326-330

*Chapter 326: This Kid's Style is Definitely Off!*

The ice sphere was continuously sinking into the ocean.

As time ticked by second by second:

The ice sphere sank to 200 meters,

300 meters,

500 meters,

1,000 meters!

The descent was so deep that it was far from the ocean surface. Looking up, only faint, hazy light was barely visible. The surrounding waters were steadily engulfed in cold, silent darkness. Yet the ice sphere, its density altered by ninjutsu, kept sinking relentlessly toward the deeper seafloor!

*"Strange!"*

Kisame Hoshigaki furrowed his brows deeply, staring in disbelief at Shinji.

In his perception, Shinji’s dwindling chakra was constantly being drawn into the surrounding waters, dispersing and gathering toward him.

However, the amount of chakra was surprisingly small.

Kisame made a rough estimate—this level of chakra wouldn’t even be enough for him to execute a Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique.

*"How can someone so infamous, someone who’s defeated so many strong opponents, have chakra on this meager level?"*

*"And yet—"*

Kisame’s gaze shifted to the thousand-odd sharks swimming around Shinji in a circular formation. These sharks, summoned from the deep sea, hesitated to approach him. Their tiny, bead-like eyes radiated confusion.

Why wouldn’t they attack Shinji?

It felt as if the sharks instinctively feared this boy in front of them, as though his very existence overwhelmed them by thousands of magnitudes, leaving them too terrified to even come close.

*"And another thing—he’s already sunk over a thousand meters deep. Why does this kid act like nothing’s wrong!?"*

Kisame watched as Shinji opened his mouth, releasing bubbles into the water, then accidentally swallowed a mouthful of seawater and nearly choked himself.

Now,Shinji was pounding his chest, coughing dramatically. His antics made it seem like he was on a carefree vacation to the ocean depths, not in a life-or-death situation.

Kisame couldn’t comprehend it.

*"This kid’s style... it just feels completely off!"*

At a depth of 1,000 meters, the pressure equated to 10 million newtons per square meter—roughly 1 million kilograms (1,000 tons) of force pressing down on every square meter.

Even Kisame, with his Shark Skin Fusion Mode and unique bloodline that adapted him to deep-sea environments, found the pressure nearly unbearable. It felt as if dozens of elephants were crushing him, making every movement excruciatingly difficult.

*"I can’t wait any longer. If we go deeper, even I won’t be able to hold out!"*

With that thought, a flash of murderous intent glinted in Kisame’s eyes.

*"Then it’s now or never!"*

But just as Kisame muttered those words to himself,

he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder.

Frowning, he assumed it was an unaware shark bumping into him.

But then, a chillingly curious voice spoke right next to his ear:

*"So, what do you plan to do?"*

Kisame froze.

Slowly, he turned his head, stiff with apprehension.

And there he saw Shinji—the sameShinji who had been floundering helplessly in the water prison moments ago, blowing bubbles.

Somehow, inexplicably,Shinji was now right behind him!

*"You—"*

The moment Kisame sawShinji’s face, a suffocating wave of dread and terror crashed over him.

This was no ordinary fear. It was the kind that enveloped him completely, pressing down so heavily he felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Unlike before,

Shinji’s chest now emitted an increasingly bright glow—brighter and brighter still.

Until—

A hand grabbed Kisame’s dorsal fin with inescapable force, tilting his head back against his will.

Helpless, Kisame found himself locking eyes with a pair of scarlet Sharingan.

Shinji grinned maliciously, staring down at Kisame, who suddenly looked like a 440-pound child about to cry.

*"You really love diving, huh, you bottom-feeder?"*

The three black tomoe inShinji’s eyes rotated slightly. A blinding, searing light instantly consumed Kisame’s entire vision.

InShinji’s eyes, an unhinged, nearly insane glint flickered.

The horizontal slit of his Mangekyō Sharingan—originally formed from the Blood Dragon Eye—was forcefully consumed and transformed by an overwhelming surge of natural energy, turning into a sharp, dragon-like vertical pupil.

Only the piercing vertical slit remained in his crimson eyes, with three black tomoe orbiting it in a constant spiral.

*"Then I’ll make sure you dive to your heart’s content!"*

As those words fell,

Ji’s palm clamped down on Kisame’s head.

His five fingers tightened like an iron vice, squeezing so hard that Kisame felt like his skull was about to shatter.

