106-110

Chapter 106: A Fight to the Death, Defying Fate!  

In an instant, the two figures clashed.  

Hōzuki Mangetsu dashed across the water, dragging his massive blade behind him, his right hand rising.  

"Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage!"  

Six water bullets, each possessing immense penetrating power like bullets, sealed off Shinji’s escape routes.  

He twisted his step and leaped high into the air, swinging Hiramekarei downward with the force of a mountain-splitting blow!  

But Shinji didn’t even attempt to dodge. 

The six water bullets shot past him, narrowly missing his body.  

He braced himself in a bow stance, twisting his waist, and raised his Flame Blade to meet the incoming slash, swinging it upward in a counterattack aimed directly at Hōzuki Mangetsu’s face.  

Two blades, one slashing, one rising— 

Both strikes were aimed straight at the opponent’s face, each a desperate, life-risking attack!  

At this point, it was no longer just a contest of swordsmanship.  

This was a battle between the Hydration Technique and an undying body!  

“Come on!” Shinji’s eyes gleamed with madness as he completely ignored the massive blade that could split his skull in two. 

With a loud roar, he swung his Flame Blade forward!  

"Let’s see who dies first—me or you!"  

A surge of scorching flames erupted from the Flame Blade, and before it even made contact, 

the intense heat caused steam to rise from Hōzuki Mangetsu’s hydrated body.  

The flame-infused blade, imbued with its unique fire chakra, defied the usual elemental countermeasures and was actually capable of harming Hōzuki Mangetsu even in his liquid state!  

Mangetsu’s pupils shrank in shock. He immediately abandoned his plan to strike down Shinji and forcibly withdrew his blade, attempting to retreat.  

At that moment, Shinji twisted the hilt of his sword. 

The Flame Blade, capable of transforming its shape, suddenly extended its fiery tip forward!  

BOOM! 

The searing red blade clashed against Hiramekarei, 

exploding into a burst of flames that engulfed Hōzuki Mangetsu entirely.  

The force behind the strike sent him flying backward, 

his body bouncing across the water like a skipping stone before finally coming to a stop.  

"Tch…"  

Hōzuki Mangetsu pushed himself up with his blade, his eyes filled with shock.  

The water on his body surged violently, extinguishing the flames clinging to him, 

revealing skin scarred with burns.  

Never before had he faced an opponent this troublesome.  

This man had no fear of death— 

Every move was a kill-or-be-killed strike, and on top of that, his tactics were deceptive!  

You’d think he was about to slash upwards— 

but at the last moment, he’d change the angle and fire a blade projectile instead!  

Mangetsu was truly stunned. Since when could sword techniques be shot like projectiles?!  

If he hadn’t instinctively withdrawn his sword in time and used Hiramekarei’s broad blade to block the attack, 

his heart would have been pierced and incinerated just now.  

If he had been wielding the Lightning Blade or Long Blade instead, 

he wouldn’t have been able to block that strike at all.  

At that moment—  

Shinji casually flicked his sword, sending a brilliant arc of fire into the air.  

Raising an eyebrow, he smirked.  

He had carefully laid out traps and baited Mangetsu into a deadly exchange, 

but he still hadn’t managed to kill him.  

How impressive! 

As expected of Kirigakure’s genius!  

Now—  

Shinji had already played all his cards, 

but Mangetsu’s full strength had yet to be revealed.  

At this point, Shinji had gone all in. 

His only option now was a fight to the death, 

betting everything on whether Hōzuki Mangetsu could break through his combat system and kill him!  

An undying body. 

A shape-shifting Flame Blade. 

A fiery punch that guarantees death upon impact.  

"Kirigakure’s genius… can you break through?"  

Shinji’s gaze locked onto Mangetsu, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes.  

He was simply too hard to kill.  

Anyone below Kage-level could barely even threaten him.  

And if he survived this, 

once he returned to his clan and village, 

that shameless old man Uchiha Setsuna would drag him off for brutal training.  

With his shinobi fundamentals perfected, 

mastering Uchiha’s taijutsu, kenjutsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu, 

there was no doubt— 

he would reach the level of a Kage.  

And then—he’d become even harder to kill.  

But Shinji didn’t want to stay in this world.  

In the real world, 

he had his own path, dreams, and family waiting for him.  

He had been forcibly dragged into this world by fate.  

That day, when he saw the choice menu appear, 

Shinji firmly chose to reject it.  

But—  

Fate did not let him go. 

From that day onward, all kinds of unexpected incidents began happening around him.  

He experienced countless events like billboards collapsing, ceilings falling, bridges crashing down, being held hostage by bank robbers, fires, chain explosions, and more. 

After every single incident, the same message would appear before his eyes:  

[Detected: This Earthling's willpower meets the recruitment standards of the Heavenly Dao Corporation.]  

[Do you wish to become a Heaven-Sent Warrior?]  

For three whole days, he fought against this unscrupulous boss. 

In the end, he couldn’t escape the deadly embrace of a dump truck slicing through his path and was sent to this new world.  

Fortunately, after arriving in this world, the Heavenly Dao dangled a "five-billion insurance payout" carrot in front of him, keeping him from completely giving up.  

But even without the five billion—  

He still just wanted to go home.  

This desire burned within him with unmatched intensity!  

You might say Shinji lacked ambition. After all, the world of Naruto offered incredible powers to pursue, the possibility of immortality, and the chance to become the strongest and rule everything with no limits.  

But what did any of that have to do with Shinji? 

Those things were meaningless to him.  

What he truly desired was battle!  

What he loved was battle!  

What he longed for was battle!  

The moment the Heavenly Dao placed that message in front of him, stopping him from continuing his fight against the injustices of reality, the Heavenly Dao had already become his enemy!  

