376-380

Chapter 376: Choice! The Fate of War Rests in Your Hands!

"You said... Hidan?!"

"Iwagakure wants to use Hidan’s Jashinist curse technique to kill the Raikage?"

Amidst the vast and shattered battlefield of Yunming City, everyone gathered because of Shinji stood before the ruins of the crumbled Tenshukaku.

In front of Shinji stood five individuals—Jiraiya, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and Mei Terumi—who had successfully captured the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Roshi.

At their feet, bound tightly with ropes scavenged from Sasori, was the small secretary, Mabu’i, who had temporarily taken control of the remnants of the Kumo forces.

Nearby, Sasori was busy dismantling a chakra cannon seized from Kumogakure, seemingly uninterested in the ongoing conversation.

Suigetsu, exhausted and slumped on the ground, was helping the unconscious Hotaru Oyakata, who had been knocked out cold by the Third Raikage’s devastating blow. They both rested against an upturned slab of stone.

Further away, the remaining Kumo forces watched the scene from a distance. Their morale shattered, not a single one dared to step past the second city wall.

Thick smoke curled into the sky, adding a somber shade to the already gloomy heavens.

Vultures and crows circled above, hesitant to land.

The group was discussing critical intelligence gathered mainly by Nagato, who had used the Human Path of the Rinnegan to extract information from the minds of Iwagakure’s fallen soldiers and Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki.

At this moment, upon hearing Nagato’s report, Shinji’s expression darkened.

Iwagakure had launched a surprise invasion against the Land of Lightning and was now on the verge of attacking Kumogakure.

And their secret weapon for this assault...

Was none other than Shinji’s younger brother—Hidan, a weakling who wasn’t even qualified as a genin.

Iwagakure planned to use Hidan’s Jashinist curse technique to assassinate the Raikage, then crush Kumogakure’s defenses, forcing the feudal lord of the Land of Lightning into signing a humiliating treaty.

"A combination of immortality and the Jashinist curse technique... That’s certainly a troublesome tactic," Jiraiya analyzed, his brows furrowed as he leaned on Konan for support.

"In theory, this kind of jutsu, which directly affects the body and bypasses defenses, does have the potential to defeat the Third Raikage, allowing the weak to overcome the strong."

Due to Shinji, the concept of immortality was no longer a secret. Many villages had studied countermeasures against such abilities, including Konoha. The Jashinist curse technique, which had appeared in the Land of Hot Water, had also been thoroughly analyzed.

Without immortality, the curse technique could only inflict non-lethal injuries, primarily serving as a tool for battlefield control—like the Jashinist squad Shinji encountered in the Land of Hot Water.

However, when paired with immortality, the technique’s upper limit increased exponentially.

But—

Shinji shook his head, his expression grim.

"No."

Only someone who had actually fought the Third Raikage could understand just how much of a monstrous powerhouse he was.

Moreover, he had now subjugated the Seven-Tails, Chōmei, and gained the incredible regenerative abilities of a Tailed Beast.

"This method won’t kill the Third Raikage."

What worried Shinji even more was that this version of Hidan wasn’t the same as in the original timeline—the one who had lost his sanity and confused pain with pleasure.

Back then, the Jashinist sacrificial ritual had ultimately pleased their god, but Hidan’s immortality had been granted through a secondhand process. Who knew what flaws it might have?

And above all—

A normal person has a limit to how much pain they can endure!

This thought sent a sense of urgency surging through Shinji’s heart.

Noticing his concern, Mei Terumi sighed, glancing at the bound Mabu’i before attempting to comfort him.

"Regardless, Hidan is still immortal. If his technique doesn’t work, and he has no means to resist the Raikage, Iwagakure will surely adjust their tactics accordingly."

She forced a smile, but by the end of her sentence, even her lips were trembling.

"The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, is leading a force of ten thousand troops, hundreds of jōnin, and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki. They wouldn’t rely solely on torturing a child to fight the Third Raikage... right?"

At this moment, Yahiko stepped forward, sweeping his gaze across the group before speaking in a grave tone.

"But there’s no point in discussing this now."

"It would take at least an hour for a ninja running at full speed to reach Kumogakure in the central mountains of the Land of Lightning from here."

He pointed to the tightly bound Mabu’i on the ground.

"The only one among us who can withstand the tearing effects of the Heavenly Transport Technique is Shinji, and he’s currently unable to use it."

