Chapter 78: The Storm Approaches! Three Blades Strike as One!
Atop a massive tree branch—
"Captain, are you sure it's alright to let Seiichiro charge in alone?"
"You know what's waiting ahead. A large force of Yugakure ninja is defending that position, including several jōnin-level combatants."
A black-robed Uchiha frowned as he watched Uchiha Seiichiro charging forward below, clearly concerned about his mental state.
Standing on the tree branch with arms folded across his chest, observing the distant battle, the captain gave a slight hum in response.
"Seiichiro isn't weak—he just lacks conviction."
Then, shaking his head with evident pride, he continued, "Besides, don't compare jōnin from minor villages to the Uchiha clan."
With that, Uchiha Fugaku activated his Sharingan and focused his gaze on the battlefield not far away, his expression hardening.
He recognized one of the Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru—locked in combat with a formidable opponent.
However, what made him frown was that Orochimaru's presence here meant the other party now controlled the intelligence network of the Land of Hot Water.
He'd sent clan members to request information, but they'd been turned away.
Did Orochimaru have other plans for the Jashin Cult? What role did that kid named Uchiha Tsukasa play in all this?
After pondering for a moment, Fugaku shook his head and waved his hand, issuing orders:
"Three of you follow Seiichiro. Unless he faces a life-threatening crisis, you are not to intervene."
"The rest of you, come with me to investigate and locate Uchiha Tsukasa."
"The portraits have been distributed. You should all recognize this kid."
One Uchiha member nodded. Judging by his face, he was actually the Chūnin who'd notified Tsukasa to report to the Police Force headquarters.
He looked exasperated as he grumbled, "I never imagined that sullen-faced brat who's always stuck doing D-rank missions would get caught up in something this insane on his first real assignment."
"Tell me about it. He ran into a Kumogakure ambush on his very first mission outside the village," another Uchiha responded, shaking his head with dark amusement.
"I remember seeing this guy at the entertainment district two nights ago. Man, that was pathetic."
"He was acting all sneaky, trying to talk to me with this serious expression, asking about the prices and services of the premium packages."
"But before he could even finish his sentence—"
"His Transformation Jutsu got sniffed out by the Inuzuka clan's ninken, and they threw him out on his ass."
A burst of laughter erupted from the group.
But soon, the Uchiha's voice darkened, and he said with genuine concern, "Ah... I just hope the kid's alright, or this won't be funny anymore."
The Uchihas' expressions hardened. They immediately divided into teams in silence and dispersed.
For reasons unspoken, all eight pairs of Sharingan activated simultaneously, keenly observing every trace that might prove relevant.
Soon, Fugaku's gaze settled on the distant walls of the Jashin Cult's castle headquarters.
There—
He could see crisscrossing wire thread marks, the ground littered with broken bricks and rubble. The cliff face on one side had shattered, sending earth and rocks tumbling down.
Atop the castle—
Hōzuki Mangetsu's eyes darkened as he fired two water bullets into the air. He immediately gripped his lightning blades, pivoted on his feet, then leaped backward while simultaneously thrusting the twin blades into the water construct's head.
"Lightning Blade Technique: Thunderbolt!"
The two Kiba blades instantly unleashed branching arcs of blue lightning, spreading like tree branches toward Uchiha Tsukasa.
The lightning and water bullets descended almost simultaneously!
Tsukasa, suspended mid-air with his hardened body having already blocked four water projectiles, felt a surge of alarm.
In this situation, he had three options:
He could maintain his hardening to withstand the final two water bullets, but then be struck by the lightning, suffering both paralysis and rigidity that would leave him completely vulnerable.
Or he could release the Earth Release: Earth Spear technique and twist his body to dodge—but doing so would cost him this precious chance to close the distance.
In that split second, without time to deliberate, his eyes blazed with fierce determination as he chose the third option!
Thunk! Thunk!
Two water bullets pierced through his body, drawing long trails of crimson blood.
Tsukasa coughed up a mouthful of blood, spun through the air, and half-collapsed to the ground.
Without hesitation, he immediately kicked off the surface and shot forward, raising his water blade. He converted his downward slash into a horizontal strike aimed directly at Mangetsu's neck.
