This is actually two chapters...so even if someone drop another review, or we reach 200 powerstones, it'll be invalid...whahaHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAH cough cough*
Chapter 32(p1): Termination of the Heavens
At Konoha's main gate, smoke filled the air as explosive jutsu sounds mixed with summoning beasts' roars in chaotic symphony.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the battlefield's center, gripping a massive staff—the Nyoi-bo.
This staff wasn't ordinary metal but his old comrade, the Monkey King Enma in transformed state. Possessing diamond-hard durability, it could freely extend and change shape, even becoming chains, long poles, or massive pillars according to battle needs.
"ROAR—!"
The Azure Dragon's massive tail swept forward. The Third's eyes sharpened as his staff suddenly extended like a heaven-supporting pillar, slamming down viciously!
"BANG—!"
Air exploded as the dragon's scales collided with the staff, sparks flying. The tremendous impact cracked the ground beneath the Third's feet, yet he remained unmoved, using the momentum to swing and force the Azure Dragon back several meters.
However, before he could catch his breath, the White Tiger's claws already struck from the side!
"Raiton: Raikou-dan!"
C's support arrived timely, blinding lightning forcing the White Tiger back. Darui seized the opportunity to swing his ninja blade, Lightning Release chakra wrapping the edge as he slashed toward another approaching nine-faced beast.
The Third's gaze remained calm, but his heart was heavy—these summons were too troublesome.
Having fought his entire life and seen countless powerful summons, encountering nine gathered together with each possessing at least elite jounin strength... the last time he'd felt this grave about summons was facing Hanzo the Salamander.
The Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise excelled at close combat, their scales hard as iron. The White Tiger possessed extreme speed, claws capable of tearing chakra-enhanced ninja tools. Two staff-wielding humanoid summons could cast sealing techniques restricting everyone's movements, allowing Death to harvest chakra, while the giant bird circling overhead continuously struck from above, suppressing the ANBU formation.
These weren't ordinary beasts but strictly trained war weapons, each possessing independent combat styles with seamless coordination.
"Hokage-sama!" A Hyuuga ANBU gritted his teeth and shouted, "Their chakra responses... are still strengthening!"
The Third gripped his staff tighter, determination appearing on his aged features—apparently, he could no longer hold back.
Taking a deep breath, chakra within his body began boiling. As the Shinobi Professor mastering all five elements, he was rarely forced to fight with full power.
But today, facing these monstrous nine beasts...
"Everyone, fall back!"
The Third barked quietly, hands rapidly forming seals as chakra surged within. Next, he would show these summons what true Kage-level power meant.
The Third Hokage's shadow clones instantly completed their seals, four figures positioned at cardinal points as Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, and Water chakra gathered in their throats.
Goton: Dai Rendan no Jutsu—a destructive technique sufficient to completely shatter the nine beasts' formation.
However, just as chakra was about to explode—
Whoosh!
The nine beasts' figures vanished without warning.
Not Body Flicker, not Substitution, but like erased phantoms, leaving not even a trace of chakra fluctuation.
The Third's aged fingers suddenly clenched, forcibly interrupting the about-to-be-released jutsu.
'Something's wrong.'
Combat instincts hammered frantically at his nerves. The summons' disappearance was too strange, as if... forcibly recalled by some higher-level power.
He suddenly looked up, murky yet sharp gaze piercing toward the sky.
A hundred meters overhead, a vague human figure floated quietly. Black robes billowed like ink dropped in clear water, condensing an indescribable pitch-black energy that devoured even light itself.
"Sakukaze! Use your Byakugan to examine that direction!"
"Yes!"
---
Hyuuga Sakukaze—an elite ANBU from the Hyuuga branch family—formed seals without hesitation. Behind his mask, veins bulged around both eyes as his Byakugan vision instantly locked onto the aerial shadow.
Then—"...!"
His breathing stopped.
Within the Byakugan's sight, that humanoid silhouette's "interior" showed nothing resembling normal human chakra flow.
It was an abyss.
Dark, viscous, violent chakra writhed like living creatures, its core churning with crimson whirlpools. Each pulse made surrounding natural energy emit overwhelmed wails. Merely observing felt like icy tendrils crawling along his sight into his brain, tearing at his sanity.
'What... what is this...'
Sakukaze's fingertips began trembling. On the night the Fourth sacrificed himself, he'd used his Byakugan to observe the tailed beasts, even directly facing the Nine-Tails' raging chakra. But the existence in the sky now was far more... blasphemous.
'No... impossible... how could human chakra pathways bear this level...'
The chakra density had transcended "quantity" concepts, becoming some negation of "existence" itself—like someone witnessing a tsunami where even fear seemed pale before the enormous waves.
Cold sweat dripped from Sakukaze's jaw, soaking his ANBU uniform's lining. His throat spasmed as he tried reporting to the Third, only to find himself voiceless—
"Sakukaze!"
