: Water Trumpet Technique!"
Iwami raised a massive boulder, over three meters in diameter, straight from the ground, mustering all his strength to hurl it at the stone giant. At the same time, Ishiza unleashed a Water Release, spewing forth a trumpet-shaped torrent.
Neither attack was meant to kill.
Though the colossus's feet were trapped, its arms moved freely. It simply raised them to block the flying boulder and the torrent. Truly, this Earth Release: Steel Prison Technique was outstanding—offense and defense both formidable, and effective even against foes of titanic size. Almost as if… it was meant to counter tailed beasts.
Perhaps,
that was indeed its original purpose.
"Iwagakure Sword Style: Mountain-Cleaving Strike!"
The poisoned blade gleamed a sinister green under the moonlight as it tore through the air, slashing straight at the back of Kyoichi's neck.
Clang!
Bantō's hands went numb from the impact.
It felt as though he had struck tempered steel.
His prized Iwagakure-forged ninja blade now bore several rice-grain-sized chips along its edge.
But worse than the damage to his weapon was the sinking feeling in his chest.
With Iwami and Ishiza covering him, he had braved the risk of being smashed into paste by the colossus, leaping from the hurled boulder at the last instant. He landed upon the colossus's arm, then scaled swiftly and cautiously to its head, positioning himself behind Kyoichi.
Raising his blade,
he had sought to end Kyoichi's life in one blow.
But alas—
the plan failed. Whether his presence had betrayed him, or Kyoichi's senses were simply too sharp, the fact remained: Kyoichi had instantly hardened his body with the high-level Earth Release, Earth Spear Technique, nullifying the assassination attempt.
And now—
retribution was at hand.
"Die!"
Kyoichi spun, his fist lashing out.
His blackened hand, like a weapon forged by the gods, shattered Bantō's beloved ninja blade as if it were nothing, then continued forward with unstoppable force. It pierced through Bantō's flesh, crushed his ribs, and burst out his back in a spray of scarlet.
Blood spurted like a waterfall.
His head sagged.
Bantō—the Special Jōnin of Iwagakure's Anbu—died with eyes wide open, unable to utter even a final word, bidding farewell to the cruel world in bitter unwillingness.
"You bastard!"
A furious roar rang out.
Akaishi, now recovered, stood atop a newly-summoned stone colossus, his voice thundering with rage at Kyoichi as he commanded the giant to strike. This fresh colossus was over twenty meters tall, no lesser than Kyoichi's own.
But—
Kyoichi, watching the oncoming giant, did not direct his own colossus, still mired in the swamp, to defend or counter.
Instead, he leapt backward, dropping down from the giant's head toward the earth below.
As he fell,
his form began to change. His black eyes glowed with crimson-gold light. Dark red markings spread around his eyes. His aura grew vast, ethereal, as though he had merged in that instant with all of nature.
This was—
Sage Mode.
After witnessing Namikaze Minato wield the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku, Kyoichi had devoted untold effort and time to studying it. And with the aid of the Eye of God—its supreme affinity and dominion over the earth element—he had finally mastered this most powerful of techniques.