belamy20

371-375

Added 2025-04-27 22:03:45 +0000 UTC

*Chapter 371: The Wail of Mabui, the Kneeling Raikage Begging for Death!*

A figure shot down from the sky,

Piercing through the clouds,

Striking like a thunderbolt, shaking the earth and kicking up a storm of dust.

The battlefield, spanning a hundred kilometers, lay in ruins—cracked and devastated.

The wind, thick with swirling dust, swept across the battleground.

At the center, where a towering 600-meter rock pillar once stood, the Tenshukaku had collapsed into rubble. This destruction resulted from the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Roshi, revealing his Tailed Beast form and rampaging, followed by the aftershocks of a battle between two super-Kage-level opponents.

Now, amid the ruins,

A petite figure pushed aside the corpse of a fallen ninja who had died protecting her.

She stood up helplessly from the wreckage,

Gazing upon the scene before her—a battlefield of silence and desolation, riddled with cracks, bloodstains, and countless severed limbs.

Mabui stood dazed, her wide eyes filled with horror.

“The Four-Tails…”

Her mind was still frozen in the moment just before everything fell apart—

When a monk, disguised as a Kumo-nin, had deceived her into using the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu to relay information.

Then, he suddenly revealed himself as the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, bringing destruction upon them.

Suddenly,

A shiver ran through her body as if she had just recalled something terrifying.

Her deep blue eyes widened,

Her lips, teeth, and even her face trembled violently.

“The village… The village, no!”

“Iwa launched an all-out attack, bypassing Yunming City and striking directly at our village in the central mountains.

And I… I personally sent the information on Yunming City, Lord Raikage’s location, and Shinji’s blood to Iwagakure using the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu.”

“I… I…”

“I am a sinner!”

Mabui’s mind replayed Roshi’s crazed expression after obtaining the intelligence.

She recalled the way he had laughed maniacally as he revealed the truth.

And she realized—it was her own hands that had sounded the war horn against her homeland!

She clenched her hands against the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Tears welled up in her eyes, growing larger and larger before finally spilling over, falling onto the shattered earth.

Her voice turned hoarse, almost breaking.

“Why… why wasn’t it me who died…?”

She blankly stared at the still-warm corpse beside her.

It was the body of Kumo-nin If, who had sacrificed himself to protect her when the Tailed Beast appeared.

His last words to her seemed to still echo in her ears:

*"Mabui, if it’s you, you can definitely do it!"*

*"You can’t die here. You have to become Lord Raikage’s best secretary and lead Kumo into prosperity!"*

*"Right now, you are the only one who can save Kumo!"*

That firm, reassuring voice—so powerful, as if it could withstand the collapse of the heavens—

Had now vanished into the wind,

Leaving behind only a broken, lifeless body that would never again respond to her cries.

"The village is about to be destroyed… Yunming City’s defense has completely collapsed… Even Lord Raikage couldn’t defeat that Uchiha…"

Mabui’s expression turned numb and hopeless.

Like a cornered rat,

Trapped, with nowhere left to run,

She could only wail, trembling, staring helplessly at the battlefield of death, her tears streaming down as she screamed in despair:

*“What do I do…?”*

*“What am I supposed to do?!”*

The battlefield echoed with the cries of a girl drowning in despair.

At that moment—

As if responding to her prayers,

A weak, labored, dying breath sounded from a massive crater nearby.

“Haa… ha…”

A frail, raspy voice barely clung to life.

“…Mabui…”

The weak voice of the Third Raikage, A, came from the crater.

“Come here.”

Hearing that familiar, strong yet aged voice,

Mabui froze.

Like a drowning person grasping at a final lifeline,

She wiped her tears, clutched her clipboard, and stumbled forward, crawling toward the source of the voice.

But what she saw made her freeze in place.

The once mighty man,

A warrior who had seemed invincible,

A titan who had walked through battle like a force of nature,

Now lay before her—

His body was covered in deep, torn wounds.

His bones shattered, his skull dented, his eyes unfocused.

He looked as if he had been run over by a steamroller dozens of times—unrecognizable.

