"A mere handful of sand… not even half my level!"
Yuki Seisui's gaze fell on the approaching Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, ignoring Chiyo, and the dozen or so remaining jonin below.
"Puppets?"
"Nothing but useless toys!"
He stood calmly in the cockpit of his Susanoo, unflinching, unyielding.
This was the fourth stage of his Susanoo—just half a step away from the fully completed form. If Chiyo's Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu could break through it, he could finally rest easy.
Chiyo's face darkened as her attacks had no effect. She tried to pull the puppets back, but before she could, Seisui swung his sword again, sweeping her and the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu into the attack's path.
Watching the Sand ninja army retreating in the distance, Seisui's lips curved into a faint smile.
He didn't pursue them, nor did he launch ranged attacks.
Could he have annihilated them all?
Of course.
Whether with the fully realized Susanoo or his own jutsu, he could have done it. There were countless ways to kill them all.
But it would be meaningless.
If he wanted to accumulate enough prestige during this Fourth Ninja World War to become the Fourth Hokage, these people could not all die.
Victory without witnesses is meaningless.
Only those who feel the pain of war can truly recognize the worth of the one who saves them. That was Seisui's thought process.
Cruel?
Yes, cruel.
But as the saying goes: "For one's glory, thousands must perish."
If all he needed was to delay for three days, there was no need to reveal the Mangekyo Sharingan or use the Susanoo.
With just explosive clay, he could easily stall for three days.
But the appearance of the Mangekyo, and the destruction it caused in the Sunagakure, would alert the other four great ninja nations.
Only by recreating this scene could the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, be forced to resign and hand over the Hokage title.
As for past conspiracies, Seisui didn't care whether they were true or not.
At least Hashirama had always supported him and never betrayed him. He deserved a dignified exit.
"See, Orochimaru? The winds of the new era are already blowing across this world," Seisui murmured, his gaze shifting to the Third Kazekage.
The slash he had just swung was blocked by the Third Kazekage and the jonin working together.
Initially, they hadn't anticipated the sheer strength of the Susanoo's strike.
But now, the Third Kazekage was prepared. He knew exactly the power he was facing.
"Chiyo, go back! You won't help here!"
"Understood!" Chiyo didn't hesitate, nodding decisively.
The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu couldn't pierce the Susanoo's defenses, and she could do nothing against it.
The advantages of a puppeteer—hiding their true body and overwhelming with numbers—were now nullified.
Exposed in the open, she had no chance.
Chiyo knew this perfectly. She didn't even use her strongest attacks.
Just seeing the enormous Susanoo, she realized the technique would have no effect.
"You all, leave too," the Third Kazekage commanded, his expression grave, addressing the remaining jonin.
"Kazekage-sama!"
"Leave! That is an order!"
Seisui made no move to stop them, merely folding his arms and watching calmly. This was enough for the Third Kazekage to relax—he could at least delay Seisui now.
"You want to fight me one-on-one?"
Seisui's golden eyes locked on the Third Kazekage.
The Third Kazekage didn't respond, simply tossing aside his robe.
"Let me witness the power of the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"Even if I die here!"
"Then I will satisfy you!"
Seisui's right eye glinted red. "Dojutsu: Infinite Flying Raijin Slash!"
This was his own Mangekyo ability—not a single ocular jutsu, but a ninjutsu activated through his right eye.
As the Susanoo had just activated, his Mangekyo seemed triggered, emerging spontaneously.
Left eye, first jutsu: Susanoo no Mikoto.
Susanoo no Mikoto, one of the three noble children in Japanese myth, a god of destruction and sea, had slain the eight-headed serpent and wielded the heavenly sword, Ama-no-Murakumo. When activated, it could summon a massive ocean, creating hundred-meter-tall waves with corrosive power, sweeping everything in its path.
Left eye, second jutsu: Tsukuyomi.
Tsukuyomi could transport the opponent's mind into a world entirely controlled by Seisui. Time, matter, all under his rule. The mental trauma was immense—Kakashi and Sasuke had both been unconscious for roughly a month after exposure.
If the left eye reflected inner spirit, the right eye combined that inner self with his "cheat-like" abilities.
Right eye, first jutsu: Tenka Koitsu.
Perhaps it reflected his ideals. This ability didn't directly harm enemies but could unify multiple abilities, applying them simultaneously.
Right eye, second jutsu: Amaterasu.
Amaterasu, the sun goddess of myth, unleashed wide-ranging black flames that burned anything until completely consumed. But it severely drained the user, causing bleeding from the eyes and immense ocular fatigue.
Additionally, the Susanoo carried its weapon: Ama-no-Murakumo, capable of causing wounds that healed extremely slowly, fatal without immediate medical aid.
Seisui combined techniques: shadow clone + Flying Raijin Slash + summoned sword—a dojutsu version of his prior combat style.
Instantly, two shadow clones appeared on either side of the Third Kazekage, wielding chakra-formed blades.
"Hmph, you think you can defeat me?"
"You underestimate me, child!" the Third Kazekage said coldly.
A layer of iron sand instantly enveloped him, while more gathered into spinning shuriken around him.
This was a shuriken defense!
The clones' chakra swords hadn't even reached him before being destroyed.
Two more clones appeared—also destroyed.
Surrounding him, iron sand rods spun in a thousand-needle formation.
"Truly the strongest Kazekage," Seisui muttered in admiration.
Even this small demonstration could have wiped out an army.
Though the shuriken and rods were few, the Third Kazekage had nearly limitless iron sand at his disposal. Given time, he could slaughter all enemies on the battlefield.
He even transformed sand into wings, flying with Seisui atop.
Seeing the Infinite Flying Raijin Slash barely affect him, Seisui didn't persist with constant attacks.