Uchiha Takashi stood proudly atop the head of his Susanoo, feeling immensely satisfied with his Sage Art.
This is what true Sage Art should be!
Not just using Sage Chakra to enhance ninjutsu and calling it a Sage Art.
However... as powerful as the Sage Art is, the consumption of Sage Chakra is like a water pump draining it away.
It's tough!
Just maintaining the Susanoo had already consumed more than half of his Sage Chakra.
This wasn't a 'Kekkei Genkai'; it was something he developed himself, and its sustainability was indeed lacking.
Fortunately, when he created this Sage Art, he utilized sealing techniques to seal the flames within the Susanoo's body, saving a significant amount of chakra.
Otherwise, Uchiha Takashi would have needed at least double his current chakra to 'barely' sustain the Sage Art.
Of course, such terrifying consumption brings equally terrifying power, and now was the time to demonstrate it.
Just as Uchiha Takashi was getting accustomed to his Sage Art.
"Scorch Release: Oversteam Kill!"
Pakura unleashed her full-force attack.
After merging six fireballs, their power had surged to the limit, and the massive fireball, as large as a hill, flew towards the Susanoo, distorting the air and causing fierce winds to scatter.
Not far away stood Rasa, pale-faced, clearly also giving it his all.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
A massive cube, much larger than before, flew towards the head of the Susanoo.
Facing the strongest attacks from two Kage-level opponents, Uchiha Takashi didn't feel worried; instead, he smiled.
"Yes, this is how it should be!"
If there was no threat, it would just be bullying the weak.
Though he enjoyed overpowering weaker opponents, to truly understand the limits of his Susanoo, he needed a real challenge.
At the same time, another Sage Art he had conceived should also make its appearance.
However, rather than calling it a Sage Art, it might be more appropriate to call it an improved ninjutsu, as its complexity was far less than that of the Susanoo.
"Sage Art: Totsuka Blade!"
Uchiha Takashi softly chanted as he made a grasping motion with his right hand.
The Susanoo responded in kind.
But unlike him, the Susanoo's right hand suddenly erupted with countless sky-blue flames, which compressed and condensed into a twenty-meter-long sword.
Then it stepped forward and swung upward.
Whoosh!!
The air was sliced open, creating a massive gust of wind.
The ground was cleaved into a several-meter-wide, unfathomably deep fissure.
The blue blade was like an unstoppable divine weapon, cutting through everything in front of the Susanoo.
Swish! With a crisp slicing sound.
The incoming massive fireball was effortlessly cut in half without the slightest delay.
There was no helping it.
Besides the difference in power, Uchiha Takashi's abilities perfectly countered Pakura, leaving her at a disadvantage.
The blade continued its upward arc.
It struck the massive golden cube flying towards it.
Whoosh! Endless blue flames erupted from the blue blade, slicing through it like a hot knife through butter.
The tens of thousands of tons of gold dust cube instantly turned into scattered sand, falling like rain.
A golden rain fell from the sky, and the Susanoo stood amidst it like a deity.
The Totsuka Blade!
Formed from the compression and condensation of the 'Orochimaru', it transformed from an instantaneous burst to a continuous output.
Sky blue! It represented its terrifying temperature.
Compared to the red flames of ordinary Fire Release, it was on a completely different level.
It was even stronger than the blue-white Orochimaru he had tested before.
Boom!
The earth roared.
That single slash had directly cut off a corner of the mountain peak, causing half of the mountain to slide down.
A natural disaster!
No matter who witnessed that slash from the Susanoo, they would feel the same way.
The battlefield fell into a profound silence.
Even though Sand Ninja and Leaf Ninja were within arm's reach, no one moved. They simply stared in awe at the red-armored giant standing atop the mountain.
In the face of such a presence, human strength was utterly insignificant, and it drained their will to fight.
It's like playing ranked matches; even if you're a Bronze player facing Silver or Gold opponents, you wouldn't lose the will to fight.
But against the strongest champion, you wouldn't even think about winning; you'd just want to give up and start over.
That's how the ninjas felt at that moment.
"Do you still want to dance?"