And so, his purpose in the world of Naruto had changed.  

Sure, the insurance payout was important.  

But more important were the rules of this long battle against the Heavenly Dao! 

He fought to go home! 

He fought to resist this manipulated destiny! 

You want me to save the world just because you said so? 

Says who?!  

I refuse! Even if it means breaking this world to pieces! 

That is the entirety of Shinji’s reason for fighting up until now!  

A crazed grin spread across his face as he fought. Feeling the blood boiling inside him after each battle filled him with excitement!  

This feeling was intoxicating, addictive—he took a deep, satisfying breath!  

Then,  

He fixed his razor-sharp gaze on Mangetsu Hōzuki, raised his blade, and roared:  

"Mangetsu Hōzuki! The genius of Kirigakure!"  

"Is this all you’ve got?!"  

"What are you afraid of?! What are you hesitating for?!"  

Shinji crouched low, stepping into an aggressive stance. Raising his chin, his maddened crimson Sharingan eyes shone brightly:  

"Come at me!"  

"Hahahahahahaha!"  

"Give me the death I’m destined for! Fight me until we’re both completely spent!"  

As he finished speaking,  

Shinji stomped down hard on the water’s surface, launching himself like an arrow toward his opponent.  

Swinging his blade, fiery red flames erupted, forming a six-foot-long flaming sword! 

The fiery blade expanded, transforming into a magnificent twelve-meter-long flaming greatsword, far more immense, more spectacular, and more overwhelming than Mangetsu Hōzuki’s eight-meter light blade.  

Leaping high into the air, Shinji twisted his body and slashed downward in a devastating arc!  

The sword crashed down with unstoppable force!  

The colossal flaming sword tore through the air with a deafening sonic boom. Even before it struck, the sheer heat evaporated large amounts of water, creating a surreal, dreamlike mist.  

Moments later, the blazing red blade burst through the mist, its fiery glow illuminating the much smaller figure of Mangetsu Hōzuki below.  

Mangetsu Hōzuki looked up, staring at the immense flaming sword that seemed as though it was forged in the depths of mythology itself. 

This sense of grandiosity! 

This overwhelming magnificence that outshone his own!  

His body trembled, his pupils shrank to pinpoints, and his blood began to boil!  

Then,  

Overcome with fury, he clenched his teeth until they cracked, his face twisted into a ferocious snarl.  

"Are you kidding me?!"  

Trembling, he gripped his twin swords, the Hiramekarei, and, his eyes filled with rage, let out a thunderous roar: 

"There’s no way you’re stronger than me!!"  

Immediately,  

Mangetsu Hōzuki’s chakra surged wildly, pouring into the Hiramekarei in his hands.  

He leaped into the air, his eyes blazing with determination!  

Hiramekarei: Release! 

The twin blades suddenly unleashed an enormous ten-meter blue chakra greatsword, surpassing its previous eight-meter length.  

The next moment, 

A clash of blue and red, 

Two mythical blades collided with earth-shattering force!  

*Chapter 107: Facing Death! Shinji, Take the Sword!*

Everything before him turned into black and white lines,

A piercing whistle stretched endlessly in his ears,

And everything he could touch, everything he could sense, was engulfed in a dazzling white light.

It was as if hell itself trembled.

Even this vast ocean had no choice but to wail in submission under such overwhelming power.

At the center of the clash between two colossal swords, the sea parted, waves surging sky-high!

Birds soaring along the horizon scattered in panic at the deafening roar.

In the Land of Hot Water, countless civilians under the looming disasters looked up simultaneously,

Staring at the blinding light that pierced through the heavens!

Violent gales erupted.

At the heart of the battlefield, a single swing of a blade unleashed massive, exaggerated wind blades that tore through the air!

The Root ninjas' faces changed drastically, and they hurriedly retreated.

The scene before them was utterly shocking,

Leaving them dumbfounded, forced to watch the two combatants clash with their massive swords at the center of the battlefield.

Two giant swords, one red and one blue, traced exaggerated arcs as they collided at incredible speed, shrouded in a dense white mist.

With every collision,

Sparks burst forth from the fog, dyeing the area in fiery yellow light.

The strikes left long, crescent-shaped arcs that refracted endlessly within the mist, lingering for what seemed like an eternity.

And then,

From within the fog,

Two voices roared with uncontainable excitement, wild and indescribably elated—

"Shinji!!!"

"Suigetsu Hozuki!!!"

Following that,

*BOOM!*

The two massive swords clashed once more.

A gale surged from the epicenter of the battlefield, scattering the fog in all directions!

This time, the more refined blue blade, forged upon the foundation of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, held the advantage.

Bit by bit, it cut through the blazing red sword, slashing down relentlessly!

At this critical moment, the crumbling red sword abruptly retracted, transforming into a torrent of chakra that condensed onto Shinji's fist.

That fist now shone as brilliantly as the first light of dawn.

With a single punch, the blue blade shattered!

Everything returned to its starting point.

But the battlefield had fundamentally changed.

Suigetsu Hozuki stood with his sword planted in the water, gasping heavily.

He stared at Shinji, who lay sprawled on the water’s surface, panting like a dying dog.

His face darkened as a grim expression crept across it. Coldly, he exposed the truth:

"Shinji,"

"The technique you used to condense chakra onto your fist—you can't do it again."

"You can't keep fighting me like this all day."

Gritting his teeth, his eyes burned with rage as he spat:

"You cunning liar!"

In the final moments, Shinji had deceived him again. Using that fragile, almost paper-thin flaming sword with its flashy effects, Shinji had tricked Suigetsu into exhausting all the chakra stored in his ninja blade.