The Third Hokage's sharp shout thundered like lightning, piercing through Hyuuga Sakukaze's fear-frozen thoughts. Sakukaze awakened from the nightmare as blood began flowing again throughout his body. His throat felt painfully dry, yet he finally squeezed out words—
"Hokage-sama! You must stop that technique! If it strikes Konoha... the entire village will be razed!"
The threat of death had never been so clear.
The Third Hokage's pupils suddenly contracted. Though his intuition had already sensed danger, when Sakukaze personally confirmed it, the worst fears became reality.
"Sealing Corps! Deploy barriers immediately!"
He commanded sternly, yet just as he prepared to form seals and release jutsu at maximum speed to interfere with the aerial Menma—
The figure in the sky moved.
Menma slowly raised his hand as that pitch-black orb—the Oodama Rasengan—began silently falling.
Its speed wasn't fast, even seeming somewhat slow, as if mocking mortal struggles. But this very composure made it more despairing.
Where the black sphere passed, air twisted and collapsed—even space itself couldn't bear its weight.
Destruction was about to descend.
---
Uzumaki Menma hovered above the cloud layer, black robes fluttering in chaotic air currents. In his palm, that pitch-black orb—the Oodama Rasengan—continued collapsing and condensing with terrifying presence.
The chakra core, already deep as an abyss, became even more solid, preventing even light from escaping its gravity. The dark energy compressed to extremes, its surface rippling with ominous patterns that writhed like blood vessels.
Around the Rasengan, space began fracturing.
Pale energy rings materialized from nothing, orbiting the black sphere slowly like planetary rings. These rings weren't physical but spatial rifts created by chakra compressed to limits, violently friction against natural energy—like a miniaturized Saturn suspended in the heavens.
Hum—!
Deep humming emerged from within the orb. Konoha's shinobi looked up, their pupils reflecting that slowly descending black star.
Each inch the Rasengan descended, surrounding air emitted overwhelmed wails. Cloud layers tore, light bent, even sound was devoured completely.
Primitive fear spread through everyone's hearts.
Beyond death's terror lay instinctive dread of something transcending comprehension—like ants gazing up at a falling meteor.
"This is a parting gift."
(P2) Divine Punishment
The pitch-black stardust slowly fell like fragments of torn night sky plummeting toward earth.
The Raikage stood on cracked scorched ground, heavy panting echoing in his chest cavity, each breath carrying searing pain. His Lightning Release armor had long since dimmed—the originally violent blue-white electric arcs now reduced to scattered points flickering uncertainly like candles in wind.
He looked up, staring fixedly at that "Oodama Rasengan" drawing ever closer.
'I've lost. Completely and utterly.'
Menma's power far exceeded his expectations. The destructive energy contained within that black orb felt more dangerous than even the day Eight-Tails went berserk—but this time, there was no sealing corps, no reinforcements, only him standing alone beneath death's shadow.
'Taking this hit directly... certain death.'
The Raikage's fists clenched. He'd long resolved to die for his village—as Raikage, dying gloriously in battle was an honor.
But... he couldn't fall meaninglessly like this!
Menma's existence had transcended personal vendettas. A madman capable of casually releasing techniques of this magnitude posed a lethal threat to the entire shinobi world. If he died here, Kumogakure would lose its Kage, and his death would bring no benefit to the village.
'Now... is not the time to die!'
Determination flashed in the Raikage's pupils. He might be rash, but he wasn't foolish. Proud warriors could face death, but senseless sacrifice only let enemies triumph.
BOOM—!
The storm pressing down on him finally dispersed as the Raikage's legs suddenly exploded with power, the ground beneath collapsing thunderously.
Squeezing his remaining chakra to the limit, his Lightning Release armor burst forth with blinding light again. Though far from peak condition, it was sufficient to transform him into lightning—escaping destruction's center.
His figure cut through scorching air, breaking free from the crater's range.
The Raikage didn't look back.
'Surviving is the wisest choice now.'
---
"Hey hey, seriously? Destroy all of Konoha? Isn't this going a bit too far?"
Darui's voice carried his signature laziness, mouth corners forcing out a bitter smile. He surveyed the surroundings—Konoha's shinobi had long since fallen into chaos. The Sealing Corps desperately formed hand seals, ANBU stood at full alert, even the Third Hokage's face had turned iron-gray.
His joking words failed to relax anyone's expression even slightly.
'Tsk... completely ineffective.'
Darui's smile gradually stiffened as he unconsciously turned toward C beside him. As Kumogakure's finest sensory ninja, C's judgment mattered more than any comfort right now.
However—C's complexion made Darui's heart sink.
That normally calm face was now covered in cold sweat, pupils trembling slightly, even breathing becoming labored. Darui had never seen C display such an ugly expression.
"No... impossible!" C's voice almost squeezed through gritted teeth. "Raikage-sama is still in those woods! That technique's chakra—it's already equivalent to a tailed beast!"
