"Susano'o can be used like this? These successors of Madara are truly remarkable!"
Seeing the double-layered Susano'o enveloping them, Hashirama couldn't help but praise repeatedly.
Who would've thought Susano'o could be combined and used this way? What a pity—if he'd known earlier, he could've asked Madara to try riding it; it would've been thrilling!
Hashirama's praise didn't stop Isshiki's attack.
As Itachi and Shisui's dual Susano'o formed, Isshiki's assault arrived.
*WHOOSH!*
Another unmatched, super-fast kick, so swift it seemed to make the very space groan in pain.
Edo Tensei Itachi controlled the four arms of Susano'o, wielding the Yata no Kagami, mustering all his strength to block.
*BOOM!*
As if a divine judgment struck the Yata no Kagami, the absolute defensive mirror—once unbreakable, even leaving Sasuke in despair—cracked and shattered instantly, turning into countless fragments of red spiritual energy, scattering.
Even the finest sacred tool in the ninja world was fragile against this violence. If two perfect Susano'o layered together, combined with Yata no Kagami's defense, might have withstood Isshiki's terrifying power.
Unfortunately, Itachi and Shisui died young and weren't Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan users.
One was peak kage-level, the other strong kage-level. Combined, they reached super-kage-level strength; during the Fourth Ninja World War, that would've been significant. But now, facing Isshiki unleashing his full power, they were far outmatched—a statistical monster even peak Hashirama and Madara together would struggle to defeat!
After shattering Yata no Kagami with one blow, Isshiki pressed his attack. Another punch demolished the double-layered Susano'o armor before him.
A shocking blast erupted, sending Edo Tensei Itachi and the others flying from within the Susano'o.
Seeing the vulnerable Edo Tensei Itachi and company, the arrogant and crazed Isshiki sneered disdainfully:
"Mere Susano'o, a lowlife trick, means nothing!"
This was right, this was the power he should have. These lowly native ninjas should kneel at his feet!
While gloating, Isshiki attacked again. Sukūnahikona activated once more. Hundreds of black rods instantly enlarged, raining from the sky, enveloping Edo Tensei Itachi and the others.
"Watch out!"
Seeing the incoming black rods, Hashirama's reaction was clearly faster. He used Hōriki no Jutsu to form a shield, protecting Edo Tensei Itachi and Shisui from all the black rods. If an Edo Tensei body was pierced by these rods, it would be their end.
*BANG!*
Isshiki struck again, shattering the Hōriki no Jutsu shield. But behind the wooden shield, the two Uchiha Edo Tensei ninjas had vanished.
*PU-CHI!*
Hashirama, not far from the Hōriki no Jutsu shield, was pierced again by black rods, slowly turning into a withering Wood Clone.
"As expected, another clone, you cunning damn beast!" Isshiki roared with a ferocious expression.
Clearly, the Hashirama within the Thousand-Handed Buddha from the start was also a Wood Clone. His real body had left the battlefield's center via Earth Release Ninjutsu.
Facing an opponent with such overwhelming Taijutsu, keeping distance and hiding the real body was the best strategy.
Soon after, thousands of meters away, a giant hand emerged from the ground, opening its palm. Edo Tensei Itachi, Shisui, and Hashirama, transported by Hashirama, appeared from it.
"Thank you, Hashirama-sama." Itachi and Shisui simultaneously thanked Hashirama.
Without Hashirama's teleportation, they might now be porcupines pierced by black rods…
Facing such a terrifying Isshiki, Itachi knew he might not even have a chance to activate Izanami; and even if he did, it might not hold Isshiki.
This battle seemed doomed to fail. But losing wasn't frightening—they were already dead, so dying again didn't matter. The key was holding the enemy back, letting Boruto and the others retreat safely; that would make it worthwhile.
But holding Isshiki back—was it that easy?
Even the three of them combined couldn't withstand one round of the enemy's attacks. Unless they used their final hidden trump card?
"Hashirama-sama, I have a plan that might hold this guy!"
"Oh? Tell me quick!"
Hashirama was thrilled. He was racking his brain on how to counter Isshiki, and these Uchiha successors were indeed clever!
"I need—"
Itachi's words were cut off as his expression changed. He saw Isshiki, thousands of meters away, move again, vanishing instantly.
But this time, he didn't attack the three Uchiha Edo Tensei ninjas. Instead, he switched targets, charging at Orochimaru and the others observing from above.
Clearly, Isshiki realized playing hide-and-seek with Edo Tensei Hashirama and the others was pointless. Though he could crush them, he might not kill these immortal Edo Tensei ninjas instantly.