*"W-Wait... Wait!"*

Kisame’s shark-like eyes bulged wide in terror. Cold sweat poured from his forehead, and every hair on his body stood on end. Even his heart raced uncontrollably underShinji’s eerie tone.

*"What are you doing?! What are you going to do?!"*

*"Stop! No, don’t squeeze any harder! Noooo!"*

*"I told you!"*Shinji sneered viciously.

*"Bottom-feeder!"*

*"I’ll make sure you dive as much as you want!!!"*

As the words echoed,

Ji lowered his stance, planting his feet firmly in the water. The ocean beneath him exploded in a muffled roar, leaving an eight-meter-long vacuum bubble in his wake.

Using that force,

he yanked Kisame’s head back, swinging him like a football.

*"BOOM!!!"*

A single backward tug nearly twisted Kisame Hoshigaki's neck, making him let out a piercing scream of agony. His shark-like eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, radiating sheer terror.

"Stop! Stop it now!"

"What are you doing? No, don't continue!"

However, Shinji paid no heed to his desperate pleas.

Then, in one swift motion, he flipped upside down, wrenching Kisame's head and aiming it directly toward the seabed, before hurling him downward with immense force.

Screeeeeech—!

The sudden burst of power instantly boiled the surrounding seawater, creating a cacophony of sharp, high-pitched shrieks! Dense bubbles erupted madly from the ocean depths.

As for Kisame Hoshigaki, the projectile—

It was as if rockets had been strapped to his feet. His entire body became a streaking arrow, and in an instant, he was hurled by Shinji’s attack to a depth of over 4,000 meters beneath the sea!

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion echoed from the ocean floor, like a small nuclear bomb had detonated within the seabed.

The seawater surged back violently, cascading into the pitch-black abyss of the deep ocean.

A streak of white, like a vacuum line, cut through the water!

Blood and shredded remains floated up, coloring the seawater with red and white hues.

At a depth of 4,000 meters, the pressure is said to equal nearly 1,000 African elephants standing on a single person’s back—a fact once joked about by a scientist.

Even Kisame Hoshigaki, with all his durability, could not survive such a fate.

And how could Shinji be so sure this "shark-man" was truly dead?

"Ah, crap."

"I might’ve overdone it. Looks like half of him didn’t even make it down."

Shinji furrowed his brows, glancing at the mangled, pulped head still in his hand, and sighed in frustration.

"Well, at least there’s a bonus."

He tossed aside the mashed lump of flesh and broken bone, then pulled from the bloody remains a trembling, seemingly sentient weapon that was trying to play dead—a large sword. Shinji raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Samehada, huh? The quality isn’t bad."

"Mine now!"

---

Meanwhile, on the ocean’s surface—

"Why is Kisame taking so long?!"

Mizukage stomped his foot nervously, pacing atop the water with a furrowed brow.

"With the immense pressure of a thousand-meter depth, the freezing cold of Ice Release stopping his blood flow, the suffocating underwater environment, and the desperate situation of having his chakra drained—how has that brat not been dealt with yet?!"

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!"

"Damn it all!"

"So troublesome!"

"Why am I so unlucky? Why did I have to run into him here?!"

"Why? Why? WHY?!"

"If I delay Uchiha Madara’s plans, he’ll kill me!!"

Mizukage gritted his teeth fiercely, losing his composure and cursing irrationally. His face was full of indignation and frustration.

At that moment, a white, spiral-like head emerged from his shoulder.

"Hehe~"

"Third Mizukage, are you talking about that brat Shinji?"

"Heh, he’s not so easy to kill."

"You’ll eventually need my power. So, why not take this chance to tell me—what does it feel like to take a dump?"

"Never!"

Mizukage whipped his head around, fury flashing in his eyes as he glared at Tobi.

"Absolutely not!"

"No one could survive in such an extreme environment!"

"Not even—"

"Uchiha Madara!"

However, as soon as those words left his mouth—

A sudden surge of bubbles erupted wildly from beneath the ocean, agitating the surface with booming, cannon-like explosions!

Mizukage’s expression changed drastically as he instinctively looked toward the ocean depths, only to see—

From the shadowy, seemingly endless abyss of the ocean floor—

Suddenly,

A radiant sun burst into existence!

(To be continued)

Chapter 327: Underwater Nuclear Explosion! Six-Style Wooden Golem!

“What is that!?”

Staring at the increasingly bright ocean depths, Mizukage suddenly froze in his tracks, his gaze shifting with uncertainty and suspicion.

It was as if the vast sea beneath his feet was the resting place of the sun itself,

and at this moment,

the dawn of a new day was breaking.