And yet,

Despite suffering what should have been fatal wounds,

He still clung to life,

As if sheer willpower alone was keeping him from dying.

“…Mabui… I heard everything…”

He slowly turned his head toward her,

His bloodshot, cracked, tear-filled eyes locking onto hers.

Like a dying beast, he spoke through gritted teeth:

*"Use the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu to send me there… I will fulfill my duty… I will protect the village until my last breath!"*

*"I will stop Iwagakure’s advance!"*

Hearing those words, seeing his battered, broken form,

At that moment—

Mabui felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

*"No… No!"*

The entire puzzle of events fell into place in her mind.

Why had Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, spared her life?

Why had he deceived her into transferring that scroll containing the Third Raikage’s blood to Iwa?

And then—

The ‘Undying Cultists’ who had stirred up chaos in Yunming City…

The ones who wielded that sinister curse technique that ignored defenses,

A jutsu that required a blood sacrifice in exchange for death!

It was all connected—

Iwa had spared her so that she could send the Third Raikage to them,

So they could execute him with a death curse!

Realizing the trap,

Mabui’s despair deepened,

Her voice trembled as she begged,

*“Lord Raikage… You can’t go! That place… it’s a death trap!”*

*“Iwa… Iwa has already prepared the Jashinists’ curse ritual. If you go, you will die!”*

Desperately trying to change his mind,

Mabui broke down into heart-wrenching sobs,

Tears streaming down her face as she hung her head in defeat.

“…Kumo… Kumo is already finished…”

*"No!"*

The Third Raikage shook his head.

He tried to lift his hand to pat her head,

Only to realize—

His hands had already been severed by Shinji’s blade.

He froze for a moment, then took a deep breath and said firmly:

*“Mabui, send me.”*

*“This is the only way to save Kumo. Listen to me—”*

*“After sending me, you must lead Kumo and surrender to Uchiha—”*

But before he could finish—

Heavy footsteps echoed across the battlefield.

Mabui looked up, startled,

And there he was—

Shinji.

Gone was his Susanoo’s skeletal frame,

Gone was the Tailed Beast’s cloak.

He strode forward, wearing a high-collared Uchiha uniform,

A Yasakani no Magatama hanging from his chest,

His face cold, expressionless.

In his hand—

A Kusanagi sword, glowing with blinding white-hot flames.

Step by step, step by step,

Like an executioner approaching the gallows.

"Shinji!"

Seeing the demon who had slaughtered countless Kumo-nin,

Mabui’s face twisted in horror.

She jumped up,

Spread her arms wide, shielding the Third Raikage.

“You… You stay back!”

But—

Shinji’s face showed no emotion.

Without hesitation, he raised his sword—

And swung it straight at her neck.

---

Chapter 372: Furious! On the Brink of Losing Control

The weak, sorrowful voice of the old man kneeling before him echoed in his ears.

His tone was filled with grief, pain, regret, and despair.

Yet, Shinji only felt like laughing.

The moment the old man’s voice fell, Shinji clenched his teeth so hard they ground together audibly. His fists tightened until his knuckles cracked. The surge of his chakra stirred a raging wind, and in his eyes burned an uncontrollable fury!

Then—

Shinji lifted his foot and stomped on the face of the Third Raikage, Ai. The sight of Ai’s tear-streaked, pitiful expression filled Shinji with utter disgust and hatred as he pressed the old man’s face into the ground.

*BANG!*

"Now you beg for mercy?"

"Now you regret it?"

"Now you realize your mistakes?"

"Hahaha... Ahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Shinji threw his head back and burst into laughter—mocking, scornful, nearly breathless from how hard he was laughing.

Behind the Raikage, Mabu Yi trembled violently, her eyes growing more and more desperate.

She could feel it—Shinji's madness, his chilling, wrathful aura expanding.

At this point, she wouldn’t be surprised if, in his rage, he slaughtered every last person in Yunming City.

Then—

A sudden gleam flashed in Shinji's eyes as he reversed his grip on the Kusanagi Sword, aiming it straight at the Third Raikage’s forehead—

And drove it down with all his fury!

