belamy20

416-420

Added 2025-05-11 18:25:16 +0000 UTC

Chapter 416: Ten Fists Sword... Ineffective!

At this moment,

On the battlefield,

Sasori's face was grim as he gazed at the unfolding battle before him, a scene that seemed like something out of a legend.

Inside, he couldn't tell whether he felt more dejected or bitter.

He could only let Orochimaru support him as they withdrew from the scene.

If they stayed any longer, given the current situation, the aftermath of a battle between the 280-meter-tall Yamata no Orochi—like a towering skyscraper—and the 120-meter-tall Gundam-like entity piloted by Shinji could wipe out everyone present.

And given Shinji’s nature—never hesitating to strike and never engaging in unnecessary chatter—the fact that he hadn't attacked yet, instead allowing his opponent time to familiarize themselves with their power, was nothing short of a grace period for them to retreat from the battlefield.

But, But,

Sasori felt his chest tighten, his entire body trembling slightly in frustration.

He didn’t understand. He couldn't accept it. He simply couldn't comprehend it.

He had been so close—so close to surpassing Shinji, to making Ji look up to his back in admiration—only for reality to shatter that dream without mercy. Overcome with hysteria, he turned his head toward Orochimaru and shouted in anger:

"What the hell is that thing?!"

"Orochimaru, you must know! This is your mess!"

Orochimaru's face darkened instantly at Sasori’s words.

He thought to himself, How the hell should I know what that thing is?!

His original plan for Shinji’s path to ascension had been a three-step process.

Although he had acquired vast ancient knowledge from the White Snake Sage, he had too little time to sort through and refine it. In the short term, he hadn’t developed an alternative solution to accelerate the process.

So, he had devised this plan:

Step One: Seize the power of the Dragon Vein in Roran during the moment the White Snake Sage attempted to usurp it using celestial phenomena. This would allow Shinji to gain the qualification to later obtain the ‘Dragon Body.’

Step Two: During the ‘Nine-Ring Solar Eclipse’ event in Konoha’s 68th year (referenced in Inheritance of the Will of Fire and the Hiruko Arc), he would find a way to counteract the Moon’s divine punishment. By completing the White Snake Sage’s plan, Shinji would acquire the ‘Dragon Body’ and become a sage.

Step Three: In Konoha’s 70th year, during the second ‘Tengu Lunar Eclipse’ (referenced in The Last: Naruto the Movie), using Turtle Island’s unique environment, he would merge the vast yin-natured chakra of Ryūchi Cave with the yang-natured energy of the Dragon Vein, achieving yin-yang unity. This would allow him to transcend all limits, attaining an immortal lifespan and, theoretically, divine-level abilities.

The entire plan spanned over 20 years.

Orochimaru had the time. He had the patience. As long as he could achieve his goal, he was willing to wait.

But now, unexpected events had collided, birthing a monster like Ying—a being that neither he nor the White Snake Sage had foreseen. His meticulously planned three-step strategy had suddenly advanced two steps in a single day, creating an incomprehensible situation.

Ying had already mastered and surpassed Orochimaru’s envisioned Forbidden Jutsu: Yamata no Orochi!

This technique had become one with Ying—it was the Yamata no Orochi, and the Yamata no Orochi was it.

Immortality, regeneration, overwhelming power, even the ability to unleash an energy blast surpassing a Tailed Beast Bomb.

This was the true form of a being that had broken all limitations!

In Orochimaru’s ultimate vision, he had named this perfected state—

Super Forbidden Jutsu: Yamata no Orochi’s True Form!

At this realization, Orochimaru clenched his teeth. For some reason, a sour feeling rose in his chest, a sense of unwillingness.

This jutsu was his idea first. Even if he had intended to pass it on to his disciple, Shinji, that fool wouldn’t have been able to understand it!

It was his technique, his exclusive trump card—the ace up his sleeve to surpass his own disciple.

Yet now, this unidentifiable entity born from Shinji’s very being had realized it ahead of him.

Orochimaru had the urge to cup his hands around his mouth and roar to the heavens:

“BAKA YAROUUUUU!!!”

Ultimately, he could only sigh helplessly. He turned to look at his disciple standing in the Gundam-like cockpit, feeling a sense of despair, even praying as he muttered,

"The perfected form of that technique... may have already surpassed the God of Shinobi."

