"How could this happen?"
Shinji's expression was grim.
Ghosts couldn't generate chakra on their own—this was a conclusion Shinji had reached through countless experiments in the shinobi world. In the Demon Slayer world, where consuming shinobi lifeforms to gain chakra was impossible, the only one who could possess chakra was the mysterious figure who had fled back from the shinobi world.
But looking at the massive tumor-like mass floating in the air, with its countless tendrils swaying chaotically like a demonic dance, Shinji found it hard to equate this with the mastermind who had orchestrated the invasion of the shinobi world!
"No wonder all the ghosts outside have lost control… the source itself is the problem!"
Forcing himself to calm down, Shinji silently assessed the situation.
The mysterious figure had mutated into this tumor-like mass, and it didn't seem to possess any semblance of intelligence. He doubted that even defeating it would yield any useful information.
What chilled him more was the question of why the mysterious figure had fallen to such a state.
"Was it because of severe injuries? Or because they lost their 'lamp'…" He paused, glancing darkly at the night sky above, where occasional flashes of red light flickered. "Or… could it be due to the Hegemon's corruption?"
A flood of guesses and thoughts swirled in his mind.
The tumor, however, didn't give Shinji time to ponder further. It lashed out again, its tendrils attacking his fully realized 'Susanoo.'
This time was different from before. Instead of attacking indiscriminately like a sea urchin, the airborne tumor targeted Shinji with clear intent.
Shinji's mind raced with thoughts, but his hands didn't falter. He urged 'Susanoo' to meet the assault head-on.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, the ground roared with deafening tremors!
Perhaps because it had absorbed the blood-flesh essence of four cities—hundreds of thousands of citizens—the tumor's tendrils were unbelievably resilient. Aside from Shinji's fully realized 'Susanoo,' everything else, from century-old towering trees to weathered rocks, crumbled into dust at the slightest touch.
The battle was like two adults brawling in a tofu shop. Neither side was significantly harmed, but the battlefield was reduced to a wasteland of ruins!
In the midst of the fierce clash, Shinji's expression shifted.
His senses detected that the other three teams had entered the range of his 'Jikibi' and were rapidly approaching. It wouldn't be long before they converged!
This prompted him to abandon his plan to unleash 'Amaterasu' again and extinguish the black flames already burning in the cavern.
After all, 'Amaterasu's' black flames didn't distinguish friend from foe. If the entire area were engulfed in them, it would hinder his allies' ability to fight.
After tangling with the tumor for a while longer, a red blur shot out from one of the cavern's tunnels.
Undoubtedly, the first to arrive was none other than Ido in its spirit form.
Moments later, accompanied by two gusts of wind, Karin and Yakumo burst out of the tunnel, panting as they reached the cavern battlefield!
"Leader!"
Seeing Shinji locked in combat with the tumor, the two didn't pause to catch their breath and called out in unison.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
At that moment, two more figures rapidly emerged from another tunnel, landing in the cavern one after the other.
The one in front was none other than Uchiha Sasuke, followed closely by Haku.
Sasuke looked up at Shinji's majestic fully realized 'Susanoo,' his eyes gleaming with longing. Then he turned to the tumor clashing with Shinji, his face darkening. "It can actually withstand our Uchiha's 'Susanoo'!?"
Haku briefly surveyed the surroundings before nodding slightly to Karin on the other side.
Karin, spotting Haku, returned the nod.
Having been partners long before the others joined the organization, they immediately exchanged greetings upon reuniting.
Whoosh.
Soon after, a final figure darted out from the last tunnel!
Undoubtedly, it was the combined form of Neji and Kimimaro!
Like the others, their gazes quickly fixed on the giant tumor battling Shinji, their expressions turning stern.
They knew their leader's strength. For this bizarre tumor to match him—and judging by the chaotic state of the battlefield, with destructive power rivaling a Tailed Beast—even someone as stoic as Kimimaro felt his heart leap to his throat.
The appearance of Neji and Kimimaro in their combined form, however, shocked the others.
Ido flew over, circling them with keen interest.
Karin, Yakumo, Sasuke, Haku, and even Shion, hiding at the tunnel entrance, couldn't help but cast surprised glances their way.
Meeting their gazes, Neji felt a touch of embarrassment, but Kimimaro remained unfazed, his eyes still locked on the giant tumor in the air.
Their bio-exosuit 'H' had no concept of shame or awkwardness. Activating its enhanced Pure Byakugan, it peered into the tumor's interior and urgently said to Neji and Kimimaro, "'F,' 'G,' what are you two standing around for? There's something strange inside that tumor. We need to inform the leader!"
Hearing this, Kimimaro immediately took control of their body. With a leap, he bounded across the cavern walls, scaling them in a few swift movements before jumping through the breached ceiling.
Without stopping, they leaped again, landing on the shoulder of Shinji's fully realized 'Susanoo.' Addressing Shinji in the diamond-shaped space at its head, they said, "Leader, there's something strange inside the tumor!"
"Hm?"
Shinji's brow furrowed.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
At that moment, the others in the cavern, including Shion, all leaped up!
Sasuke wasted no time, forming hand seals and unleashing 'Chidori,' striking at one of the tumor's tendrils!
Karin and Yakumo shouted in unison, "Leader, let us handle this monster!"
With that, they both activated 'Wood Release.' Amid a rumbling roar, vines and branches burst from the ground, meeting the tumor's swaying tendrils in the air.
Seeing his team had arrived, Shinji dispelled his 'Susanoo,' retreating a short distance with Kimimaro and Neji. He asked, "What's strange about it?"
'H' spoke directly, "I can't be certain. We'll likely need to break open the tumor to find out!"
Hearing 'H' speak, Shinji's expression grew odd for a moment, but he knew now wasn't the time to dwell on it. He instructed Neji, Kimimaro, and 'H,' "Go!"
They nodded and, with a whoosh, joined the fray.
Shinji, meanwhile, leaped a few times, landing on a nearby shattered cliff, observing the battle from afar.