"But—"

"It's too late!"

However—

As Shinji's sword, filled with wrath, descended, the Third Raikage Ai, as if having accepted his fate, remained calm.

Despite the lingering unwillingness in his eyes, his expression was eerily composed as he watched the blade fall toward him.

In what seemed like the final moments of his life, his past flashing before his eyes,

He suddenly widened his gaze and, with absolute certainty, roared at Shinji:

"Yes, I beg for mercy. Yes, I regret it. But—"

*"Shinji!!!"*

*"I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG!"*

*SHING!*

The tip of the sword stopped just before piercing the Raikage’s forehead.

Shinji’s expression darkened instantly. The laughter vanished completely.

In its place—was pure madness.

Silently, the three tomoe in his eyes linked together, forming a complete circle in his pupils.

An overwhelming surge of natural energy coursed through his body, converging into his eyes.

His golden irises darkened into pure black, as a golden ring formed around them, from which twisted, chaotic patterns spread outward—

Like petals rising from the depths of the mud, filled with boundless despair and fury, ready to burst free.

"Oh, right. You did nothing wrong."

"For the sake of your village, you plotted an ambush against Uchiha Setsuna. You colluded with the Blood Pool Clan to seize Hell Valley."

"For the sake of your village, you sent out the Jinchūriki to attack me and ambush Konoha’s reinforcements."

"For the sake of your village, you stormed into Hell Valley, paving the way for your army to march upon the Land of Fire."

"And now, for the sake of your village, you shamelessly beg me for mercy—"

"But in your heart, you’re still holding onto a sliver of hope, aren’t you?"

"You still believe that if you surrender today, one day, Kumogakure will rise again!"

"From your perspective, all your decisions were absolutely right!"

"But tell me—"

"Was I wrong!?"

Shinji’s gaze bore into the Third Raikage, despair and rage overflowing from his eyes.

A single trail of blood-red tears slid down his face.

"In this world—"

"I only wanted the people I care about to live in peace. I didn’t care if I had to die for it!"

"But... but—"

"Why!?"

"WHY!?"

"WHY DID YOU KILL THAT OLD MAN!?"

"You stand on your so-called justice, feeling no guilt, while everything I hold dear is buried beneath the will of this world!?"

"If this world is built on a foundation where endless cycles of revenge are the rule—"

"Then this world is broken!"

"So no, you weren’t wrong. But I—"

"I WASN’T WRONG EITHER!"

The eerie Mangekyō patterns in Shinji’s eyes deepened, the swirling tendrils of black extending like sinister tentacles.

His chakra, once fiery and explosive, now turned deathly cold—

Mabu Yi trembled harder, her legs going weak beneath her.

Shinji's eyes fully darkened, his expression twisting into a terrifying grimace as he roared:

"If this world is built on such twisted rules, then I will tear it all down and create—"

But before he could finish—

"Uchiha Setsuna is alive!"

The Third Raikage Ai, his face still pressed beneath Shinji’s foot, suddenly spoke.

Shame flickered across his expression as he panted heavily, interrupting Shinji.

"That night in Hell Valley... just as I was about to snap his neck—"

"Namikaze Minato arrived and saved him. The entire plan collapsed. I had no choice but to retreat with Killer Bee."

"What?"

Shinji froze.

His eyes blinked once, then twice—

The eerie, twisted patterns in his pupils rapidly contracted and vanished.

For a moment, he stood there, utterly dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning.

"What... did you just say?"

"Hah... haah..."

By now, Ai was gasping for breath.

He refused to speak further.

Like in the original story, where he had been forced to defeat himself due to Naruto Uzumaki's clever plan, Ai—bound by Edo Tensei—had crumbled in shame.

This man had always been one of great pride, believing in action over words.

Now, he had lowered his head to kneel before Shinji, openly admitting defeat.

For Ai, this humiliation was worse than death.

But—

As Shinji had said, for the sake of his village, he was willing to endure even this disgrace.

"Shinji."

"You’ve won."

"Kumogakure accepts all terms of surrender and will bow before the Uchiha."

"At this point, I no longer care what fate awaits me."