"In this world, I fear no one can truly kill it."

Sasori, stunned, snapped his head up in shock.

"What did you just say?!"

—

At this moment,

Watching as everyone had been swiftly evacuated by Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Technique within the time he had stalled, Shinji turned back to the enormous eight-headed beast before him.

Without hesitation, he closed his left eye and opened his right one wide. Blood-red patterns swirled like eight dancing petals—

The Mangekyō Sharingan ignited!

"BOOOOOM!!!"

The sky split apart as dark clouds roared. A crimson beam of mystical light descended!

The flaming Susanoo raised its right arm and drew an 80-meter-long, fiery blade from the sky—

a sword with a gourd-shaped hilt, its blade formed from ignited sake!

Mangekyō Sharingan Technique: Mythical Projection—Ten Fists Sword!

Whether in myth or reality—

This was the ultimate weapon against the Yamata no Orochi!

Shinji wasn’t foolish. He had already seen how Itachi Uchiha had demonstrated this sword’s perfect counter to the Orochi in the future.

Now, standing at 120 meters tall, the Susanoo warrior gripped an 80-meter-long flaming sword in one hand and an 80-meter-long lightning sword in the other.

Two divine blades of sealing and slaughter—

With eyes locked on the Yamata no Orochi, Shinji prepared to strike, aiming to decapitate and seal it in one fell swoop!

However—

Ying had been lurking in the shadows since its birth, monitoring every piece of intelligence on Shinji.

Seeing the Ten Fists Sword, Ying’s face twisted into a mocking smirk.

"Hmph... So this is the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

"Such an enviable ability, but—"

Ying’s crimson serpentine eyes narrowed sharply as it sneered,

"It’s useless against me!"

In that instant, the eight-headed giant snake lunged!

Towering as high as a broadcast tower, its immense body crushed forward, coiling to strangle the seemingly small Susanoo warrior!

"Good!"

Shinji’s gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, he commanded the Susanoo to take a powerful step forward and thrust the Ten Fists Sword!

But as the flames devoured its flesh, Ying only grinned wickedly:

"I told you, Shinji—"

"You can’t kill me!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 417: Meticulous Schemes, Inescapable Trap!

The Totsuka Blade... was completely ineffective against Ei at this moment!

Hearing such arrogant words—words that insulted his intelligence—Shinji's eye twitched slightly, and his expression instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.

A ninja’s battle is a battle of intelligence.

In the future, Uchiha Itachi would be so feared by Uchiha Obito, the mastermind behind the Moon’s Eye Plan, precisely because he possessed techniques that defied logic and could overturn any situation.

Susanoo, Totsuka Blade, Transcription Seal, Izanami...

Accomplishing the impossible at a critical moment—that is the essence of a trump card.

In fact, during the battle between Uchiha Itachi and Orochimaru, who had fused with the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique, if the secret of the Totsuka Blade had been exposed in advance, Orochimaru could have deceived it just like Ying was doing now.

In the original story, even when cornered by the Totsuka Blade, Orochimaru managed to escape by shedding a small white snake from the body of the Eight-Headed Serpent. Unfortunately for him, the ever-cautious Itachi finished him off with Amaterasu.

And the technique that allowed the small white snake to separate was the very one Ying had just mentioned—

The Great Serpent Manipulation Technique.

Shinji was familiar with this technique.

It allowed the user to transform their body into a giant serpent composed of countless smaller snakes and even absorb the abilities of others.

This technique was originally part of the Living Corpse Reincarnation package. However, it also possessed the properties of symbiosis, replication, and genetic rewriting. Ying had used these very traits to modify the Eight-Headed Serpent’s body, enabling it to disassemble into countless small snakes at will.

Thus, when the Totsuka Blade struck, Ying could nullify its effect by altering the genetic structure of the non-impaled portions, preventing the entire body from being sealed.

One must understand—neither Ying nor Orochimaru were the mythical Yamata no Orochi, destined to be slain by Susanoo.

They were ninjas.

And this was a battle between ninjas—

A clash of intelligence and counter-strategies where victory hinged on breaking down each other's techniques!

At this realization, Shinji frowned deeply, feeling an immense headache coming on.

The Totsuka Blade still retained its restraining effect against the Eight-Headed Serpent, but it could not deal a decisive blow.

