The blood on his body had already coagulated, and his wounds had fully closed. Shuushi stretched his limbs and stood up calmly.
Hamura coldly activated his Byakugan. After a long pause, he spoke, "Your heart has stopped beating, and your blood no longer circulates—it's the physical state of a corpse. What kind of monstrosity are you?"
"Me? A monster?" Shuushi gave a dry chuckle, glancing at the protruding veins around Hamura's eyes. "Hamura, then what kind of monster are you?"
With that, Shuushi took several steps back and picked up the weapon lying on the ground.
Hamura gave a slight, cold smile and said nothing.
[Lightning Release!]
He stretched out his palm, and a bolt of lightning shot from his hand.
Crackling with electricity, it struck Shuushi's body.
Shuushi's entire body stiffened, followed by the smell of burning flesh. Yet his face showed no expression of pain whatsoever.
Hamura frowned again. "What exactly is your purpose?"
Shuushi let out a cold laugh, then swung his sword toward Hamura in an attack.
His speed was astonishing—no one would believe he had been wounded twice recently.
Hamura kicked straight out, his leg radiating chakra as it collided with Shuushi. The impact sent him stumbling backward several meters.
"That's all?" Hamura wore a dismissive look, though he felt deep surprise inside. "Aside from having an unusual body, do you even have any other abilities?"
Upon hearing this, Shuushi looked furious—an expression he had never worn before—and attacked recklessly, wanting to fight Hamura head-on.
Sighing, as if lamenting, Hamura used a fire technique.
[Fire Release...]
He opened his mouth and spat out a massive fireball that landed directly onto Shuushi's body, instantly igniting him in roaring flames.
Shuushi didn't change expression nor did he utter so much as a groan; he simply continued burning without reaction.
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he moved his mouth silently, forming words:
"Farewell…"
Immediately, Hamura furrowed his brows.
He watched helplessly as the figure was reduced to ashes.
Other than the crackling sound of the flames, there was now silence—so quiet it felt eerie.
"Is it really over?" He muttered. "Why did his body become like that?"
After standing still for a moment, Hamura slowly made his way back to Tree Village.
"Hamura, what's wrong? You don't seem happy," Hayato noticed Hamura's troubled look and asked with concern. Then he saw the bloodstains on him and quickly added,
"Hamura, are you injured?"
"No, just a scratch," Hamura replied flatly.
"Hamura…" Hayato still felt worried about his current state.
"Brother, I'm just thinking..." Hamura suddenly trailed off, sighed, turned, entered his room, and locked himself inside.
Hayato stood there, puzzled and looking both disappointed and dejected. "Why won't Hamura tell me what's going on? Does he think I can't help?"
Meanwhile, inside the room, Hamura wrestled with inner turmoil, endlessly replaying Shuushi's words in his mind.
Was I... wrong?
One day passed...
Two days passed...
A week passed...
Two full weeks passed...
Hayato hadn't seen Hamura leave his room once the entire time. His anxiety had grown unbearable, so he kept knocking on the door nonstop.
"Hamura, what's going on with you? Please don't act like this. Whatever it is, we can talk about it."
With a creaking sound, the wooden door slowly opened.
Hamura stepped out. He looked mentally drained, his expression dull and listless, with a faint, intermittent stench coming off him.
Hayato slightly furrowed his brows. "Hamura, you..."
Hamura cut him off, calmly asking, "Brother, there's fighting everywhere outside. Do you think we should help?"
If we're able to help, of course we should.
Hayato answered without hesitation.
"Then how should we help? Should we support one faction or defeat everyone?" Hamura pressed further.
"This..." Hayato hesitated.
Originally, Shuushi had seized control over most of the land.
After he was 'killed' by Hamura, his subordinates divided up the territory, each becoming a local ruler.
Among them, those who possessed chakra fought the fiercest battles.
Hayato and Hamura left their residence and stepped onto the battlefield.
One horrifying sight followed another.
Corpses littered the ground, blood soaked the earth.
Throughout the journey, Hamura felt increasingly heavy-hearted. He saw many familiar faces — especially those students he had personally taught how to use chakra.
Their eyes were filled with cold-bloodedness and killing intent, nothing like the kindness they used to show around him.
Watching those distant figures slaughter mercilessly and hearing the heart-wrenching cries, Hamura's heart grew heavier and his face turned pale. "I gave them chakra... and also distributed weapons capable of killing..."
He lowered his head, then unexpectedly started chuckling softly — almost maniacally.
Hayato was deeply shaken as well.
The laughter echoing in his ears grew more unsettling by the second. Hamura's shoulders trembled continuously. Caught up in his emotions, Hayato also felt uneasy and wanted to comfort him.
As Hayato turned his head to speak, he suddenly froze. "Hamura, your eyes..."
Hamura's pupils had already turned completely blue. He seemed to have completely lost control, laughing uncontrollably. He extended his palm where a Moon Mark had appeared at its center.
"Brother, looks like I've awakened the Yin-Yang Release too. This is the power Mother left for us..."
Hayato remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "Hamura, chakra isn't just a weapon for killing..."
His tone was extremely firm, as if trying to console Hamura while also talking to himself.
In the Shikkotsu Forest,
A faint black circle appeared between Hiroki's brows. Kaguya extended one finger, tracing around the pattern, her mouth curving into a slight smile.
Interesting.
"Why doesn't she have this kind of mark?" Hiroki asked.
"Maybe her constitution is special. The Immortal Body — a rare vessel that channels divine energy without amplifying it much." Katsuyu responded beside her while secretly thinking: Finally, these two great Buddhas can be sent away...
Kaguya simply smiled. Hiroki shot Katsuyu a glance. "That what you're saying? That I'm weak? Want to test it out?"
Katsuyu was left speechless.
The Sage Chakra that had gathered within its body ceased its circulation, and the mark on its forehead faded. Hiroki and Kaguya left Shikkotsu Forest without further troubling Katsuyu.
"Moon, do you want to come with me?" Hiroki turned his head and asked the person beside him.
"We aren't already leaving?" she replied softly.
"You understand what I mean..."
Kaguya fell silent for a moment. Her gaze suddenly shifted off in the distance. "Why did you return?"
White Zetsu emerged from underground and explained, "The war has ended. Ayano has begun living peaceful days and should no longer need me to remain there with everyone."
Kaguya gave a gentle nod, signaling she wouldn't press him any further about acting on his own.
"War?" Hiroki inquired.
"Yes. During your absence, conflicts arose. Hayato and Hamura stepped forward and put an end to the fighting."
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