'Tailed beast...'Darui's throat went dry. He looked up at the sky where that pitch-black "star" was slowly falling, surrounding air twisted into eerie spirals.
"Where the hell did that monster come from?"
C's fists clenched desperately. As the Raikage's guard and right arm, his mission should have been protecting the Kage's safety, yet now he could only stand here watching destruction descend helplessly. Powerlessness coiled around his heart like a venomous snake, nearly suffocating him.
"Hey."
Suddenly, a heavy palm pressed on C's shoulder. Darui's voice remained lazy, but his eyes were unusually determined.
"Though I'm really sorry to boss..." He paused. "Charging over to help now would just be throwing our lives away."
C whipped around to meet Darui's calm gaze. "Believe in him." Darui smiled, though the expression seemed forced. "He's the Raikage, after all."
'That man who single-handedly supports Kumogakure, inheritor of the name A.'
C's breathing gradually steadied. Taking a deep breath, he slowly nodded, trying to relax himself. 'Right... as people who can entrust their backs to each other, trusting comrades on the battlefield is the most basic thing.*
Then, a transparent red barrier rose from the ground like a layer of translucent crimson crystal, enveloping all of Konoha within.
---
"Shisekiyōjin—!"
The Third Hokage's three shadow clones positioned themselves at triangular points around Konoha, joining hands with the Sealing Corps. Chakra transformed into substantial barriers as sealing runes emitted scorching radiance. This defensive barrier required four Kage-level powerhouses to deploy, yet now the Third forcibly sustained it through shadow clone technique—the price being rapid chakra depletion.
Even so—that pitch-black stardust inevitably fell.
"All units, brace for impact!"
The world lost sound in that instant.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM———!!!!!
Immediately after, destructive white light erupted.
Initially just a point of blinding brilliance, it suddenly expanded like a collapsing supernova, becoming a pure white tide devouring everything. Shockwaves spread at terrifying speed—wherever they passed, earth was torn like fragile paper and lifted skyward. Ancient towering trees carbonized within milliseconds before vaporizing without trace. Distant mountains twisted and collapsed in the heat, rocks melting into crimson lava before being scattered by shockwaves into sky-filling fire rain.
The sky's cloud layer was completely torn open, revealing the blood-red sunset behind—even the Skies were pierced by this strike.
The Shisekiyōjin's crimson barrier trembled violently, spider-web cracks appearing on its surface. Konoha shinobi within looked up, their pupils reflecting the destructive scene outside—
'The forest is disappearing.'
Not burning, not collapsing, but being erased from the level of existence itself. Where white light swept, all matter decomposed into primordial dust before being swept skyward by hurricane winds, becoming ash-snow that blotted out sun and sky.
Blood trickled from the Third Hokage's mouth corner as the barrier's backlash made his organs feel seared by flames. But he didn't release his grip—aged fingers desperately maintained the hand seal formation.
'Hold on... must hold on...!'
Outside the barrier, the world was ending.
Inside the barrier, humans held their breath, gazing at the apocalypse mere feet away.
---
Constant ringing filled his ears as the Third Hokage's vision was swallowed by chaotic darkness. Half-kneeling on the ground, sweat slid down his aged cheeks, creating small craters in the scorched earth. His chakra-depleted body felt like a hollowed vessel, every muscle fiber and bone screaming sharp protests.
'Can't fall yet... can't...'
The ringing gradually faded, replaced by blurred shouts—"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama! Medical corps! Hurry!"
Voices approached from distant to near, like sounds through thick glass. He felt someone supporting his arms, letting his taut nerves relax slightly.
"I'm... fine."
He tried standing but staggered, forced to rely on his subordinates' support. Green medical jutsu light covered his body as cooling chakra flowed like streams into parched meridians, burning pain gradually subsiding. The darkness before his eyes began fragmenting, color patches assembling in his vision like a faded ink painting slowly taking shape.
The first thing that came into view was Konoha—the village still stood.
Residential buildings, Hokage Monument, familiar streets... everything intact. The Shisekiyōjin's crimson barrier had already dissipated, but its sacrifice had achieved the most precious result—Konoha survived.
The Third exhaled deeply, yet before this relief reached his heart, he instinctively turned his head—then froze.
"...Dear God."
The hoarse whisper squeezed from his throat like a rusty blade scraping his windpipe.
Beyond Konoha's destroyed gates lay a completely different world.
The originally lush forests, winding dirt roads, rolling hills—all vanished. In their place was a crater spanning several kilometers in diameter, cross-sections dozens of meters deep with exposed rock layers showing glassy crystallization from high-temperature melting.
The crater bottom was pitch black—no debris, no fragments, only dust.
Further away, destruction's end merged with the horizon like the world's edge had been brutally severed. The air reeked of acrid burning mixed with strange ozone scents that stung the lungs when inhaled.
Wind blew past, stirring fine ash from the crater bottom like black snow.
More than battle traces—
This resembled divine punishment.
***
Advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces