"Damn it, you all must die!" Code roared in fury.
The two Uchiha ninjas and their Susano'o before him reminded him of the humiliation Sasuke had inflicted.
Enraged, Code no longer held back, immediately activating his White Kāma.
White Kāma patterns appeared on the left side of his body and face, instantly boosting his power.
Even in his normal state, Code was a formidable kage-level fighter. Now, with White Kāma active, he surpassed kage-level, gaining super-kage-level combat strength.
He refused to believe these two dead Uchiha ninjas could match Uchiha Sasuke's power!
If every ninja were as strong as Six Paths Sasuke, why would the Otsutsuki Clan bother conquering Earth? They'd have fled long ago.
(Be careful, his power seems to have surged dramatically.)
(I'll hold him off; you look for an opening to attack.)
(This thing can greatly enhance defense.)
Itachi and Shisui communicated tactics secretly via Genjutsu, avoiding the habit of whispering loudly in front of enemies.
Simultaneously, Itachi decisively handed the Yata no Kagami to Shisui. Their trust and coordination were nearly unmatched.
*WHOOSH!*
Code, with White Kāma activated, launched his attack. Transforming into a streak of white light, he crashed into Shisui's Susano'o's Yata no Kagami.
*BANG!*
The immense force created a visible shockwave, causing the surrounding ground to sink deeply, showcasing Code's strength. It was no less powerful than a Juubi attack!
Yet the Yata no Kagami withstood the assault, its defensive power independent of willpower.
*SWOOSH!*
Seizing the attack's opening, Itachi's Totsuka no Tsurugi slashed like a blazing divine judgment, cleaving toward Code.
But Code's speed was extraordinary; he dodged and retreated swiftly. Though unaware of Totsuka no Tsurugi's effects, with Isshiki and Code sharing a life, he dared not take risks. He tried his hardest to evade any potentially harmful attacks.
Itachi didn't stop. Beyond Totsuka no Tsurugi, Susano'o's arrows and Yasaka Magatama rained down on Code like a torrential storm.
A healthy Itachi, with infinite chakra and no physical burden, unleashed them without hesitation, his combat strength a level above.
*WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!*
Yet Code remained undaunted. He easily dodged most of Itachi's attacks with his speed, and for the few he couldn't, he activated his Claw Mark ability, instantly teleporting his body to evade.
Gradually, Itachi pieced together information.
(He can instantly teleport through those black claw marks!? It's somewhat like the Fourth Hokage's Hiraishin no Jutsu…)
(Space-time abilities are troublesome; it's hard to hit him with Susano'o's speed. Shisui, create an opening for him, help me make a chance!)
(Alright!)
Their combat experience and teamwork were unquestionable. In an instant, they agreed on a new battle plan via Genjutsu.
Soon after, Shisui acted. While fighting, he maneuvered his Susano'o, 'accidentally' stepping on Code's claw marks on the ground.
Remember, Itachi and Shisui's Susano'o were half-body forms, with their lower halves being the only defensive weak point.
Seeing such a golden opportunity, Code couldn't resist. He activated his Claw Mark ability, teleporting through the mark under Shisui's feet, entering the green Susano'o, and appearing before Edo Tensei Shisui!
*SWISH!*
Code swung his sharp claws, slicing Shisui Edo Tensei into four pieces. But Shisui's face showed no fear, only satisfaction that their plan succeeded.
At the same moment, the red Totsuka no Tsurugi struck instantly, piercing Shisui, Shisui's Susano'o, and Code himself simultaneously!
"You…"
Code suddenly realized he'd fallen into a trap.
These cunning, despicable ninjas hadn't made a mistake but deliberately exposed a weakness to lure him into their trap.
"You've lost!" Itachi declared coldly, finding Code not too challenging. With such awareness and combat experience, he was far below the Fourth Hokage.
If their abilities were equal, Code might not even beat Kisame…
"Damn it, a wound like this, I…" Code was furious, tricked by ninjas again, naturally infuriating him. But such a wound wouldn't kill him; he hadn't lost.
However, Totsuka no Tsurugi suddenly unleashed a powerful suction, acting directly on Code's body. Itachi had activated Totsuka no Tsurugi's sealing ability, beginning to seal Code!