The sun beneath the ocean and the moon in the sky were distinctly divided by the surface of the water at this instant.

And then—

As seagulls flapped their wings uneasily, letting out mournful cries, the air grew stiflingly oppressive.

Suddenly,

Mizukage realized that the surface of the ocean beneath him was rising.

In an incredibly short span—barely two seconds—the sea was thrust nearly 200 meters into the air.

The entire ocean surface surged upward like a massive white mountain,

its silhouette illuminated under the moonlight.

“Gulp—!!” Mizukage couldn’t help but swallow nervously. He quickly turned his head and barked at the White Zetsu on his shoulder,

“Something’s coming out! Attach to me now! We need to leave!”

He could only feel the trembling, violent shaking of the sea beneath his feet, lifting him higher into the sky.

The chaotic currents nearly made it impossible for him to maintain balance.

As he kicked off the frothing waves to retreat rapidly, he noticed that Afei on his shoulder remained motionless. Mizukage couldn’t help but glare at him again.

“What a magnificent sight~”

Afei gazed in awe at the massive white mountain of water, momentarily mesmerized.

“What are you spacing out for!?”

Seeing this, Mizukage roared in frustration, nearly losing his temper.

“Oh, oh, right.” Afei snapped out of it, taking one last glance at the scene before transforming into branch-like appendages. These wrapped around Mizukage’s body, forming a pale suit of armor.

A massive surge of chakra flowed into him, making the Third Mizukage’s movements agile and powerful, as if he had regained his youth.

“Haah!”

Mizukage couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

But there was no time to savor the overwhelming power—his face tensed with focus. Without hesitation, he leapt back from the ocean surface, retreating rapidly!

At this moment,

the towering white "mountain" before him briefly paused before exploding outward like a giant white broccoli.

It swelled uncontrollably in an instant, erupting in all directions!

From the center of the mountain, it suddenly burst apart!

Immediately after, something seemed to detonate deep beneath the ocean, sending a violent shockwave through nearly a million tons of seawater, shooting a massive column of water over 1,000 meters into the air!

“—Boom!!!”

With an earsplitting roar, a lithe figure suddenly sprang into the air. Using the explosion’s momentum, the figure soared nearly 800 meters above the sea, gliding through the sky like a seabird, chasing after Mizukage.

It was none other than Shinji!

Unable to fully contain the natural energy within a ten-thousand-meter radius with his incomplete *Sage Heart*, he directed the excess energy to detonate 100 meters underwater, using the resulting force to propel himself toward the Third Mizukage above the ocean.

At this moment,

The distance between the two was closing rapidly!

“Damn it. How is this brat pulling this off!?”

Glancing at the terrifying scene behind him, Mizukage felt a chill run down his spine.

It wasn’t just a matter of creating such devastation—even if he managed it, surviving such an explosion was unthinkable, let alone using it as a means to accelerate and perform aerial stunts.

Realizing he could no longer avoid confrontation,

Mizukage firmly planted his feet, dragging his heels against the roiling sea to halt his momentum. Then, gritting his teeth, he spun around, clasping his hands together!

“If you’re so eager to die,”

“Then let me show you the power that surpasses an ordinary Uchiha—”

Mizukage’s expression hardened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“The forbidden power of this world!”

With Afei supplying a massive amount of chakra, combined with Mizukage’s own Ice Release kekkei genkai, Afei’s five-element techniques, and forbidden jutsu,

“Wood Release: Wooden Golem Jutsu!”

Mizukage pressed his clasped hands downward, his expression fierce, and slammed Afei’s pale hands against the surface of the sea!

In an instant,

Countless thick branches erupted from nowhere, surging, intertwining, and converging on the ocean surface.

A colossal wooden golem over 40 meters tall rose from the sea, sitting cross-legged. It faced the oncoming tsunami, towering waves, and the airborne Shinji.

The six heads on the statue’s forehead opened their mouths, unleashing six icy dragons!

“Six-Style: Ice Dragon Devour!”

The massive ice dragons opened their jaws once more, each carrying the destructive forces of fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning, hurtling toward Shinji!

Unlike the smaller wooden golem created when Afei merged with Yamato, which featured the *True Several Thousand Hands*,

This golem summoned by Mizukage lacked dense wooden arms behind it. It bore only a luminous halo resembling a Buddha’s, and though seated on the ocean, it lacked mobility. Its offensive range was confined to where its two wooden hands could reach.

