After defeating the Second Mizukage, Susanoo faded, and Shigeo immediately split off four new clones. Two surrounded the drained Hōzuki Gengetsu, while the remaining two joined him to deal with the other reanimated Kage.
As he moved away from the western front, the mist thickened again. Visibility dropped to near zero—fighters could barely see each other even a few meters apart.
Shigeo activated Kyōkagaku Kanshi (Mirror Sensory). All his wooden clones linked their perception through this technique. Combined with the hidden effects of the Rinnegan and the natural genjutsu resistance of Mokuton (Wood Release) chakra, they pinpointed Gengetsu's giant summoning beast, Shin (Mirage Clam), within seconds.
It was enormous—like a colossal clam—hidden within the mist on the opposite riverbank.
The dense fog blanketing the battlefield was its doing. Shin's Mirage Genjutsu distorted perception, casting illusions on everyone caught within it. Every Ink Ninja trapped in the haze—especially those stationed on the village walls—began seeing allies as enemies, turning their weapons against one another in confusion.
Fortunately, this chaos lasted less than thirty seconds. On the walls, Fujimaki's two disciples—Jakima Kugutsu and Evil Strings Demon Drum—had begun to play. Skilled in music-based genjutsu, they were equally skilled at breaking them.
The melody of a two-string shamisen cut through the air, interwoven with deep rhythmic drumbeats. The sound alternated between sharp and mellow, carrying chakra within each vibration. Then, the tone shifted—piercing, shrill, almost painful to the ear. The resonance sliced through the fog and rattled the hearts of all who heard it.
Shigeo glanced toward the wall, brows furrowing slightly.
"What's that awful noise?!" roared the Third Raikage from within the mist, his patience cracking.
But thanks to that harsh sound, the illusion shattered. The fog's hold broke, and the Ink Ninja regained their senses.
On the far side of the river, Shigeo descended from the sky, activating his first-stage Susanoo. With a single massive punch, he struck the colossal clam squarely—yet it vanished instantly.
Shin had no combat power, but it could control its form freely, disappearing and reappearing at will.
Meanwhile, the Second Tsuchikage Mū moved like a phantom within the mist, his silent chakra signature gliding through the battlefield.
Elsewhere, Shigeo's clones and Mokuryū (Wood Dragons) were locked in fierce combat with the remaining three reanimated Kage.
The Third Raikage specialized in close-range fighting. One of Shigeo's clones had activated Rinnegan: Six Paths Transformation, sprouting three heads and six arms to counter his furious taijutsu.
"Damn it, old Ghost Lantern!" Mū's voice rang out from the sky. "Why are you just standing there? Your summon's getting killed—hurry and do something!"
In life, the two had been mortal enemies. Now, in death, they found themselves forced into the same alliance—facing a single young opponent who defied logic.
"Shut up, old Mū! You think I'm not trying? I can barely move!" Gengetsu snapped weakly from across the field, still bound by the clone absorbing his chakra. His voice was feeble; without rescue, he would remain helpless.
Nearby, Yakushi Kabuto clenched his hands and began issuing new commands. Though he couldn't match any of these legendary Kage in power, he could control them—and that was his advantage.
The three remaining reanimated Kage stiffened as their eyes darkened under his influence. Their targets shifted toward the Ink Ninja Village.
Their new objective was simple—destroy everything.
At that same moment, Shigeo charged forward, his full-body Susanoo crushing through the mist. In its grasp squirmed the giant clam Shin, freshly captured.
Standing atop his spectral avatar, Shigeo tightened his control. Susanoo's fist came down in a thunderous blow, shattering the massive clam's shell.
From afar, Gengetsu's scream echoed as his summoning beast perished. The fog dispersed with the wind, revealing the battlefield once more.
Across the river, Mū had already begun weaving signs.
"Jinton: Bunretsu Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu (Dust Release: Split Detachment of the Primitive World Technique)!"
The Second Tsuchikage hurled a chunk of rock, which instantly transformed into a perfect replica of himself. Together, the two coordinated their attack, aiming twin pillars of Jinton energy toward the village walls.
Shigeo's eyes widened. He recognized the technique immediately.
Mū's combined Jinton with his clone multiplied the destructive power—two Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu overlapping could erase everything in their range, compressing matter into dust at the molecular level.
If unleashed successfully, the village walls and the dozens of Ink Ninja stationed upon them would be annihilated.
Cold sweat ran down Shigeo's forehead. So this is the strength of the previous generation of Kage… far beyond even Ōnoki's control.
He didn't hesitate. There was no time to give Mū even a second's advantage.
"Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu!"
A massive crystal-like cube formed around Mū, sealing him within.
Mū's expression twisted in disbelief. A foreigner—using his own bloodline elimination? Impossible.
Before he could process it, Shigeo's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"Destroy."
The cube contracted. One of Mū's earth clones disintegrated instantly into fine particles, vanishing into nothingness.
Shigeo didn't pause. He darted forward, eyes locked on the real Mū, his hands flicking rapidly. Hyōton: Senbon Ranbu (Ice Release: Thousand Needle Dance)!
A storm of icy senbon needles erupted from his palms, tearing through the air toward Mū.
The barrage came so swiftly that Mū barely managed to form seals. He slammed his palms to the ground, raising a wall of earth—Doton: Doryūheki (Earth Flow Wall)—the icy needles embedding themselves deep into it.
The moment he deflected the attack, his figure blurred—and vanished.
He had entered Mujin Meisai (Dustless Bewildering Cover)—a technique that rendered him completely invisible, both visually and through chakra sense. Because of this ability, he had earned his infamous title—"Mū, the Invisible Man."
Shigeo's heartbeat quickened.
If Mū bypassed the frontlines and slipped behind to attack from the rear with his Jinton, the village would be defenseless.
"Mū…" Shigeo called into the still air, his voice sharp. "Do you know? I once attacked Iwagakure myself. Your student Ōnoki still holds a grudge—but he failed to avenge it. I became the Ink Shadow, recognized as the sixth great Kage among the nations. He couldn't surpass me… and neither can you."
He let his words hang in the air—a calculated provocation.
As expected, Mū, though calm by nature, was fiercely proud.
Invisibly, his chakra flared. His voice echoed coldly from nowhere.
"You dare insult Iwagakure in front of me?"
His form shimmered into sight—directly across from Shigeo.
And without another word, the Second Tsuchikage launched forward, the air itself trembling from the collision of two Kage-level titans.
(End of Chapter)
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