Now, neither of them could unleash such terrifying techniques anymore.

"Haha, idiot!"

Shinji grinned, raising his middle finger at him.

He promptly commanded his miniature Zero-Tails to devour the negative emotions radiating from Suigetsu Hozuki, generating dark chakra and channeling it into the Forbidden Jutsu: *Flesh Rebirth.*

Veins bulged on Suigetsu's forehead, his anger visibly surging.

Though he didn’t understand the universal gesture Shinji had made, he instinctively knew it wasn’t anything good.

The next moment,

Suigetsu Hozuki charged forward, blade drawn, skimming across the water with a wicked grin:

"No matter how many schemes you devise, in the end, you'll still face this outcome."

"With your pathetic swordsmanship, your illusionary long blade formed through ninjutsu is nothing but a moon reflected on water!"

"Utterly useless!"

Uninterested in trading insults, Shinji swiftly recovered his stamina using the Forbidden Jutsu: *Flesh Rebirth.*

Rejuvenated, he stood up energetically from the water.

Forming a hand seal, he clasped his hands together and drew an ordinary flame sword that lacked any shape-shifting ability.

He dashed forward, pressing low to the ground, and met Suigetsu’s incoming *Flatfish* blade head-on.

Yet,

The flaming sword aimed at Suigetsu’s vital point

Was abruptly severed mid-air by the chakra-infused *Flatfish!*

Shinji froze, his pupils contracting sharply.

At that moment, the twin-bladed Hiramekarei came swinging like a massive door panel, slamming hard into his chest.

Shinji was struck with such force that he was sent flying backward.

"Urgh! Cough!"

"Damn it! The gap in our weapons!"

While airborne, Shinji twisted his body mid-air, managing to land clumsily on the ground. Blood gushed out of his mouth in a violent spurt.

Staring at the weapon in Hozuki Mangetsu's hands, Shinji couldn't help but flinch.

However, before he could even fully register his shock, Hozuki Mangetsu leapt toward him with tremendous force, bringing down the blade in a fierce slash!

In this critical moment—

Shinji’s pupils contracted. On instinct, he released the Flame Blade in his hands, swiftly forming hand seals.

Pressing his palms onto the surface of the water, he pulled out two spiraling Water Release: Water Fang Blades. Crossing them, he managed to block Mangetsu's strike.

Zzzzz—  

The water blades spun violently, emitting a high-pitched, grating noise under the tremendous pressure.

The Flame Blade lacked substance and would be easily cut through.

While the swords formed by Water Release: Water Fang Blades had physical weight and could barely withstand Mangetsu's attack, even together, they were incapable of injuring the water-transformed body of Hozuki Mangetsu.

Furthermore—

If this dragged on, Shinji, who was clearly no match for Mangetsu's swordsmanship, would have his defense broken in mere moments!

Soon enough—

Mangetsu retracted his blade, stepping on Shinji’s Water Fang Blades as he launched himself into the air. Twisting his body mid-flight, he gripped the Hiramekarei with both hands and unleashed a spinning horizontal slash.

Seeing this, Shinji had no choice but to roll away awkwardly to dodge the strike.

However, Mangetsu smirked coldly.

Transforming into a pool of water, he abruptly changed his trajectory, reassembling his body to catch his weapon before landing.

Ignoring the incoming Water Fang Blade slashes, Mangetsu stomped toward Shinji's face with one foot while swinging his blade toward Shinji hands.

Realizing what Mangetsu was planning, Shinji immediately ducked his head into the water to dodge the kick. Pushing off the surface with his hands, he flipped into the air and launched a Water Fang Blade in reverse.

Simultaneously, he grabbed the senbon launcher on his wrist, firing every last needle toward Mangetsu’s position.

However—

When Shinji wiped the water from his face and reopened his Sharingan, Mangetsu’s figure had already disappeared!

Suddenly—

A sharp pain tore through his back. A blade pierced through his chest from behind!

The second blade of the Hiramekarei swung down and severed Shinji’s left hand cleanly at the wrist.

Shinji’s eyes widened as he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned his head in shock, staring at the figure behind him.

Mangetsu’s mocking voice echoed coldly from behind his head.

"Shinji,"

"A shinobi who loses his arms and can’t form hand seals is nothing!"

With a sneer, Mangetsu flung Shinji severed hand far away and cut through the tendons in his arms and legs.

Holding the now-immobile Shinji, Mangetsu’s expression turned into one of cruel delight.

With an icy tone, he declared:

"You’re already dead!"

Shinji’s eyes widened in surprise.

Despite the excruciating pain, a faint smile broke across his face.

What the hell...  

This was honestly the best news he’d heard since leaving the village!

Indeed—

Losing an arm meant he couldn’t form seals for jutsu.

A pierced heart meant he couldn’t activate the Fire Release: Chakra Mode.

This Mist Village prodigy had accurately exploited all his weaknesses, striking with deadly precision!

But as Mangetsu watched the seemingly unfazed Shinji, who still had a blade through his heart, he frowned slightly.

This guy’s life force... it’s like a damn ghost.  

Shaking his head, Mangetsu clicked his tongue.

"Such a nuisance."

"Still, as long as I chop off your head and take it with me, I doubt you can regenerate a whole body from just a head."

Hearing this—

Even as Shinji futilely attempted to repair his tendons using a forbidden Body Restoration Technique, he couldn’t help but feel an odd sense of delight as he looked at Mangetsu.

Perfect! This guy even thought of countering my immortality!  

"So—"

Mangetsu raised his head, tossing Shinji onto the water’s surface. Gripping the Hiramekarei tightly, he aimed for Shinji neck.

His gaze carried a chilling excitement.

