Perched on a massive tree branch, a group of Uchiha watched the distance.
"Captain, is it really okay to let Seiichiro rush in alone?" a black-robed Uchiha asked, concerned. "The Hot Spring ninjas are guarding the area, including Jonin-level experts."
Uchiha Fugaku, arms crossed, didn't look away from the battlefield. "Seiichiro isn't weak; he just lacks courage," he replied calmly. Then, with an air of absolute pride: "Besides, do not compare a small village's Jonin to an Uchiha."
Fugaku activated his Sharingan. He recognized Orochimaru fighting someone powerful. Is Orochimaru plotting something with this Jashin Cult? And what role is this Ren Uchiha playing in all this? "Three of you follow Seiichiro. Don't intervene unless he's about to die," Fugaku ordered. "The rest, follow me. We find Ren Uchiha. You've all seen his picture."
One of the Chunin who once summoned Ren to the Police Station sighed. "I never thought that grumpy brat who only did D-rank trash missions would end up in the middle of something this sensational."
"Tell me about it," another laughed. "I saw him at a nightclub the other night. He was pretending to be all serious, asking about 'prices and services,' only for an Inuzuka dog to sniff through his Transformation Jutsu and get him kicked out!"
The group laughed, but the mood quickly darkened. "I hope the kid's okay... otherwise, the joke won't be funny anymore."
Atop the castle, the duel reached its climax.
Mangetsu fired water bullets and drove his Thunder Swords into the "Gundam's" head.
Lightning Burial: Feast of Lightning!
Ren was trapped mid-air. To harden or to dodge? He chose a third path: taking the hits to close the distance. Water bullets pierced his body, trailing blood, but he lunged forward, swinging his water blade. He decapitated Mangetsu—only for the head to turn into water and reform.
"I don't know what you're planning," Mangetsu said indifferently. "But as long as I'm liquefied, you can't hurt me."
Ren attacked relentlessly, trying to steal the Thunder Swords to summon lightning (Kirin), but Mangetsu saw through it. "You expect too much from your sword skills," Mangetsu sneered, parrying with ease.
The two were a blur of steel and mist. Despite Ren's Sharingan, Mangetsu's superior swordsmanship tricked him at every turn. Finally, Mangetsu landed a heavy kick, sending Ren reeling.
Lightning Style: Thunder Fang!
Blue electricity flared, paralyzing the hardened Ren. Mangetsu didn't give him a second to breathe.
Lightning Style: Thunderbolt! A bolt from the heavens slammed into Ren.
Then, Mangetsu drew the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari.
CRACK! With a hammer blow to the blade's back, he shattered Ren's "invincible" Earth Spear hardening.
Finally, he drew the Great Sword: Samehada.
In one cold motion, he impaled Ren through the abdomen.
One strike to paralyze, two to break the defense, three to take the life.
Mangetsu threw the broken boy down to the hall floor. "It's over."
The ten-meter water monster raised its massive fists and slammed them down with a thunderous roar, punching Ren right through the floor into a deep, dark cavern below.
Silence fell. Mangetsu frowned, wondering why the floor felt so hollow.
Mei Terumī stood at the entrance, her face pale but her voice cold. "He's dead. Now leave. I'll take you to Yagura."