"But..."

Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Ai struggled to lift his head from beneath Shinji’s foot.

Then, with his bruised and battered body, he forced himself to kneel once more, pressing his forehead to the ground.

"Iwagakure is leading an army of ten thousand—"

"They are launching an all-out war, planning to strike the village from behind."

His voice, hoarse and bitter, trembled as if a dagger had been driven into his heart.

Despair flickered in his eyes.

"I beg you..."

"Let me die on the battlefield against Iwagakure!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 373: Interlude—The Wandering Soul, Lost in Sorrow

"Just as you were willing to sacrifice everything to save Uchiha Setsuna, just as you fought an entire nation alone for the sake of revenge—"

Tears and snot streamed down the old man’s face as he finally let go of all his arrogance.

Like a gladiator pleading for his life, he bowed his head before the enemy he should hate the most and begged:

"Please… allow me to save my family!"

---

A bolt of lightning shot up from the ground, streaking across the sky like a comet, its brilliant tail of white light vanishing into the massive rift in the heavens.

The sun finally peeked over the mountaintops, its golden rays spilling through the hole in the clouds like a heavenly skylight, casting its radiance across the valleys and fields.

The war, in which a single man had shaken an entire nation, had at last come to an end.

The cool morning breeze drifted gently across the land, sweeping over the vast battlefield scarred by devastation.

And there, seated alone upon the ruins, staring blankly into the distance, was Shinji.

---

【Your innate ability: Three-Tomoe Sharingan (Cursed Seal Transformation, Sage Mode, S) has undergone a peculiar mutation due to intense emotional turmoil.】

【Your Three-Tomoe Sharingan is evolving along a unique Mangekyō path never seen before.】

【Warning: Outside of battle, your combat intuition cannot exempt you from the mental strain caused by the Mangekyō Sharingan.】

【The evolution of your Mangekyō Sharingan has been interrupted by unforeseen circumstances, but one ocular technique derived from this path has been preserved.】

【Mangekyō Ability—"Swift Susanoo's Fate" (Right Eye).】

【Your resentment toward the rules of this world has ignited a belief that it is flawed. In your heart, you have formed an extreme desire to correct this world, to create a place where those you cherish will never die and can live in peace.】

【The moment your Mangekyō awakens, all you do and all you become is a reflection of your inner will!】

【You long for the power to change everything, and your Mangekyō Sharingan has answered your call, giving birth to this technique.】

【"Swift Susanoo's Fate": In ancient mythology, Susanoo once sought food from the grain goddess Ōgetsuhime. She took nourishment from the various orifices of her body, but Susanoo, mistaking it for filth, flew into a rage and killed her.】

【Mangekyō Ability Effects: To be discovered.】

【Warning: Using the Mangekyō Sharingan carries an irreversible risk of blindness.】

---

【Ding!】

【You have just defeated the Third Raikage, A. You have acquired a random ability from him: Lightning Release—Black Lightning (A, Mastery).】

【Your proficiency in Lightning Release is now exceptionally advanced. You may attempt more complex techniques.】

【Your "Steel of Heart" trait has leveled up.】

---

A long string of notifications flashed before Shinji’s eyes.

However, at this moment, he had no interest in reading them.

Any abilities related to combat were instantly ingrained into his mind and body through his "Mastery of All Weapons" trait, requiring no extra attention.

What truly occupied his thoughts were the words spoken by the Third Raikage—

Uchiha Setsuna, the Great Elder, was alive.

During the Battle of Hell Valley, he had been saved by Namikaze Minato. Right now, he was living safely among the Uchiha.

But then…

Why hadn’t anyone told him?

Why had Minato said nothing when they met?

Why had Kakuzu, who was entrusted by the Uchiha Clan to communicate with him, kept this information from him?

The moment the Third Raikage revealed this truth, Shinji realized—

Someone had deliberately hidden this from him.

It was as if an unseen force had been guiding him all along, pushing him forward—

Toward this path of forbidden power,

Toward the relentless pursuit of strength,

Toward a force that could crush everything in its way…

But then—what was the purpose of all his battles?