Rather than waste time, he'd capture Kawaki and Boruto first. Forcibly activating Phase Two Kāma, every second drained his vitality drastically; he had no time to squander.
"Damn it! He's coming this way!"
"Kawaki, run fast—we're no match for him!"
Seeing Isshiki charge toward them, Kawaki and Boruto's faces turned grim.
After repeated crushing defeats, Boruto and Kawaki faced reality. If they couldn't win, they couldn't win.
Against a powerhouse like Isshiki, shouting about bonds and charging wouldn't turn defeat into victory.
If they insisted on fighting Isshiki now, it was tantamount to seeking a pointless death.
"What's the panic!"
"Haven't you always wanted to see the grandeur of past Hokages?"
"Today, I'll let you witness it to your heart's content!"
Orochimaru was utterly unfazed. He hadn't been idle, continuously drawing Kuchiyose formations, activating Edo Tensei.
Beside him, beyond the Third Kazekage Edo Tensei, many powerful ninjas from the afterlife had gathered.
Edo Tensei Second Hokage, Third Hokage, Fourth Hokage. Including Hashirama, all four previous Hokages had been Edo Tensei'd and summoned by Orochimaru.
What else could he do? Due to Omnipotence's influence, Orochimaru wouldn't summon ninjas who died after the Fourth Ninja World War to avoid memory discrepancies.
Ninjas from before the war had memory gaps and didn't recognize Boruto and the others, so they could be temporarily manipulated, like Hashirama and Shisui.
Of course, Orochimaru could forcibly control them. But that would drain his energy immensely, and they couldn't display their full combat strength.
Plus, given Isshiki's power, summoning ordinary ninjas via Edo Tensei was barely useful. Only a few elite ninjas skilled in space-time Ninjutsu could counter him!
The three newly awakened Hokage Edo Tensei attacked together.
Under Orochimaru's control, Edo Tensei Hiruzen charged proactively, striking Isshiki first. In matters of 'selling out his teacher,' Orochimaru held no reservations, even feeling a bit satisfied.
*BOOM!*
In an instant, Edo Tensei Hiruzen's body was half-destroyed by Isshiki, then pierced by black rods, turning into a porcupine.
Using the brief moment provided by the Third Hokage's barrier, Edo Tensei Tobirama and Minato activated Hiraishin no Jutsu. Tobirama teleported with Orochimaru to Hashirama's side, while Minato, with Boruto and Kawaki, followed, teleporting as well.
Only the Third Kazekage Edo Tensei remained, frozen in place.
*BOOM!*
Isshiki, catching up, obliterated the Third Kazekage's body, then roared in fury. The 'roast duck' right before him had flown away—how could he not be enraged?
But against Orochimaru and the others, slipping away with Hiraishin teleportation smoother than eels, Isshiki was powerless.
No matter how fast he was, beyond a certain distance, he couldn't outpace Hiraishin's teleportation!
"Damn it!"
"You bunch of lowly damn creatures, I'll kill you all!"
Isshiki was so furious that smoke seemed to pour from his seven orifices, but despite his rage, the intent to retreat surfaced in his heart.
Rather than waste his limited life playing cat-and-mouse with Orochimaru and the others, he'd retreat for now. Next time, at a better opportunity, he'd strike again.
After all, he had Eida as his 'full map' assistant, monitoring Boruto and Kawaki at all times. He didn't believe Boruto and Kawaki could always stay by Sasuke's side, nor that Orochimaru had no weaknesses!
As long as he could hold back, he'd be the final winner!
However, having come this far, Isshiki didn't intend to leave empty-handed. He turned and swiftly flew toward Killer B, the unconscious Hachibi Jinchūriki in the distance.
Couldn't catch slippery Orochimaru—could he not capture the already unconscious Hachibi Jinchūriki?
If Orochimaru and the others dared to rescue the Hachibi Jinchūriki, he'd kill them all in one blow!
If they didn't, he'd gain the Hachibi for free—a win either way.
Whether to disrupt the Juubi revival plan or feed the Hachibi to his baby Juubi as nourishment, it was a good deal.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seeing Isshiki fly toward Killer B in the distance, Edo Tensei Hashirama and the others, who'd been relieved moments ago, instantly paled.
The earlier battle was too intense; Hashirama, overwhelmed by Isshiki's attacks, hadn't had time to focus on the Hachibi Jinchūriki left far behind.
"Not good, Hachibi's in danger!"
"Can we save him?"
"Don't go, you'll die! The enemy's luring us…"
Itachi and Orochimaru spoke simultaneously, stopping others' rescue impulses.
The Hachibi was valuable, but rushing in now was suicidal. Within a hundred meters of Isshiki, with his speed, he could kill anyone instantly, leaving no time to activate Hiraishin no Jutsu! They couldn't save Killer B.
