Chapter 20: A Three-Second World, A Wandering Stray
The Moment of Detonation
When Tsukasa tore open the first explosive tag, all the detonating paper seals covering his body suddenly blazed with brilliant yellow light!
At that moment, Tsukasa became light itself—light in the most literal sense.
He shone even brighter than the rising sun on the horizon!
The intense radiance filled his entire field of vision, making him feel as though he held not an explosive tag but a divine torch.
It seemed as if Tsukasa might transform into some legendary mecha and launch into battle at any moment.
But of course, this was merely an illusion.
Tsukasa hadn't even awakened his Sharingan.
He didn't believe that someone like himself—who maintained a strict schedule, waking at six and sleeping at ten each day, whose emotions remained as stable as clockwork, moving steadily and predictably like the hands of a timepiece—
Could possibly awaken something that only true madness could unlock.
Shaking his head, Tsukasa couldn't help but bare his teeth in a wild grin:
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Farewell, Uchiha!"
"Farewell, this twisted world!"
He threw back his head, face full of smug satisfaction, spread his arms wide, and hurled himself into the sea of flames—
Embracing the entire world like a conquering hero.
The temperature soared, flames scorched the air!
If nothing went wrong, in three seconds Tsukasa would explode into brilliant fireworks, making his dramatic exit from the shinobi world.
Then, with his massive insurance payout secured, he could happily depart for whatever came next.
This gambit—bathing in explosive tags for a perfect funeral, skipping the entire process and rushing straight to cremation at lightning speed—how could I possibly lose?
Tell me, how the hell could I lose?!
However, lost in his beautiful fantasy, Tsukasa had forgotten that just before this mission, he had personally smashed his alarm clock.
And then sent himself to the most volatile battlefield of the Third Shinobi World War!
Furthermore, could someone who preferred energy drinks to herbal tea truly claim emotional stability?
The Forbidden Sealing Technique
Sealing Technique: Billion Vengeful Souls
This technique was unique to Kumogakure and could be considered one of the most advanced sealing arts in the shinobi world, rivaling even those of the Uzumaki clan.
This was because its key component was ink produced by the Eight-Tails, Gyuki.
Only the Third Raikage Ai, who possessed both the "Strongest Spear" and "Strongest Shield," could reliably obtain this material by subduing the Eight-Tails directly.
How powerful was this technique?
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Eight-Tails and Killer Bee had used this technique to simultaneously seal nearly a thousand enemy shinobi!
The sprayed ink became a manifestation of the Eight-Tails' power, using a cross-shaped binding technique to immobilize opponents. After three seconds, targets were completely encased in the sealing ink!
However, this technique had one critical weakness: it required a full three seconds from contact to complete activation!
Explosive tags were designed with similar timing constraints. Generally speaking, a detonating tag not controlled by hand seals also required three seconds from ignition to detonation!
What a coincidence indeed.
At this moment, at the edge of the barrier surrounding the ruins, Moroi's eyes blazed with cold determination. His hands, stained with his own blood, formed the necessary seals as he shouted with thunderous authority:
"Sealing Technique: Billion Vengeful Souls!"
A massive "八" (eight) symbol suddenly illuminated on the pristine, blood-stained scroll.
A torrential mass of black ink gushed forth from the scroll like a pitch-dark waterfall!
From within the ink, a massive figure shrouded in the crimson and black chakra of a tailed beast gradually materialized.
It turned its head, emotionless round eyes instantly locking onto Tsukasa.
The next moment, the phantom Jinchuriki, riding the cascade of ink, swooped down with devastating force.
Then came a powerful grappling hold!
The phantom wrapped its arm around Tsukasa's throat, swept his legs to break his balance, then used a complex joint lock to pin him completely—elbow across the arm, leg securing the waist.
A perfect submission hold!
Tsukasa had been laughing maniacally when suddenly this burly figure in tailed beast chakra charged through the not-yet-expanded sea of flames. With expert grappling technique, it slammed him to the ground.
His face was pressed into the dirt and debris!
The next moment, Tsukasa's vision went completely black.
The figure transformed into a spreading puddle of ink.
Like a character from a cartoon doused in paint, Tsukasa blinked in stunned confusion.
The ink spread rapidly across his entire body, and wherever it touched, the vibrant yellow glow of the explosive tags suddenly dimmed, rendering them into useless paper.
Nearly seventy to eighty percent of the detonating tags lost their effectiveness, while the remaining twenty percent, which had been about to explode, gradually went dormant.
Tsukasa's triumphant smile froze on his face.
Meanwhile, Moroi, who had performed the sealing technique, wore an expression nearly identical to Tsukasa's bewilderment.
He stood stunned, staring at his sealing scroll and beginning to question everything he knew.
Before departure, the Third Raikage had solemnly instructed him to use this technique only if the Blood Pond Clan disobeyed orders and attempted to revolt and flee Hell Valley.
He had specifically emphasized it should only be deployed when facing an entire clan in rebellion!
And this is it?
You're telling me this thing can suppress the Blood Pond Clan?
It only summoned what appeared to be a formidable Jinchuriki phantom to put that brat in a wrestling hold!
Where's the devastating power? Where's the legendary effectiveness? Where's the refund policy?!
Moroi nearly cursed aloud.
But then, eight kunai flew through the air, grazing past his cheeks before embedding in the barrier wall behind him.
Followed by a bone-chilling howl, like the roar of a vengeful spirit, exploding in his ears:
"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!"
The resentment in that voice was like that of a demon dog that had crawled from hell, only to have two of its three heads severed, leaving it to wander as a broken, homeless wretch.
At the source of that voice—
Tsukasa, his face drenched in black ink, struggled to his feet. He raised his head, his features distorted and twisted beneath the jet-black coating.
A pair of crimson pupils suddenly blazed to life!
A single tomoe spun wildly within each eye!
Dark and twisted, Tsukasa crawled and writhed on the ground, roaring in a voice raw with fury:
"What did you do?!"
"I'm asking you!"
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
"Answer me!"
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
"Tell me!"
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"
Tsukasa threw back his head, eyes wide with rage, teeth grinding, his entire body trembling with uncontrolled fury.
His eyes were completely bloodshot, a line of crimson tears streaking down his cheeks—
He looked like a wild beast selecting its prey! The killing intent, bloodlust, and madness in his gaze seemed to solidify into something tangible.
Unfortunately, in this world three seconds later—
Tsukasa still failed to bid farewell to existence.
End of Chapter 20
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