The distraction lasted for only a split second.
Barely a breath's time—but that was all White Zetsu needed.
His pale golden vertical pupils shimmered faintly, catching the briefest opening.
Battle Hypnosis!
An almost imperceptible surge of spiritual power—like a lever pressing down—slammed straight into the consciousness of Orochimaru and Onoki of Both Scales.
Like a butterfly flapping its wings, it stirred wave after wave within their mental seas.
In the blink of an eye, their spiritual clarity was clouded. Their minds were being pulled downward—caught in an invisible whirlpool, sinking ever deeper.
White Zetsu's figure turned ethereal, drifting toward them like a silent ghost.
Snap!
With a flick of his fingers, the minds of the two—already caught in the hypnosis—opened wide. Their mental defenses, once sealed, stood completely exposed before him.
Staring into the illusory gateway leading to the island of consciousness, White Zetsu's face twisted into a smug grin. He didn't hesitate.
He stepped in.
But just as he was about to implant his "suggestions" into their subconscious—
His pupils shrank.
Arcs of electricity suddenly erupted from the gates like barbed iron whips—crackling, merciless.
Crack!
The lashes struck White Zetsu's spiritual body with brutal force.
A scream tore from him—raw, agonized.
The whip carried a power tailored precisely to torment spiritual beings.
Each strike that landed ignited searing pain, not just on the surface—but from the deepest core of his soul.
White Zetsu realized the truth in an instant.
There was no opening.
What he had perceived as a weakness was nothing but a calculated trap—bait, deliberately placed to draw him in.
And just as that thought surfaced, he sensed it.
A restriction seal.
It had been embedded deep within the island of consciousness—quiet, concealed, and placed well in advance.
Hidden too carefully for him to detect until it was already too late.
His face twisted with fury.
"Good... good... good," he growled, his tone low and venomous. "If this is how you want to play it—then don't expect either of you to walk away unscathed!"
A sudden, violent wave of emotion burst forth from within him.
It wasn't chakra. It wasn't a jutsu. It was something far more primal—raw spiritual rage, poisoned by hatred and chaos.
The pressure surged outward like a storm.
Instantly, Orochimaru and Onoki of Both Scales felt their minds tremble.
The wave wasn't just an attack—it was contamination.
It slipped into their island of consciousness like ink in water, rooting itself in their consciousness like a malignant curse.
To the outside world, it looked as though nothing had changed.
Just a shared glance.
A silent moment.
But within the island of consciousness, a deadly battle had begun.
Orochimaru grunted, staggering slightly.
Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, nose, and eyes—all seven orifices bleeding at once. But he gritted his teeth, refusing to collapse.
Ōnoki fared far worse.
The Beyonder Characteristics that had long defined him trembled on the verge of losing control. His spirit flickered, and his shoulders drooped as if burdened by the weight of mountains. His face turned deathly pale, aged in a single breath.
White Zetsu himself was clearly affected.
Though he had endured their counterattack, his spirit had been shaken. He pressed a palm to his forehead, muttering to himself in a low, strained voice.
"Calm... calm... calm..."
Over and over, like a monk reciting sutras, he repeated the word—trying to stabilize the chaos within.
Even so, he swayed where he stood, spiritual energy leaking from him like vapor.
Orochimaru stepped forward, his eyes narrowing into golden slits.
"I'll take the lead this time," he said, voice cold and resolute.
With a sharp sound, the Kusanagi Sword slid from its sheath.
Chakra surged beneath his feet, and the next instant, he vanished—nothing but a black shadow slicing toward White Zetsu.
There was no time to delay.
This wasn't a battle they could afford to draw out.
The Sage of Six Paths was already entangled with Uchiha Obito, locked in a clash that could decide the fate of the world.
And even if they ignored that—White Zetsu alone was a threat beyond reason. His manipulation abilities of the Spectator Path was already pushing their minds and bodies to the brink.
If this continued, their own Beyonder Characteristics might devour them from the inside out.
They had no other choice.
This battle had to end.
Quickly.
Before it destroyed them all.
"Alright!"
Ōnoki didn't argue. After all, in his current state, he was far from being at his best.
His path was that of the Black Emperor—different from Orochimaru's "White Tower" sequence.
It offered little defense on the mental level.
That was why White Zetsu's earlier "Frenzy" had shaken him badly.
Fortunately, aside from being a Beyonder, he was still a formidable shinobi.
"Earth Style: Rock Clone Jutsu!"
Several clones made of solid rock split directly from Ōnoki's body.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
A mass of serpents slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeves, attempting to bind White Zetsu's movements.
His thinking was simple—if their Beyonder abilities couldn't suppress White Zetsu, then they'd return to the battlefield they knew best: their comfort zone.
Don't forget—before they became wielders of Sequence power, they were ninja!
White Zetsu's gaze sharpened. Facing the incoming swarm of snakes, he suddenly unleashed a wave of crushing spiritual pressure!
Awe!
The serpents froze, paralyzed by fear, unwilling to move even a step forward.
But in that split second, one of Ōnoki's rock clones pressed its hand against Orochimaru's back.
"Earth Style: Light-Weight Rock Jutsu!"
Orochimaru's body instantly became lighter. His speed soared to its limit, and in a blur of motion, he slipped through the frozen serpents like a streak of light. The edge of his sword flashed, aiming directly for White Zetsu's face.
But White Zetsu wasn't about to sit still and take the hit. He kicked off the ground and retreated.
Unfortunately for him, Ōnoki had already predicted his escape route.
Another clone was waiting there—its arm wrapped in dense rock—striking down with unstoppable force.
"Earth Style: Heavy-Weight Rock Jutsu!"
"Damn that Ōnoki…"
White Zetsu's pupils shrank slightly. It really hadn't expected a clone to be hiding right behind it.
The difference in battle experience showed clearly. Although ono was just support, he saw every opening, even setting up a backup trap in advance!
Bang!
The enhanced fist slammed into White Zetsu's waist.
The tremendous force pushed it directly toward the Kusanagi Sword, which was engraved with mysterious runes.
Staring at the sword's blade glinting coldly right in front of it, White Zetsu's mind screamed warnings.
It didn't fully understand the sword's power, but it was certain: this weapon was made by Orochimaru, designed specifically to counter it. It must not be touched!
"There's no choice. I planned to keep this hidden."
White Zetsu licked its lips, quickly forming hand seals, then pressed its palms together and struck: "Wood Release: Wood Pillar Wall!"
In the next moment, wooden stakes burst from the ground, forming a curved arch wall that protected White Zetsu inside.
Clang!
The Kusanagi Sword struck the arched wooden wall, and sparks flew from the hard surface.
The once razor-sharp, iron-cutting sacred sword was forced to yield before the wooden stakes.
The blade bent ninety degrees but still couldn't pierce even a little.
*******
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