"By the time we arrive at the battlefield, the battle may already be over."

"And more importantly—"

Yahiko took another step forward, his voice becoming even more serious.

"Everyone."

"Right now is the perfect opportunity to end the Third Great Ninja War!"

"As Mei Terumi just analyzed—"

"The loser of this war has already been decided!"

"If we unite Konoha and Kirigakure to pressure Iwagakure, forcing them to retreat, the three nations can then divide the Land of Lightning among themselves.

"According to Jiraiya-sensei’s assessment, the Third Hokage would likely agree to end the war in exchange for not pursuing territorial gains in the Land of Lightning."

"There’s no need for this war to continue!"

"Iwagakure and Kirigakure, as the victors, need time to digest their spoils, and this would also give us valuable time to resolve the internal strife in the Land of Water and seize control of its government."

Hearing this, everyone’s expressions grew serious—except for Shinji, whose frown deepened.

Then—

Yahiko pulled out a uniquely shaped kunai that Jiraiya had given him.

He turned to Shinji, took a deep breath, and spoke with difficulty.

"Shinji."

"I want to ask Jiraiya-sensei’s student—Namikaze Minato—to help us accomplish this great cause!"

"The forces we need to mobilize—"

"For Konoha, Jiraiya’s toads can deliver the message."

"For Kirigakure, the only person fast enough to reach them in time, act as an envoy, and persuade the village elders to deploy reinforcements—

Is Namikaze Minato!"

"Of course, with Minato’s speed, he could also take you to the Iwagakure battlefield within an hour."

"But doing so would mean missing the best chance to end this war!"

Gritting his teeth, Yahiko locked eyes with Shinji.

Then, with a solemn expression, he slowly raised the kunai and held it out before him.

"I’ve never met that child named Hidan..."

"But I know that as long as this war continues, countless others like me, Nagato, Konan, and Hidan will be born!"

Yahiko slipped his finger through the kunai’s ring, letting it dangle before Shinji as he spoke gravely.

"The choice is yours—"

"Will you save your little brother, that boy named Hidan...

Or will you personally end this war?"

"The fate of the Third Great Ninja War—"

"Rests in your hands!"

As his words fell, silence engulfed the surroundings.

Everyone turned their gaze to Shinji and the kunai before him. Even Sasori, who had been fiddling with the chakra cannon’s parts, paused to watch the scene with amusement.

At this moment—

Faced with the absurdity of being forced to choose between saving one life or stopping a war, Shinji stared blankly at the kunai in front of him.

This world...

Was utterly ridiculous!

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 377: Parting Ways, the Serpent’s Whisper!

Should he save his little brother, Hidan, or the countless millions who have suffered in this war?

At this moment, the weight of life was placed on the scales, measured carefully—

Like a passing train,

Stirring up the winds of fate, crashing down heavily.

But—

This question lingered in Shinji’s barren mind for less than half a second.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, reaching for the kunai in Yahiko’s grasp!

Jiraiya, supported by Konan, watched the scene unfold. His eyes widened slightly, as if he had foreseen something. A difficult expression crossed his face as he looked toward the silent Nagato and Konan.

And just as Shinji’s fingers were about to grasp the kunai resting in Yahiko’s palm—

A pale hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.

Shinji slightly lifted his gaze, looking at the figure in front of him—Nagato. His expression quickly shifted from slight surprise to a faint frown, and then to a deep, heavy glare as he coldly asked:

*"What is it now?"*

Nagato was silent for a moment before exhaling and speaking.

*"Shinji,"*

*"From the moment we first met in the Land of Rain, we firmly believed that you would bring peace to this world. That’s why we traveled all this way from the Land of Rain."*

*"You should understand the weight of the choice you’re making right now."*

*"If we allow Iwagakure to achieve their mission and fail to intercept them in time—if they manage to withdraw the majority of their forces from the Land of Lightning with a major victory—"*

*"Then—"*

*"This war, which spans the entire world, will have no foreseeable end."*

Shinji looked at him calmly—so calmly that it almost seemed indifferent.

*"So what? Hidan deserves to die?"*

His detached and indifferent response struck a nerve.

Nagato, Yahiko, and even Konan—who was still supporting Jiraiya—all had a drastic change in expression.

*"So?"*

Nagato’s voice grew louder, rising into an angry roar. His face flushed red, then turned pale with fury.

