Chapter 313: Black Rhino Armor of Water
"That direction…" Shizōma narrowed his eyes, staring in the direction Kagura had fled. "Trying to inform Boruto about what happened here, are you…"
Just as Kagura thought he had put enough distance between them for Shizōma to be unable to catch up quickly, he was suddenly struck down from the rooftop.
Dark shadow energy wrapped around Shizōma's feet, drastically boosting his speed.
"Kagura, you've really disappointed me. Even now, you're still trying to rely on someone from another country. Looks like you've long since become a lapdog of the Land of Fire!"
Gripping his Blade, Shizōma slowly walked toward the fallen Kagura as he spoke.
Kagura's back was soaked with blood from the blow, the scent drawing nearby zombies to gather around him.
"That thing on your foot… Is that the Seventh Mizukage's shadow energy?!"
Struggling to his feet, Kagura stared at Shizōma's feet and asked.
"That's right," Shizōma nodded. "With the help of an Aberrant Beast, I'm more confident than ever in Land of Water's plan to dominate the shinobi world."
"What you're doing will only destroy the hard-won peace of the shinobi world! Shizōma, I will stop you!"
"Stop me? That jutsu of yours earlier probably used up all your chakra, didn't it? What exactly are you going to use to stop me?"
Just as Shizōma finished speaking, a beam of light suddenly pierced the sky like a shooting star in the dark, crashing down toward Kirigakure.
A light-shadow stone floated above Kagura's head, radiating with brilliance.
Kagura closed his eyes, and it felt as though he had sunk deep into the ocean. Shizōma vanished from his sight, the shrieks of zombies disappeared, and a profound calm took over him.
When Kagura opened his eyes again, his entire aura had transformed.
"Black Rhino Armor—Unite!"
A black, rhino-themed armor enveloped his body. "Shizōma, I told you—I will stop you!"
He shoved his right hand straight into the mouth of an oncoming zombie, then slammed both it and the zombie into the ground. The earth caved in under the impact, spiderweb cracks spreading out as the zombie froze, no longer moving.
Pulling his arm from the zombie's jaws, Kagura locked eyes with Shizōma.
"You really think wearing a suit of armor is enough to beat me? I'll slice through you and that armor of yours with my Executioner's Blade!"
As he spoke, Shizōma raised the massive sword and swung down at Kagura.
Kagura twisted the dial on the belt around his waist.
"Water Armor Shield!"
A rhino-head-shaped weapon resembling a buckler materialized on his right hand.
With it, Kagura easily blocked Shizōma's downward slash.
Clenching his teeth, Shizōma channeled shadow energy into both hands gripping the blade. The two clashed in a contest of raw strength. Yet even in this power struggle, Kagura—now clad in the Black Rhino Armor—clearly had the upper hand. He deflected Shizōma's blade with his right hand and slammed his left fist into Shizōma's gut, sending him flying through a nearby building.
Zombies swarmed toward Kagura with reckless abandon.
The Water Armor Shield vanished. Kagura once again twisted the dial on his belt.
"Meteor Lance!"
A long spear-type weapon.
With the Meteor Lance in hand, Kagura entered a devastating rampage. Each swing sent zombie heads flying.
"Don't get cocky, Kagura!"
Shadow energy surged once again. From beneath the collapsed building, Shizōma forcibly rose, summoning a sealing scroll. Upon breaking the seal, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist was revealed—the Great Blade: Samehada.
Samehada, being a sentient weapon, had resisted Shizōma ever since he acquired shadow energy.
In his grip, Samehada wobbled violently, clearly trying to break free.
Shadow energy wrapped around Shizōma's left hand, forcing it to merge with Samehada. With a twisted grin, he looked at Kagura.
"Samehada Fusion: Aberrant Beast Transformation!!"
Shizōma fused with the now-shadow-infused Samehada, becoming a shark-like aberrant beast—his own invention, crafted from the tiniest fragment of shadow energy.
By fusing with Samehada and using shadow energy, he had managed to create a new, beast-like form.
"Kagura, our battle is only just beginning."
Seemingly terrified of this form, the zombies began to scatter and flee.
Shadow energy surged over Shizōma's right hand, coating his Blade.
"Crescent Wave!"
Kagura thrust his Meteor Lance forward, sending out a crescent-shaped energy wave.
Shizōma blocked it with a counter-swing of his Executioner's Blade.
The two weapons locked—lance tip versus blade. At that moment, both Kagura and Shizōma launched side kicks at each other's waists, causing them both to stagger back and drop their weapons.
While retreating, both quickly readjusted their stance and charged again. Their left hands clashed, their right hands met—another deadlock. This time, however, Kagura used the horn on his rhino helmet to headbutt Shizōma.
The blow sent Shizōma stumbling again. Kagura reached toward the Meteor Lance on the ground, drawing it back into his hand via telekinesis.
Shizōma got up once more. Since he wasn't a true aberrant beast, no healing light emerged from his wounds—nor could Kagura's armor seal him.
He could only be killed.
"Now's my chance! Torrent Stab!"
While Shizōma was still unsteady, Kagura spun the dial on his belt again, projecting a sigil forward.
Meteor Lance Technique: Torrent Stab—Devourer of Evil, Raging Tempest, Calms All Waters.
A Tai Chi symbol suddenly formed beneath Shizōma's feet.
"My body… why can't I move?!"
Panic overtook him.
"Those caught within the Water Tai Chi Seal lose all mobility. This… is the end, Shizōma."
"No—NO! The Land of Water can't survive without me!"
In that instant, black mist engulfed Shizōma and vanished, causing Kagura's final thrust to strike nothing but air.
Kagura didn't disengage his armor. He turned and sprinted toward the front lines of Kirigakure. During his battle with Shizōma, several zombies had slipped past them.
"Behind you—zombies coming from behind!"
Just as someone shouted, they were instantly taken down by a charging zombie, their scream echoing with terror.