By noon the next day, Wen Lan arrived at the Daimyō's Palace.
Sunlight slanted across the city walls. Soldiers stood guard before the palace gates, spears and long blades in hand, staring warily at Wen Lan and Zhiyan.
Under the shadow of the gate tower stood seven shinobi. Each wore a waist sash embroidered with the character "Fire." Among them was a familiar face—
Asuma Sarutobi.
Asuma stepped out of the shadows, his gaze cold as it swept over Wen Lan and Zhiyan. He raised his chakra blades slightly.
"Wen Lan. Retreat immediately. Otherwise, we will take action."
"Heh———"
Wen Lan sneered, his eyes calmly sweeping across the seven.
"A bunch of trash. Have the daimyō roll out and see me."
One of the seven—a monk—stepped forward, palms together in a single-hand salute.
"Amitābha… Uchiha donor, please—"
"So much nonsense."
Wen Lan narrowed his eyes and drew the Kusanagi Sword.
"Flame Breathing—Fourth Form: Imperial Flame, Coiling Descent!"
Blazing fire erupted like crimson serpents, tearing through the air. In an instant, the flames formed a circular inferno, a towering wall of fire that completely engulfed the Daimyō's Palace!
The fire wall rose over five zhang high. Flames roared skyward, dyeing the city walls red as thick smoke billowed into the heavens.
A scorching heatwave swept outward. Soldiers on the walls retreated in panic, their armor glowing hot.
Asuma's pupils shrank.
"Move!"
The seven shinobi charged at once.
The monk Chiriku formed a one-hand seal with his left while pressing down with his right.
"Welcome… Thousand-Armed Slaughter!"
Behind him, a massive golden Thousand-Armed Kannon of chakra took shape. Countless golden fists rained down like a storm.
Wen Lan's gaze remained indifferent. As he prepared to swing his sword—
Zhiyan moved first.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Zhiyan inhaled sharply and unleashed an overwhelming torrent of flames. The fire surged forward like a blazing flood.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
One shinobi slammed his hands to the ground. A massive earthen wall rose instantly, barely blocking the inferno. Heat and debris exploded outward.
But the flames did not subside.
The wall rapidly turned red-hot. Cracks spread—
Boom!
The wall collapsed. Residual flames licked across the ruins.
Zhiyan's eyes sharpened as he formed seals again.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Talons!"
Dozens of fireballs shot forth like meteors, weaving through smoke into a blazing net.
The other shinobi reacted quickly.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A water barrier rose, instantly evaporating the fireballs into thick steam.
Zhiyan formed seals again. Smoke burst beside him—
Another Zhiyan appeared.
Shadow Clone Technique!
The two Zhiyans formed seals simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Caterwaul!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Wind fueled the fire. Fire rode the wind.
Four roaring fire dragons surged forth, propelled by violent gales. Stone melted, air warped, and heat distorted the battlefield.
The Water Formation Wall vaporized instantly. Several shinobi failed to retreat in time—their armor ignited as they screamed and rolled across the ground.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Asuma formed seals at lightning speed. A crushing wind blast swept forward like a raging beast, extinguishing two of the fire dragons.
But just as Pressure Damage was about to disperse the remaining flames—
Zhiyan closed his eyes.
Then snapped them open.
A pair of beautifully patterned, eerie eyes emerged—
Mangekyō Sharingan!
"Yata Mirror—Reflect!"
A massive mirror manifested before the wind blast.
Pressure Damage slammed into it—
—and was reflected straight back!
It shot toward Asuma.
Asuma's pupils shrank. There was no time to form seals. He threw himself aside in a miserable dodge.
But Chiriku roared.
The Thousand-Armed Kannon slammed its palms together, condensing golden chakra into a colossal handprint that smashed down, dispersing the reflected attack.
Wen Lan looked at Zhiyan in surprise.
"You awakened the Mangekyō?"
Zhiyan smiled.
"Yeah. In the Land of Rain."
Indeed—when Wen Lan had been killed by Danzō in the Rain Country, Zhiyan's Mangekyō had awakened.
"Alright," Wen Lan said calmly, stepping forward.
"Take a breather. I'll handle the rest."
His Sharingan transformed into five-pointed stars.
In the next instant—
A golden chakra giant erupted from the earth!
Skeleton.
Muscle.
Tendons.
Skin.
Armor.
Perfect Susanoo!
The golden giant wielded a long blade at its waist. Wen Lan stood within the crystal at its brow, arms crossed, gazing down with utter arrogance.
Susanoo grasped the sheath with its left hand and the hilt with its right.
Golden lightning exploded across its body!
"Thunder Breathing—First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
The moment the blade was drawn—
Space itself seemed to tear apart.
A radiant golden arc cleaved through heaven and earth, sweeping across the Daimyō's Palace.
In the next instant, the slash descended vertically upon the palace's central hall.
When the light faded—
It was as if nothing had happened.
Susanoo vanished.
But at the palace's center lay a bottomless chasm, its cross-section smooth as a mirror. The residual force had shaved the surrounding structures clean.
No dust rose.
Silence spread.
Only the wind carried remnants of smoke across the ruins.
Zhiyan stared at the chasm, pupils trembling.
"So… this is the power of a Perfect Susanoo…"
The others shook uncontrollably.
Wen Lan walked slowly toward Asuma.
Asuma, having witnessed that world-destroying strike, was shaking like a leaf.
Wen Lan grabbed Asuma by the hair and lifted his head, his Mangekyō locking onto Asuma's eyes.
"Tsukuyomi."
Asuma's gaze instantly went blank.
His consciousness plunged into a blood-red world beneath a crimson moon.
The next second, Asuma let out a shrill scream. Urine spilled down his legs as he clutched his head, rolled his eyes back, and collapsed unconscious.
Wen Lan looked down coldly.
"Trash. One crotch torture and your mind collapses."
Amid the settling smoke, Wen Lan turned toward the shattered palace gate.
Several figures stumbled out in panic—
Among them was the Daimyō himself.
Lightning erupted.
Wen Lan vanished, reappearing before the daimyō in a flash of gold—and kicked him square in the abdomen!
The daimyō was sent flying, smashing into a wall.
He screamed, clutching his stomach as he vomited blood, terror filling his eyes.
"D-Don't kill me! Please don't kill me! I'll pay! I'll pay!"
Wen Lan walked forward step by step, staring down at the cowering daimyō.
The daimyō tried to retreat—but the wall blocked his path.
Wen Lan planted a foot on the daimyō's face.
"You want to live?"
The daimyō nodded frantically.
"Good," Wen Lan said coldly.
"Konoha's budget triples. Agreed?"
"Agreed! Absolutely agreed!" the daimyō screamed.
"I'll have someone bring the money immediately!"
He turned and roared at a nearby minister:
"What are you standing there for?! Do you want me dead?! Go get the money—now!"
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