Chapter 90: A Moment of Despair—A Heart Ablaze!
The barrier shattered, and both combatants were stunned.
Tsukasa's pupils suddenly constricted as he gazed at the blade stretching nearly a hundred meters before him.
Wasn't that the same Kusanagi sword Orochimaru would use to stab the Third Hokage in the future?
Seeing it, he instantly realized—
Orochimaru had arrived!
Upon further reflection, Tsukasa quickly understood how events had diverged from the original timeline.
Orochimaru's presence here was due to the butterfly effect he'd created!
In the original sequence, the "sacrifice" Hidan found should have been Shinnō. He was supposed to appear inside this cave with Hidan, where Orochimaru—who'd been lurking—would catch him off guard.
Forced to escape using his forbidden technique, Shinnō would ultimately be defeated by the protagonists in the future.
However, Tsukasa's gift of the Physical Regeneration technique to Shinnō had changed everything, allowing him to escape the cave encounter.
Without the advantageous terrain, Orochimaru would have difficulty capturing Shinnō in open air.
After all, Shinnō was considered a leading inventor in the shinobi world. His Sky Ninja technology surpassed the current era by thirty years—he'd developed airships, fleets, and flight devices. Once airborne, even Orochimaru could only watch helplessly.
Unable to acquire that higher-level forbidden technique, Orochimaru naturally turned his attention to the Jashin Cult's "immortality."
And thus—he'd witnessed Tsukasa performing Physical Regeneration!
Tsukasa's breath caught, and he turned his head stiffly.
Footsteps in the darkness intensified—urgent, eager, and frantic, like rhythmic drumbeats.
A pair of golden, serpentine eyes lit up from the shadows, making him feel like prey being stalked by a cold-blooded python!
The hairs on Tsukasa's neck stood on end.
But then—
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Three kunai suddenly shot down from above and embedded themselves at Orochimaru's feet.
On the cavern ceiling, five pairs of scarlet eyes illuminated almost simultaneously!
Orochimaru's forward steps suddenly stopped.
He raised his head, narrowed his snake-like eyes, and looked up dangerously.
At this moment, four Uchiha jōnin surrounded Orochimaru from all sides on the ceiling.
At the front, Uchiha Fugaku opened his fierce scarlet eyes and stared at Orochimaru with calm indifference.
Even if the opponent was one of the Legendary Sannin, this couldn't intimidate the Uchiha clan.
In the future, Sasuke with his three-tomoe Sharingan would forcibly control Manda, Orochimaru's massive serpent summon.
Before this group of Uchiha who'd received the complete inheritance of their clan, Orochimaru's famous summoning techniques would be completely suppressed.
That alone would have been manageable—Orochimaru, having mastered numerous forbidden techniques, was confident he could defeat four Uchiha clan members.
But the key was Uchiha Fugaku's presence—one of the clan's most powerful shinobi. In a real fight, even Orochimaru couldn't predict the outcome.
The atmosphere froze.
Tsukasa wasn't sure what had caused Orochimaru's advance to stop so abruptly, but he knew he had no time to waste!
He had less than ten seconds left on his forbidden technique: Physical Regeneration!
After a brief pause, he used the Kusanagi sword—slung diagonally before him like a launch ramp—to vault forward.
Wielding his water blade, he lunged at Tōgō Hayato!
"Die, you monster!"
His ferocious bloodshot eyes blazed, and a massive splash erupted from his feet.
Tsukasa leaped high, swinging his water blade at the now-close Hayato!
A crescent-shaped arc of light flashed, and the water blade sang, creating a long, intense curtain of spray!
If this strike landed, it would at least sever one of his opponent's hands—blocking his ability to form seals!
Then he'd use shuriken and wire threads to slice and dismember him completely!
However, facing the leaping Tsukasa, Hayato's face revealed an utterly insane smile.
It was a twisted, anguished expression, tinged with intense hatred.
"Again!"
"Again!"
"Again!"
"This pain of having everything destroyed, this despair of being overwhelmed by sudden power!"
"But—HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!"
"This time, the advantage is mine!"
Hayato's eyes flashed with madness as he laughed furiously:
"Boy, it's your turn to experience this kind of suffering!"
As he finished speaking—
A brilliant spray of blood burst from his chest where his heart was!
It splattered high, splashing across Tsukasa's face!
The next moment, a system notification appeared:
[Special Equipment: Earth Grudge Fear Heart is destroyed. Retained: Water Release nature transformation experience.]
Tsukasa's pupils suddenly constricted, and a wave of weakness crashed over him.
He plummeted from mid-air.
He looked down slightly and saw a gaping bloody hole in his left chest where his heart should have been.
The Earth Grudge Fear heart that should have been beating within his chest had been pierced by an invisible spear, shredded, and exploded!
"Ugh! GAH!" Tsukasa's eyes went wide as he violently coughed up blood, which flowed freely from his mouth and the hole in his chest.
Without time to check his injuries, he suddenly turned his head—as if remembering something—to look toward Hidan.
There was only one possible explanation—
The moment Orochimaru broke the barrier, Hayato had seized the opportunity and hurled his spear, striking Hidan in the heart!
Injuring all three of them simultaneously through the curse connection!
Hidan knelt not far away, his eyes vacant, looking up at Tsukasa in shock.
A pitch-black spear was thrust through his chest, straight into his heart!
Blood gushed from the three wounds on his body—abdomen, thigh, and heart. His already pale complexion was beyond recognition, looking as weak as a vampire force-fed garlic, holy water, and silver.
"Hah... hah..." Hidan gulped air greedily like a drowning man.
He gasped, staring blankly in Tsukasa's direction, his blood-stained mouth open in a helpless, silent cry of grief:
"Tsu..."
"...kasa."
"I'm... so cold!"
He trembled—his face, his lips, his whole body shaking. His eyes filled with regret, fear, and resentment as he stammered:
"I... I don't think I'll get to see you become... what you promised."
Hearing this—
Tsukasa's pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints. He watched as Hidan's head drooped helplessly, the pitch-black tomoe in his eyes spinning wildly!
Suddenly, a sharp killing intent surged from his heart!
This extreme emotion was inhaled by the little Zero-Tails and transformed into dense, dark chakra.
BOOM!
Tsukasa remained silent, numb, his crimson eyes wide open.
His lips, teeth, and even his face trembled.
Then he stiffly turned his head back and stared blankly at the morbidly amused Hayato before him.
Baring his teeth, he demanded:
"What did you do?!"
"What did you do?!"
"You bastard!"
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"
Tsukasa's eyes suddenly became dark, ferocious, and furious—like a cornered beast gone berserk!
Violent chakra formed a raging wind, suddenly lifting clouds of rubble and shaking the entire blood pool.
The forbidden technique: Physical Regeneration activated at full power!
From the empty cavity in his chest, strands of flesh and blood rapidly formed a brand new heart at a speed visible to the naked eye!
From the moment of its birth—
It burned bright, incandescent, blazing with furious flames!
This was a heart born ablaze with rage!
A heart forged to fuel forbidden techniques!
At this moment—
Fire Release Chakra Mode—activated!
End of Chapter 90
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