As Asagi was still hesitating, a faintly glowing firefly drifted quietly into the cave.
It circled twice around Shion, who had been standing silently to the side, then flew straight back toward the cave entrance.
"Mom…" Shion's eyes lit up instantly.
Without hesitation, she ran after it.
"Shion!" Asagi's expression changed, and she quickly chased after her.
Moegi, Green, Orange, and Blue exchanged a glance before following as well.
Carefully, the group of hanyō children made their way toward the source of the explosions.
They hid behind large rocks, peeking out.
What they saw—
Shocked them completely.
Not far away stood a lone figure.
And before him—
The Four War Gods, who had ruled Hōraijima Island for centuries… who had been their nightmare—
Were struggling to stand.
Covered in wounds.
"Who… who is that?" one of them whispered.
"Someone actually came here…"
"Wow… he's amazing! The Four War Gods can't even beat him!"
Their eyes widened with disbelief.
Excitement began to replace fear.
"I hope he kills them!" Green said, clenching his fists tightly.
But Asagi frowned, unease filling her voice.
"…What if he's even worse than them?"
Moegi stepped forward slightly, his eyes firm.
"As long as the Four War Gods die… even if I'm killed afterward, I don't care."
Silence followed.
None of them argued.
There were only six of them left on the island.
They had already lost everything.
Now—
All they could do was hope.
Their gazes returned to the battlefield, filled with expectation.
On the battlefield
Uchiha Kasage's gaze shifted slightly toward the distant rocks.
Her perception had already picked up the presence of the hidden children.
"…The surviving hanyō."
She understood immediately.
But she didn't move.
At that moment—
"Scorching Bird!"
Kyōra's voice rang out.
She swung the red oni fan in her hand, flames surging violently.
The fire condensed instantly into a massive blazing bird, its wings spreading wide as it dove straight toward Kasage.
Kasage didn't move.
"Preta Path."
The firebird struck her directly—
Boom!
Flames engulfed her completely.
But in the next moment—
The fire collapsed inward.
Absorbed.
Every trace of Yokai energy vanished into her body.
The flames scattered into harmless sparks.
Taking advantage of that brief moment—
Ryūra moved.
Her blade cut through the air, aiming straight for Kasage's neck.
Clang!
Kasage raised a black receiver effortlessly, blocking the strike with perfect precision.
Sparks burst outward.
The shockwave scattered the remaining flames.
"Die!"
A furious roar came from behind.
Jūra charged in his beast form, muscles bulging, spikes protruding from his shoulders, fangs bared.
His claws tore through the air as he lunged at Kasage's back.
Kasage's voice remained calm.
"Shinra Tensei."
Boom!
A terrifying force exploded outward.
Both Ryūra and Jūra were sent flying instantly, crashing into distant rock formations with a deafening impact.
Dust rose into the air once again.
"Red Oni Fan: Flame Tornado!"
Kyōra roared, swinging her fan with full force.
A massive tornado of fire surged forward, roaring as it attempted to swallow Kasage whole.
But—
The moment it reached her—
It vanished.
Absorbed completely.
Kasage's eyes were cold.
"Banshō Ten'in."
An invisible force locked onto Kyōra.
Her body jerked forward—
Pulled violently toward Kasage.
"Kyōra!" Ryūra shouted, raising her blade.
"Heavenly Dragon Thunder!"
Lightning surged through the weapon.
A massive bolt descended from the sky—
Striking directly at Kasage.
But the moment it reached her—
It dissipated.
As if erased.
Not even a ripple remained.
"…Damn it!" Ryūra gritted her teeth, frustration clear in her voice.
She tightened her grip on her weapons and charged forward again.
Their attacks—
Did nothing.
"Stop!" Kyōra shouted, struggling against the pull.
With a sharp sound, crimson wings burst from her back, beating violently as she tried to resist the gravitational force.
It was useless.
She was dragged forward at high speed.
"Damn human—!"
She swung her red oni fan down toward Kasage's head.
Kasage didn't even flinch.
"Asura Path."
Her shoulder split open—
A mechanical arm burst out instantly, catching the fan mid-swing.
Clang!
Metal met steel.
Sparks scattered.
Kyōra's eyes widened.
That wasn't a human arm.
Before she could react—
The arm shifted.
A steel cable shot out, wrapping tightly around her neck.
"Human Path."
Kasage's hand struck Kyōra's abdomen.
For a brief moment—
She paused.
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
"…I see."
Her lips curled slightly.
"No wonder you're so confident."
Then—
"Preta Path."
Kyōra's Yokai energy surged out uncontrollably, flooding into Kasage like a broken dam.
Kyōra's expression changed instantly.
Fear.
Real fear.
She dropped the fan, grabbing the cable desperately, struggling to break free.
Kasage watched her calmly, a faint trace of disdain in her gaze.
The mechanical arm moved again.
More cables shot out, binding Kyōra completely.
She couldn't move.
"Die!"
Jūra roared, charging back into battle once more.
His claws cut through the air as he lunged at Kasage again.
"It's useless."
Kasage didn't even turn.
"Shinra Tensei."
Boom!
Jūra was thrown back once again, slamming violently into the ground.
"Damn it—!"
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Whoosh—
From the side—
Ryūra attacked again.
She hurled her Wind Blade Fang directly at Kasage's back, aiming precisely at the arm restraining Kyōra.
"Naive."
Kasage's voice was cold.
"Susanoo."
A pale purple skeletal figure formed instantly around her.
The attack struck—
Clang!
The blade bounced off harmlessly, unable to leave even a scratch.
Inside the protective form, Kasage stood calmly.
Even with the Rinnegan active—
Susanoo remained.
A power that transcended ordinary limits.
Outside—
The battlefield fell momentarily still.
But only for a second.
Because the fight—
Was far from over.