Who had he truly been fighting for?

Was he really fighting for the future he desired?

Or had he simply been swept along by the expectations of unseen hands?

And if someone was orchestrating all this from the shadows…

Only two suspects came to mind.

The first, naturally, was the ever-reliable scapegoat of the ninja world—Shimura Danzō.

If you ever needed someone to blame, Danzō was always the perfect choice.

After all, Minato’s inexplicable attempt to assassinate the daimyō was clearly connected to Danzō. Shinji had assumed that Minato had been influenced by him.

But now, it seemed far more complicated than that.

Danzō appeared to have been framed.

According to Minato, the place where he met Danzō was within the Uchiha Clan.

Furthermore, the assassination attempt on the daimyō involved the Uchiha.

The formation of the Akatsuki? Also involved the Uchiha.

And just now, as soon as Shinji shattered Kumo’s first defensive line—even before Suigetsu, with his Byakugan, could spot him—the Uchiha’s reinforcements, sent via Sasori, had arrived immediately.

It was as if everything happening in the Land of Lightning had been closely monitored by the Uchiha.

And yet—

In every battle, the Uchiha remained in the shadows, subtly influencing events from behind the scenes.

They provided Minato with intelligence on the daimyō’s son, Ryūzōji Suguya.

They supplied Shinji with weapons and armor.

They sent a powerful ninja like Kakuzu to support the Akatsuki.

They had woven an intricate web, nudging Shinji’s course ever forward.

A strategy so precise, so masterfully orchestrated—

It was unmistakably the work of one man.

Uchiha Setsuna, the last remaining Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan.

But…

Why?

And more importantly—why now?

This wasn’t the same old man Shinji remembered.

This level of manipulation was nothing like the elder who had gifted him the Mangekyō ability "Heavenly Consistency" in Hell Valley.

Rather, it felt like the work of a stranger—someone who did not trust him.

A flood of questions swirled in Shinji’s mind, leaving him lost and uncertain.

He wanted answers.

Yet, at the same time, he feared the truth might be something he could not bear.

Shinji despised this feeling—

Because…

Reality was always riddled with imperfections.

---

At that moment—

From the far end of the battlefield, past the silent expanse of war-torn land, a deafening rumble erupted from the Ten-Thousand-Meter Rock River to the north.

A seventy-meter-tall, four-tailed beast let out a final cry as a massive, pipe-smoking toad slammed down on it, pinning it beneath its colossal weight.

The earth trembled.

The battle was over.

The noise stirred Shinji from his daze.

He lifted his head—

And in the next moment, a familiar, playful face with a hint of baby fat came into view.

Sunlight filtered through her bangs, reflecting in her bright eyes as she frowned at him in exasperation.

Terumi Mei glared at him, cheeks puffed in frustration, before grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet.

"What are you spacing out for?!"

"Let’s go!"

"Did you forget? We still have to rescue Hidan!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 374: Before the Hidden Cloud Village, the Arena Rises!*

The first pillar of blinding white light shot up from Yunming City,

piercing through the clouds and soaring across an immeasurable distance.

Finally, it descended—

onto the plains before the central mountain range of the Land of Lightning!

"Lord Tsuchikage, urgent intel!"

The scroll that arrived in the intelligence unit’s camp via the "Heavenly Sending Jutsu" bore the special coded markings of Iwagakure.

After a quick decryption, Wen He, the deputy commander, clenched the scroll tightly and rushed toward the central command area, where the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was hovering in midair.

At this moment—

Iwagakure’s massive army had advanced to the entrance of the central mountain range in the Land of Lightning. They were poised to enter the mountainous terrain and lay siege to Kumogakure, the Hidden Village of the Clouds, nestled within the peaks.

The army’s banners fluttered like a mighty serpent coiled before the mountains where the Hidden Cloud Village lay.

The Third Tsuchikage levitated in midair.

To his left stood Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, clad in his steam-powered armor.

Before him, an elite force of ten thousand warriors formed the core of Iwagakure’s might—

including the Explosive Corps, the Assault Corps, and Tactical Disruption Units.