"This is the end, Shinji!!!"

With that,

Mangetsu’s eyes turned sinister as he swung the blade down for the final strike!

However, just then—

A familiar voice suddenly rang out from the right:

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"

"You bastard, why the hell are you fighting again?!"

From the distant water,

Uchiha Seichiro’s eyes were wide with panic as he sprinted toward them, carrying a massive scroll on his back.

Seeing Shinji about to be decapitated, Seichiro’s pupils shrank to pinpoints in sheer terror!

But,

He was still too far away. Frantically scratching his head, he paced like a panicked ant, utterly unable to find a way to save Shinji .

In the next moment,

His gaze turned fierce. Pulling out a small, jet-black scroll emblazoned with the Uchiha clan emblem, he gritted his teeth.

"Screw it!"

Bending his knees, Seichiro twisted his body as he threw the scroll toward Shinji with all his strength!

At the same time, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Shinji—"

"Catch the sword!"

(To be continued...)

 *Chapter 108: Kusanagi Sword—Blade of Flames!*

On the battlefield,

Hearing Seiichiro’s shout as he threw the scroll, Hozuki Mangetsu furrowed his brow involuntarily.

Immediately, his gaze turned cold, and he swung the Hiramekarei down swiftly!

Shinji had already had his tendons severed. If he wanted to finish him off,

now was the time!

At that moment, under the regenerative power of the forbidden technique Physical Rebirth, Shinji had just managed to fully repair the tendons in his hands and feet.

As the massive blade descended, he lifted his head and sneered at Hozuki Mangetsu:

“Who said losing a hand means I can’t perform ninjutsu anymore?”

“Watch closely!”

As he spoke, Shinji spread his right hand. Pressing his middle and ring fingers into his palm, a jet-black thread shot out from his wrist, wrapping around a drifting tile on the water’s surface.

Then, with a forceful tug,

the tile shot forward like a shuriken, tracing a graceful arc before embedding itself in the wreckage of a shattered rooftop nearby.

The thread wound around the eaves of the ruined building, instantly pulling taut!

Shinji clenched his fist and tightened the thread. Water splashed around his feet and back,

as he employed Water Release: Aqua Glide to minimize friction with the water's surface.

With a swift pull,

he skimmed across the water like a swallow gliding effortlessly over the waves!

Even in such a seemingly hopeless situation, he continued to struggle,

to fight!

Escaping the range of Hozuki Mangetsu's strike, Shinji planted a single hand on the water’s surface, flipping into the air. His Sharingan locked onto the dark scroll flying toward him.

Executing a 720-degree aerial spin, he deftly maneuvered with the thread, landing precisely in front of the scroll.

He bit down hard on the scroll and landed.

Then, he reached into the water to retrieve his severed left hand, pressing it against the stump of his wrist, which was still gushing blood.

Jet-black threads, resembling writhing tentacles, emerged from the wound, seamlessly stitching his left hand back to his wrist.

In a way,

Shinji's immortality was a more complete form of undying than anything else.

Although he lacked the curse techniques of the Jashin Cult,

he possessed abilities that the future Immortal Duo would only achieve through synergy.

Limb restoration, ninjutsu resistance, survival despite impalement, seamless regeneration!

It was an extraordinary kind of miracle!

A perfect combination of the secret technique Earth Grudge Fear and an immortal body!

“Tch, what a monster.”

Even though Hozuki Mangetsu had anticipated this outcome,

he couldn’t help but furrow his brow deeply when witnessing it firsthand.

After scanning his surroundings carefully,

Mangetsu realized this wasn’t his stage, unlike the previous encounter at the castle.

Here, this was Shinji’s domain.

Not only had Shinji just received assistance from his clan member, but there were also a group of Root operatives lurking outside, ready to pounce.

After their intense exchange, it was likely that pursuit ninja would also arrive soon.

Thus, failing to kill Shinji earlier

meant he had already lost.

In this situation, if Shinji decided to flee, there was no way Mangetsu could give chase.

However,

when he caught sight of the fiery determination in the young man’s eyes, he couldn’t help but smirk.

In that moment, battle lust flared in Mangetsu’s gaze!

He had to admit that he was thrilled.

All thoughts of the Mist’s ideals, his promising future, and his newly sworn allegiance to Yagura,

were cast aside.

Never before had a peer forced him into such a corner.

Such an opponent was truly one of a kind!

He couldn’t help but believe—

If it were this guy, there was no way he’d run.

This battle’s victor would be decided in the next clash of blade and sword!

Meanwhile, Shinji flexed his left wrist, testing its functionality.

His entire body felt like a fully modular Gundam, with parts that could be reattached and used instantly.

It defied all logic yet fit perfectly within the realm of a shinobi.

After ensuring his left hand was fully restored, he spat out the scroll, tore off its binding strap, and unfurled it horizontally.

At that moment, he too was curious.

Seiichiro had yelled for him to receive the sword—

So, what kind of sword could be sealed within this scroll?

Considering the Uchihas, with their extravagant wealth, it's bound to be a remarkable blade.

Could it be...

The legendary Muramasa once wielded by Uchiha Izuna?

Or perhaps the clan elder went all out and procured the Futsu-no-Mitama, the Totsuka Blade, or even the Ame-no-Murakumo no Tsurugi?

Shinji raised an eyebrow, unrolled the scroll, wiped the blood from his hands, and pressed his palm onto it.

Then, narrowing his eyes at Hōzuki Mangetsu, he smirked and let out a cold chuckle:

"Now, we're back to square one!"

As he spoke, his hand reached into the scroll's spatial seal, grasping a cold object, and pulled it out!

At the same time, he declared with icy determination:

"With this sword, I can kill you right now!"