---

However,

Even if it’s just the diluted and degraded version of the Wood Clone Technique acquired from some bargain platform, Mizukage is confident. In the face of this power, lost for so many years and belonging only to the legendary God of Shinobi, Shinji is absolutely no match for this move!

At this moment, as Shinji approached at high speed, he was suddenly startled. Staring at the massive wooden figure before him, the six icy dragons wielding the Five Elements in their mouths, and Mizukage, who stood atop the wooden figure, hands forming seals, his clothing shredded, his entire body enveloped in a ghastly pale substance, Shinji's pupils contracted sharply.

Despite having anticipated that the Land of Water was under Uchiha Madara's control and that the Third Mizukage might have some inexplicable connection with the true demon of the ninja world, seeing this wooden figure and the thing on Mizukage's body known as “Spiral White Zetsu” made his heart sink.

It was unmistakably the White Zetsu form—something that would later possess Uchiha Obito and orchestrate so many tragedies!

Shinji felt a heavy weight in his chest, and his expression turned grim.

This could only mean one thing—

Uchiha Madara had indeed taken notice of him! The encounter with the Kirigakure shinobi was no coincidence!

Moreover, his actions might already have affected Madara’s “Eye of the Moon” plan, to the point where Uchiha Madara wanted him dead!

Which meant...

Time was running out for Shinji! He had to kill Uchiha Madara before Madara deemed him a serious enough threat to take back the Rinnegan and act personally!

The realization sent an intense and urgent determination surging through Shinji’s eyes. Uchiha Madara’s power was unquestionable. Even in his current aged form, as long as he retrieved the Rinnegan from Nagato and unleashed the technique known as “Limbo: Border Jail,” there would be no one in today’s ninja world who could rival him.

The threshold of the Six Paths level lies precisely in this.

However,

Since the Rinnegan was still with Nagato, there was still room to maneuver.

In his aged state and without the Rinnegan, Uchiha Madara was still terrifyingly strong, but he wasn’t invincible.

With this in mind, Shinji focused his scattered thoughts and turned his gaze toward the Third Mizukage, Mizukage, not far away. His eyes narrowed slightly.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 328: Susanoo Offers a Cigarette, Boundless Power!*

At this moment,

Above the ocean,

Six ice dragons, each over ten meters long, roared fiercely, their heads held high as they charged toward a human figure shooting through the air like a cannonball!

Fire burned, lightning seared, water smashed, wind sliced, and rock crushed.

Midair, five ice dragons shed their crystalline shells, revealing their true forms in vibrant colors. Alongside them, a sixth dragon, shimmering entirely like pure ice, rushed forward in a colossal collision!

The torn winds reverberated in the air, shaking hearts and stirring towering waves on the sea!

Facing these six colossal beasts, a formidable attack born of the power of the Outer Path Demon Statue and Hashirama’s cells,

Even during the Fourth Great Ninja War, such power left the so-called "Strongest Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Raikage helpless.

Yet,

For Shinji,

This was the perfect opportunity to test the results of his training!

At this moment,

Shinji took a deep breath. While darting through the air at high speed, he suddenly raised his left hand!

His five fingers spread wide,

And a crescent-shaped white mark emerged in the center of his palm!

Powered by an overwhelming influx of natural energy, this gift of his innate talent—a perfected Sage Mode free from Jūgo's side effects—allowed for further development.

For example—

*[Sage Mode: Curse Mark Level 2]!*

Even in his normal state, Shinji wielded power equivalent to Jūgo's fully transformed Curse Mark Level 2.

Now, with natural energy overflowing to the brink, he pushed the Sage Mode to its limits, reaching the Curse Mark Level 2 state.

The crescent mark in his palm expanded rapidly, transforming into white lines that spread across his entire body in an instant.

At this moment,

This ability, rooted in the power of *Cellular Absorption*, manifested as—

*[Heaven’s Crown]!*

This ability instantly infused his body with an immense amount of natural energy, granting him regenerative power far surpassing Jūgo’s and pushing his body into an ultimate state of evolution!

Guided by this power,

Shinji’s body underwent a rapid, temporary transformation.

His height, initially just 160 centimeters, began to grow, increasing slowly but surely until he reached 169 centimeters.

Ahem, he now looked like he’d aged a year, resembling a rebellious teenager of about thirteen or fourteen.

Simultaneously, his body cells, which had entered a weakened state after activating Sage Mode, regained their vitality.

