When Tendo Pain saw all the summoned beasts being restrained by the living weapon incarnations created from the techniques in Uchiha Hikaru's hands, he finally understood—the warm-up was over.
It was time for the real battle.
At the same moment, the three-tomoe Sharingan in Hikaru's eyes spun violently, twisting and interlocking as his own Mangekyō Sharingan awakened once more.
A black skeletal arm erupted around him, ribs forming in an instant as the Susanoo manifested. The massive skeletal fist swung down at Tendo Pain from above, intent on smashing him flat.
Tendo raised his right hand calmly, palm facing the incoming strike.
"Shinra Tensei."
The black Susanoo fist slammed into an invisible wall of force and was repelled instantly.
But Hikaru knew Tendo Pain's repulsive technique well—especially the five-second cooldown window.
If my right fist was blocked…
…why not my left? (•̀ω•́)✧
Using the rebound of the Shinra Tensei, Hikaru let his right arm be flung back, twisted his torso mid-air, and swung Susanoo's left arm in a brutal backhand sweep. The skeletal forearm came crashing toward Tendo.
Nagato immediately sensed the danger. Tendo Pain's right arm cracked apart at the shoulder blade with sharp mechanical sounds—revealing the ruthless metal joints inside. Several iron arms shot outward all at once, locking together into a massive reinforced guard that caught Susanoo's forearm head-on.
The impact drove Tendo Pain sliding across the lake's surface, forcing him several meters left.
Another mechanical hiss—Tendo's split arm cracked fully open. A missile head extended from within, its design alien to Hikaru's eyes.
Dozens of missiles launched at once, screaming toward Hikaru.
Hikaru activated Susanoo's first form, letting the half-skeleton envelop him.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!"
The explosions shook the air, but inside the skeletal defense, Hikaru felt only faint tremors. This level of force couldn't penetrate Susanoo—not even close.
"Ohhh!!"
"I knew there'd be explosions in this fight!"
"It seems the Leader also appreciates the art of explosions!"
"The pointed bomb-head cuts through the air! The slender cylindrical body reduces resistance! It increases flight speed and maximizes impact!"
"This is beauty—another kind of explosive art!"
Deidara's eyes sparkled as he admired what he believed to be divine explosive craftsmanship.
But Sasori, hiding inside Hiruko, was thoroughly disgusted. He lifted the puppet's lid, poking out his red hair and youthful scowl.
"Hmph. Superficial art. What value is there in a beauty that lasts a moment?"
"You're ignoring the true craftsmanship here—the puppet-level mechanism built directly into the Leader's arm. It's so seamless you'd never even see the modification."
"This level of engineering… precise, deadly, elegant. Your clumsy clay could never compare."
"There are countless tracking weapons, hidden compartments—perfectly concealed, yet lethal."
"Your explosions are nothing but tools. The Leader's body is the art."
"Eternal art. Beauty that does not decay."
Their artistic philosophies clashed, sparks flying between their glares.
Just as the two were about to start fighting, a cold voice sliced through the tension.
"Have you two forgotten the Leader's orders?"
Konan's gaze was sharp enough to freeze blood.
Deidara immediately deflated.
Sasori clicked his tongue.
"Konan… if necessary, I can also play women's doubles with you~" Deidara muttered in a tiny voice.
Both men turned away with visible irritation.
"Hmph! I'll give Sister Konan some face today. I won't blow up your crappy puppet."
"Ridiculous. Go shove your mouth full of melon seeds and watermelon rinds, you glutton."
Deidara: (｀╥ω╥´)
...
The explosions faded, smoke dispersing. Nagato stared at Hikaru—encased in the flawless skeleton—without a single scratch.
Not even a mark.
He understood immediately.
This was the Susanoo Konan had warned him about—the one capable of growing freely, eventually covering the entire body and reaching the scale of a tailed beast.
Against defense on this level, simple explosive attacks were near useless.
But Nagato had other options.
The mechanical arm protruding from Tendo's shoulder blade clamped onto Susanoo's forearm, yanking it sharply to the side. A jagged sawblade snapped out from Tendo's torso, spinning at brutal speed. It thrust forward like a spear, aiming straight for Hikaru's chest within the Susanoo.
"Sawtooth Penetration!"
The silver blade screeched, its high-speed rotation producing a violent buzzing.
Just before the saw struck Susanoo—
Hikaru's Susanoo caught it with its right hand.
The saw's momentum halted instantly. But the chain continued spinning, grinding against Susanoo's palm. Chips of black chakra-bone scattered in the air.
Hikaru's brow creased.
Using high-speed rotational cutting…
A technique that reduces chakra consumption while drilling through defenses.
Typical of Jiraiya's student.
His analytical skills really are sharp.
Hikaru swung Susanoo's arm fiercely, throwing Tendo Pain across the lake. Tendo smashed into the water, sending up a spray seven or eight meters high.
At the same moment—
Hikaru skipped Susanoo's second stage entirely and activated the third form.
Not only that—
He poured Sage-enhanced fire-nature chakra directly into Susanoo.
Bright red light surged along Susanoo's meridian-like patterns. Dazzling crimson lines pulsed across its armored half-body. Black-red flames ignited, coating the armored Susanoo in a blazing inferno.
The surrounding air warped from the heat.
The lake at Hikaru's feet evaporated instantly, releasing white steam.
Hikaru felt the consumption spike sharply.
Susanoo already used tremendous chakra.
But now he was also feeding it fire-nature Sage chakra.
Two different chakra systems constantly repelling and compressing each other.
He had not yet found the perfect balance.
Too much fire-nature Sage chakra.
His consumption had tripled compared to standard Stage Three Susanoo.
But in return—
Its power, defense, and impact had nearly doubled.
The imbalance was his error, not the technique's limit.
One day, when he achieved perfect equilibrium between his chakra and Sage chakra—
Consumption would fall.
Power would skyrocket.
He could feel it.
He just wasn't there yet.
...
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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