Kazuyama used a Transformation Technique and leapt out into the open.
At the same time, Ichikishimahime spread her arms, unleashing her Genjutsu.
A chilling voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Cleaning up my insects? You little brats want to dance too?"
Under the Genjutsu's influence, the sky seemed to freeze, and a wave of darkness began swallowing the moonlight.
The twenty-five Iwa ninja—still busy trying to clear out the insects—were stunned, including Kitsuchi. They immediately stopped and turned toward the voice.
What they saw shocked them.
A cold-eyed, black-haired middle-aged man stood there, dressed in a black, form-fitting combat suit layered with red armor plates.
He looked like someone from another era.
But that wasn't what truly unnerved them—what froze them in place were his crimson eyes.
"The Sharingan…? Someone from the Uchiha?"
Kitsuchi's heart sank. Things were spiraling out of control. Now even the Uchiha clan was showing up?
But as a Jōnin of Iwagakure, he wouldn't back down. He stepped forward and shouted,
"Hmph! You dare act so arrogant in the Land of Earth? Who the hell are you?!"
Kazuyama chuckled inwardly, then raised his voice and replied in a deep tone,
"So you're Ōnoki's disciple? Hard to believe that brat grew up to be Tsuchikage."
"But his leadership is clearly lacking... to the point where his subordinates don't even recognize me."
"No matter. Since you dared to destroy my insects—pay with your lives!"
As he shouted the final words, his eyes widened—and the Sharingan began to spin.
A chill shot down Kitsuchi's spine. He immediately shut his eyes and yelled,
"Don't look him in the eyes!"
His reaction was fast—but not everyone was as sharp.
A few Jōnin managed to avoid it, but most of the Chūnin were a step too slow.
Right then, Ichikishimahime's Genjutsu erupted.
Countless massive snakes appeared in front of the Iwa shinobi, baring their bloody maws as they lunged to bite.
The terrified Chūnin froze in place, eyes wide with shock.
"Damn it! Earth Release! Earth-Style Wall!"
Kitsuchi quickly closed his eyes and formed hand seals, raising a massive wall of earth to shield his men from Kazuyama.
"Hmph, you think that'll block my Genjutsu?"
"Then I'll just use force to break you!"
"Come on! It's been ages since I fought—entertain me, you worms!"
Kazuyama crossed his arms as Crystal Release erupted behind him, forming a towering crystal giant.
But thanks to Ichikishimahime's Genjutsu, what the Iwa shinobi saw was something entirely different—a massive, blue-glowing skeleton-like giant, horrifying in appearance.
"What the hell is that?"
Kitsuchi froze. He felt like he'd heard of something like this before... but had never seen it himself.
"Everyone! Fall back! Now!"
Facing an unknown and terrifying enemy, Kitsuchi didn't hesitate to issue the order.
But it was too late—Kazuyama had already commanded the crystal giant to smash through the earthen wall, and the pressure instantly overwhelmed the Iwa ninja.
"God! What is that thing?!"
"Run! We can't handle this!"
Panic spread like wildfire. Without even needing Kitsuchi's command, the shinobi turned and bolted—
...directly into the swarm of insects behind them.
"Aaaahhh!!! Bugs!"
"Get them off me!"
Screams rang out in all directions, and Kitsuchi's face turned red with fury.
"You bastard! I don't care who you are—I'll make you pay!"
"Earth Release! Golem Technique!"
He spat out rocks that quickly formed into a giant stone warrior.
But how could stone ever match crystal?
The crystal giant's hands morphed into two massive blades. In Kitsuchi's eyes, the blazing blue skeleton in front of him now wielded twin swords crackling with blue flames.
The swords came down—and the stone golem shattered instantly.
Kazuyama snorted with disdain.
"You want to dance too?"
"The night's still young—let me turn up the heat!"
"Fire Release! Great Fire Annihilation!"
A sea of flames surged forward. Kazuyama didn't care if the insect swarm got caught up in it—he just kept unleashing flames using Chōmei's chakra.
The sheer intensity of the firestorm blew past Kitsuchi's understanding.
"That level of Fire Release..."
"Damn it! Retreat!"
Kitsuchi's instincts kicked in. He rapidly formed hand seals while grabbing two nearby Jōnin.
"Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!"
The next moment, the three of them sank beneath the earth and vanished.
Seeing it, Kazuyama recognized the jutsu instantly.
Molding chakra to break soil into fine grains, moving underground like a mole—classic Earth-style tunneling.
"Tch... hiding like a mole, huh? Not bad."
As flames raged around him, the rest of the Iwa ninja—aside from Kitsuchi and the two Jōnin—were completely engulfed, perishing alongside the insect swarm.
When it was over, Kazuyama felt a wave of emptiness.
He'd poured everything into that Fire Release, holding nothing back. Every ounce of chakra had gone up in flames.
"Kazuyama, they're gone," Ichikishimahime said as she floated to his side. "The rest are dead."
Kazuyama nodded, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"They didn't escape. I let them go."
"They went underground, but if I really wanted to chase them—they wouldn't get far."
Ichikishimahime gave him a confused look.
Kazuyama continued,
"Guess who I just transformed into?"
"Who?"
"Heh... a shadow from Ōnoki's past. No, the shadow of fear itself."
He stopped mid-sentence, which clearly annoyed Ichikishimahime.
No matter how much she pressed him, he wouldn't say another word.
But in his mind, he chuckled to himself.
Heheheh... Madara's Fire Release, combined with Crystal Release and Ryūchi Cave Genjutsu to create the illusion of "Crystal Release: Susanoo."
Kitsuchi, you've been treated to a performance.
I wonder how Ōnoki will react when he hears the report.
Tch, I'd love to see his face... but now's not the time.
"Ichikishimahime, thanks for your help. I'm not staying in the Land of Earth any longer. That last fight might've exposed me."
"And those anacondas you released will definitely draw Iwagakure's attention too."
"I need to leave. Fast."
Ichikishimahime nodded, but gave him a firm reminder.
"I get it! But don't forget my snakeberries!"
"I want five baskets! No—six!"
Kazuyama: ...What an appetite!
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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