*[Side effects of Sage Mode temporarily removed. You may re-enter Sage Mode.]*

*[Estimated Sage Mode duration—]*

*[∞]!*

Ignoring the sudden on-screen notifications, Shinji abruptly opened his eyes,

The scarlet Sharingan faded away, replaced by dazzling golden dragon-like pupils!

Boundless power coursed through his body, accompanied by cracking sounds from his spine.

Then,

He suddenly tilted his head back, reached out with his right hand, and pulled the massive Samehada sword from his back, slinging it over his shoulder.

At this moment,

Shinji’s posture was that of a warrior ready to strike—one hand outstretched, five fingers spread wide, while the other rested on the sword atop his shoulder.

The explosive thrust of natural energy propelled him forward like a missile, hurtling toward the six ferocious, fearsome dragons!

In an instant,

The two forces collided!

Watching from afar, Mizukage's eyes glinted with savage killing intent. Standing atop the Wooden Golem’s shoulder, he curled his lips into a cruel smile.

“The fight is over!”

This technique of his surpassed the Wooden Golem’s Five Elemental Release used by Obito during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

By forming the five elements through Ice Release and completing their shape transformation, he amplified their power through interlinking synergy. The final blow, composed of pure ice, ensured a devastating finish.

Even the Raikage, with his so-called strongest shield, wouldn’t be able to withstand such an attack!

However,

In the next moment, Mizukage’s smile froze on his face.

At that instant,

Shinji didn’t dodge or evade. Instead, he faced the enormous ice dragon head-on, catching it with his bare hand as it lunged toward him.

He intended to stop the dragon with sheer physical force!

Veins bulged on his forehead, and the muscles in his left arm swelled, tearing his sleeve apart in an instant.

“Raaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

After the collision between the two sides canceled out their respective forces,

Shinji still had energy to spare. He immediately pressed down on the dragon’s head and forcefully shoved it beneath the surface of the sea!

Then,

he leaped onto the dragon's body, running wildly along it while dragging the Samehada in one hand, embedding it into the ice layer as he charged forward!

Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!

Samehada’s head smashed against the ice layer with a series of loud bangs, cutting through the ice while absorbing the chakra that made up the ice dragon.

The moment Shinji reached the dragon’s tail and jumped into the air again, Samehada finally surrendered pitifully, transferring all the chakra it had stored to Shinji’s body.

After absorbing the chakra into his body, Shinji glanced at Samehada in his hand. Then, with a shake of his head and a look of disdain, he threw it into the sea and sighed in disappointment:

“Too short, too weak!”

“This is no fun at all!”

“I need this instead!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shinji’s eyes turned blood-red once again!

A skeletal structure instantly began to form behind him, rising abruptly from the ground. Twenty-six bones, shimmering between golden-yellow and crimson, emerged from his back!

A half-formed Susanoo quickly took shape in the glow of the flames,

and from the connection point of its shoulder bones, a massive skeletal hand materialized in an instant!

“That’s... Susanoo?!”

“Damn it! Kisame, that useless fool—how did Samehada end up in his hands?!”

Witnessing this, the White Tempest atop Muren’s head shivered in fear. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost!

Having nearly been crushed to death by Uchiha Madara’s Susanoo in the past, he was all too familiar with its power.

Realizing what was happening, he immediately concluded that Shinji intended to rely on Susanoo to counter his technique. He hurriedly formed the "Ram" seal with his hands, attempting to manipulate the water-style giant dragon to lift Shinji off the surface of the sea.

A half-formed Susanoo couldn’t defend against attacks from below—

at least, that was one thing White Tempest knew from his past encounter with Uchiha Madara.

However,

what happened next left White Tempest so stunned that he began questioning reality.

At that moment,

after summoning Susanoo, Shinji did not immediately control it to attack the remaining five giant dragons as White Tempest had expected.

Instead, with a calm expression, Shinji extended his hand.

At the same time, the blazing Susanoo behind him reached out with its two massive skeletal palms and drew forth—

an eighteen-meter-long lightning greatsword!

Then,

the summoned Susanoo respectfully handed the eighteen-meter lightning greatsword to its master.

With an expression of pure excitement, Shinji accepted the sword.

He then leaped boldly, directly leaving the protective range of Susanoo, and swung the massive lightning greatsword with unrestrained joy toward the five giant dragons before him.

At that very moment,

due to White Tempest's prediction of Shinji’s movements, the five dragons turned their heads in unison!

The scene now appeared as though Shinji, wielding the mighty sword Futsunomitama, had leapt out of Susanoo and was chasing after the five giant dragons created by White Tempest.

