In order to quickly gather natural energy for the Coiling Serpent Technique, Gekko Chizan directly activated Transparent Release.
While absorbing natural energy in Transparent Release mode, faint red serpent-like markings began to emerge on his body as the energy entered him.
"Chōmei, suppress your chakra a little. I estimate it won't be long before she appears."
"I know, I know. Geez, ever since you got that Tagitsuhime, you haven't used my scale powder at all. Tch, got yourself a new flame and forgot your old love, huh?"
Chōmei's resentful tone almost made Gekko Chizan lose composure on the spot.
"You little... Chōmei, you haven't learned much else, but you sure know how to talk smack now?"
"Hey, I'm injured, alright? You want a mummy like me to charge in and spray powder? So this time, you'll have to tough it out. Next time when we go to Sunagakure or Iwagakure, I'll let you run wild."
Chōmei knew the state Gekko Chizan was in, so he didn't push further.
As the natural energy grew denser, the markings on Gekko Chizan's body began to flicker. Thankfully, he was using Transparent Release to stay hidden — otherwise, the red glow would have seriously spooked someone in the dead of night.
With the boost from Transparent Release, it took less than fifteen minutes for the crimson serpent markings to come alive.
A lazy voice slowly rang out:
"Chizan, kid... What are you doing calling me out in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
Tagitsuhime's figure slowly appeared before Gekko Chizan, a hint of drowsiness on her face — clearly, she had just woken up.
"Tagitsuhime-sama, I had no other choice."
"Jinlin got injured on the battlefield today. I have to take revenge for that."
"And just look at me — arms broken, body battered — I have to get payback for this too!"
Tagitsuhime's gaze slowly landed on Gekko Chizan. The next moment, she laughed.
"What happened to you, kid? Why do you look so miserable?"
"I heard about Jinlin's condition from Tagorihime. It's not too serious — after all, she specializes in body conditioning."
"Looks like your opponent this time gave you quite the headache."
Gekko Chizan nodded. Just thinking about the Raikage's son, A, made his mood sour.
That bastard had clearly taken a grudge against him. All he did was play around with Flying Thunder God a few times — and this big guy's holding a grudge like that?
Well, too bad! Gekko Chizan holds grudges too! So much that he can't sleep without revenge!
"Hmph! After what he did to me, I have to get him back!"
"Tagitsuhime-sama, I'm counting on you this time!"
Tagitsuhime covered her mouth and laughed — Gekko Chizan's current state was just too pitiful.
"Alright, tell me. How do you want me to help you?"
Since the Coiling Serpent Technique was already complete and Tagitsuhime had arrived, it would be a waste not to act.
Gekko Chizan flashed a sly grin.
"Tagitsuhime-sama, sometimes, Genjutsu is the most devastating weapon."
"Even though I'm heavily injured today, the enemy probably isn't in great shape either."
"You just need to magnify that trauma endlessly."
"And use Genjutsu to let more people know what he's going through. By then, the way others look at him will be enough to make him want to crawl into a hole!"
It's better to break the mind than the body — especially since he wasn't confident he could take A out directly.
For Gekko Chizan to even injure him was already incredible.
And that was only thanks to the power boost from the Thousand Years of Death plus the spiral attribute. A regular taijutsu strike would never break through Lightning Release Armor — that would just be a fool's dream.
"Hmph, so I've become your personal tool for revenge, huh?"
"Last time it was Tsunade, now it's Kumogakure?"
With the help of natural energy, Tagitsuhime could already sense the presence of many people up ahead.
Some of them had especially powerful chakra — though strangely, they all felt somewhat weakened.
But seeing Gekko Chizan's injuries and remembering Jinlin's state, she figured it out — they must've fought during the day.
Now they were sneaking in at night for a surprise attack.
"Aww, come on, you're just going to let me get bullied like that?"
"I'm telling you, those Kumogakure guys are brutes. Just look at me — I got bullied to this point!"
Tagitsuhime shook her head helplessly, but the next moment, a wicked smile appeared on her face.
"Let's go give them a little nightmare, shall we?"
Gekko Chizan nodded repeatedly, first leaving a Flying Thunder God marker, then activating Transparent Release and creeping toward Kumogakure's camp.
...
Although the camp was quiet at night, quite a few Kumogakure shinobi were still on patrol.
Even with Transparent Release activated, Gekko Chizan moved cautiously.
"Tagitsuhime, can you sense where the person with the most chakra in this camp is?"
"I can. And wow... this guy's chakra is really something."
Tagitsuhime felt it for a moment, then showed a hint of surprise.
She was a Snake Princess who had trained for countless years — for someone's chakra to impress her, it had to be truly monstrous.
"Hmph, just a brute."
Under Tagitsuhime's guidance, Gekko Chizan slowly arrived at a tent at the very front of the enemy camp.
"Holy crap, this guy... He actually put his tent at the very front? How confident is he?"
Looking at the resting figure of A, the Raikage's son, inside the tent, Gekko Chizan couldn't help but click his tongue.
So this was Kumogakure's tradition? The stronger you are, the closer you stand to the front lines.
In that regard, Kumogakure really had something special.
The Raikage always led from the front, and even the heir, A, was no exception.
"Chizan, I'm starting now."
"Alright! I'm counting on you, Tagitsuhime-sama!"
Tagitsuhime brought her hands together, and the next moment, her serpentine form emerged. An invisible crimson serpent shot toward A and bit down on his neck.
Since it was Genjutsu, there was no pain.
And just like that, A was trapped inside the illusion.
Normally, even in rest, A wouldn't fall into deep sleep. As a commander, he always kept alert.
But after today's battle with Gekko Chizan, that Thousand Years of Death strike had completely broken his mental guard.
It was an utterly disgraceful move — but the spiral chakra it carried shattered even his Lightning Release Armor.
That pain, shooting up from a place no man ever wants hurt — not even his powerful physique could bear it.
Although the medics treated him after he returned to camp, it was just a superficial fix.
How was he supposed to tell them?
Tell his subordinates that his... Just like Dodai?
No way — he still had his pride!