Combined with Ying’s monstrous regeneration—bolstered by the powers derived from Shinji’s heart, including the Sage Body, Six-Tails, Eight-Tails, Nine-Tails, and Dragon Vein—Ying now possessed an endless supply of chakra and infinite regeneration.

This was utterly disgusting...

It was like fighting a version of himself, enhanced with Zero-Tails-like regeneration.

At that moment—

Boom!

The colossal Eight-Headed Serpent charged forward, attempting to ram into him!

The massive shadow completely engulfed the 120-meter-tall Susanoo, making it feel as if the sky itself was collapsing.

Sixteen menacing snake eyes, each glowing with a three-tomoe Sharingan, traced complex trajectories through the night, leaving behind crimson streaks of light.

With incredible perception, Ying had completely locked down Susanoo's escape routes.

The Eight-Headed Serpent's Frenzied Constriction! A Sandstorm Erupts!

Yet instead of retreating, Shinji advanced!

At that moment, his right eye widened, locking onto the core of the Eight-Headed Serpent—his own heart.

Susanoo, wielding its twin divine swords, took a step forward.

It drew its blades, pivoted, and swung in a sweeping upward arc!

"Zing!"

Two beams of red and blue light traced slanted circles through the air, slicing cleanly through three of the serpent's heads!

A geyser of blood erupted, raining down onto the ruined desert like a torrential downpour.

With a thunderous stomp, the giant Susanoo sent shockwaves through the battlefield, kicking up a circular dust storm.

Then—

Flap!

The wings of blood on its back beat fiercely, launching the titan skyward in an instant!

Rising a thousand meters into the air, it twisted its torso, arms outstretched.

The twin divine swords in its hands abruptly extended to 200 meters in length!

Like a spinning top, Susanoo descended in a blinding whirlwind slash, defying the illusion of its massive size making it slow.

The attack was so fast that the naked eye could barely follow it!

A vertical circular slash from the heavens—

A 400-meter-wide flat beam of light crashed downward!

This strike completely shattered Ying’s self-proclaimed impenetrable blockade, preventing Susanoo from being ensnared by the regenerating serpent’s relentless constriction.

More importantly, it cut straight toward the core—

The heart that originally belonged to Shinji!

However, just as this decisive attack was about to land—

"It seems you still don’t understand."

"No matter what you do, your attacks will never truly harm me."

In the serpent's gaping maw, Ying wore a scornful smile.

His eerie gaze remained fixed on the descending Shinji as his hands rapidly formed several hand seals, finishing with the "Ram" seal.

"Great Serpent Disintegration Technique!"

The instant he completed the jutsu, the central mass of the Eight-Headed Serpent’s body—where Shinji had locked onto—melted like liquid, breaking apart into tens of thousands of tiny white snakes that rained down toward the ground.

The red-and-blue light beam struck, vaporizing countless serpents, causing a gruesome explosion of blood.

However—

Before the attack could land, the heart had already been transferred among the myriad white snakes.

"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Snake Binding!"

Immediately after—

The Eight-Headed Serpent's body abruptly reassembled, and the eight heads coiled around Susanoo like a python strangling its prey!

Their fangs sank deep into Susanoo's body, locking it in place!

The serpent's massive form stretched, its heads rising high, entangling the giant warrior and tightening its grip with terrifying force.

Ying’s cold gaze flickered with an emotionless glint.

Gone was his earlier arrogance—he now operated with mechanical precision, forming yet another series of hand seals at lightning speed:

"Earth Release: Stone Spear - Serpent Limb Hardening!"

"Curse Restraint Seal!"

"Great Serpent Manipulation Technique!"

"Sage Art: Five Elements Sealing Technique!"

As if afraid Shinji might escape, Ying unleashed five powerful sealing techniques in quick succession, further restricting Susanoo’s movements.

He knew all too well—

If Shinji were truly free, he could strike at will and retreat at will.

But this moment—this one chance—was the only opportunity to trap him.

Thus, Ying had deliberately exposed a weakness, goading Shinji into attacking his supposed heart, using it as bait—

To ensnare him in an inescapable web!

As the bindings tightened—

Eight eerie serpent heads rose toward the crystalline core atop Susanoo’s head, where its wielder stood.

Ying let out a long breath, clasped his hands together, and unleashed his final technique.

"Sage Art: Miraculous Radiance!"

At that moment—

The eight monstrous heads opened their mouths wide!

