"What… what kind of technique is that?"
Staring at the pale purple skeletal Susanoo surrounding Uchiha Kasage, Ryūra felt a deep sense of despair.
She had just taken advantage of the brief moment after Kasage used that repulsive force to launch a sneak attack, hoping to rescue Kyōra.
Instead—
Kasage revealed yet another overwhelming power.
"I don't have time to play with you."
Kasage's tone was calm.
He gaze swept over Jūra, who was struggling back to his feet, then shifted to Ryūra.
Without hesitation—
She formed a hand seal.
"Animal Path: Summoning Technique."
Boom!
A burst of white smoke exploded beside he.
Two figures appeared instantly.
Tendō Cuizi.
And the Purgatory Ghost.
Midoriko stepped forward and extended her hand toward the fallen Wind Blade Fang.
"Banshō Ten'in."
The blade trembled violently, dragged by an invisible force, and shot into the air.
The Purgatory Ghost caught it effortlessly.
Ryūra's grip tightened around her weapon, veins bulging slightly.
Her eyes locked onto them.
"…Who are you?"
Midoriko's voice was calm, yet carried a heavy pressure.
"The new rulers of this island."
Before her words even fully settled—
She moved.
He figure blurred as he rushed forward at incredible speed.
The naginata in he hand glowed with sacred spiritual power as it slashed down fiercely.
Ryūra gritted he teeth and raised he blade to block.
Clang!
Even without using the full power of the Deva Path, Midoriko's combat ability, enhanced by the Rinnegan and her miko spiritual power, quickly pushed Ryūra onto the defensive.
On the other side—
The Purgatory Ghost roared, wielding Wind Blade Fang as it charged straight at Jūra.
The two clashed violently.
With no interference—
Kasage focused entirely on Kyōra.
"Preta Path."
Kyōra's Yokai energy was absorbed at an overwhelming speed.
It poured into Kasage like a raging flood.
Soon—
Kyōra stopped struggling.
He body began to turn transparent.
Fading.
"As expected…"
Kasage watched calmly.
"This isn't a real body."
Earlier, when she tried to extract Kyōra's soul—
There was nothing.
No soul at all.
In that moment, Kasage understood.
The Four War Gods' current forms were not true bodies.
They were constructs of Yokai energy.
Like chakra clones—
But far more refined.
Their true essence…
Was elsewhere.
She recalled the existence of the Resonance Cauldron.
And the Demonic Power Beads.
"That's their core…"
Their souls were hidden within those beads.
These bodies—
Were just manifestations.
As long as the core remained—
They would not truly die.
"…No wonder you're so arrogant."
Kasage's gaze turned cold.
"I was going to preserve your bodies… but there's no point now."
The steel cables tightened.
Snap.
Kyōra's body shattered instantly into glowing green particles.
They scattered into the air—
And vanished.
Some of that energy came from the beads.
The rest—
Stolen from the hanyō children forced into sacrifice.
Kasage didn't linger.
She disappeared instantly—
And reappeared beside the Purgatory Ghost.
Her hand lifted toward Jūra.
"Banshō Ten'in."
Jūra's expression changed.
His body was pulled forward violently.
He tried to resist—
But couldn't.
Remembering Kyōra's fate, madness filled his eyes.
If he couldn't escape—
Then he would take Kasage down with him.
With a roar, he poured all his Yokai energy into his claws and charged forward.
Even if it meant death.
Kasage remained still.
Chakra surged.
Susanoo manifested instantly.
A massive blade formed—
And struck.
In a single motion—
Jūra divided in two.
His body dissolved into green light, fading into nothing.
Kasage frowned slightly.
"…Strange."
Why rush to die like that?
Not far away—
Ryūra saw everything.
Shock flashed across her face.
Her movements slowed—
Just for a moment.
That was enough.
Midoriko's eyes sharpened.
"Shinra Tensei."
A sudden force struck Ryūra's arm, doing it off he balance.
Her guard opened.
Before she could recover—
Midoriko's naginata cut through the air.
A clean diagonal slash—
From shoulder to waist.
Ryūra froze.
Midoriko pulled her weapon back and turned away.
A thin line of glowing spiritual energy appeared across Ryūra's body.
Then—
It erupted.
Her form broke apart into pale green light—
And disappeared completely.
The battlefield fell silent.
Kasage released the Summoning Technique.
Midoriko and the Purgatory Ghost vanished in smoke.
She casually stored the weapons of the Four War Gods inside the Kamui dimension.
Then—
She glanced toward the distant rocks.
The hiding children.
A faint smile appeared.
The next moment—
She vanished.
And reappeared atop Entei.
Below, the sea had calmed.
The last traces of green Yokai energy faded away.
Kasage looked down briefly.
Kikyo had already finished her battle.
Kikyo turned toward her.
"You've dealt with them?"
Kasage nodded slightly.
"For now."
She paused.
"Their bodies were made of Yokai energy. Their true forms aren't here."
Kikyo frowned slightly.
"…I didn't notice."
She had destroyed Gōra completely—but hadn't sensed anything unusual.
After a moment, she spoke again.
"There should still be hanyō children on the island. I saw them fifty years ago."
Her expression softened slightly.
"If they're still alive… they might know where the real bodies are."
Kasage smiled faintly.
"They are."
Kikyo looked at he.
"I saw them earlier," Kasage continued. "They were hiding nearby, watching the fight."
Meanwhile
Behind the rocks—
The children stared in shock.
"…She disappeared!"
But before they could process it—
Moegi shouted excitedly.
"Asagi! She defeated them!"
"That's right!" Green said quickly. "Check the marks!"
She pulled up the back of her clothing.
Everyone leaned in.
For a brief moment—
Hope filled their eyes.
Then—
Silence.
The marks were still there.
Clear.
Unchanged.
Their expressions froze.
The hope that had just ignited—
Collapsed instantly.