*"If we let Iwagakure swallow up the victory of Kumogakure, they’ll only grow stronger, increasing their war potential!"*

*"And in the end, who will suffer?"*

*"They’ll escalate their military efforts and wage even greater wars across the western battlefield of the ninja world!"*

*"They’ll use the Land of Rain as their central battlefield, expanding the war’s intensity into the neighboring lands—Grass, Taki, and Kawa!"*

*"And the ones who will ultimately pay the price for this endless war… will be us in the Land of Rain!"*

*"Our home!"*

Veins bulged on Nagato’s temples as he glared at Shinji, his face hardened like ice, his eyes burning with fury. He shouted, his voice filled with rage:

*"Don’t you understand, Shinji?!"*

*"We placed our faith in you, believing you would bring peace, but instead, you’re bringing us even greater disaster! Are you kidding me?!"*

*"Do you really need us to spell it out for you?!"*

*"Save that brat, who, just like you, has a body that won’t even die—"*

*"Or save the entire world?!"*

*"The choice is obvious! What will you choose?!"*

*"You—"*

*"Nagato!"*

Yahiko’s calm voice interrupted him, stopping Nagato’s outburst. Then, Yahiko lifted his head and looked at Shinji.

After a brief moment of silence, he let out a sigh.

*"Shinji, this kunai is something Jiraiya-sensei gave me to help you escape the battlefield."*

*"No matter what you choose—as an individual, as someone who cannot represent the countless lives at stake—I have no right to influence your decision. But…"*

*"I still hope you will consider it carefully."*

Shinji said nothing. He merely shook off Nagato’s hand.

He glanced around.

The entire battlefield seemed to suddenly fill with an oppressive tension—like the air itself had become flammable.

Nagato was glaring at him, struggling to contain his anger. Konan was biting her lip. The others furrowed their brows, their gazes flickering between Shinji and Yahiko’s group.

It was clear.

The group surrounding him had now split into two sides:

One side had been convinced.

The other—

Had not.

The atmosphere became more and more intense, charged with hostility.

Shinji narrowed his eyes, letting his gaze pass over Yahiko—landing instead on Nagato.

To be more precise—

Landing on Nagato’s eyes.

If not for the urgency of the situation, given the way things stood now, he wouldn’t have minded advancing his future plans. Before assassinating Uchiha Madara, there was something else that had to be done first.

And then—

Without a sound—

A golden flash appeared between them.

*"Am I late?"*

A slightly absentminded voice rang out as a blond-haired young man suddenly appeared, landing swiftly. He flicked the kunai from Yahiko’s hand with a quick motion and knelt slightly, forming a single-handed seal with his other hand.

It was an incredibly stylish entrance!

But…

No one reacted.

The "Little Sun," Namikaze Minato, blinked in confusion, thinking to himself—That was such a cool entrance… Why isn’t anyone reacting?!

Scratching his head, he glanced around at the tense standoff.

*"Uh…"*

Before he could finish his sentence—

A small white snake suddenly slithered up from the ground!

It rapidly climbed up Shinji’s leg, wrapping its tail around his left arm. Its head stretched forward, resting near his ear—

Then, just like a snake-shaped telephone, it hissed and flicked its tongue, whispering in a strange, unintelligible voice.

But Shinji, possessing the *[Sage Transformation]* ability—the power to communicate with nature and all living things—immediately understood.

Or rather—

He immediately understood what Orochimaru was saying through the snake.

After a brief moment, Shinji lifted his head, looking indifferently at Yahiko and the others. Without a word, he reached up and pulled something from his right thumb.

It was the *‘Zero’* ring—the symbol of Akatsuki’s leader.

He casually tossed it to the ground.

It rolled slightly on the rocky surface before landing with a crisp clink.

Then, he looked at the three of them, his expression calm as he spoke:

*"Perhaps the three of you misunderstood something from the very beginning."*

*"My apologies."*

*"I was never some kind of savior. I can’t save everyone. The only thing I care about… is ensuring that those I care about survive."*

*"As for you—"*

*"You may have earned some merit this time, so I’ll allow you to set aside that disgusting arrogance of yours—"*

*"And kneel before Minato, begging for his help."*

Then,

Shinji turned his cold gaze toward Nagato, looking directly into his strange Rinnegan eyes.

*"Nagato, I’ll give you two choices—"*

*"Destroy those eyes yourself."*

*"Or I’ll take them from you."*

*"You were never meant to wield them."*

With that—

Shinji scanned the room, smirking at the stunned expressions around him.

And in the next instant—

He raised his right hand, forming the *‘Ram’* seal.

Boom!

A sudden cloud of white smoke erupted.

By the time it cleared—

Shinji had vanished.

Only Jiraiya and Minato, who understood the technique, reacted.

*"This…"*

*"Reverse Summoning Jutsu?! Someone teleported him away?"*

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 378: A Serpent Takes the Nest, The Snake’s Interrogation

Land of Lightning, Central Mountain Range, Hidden Cloud Village.

At this moment, the Hidden Cloud Village was in a state of panic.

With nearly ten thousand ninja troops withdrawn to(Cloud Singing City) to ambush Shinji, only the elderly, women, children, and a few remaining guards were left to defend the village.

Now, as a massive army of ten thousand Stone Hidden ninjas approached, a vast dark mass covering the horizon, the remaining Cloud ninjas could only stand frozen in despair. The overwhelming disparity in power made them feel as if the sky itself was about to collapse. They stood in shock, looking up in confusion, their bodies trembling.

And just then—

"Boom!"

As the remaining Cloud ninjas gathered at the village entrance, a sudden loud explosion erupted from behind them.

The sound came from the center of the village—right where the Raikage's office was located.

Turning their heads, they saw—

A colossal purple serpent burst out from underground, coiling around the foundation of the Raikage's building, its head raised as it let out a deafening roar:

"Hiss!!!"

Then, it crashed into the Raikage’s office, sending up a storm of dust and debris.

"That’s... Manda?! Orochimaru’s summoned beast?!"

Seeing this disaster pile onto their already desperate situation, the Cloud ninjas on the platform near the village entrance fell into chaos.

“Damn it!”

“He actually took advantage of our weakness to infiltrate the village again!”

“We’re finished... it’s over...”

“The Stone Hidden army in front, Orochimaru behind... and both Lord Raikage and Lord A are absent!”

“Could this really be... the end of Hidden Cloud Village?!”

“Don’t lose hope!”

“Wait, Elayi, what are you doing?! Don’t jump!”

When his vision cleared again, Shinji found himself seemingly trapped in a damp swamp.

Somewhere nearby, the sound of water sloshing echoed through the space.

Through the deep darkness, he could vaguely make out thick, scarlet flesh-like walls.

This place was a jutsu on par with the Toad Mouth Bind of Mount Myoboku’s Rock Lodging Toads—

It was a technique from Ryuchi Cave: Snake Mouth Bind.

He had seemingly been reverse summoned by Orochimaru into the stomach of a massive serpent.

After briefly scanning his surroundings, Shinji closed his eyes. When he reopened them, a hue of purple eye shadow appeared around his eyes.

Instantly, his vision sharpened. Thanks to Sage Mode’s night vision ability, he could now clearly see his surroundings.

At the end of the winding snake’s throat, there was a faintly glowing door.

“So that’s it... Orochimaru’s secret base near Hidden Cloud Village?”

“How many bases does this guy even have?”

Clicking his tongue, Shinji shook his head before striding forward.

Before long, he reached the gaping serpent mouth that framed the doorway.

He twisted the handle and pushed the door open.

However, what lay before him was not the damp, moss-covered laboratory he had imagined.

Instead, he found himself in a spacious and well-lit room.

The circular structure of the building allowed a massive floor-to-ceiling window to occupy nearly half the room, offering a complete bird’s-eye view of Hidden Cloud Village.

At the center of the room sat a large office desk.

And in the chair behind it—

A pale-skinned man with heterochromatic eyes and long black hair sat with his legs crossed, one elbow resting on the chair’s armrest, his other hand supporting his face as he spun the chair around—

He was sitting on the Raikage’s throne.

“Saa~”

“You’ve come, my disciple.”

There was no doubt about it—this was the Raikage’s office.

And the serpent that had taken the eagle’s nest was none other than his troublesome master—

“Orochimaru-sensei?”

Shinji couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

He had long prepared himself for Orochimaru’s unpredictable abilities. He even suspected that Orochimaru might have secretly built a base right under the Cloud ninjas’ noses, considering how often the man had infiltrated this place before.

But now? Reverse summoning him directly into the Raikage’s office?

This was utterly insane.

Shinji quickly focused on something else—Orochimaru’s eyes.

At that moment, Orochimaru was staring right at him, veins bulging around his right eye.

And in his right eye socket—

A pure white eye.