Around him, some of Iwagakure’s finest jōnin stood ready—

Hikaru, Sumaji, and the formidable hunter renowned for his mastery of Explosion Release.

Their formations were fully prepared for offense, suppression, flanking maneuvers, terrain manipulation, and deadly traps.

"Hmm?"

Han, standing guard beside the Tsuchikage in the makeshift command center, frowned as he noticed the scroll in Wen He’s hands.

"This intel... Did Roshi send it?"

"Why wasn’t it delivered by our Explosive Corps stationed in Yunming City? Why was it instead transmitted using Kumogakure’s Heaven-Sent Technique?"

Iwagakure’s Explosive Corps held the secret art of crafting explosive clay. Their clay birds were widely used to transmit messages securely, ensuring secrecy.

(In the original manga, explosive clay was classified as a secret technique rather than a Kekkei Genkai until Chapter 514. Here, the narrative maintains its classification as a secret technique, preserving its tactical value without reaching Deidara’s overwhelming power.)

According to the original plan, intelligence from Yunming City should have been relayed by the Explosive Corps.

But now, for Roshi—the Four-Tails Jinchūriki—to take the risk of using an enemy’s communication technique, it could only mean something had gone terribly wrong!

At that moment, Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, came to the same realization. His expression turned grave as he swiftly took the scroll and unrolled it.

The message contained only two short lines, encrypted so that only Iwagakure’s highest-ranking officials could understand them:

*[The Raikage has become the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki!]*

*[He is currently battling an Uchiha! The fight is evenly matched!]*

At the bottom of the scroll, a kanji for “blood” was inscribed—

sealing within it two vials of blood.

Ōnoki took a deep breath as he stared at the scroll in his hands.

As a fellow Third Kage, he knew all too well the terrifying strength and resilience of his counterparts.

Among the Five Great Nations—Wind, Fire, Earth, Lightning, and Water—

not a single Third Kage could be easily eliminated in a one-on-one fight.

Yet among them, the most troublesome adversary had always been the Raikage.

Against the unique jutsu of other Kage, Ōnoki’s Bloodline Selection technique, Dust Release, could at least suppress them, if not outright defeat them.

But the Raikage—

this pure-blooded physical powerhouse—

was a different beast entirely.

With his unparalleled speed and devastating taijutsu, he was nearly impossible to hit with Dust Release, which required time to charge.

Ōnoki had always relied on his flight technique to maintain distance, turning battles into attrition-based confrontations.

But now—

The Raikage had become the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki!

The Seven-Tails could fly!

This alone shattered the previous balance. It meant that the Raikage could now break through enemy lines and assassinate Ōnoki directly—

and he had a high chance of success.

On paper, this new form of the Raikage had already surpassed the level of all other Kage, reaching an entirely different realm of power.

Yet what unsettled Ōnoki even more was—

"That Uchiha brat... is actually fighting this form of the Raikage on equal footing?"

"This—"

The thought sent a chill down Ōnoki’s spine.

As if an old wound had been reopened,

his mind was dragged back forty years—

to that fateful night.

To that man.

The one who also bore the name “Uchiha.”

And the words he had spoken—words that had shattered Ōnoki’s very will:

"So… you still wish to dance?"

"But our skills are worlds apart."

Under those eyes, the young Ōnoki had been utterly powerless.

He had lost the very Will of Stone inherited from his master, the First Tsuchikage.

That man had forced him to see reality—

to tremble in fear.

But—

"Things are different now!"

Ōnoki exhaled deeply, floating in the air.

He retrieved the two vials of blood from the scroll.

One contained the blood spilled when the Raikage had pierced the Uchiha’s chest with his Hell Stab.

The other held the blood shed when the Uchiha had retaliated with his lightning-infused greatsword, brutally wounding the Raikage.

Ōnoki poured both vials into a small flask.

The two different blood types remained distinct, refusing to mix.

"Wen He, deliver this to that brat."

Ōnoki tossed both the scroll and the blood sample to Wen He.

"According to our intel, that secretary girl from Kumogakure should still be able to use the Heaven-Sent Technique one more time."