However, as Shinji revealed the cold object in his hand, Hōzuki Mangetsu's eyes widened in disbelief. He glared at the object in Shinji's hand with fury and snapped:

"Shinji, are you mocking me?!"

Shinji froze, dumbfounded. He thought to himself, I brought out a magnificent blade to show you respect—how is that an insult?  

As these thoughts ran through his mind, he suddenly noticed something felt off—the weight in his hand seemed... too light.

Curious, he turned to look, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

In his hand, he was holding...

A fishnet stocking?!

Ahem—though not the kind you'd associate with a uniform fetish—it was an official ninja garment known as kusari katabira, or chainmail.

It was a highly durable piece of armor, commonly worn by ninjas.

"Wrong one! Let's try again!"

Shinji's face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly stuffed the chainmail back into his pouch and searched through the scroll once more.

This time, he finally retrieved the real deal!

What he pulled out was a sword without a guard, with a straight handle, sheathed in a pitch-black scabbard.

Shinji gripped the handle and drew the sword slightly.

A dazzling, icy gleam burst forth!

The blade shimmered under the sunlight like the rippling surface of autumn water, exuding an air of sharpness that could slice through a single hair.

Shinji's eyebrows twitched as he stared at the sword. The longer he looked at it, the more familiar it seemed.

Wasn’t this the Kusanagi Blade once wielded by Sasuke in the future?

Razor-sharp, unbreakable, and legendary for its use in forming the Chidori Blade. This was the very sword that cleaved through bandits, pierced Uchiha Madara, and was eventually lost during the battle against him. The scabbard itself was reduced to ash in the lava during the fight with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

This was, without a doubt, a blade surpassing all currently known chakra-forged weapons—

A sword of unparalleled sharpness, capable of perfectly channeling chakra.

But what puzzled Shinji was this:

The Kusanagi Blade should be in Orochimaru's possession. How did it end up sealed in a scroll sent by the Uchiha Clan?

However, this wasn't the time to dwell on such questions. With the gap in weaponry between him and Hōzuki Mangetsu now erased by this remarkable sword...

It was time—

For a true battle of swordsmanship to begin!

The moment to speak with blades had arrived!

Shinji's gaze turned icy. He secured the scabbard to his waist and drew the Kusanagi Blade in a swift motion.

The sword’s guardless hilt rested in his hand as he spun the blade with a reverse grip, sending a dazzling arc of light dancing through the air.

His heart ignited with a fiery passion that surged through him like a tidal wave of power!

The flames of determination fueled his chakra, activating a localized Fire Release chakra mode that extended from his heart to his right hand.

With fire-attributed chakra pouring into the sword—unlike Sasuke's Chidori-infused Kusanagi Blade—

The weapon began to transform.

From the hilt to the blade’s edge, flames erupted, wrapping the sword in a blazing dance of fiery brilliance!

Red-hot flames interwove with white-hot embers, creating a dazzling spectacle.

Sparks flew, and the winds howled!

The scorching flames consumed the icy blade, transforming it into—

The Kusanagi Blade: Flame Sword!

(Chapter End)  

*Chapter 109: Extreme Duplication, Infernal Dragon Flame!*

The mist-shrouded pavilion stood silently amidst the battlefield, encircled by swirling white fog.

Ruins of lakes, debris, broken wood, and shattered tiles lay scattered, accompanied by the fierce clashes of combatants locked in chaos.

In the distance, cries of anguish echoed faintly through the mist.

Birds scattered in alarm, the daylight cold and pale. The stark white beams of refracted light illuminated the battlefield.

As warriors, the two figures drew their weapons, confronting each other amidst the calamity for their respective goals.

The scene resembled a moment frozen in the ukiyo-e artwork "Rescue of Minamoto no Tametomo by His Retainers at Sanuki Province."  

Shinji closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

Gripping the blazing Kusanagi sword tightly in both hands, he expelled the stagnant air from his lungs. Reversing his grip, he raised the sword along his arm, lowering into a poised stance.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of crimson Sharingan. The two black tomoe reflected every movement of his opponent.

Opposite him, Hozuki Mangetsu licked the corner of his mouth, hoisting his massive sword and assuming a defensive stance. His gaze held a predatory gleam as if observing prey.

Without a single word wasted, the two dashed forward in a flash. The flaming sword and the giant blade carved sharp arcs as they collided!

*Clang!*

Blades clashed, sparks bursting from the impact.

Shinji immediately leapt back, dodging to let the swing of the Flatfish Sword pass, then extended the flaming blade toward Mangetsu's heart.

In the split second of crisis, Mangetsu's expression remained calm. He kicked up the Flatfish Sword, using it to block the blazing strike, and instantly channeled chakra into the blade, severing the fiery edge.

Seizing the moment, he gripped the hilt with both hands and swung the massive sword downward in a diagonal slash aimed at Shinji's torso, intending to cleave him in half.

Shinji turned swiftly, his crimson eyes tracing a red line through the air as he read Mangetsu's intent.

Shifting his body, he endured the slash, allowing the Flatfish Sword to cut from his shoulder to his abdomen. Simultaneously, he reversed his grip on the Kusanagi sword and countered with a horizontal slash, aiming to drive the blade into Mangetsu's side and ignite him in flames.

Mangetsu's eyes widened in surprise. Twisting his waist abruptly, he turned his downward strike into a retreat, causing Shinji's sword to graze along the broad surface of the Flatfish Sword.

*Zzzzzt!*

A screech echoed as the blades scraped against each other.

All of this unfolded in the blink of an eye.

Every swing of their weapons, every strike, was executed with the intent to claim the other's life.