A Byakugan!

Back in Cloud鸣城, Shinji had already noticed that Hozuki Mangetsu’s left eye, which had been blinded, had been replaced with a Byakugan. Based on his deductions, this was likely a war trophy obtained by Mei Terumi’s faction during their attack on the Chakra Cannon.

In other words, during this battle, a member of the Hyuga Clan’s Main Branch had been caught up in the war and died without his knowledge, leaving behind a Byakugan free from the Caged Bird Seal.

And now—

The other Byakugan was in Orochimaru’s possession.

This meant that a Hyuga Clan member had appeared on the battlefield under Orochimaru’s manipulation.

"Impressive," Orochimaru mused.

“So this is the Sage’s Heart you cultivated on Turtle Island?”

“Tsk tsk, to be able to store such a vast amount of Natural Energy... truly astonishing.”

With his Byakugan, Orochimaru gazed at the terrifying entity pulsating within Shinji’s chest and clicked his tongue in fascination.

“To understand all truths, to combine countless jutsu, to create and surpass—”

“To learn and master every jutsu in the world, and ultimately become the ultimate being.”

“Ci,”

“You are growing ever closer to the form I dreamed of!”

Though honored by his teacher’s praise, Shinji had no interest in discussing dreams right now. He simply shook his head.

"Orochimaru-sensei, do you have some other reason for summoning me?"

He looked past Orochimaru, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling window at the scene outside.

From this vantage point, he could see the entirety of Hidden Cloud Village.

And at the village entrance—

Thunder descended from the sky.

A figure with seven swaying tails suddenly leaped into the battlefield—

The Third Raikage, A.

Gasping for breath, his heavily injured body cut apart by Shinji’s sword,

he charged toward the massive Stone Hidden army.

His seven tails swept across the battlefield like a giant windmill, sending a shower of blood into the air.

Orochimaru also turned to watch the hellish scene unfold outside, his lips curving into a small smirk.

Then, he turned back toward Shinji and spoke in a hoarse voice:

"The half of the Eight-Tails’ chakra inside you is nearly depleted."

"The Natural Energy stored in your Sage’s Heart has reached its limit after your battle with the Raikage."

"That new Curse Mark Form might heal your body, but it cannot repair the sealing jutsu imprinted on your heart."

"In other words...

"You can’t use that technique against the Raikage again."

"Yet, instead of staying in Cloud and following Akatsuki’s plan, you still chose to come here."

"So tell me—”

Orochimaru closed his right eye, his golden snake-like left eye narrowing in amusement.

"Having made that choice..."

"How do you plan to fight a ten-thousand-strong Stone Hidden army?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 379: The Spirit Might of Susanoo and the True Relic of the Eight-Tails

Hearing Orochimaru’s questioning, Shinji fell into a brief silence.

Instinctively, he slightly widened his right eye.

Silently, his right eye turned crimson red, with three pitch-black tomoe spinning and linking together, forming a dark ring around his pupil. Within the ring, from the center of his pupil, eight unique petal-like patterns bloomed, resembling a mandala flower.

This was Shinji’s Mangekyō Sharingan— a single-eyed Mangekyō.

A power awakened to attain the strength of the gods, granting him the fate and abilities of Susanoo.

It was known as: [Spirit Might]

When infused with a vast amount of natural energy, the Mangekyō Sharingan would transform into another form—gold and black, wild and chaotic (as illustrated in Chapter 373). This state would further enhance the power of his ocular jutsu.

This made it a Bloodline Selection-level Mangekyō Sharingan technique.

But even with such power, against an army of ten thousand men—when both his chakra and natural energy were nearly depleted—whether his ocular power could sustain him in a charge through the enemy forces to rescue Hidan remained a big question mark.

After a brief moment of analysis, Shinji realized that while this ocular technique compensated for some energy consumption, it still required a tremendous amount of chakra.

Though he had the ability to absorb cells, this was far from the chakra-draining capability of Uchiha Madara’s suspected Rinnegan technique. His cell absorption was more focused on bodily regeneration rather than extracting chakra efficiently.

The most pressing issue before him was still his chakra reserves.

Given the jutsu and combat styles he had developed, even using a Tailed Beast as fuel wouldn’t be enough!

To solve this problem, he had two options:

• Evolve his eyes to Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan like Uchiha Madara. Once reaching this stage, an Uchiha’s base chakra reserves would greatly increase, allowing him to summon a Complete Body Susanoo at will—draining chakra as if it were infinite.