"However…"

Ōnoki’s face darkened as he turned to gaze beyond the army.

His eyes locked onto the towering mountains ahead—

where the silhouette of Kumogakure was now faintly visible.

"No matter who comes… it no longer matters!"

At that moment—

A flock of birds, startled by the gathering crowds, took flight into the sky.

The oppressive atmosphere of impending war loomed over the plains and mountains alike.

Until—

*"BOOOOM!"*

Thunder roared!

A flash of white lightning split the sky and crashed down!

A savage, primal aura exploded outward like a tidal wave.

A lone figure appeared before the gates of the Hidden Cloud Village,

his body wreathed in the crimson cloak of a Tailed Beast,

seven tails whipping violently behind him!

His hunched yet fearsome frame heaved with labored breaths,

his arms severed at the elbows,

his entire body marred by deep wounds—

as if he had been hacked by blades, crushed by hammers, and trampled by war machines.

Blood—his own or the beast’s—dripped from his tattered form.

Scarlet steam rose from his skin.

His wild, bestial gaze locked onto the levitating Tsuchikage.

Then—

*"ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!"*

His furious bellow blasted through the battlefield like a hurricane,

forcing the Iwagakure forces to shield their faces.

And in the next instant—

With blood-drenched lightning crackling around his body,

dragging his broken frame forward,

the crimson beast charged—

Alone—

Against an army of ten thousand!

Yet—

"Looks like the Raikage won."

"That brat… he wasn’t Madara Uchiha after all. Heh…"

Ōnoki exhaled heavily, a cruel and eager grin forming.

"Well then, Raikage—"

"Welcome to the arena I’ve prepared just for you!"

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 375: Hidan’s Rage – The Cursed Sacrifice of the Seven-Tails!*

“We are from a small nation. The shinobi of a small nation are like grass growing on top of a wall.”

“No matter which side pushes the wall down first…”

“The ones crushed to death first will always be us.”

“No one cares about how we feel. No one will come to save us.”

“We dragged you here with us because we refused to accept our fate. But so what if we refuse? So what if we’re angry? Hahaha… HAHAHAHA!”

“You see, everything has played out like destiny itself.”

“So, Hidan, run.”

“Hide your abilities. Flee to a deserted island, to a place no one pays attention to, or even—”

The voice was abruptly cut off. A kunai had pierced through the throat of the teary-eyed elder of the Jashin cult.

In his place, from within the shadows, a pair of fierce yet eerily compassionate brown slit-pupiled eyes emerged.

The figure revealed himself—he was a burly man with a thick beard, clad in a purple monk’s robe. He smiled, a grin filled with both kindness and cruelty, and said:

“Oh my, what a pitiful little dog. No matter how much you bark at your master, all it brings is more beatings.”

“So, tell me… do you want revenge?”

“Will you just lie here and wait for the son of the Raikage to beat you to death, or—”

The monk's expression suddenly twisted with ferocity, yet his furrowed brows suggested he was suppressing some deep impulse.

Then, as if reaching a decision, his face darkened, and he shouted:

“Let me grant you an opportunity!”

“The choice is yours! Will you destroy this nation? Will you snap their spines with your own hands? Will you torture those who have ignored your cries until their last breath?”

As if something within him had snapped, Hidan gasped, his voice shaking.

“I… I want to!”

The ground trembled violently.

His eyes snapped open.

The entrance of the tent was suddenly lifted, and a young man with dark circles under his eyes strode inside, handing him a small vial filled with blood.

“Hidan, it’s time!”

It felt like he had just awoken from a long dream—a journey filled with reckless laughter and adventure, a great flood that led to chaos, and then his furious exile to another land. In the end, all of his naïve fantasies were shattered.

Now, he had reached the final chapter.

Hidan dazedly stared at the vial in the young man's hand.

Inside, two different types of blood swirled together.

“Two kinds of blood?” Hidan tilted his head, frowning at the young man before him. “Who am I killing this time?”

“The Raikage.”

“And who else?”

“Why do you ask so many questions?”

“I already told you—I don’t kill innocent people. That’s what he taught me!”

