The chakra energy unleashed by Kurama Arashiyama carried a terrifying ability to disrupt the five senses. Though it was not genjutsu, it exerted an enormous influence over the outcome of this battlefield.
The death of his beloved son, Unkai, at the hands of Morimoto Ryoji had completely shattered Kurama Arashiyama's composure, driving him into a state of uncontrollable rage.
For Shiraishi, this was precisely what he wanted.
If Kurama Arashiyama had remained calm, observing the battlefield and controlling the overall situation, he would have been far more troublesome. Forcing him into madness was the better choice.
At present, Konoha's forces were advancing on all fronts. Compared to this southwestern sector, the southern front—where the Ino–Shika–Chō formation operated—and the northern front—led by the Hyūga clan—both posed enormous threats to Sunagakure.
Most oppressive of all was the central axis, where Minato Namikaze continuously reinforced both sides, pushing Sunagakure to the brink.
The title Yellow Flash had not yet spread across the shinobi world, but Konoha's confidence in Minato's strength was absolute. He was their trump card—one capable of crushing Sunagakure even without Orochimaru.
In the current era, who could rival Minato in speed?
Amid swirling sand and chaos, Shiraishi received updates from Sunagakure's sensory network. The overall battlefield situation was dire. If they wanted to turn the tide, they needed to seize dominance in at least one sector—fast.
With Orochimaru no longer fully cooperating, Nara Shikagawa's battlefield push had lost momentum. This was the opening they had to exploit.
Shiraishi's eyes sharpened.
A scroll snapped open.
The Six-Mirror Puppet — Scarlet Control Mirror made its grand appearance.
"Be careful! That's Sunagakure's unique puppet technique!"
Konoha already possessed intelligence on the Scarlet Control Mirror. The moment the six mirrors appeared, several Konoha shinobi immediately launched long-range ninjutsu to snipe Shiraishi.
Brilliant beams erupted from the mirrors as the six reflective surfaces spun rapidly, deftly blocking Konoha's attacks.
And then—
Shiraishi moved.
His body launched forward like a cannonball, charging straight toward Kurama Arashiyama.
"—KRAAACK!"
A powerful sonic burst erupted from Kurama Arashiyama's mouth.
This was not genjutsu, but another rare technique—a sound-based illusion, detonating outward in a destructive wave.
The instant the sound reached his ears, Shiraishi felt the air vibrate violently. Almost simultaneously, Kurama Arashiyama's body flashed forward, appearing directly in front of him, clothes brushing the ground.
Using sound to immobilize him—then finishing him with Lightning Release?
Even in his rage, Kurama Arashiyama's combat instincts were terrifyingly sharp. His assault flowed seamlessly, pressing Shiraishi back step by step.
But retreat was exactly what Shiraishi intended.
His goal was to drain the old man's chakra, not to clash head-on.
Kurama Arashiyama saw through this immediately. His chakra transformed into streaks of lightning, lashing out like whips.
Shiraishi remained calm.
He adjusted his muscles, shifted his center of gravity forward, let his left arm drop—then flicked his wrist.
A crimson flame slithered along the ground, carrying a violently unstable aura.
Fire Release · Dragon Flame Technique — Variant Form!
Instead of launching it outright, Shiraishi wrapped the flames around his clawed hand. Though it lacked the absolute dominance of Azure Flame, the temperature and destructive power were still formidable.
"A variant application of the Dragon Flame Technique?"
Several Sunagakure shinobi watching nearby stared in awe. To freely modify such a technique, Shiraishi truly lived up to his reputation as their village's supreme prodigy.
The flame raced along the ground toward Kurama Arashiyama. On contact, it would detonate upward, incinerating everything around it.
"Incredible power!"
At that moment, Kurama Arashiyama halted abruptly—without inertia. His aged body strained as he forcibly expanded his power, violently compressing the air.
A thunderous boom echoed.