*WHOOSH!*
Isshiki reached Killer B's side, reaching out to grab him. He glanced back at Orochimaru and the others, finding none had moved to rescue.
He could only sigh inwardly.
(These wolf-like ninjas are indeed cunning and cautious! Fine, at least I got one Bijuu. Let's retreat for now. Lingering longer, Code's vitality can't sustain Phase Two Kāma's reckless consumption.)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Just as Isshiki prepared to retreat, another black-purple space-time portal suddenly opened in the battlefield's center.
"Isshiki, it's time for you to die!"
With a voice that sent chills down Isshiki's spine, a nightmare-like figure burst from the portal, appearing in his view.
"Uchiha Sasuke!!!"
Isshiki was terrified, fear exploding in his heart like muffled thunder!
He couldn't comprehend how that bastard Sasuke appeared so suddenly.
Before setting out, he'd had Eida repeatedly observe and confirm Sasuke's real body was hundreds of kilometers away on the main battlefield, not a clone.
Remember, though Sasuke could open space-time portals, he lacked Byakugan and couldn't know what happened hundreds of kilometers away in real-time.
Even if he knew, he might not teleport precisely. Without a 'full map,' who could know how many adults hid in the bushes?
And when did they hide there?
No matter how strong Sasuke was, he wasn't omniscient or omnipotent, incomparable to Isshiki with his 'full map.'
This was Isshiki's confidence in daring to personally risk attacking Boruto. If Boruto and Kawaki were always by Sasuke's side, even with a hundred times the courage, Isshiki wouldn't have dared.
But now, Sasuke arrived precisely at this location, instantly opening a portal and charging in. How did he know?
Who gave him the information?
Clearly, only a few people were here?
Oh! There was also Kashin Koji, secretly following Boruto and Kawaki. But wasn't his mission, assigned by Sasuke, to covertly protect them?
Isshiki knew of Koji's presence but didn't care.
Frankly, in Isshiki's eyes, Koji was just an artificial human created by Amado, not even considered a native ninja, completely beneath his notice. He subconsciously ignored him.
(Wait, Kashin Koji is now controlled by Sasuke's Genjutsu!)
(Damn it, was he the one who relayed the information?)
(Using what? Genjutsu? Kuchiyose? Or Amado's scientific ninja tools?)
(Something's off…)
(Wrong, wrong, did Sasuke know I'd secretly attack Kawaki and the others?)
(Did he deliberately send Kawaki and the others to capture Bijuu to lure me out?)
(Were the Bijuu and Kawaki bait?)
(This was all a trap?)
(Damn, I fell for it!!!)
(That bastard Uchiha Sasuke, I swear…)
Isshiki suddenly realized, cold sweat drenching him.
Only now did he connect the clues, understanding this was a trap Sasuke set from start to finish!
All that nonsense about 'grand plans' like capturing Bijuu, reviving the Juubi, eating the fruit—it was all fake!
All lies!
Using his fear to test his true body's condition and location, luring him out of Konoha—that was the real goal!
Sasuke knew he could monitor the entire world. The words he spoke, the plans he made, were all a performance for him!
Just to mislead Eida, and thus mislead him!
Otherwise, if he stayed in Konoha, no matter how strong Sasuke was, he couldn't infiltrate Konoha and kill him!
Even if he didn't reveal himself, Sasuke might not have known Isshiki was hiding in Code's body.
But now, he'd exposed everything!
And arrogantly walked into Sasuke's prepared trap!
Damn it, was he that foolish? No, why were these ninjas so cunning and despicable?
Compared to this beast Sasuke, Isshiki felt as innocent and naive as Kaguya…
"You…!"
In his shock, Isshiki's fear exploded. He knew in his current state, he was no match for Six Paths Sasuke. If he didn't flee, he might truly die here. He had no Kāma vessel for revival now. If Code died, he'd die too.
Run! He had to escape immediately!
A minute ago, Isshiki, dominating the battlefield, was arrogant and haughty. Now, his heart held only fear, wanting only to flee this trap, to escape Sasuke!
Isshiki frantically activated Kāma, swiftly opening a space-time portal to escape.
But would Sasuke let him succeed?
He activated his Rinnegan's power, opening another space-time portal at the target location.
The two space-time powers clashed, intertwining and mixing, disrupting the teleportation path, halting Isshiki's escape.
"Isshiki, why are you running?"
Six Paths Sasuke looked up at Isshiki, a wild, crazed grin spreading across his face; after such effort to catch this guy, he wouldn't let him go easily.
At this moment, Sasuke's smile made him seem like a true villain.