The vast difference in size between the two sides

created an inexplicably surreal image.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 329: How Could Sage Techniques Be So Inconvenient!?

"What kind of fighting style is this!?"

"He's completely abandoning Susanoo’s defense—how does he plan to block the next attack!?"

The absurd scene before him sent shivers down Mizukage’s spine.

However—

Shinji quickly gave him an answer!

At that moment—

With both hands gripping a colossal lightning sword as large as a skyscraper, Shinji leaped down from midair, crashing heavily onto the water’s surface, sending a three-meter-high splash into the air!

Immediately after—

He raised his head, eyes glowing with intensity, locking onto the Third Mizukage standing atop the Wooden Titan.

Then, he took a step forward—

One step. Two steps. Three steps... until he broke into a full sprint!

His posture was exaggerated—like a hunting leopard, yet as light as a butterfly. His tensed muscles exploded with power, each step creating shockwaves beneath his feet, propelling him more than ten meters with every leap across the water.

With a speed far beyond human limits,

the eighteen-meter-long lightning sword in his hands swung wildly, creating afterimages as it spun in sync with his movements.

A single swing could obliterate a massive dragon-shaped ninjutsu attack.

His footsteps barely skimmed the water’s surface, leaving no clear trace—

completely defying the laws of physics. His speed had surpassed Mach 8.8, reaching the realm of hypersonic velocity!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

In the blink of an eye, Shinji bulldozed through, shattering five enormous dragons, then landed heavily onto the ocean surface!

"So fast!"

Mizukage’s expression changed dramatically.

At this speed, which surpassed even ninjutsu itself, his escape techniques couldn’t even graze Shinji.

Yet, in mere moments, Shinji could be upon him—wielding that terrifying lightning weapon.

If it came to close combat,

he had no way to defend against such brute force!

"I can't let him get any closer!"

A chilling realization struck Mizukage. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he swiftly formed hand seals, pressing one palm against the Wooden Titan’s head.

"Compound Ninjutsu: Icewood Tundra!"

"Ice Release: Ten Thousand Mile Absolute Frost Shield!"

Two powerful techniques were unleashed in succession.

In an instant—

From beneath the massive, forty-meter-tall Wooden Titan seated on the ocean, the seawater froze solid, spreading nearly a thousand meters in all directions, transforming the battlefield into a vast, glistening ice field.

Then—

The ice cracked open, and a forest of trees erupted forth, instantly growing over five meters tall—forming a complex, tangled barrier in front of Shinji.

As his foot landed heavily on the frozen ground, Shinji raised an eyebrow slightly.

This hybrid technique, a combination of Ice Release and Wood Release,

simultaneously slowed movement while absorbing chakra.

And then—

"RUMBLE!!"

From where Shinji stood, thin yet seemingly indestructible ice walls surged up, capable of absorbing Sage Techniques.

Clearly, Mizukage’s plan was to create terrain that slowed him down while also blocking his energy-based attacks.

"Again with this Sage Chakra-absorbing Ice Release?"

Shinji activated his Sharingan, carefully analyzing the technique.

An Ice Release that could absorb Sage Chakra?

Such a thing had never been seen before—not even in the original history.

How could the Third Mizukage, an otherwise obscure figure, possess such a technique?

A thought struck him.

Shinji raised his right hand and launched a Doryūjin Bazooka, now swollen to over two meters wide in its second curse mark form.

BANG!

The glowing golden energy ball shot forward, colliding with the ice wall. It blasted out a deep crater, yet failed to fully penetrate.

However—

Through his Sharingan, Shinji observed something interesting.

"So that’s it."

"This so-called 'Absolute Zero' extreme frost… is nothing but a cheap trick."

As the energy blast struck, a fleeting glimpse inside the shattered ice wall revealed a small, white core that quickly turned to stone and crumbled.

And that white substance—

was what had actually absorbed the Sage Technique.

It was none other than the Spore Technique used by the White Zetsu clone known as Tobi!

This technique could absorb chakra—including Sage Chakra.

White Zetsu ‘Tobi’ was originally created by Uchiha Madara using the Gedo Statue and Hashirama’s cells. It had a natural affinity for absorbing Sage Chakra.

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, even Orochimaru and Team Taka had to coordinate just to hit Tobi with a cursed seal.

Yet, even after being hit, Tobi was only immobilized for ten seconds before getting back up as if nothing had happened.