Soon, two streaks of flashing blades etched arcs into the mist, the relentless clanging of steel resounding through the air. Blood splattered again and again, but it was all Shinji’s blood.

Yet he paid no attention to the wounds Mangetsu inflicted on him.

Focused solely on attack, he relentlessly pressured Mangetsu's swordplay.

He needed only one hit—just one—to turn the tide of battle.

Mangetsu's eyes flickered, a tinge of unease surfacing. Shinji's fighting style felt eerily familiar.

Then it hit him.

When Shinji delivered another slash, Mangetsu withdrew the Flatfish Sword that had pierced Shinji abdomen, raising it to block the flaming blade as he stepped back.

A cold sweat trickled down Mangetsu's forehead.

The longer they fought, the more he felt an urge to curse aloud.

This brat was using his techniques!

The Hozuki Clan's secret swordsmanship, which had remained unreplicable for years because it relied on their unique hydration technique to bypass physical attacks, employing a style of relentless offense, was now being mirrored perfectly.

But this kid wasn't using hydration; he was treating his resilient body as a substitute!

And the techniques he was using? All copied during their previous encounter at the castle.

It was infuriating!

Mangetsu clenched his teeth, inwardly cursing his misfortune.

Meanwhile, Shinji gritted his trembling teeth, his body shaking from the pain.

But he could only keep his eyes wide open, his face twisted in agony as he swung his sword continuously.

He had no choice. His basic swordsmanship was rudimentary at best. To stand against Mangetsu, he relied entirely on the Sharingan to replicate his opponent’s techniques.

He fought like a man possessed, feeding himself to his opponent’s blade repeatedly to learn more.

Once more, he charged forward, sword aimed at Mangetsu.

But this time, Mangetsu unleashed a masterful slash, severing Shinji’s lower leg cleanly before swinging the Flatfish Sword horizontally, swatting him aside like a fly.

Blasted violently into the air, Shinji's cheeks, chest, head, and even his limbs deformed under the force.

“Pfft! Argh!”

Shinji coughed up a mouthful of blood, feeling the world spinning and stars dancing in his vision.

However,

suddenly, a line of text floated up before Shinji's eyes, causing his brows to twitch sharply.

*[You have mastered: Hozuki Style Swordsmanship (Beginner, B)]*

At that moment,

Shinji felt an epiphany.

In his mind, a small figure of Hozuki Mangetsu appeared, practicing the Hozuki-style swordsmanship repeatedly.

Move by move, they connected into a swordplay sequence, forming a complete and structured set of techniques.

It felt as though he could predict the next strike—how Hozuki Mangetsu would launch the attack, how it would transform into a new move, and how Mangetsu would react with the Hozuki style if he counterattacked.

Suddenly, a flash of clarity appeared in Shinji's eyes.

He forcibly twisted his body mid-air and landed, enduring the pain while repairing his injuries. Simultaneously, he swung his sword twice experimentally.

With those two swings, the light in Shinji's eyes grew even brighter!

Feeling the growing itch and pain climbing through his body,

a sinister grin spread across his face. Showing his teeth, he sneered:

“Hozuki Mangetsu...”

“With these eyes, I’ve completely seen through you!”

In the next moment, he clamped the sword handle between his teeth, crouched low with both hands and one foot on the ground, and charged forward, roaring:

“It’s time to end this!”

Hozuki Mangetsu’s eyes twitched.

He watched Shinji—a blood-soaked figure, missing a foot but rapidly regenerating—crawl forward with a menacing and twisted charge.

At that moment, Mangetsu couldn’t discern what kind of approach this guy was taking.

As Shinji crawled forward, his left leg reattached.

Then, with a great leap into the air,

he drew the Kusanagi Sword from his mouth and hurled a fiery slash, gripping the hilt with both hands and spinning mid-air for a horizontal strike!

From the sky, the technique “Cloud Style: Deceptive Slash” cleaved down.

Hozuki Mangetsu narrowed his eyes and smirked coldly:

“Cloud Style Swordsmanship? Unfortunately, this move is useless against me. It could never fool me!”

He swung his Hiramekarei blade, preparing to block the attack.

However, Shinji abruptly changed his technique mid-air, transitioning from the Cloud Style to the Uchiha Style.

He unleashed a bright, radiant slash, swift as a gleaming arc of sunlight.

*Uchiha Style: Instant Air Slash!*

Hozuki Mangetsu's expression changed drastically. He realized he couldn’t react in time to counter this strike.

“Am I forced to liquefy?!”

He cursed inwardly and immediately activated his body’s water transformation to avoid the part of himself about to be struck. At the same time, his gaze sharpened as he raised his blade, aiming to sever Shinji’s hands in the process!

But Shinji smirked maliciously.

His left hand’s index and pinky fingers suddenly pulled taut, raising two pitch-black wires from beneath the water. He manipulated the wires, shifting his fall mid-air and spinning around.

With a powerful motion, he hurled the fiery Kusanagi Sword straight at Mangetsu!

“Take this! Magnetic Rotation: 990,000 Horses, Mighty Flying Sword Technique!”

Hozuki Mangetsu was utterly baffled, thinking, What kind of swordsmanship is this?! This is nothing but a sneak attack!  

But this sword, like an arrow shot by Hou Yi, moved with indescribable speed!

In a flash of firelight, it was already inches from his chest, aiming to pierce his heart!

Mangetsu gritted his teeth and swiftly raised his Hiramekarei, managing to deflect the sword just enough to avoid a critical hit!

At this moment, he couldn’t afford to liquefy any further.

Meanwhile, as Shinji neared the water’s surface, his eyes sparkled with determination.

All ten fingers tugged the wires taut.

*Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!*

The nearly invisible wires, already laid silently in place, tightened instantly like a forest of blades,

binding Hozuki Mangetsu, who had the smoking Kusanagi Sword embedded in his shoulder.

Then,

Shinji formed a series of hand seals:

*Serpent → Dragon → Hare → Tiger!*

With a hooked finger and a sinister grin, Shinji sneered:

“You’ve lost, Hozuki Mangetsu!”

*“Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!”*

In the next moment,

the wires ignited, unleashing a fiery inferno of dragon flames!

Facing this raging firestorm,

the once-unbeatable Hozuki Mangetsu, who had lost all resistance, widened his eyes in shock and horror!

This genius of the Mist, a Kage-level figure, was finally defeated, utterly disgraced, by Shinji!

At that very moment,

another line of text appeared before Shinji:

*[Ding!]*

---

The battle was over. In the next chapter, the story moves forward.

It’s time to start developing artificial Tailed Beast Bombs and Gundams.

Foster fathers, it’s the end of the month—how about some votes?

End of Chapter  

*Chapter 110: Interlude – The Greater Good*

Shinji gasped for breath.

Looking at Ghost Hozuki Mangetsu, engulfed in the fiery pillar of the Dragon Flame Jutsu, his eyes held no trace of victory.

There was only exhaustion and a sense of bewildered helplessness for what lay ahead.

He had fought to his limit, exhausting nearly all the chakra in his body. Even the reserves of the mini Zero-Tails in his abdomen had been completely depleted.

The forbidden technique, *Flesh Creation*, was forced to a halt. The partially healed wound through his abdomen continued to bleed profusely, while his undead body slowly regenerated it at a snail’s pace.

Shinji’s complexion was visibly pale.

In just five days, he had gone from a lower-ranked genin who only knew the Fireball Jutsu and couldn’t even activate his Sharingan, to someone who fought desperately to survive and reached this point.

But overall, even with his newfound immortality, he was merely a specialist jōnin who was difficult to deal with.

In this Third Great Ninja War, where countless legendary figures made their appearances one after another, he could barely be considered a mid-tier asset.

But what now?

How was he supposed to keep fighting from here?

Suddenly, a black-cloaked figure vomited a puddle of blood, mixed with countless parasitic insects. Thrown into the air by a massive Water Dragon, the figure crashed to the ground at Shinji’s feet.

“Cough, cough.” Aburame Ryoma struggled to his feet, silently standing in front of Shinji.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

When he had arrived, he had sworn to protect this kid.

After all, based on his intelligence, both he and Yagura were elite jōnin. Even if they couldn’t win, they should’ve at least been able to stall the enemy.

But he hadn’t expected the Mist Ninja squad leader to be this fierce.

The enemy wielded chakra as though it were limitless, seamlessly combining Water Style and Wind Style in a way that was absurdly refined.

At this point, Aburame Ryoma’s black cloak was reduced to tattered rags, hanging from his body in disarray. He looked somewhat battered.

Though this Root operative had boasted about his strength, the future Fourth Mizukage of the Mist Village was clearly far stronger.

After a brief silence, Aburame Ryoma adjusted his mindset and spoke in a muffled tone:

“Shinji.”

“My mission is to bring you to Orochimaru.”

“Beneath this water’s surface, I’ve already deployed all of my parasitic insects. Soon, I’ll use my secret technique, *Bug Swamp*, to destroy everything here. In the meantime, you must escape.”

“Head directly to the Rain Country camp and report to your teacher.”

Aburame Ryoma paused for a moment, then added:

“If you can, please deliver a message for me. Tell him to look after Shikuro, who’ll be replacing me in the Root.”

Shinji furrowed his brows and shook his head immediately, coldly interrupting him.

“Spare me the self-sacrifice act.”

“And I have no interest in doing you any favors.”

“Haven’t you realized yet?”

“If we don’t fight until the very end, none of us are leaving here alive.”

As he spoke, the water surface, still burning with dragon fire, surged violently.

A bizarre and grotesque blade tore through the fiery sea, revealing its true form—a deep blue, fish-shaped sword covered in backward-facing barbs, with massive fangs and a long tongue. Even its hilt was made of interlocking barbs.

The *Great Blade: Samehada*!

Moments later, Hozuki Mangetsu emerged, standing atop a massive water creature the size of a building. His face, covered in burn scars, was twisted into a fierce expression.

In one hand, he gripped the Samehada, and in the other, the scroll containing the summoning contract for the Seven Ninja Swords. His gaze locked onto Shinji with murderous intent.

A suffocating killing intent filled the air.

Shinji retracted the wire, pulling back the Kusanagi Sword into his hand. His expression grew serious.

“Our only chance of survival is to hold out until reinforcements arrive.”

“And those reinforcements are the Mist Hunter-nin.”

Aburame Ryoma remained silent.

The Mist Hunter-nin, also known as the Hidden Mist Village’s Hunter Ninja Corps, were infamous for leaving no survivors. They had no habit of sparing enemy captives, and killing prisoners was as normal to them as drinking water.

Holding out until the Hunter-nin arrived might be a path to survival, but it was far more likely to be a path to death.

“Tch,” Aburame Ryoma clicked his tongue in annoyance. He knew Shinji was right.

The *Bug Swamp* technique would be significantly less effective in a water-style user’s domain.

But he couldn’t help furrowing his brows in irritation.

“You really have that trademark Uchiha way of talking.”

“Even when facing a senior, you don’t hesitate to call them out bluntly.”

Shinji turned his head to look at the unfamiliar Root operative. After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled confidently.

“Compared to your unrefined suggestions—”

“I have one last move, though I’d rather not use it.”

“But it should buy you all enough time to escape.”

