Golden sword energy surged through the altar like a violent storm.
Wave after wave of radiant slashes tore through the surroundings, cutting across everything in their path. The walls surrounding the sealed land were shredded apart, and even the monstrous chakra filling the area was sliced cleanly in two.
Outside the altar, Kushina and the others, who were still dealing with the stone figures, naturally noticed the brilliant sword energy that kept bursting out from within.
"His sword energy is as ridiculous as ever," Kushina muttered, unable to hide the disbelief in her voice.
"Of course it is," Kurenai replied without hesitation, her expression full of pride. "Shiki-nii is the strongest."
Kushina shot her a sidelong glance and rolled her eyes.
Seriously… we get it. He's your Shiki-nii.
Kurenai, of course, had no idea what Kushina was thinking. Even so, the proud look on her face never faded.
It wasn't even praise directed at her, but whenever she heard someone praising Shiki, she couldn't help feeling happy.
Then Kushina suddenly looked around.
"By the way… where's Kakashi?"
They hadn't been moving together, but he shouldn't have gone too far.
Kurenai thought for a moment before answering, "He said he found something and wanted to check it out first. He told us that once we finished dealing with this side, we could head back without waiting for him."
Kushina blanked for a second, then her face twitched in annoyance.
"He went off to 'investigate something'?" she repeated flatly. "That idiot isn't slacking off again, is he?"
"Uh…" Kurenai hesitated, suddenly not sounding so confident anymore.
If she thought about it carefully… with Kakashi's personality, it really wasn't impossible.
Kushina let out a quiet sigh, though the irritation in her eyes softened a little.
"…Maybe losing so many people really changed him."
The old Kakashi would never have done something like this.
But now…
Obito had only recently died. And aside from him, most of the people Kakashi had been close to were already gone too.
Even Kushina couldn't help feeling sorry for him.
"…Forget it," she said at last, waving a hand. "I'll let him rest this time."
She understood that Kakashi probably still hadn't recovered from Obito's death. If he needed time, then she wouldn't say anything for now.
But then she clenched her fist, veins nearly bulging from the sheer force of it.
"Still, if he dares pull this again next time, I'll punch him so hard his head spins."
Looking at Kushina's tightly clenched fist and that deadly serious expression, Kurenai silently offered Kakashi a prayer.
Hope you survive that.
…
At the same time, inside the sealed land—
Shiki's powerful attack had torn through Mōryō's streams of chakra surrounding them, severing them one after another.
Rin was still calm. She had seen Shiki's strength before.
But Shion was completely stunned.
Her eyes were wide, her face frozen in disbelief as she stared at the destruction unfolding before her.
"This…"
It was too overwhelming.
And the more she saw, the more the look in her eyes changed.
Shock slowly gave way to admiration… then to something close to reverence.
He was just that powerful.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort echoed through the sealed land.
The chakra that had just been cut apart began restoring itself at once, writhing back together as if nothing had happened.
"Your sword energy is impressive," Mōryō said coldly. "But it's meaningless. I can regenerate as many times as I please."
At this point, Mōryō had already begun to fear Shiki.
During all the long years he had been sealed away, just how many monsters had appeared in the ninja world?
Even so, he continued to act dismissive.
No matter what, he refused to lose face here.
"Is that so?"
Shiki smiled faintly.
If that endless regeneration was the source of Mōryō's confidence—
Then that confidence was about to be destroyed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, when they opened again, they had already changed.
The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception emerged instantly.
"This power—!"
Mōryō's voice trembled.
What was happening?
It was only a change in Shiki's eyes, and yet an overwhelming chill shot through his entire being. For the first time, he felt genuine terror.
A fatal sense of crisis gripped him.
It was as if, in the very next second, he would be killed.
No… I can't drag this out any longer.
Mōryō's mind started racing.
Things had already gone far beyond anything he had expected. If this continued, the situation might spiral completely out of his control.
Right now, Shiki's mere presence was already enough to make him feel death breathing down his neck.
If he waited any longer, he might actually die here.
And after finally gaining a chance to escape this sealed land…
How could he possibly accept that?
"ROOOAAARRR—!"
The roar shook the valley.
Mōryō's chakra began to twist and transform, rising into the shape of massive serpent heads.
They resembled the eight heads of the Yamata no Orochi, each one looming in the air as they gathered dense chakra into their mouths.
In nature, the attack was somewhat similar to a Tailed Beast Ball—
But in terms of danger, it was nowhere near the level of a true Tailed Beast Ball.
"Die!"
The serpent heads fired at once.
Several masses of compressed chakra blasted toward Shiki in a storm of destruction.
"Your attacks may look impressive," Shiki said calmly, "but in front of these eyes… they mean nothing."
The force behind Mōryō's attack was immense. The pressure alone was enough to make the air tremble.
But Shiki had already put Oto away. For this, Kogarashi alone was enough.
His gaze sharpened, and the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception glimmered with an eerie, unnatural light.
"I see it."
Within those masses of pure chakra, Shiki saw them clearly—
The lines of death.
Without the slightest hesitation, he raised the greatsword in front of him.
Behind him, Shion and Rin watched anxiously.
Neither of them was foolish enough to interrupt him. They could only remain where they were, waiting nervously for the outcome.
But looking at Shiki's calm, resolute expression…
Somehow, they felt reassured.
"Light Might: Severance."
The instant the words fell, Shiki moved.
His sword flashed.
A single slash cut through the air.
Bang!
The pure chakra attack rushing toward him suddenly collapsed—as if a bubble had been pierced.
In an instant, it shattered into nothing and vanished into the air.
"How is that possible?!"
Mōryō's eyes widened in disbelief.
Blocking the attack would have been one thing.
But erasing it entirely?
What kind of power was that?!
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