What kind of power was this?
Power so overwhelming that it forced such a violent reaction from his body.
Before it, even Sage Chakra—normally capable of suppressing nearly anything—was completely ineffective.
Sasuke was still struggling. He pushed himself again and again, accelerating, forcing his body forward as he charged at Shigure.
Yet Shigure casually dealt with him using only one hand.
Then, with a single motion, he sent Sasuke flying.
Even worse—
Shigure caught Sasuke's Kusanagi with his bare hand.
The blade, razor-sharp and enhanced by Lightning Release, couldn't cut him at all.
Not even a scratch.
Sasuke froze in disbelief.
"You… what… what kind of power is this?!"
Shock filled his eyes.
Shigure could tell at a glance—Sasuke had nothing left.
He raised his hand and lightly clapped it forward.
The strike landed squarely on Sasuke's chest, releasing a gentle but irresistible force that sent him sliding backward across the ice.
Then Shigure turned his gaze to Naruto.
"Sage Mode," he said calmly. "It really is a powerful state."
Naruto stiffened.
Shigure raised his hand.
"But I can use it too, Naruto."
The next instant, the surrounding airflow surged inward.
Natural energy gathered violently.
Shigure entered Sage Mode.
Under the amplification of Sage Chakra, the chakra pressure rolling off his body came in endless waves, like a raging sea.
Naruto stood there, stunned.
Shigure could use Sage Mode.
And it wasn't Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode.
This was—
Exactly what Great Sage Fukasaku had once described.
A Sage who relied entirely on their own talent, forging a unique Sage Mode without a summoning contract.
Shigure was one of those rare monsters.
Someone who mastered Sage Mode alone.
Naruto let out a bitter smile.
He had believed that Sage Mode would finally allow him to defeat Shigure.
Now it was obvious.
Shigure's Sage Mode was even stronger than his.
Victory was impossible.
"What are you spacing out for?" Shigure asked coldly. "Didn't you want to test my power?"
He spread his hands.
The transparent spherical space expanded once more.
ROOM — Transfer.
In the blink of an eye, Naruto appeared directly in front of him.
Shigure's fist followed immediately.
Boom!
The sound was like a cannon firing.
Naruto's chest caved inward as blood sprayed from his mouth. His body flew backward and smashed violently into the ice, shattering it apart.
He lay there, pain flooding his body so intensely that his mind went blank.
Just Sage Mode… isn't enough.
The Nine-Tails' voice echoed from deep within.
Naruto's eyes widened. What are you saying?
Use my power, Naruto.
The Nine-Tails emerged within his consciousness, staring straight at him.
Only with my chakra can you defeat this monster.
Don't you want to bring him back to Konoha?
Naruto clenched his teeth.
He had wanted to rely on himself.
But reality was cruel.
By himself, he couldn't defeat Shigure.
Even if I use your power, Naruto hesitated, Shigure also has a Tailed Beast.
The Nine-Tails sneered.
All the other Tailed Beasts combined don't compare to me alone.
It wasn't arrogance.
It was fact.
Those words reignited something inside Naruto.
Hope.
"…Fine," Naruto said. Then let's do it.
Boom!
The Nine-Tails' chakra erupted, engulfing Naruto's body in a blazing cloak.
Behind him, massive chakra tails surged and lashed violently.
Eight tails formed.
He was only one step away from fully controlling the Nine-Tails' power.
Seeing this, Shigure's lips curved into a faint smile.
He had finally forced Naruto to use it.
The Tailed Beast's chakra.
Crack! Bang!
Naruto vanished and reappeared beside Shigure, spinning as he drove a powerful punch straight into Shigure's face.
But Shigure's head only tilted slightly.
Not even a bruise.
Six Paths — Armament Haki.
Shigure stood completely unharmed.
His eyes were cold as ice as he looked at Naruto.
Naruto didn't stop.
Punch after punch rained down.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Watching the relentless assault, Shigure suddenly understood something.
So this was how Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, must have felt.
When the enemy's attacks couldn't even break through your defense.
No matter how desperate or violent the assault—
If it can't pierce the skin, it means nothing.
Shigure raised his hand.
He caught Naruto's fist mid-strike.
"Gluttony."
Black matter spread instantly from his palm.
The battle had reached its conclusion.
At the same time, clouds and mist surged outward, swallowing the battlefield and blocking everyone's vision—including Naruto's.
In the very next second, Naruto felt a portion of his chakra being forcibly drained.
Before he could even understand what was happening—
Shigure's attack erupted.
A powerful kick slammed directly into Naruto's chest.
Bang!
Naruto was sent flying.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His body bounced violently across the ground before finally crashing to a halt.
Lying there, Naruto felt as if every bone in his body was on the verge of breaking apart.
Even with the Nine-Tails' chakra rapidly repairing his injuries, his limbs refused to move.
He didn't have the strength to stand.
Slow, steady footsteps approached.
Shigure walked toward him calmly.
"Not bad," Shigure said.
Then, almost casually, he added, "But if you can truly combine the Nine-Tails' chakra with Sage Mode, your strength will reach an entirely new level, Naruto."
His tone was light.
Yet those words made Naruto smile.
Was Shigure… guiding him?
Teaching him how to move forward?
Naruto lifted his gaze and looked at Shigure.
Even so, Shigure still had no intention of returning to Konoha with him.
Shigure stopped in front of Naruto and extended his hand.
Naruto stared at it for a moment, then slowly reached out and grasped it.
With a single pull, Shigure lifted him to his feet.
"Are you alright?" Shigure asked.
Naruto shook his head. "I'm fine."
He turned to look at Sasuke.
"If you're okay too, then let's end this battle here."
Naruto and Sasuke released their special states at the same time.
As the battlefield returned to calm, Sai and Sakura watched in silence, emotions churning within them.
Compared to the original Team 7—
Their current Team 7 felt insignificant.
Naruto's strength had long surpassed theirs.
Sasuke was terrifying in his own right.
And the most frightening of all—
Shigure had now become the Mizukage.
An existence far beyond their reach.
"Let's return to the village, Naruto," Shigure said. "You're a Konoha ninja, and the Hidden Mist Village isn't exactly friendly toward Konoha right now."
With that, Shigure led Sasuke and the others toward the Mizukage Building.
There were matters that needed discussion.
Especially how to deal with Uchiha Itachi.
As for Naruto—
Shigure had already obtained what he wanted.
[Devourer: Nine-Tails' Chakra — 2%]
Having devoured a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra, Shigure now only needed to occupy the remaining skill slots to fully obtain its power.
And once the Nine-Tails was complete—
The power of the Six Paths would become even more terrifying.
The battle had ended.
But something far greater had begun.
(End of Chapter)
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