“So, take Kiyoshiro with you.”

With that, Shinji glanced at the Kusanagi Sword in his hand, then furrowed his brows. Raising his head, he looked at Aburame Ryoma and asked:

“This was Orochimaru’s gift when I became his student, wasn’t it?”

"It’s quite valuable. It’d be a shame if it got lost along with me."

"Take it."

As soon as those words fell, Shinji casually tossed the Grasscutter Sword in his hand toward Aburame Ryoma.

Aburame Ryoma was stunned for a moment, catching the sword with a bewildered expression. He couldn’t help but look up at Shinji, asking in shock:

"Wait, what are you planning to do?"

He admitted that this kid was strong, but at this critical moment, what trump card could this kid possibly have left? No matter how resilient he was, after such a terrifying battle, his body should already be on the brink of collapse, right?

Shinji didn’t explain. He simply waved a hand dismissively, then lifted his head and took a deep breath.

Alone, he walked toward the center of the battlefield, heading straight for the future Fourth Mizukage of the Mist, Yagura Karatachi.

Yagura watched as the blood-soaked boy approached, narrowing his eyes slightly. He keenly noticed that the opponent’s recovery speed was no longer as quick as before.

"Has this kid reached his limit too?"

Shaking his head slightly, Yagura said with a hint of regret:

"Kid, you’re a worthy opponent, but it’s a pity—you haven’t had the chance to grow."

"So, whether it’s for the greater good or to eliminate a future threat,"

Yagura raised his hook staff, smiling faintly, though his tone was icy cold:

"I’ll finish you off here!"

Shinji took a deep breath and sneered coldly:

"The greater good?"

With a frosty gaze, he raised his hand and pointed at the devastated landscape around them, demanding harshly:

"Is this so-called 'greater good' what you mean?"

"Families torn apart, floods raging, homes destroyed,"

"Listen to these cries of despair!"

"Doesn’t your conscience feel even a shred of unease?"

Yagura lifted his head, his face momentarily showing a trace of guilt and hesitation. The Third Mizukage, in his insane pursuit of capturing him, had unleashed large-scale jutsu on a civilian-populated area. Knowing this disaster was caused because of him, Yagura’s heart was clearly not as calm as it seemed.

But he quickly forced himself to steel his expression, replying in a solemn tone:

"I am sorry for that."

"But such suffering is an inevitable burden of rebellion, a sin I must bear."

"And I have long since prepared myself for it."

As he spoke, an unshakable, dazzling light seemed to shine in Yagura’s eyes. With firm conviction, he declared:

"The world is as it is. Ninjas are merely people struggling in an endless cycle of pain."

"No one can save everyone."

"For every child living in the sunlight, there’s another in the sewers, dancing with rats."

"But even so, I will protect what I hold dear!"

"Even if the land is littered with graves and the rivers run red with blood,"

"Even if I am condemned as an unforgivable sinner, I will create a new Mist Village and bring it back into the light!"

"This is my ninja way."

Hearing these words, Shinji clenched his fists, momentarily silent.

Could he say Yagura was wrong?

What right did he have to criticize Yagura?

Why was the world like this?

Why, in the end, had he been sent to this world with no answers, burdened with the title of some "heaven-sent hero," expected to save a world so full of uncertainty?

Everyone was right,

In their respective positions, in pursuit of their own ninja way,

On paths that trampled the innocent, in quests to bend the world to their will,

With ninja techniques like machine guns aimed at each other’s chests,

On this path of mutual destruction!

Yagura stared coldly at Shinji, his voice sharp and unrelenting:

"Are you feeling sorry for them? Pitying them? Spreading your saintly compassion?"

"Don’t be naïve!"

"You’re a ninja of Konoha. In this Third Great Ninja War, which has engulfed the entire world,"

"You’re just as much an executioner!"

"Konoha’s ninjas haven’t killed any fewer civilians than we of the Mist have!"

"Get it straight, kid!"

"What position do you even have to question me from?"

Shinji shook his head.

As expected, he couldn’t understand this. He didn’t have an answer.

But—

Shinji raised his head and smirked provocatively.

Then, with a sinister glare at Yagura, he bellowed:

"You’re asking about my position?!"

"Listen carefully!"

“I’m just an uncultured, greedy, and lustful scoundrel!”

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t feel annoyed when someone does something uncultured in front of me!”

“Do you enjoy shifting disasters onto others for your own benefit?”

Shinji lifted his chin, his piercing Sharingan glowing with an intensity that could shake the soul. He coldly stared at Kurokawa Yagura and roared in a voice that echoed powerfully:

“Kurokawa Yagura!”

“You’d better kill me here and now!”

“Otherwise,”

“I’ll make you regret it!”

“If you manage to survive into the future—when I overthrow the current Five Great Nations, unite the entire shinobi world, and end this cycle of suffering—”

“I will be the first to—”

Shinji’s blood-red eyes narrowed sharply. Gritting his teeth, he spat out his words, one by one:

“Destroy the Land of Water!”

“Level Kirigakure to the ground!”

The moment those words fell, everyone present began to doubt their ears.

Yūma Ryōma, gripping the Kusanagi Sword in a daze; Hōzuki Mangetsu, standing atop the water beast, glaring furiously downward; the masked Root shinobi raising their heads in astonishment; Kurokawa Yagura; Terumi Mei; and even a Kirigakure shinobi with a Four-Water-Line forehead protector and tied-back blue hair, rushing toward the scene.

All of them, at that moment, put aside their pride and prejudice.

Under the weight of such arrogant words,

They collectively turned their gaze to the young boy before them,

Their eyelids twitching, unable to suppress the tremble in their eyes.

(End of this chapter)