Inside, black and purple energy spheres—a fusion of Tailed Beast Bombs, Dragon Vein power, and the White Snake Sage’s mystic arts—began swirling ominously, distorting the very air.

The ultimate killing blow was about to be unleashed—

Yet just then, Ying's expression froze.

Because within the crystal core of Susanoo—

There was no one inside.

His smirk stiffened instantly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 418: Boil Release: Mighty Armor: Susanoo!

"What... is going on!?"

Staring at the seemingly empty Susanoo, Ying's face was filled with shock. A surge of disbelief and anger—akin to being played for a fool—rose in his heart.

With memories from the White Snake Sage, a contemporary of the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, Ying had witnessed countless battles involving towering mechas throughout history.

But now, he found this situation utterly unacceptable!

Damn it! What kind of pilot abandons their Gundam to fight alone?

And when exactly did that guy leave Susanoo?!

Where is he now, and what is he planning to do?

A flood of questions swirled in Ying’s mind, an overwhelming sense of dread pressing against his already fear-stricken heart.

"Huff... Huff..." Ying took two deep breaths, striving to calm his rapidly surging emotions. Suddenly, he lifted his head, eyes locking onto the overcast sky shrouded in dark clouds.

"Did he abandon Susanoo while ascending?"

Had they been on solid ground, Ying—constantly maintaining his Sage Mode—would have sensed him.

The only plausible explanation was that the dense clouds, drawn by Shinji's celestial dojutsu and manipulated with Raijin’s Blade, were saturated with his chakra, obstructing Ying’s perception.

"Open!"

Ying let out a deep, resonant shout.

At his command, one of the eight heads of the Eight-Headed Serpent (Yamata no Orochi) reared back and roared skyward:

"—ROOOAARRR!!!"

The thunderous sound wave shattered the clouds instantly, revealing what lay hidden beyond.

At that moment—

High above the heavens—

A lone, imposing figure hovered weightlessly in midair, calmly surveying the battlefield below.

Ying’s pupils shrank as he roared menacingly,

"I found you!"

Exposed, Shinji didn’t seem bothered. Instead, he smirked slightly.

In the next instant, a long-sealed power was unleashed from the gourd in his palm!

A terrifying amount of chakra erupted, dispersing the clouds and summoning fierce gales.

From midair emerged a monstrous spectral beast—a pure white entity, seventy meters long and fifty meters high, resembling a hybrid between a dolphin and a horse.

This was the chakra of the Five-Tails, Kokuo, released from the Totsuka Blade!

The moment it was freed from the gourd—

The Five-Tails immediately recognized the terrifying Uchiha before it—the very presence that filled tailed beasts with unspeakable dread!

Instinctively, it attempted to materialize and flee as quickly as possible.

But Shinji gave it no chance.

The instant he unleashed Kokuo, his right eye flared open.

Eight swirling petals rotated at blinding speed!

In an instant, Susanoo’s skeletal frame materialized around him, extending a massive, fiery skeletal arm.

With a single, crushing grip, he seized the panic-stricken Five-Tails' chakra, forcibly sealing the entire beast within the ribcage of Susanoo!

This ominous act—reminiscent of Sasuke’s forced absorption of tailed beast chakra at the Valley of the End—seemed to trigger something, as if pushing beyond Sasuke’s limits.

"Creak... Creak... Creak... GAK-GAK-GAK!"

Using the Five-Tails as a core energy source, Susanoo’s skeletal frame twisted and morphed, straining under its newfound power. It groaned, its structure on the verge of collapse yet forcibly stitching itself together.

Until finally—

Susanoo completely transformed around Shinji.

A crimson-white exoskeletal armor, surging with violent steam, took shape!

No one knew the true consequences of this transformation, whether it would work or if he had simply wasted a tailed beast’s energy source.

But Shinji’s instincts screamed—

This was it. This would work.

It made perfect sense!

And so—

Boil Release: Mighty Armor: Susanoo (Humanoid Form)!

Was born!

Immediately, Shinji’s eyes shifted—his pupils transforming into golden snake-like slits, each containing three rotating tomoe.

Sage Mode—activated!

And he wasn’t finished yet.

A layer of flickering lightning chakra surged across his body, his internal temperature spiking as his heart ignited into a miniature sun, continuously fueling him with raw power!