• Capture a Tailed Beast or a powerful creature like the White Snake Sage, extracting its massive sage chakra to use as a substitute.

However, in his haste to act cool earlier, he forgot to ask Minato—who was skilled in sealing techniques—to extract the Four-Tails from Rōshi’s body and force it into a humiliating summoning contract, making it his chakra slave.

Now, it was too late to go back, and capturing a Tailed Beast on the spot was out of the question.

Without chakra, forget Spirit Might Susanoo—he probably couldn’t even summon Susanoo’s skeletal frame!

Orochimaru’s sudden question made Shinji realize something awkward:

Damn it.

Shinji, Shinji...

You defeated the Third Raikage, and now you’re getting cocky?!

If he rushed in like this, wasn’t he just serving himself up on a platter for Ōnoki?

Clenching his fist awkwardly, Shinji quietly deactivated his Mangekyō Sharingan and turned his head, staring at Orochimaru with a blank expression.

He said nothing. He just stared.

“You—”

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment.

“You didn’t actually plan anything… You were just going to rush in and figure it out later, weren’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

He actually admitted it?!

Just a straightforward, righteous "Yeah"?!

Orochimaru’s pupils trembled. He stared at Shinji in sheer disbelief.

Meanwhile, Shinji looked completely unfazed, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t understand why Orochimaru was so surprised.

The shinobi world is dangerous.

In just three months, he had fought over ten battles at Kage-level or higher.

If he had to prepare for each fight,

For instance, if he had to master Earth Release techniques just to counter Yagura’s Water Release, from basic training to full mastery—

He’d be dead before he even finished learning!

He had always been the type to jump in first, then figure it out later!

“You…”

Orochimaru sighed, shook his head, and stood up.

“Forget it. Follow me.”

With that, he leaped forward, crashing through the glass window of the Raikage’s office and diving down the mountainside.

Shinji glanced at the shattered window and thought to himself:

Could it be that the Fourth Raikage A learned this unique exit strategy from Orochimaru?

After a brief moment of thought, he simply braced himself and crashed through the window as well, creating another hole as he followed closely behind.

Leaping off the Raikage’s Tower and landing atop Manda,

They followed Orochimaru’s lead until they arrived at a canyon.

Between the mountains, a vast swamp stretched out,

This was the very place where Kumogakure had once subdued the previous berserk Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.

On the shore before the swamp,

A massive horn, supported by a wooden frame, stood like a monument at a tourist attraction.

“This is the severed horn of the Eight-Tails, cut off by the Raikage’s son.”

“It still contains some of the Tailed Beast’s chakra.”

Orochimaru stopped and gazed at the Eight-Tails’ horn, speaking calmly.

“The Eight-Tails itself perished in Kumonin City under your jutsu.”

“This horn is the only remaining sample in existence. In a few years, the Eight-Tails will likely be reborn from it.”

“That’s why Kumogakure isn’t worried about sending their Jinchūriki outside the village.”

Shinji nodded in understanding.

“So, if I take this horn… Kumogakure essentially loses their Tailed Beast?”

“That’s right.”

Orochimaru’s gaze lingered on the horn.

“But you know the side effects of becoming a Jinchūriki. So, we should handle this chakra the same way as before—extracting it after use.”

Orochimaru frowned slightly, his tone indicating clear distaste for the idea of becoming a Jinchūriki.

“Otherwise…”

“You’ll become the next Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.”

Being a Jinchūriki meant their life was bound to the Tailed Beast.

Previously, when he lost the Zero-Tails, the backlash had nearly killed him.

The side effects of a real Tailed Beast would be even worse.

Not to mention—if he became the Eight-Tails’ Jinchūriki, he’d have to deal with the raging hatred of the previous host’s killer.

With such deep resentment, the Eight-Tails’ resistance would likely surpass even that of the Nine-Tails.

Even if he could force control with his Sharingan, if the beast rebelled at a critical moment, it could ruin his future plans.

Hearing Orochimaru’s warning, Shinji understood the consequences and nodded solemnly.

Then,

He took a deep breath,

Placing his palm on the Eight-Tails’ horn.

“Listen—”

“This horn contains only a fraction of the Eight-Tails’ chakra.”

“With it, you can use the same jutsu that slew the Eight-Tails once.”

“But the Iwagakure army you’re about to face is on an entirely different level from the force that guarded Kumonin City.”