The water blade spun violently as it carved through the air, cleanly severing Mangetsu's head from his shoulders.
However, the next moment, the flying head liquefied into a pool of water, and another head regenerated on the neck.
Mangetsu's eyes remained indifferent. He raised his hand, lifting his lightning blades, and stared directly at Tsukasa before him, speaking calmly:
"I don't know what you're planning."
"But as long as I maintain my Hydrification Technique, I can guarantee that none of your attacks will be effective against me."
"But you—"
Before he could finish his words, Tsukasa slashed again—this time directly at Mangetsu's wrist holding the lightning blade!
If Mangetsu chose to liquefy this time, Tsukasa could seize the lightning blade and attempt to draw down natural lightning.
However, as if reading Tsukasa's intent, Mangetsu sneered.
His liquefied body suddenly solidified.
Then he reversed his blade, parrying Tsukasa's strike, and simultaneously taunted him with contempt:
"Want to take my blade?"
"Aren't you overestimating your swordsmanship a bit?"
"Stop talking and take another strike from me!" Tsukasa slashed again with his blade.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel clashed against steel, sparks flying!
Soon, two flashes of steel traced cold crescents within the white mist, their crimson eyes drawing crisscrossing trajectories through the fog.
Mangetsu's gaze turned cold. Relying on his complete Hydrification ability, he attacked without any defensive concern, repeatedly slashing at various vulnerable points on Tsukasa's body.
His swordsmanship suddenly intensified, more than doubling in ferocity.
With Tsukasa's basic-level swordsmanship, he could clearly see his opponent's blade movements and formulate responses. However, once he acted, he was consistently deceived by Mangetsu's superior technique—his parries always fell short.
He was forced to use his hardening technique to forcibly block the opponent's strikes.
Clang!
Another sword strike slashed against his hardened skin. Mangetsu's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly stepped forward, releasing his Hydrification Technique as his body solidified completely.
He launched a devastating kick to Tsukasa's chest. Seizing the momentum as Tsukasa was blown backward, Mangetsu crossed his lightning blades in an X-formation, and suddenly a sphere of blue light erupted!
"Lightning Release: Thunder Fang!"
With a crackling roar, lightning exploded from the point where the blades intersected, spreading in all directions!
Tsukasa, locked in his rigid state, had no way of evading this massive jutsu.
His body went numb, his pupils constricted, and sensing imminent danger, he immediately mobilized his chakra and used Earth Release: Earth Spear to harden his entire body.
Without giving him time to recover, Mangetsu followed up immediately.
He thrust both swords skyward and activated his next technique: "Lightning Blade Secret Technique: Heavenly Thunder!"
The sky suddenly darkened. Storm clouds swirled overhead.
BOOM!
A lightning bolt crashed down from the heavens, striking Tsukasa with devastating force!
Immediately afterward, Mangetsu drew the blunt blade Kabutowari from his back!
With a single strike, he slammed the axe-blade against Tsukasa's skin, hardened by Earth Release: Earth Spear. Then he suddenly swung the attached hammer down onto the blade's back, adding tremendous force.
CRACK!
The Earth Release: Earth Spear's hardening shattered under the specialized weapon!
Finally, Mangetsu drew the last legendary blade hanging from his back.
The great sword Samehada!
He gripped the handle with both hands and slashed down mercilessly, piercing Tsukasa's abdomen with a single devastating blow!
One strike paralyzes, two strikes break through defenses, three strikes kill!
Then he swung the blade and hurled Tsukasa's body down to the castle floor below.
CRASH!
Mangetsu gazed down at the motionless Uchiha Tsukasa and said with cold indifference:
"It's over."
The next moment, the water construct—towering over ten meters tall—suddenly rose up, condensing into two massive hands!
WHAM!
With crushing force, it smashed through the ground, driving both Tsukasa and the rubble down into a deep crater.
A sudden, heavy silence fell over the scene.
Mangetsu frowned as he looked at the shattered ground below, wondering if perhaps the castle foundation had been too fragile.
That blow should have crushed the brat into paste.
Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out:
"Since the person is dead, get out of here!"
Mei Terumi stood at the castle entrance, coldly regarding Mangetsu.
"I'll take you to see Yagura now."
End of Chapter 78
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