Lightning Release Chakra Mode—activated! Fire Release Chakra Mode—activated! Sage Transformation—activated! Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak—activated!

An almost infinite surge of energy roared within him, compressing and detonating, forming what felt like a miniature cosmos undergoing a singularity explosion!

"Hhhsss~!"

At this moment—

With the purest, most extreme buffs in the ninja world stacked upon him, Shinji widened his eyes in shock, sucking in a sharp breath.

"Using tailed beasts as disposable power sources... Yes. This is exactly how they should be used!"

"Holy shit! I’m absolutely terrifying right now!"

Even with a mythological creature as tall as a TV tower before him, Shinji was convinced—

He could obliterate it with his bare hands!

Meanwhile—

Ying, watching from below, gawked at the sudden shift in battlefield dynamics.

He had barely scraped Shinji earlier, only for the battle to turn into an unstoppable cutscene where the final boss kept stacking buffs uncontrollably.

"Wait—bro,"

"What the hell is this?!"

But he quickly regained his composure, his expression turning fierce.

"Whatever it is, I have to take him down first!"

"I won’t let you buzz around like a damn fly anymore!"

"Get down here!"

With that thought, Ying clapped his hands together, his voice ringing with fury as the Eight-Headed Serpent raised all eight of its heads simultaneously.

"Sage Art: Divine Radiance!!!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Blinding flashes erupted!

The massive serpent heads recoiled from the sheer force of their own attacks!

Dark-purple beams shot forth, transforming into crimson light rays that swept towards the floating Shinji!

Scorching winds howled, searing heat waves rolled!

Like a blooming inferno, like the apocalypse itself—the monstrous, 280-meter-tall serpent thrashed violently, unleashing devastation upon the heavens!

And facing this near-hopeless onslaught—

"Hmph!"

Shinji, having achieved his most powerful form yet, took a deep breath. A fierce glint flashed in his golden snake eyes.

In the next instant—

He flipped his body, plummeting downward, forming a 'Si' hand seal before his chest!

"Release!"

His forehead hair fell over his eyes, his gaze piercing through his raven-black locks as he looked upon the eight crimson beams hurtling toward him.

In that moment, he dispelled the Super Lightweight Boulder Jutsu, which allowed him to fly but weakened his power.

The sudden return of gravity and inertia sent Shinji into a high-speed freefall!

Like a paratrooper leaping from thousands of meters above, executing a mission—

Only difference?

Shinji had no parachute!

With eyes wide open, defying the wind, facing terror head-on—

He swung his arm back, eyes locked onto the incoming beams.

Veins bulged on his temples, his expression contorted as he roared:

"—SWORD, COME FORTH!!!"

Like a beam of light piercing through the darkness of night—

A crackling, dazzling thunderbolt emerged from the palm, extending, stretching, and transforming into a majestic and awe-inspiring greatsword of lightning!

Gripping the hilt with both hands, body arched and leaping forward—

With a force so overwhelming it seemed to defy the very laws of physics, he abruptly halted midair, twisted with the momentum,

rotating, soaring—

"Ha!!"

With a thunderous roar, Shinji’s muscular arms bulged as they swung the massive lightning greatsword like a whirling propeller, spinning wildly in midair.

"You little bastard, take this—Boiling Release: Brute Force Brick-Soaring Sword Style!"

His tensed arms, stretched to their very limit, suddenly thrust forward!

"—Whoosh!!!"

It was as if a bolt of lightning had split the heavens!

Or as if a colossal hammer had been launched with unstoppable force!

The atmosphere instantly heated up—

Layers upon layers of compressed wind pressure converged along a single curved trajectory, forming a massive, umbrella-shaped shockwave of scalding steam visible to the naked eye!

As the sword came crashing down—

The eight crimson beams, manifestations of mystical energy, were forcefully shattered and dispersed midair by the sheer might of the sword’s hurricane-like momentum, their explosive echoes flung far into the distance!

"Wait a damn minute—this is completely unreasonable!"

The devastating sword wind, nearly a kilometer in diameter and formed by means unknown, obliterated the eight fire blasts spewed by the Eight-Headed Serpent in an instant—

And it wasn’t even the lightning itself!

As the raging tempest closed in—

The eight massive serpent heads were suddenly smashed as if struck by a hydraulic press, their skulls flattening and warping under the immense force. The crushing wind pressure dragged them along its curved surface, slamming them mercilessly into the desolate wasteland below!