"What is this…" Code was shocked, feeling his abdomen melt and slowly get sucked into Totsuka no Tsurugi's sealing gourd.
This terrified him!
Though he underestimated ninja ninjutsu, he'd heard of Fūinjutsu's reputation; even Kaguya could be sealed, let alone him?
In panic, Code no longer cared about hiding.
His abdomen emitted dense black patterns, forcibly halting Totsuka no Tsurugi's powerful suction.
Clearly, Isshiki couldn't resist intervening, activating his Kāma's power. Kāma, capable of absorbing all ninjutsu and chakra, naturally countered Totsuka no Tsurugi's Fūinjutsu.
"That's…" Itachi was also shocked by Kāma's power.
It was the first time Totsuka no Tsurugi's Fūinjutsu failed; even Edo Tensei Nagato couldn't resist its sealing! However, Totsuka no Tsurugi itself couldn't be absorbed by Kāma, only barely withstanding it.
Code didn't dare linger. Ruthlessly, he swung his claws, severing his lower body to escape Totsuka no Tsurugi's bind. Then he activated his Claw Mark, swiftly fleeing the scene.
A hundred meters away, Code emerged messily from another claw mark, stopping his bleeding while using Kāma's power to rapidly regenerate and repair his lower body.
He glared at Itachi and Shisui with deep hatred.
By now, Shisui had fully recovered thanks to his Edo Tensei body, returning to normal. Except for Fūinjutsu or black Gudōdama, the immortal Edo Tensei body feared almost no attacks.
(Failed. The enemy can resist Totsuka no Tsurugi's sealing; they're not simple.)
(Do you know what that ability is?)
(It's likely the Otsutsuki Clan's Kāma from Boruto's memories.)
(Is there a way to counter it?)
(Only one way: hold him off, and I'll find a chance to use Izanami!)
Itachi and Shisui didn't despair, instead analyzing information and seeking new strategies.
Edo Tensei bodies weren't afraid of prolonged battles. As long as the power gap wasn't overwhelming, they might find a chance to win.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Itachi and Shisui launched another attack.
While dodging desperately, Code waited for his wounds to regenerate.
Though furious enough to make his hair stand on end, seeing Itachi and Shisui's tenacity and knowing time was short, Code didn't want to linger. He turned his gaze back to Boruto and Kawaki, his primary targets.
But he didn't realize until he looked—Orochimaru had already acted, summoning Edo Tensei Third Kazekage, using gold dust to carry Boruto and Kawaki into the sky, evading attacks.
Code, unable to fly, couldn't threaten targets at such heights. Unless he opened another space-time portal, but the opening's delay would give Itachi and Shisui multiple chances to attack.
The two 'turtle shells' below couldn't be cracked; the two 'sweet buns' above were out of reach. Code, straightforward and now caught between both sides, grew angrier the more he thought.
He, the great Otsutsuki Isshiki, couldn't even beat Six Paths Sasuke, and now he was being toyed with by a few 'small-fry' ninjas?
What a massive humiliation!
At this point, he hid no longer, reactivating Kāma's power, spreading black Kāma patterns across Code's body, replacing the White Kāma.
Code couldn't serve as a revival vessel, but in the short term, he could sacrifice some vitality to wield the true power of Black Kāma without issue. Though this risked exposing Isshiki's parasitic control over Code, he no longer cared.
*WHOOSH!*
Code, empowered by Black Kāma, regained some of Isshiki's abilities. He soared into the sky, heading straight for Orochimaru and the others at high altitude!
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
(Good, you still claim to be human?)
(Which ninja can survive being cut in half? Which ninja can fly at will?)
(Oh! Myself, Onoki, and a few others are exceptions…)
Amidst Orochimaru's commentary, he controlled the Third Kazekage to flee with the group. But Code's speed with Black Kāma was extraordinary, catching up in mere seconds.
No matter—Orochimaru, unable to escape, had no intention of fleeing. His other 'big gun' had returned.
*SWOOSH!*
A massive wooden element hand erupted from the ground, stretching hundreds of meters, instantly swatting Code's head, slamming him into the ground like a fly!