Chapter 185: Sealing the Outer Path Demonic Statue — A Great Harvest
The giant Susanoo exerted force, and the Outer Path Demonic Statue tilted forward, as though it was about to topple over.
Nagato, reacting decisively, gave up trying to match its strength.
"Use lightning!" he commanded.
The Outer Path Demonic Statue roared. The ten protrusions on its back—like wooden stakes—crackled with electricity. A massive surge of lightning exploded forth, racing through the hooked chains like a river of light.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. Controlling his Complete Body Susanoo as if it were his own limb, he released his grip on the chains the instant before the lightning reached him.
But the chains, animated by some unnatural will, continued to twist and coil toward the Susanoo, intent on binding it.
"Hmph." Fugaku snorted coldly.
With a flick of his thought, the Yata Mirror formed in Susanoo's left hand, glowing brilliantly as it expanded into a massive shield.
The chains struck the mirror with a series of metallic crashes. Yet the Yata Mirror—known for adapting to any elemental attribute—instantly shifted its nature. The moment the lightning-infused chains touched it, they turned to dust, dispersing into the air.
The lightning lost its conduit and exploded midair with a sharp crack of thunder.
Seizing the opening, Fugaku's Susanoo lifted the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in its right hand and thrust it forward—straight toward the Outer Path Demonic Statue.
The blade pierced through the creature's wooden husk.
A radiant light erupted from the wound, enveloping the colossal figure completely.
In the next instant—
The Outer Path Demonic Statue vanished.
---
Nagato's eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-Where's the Outer Path Demonic Statue?!"
He tried to summon it again, but though the summoning seal appeared, there was no response from the other end.
The connection had been completely severed.
"Damn it… what did he do?" Nagato muttered, his face darkening.
He thought back to that blinding light—a pillar that had pierced through his statue.
"A Space-Time Ninjutsu? Did he send it to another dimension?"
Realizing he could no longer fight, Nagato clenched his teeth.
"I can't win. If I stay, I'll die."
He urged the chameleon to retreat. Its invisibility cloaked them instantly, and Nagato disappeared from the battlefield with Konan and the remaining Paths.
---
Fugaku scanned the area, his Sharingan rotating slowly.
"…Gone already? I was careless."
Still, he wasn't disappointed. Quite the opposite—he had gained far more than expected.
He'd confirmed that Nagato's full strength was no match for him, and he had successfully sealed the Outer Path Demonic Statue inside the genjutsu realm of the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi.
The battle had proven one thing beyond doubt:
With his Complete Body Susanoo, Uchiha Fugaku now stood at the pinnacle of the Ninja World.
Apart from that mythical "Sage of Six Paths," there was no one left who could threaten him.
Satisfied, Fugaku dispersed his Susanoo and began flying back toward the Konoha forces.
---
When he landed, the battlefield erupted with cheers.
"Fifth Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!"
The veteran Jonin who had fought alongside him bowed respectfully. The newer troops—Chunin and support forces who had only just arrived—stared in awe.
Even those who had merely witnessed the distant shadow of the towering Susanoo could hardly contain their excitement.
With a leader this powerful, Konoha's revival as the strongest village in the world was no longer a dream—it was inevitable.
---
"Hokage-sama, how should we deal with the Daimyo?"
Uchiha Sihu stepped forward, pointing at the terrified Daimyo trembling nearby.
The man was drenched in his own fear—literally. His ornate robes were soaked; his powdered face had melted into a grotesque mess of streaks and tears.
Fugaku's gaze swept over him once.
"Kill him," he said calmly.
"Yes, sir."
Sihu gestured, and the nearby guards exhaled in relief. Guarding the sniveling old man had been unbearable—especially with the stench surrounding him.
The assigned ninja sighed. "Let's go, Daimyo. Time to meet your ancestors."
The Daimyo's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with a faint groan.
The guard frowned, lifting the unconscious man by the collar to avoid touching the wet parts of his clothes.
With practiced ease, he drew a sharp kunai and sliced across the Daimyo's throat.
The body fell limply to the ground, face-first into the small puddle it had made.
---
Fugaku didn't even glance back.
The Daimyo had been a relic of the old era—corrupt, weak, and useless.
Now, with him gone, a new age would begin—an age ruled by the Uchiha Clan.
Fugaku turned toward the horizon. His crimson eyes reflected the light of a new dawn.
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