In the context of this battle, the Spore Technique absorbed incoming chakra attacks,

allowing the ice walls to remain nearly unscathed.

This gave the illusion that the technique had frozen energy on a molecular level,

when in reality, it was merely absorbing it.

The so-called "Absolute Zero" was a complete sham!

It wasn’t the Third Mizukage who had defended against Shinji’s attack—

it was White Zetsu Tobi.

It was Uchiha Madara who had nullified his attack!

At that moment—

Atop the Wooden Titan, Mizukage beamed with delight.

His combined ninjutsu had worked perfectly—trapping Shinji within the ice tundra.

As long as Shinji couldn’t get close, Mizukage’s attacks would land.

And with the Wood Release: Piercing Branch Technique he had obtained from Tobi,

he could surely kill this arrogant little brat!

"Hahahahahahaha!"

"Boy, in the face of my Absolute Zero,

your so-called power amounts to nothing!"

His expression turned cold as he pulled a wooden branch from his ghostly pale palm,

then roared:

"Now—it's time for you to die!"

However—

Shinji had no interest in wasting words on this pathetic fraud.

Instead, his response was—

"Shut up!!"

With a furious roar, he gripped his massive sword with one arm, then raised his right hand, staring defiantly at the black sun-shaped seal in his palm.

"Do I need Sage Techniques to kill?"

"Is Sage Power really so inconvenient!?"

He answered his own question.

A glint of realization flashed in his eyes—

Then, his gaze turned ruthless.

With unwavering resolve, he clenched his fist over the black sun mark—

Not to unleash the Doryūjin Bazooka outward, but to direct it inward—into himself!

"BOOM!!"

Blood burst from his palm!

The white Sage Markings across his body surged,

intertwining into a unified pattern—

absorbing the energy blast and converting it into pure, violent power coursing through his veins!

"UAAAAAHHHHHH!!"

Shinji’s eyes shot open, erupting with blinding white light!

He took a deep breath, planted his eighteen-meter lightning sword into the ground,

shifted his stance,

and swung back his arm!

At that moment—

Fist, feet, waist, heart, and mind became one!

The veins and Sage Markings along his right arm pulsed furiously, overflowing with unrestrained power!

"Hmph~"

"Let me show you—

the true power of a Sage!"

"Sage Art: Doryūjin Bazooka Fist!!"

Shinji locked his eyes onto the endless ice walls, the towering wooden obstructions, and the boundless frozen tundra ahead.

"HAAAH!!"

His fist rocketed forward!

A maelstrom of violent winds encircled his right arm—

Drawing in natural energy from ten thousand meters around him—

And then—

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 330: The Gap, Dense Clouds

“Hmm!?”

The Third Mizukage, Byakuran, looked at Shinji, who seemed to be tightly trapped by his technique, suddenly making such a movement, and couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

“There is at least a 300-meter distance between him and me.”

“A human fist is only about 10 centimeters. Including the arm, it’s just 70 centimeters. Even if he punches forward, it would only stir a faint breeze at best. Even if his taijutsu is powerful enough to fight tailed beasts up close,”

“But,”

“At this distance, how could such a weak punch possibly reach me?”

Thinking this, Byakuran’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

Regarding Shinji’s newly displayed taijutsu, which was on par with tailed beasts, he had naturally received intelligence about it, thanks to the tireless dissemination of information by Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure.

The key point was—

During his battles with the Four-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Shinji had used his trump card at close range for every attack.

This meant that in this state, Shinji had a major flaw:

His arms were not long enough!

However,

In the next moment,

Byakuran’s expression froze.

“Wait, what... is that!?”

Shinji twisted his waist, his foot stomped heavily on the ground, and he threw a punch.

A sonic boom cloud surged up in front of him, distorting the very air!

Then,

A flash of light burst from before him,

It surged across the vast icy plain, spanning the 300-meter distance in an instant, illuminating the 40-meter-tall wooden giant before him.

Then—

“—BOOM!!!”

The force of his punch erupted like a beam of light!

Like the petals of a mandala, the shockwave danced around the blazing light beam!

The sea waters were drawn up by the violent wind, forming tornado-like water blades. The night sky was illuminated by the dazzling light, turning everything into a pale white!

The ice in front of Shinji shattered instantly.

Under this pure, physical attack—comparable to the Afternoon Tiger—

The sea water vaporized in an instant, the vast icy plain split in two, nearly a hundred spore-infused ice walls shattered in an instant, and the forest growing on the ice field was completely obliterated!

