"T-These are Wamaru's clay soldiers…!"
Enju's voice trembled as she stared at the overwhelming army advancing like a tide. Her fingers tightened around Kikyo's sleeve, unable to hide her fear.
"Don't worry," Kikyo said calmly, gripping her longbow. A faint spiritual aura gathered in her hand, steady and controlled. "We're here."
Even in the face of such numbers, her voice did not waver.
"If we cannot win, we can retreat at any time."
"Kikyo… these are nothing but trash."
Uchiha Kasage stood in front of them, shielding both Kikyo and Enju. His tone was calm—but his eyes burned with cold killing intent.
"Still… just in case."
He glanced back briefly.
"Once the fight starts, focus on protecting yourselves. If anything goes wrong, leave immediately."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Those Soul Reapers can carry you away, right?"
"…Yes," Kikyo nodded without hesitation.
Even she understood—
Numbers could become dangerous.
No matter how powerful her sacred arrows were, continuous use would drain her strength. But Kasage… was different.
He could leave anytime.
That thought alone steadied her.
Kasage smirked faintly.
"Relax. Most likely…"
"…they won't even survive a single move."
*Boom… boom… boom…*
Heavy footsteps echoed through the night like distant war drums.
The ground trembled faintly beneath the synchronized march.
Then—
The clay soldiers stopped.
Just a few meters away.
They formed a semicircle, surrounding the three.
A wall of lifeless bodies.
Kasage's expression didn't change.
"They stopped…"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…So their leader wants to talk."
Under the moonlight, his Sharingan pierced through the darkness.
The front. The sides.
Completely surrounded.
Only the river behind them remained open.
His eyes shifted forward—
Toward the source of those heavy footsteps.
A massive shadow slowly emerged.
Then—
It revealed itself.
A giant clay figure clad in black armor.
Two massive horns curved from its head.
Crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.
Its presence—
Oppressive.
Almost like a resurrected yokai.
Kikyo frowned slightly.
"…Is that a yokai sealed within a clay body?"
She could feel it.
A strange, unnatural aura.
"Wamaru!"
Enju stepped forward slightly, her voice rising.
"What do you want?!"
A figure stood atop the giant's shoulder.
Wamaru.
His gaze shifted from Enju—
Then locked onto Kikyo.
Instantly, his expression turned fervent. Almost obsessed.
"Enju… I only intended to bring you back."
His voice trembled with excitement.
"But I never expected to find something far more valuable…"
His eyes burned as he stared at Kikyo.
"You… are the priestess who killed Mother."
"Kikyo."
Kikyo felt a wave of discomfort.
That gaze—
It was greedy. Distorted.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bowstring.
"I am."
Her voice was cold.
Wamaru's breathing grew heavier.
"I inherited Mother's techniques…"
"I know the truth."
His voice shook.
"You're no longer a clay figure… you're alive."
His eyes widened with obsession.
"How did you do it?"
"How did a resurrected body become real flesh?!"
Kikyo's patience thinned.
Her killing intent flickered.
"Kasage…"
Her voice carried a hint of irritation.
"If you don't act soon… I may kill him myself."
Kasage chuckled lightly.
"I was just curious what he wanted."
His hands had already begun forming seals.
A faint, natural energy gathered around him.
The air shifted.
Sage Mode.
Wamaru's expression darkened.
"So you refuse to answer…"
His voice hardened.
"Then I'll take the answer myself."
He raised his hand sharply.
"Seize them!"
The clay army moved.
Step by step—
Advancing in perfect unison.
Weapons gleaming coldly in the night.
But Kasage didn't move.
He simply looked up at Wamaru.
A mocking smile appeared.
"…Let me give you some advice."
His voice was calm.
"Never fight a shinobi who uses Water Release…"
"…near water."
The energy around him exploded.
Leaves were swept into the air by the surge of chakra.
The river behind him—
Began to roar.
"Sage Art…"
His voice dropped.
"Water Release — Great Waterfall Technique!"
The river erupted.
A massive wave surged upward—
Towering nearly a hundred meters high.
Like the sky itself had collapsed.
Moonlight vanished.
The world fell into shadow.
Wamaru's face turned pale with terror.
He could only watch—
As the wave descended.
"BOOM—!!!"
The impact shattered the night.
The earth trembled violently.
Water surged like a rampaging beast—
Crushing everything.
Clay soldiers.
Trees.
Rocks.
All pulverized.
All swept away.
In an instant—
The forest became a vast ocean.
"…Your attack is excessive."
Kikyo's voice came from above.
She stood on a thick wooden branch formed by Wood Release, supporting Enju as they looked down at the flooded land.
"…He's dead, isn't he?"
Kasage scratched his head slightly, looking almost embarrassed.
"…I might've overdone it."
"But don't worry."
His tone relaxed.
"I avoided his position."
"He's still alive."
Several hundred meters away—
A hand burst from the muddy water, grabbing onto a rock.
Wamaru dragged himself up, coughing violently.
His body was cracked.
Fragments of soul light leaked from the fissures.
He looked back at the devastated battlefield—
Fear flooding his eyes.
"That… that wasn't human…"
"I have to escape…!"
He tried to stand—
But suddenly—
*Splash!*
The water in front of him exploded.
An arm of condensed water shot out—
Grabbing his throat.
It tightened instantly.
Then—
The water rose.
Forming a human shape.
Kasage emerged from it.
Standing right before him.
"Y-You… who are you?!"
Wamaru struggled desperately.
But the grip on his neck was unyielding.
Like iron.
Kasage said nothing.
He reached out—
Grabbing Wamaru's chin, forcing his head up.
Then—
His Sharingan ignited.
Glowing crimson in the darkness.
"Look into my eyes."
Wamaru met his gaze—
And in that instant—
He was trapped.
The spinning tomoe pulled him in.
His consciousness sank—
Consumed by illusion.