"What kind of monstrous power is this?!"

From within one of the serpent’s mouths, a figure’s eyes widened in sheer terror, his face half-distorted under the overwhelming force. In a mix of fury and despair, he howled:

"Shinji—how the hell can you be this strong?!!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 419: Pry Open the Serpent's Mouth and Shatter Its Heart!

At this moment—

Far from the battlefield…

"Dad, no matter what, wasn’t it a bit excessive to bring us this far in one go?"

Naruto, slightly dissatisfied, struggled to sit up, raising both hands and gesturing around.

"We're practically leaving the Land of Wind and crossing the border."

"If I rest a little longer, my chakra will recover. I still need to help UncleShinji defeat that naked monster!"

Faced with his son's complaints, Minato Namikaze uncharacteristically fell silent for a moment.

Then, shaking his head with a sigh, he said,

"Naruto, you don’t understand the Uchiha."

"Your UncleShinji probably doesn’t need your help."

Naruto felt even more confused as he looked around at the odd expressions on the faces of his Konoha elders, his father Minato Namikaze, the future mastermind behind the Leaf Village Destruction Plan—Orochimaru, and the future Akatsuki terrorist—Sasori of the Red Sand.

His body straightened as he tried to convince them,

"How could that be? Even with Sasuke, we’ve always supported each other along the way. I—"

However—

Before Naruto could finish speaking, a dazzling flash of lightning suddenly illuminated the distant horizon!

"It's here!"

Seeing the blinding light, Minato took a deep breath and firmly patted Naruto’s shoulder, his tone heavy.

"What… what’s coming?"

Naruto looked up blankly—

The moment that radiant light erupted, it illuminated the darkened sky of the Land of Wind, turning night into day.

And then—

As the thunder struck, the ruins in the far distance were swallowed instantly by a brilliant explosion. In the blink of an eye, the entire Loulan was reduced to nothingness!

A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky.

A colossal ring-shaped shockwave, with the epicenter at the explosion site, surged outward—spanning nearly eight kilometers!

The entire Land of Wind trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

The world fell silent.

Standing far away, gazing at the apocalyptic explosion, Naruto couldn’t help but blink in shock. He swallowed hard, looking back at Minato.

"This… this…"

"This is the power of the Uchiha?!"

Minato nodded in silence.

Father and son stood side by side, facing the endless, trembling desert. The golden strands of their hair were tossed wildly by the roaring wind. Both fell into silence.

It wasn’t until this moment that the explosion, which had silenced the entire Land of Wind for a heartbeat, finally arrived—

"—BOOM!!!"

Stepping onto the barren, scorched sands—

Shinji landed heavily on the ground. Yet, instead of kicking up dust, he merely left deep cracks in the hardened earth.

It was as if a steamroller had meticulously pressed down every inch of Loulan, leaving no loose grains of sand to be disturbed.

He glanced at his armor—the Boiling Release: Majestic Armor: Susanoo, which was beginning to crack and show signs of instability.

It reminded him of Naruto’s future Baryon Mode, where the Nine-Tails sacrificed itself to unleash overwhelming power.

But unlike Naruto,Shinji hadn’t received the recognition of the Tailed Beast. He didn’t have the privilege of the Five-Tails willingly offering itself in sacrifice—he had simply forced it to become expendable.

On top of that, the fourth stage of Susanoo wasn’t fully capable of handling the immense energy output of a Tailed Beast used as mere fuel.

As a result, his Majestic Armor: Susanoo was already on the verge of collapse.

However—

Shinji quickly put the issue aside and turned his attention to the barely-breathing opponent before him.

Everything his opponent had planned, he had anticipated. It wasn’t complicated. The enemy was using a model based onShinji himself from the Hell Valley battle, with some enhancements—an advanced version of the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique and an incomplete form of Wood Release.

Given that setup, he could predict their fighting style and their ultimate goal.

To attack a flying target, the only viable strategy was to lure them into engaging first. So,Shinji had simply played along—letting Susanoo entertain the opponent while he hid in the storm clouds above, layering himself with buffs.

After all, with the overwhelming number of abilities he had accumulated, applying all his buffs took time.

More importantly,Shinji was curious—his opponent, Ying, shared the same Battle Instinct as him. Could Ying provide an unexpected challenge?

