Chapter 146: The Price of Victory and a Shifting Front
Might Dai's final technique, the Night Guy, had connected with devastating force. The kick that carried Jinin Akebino's body up the mountainside was not just an attack; it was a geological event. When the dust settled, a massive crater was gouged into the peak. Dai's scorched and broken form crumpled to the forest floor, his life extinguished.
Kagenori let out a slow, measured breath. The display of raw power had been staggering. To face that technique head-on… there would be no victory. There would be no evasion. The speed of the Night Guy far surpassed his own Thunder Breathing's fastest forms. It was in a league of its own.
He descended from his perch and approached the fallen ninja. Might Dai's body was already beginning to flake away into ash, the final consequence of the Eighth Gate's release.
"You were formidable, Might Dai," Kagenori said, his voice low and devoid of its usual cynicism. "Konoha was fortunate to have a shinobi of your spirit. Farewell."
As he finished speaking, the last of the Green Beast of Konoha dissolved into nothingness, carried away on the wind.
...
After departing the scene, Kagenori willed his system interface to life. Two prompts awaited him.
[Ding. Witnessed the pivotal event: 'The Final Stand of Might Dai.' Reward: 5,000 Witness Points.]
[Ding. Witnessed the pivotal event: 'The Demise of a Swordsman (Jinin Akebino).' Reward: 500 Witness Points.]
A short distance away, Suikazan Fuguki, the Wielder of Samehada, finally managed to push himself to his feet. He had only been grazed by the periphery of the Night Guy's chakra dragon, but the damage was severe. He coughed, spitting a glob of blood onto the mossy ground.
"Just a scratch… and this…" he wheezed, clutching his ribs. "Was that really just a Konoha shinobi? I need to get out of here. If I run into any more Konoha, I'm finished."
"You won't have to run," a cold voice stated from behind him. "And you won't be tired for long. I'll grant you permanent relief."
Fuguki's bulky frame jolted. He turned slowly to find Kagenori watching him, his expression impassive.
"Your two companions fled with impressive speed," Kagenori remarked, a sneer curling his lip. "Did your… girth slow you down?"
Suikazan Fuguki's eyes widened in recognition and terror. "You! The Blood-Eyed Shura!"
Panic seized him. He immediately launched his signature technique. "Sensatsu Suishō!"
He hardened the hairs on his head and fired them at Kagenori in a dense, rapid-fire volley.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan active, Kagenori weaved through the needle-like projectiles with an almost lazy grace. His cold eyes remained locked on the swordsman.
"As I said. It's me. Now, die."
Enraged and desperate, Fuguki swung the barbed form of Samehada in a wild, bloody arc. To his shock, the blow connected, slicing through Kagenori's form.
But… it passed through without resistance.
"No! An illusion!" he gasped.
The image of Kagenori dissipated like mist.
A sharp, searing pain erupted in his throat. He looked down to see the glinting tip of a ninjato protruding from his neck.
Kagenori's voice was a whisper in his ear. "A pity you survived that magnificent technique. A less honorable death for a less honorable man."
Fuguki collapsed, his fat body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. He clutched at his throat, his eyes bulging as he tried to speak, but only a wet gurgle escaped. Kagenori stood over him, a silent, merciless spectator, until the last spark of life faded from the swordsman's eyes.
[Ding. Eliminated and witnessed the demise of Samehada Wielder Suikazan Fuguki. Reward: 700 Witness Points.]
Beside the corpse, the living sword Samehada began to twitch and squirm, attempting to slither away.
Kagenori pointed his ninjato at the bizarre weapon.
"Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"
A blast of superheated, lightning-charged energy erupted from his blade, scorching the ground around Samehada. The sword writhed violently, and in a puff of smoke, it vanished from the spot.
Kagenori frowned. "A reverse summoning?"
He shrugged. It was just a tool. Fuguki had been weak even with it. Even the future master of that blade, Kisame, held little threat in Kagenori's current estimation.
He continued his hunt.
...
Over two months passed. The Land of Waves was finally, brutally, pacified. The Kirigakure presence was all but eradicated. The cost, however, was etched into the surviving Uchiha. From the original ninety-eight, only around thirty remained. The casualties were catastrophic.
Yet, they could voice no complaint. Under Kagenori's ruthless command, they had achieved their objective. The Land of Waves belonged to Konoha.
The happiest man in Konoha was Danzo. Kagenori had been a diligent supplier. In addition to the initial seven pairs, he had secured five more pairs of Sharingan from the fallen Uchiha—a total of twelve pairs, two of which were the coveted three-tomoe variety. It was a fortunate haul, given the Uchiha's strict protocols to destroy their eyes upon death to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.
No sooner had the Land of Waves been secured than an urgent transfer order arrived. Kagenori was to proceed immediately to the Land of Hot Springs, taking the remnants of the Uchiha force with him.
Konoha intelligence had intercepted critical information: Kumogakure was making a major move. The Third Raikage himself was rumored to be preparing to take the field in the Land of Hot Springs, aiming to personally reverse the Cloud's declining fortunes there.
After handing command of the Land of Waves over to Nara Kubota, Kagenori departed without delay.
Days later, in the Land of Hot Springs, he first sought out Orochimaru for a briefing. The news was confirmed.
The Third Raikage was indeed coming. A large force of Kumo's elite had already arrived and had launched an all-out, desperate counter-offensive against the Konoha lines. Caught off-guard by the ferocity of the assault, Konoha's forces had suffered heavy losses.
It seemed Kumo was done with stalemates. They intended to force a decisive battle, hoping a major victory would draw Iwagakure back into a full-scale war against Konoha.
The situation was precarious. Konoha ninja from the stalemated front in the Land of Rivers against Suna were being rerouted to the Land of Grass to bolster defenses and monitor Iwa. The stabilization of the Land of Waves under Kagenori was the only reason he and his Uchiha contingent could be spared for this new, critical front.
Kagenori and Orochimaru discussed strategies for the unthinkable: facing the Third Raikage in combat. If the legendary Shadow took the field, their current forces would be shattered, forcing a full retreat back into the Land of Fire.
Their discussion yielded no solid plan. The presence of a Kage on the battlefield was a multiplier of morale and power that was difficult to counter with conventional tactics.
However, a thought nagged at the back of Kagenori's mind. If his memory of the war's history held true, the Third Raikage might never make it to the Land of Hot Springs. Iwagakure, ever the opportunist, was likely to place a very significant obstacle in his way.
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