Lightning storms erupted around him, the violent surge dragging the flames into premature detonation.
BOOM!
The flame exploded upward, stopping less than half a foot from Kurama Arashiyama's face. Firelight flickered across his features, illuminating a visage twisted by absolute fury.
The flames wavered, then died out.
Reflected in Kurama Arashiyama's eyes was Shiraishi's right fist, smashing forward at full speed.
This was pure taijutsu.
Both combatants displayed terrifying mastery. Though Kurama Arashiyama specialized in genjutsu, his taijutsu and ninjutsu were far from weak—especially his Lightning Release.
Lightning flashed.
A sealing cloth unfurled as Kurama Arashiyama rapidly inscribed complex characters upon it—interlocking patterns resembling tangled lightning bolts, crackling with silver-white light.
The core of the technique ignited.
Lightning patterns layered upon one another, flooding his entire body.
Genjutsu… reinforcing Lightning Release?
The Kurama clan's illusion techniques could be inverted—used to amplify Lightning Release.
A beam of lightning erupted from the scroll.
Shiraishi instantly raised a mirror, blocking the overwhelming lightning blast.
Kurama Arashiyama used Lightning Release to violently stimulate and activate his cells. Muscles swelled, veins bulged, his body transforming into a living blade of lightning.
His fist became a warhammer.
He charged.
Cloud Village's Lightning Release Body Activation?
No—an inferior version.
Through his Round Pupils, Shiraishi saw it clearly: Kurama Arashiyama's cells were already showing signs of collapse.
The Kurama clan had studied Cloud Village techniques—but only a degraded form.
Even so, its destructive power was undeniable.
And yet—
Shiraishi caught the punch bare-handed.
Gasps erupted from the Sunagakure side. Several female shinobi turned pale.
The power was monstrous.
It was like grabbing a live lightning source.
Shiraishi's entire body convulsed. Electricity screamed through his ears, his hair standing on end as his muscles nearly failed him. His internal organs churned violently.
But he did not let go.
He locked Kurama Arashiyama in place.
The six mirrors of the Scarlet Control Mirror activated simultaneously, enclosing Kurama Arashiyama from every direction.
Lightning was forcibly expelled from Shiraishi's body. At the same time, Kurama Arashiyama's lightning defense interfered with the mirrors, generating a chaotic magnetic field that threw him into disarray.
Shiraishi chose to trade injury for injury.
Enduring the punch, he drew his silver blade and unleashed his most lethal strike.
A violent explosion erupted.
Kurama Arashiyama's arm was blown apart.
Blood sprayed.
Both sides fell into stunned silence.
No one had expected Shiraishi to sever an arm in this manner.
Even so, Kurama Arashiyama was still a monster.
With only one arm remaining, he fired a lightning wave that forced Shiraishi to retreat. The six mirrors rose and returned to the Scarlet Control Mirror.
The successful crippling of Kurama Arashiyama ignited thunderous cheers from Sunagakure's forces.
The head of the Kurama clan—second only to the Uchiha in genjutsu prestige—was still a top-tier powerhouse despite his age.
This victory carried a heavy dose of luck.
Had Kurama Arashiyama remained calm…
Had he not underestimated Shiraishi's resolve to exchange wounds…
Had he not hesitated—
Shiraishi would have struggled to match his Lightning Release.
Finish him while he's wounded.
Shiraishi twisted his blade and surged forward again.
High-speed movement and Sand-Gathering were pushed to their limits. Sandstorm energy wrapped around him as he charged with overwhelming momentum.
He intended to kill Kurama Arashiyama.
Is this man a jinchūriki?
Why is his chakra so deep?
The exchange had consumed vast amounts of chakra on both sides—and before Kurama Arashiyama could recover, Shiraishi launched his second assault.
With Kurama Arashiyama's arm severed, the entire southwestern battlefield swung violently in Sunagakure's favor.
The counteroffensive had begun.
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