High in the sky, Ryujin watched the relentless stream of black hawks and puppets pouring through the light membrane, his expression grim. However, there was no time for further contemplation.
With a gentle beat of the massive wings on his back, Ryujin's form transformed into a streak of light, shooting rapidly towards the swarm of incoming enemies.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
While hurtling forward, Ryujin's hands flew through seals, immediately unleashing a wind technique. A powerful gale erupted from his mouth, coalescing into a massive tornado in the sky. It swept towards the black hawks and puppets blocking his path with incredible speed.
Caught in the violent wind, the flying puppets and hawks struggled to maintain their positions, scattering haphazardly to the sides. Ryujin instantly shot through the large opening cleared by the technique.
Just as he was about to pass through the gap in the light membrane and enter the artificial moon's interior, ten yellow spheres of light suddenly materialized at the opening, rotating rapidly as they flew towards him.
Seeing this, Ryujin didn't dodge. Instead, his hands formed a different seal.
Shadow Clone Technique!
Two Shadow Clones instantly appeared beside Ryujin in the sky. The three figures then shot off in different directions.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The yellow spheres immediately split into three groups, pursuing each of the figures. A series of explosions quickly echoed through the air. Ryujin's two Shadow Clones were destroyed in the blasts, but his real body continued straight towards the opening in the light membrane.
The moment Ryujin passed through the gap and entered the interior space, a dense barrage of innumerable yellow spheres descended upon him. Taking advantage of the brief interval before the spheres reached him, Ryujin scanned the area below and immediately spotted a particular puppet standing before countless others. This puppet wore a forehead protector engraved with a moon symbol. It was the leader of the Otsutsuki clan's puppet forces on the Moon – the Otsutsuki Puppet Commander. Years later, Toneri Otsutsuki would dispatch this same puppet to Konoha to secretly abduct Hinata Hyuga's sister, Hanabi.
Under the Puppet Commander's direction, the puppet subordinates unleashed a concentrated volley of yellow spheres, targeting Ryujin.
Dozens of kunai instantly flew from Ryujin's hands, and his body flickered several times in mid-air. All the yellow spheres missed their mark.
Seeing this, the Otsutsuki Puppet Commander visibly faltered, clearly confused as to how Ryujin had evaded every single attack.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Ryujin had already used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear several dozen meters below the Commander. The puppet leader immediately prepared to order another concentrated attack.
This time, however, Ryujin gave it no chance.
He instantly activated the Dragon Vein seal within his body. A massive surge of natural energy immediately fused with his chakra, converting it into senjutsu chakra. Golden-orange pigmentation flared around Ryujin's eyes.
His hands rapidly formed seals, and he expelled a glowing red dragon from his mouth. The red dragon held a black sphere in its claws, flew several meters away, began rotating around the black sphere, and then abruptly merged into it. All of this occurred within two or three seconds.
VMMMMMMMM!
In an instant, a blinding white light erupted, accompanied by a piercing, high-frequency sound. The very fabric of space seemed to vibrate violently.
Sage Art: White Rage Technique!
Under the effects of the White Rage Technique, all the black hawks and puppets flying in the sky were instantly blinded, their movements becoming erratic and uncoordinated.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Continuous explosions filled the air as the disoriented puppets crashed into each other, their uncontrolled yellow spheres detonating amongst their own ranks. Amidst the chaos, the White Rage Technique persisted. Some black hawks could no longer maintain flight, plummeting downwards along with the puppets riding them.
Several minutes later, when the effects of the White Rage Technique finally dissipated, the sky within a radius of several hundred meters around Ryujin's previous position was empty. All the black hawks and puppets had fallen to the ground below.
And Ryujin himself had vanished from the sky.
Witnessing this, the Otsutsuki Puppet Commander's expression changed drastically. Its gaze immediately shot towards the palace complex in the distance. He's heading towards the master's location!
The Puppet Commander instantly led its remaining contingent of puppets, charging towards the main palace.
Down below, on the ground, Jizo, Kagutsuchi, Suijin, and Guren were now completely surrounded by countless bandaged puppets. These puppets seemed aware that their opponents were formidable, avoiding a direct, massed charge. Instead, they attacked strategically in small groups of several puppets each, approaching from different directions simultaneously. They intended to wear down the four intruders through sheer numbers.
Already, over a hundred destroyed puppets lay scattered around their feet. Individually, the puppets weren't particularly strong; Jizo, Kagutsuchi, Suijin, and even Guren could dispatch them quickly one-on-one. But their overwhelming numbers and coordinated tactics made it difficult to break free from the entanglement quickly.
"The Leader has located the main palace. One of us needs to go provide support."
Amidst the fighting, Jizo, Kagutsuchi, and Suijin suddenly tensed simultaneously. Jizo spoke gravely, his eyes glancing towards Guren. She was currently unleashing a continuous barrage of Crystal Release techniques. Under her efforts, puppet after puppet was transformed into lifelike crystal statues before shattering into countless fragments with a sharp pop.
Among the four of them, Jizo, Kagutsuchi, and Suijin could all disengage rapidly. A single Summoning Technique from Ryujin's main body could instantly transport any of them from this location to his side. However, if Guren were left here alone, she would undoubtedly be overwhelmed by the endless tide of puppets. Therefore, someone had to stay behind to protect her.
The three clones exchanged glances. Kagutsuchi spoke first. "Jizo, you go first. If you can't handle it, we'll follow."
At this moment, Ryujin and his three main clones deeply regretted bringing Guren along. If she weren't here, the four of them working together might have been able to resolve the battle much faster.
"Understood," Jizo nodded. Then, with a soft poof, he vanished from the spot.
Nearby, Guren, still battling puppets, pursed her lips. She had noticed the subtle exchange and shifting expressions between the three clones just now. My strength is still too weak! Not only could she not help Brother Tatsuya, but she had become a burden instead.
As she fought, another thought struck her, causing her to pause momentarily. Wait... Lord Jizo seemed to have been summoned away just now? Can Brother Tatsuya directly summon Lord Jizo?
Shaking her head slightly, Guren forced herself to refocus on the fight. Now wasn't the time to get distracted pondering such things! Nevertheless, the question firmly lodged itself in the back of her mind.
While Ryujin and his team battled the Otsutsuki clan's puppet forces fiercely inside the Moon, back in the ninja world, the underground hot spring received a new group of uninvited guests.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
With successive sounds of arrival cutting through the air, the members of the Akatsuki reached the location.