Meanwhile,

The powerful shockwave crossed the 300-meter distance, nearly ripping Byakuran's head off. His mouth was forced open, teeth exposed, and his facial skin was stretched back.

“Sssssssssssss!!!”

The wooden giant beneath him let out a sharp, agonizing creak!

Byakuran barely managed to hold onto the Buddha statue's halo behind the wooden giant. The 300-meter distance was just at the limit of this punch’s power, preventing him from being blown away and turned into mincemeat!

After barely holding out until the shockwave dissipated—

Whoosh!

A violent flash of lightning lit up the night!

An 18-meter-long lightning sword was swung by a fierce figure, slicing off the wooden giant’s head and shattering the Buddha statue’s halo into pieces!

Before he could even comprehend what was happening,

A sudden sense of falling made Byakuran instinctively reach out to grab something,

But the next moment,

His hand caught hold of a muscular arm gripping his neck!

He looked up in shock and confusion,

Only to see—

A pair of scarlet eyes with three black tomoe spinning around a menacing vertical pupil!

“Genjutsu · Sharingan!”

Instinctively, Byakuran activated the spores on his palm, desperately shouting in his mind:

“White Zetsu!”

Under the Sharingan’s illusionary power, only outside help could save him.

However, Shinji had already realized that Byakuran was wrapped in a layer of ‘Tobi’ and wouldn’t give him that chance.

Just as a white branch began sprouting from Byakuran’s shoulder,

Shinji’s right hand, surrounded by white Sage markings, grabbed it tightly and pulled hard!

With a force so great it nearly tore Byakuran’s body in half,

He violently ripped out a swirling-faced, white creature from the Third Mizukage’s body!

“This... this is impossible!!”

Before Tobi’s sharp cry could even finish,

Shinji glared straight at the vortex-like eyes on Tobi’s face, his Sharingan gleaming once again!

Blood veins surged, covering his entire eyes—

“Sage Art · Sharingan · White Shock Eye!”

---

On a floating ice block above the sea,

Shinji looked at the two unconscious figures lying before him, his brows furrowing slightly.

One had long, withered white hair and bead-like ornaments—the Third Mizukage.

The other was entirely white with a swirling face—Tobi.

Moments before, after knocking them both down, Shinji had used the Sharingan to forcefully read their memories.

Tobi’s memories were chaotic and disordered, yielding nothing of value. Shinji erased the end of Tobi’s memory, the part where he encountered him, using genjutsu.

However, from the Third Mizukage’s mind, he unearthed some shocking information—

First,

His encounter with the Kirigakure fleet was genuinely an accident.

Second,

The Third Mizukage was indeed a puppet placed in power by Uchiha Madara to secretly control the Land of Water,

And his mission was to feed the Three-Tails Jinchuriki to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, extending Madara’s life. He only fought Shinji to prevent any intelligence leaks.

Finally,

A peculiar piece of information was revealed—

A month and a half ago,

Uchiha Madara had intended to kill Byakuran but changed his mind after a brief trip.

Piecing this together,

Shinji took a deep breath.

A month and a half ago was when he was ambushed by Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!

This meant that even back then, Uchiha Madara was already watching him.

And Byakuran’s survival was equally suspicious.

According to the original timeline,

The Third Mizukage should have died around this point, either just before or during the Third Great Ninja War,

Yet he was alive now because Shinji had influenced the course of the Kirigakure-Iwagakure war!

This realization sent a chill down Shinji’s spine, leading him to a shocking conclusion:

Uchiha Madara spared Byakuran because he wanted Shinji to become the executor of the “Eye of the Moon” plan!

“Uchiha Madara has been watching me from the start!”

His expression turned grim.

“And just like how he orchestrated Rin’s death to manipulate Obito, he wanted to arrange a tragedy for me!”

“And Byakuran was the key to pushing me into darkness!”

“But now—”

“I’ve learned the truth from him!”

A spark of inspiration flashed through his mind,

“Wait... If Byakuran didn’t encounter me here...”

“With this information gap, I can buy some time!”

His gaze fell on the unconscious Byakuran, eyes gleaming coldly,

“And this might be an opportunity,”

“An opportunity to kill Uchiha Madara!”

With that, Shinji took a deep breath, forming hand seals. He used the Cursed Seal Possession Technique he had learned from Orochimaru’s research notes.

Pressing his left palm on Byakuran’s neck,

He quietly branded an almost invisible white crescent-shaped curse mark.

(End of Chapter)