White light and golden light collided instantly.
All of Kyūsei's foundations in taijutsu had come from the man standing before him.
Yet now the legendary White Fang of Konoha had become a puppet controlled by another.
That was something Kyūsei could never tolerate.
Violent winds wrapped around the White Fang's short blade. Every swing produced a terrifying shriek as the blade sliced through the air.
Kyūsei knew the sound well.
It was the sonic boom produced by steel cutting the atmosphere itself.
Even under an enemy's control, Hatake Sakumo remained the terrifying White Fang.
His strength far surpassed the so-called Three Legendary Sannin.
Sakumo and Kyūsei became two blazing streaks of light—one white, one gold—raging through the empty prison of Hōzuki Castle.
This was no sparring match.
This was a battle of life and death.
Satori controlled Sakumo with one goal:
Kill the boy before him.
Kyūsei had his own goal:
Kill Satori completely and allow Sakumo's soul to rest.
But to kill Satori—
He first had to defeat his own teacher.
The moment Sakumo had been thrown into the Box of Bliss, he had already died.
The man before Kyūsei was nothing more than a corpse being manipulated.
Their blades clashed endlessly like crashing waves.
Golden and white flashes overlapped.
Lightning coiled around Sakumo's body, his blade strikes falling like torrential rain.
For a moment—
Kyūsei was completely suppressed.
The white blade cut across Kyūsei's body several times, leaving streaks of blood.
Ignoring the wounds, Kyūsei kicked Sakumo back and sighed.
Even as a puppet—
This man was terrifyingly strong.
Kyūsei tore away his shredded shirt, revealing his powerful upper body.
"Kurama."
"Are you ready?"
Inside his body, the Nine-Tails responded.
"Natural energy has finished gathering."
Hearing the answer he wanted, Kyūsei let the golden blade in his hand dissolve into particles.
The sea wind scattered them.
"Still struggling?"
"Sakumo" said coldly.
"If you don't use the Nine-Tails' power…"
"This is where you fall."
Kyūsei raised two fingers before his chest.
"Sage Mode… activate."
Because Kyūsei couldn't instantly enter Sage Mode, Kurama had helped him gather natural energy.
Now—
Everything was ready.
Natural energy surged.
Sage patterns like a radiant sun spread across Kyūsei's chest.
His presence became ethereal and almost impossible to sense.
If Sakumo wasn't looking directly at him, it would feel like no one was standing there at all.
"What is this…?"
"Sakumo" muttered.
"This is Sage Mode."
"I learned it not long ago."
"Teacher… it's time for you to go where you belong."
"After all…"
"In blade combat, I'm not your match."
Kyūsei raised his hand.
Sage Art – Adamantine Sealing Chains: Thunder God Spear!
A brilliant golden spear appeared.
Without hesitation, Kyūsei shot forward like a meteor.
In swordsmanship—
He would never defeat Sakumo.
But swords were not Kyūsei's specialty.
CLANG!
The White Fang blade struck the golden spear, sending sparks everywhere.
The blade slid forward and aimed straight for Kyūsei's fingers.
Kyūsei held the spear with one hand.
With the other—
He formed another weapon.
A massive golden blade swung toward Sakumo.
If it landed—
Sakumo's arm would be severed instantly.
Yet Sakumo didn't dodge.
He ignored the incoming strike entirely.
Kyūsei also showed no hesitation.
Both men seemed willing to take a wound to deal one.
In that frozen moment—
Golden chakra flames erupted.
A claw-like armored gauntlet formed over Kyūsei's forearm.
Adamantine Chains – Thunder God Armor!
The White Fang blade struck the armored gauntlet.
Sparks exploded.
At the same time—
Kyūsei's golden blade slashed toward Sakumo's shoulder.
At the final instant, lightning erupted from Sakumo's body.
With an unbelievable movement, he twisted away.
But the opportunity had already been lost.
Facing Kyūsei in Sage Mode—
He couldn't escape completely.
The blade carved a deep wound across Sakumo's chest.
Black, thick blood began flowing from the cut.
Kyūsei's expression remained cold.
He pressed the attack immediately.
Sakumo's lightning erupted to its absolute limit.
The blue-white electricity turned completely white.
The violent discharge began burning his own body.
Clearly—
Satori had forced Sakumo to use his ultimate technique.
Seeing his teacher's body abused like this, Kyūsei's killing intent deepened.
He stepped forward.
Suddenly—
Hundreds of golden chains erupted from his body and from the ground beneath his feet.
They surged like a golden ocean.
Sage Art – Adamantine Sealing Chains!
The chains formed a massive net, trapping Sakumo from every direction.
But Sakumo showed no fear.
His expression never changed.
Cold.
Empty.
Blinding lightning roared as he charged directly toward the source of the chains.
Golden links shattered one after another under the lightning.
Kyūsei watched the ball of lightning rushing toward him.
He dismissed the spear.
Then clasped his hands together.
The sage markings on his body glowed faintly.
Uzumaki Kyūsei—
The true heir of the Uzumaki clan.
With the purest Uzumaki bloodline.
A natural genius in sealing techniques.
Combined with the sealing knowledge left behind by Uzumaki Mito.
His hands formed a final seal.
"Sage Art…"
"Adamantine Sealing Chains—"
"Curse Imprisonment!"
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