The answer, however—

"I thought you’d be able to force out the ultimate power of this eye… but I overestimated you."

Shaking his head, he looked down at the defeated figure beneath him—a broken body, kneeling like a gutted fish, coughing up blood after being cleaved apart by a single strike.

Shinji sighed in disappointment.

"With your potential, you could have been stronger—fiercer. You should have made this battle more exciting for me."

"But unfortunately… you never inherited my will. In fact, you’re still resisting it."

At these words, Ying gritted his teeth. His fury bubbled over into a forced, bitter laugh.

"Heh… heh… heh…"

"Who the hell would want to inherit your bullshit dreams?!"

"Shinji, do you really think you’ve won?!"

"Oh?"Shinji’s interest piqued. He raised an eyebrow at the kneeling man.

"You still have something left to show me?"

Ying only smirked coldly, his eyes locking onto Shinji’s with a chilling gaze.

"With this body's limitless regeneration and infinite chakra, you can’t kill me."

"Even though you’ve beaten me to this pathetic state… you will never be able to kill me!"

"You should know that better than anyone."

He sneered, despite his battered condition. He knelt there, blood-stained and broken, yet his gaze carried the confidence of a victor, staring up atShinji with a look of defiance.

"In just a moment, I’ll regenerate into the Eight-Headed Serpent once again, and then—I'll tear you apart just as you did to me!"

"I will shatter your arrogant will!"

The situation seemed almost comical.

ButShinji knew Ying wasn’t bluffing.

Just as Orochimaru would later become a symbol of immortality in the shinobi world, Ying had already obtained a similar ability.

As long as his chakra remained, he could not die.

Even after withstanding a direct sword strike fromShinji—one that had burned through the Tailed Beast chakra he had collected—Ying still had the Sage Body and several life-to-chakra conversion techniques to sustain him. Given time, he would only become harder to kill.

More importantly—

The core of Ying’s entire being—Shinji’s own heart—wasn’t inside this body. Ying had hidden it elsewhere.

Without destroying his heart, there was no way to end him.

AndShinji—

"Surviving the White Snake Sage’s final explosion, fighting at supersonic speeds in Susanoo for over an hour, repeatedly using Mangekyō techniques, slicing apart a falling meteor from the Moon… then delivering that final devastating strike… Shinji, how much chakra do you have left?"

Ying smirked, mocking him.

At this rate—

Shinji was the one growing weaker!

"Not much,"Shinji admitted with a casual smile.

He didn’t bother hiding the dimming glow of his Majestic Armor: Susanoo, nor the fact that his chakra signature was steadily weakening.

Then, with absolute certainty, he declared—

"But I’m sure of one thing—you will never achieve your goal."

"I will pry open your serpent’s mouth—"

"—and shatter your heart!"

"Hahahaha! Hahaha!!"

As if he had heard the greatest joke of his life, Ying stopped coughing up blood and erupted into laughter.

His broken body rapidly regenerated at a visible rate.

Then, locking his crimson serpent eyes ontoShinji, he sneered:

"I’m ready. What about you?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 420: Words That Shatter the Heart—Instant Refinement!

At this moment, the scene was somewhat reminiscent of when Shinji stood in Hell Valley, facing the Third Raikage, A.

With the Two-Tails and Zero-Tails by his side, providing him with infinite chakra and limitless regeneration,

Shinji had been able to fight like an unkillable cockroach, bombarding the Third Raikage with a barrage of flashy jutsu—attacks that barely scratched the surface.

But now, the roles had reversed.

Ying now stood in the position Shinji once occupied, while Shinji himself had become an immovable force—one that Ying, no matter how much he struggled, could never shake.

The difference in their true strength was like the gap between heaven and earth!

Yet, despite that, Shinji found it incredibly difficult to kill Ying outright.

After all, Ying, having fused nearly every life-preserving ability in the shinobi world, was practically the ultimate punching bag.

At this moment, Ying was relying on his immense vitality, trying to endure until Shinji’s period of dominance passed—patiently waiting for his moment of weakness.

But Shinji—

Hearing Ying’s response, he finally lost the last shred of his patience.

His expression darkened, his eyes filled with cold indifference as he gazed at Ying, who was slowly standing up, tilting his head back with a chilling smile.

In the next instant—

Shinji’s figure flickered, appearing right in front of Ying in the blink of an eye. Before the latter could even react—

Shinji seized Ying by the throat.

