"Who can fight against their own weight?"
Mufasa sighed, watching the struggle from his monitor. Watching fitness videos or reading weight-loss articles while lying in bed is basically useless. If humans with self-awareness find it difficult to fight against their own flesh, what hope does a machine have?
Earth Release: Super-Added-Weight Rock Technique.
This wasn't an attack. It was a support jutsu—a debuff. Mechagodzilla's programming was designed to absorb energy, not to counter the laws of physics being rewritten on its chassis.
The mecha was now a clumsy Iron Man, its weight increasing exponentially. It continued to throttle its engines, trying to power through, but physics was a cruel mistress.
Both the Seven Kages and Mufasa watched the tragedy unfold.
Mechagodzilla's speed dropped from a bullet train, to a sluggish steam engine, and finally to a wobbling, drunken sway. It hovered for a agonizing second, like a baby learning to walk, before gravity claimed its prize.
BOOM!
The machine fell like a black meteor. It smashed into the valley floor, creating a bottomless crater and burying itself in tons of rock and debris.
"Looks like it's beyond repair," Mufasa muttered, shaking his head. "Impossible to lose weight in this lifetime. Back to the factory you go."
He dismissed the summoning jutsu.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Mufasa stood on the ridge, applauding slowly.
"I never expected you guys would have such a way to take down my Mechagodzilla. Impressive. Truly impressive."
On the other side, the Seven Kages—the alliance of the resurrected Kazekages and Tsuchikages—regrouped. Rasa, whose body was still regenerating, was currently just a floating head bobbing indignantly in the air.
Mū, the Second Tsuchikage, crossed his arms (or tried to, given his split form). "Heh. We all rose through the ranks in a brutal world where war was a daily occurrence. Our combat experience is beyond your imagination, boy."
The others looked equally smug. 'See that, brat? That's why we're the legends.'
Mufasa rolled his eyes hard enough to hurt.
"What is so great about fighting every day? You are all so arrogant."
He looked at them with genuine pity. "The fact that you were constantly at war doesn't prove your strength; it proves your incompetence. You couldn't find a way to make peace."
"I don't know what's so great about a brain that only knows how to destroy," Mufasa continued. "Even the villains of this era know how to seek peace, even if it's for profit. But you self-proclaimed 'righteous' leaders only know how to kill each other. You are simply foolish."
The faces of the Seven Kages darkened instantly.
Reto, the First Kazekage, roared, "You bastard! You can only say such heartless things because you haven't experienced that cruel era!"
"I haven't experienced it, but I've read the history books," Mufasa retorted. "And history teaches me that people don't learn from history. The chaotic roots of the ninja world need to be pulled out completely."
Ishikawa, the First Tsuchikage, scoffed. "Young man, you don't think you can surpass us Kage with your meager skills, do you?"
Mufasa nodded very seriously. "Absolutely."
The Seven Kages burst into laughter. "With what? Your big, useless toy that just crashed?"
Mufasa shook his head. "You misunderstand. That was just a prototype. I have other awesome things. Allow me to introduce you to the latest advancements in biotechnology..."
He raised his hand to summon a new weapon.
Bzzzt.
Suddenly, Gaara's voice crackled through his communicator, urgent and panicked.
"Sensei! Something terrible has happened!"
Mufasa paused. "What is it?"
"The Mizukage Mei Terumi and Orochimaru sent a distress signal! They can't hold on!" Gaara reported rapidly. "The previous Mizukages appeared in the Land of Water. The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, is using Steaming Danger Tyranny!"
Mufasa cursed under his breath.
Steaming Danger Tyranny (Jōki Bōi). Gengetsu's signature infinite explosion ninjutsu. It created a water-oil clone that heated up, exploded, cooled into hail, and then reformed to explode again. In the humid environment of the Land of Water, with an Edo Tensei body that had no stamina limits, it was practically invincible.
"Damn it," Mufasa ordered. "Tell them to retreat immediately. Deploy the Air Fortress and the Flying Dutchman to extract them. I'll be there as soon as I finish up here."
"Yes, Teacher!"
The line went dead. Mufasa looked coldly at the Seven Kages.
"You guys are calculating," he said, his voice dropping. "Tsuchikage and Kazekage here to assassinate me. Mizukage attacking the Land of Water to tie up my allies. Who organized this?"
Ishikawa sneered. "Heh. Mufasa, you underestimate us. We are Kage. No one commands us. Eliminating you was a consensus decision."