“Ōnoki’s Dust Release can bypass all defenses—one hit, instant death!”

“Once you complete your mission, retreat immediately!”

Watching Shinji seal the Eight-Tails’ horn within himself,

Orochimaru took a deep breath and solemnly warned:

“Ci.”

“Do not act recklessly.”

“The most important thing is July 15—Ghost Festival.”

“Slay the serpent. Ascend to godhood.”

“A true Sage’s power… far exceeds your imagination.”

Shinji nodded firmly, closed his eyes, and focused all his energy on sealing the Eight-Tails’ horn.

“Understood!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 380: Hunting the Seven-Tails, Exchange Strategy!*

Like a landslide of giant boulders, the enemy’s assault was shattered into fragments by the brilliance of the Insect Cannon, raining down upon the earth like a storm.

“Huff... huff...”

Breathing heavily, feeling the strength draining from his body along with his blood, the Third Raikage, Ay, faced the endless waves of enemies charging toward him. Blood trickled down his forehead, blurring his vision in a crimson haze.

A trace of despair flashed in his eyes, but—

Behind him lay his village, his comrades, and the family he had sworn to protect, even at the cost of his life.

For them—

“ROAR!!!”

With unshakable determination, he suppressed the raging beast within him, forcing its violent power to surge throughout his body.

Standing his ground, he let out a deafening roar!

Then—

Swoosh!

The wildly crackling lightning around him shifted from white to black, then from black to crimson.

With a mighty stomp, he propelled himself forward like an arrow released from a bow!

Behind him, two tails coalesced into massive hands, aiding his quadrupedal charge as he bulldozed through dozens of Iwagakure shinobi, breaking through their formation and leaping high into the air!

His fierce gaze locked onto the floating old man clad in a green steam-powered armor, hovering above the battlefield.

An uncontainable fury ignited within the Third Raikage’s eyes.

From among the thousands below, he roared:

“Ōnoki!!!”

“Hmph.” Watching the incoming Raikage, now missing both arms, Ōnoki remained motionless in midair.

“You’ve even lost your renowned arms in battle against that Uchiha brat?”

“Without your Hell Stab: Four-Fingered Thrust..."

Ōnoki narrowed his eyes at the seven-tailed demon charging toward him, a flicker of pity appearing on his face.

“Then your fate is already sealed, Raikage.”

“Boom!!”

The green armor on his body flared as thick steam burst from behind him.

A hulking figure, as massive as the Raikage himself, slammed his fists together. The steam-powered armor hissed violently, forming a layer of crimson, ferocious beast-like energy over his body.

Then—

BOOM!

A powerful jet of steam erupted, shattering the ground beneath him, leaving only a column of scorching vapor in his wake!

Like a runaway freight train, he accelerated past the speed of sound in an instant, charging with five swaying tails trailing behind him!

It was Iwagakure’s Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han!

Harnessing the explosive power of steam, he possessed the most formidable physical strength among all Tailed Beasts!

BAM!

At the last moment before reaching Ōnoki, Han collided head-on with the incoming Seven-Tails-infused Raikage, forcefully knocking him off balance! He locked the Raikage in a crushing grip, grappling like two titans in a death match.

Then—

Six steam vents on Han’s back burst open, releasing scalding steam at maximum force, propelling both himself and the Raikage into the midst of the Iwagakure forces!

Simultaneously—

Ōnoki, floating above, brought his hands together, his expression grave as he focused on the Raikage.

His palms separated, revealing a glowing white cube between them.

“Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!”

Elsewhere—

“Pfft!”

A kunai plunged deep into his abdomen. Raising his palm, he scooped out a handful of fresh blood.

With the final stroke, he completed a ritual formation on the ground—a circle enclosing a triangle.

Standing in the center of the ‘Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood’ ritual, Hidan's face twisted in agony. Clenching his teeth so hard they cracked, he locked his crazed gaze onto the Third Raikage, who had been flung into the encirclement by Han.

“Heh... hahahahaha...”

“DIE! DIE!”

“Raikage, as long as you die, this will all be over!”

“My wish... the peace of the Land of Hot Water... the countless souls sacrificed for this cause... everyone will finally rest in peace!”

With a savage grin, Hidan raised his jet-black spear.

Amidst the horrified gazes of the surrounding Iwagakure shinobi, he aimed its sharp tip at his own heart.

“Pfft!”

The iron spear pierced through his chest!