“Hah.” The young man, named Wen He, chuckled as if amused by Hidan’s words. Shaking his head, he scoffed.

“In this world, who is truly innocent?”

Tired of the questioning, Wen He casually threw out a name.

“It’s the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, Ryuuzouji Takakatsu. We got his blood.”

Hidan’s frown deepened. “Isn’t that guy in Yunming City? That’s too far—my jutsu won’t reach him.”

“Give it a shot. Word is that the Hidden Cloud moved him to their village.”

“…Is that so?” Hidan gave the young man a long, searching look.

Finally, he reached out and took the vial.

Without hesitation, he drank it all in one gulp.

Breathing heavily, he staggered forward, stepping off the bloodstained ritual platform.

He pushed aside the tent’s entrance.

Bathed in the harsh daylight, the sight that filled his vision was—

A monstrous crimson shadow swaying with seven tails!

The beast’s seven tails lashed violently—two piercing into the ground for support, while the remaining five acted like arms, sweeping through the charging Iwagakure shinobi and sending a rain of blood into the air.

Then, its body recoiled like a spring, the tension in its tails propelling it forward.

It became a streak of blood-red lightning, crashing into the enemy ranks with devastating force, sending up agonized screams and frantic shouts:

“It’s too fast!”

“AAAHHH!!”

“Close the gap—quickly!”

“Restraining unit, use Earth Release! Hold it down!”

“Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique!”

*BOOM!!*

The ground rumbled and rose as dozens of Iwagakure shinobi worked together to summon two massive stone slabs, each towering dozens of meters high. They crashed down in the beast’s path, intending to crush it.

However—

“—ROAAAAR!!”

The seven-tailed beast instantly formed a dark, ominous sphere in its mouth and swallowed it.

Its entire body swelled.

*PONG!!*

A scarlet energy beam erupted forth!

Like a crimson blade of light, it slashed through the boulders, reducing them to rubble as hurricane-force winds tore through the battlefield.

Yet the beast itself, seemingly drained from the attack, began panting heavily. The chakra cloak over its face dissipated halfway, revealing the gnarled, sinister features of an old man.

Hidan recognized that face immediately.

That arrogant, familiar face.

The howling winds carried a suffocating killing intent across the battlefield. Kunai shards slashed against Hidan’s cheek.

His skin burned.

Then—

As if waking from a dream, reality set in.

This wasn’t a dream.

This was real!

Hidan’s eyes widened in an instant.

His face twisted into a grotesque grin. His mouth stretched unnaturally wide, his round eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

“It’s real… IT’S REAL!!”

“It’s you!!”

“THIRD RAIKAGE!!”

“You crushed my entire nation, trampled over my comrades, destroyed my village!”

“You ignored our cries for peace, and still, you stand there, high and mighty, as if nothing ever happened! Even if you were reduced to ashes, I could never forget your face!”

“Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Memories of the past months flooded Hidan’s mind.

They had knelt before the Land of Lightning’s ruler, begging for peace, only to be cast out of the palace, told they had no right to represent the Land of Hot Water.

They had tried spreading their faith, hoping public sympathy would pressure the Lightning Country’s leaders—only to be branded heretics and hunted down.

In their last desperate attempt, they resorted to force, taking the Daimyo hostage—only to be labeled rebels and crushed by the Raikage’s son.

All in the name of peace for the Land of Hot Water.

They had become the very villains the world despised.

And in the end, they made a deal with Iwagakure—the same enemy that had once ravaged their land—seeking power in order to destroy a nation that hadn’t even declared war on them.

Hidan could no longer tell right from wrong.

His limited understanding of the world left him lost, unable to decide if what he had done was justified or not.

But that monk’s words echoed in his mind—

At the very least, if Iwagakure and Kumogakure fought, the Land of Hot Water would remain untouched.

And so, he comforted himself.

Deceived himself.

Convinced himself.

Until—

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

“Shinji!!”

“Was I right?! Was I right?! WAS I RIGHT?!”

Tears streamed down Hidan’s face as he let out a crazed laugh, eyes locked onto the panting, wounded, one-armed old man before him.