"As for the Land of Water," Reto added, "that was the Mizukage's own choice."
Mufasa narrowed his eyes. "So... where are the Raikage?"
Reto smiled cruelly. "Where do you think? They're attacking Konoha."
"You and Tsunade, that despicable couple, plotting to dominate the ninja world... did you think we were blind?" Reto spat. "It's a pity the Hokage can't be resurrected, or they would be cleaning up this mess themselves."
Mufasa's heart sank. 'The Fourth Hokage are still sealed in the Reaper's stomach. Konoha is exposed.'
Tsunade was in danger.
"Then I won't be polite either."
Mufasa's expression turned solemn. He clapped his hands together.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
POOF!
White smoke exploded across the valley. In an instant, the landscape was filled with Mufasa clones. Thousands of them. They stretched as far as the eye could see, a sea of red hair and determination.
The Seven Kages felt their scalps tingle.
"Asshole!" Rasa cursed. "You're the Kazekage! Why are you using Konoha's signature forbidden jutsu?! Have you no shame?!"
Ishikawa shook his head in disgust. "See? He is colluding with Tsunade! She even taught him the Shadow Clone Technique!"
Mū added, "And he teamed up with the Mizukage! Does this bastard want a harem of Kage?!"
Onoki grumbled, "Hmph. Even my granddaughter Kurotsuchi was bewitched by him. Luckily, I locked her up."
Mufasa chuckled, the sound echoing from thousands of throats.
"Heh heh. What do you old virgins know? This is called teamwork between men and women. It makes the work easier."
"SILENCE!" Ishikawa roared. "Enough talk! Let's fight! Forget the rules—everyone attack together!"
"Agreed!" the others shouted.
Mufasa's army grinned. "You'd better come at me all at once, or you'll suffer a terrible death."
"Madman!"
The Seven Kages unleashed hell.
Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere! Earth Release: Clayfall! Water Release: Heavens Weeping! Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet! Earth Release: Mountain Jutsu!
In an instant, the valley looked like the apocalypse. Tornadoes merged with firestorms; mudslides crashed into floods; acid rain hissed against the earth. It was a kaleidoscope of destruction designed to wipe out an army.
The combined power of these S-Rank jutsu created a chaotic mix of elemental damage. Mud bombs laced with acid, wind-amplified firestorms—it was a kill zone.
But Mufasa's clones didn't dodge.
The cloud of clones rushed straight into the heart of the disaster.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Thousands of clones vanished instantly. The Kages watched with glee as the numbers thinned.
"Haha! Is he an idiot?" Rasa laughed. "Suicide charge?"
Onoki squinted. "He's too arrogant. He won't reach us at this rate."
"Good," Ishikawa nodded. "Once we kill this scourge, the ninja world can return to its beautiful traditions."
Pop. Pop.
The army was decimated. Only about ten Mufasas remained, flying desperately through the storm toward the Kage.
The real Mufasa was among them, oblivious to his impending doom—or so it seemed.
The Seven Kages exchanged a knowing smile. "Let us end him, gentlemen."
They launched a final, concentrated volley.
Earth Dragon Bullet! Whirlwind Fist! Gale Waves!
Every ounce of their power converged into a massive sphere of destruction, hurtling toward the final group of clones.
The clones grabbed the real Mufasa and threw him forward, launching him straight at the incoming death ball.
Mufasa accelerated, crashing right toward the combined jutsu.
"You old folks," Mufasa laughed, his voice cutting through the roar of the elements. "You better watch out. This is the ninjutsu of the new era."
He stretched out his right hand.
A jet-black light flashed. Strange, intricate markings—black and white patterns resembling a lotus flower—crawled up his palm and forearm.
Karma.
The Seven Kages froze. "What is that? A fuinjutsu?"
What happened next left them speechless.
Mufasa touched the massive ball of death.
There was no explosion.
The moment the S-Rank combination jutsu entered a one-meter radius of his hand, it vanished.
Like snow falling into a volcano. Like salt dissolving in water.
It was just... gone.
"AH?!"
The Seven Kages screamed in unison.
"What is going on?!"
_______________________________
Word count: 1437
Comment below on what you think so far.
If anyone of you is interested in reading some advanced chapters, you can check out my p@ tr*on.
p@tr*on.co m/Rai_jin
Thanks for reading guys!