The ritual was complete!

At the same time—

Ōnoki raised the white cube created by his Dust Release, targeting the downed Raikage.

He released it!

This small, three-inch cube would expand upon impact, erasing everything within a four-meter radius into atomic dust!

If Hidan’s curse technique could momentarily slow the Third Raikage, even by a fraction of a second, then this attack would land.

At that moment—

It wouldn’t matter whether Hidan’s ritual had killed him or not.

The Dust Release would bypass even the Raikage’s ultimate Lightning Armor, reducing him to nothingness!

In the blink of an eye—

The invisible curse technique and the Dust Release attack struck simultaneously!

“Pop~!”

A subtle yet ominous sound rang out.

The small cube rapidly expanded, obliterating everything within its range!

A perfectly smooth, four-meter square crater appeared in the ground, its edges impossibly precise.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Everyone held their breath, staring at the impact zone.

“Is he dead?”

Ōnoki muttered, eyes fixed on the aftermath.

However—

“ROOOAR!!!”

A ferocious, pain-filled roar suddenly erupted from within the ranks of the Iwagakure shinobi!

Seven blood-red tails lashed out like whips, sweeping away all enemies within a ten-meter radius!

At the center stood a grotesque hybrid—a humanoid form with armored plating like an insect’s exoskeleton, its body glowing with a mix of blue and green, six wings sprouting from its back. A being neither fully human nor completely Tailed Beast, howling toward the sky!

Winds swirled violently around him, forming a near-tangible vortex!

This was the final fusion state of an imperfect Jinchūriki—

The Seven-Tails Possession Form!

As Uchiha Shinji had anticipated, Hidan’s heart-piercing attack failed to kill the Third Raikage in this form.

With his lightning-fast reflexes, he had diverted the attack’s trajectory just enough to avoid a fatal blow, using his partial Tailed Beast Transformation to shift his vital areas.

And in extreme cases—

Such peril could even push the Tailed Beast into survival instincts, further refining their cooperation—just as the Nine-Tails had done for early-stage Naruto Uzumaki.

Thus, the seemingly unstoppable Dust Release attack, slow as a snail in the eyes of the Raikage’s godlike speed, missed its mark completely!

As the battlefield fell into chaos, Ōnoki’s expression darkened, sweat beading on his forehead.

He realized, to his horror, what the Raikage intended to do.

“Not good!”

“Troops! Restrain him! Han, drive him toward the trap zone!”

“That bastard—he wants to trade lives!”

Ōnoki’s voice trembled as he turned his gaze toward Hidan—

And a ruthless, deadly glint flickered in his eyes!

On the other side,

The Third Raikage, A, narrowed his eyes fiercely. His feet crushed the ground beneath him as two pincer-like appendages extended from the stumps of his severed arms. His two hind legs, bent forward in a crouch, twisted and contorted in an eerie transformation, his muscles swelling explosively.

Like an airborne insect, his powerful hind legs struck the earth with force, launching him forward like a crimson bolt of lightning!

He shot straight toward the densest concentration of Iwagakure ninja!

With Onoki commanding jutsu and wielding Dust Release, along with Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, acting as his bodyguard, breaking through their defenses was proving incredibly difficult.

So, the Third Raikage, A, chose a different strategy—

Instead of targeting Onoki directly, he turned his focus to the ordinary Iwagakure ninja, who were vastly inferior to him!

Before his strength was completely depleted,

He aimed to inflict as much damage as possible on Iwagakure’s forces!

This approach,

With the near-limitless endurance granted by his tailed beast-level strength, made the battle even more dire. Despite Iwagakure sending even their Tsuchikage, Onoki, to the front lines,

The Third Raikage, now further empowered by the presence of the Seven-Tails,

Still stood a high chance of repeating his original fate—

A relentless three-day, three-night battle, ending only when his strength was completely exhausted, and he perished!

And to stop the Third Raikage’s onslaught,

As Onoki, drenched in sweat, racked his brain for a solution, his gaze fixed on the countless Iwagakure ninja being sent flying like ragdolls under the Raikage’s brutal assault.

Then, suddenly—

His face turned emotionless as he slowly shifted his gaze.

His cold, indifferent eyes landed on Hidan, who at that very moment was plunging his pitch-black spear into his own heart, his face twisted in agony!

A ruthless, venomous glint of malice flickered in Onoki’s eyes—

Rising abruptly!

*(End of Chapter)*