Uchiha Takashi's voice echoed from within the Susanoo, as the Totsuka Blade began to shimmer, with hints of sky-blue light flickering.
This is because he had reached his limit! Not the limit of Sage Mode, but his own limit.
At this moment, Rasa and Pakura were utterly exhausted and weak, completely unable to continue fighting.
"Hmph, if you're going to kill us, then do it!"
Pakura, known for her strong words, would never back down.
"Today, we lost, but one day the Sand Ninja will prevail!"
Rasa's face was calm.
Being a ninja is a profession accustomed to life and death; they weren't afraid to die, only worried about the future of their village.
"That's truly unfortunate!"
Uchiha Takashi raised the Kusanagi Sword high in his hand, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he was about to strike down.
Tap, tap!
In the midst of dense collision sounds.
A large centipede-like puppet burst from the ground, quickly swallowing Pakura and Rasa into its body before burrowing back underground.
"Don't think you can escape!"
Uchiha Takashi swung the Kusanagi Sword with all his might, but the sword turned into flames and dissipated in mid-air.
Hmm, it definitely wasn't him holding back, he just couldn't maintain it any longer.
And not only that, the true form of the Fire God also began to 'burn' away.
"Retreat!"
Ebizo released a signal flare.
This was their last chance to retreat.
With the order, the initially stunned Sand Ninja army began to flee.
As for the wounded?
They could only be temporarily abandoned.
Those familiar with ninja mobility understood; with this command, the Sand Ninja scattered from the battlefield like a pot boiling over.
On the Konoha side, everyone instinctively looked towards the mountaintop.
Even Shikaku Nara did the same.
After this battle, Uchiha Takashi's position as the commander was truly solidified, with no one daring to challenge it.
"Don't pursue them, Shikaku, you command the Jonin to clean up the battlefield and tend to the wounded!"
Uchiha Takashi emerged from the dissipating flames of the Fire God's true form. He had exited Sage Mode, the flame pattern on his forehead vanished, and his eyes returned to black.
However, even so, no one dared to meet his gaze directly.
Even Danzo didn't dare to entertain any crooked thoughts for the time being.
Too terrifying!
The power of that sword just now, which could cleave a mountain, gave him a sense of 'Hashirama reborn,' how could he not be wary?
"Yes!" The Jonin responded in unison.
Seeing this reaction, Uchiha Takashi was extremely satisfied.
He knew that from now on, this ninja army was truly under his control.
At the very least, as long as his orders weren't rebellious, no one would defy them.
There's no helping it, ninjas admire strength.
Even the cold and ruthless Orochimaru had countless followers, let alone him.
For ninjas, weakness is the original sin. As long as you can fight, you have charisma, and there will undoubtedly be countless people willing to follow you.
This is why Uchiha Takashi needed to decisively defeat Rasa and Pakura.
Defeating two Kage-level opponents in one stroke is the best proof of strength.
As for why he let Rasa, Pakura, and the Sand Ninja army go?
The reason isn't hard to guess.
Keep your enemies close!
Without the threat of the Sand Ninja, the village's higher-ups would surely spend all day trying to undermine him.
Now, with the Sand Ninja still around, no one but him could handle the southwestern ninja army.
Of course, Uchiha Takashi had no intention of just watching the fun.
If the ninja world lacked the Sand Ninja, there would be far less entertainment.
Most importantly, he wasn't going to devote himself entirely to Konoha's interests.
Konoha had previously wanted him dead; if he were to wholeheartedly consider their interests, it would only be because his blood was filled with the 'Will of Fire.'
As a transmigrant, and not having grown up being brainwashed by the Will of Fire, his actions were quite normal.
Future Sasuke Uchiha is more of a normal person, while Naruto is practically a saint with a terminal condition.
Someone kills your friend's entire family, wipes out their clan, and you still want your friend to forgive them?
Ridiculous!
In any case, Uchiha Takashi was extremely displeased with such a twisted protagonist.
But that's a matter for later; for now, he needed to recover and deal with the aftermath before anything else.
While they were busy, the intelligence from the Battle of Kikyo Mountain also sparked reactions from all sides.
(End of Chapter)