Lifting him like a helpless chick.

"Heh… heh… heh… Did I hit a sore spot?"

Yet, despite Shinji’s sudden attack, Ying only grinned maliciously, his expression dripping with mockery.

"This body? Do with it as you please."

"I severed my ability to feel pain long ago. No matter how angry you get, what can you do to me?"

"Do you understand, Shinji?"

"This… is reality!"

"No matter what you think, no matter what you do, you can never kill me! The best you can do is tuck your tail between your legs and run while I recover!"

Ying lifted his chin, looking down at Shinji with sheer arrogance, laughing wildly.

"I possess the wisdom of the world’s longest-lived beings, the intellect of the greatest minds, and the finest bloodline limits."

"I am no longer the same as you lowly creatures!"

"I am a superior being! A cold-blooded serpent! A void-born dragon! An immortal—"

"So what?"

Shinji abruptly cut him off, his expression indifferent.

"Is that why you ran?"

Hearing this question, Ying’s pupils shrank.

For some reason, something in him wavered. He quickly tried to mask his unease, shouting hysterically:

"What nonsense! Right now, at this moment—"

"I am standing right here!!!"

"No."

"You may be standing here, but your heart… has already crawled into the sewer."

Shinji scoffed, his crimson Sharingan spinning slightly, as though he could see right through Ying’s very soul. His voice was eerily calm.

"Despite all your superior abilities, you were still beaten like a rat. You couldn’t even cause me the slightest trouble."

"And why?"

"Because you are afraid!"

"Your technique is incomplete. You believe there are things you still cannot do. You think you must develop a jutsu to counter flight before you can challenge me!"

"But time is not on your side."

"So you hesitate. You fear. You cower. You refuse to act unless the conditions are absolutely perfect! You abandoned Wood Release, a power that could have given me real trouble, and instead, you chose to refine the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique—a mere tool for prolonging your miserable existence."

"Your pathetic life is like that old fable—grasping at sesame seeds while throwing away a watermelon."

"You discarded the very thing that made you who you are."

"The thing that let you surpass Orochimaru… that let you defeat the White Snake Sage… was never your bloodline or jutsu."

"It was courage. It was conviction. It was the desperation to fight with your back against the wall."

"But now, you—"

"A being blessed with the power of the Sage Body, the Sharingan, countless forbidden techniques, and Sage Mode itself—"

"You, who started with what I could only dream of—"

"Threw away the very thing that made you shine."

Like a final judgment, Shinji delivered his verdict.

"And so, you lost."

"You… do not deserve this power."

Hearing these words, Ying trembled uncontrollably, his heart pierced like a dagger had been driven through it.

Then—

His eyes widened in fury, veins bulging across his twisted face as he roared at Shinji:

"Bullshit!"

"My jutsu is perfect! My philosophy is absolutely correct!"

"What do you know?! What have you seen?! Do you think everyone is like you, unafraid of death?!"

"I just… I just…"

"Want to pursue… freedom…"

His words faltered, even he himself unable to believe them anymore.

Ying clenched his teeth, staring at Shinji with grief and fury. Never before had he felt such overwhelming rage. Never before had mere words left him feeling so helpless.

And for the first time—

He realized something.

That even he…

Had such a fragile side.

"I told you—you're just afraid."

Shinji’s voice grew colder, sharper.

"You don’t just fear me."

"You fear Uchiha Madara—the one who will inherit my will!"

"You fear what lies beyond Madara—Kaguya Otsutsuki!"

"And beyond Kaguya—those celestial beings, the Otsutsuki Clan, who devour worlds!"

"From the fragments of my memory, you caught a glimpse of Uchiha Madara’s abilities. And even with all that Orochimaru and the White Snake Sage left you, you know you have no way of standing against that man."

"So you are afraid!"

"You never truly sought freedom."

"If you did, you would have stood up, fought back, and carved your own future with blood and steel!"

"Stop making excuses—"

"You are just afraid. That’s all!"

Ying’s eyes widened, his body trembling violently.

But he had no words to refute him.

This man… this man…

Not only was his strength terrifying, not only was his will unshakable—

Even his words were sharp enough to strip him bare.

Before Shinji’s piercing gaze, he felt utterly exposed, as if every inch of him had been laid bare, leaving nowhere to hide.

And worse—