Chapter 311: Engrave This Scene Into Your Mind
"Since you're here, why not enjoy this rehearsal for the final battle?"
Hearing this voice so close, Jiraiya and Fugaku's eyes sharpened as they quickly moved away from their original positions.
Looking up, they saw Hozuki Gengetsu standing leisurely where they had just been, watching them with an air of ease.
'He actually bypassed both mine and Fugaku's sensory abilities.'
Jiraiya took a deep breath.
He had to take back his earlier assessment—there were indeed top-tier individuals on Snow Country's side. This Second Mizukage, an expert in genjutsu, was truly formidable in this genjutsu space.
But according to intel, his strongest genjutsu required the use of a summoned beast. How was he achieving this level of skill without it?
Jiraiya was perplexed.
Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "Lord Gengetsu, you must have overheard our conversation. Aren't you worried your subordinates might die here and fall under enemy control? The situation is urgent; there's no need for us to fight each other right now…"
He raised his voice so that nearby shinobi could hear him.
In response, Hozuki Gengetsu casually cleaned his ear with a finger, feigning ignorance. "If you're killed and controlled by the Akatsuki, what does that have to do with us?"
Fugaku frowned. If he hadn't seen the Allied Forces holding the upper hand, he might have thought they were the ones at a disadvantage.
"Lord Mizukage, we hold the advantage on this battlefield!"
Gengetsu shrugged. "And so? If you're killed and controlled, that's your problem, not ours!"
Mental control? Control whom?
This Uchiha with a powerful dojutsu was indeed impressive, capable of relocating so many people to this space. There was no doubt his ability was top-tier, rivaling Obito's Kamui.
But if he thought his dojutsu could control the shinobi of Snow Country, he was gravely mistaken.
Ever since Hyuga Fuji connected them all using the Spirit Orb, attacks involving mental control had become meaningless to them.
To control them, that Uchiha would have to overpower the entire chakra network connected by the Spirit Orb, especially Hyuga Fuji.
Or, he'd have to completely destroy the Spirit Orb, which was now integrated into their minds.
Otherwise, unless the Mangekyo Sharingan could surpass the spiritual powers of the Tenseigan, Hyuga feather could effortlessly free them from any control.
Hearing Gengetsu's response, Fugaku discreetly observed the reactions of the surrounding shinobi. His heart sank.
When the Allied Forces heard about the risk of being controlled upon death, many glanced over during breaks in their battles, and their movements became subconsciously cautious.
But the Snow Country shinobi nearby showed no signs of fear.
Clearly, they were unbothered.
Fugaku and Jiraiya exchanged a glance and both took a deep breath.
It seemed there was no choice but to fight.
Silently channeling chakra, the two refrained from discussing retreat any further.
"Now that's more like it. Here, death doesn't mean true death. Why don't you savor our strength?"
Gengetsu grinned, and after communicating with Hyuga Fuji via the Spirit Orb, he gave the command:
"Stop holding back—attack!"
The eyes of the Snow Country shinobi nearby flickered. Through the Spirit Orb, they received familiar chakra energy, and red chakra cloaks began to form around them.
From their starting point, crimson light spread across the battlefield—one, two… tens of thousands of scarlet spots illuminated the scene, like blood-red patterns streaking the land.
Witnessing this incredible sight, the Allied Forces shinobi widened their eyes in shock.
"What is this?!"
Facing the stunned gazes of the two before him, Gengetsu also donned a red chakra cloak. However, unlike most, his power seemed more natural to him.
"This is merely a byproduct of the Artificial Tailed Beast Project… Oh, by the way, the one who first conceived this research was Tobirama Senju. Your Konoha should have records of it."
Even outside, Gengetsu was still protecting Tobirama's intellectual property rights. Perhaps the late Hokage would be pleased to know this?
"As for the combat prowess of ordinary shinobi clad in Tailed Beast cloaks… why don't you see for yourselves? Kill!"
What unfolded before the Allied Forces was like a scene of beasts unleashed from their cages.
Although only a few had fully completed the Artificial Tailed Beast transformation, most were utilizing the Tailed Beast chakra gathered over the past two years through the Spirit Orb.
Yet even so, it was still Tailed Beast power!
A Snow Country shinobi let out a low growl and vanished in an instant, reappearing like a ghost before an Allied shinobi. The kunai in his hand gleamed coldly as he thrust it forward.
"Ah!" The Allied shinobi didn't even have time to react before being killed in one strike. His body, enveloped in the red chakra cloak, burst into a mist of blood and dissipated into the air.
Similar scenes played out repeatedly across the battlefield.
"How… how is this possible?"
The Allied Forces were horrified to find that these shinobi clad in red chakra cloaks had their speed, strength, and reflexes amplified to an extraordinary degree, turning them into killing machines.
"Ahhh!"
Screams echoed one after another. The ordinary Allied shinobi stood no chance against these beast-like foes. Their attacks couldn't penetrate the red chakra cloaks, while the enemy's attacks tore through their defenses with ease.
Jiraiya's expression darkened as he prepared to rush to their aid, but Gengetsu blocked his path, forcing him to glance sideways.
"Fugaku! I'm leaving this to you."
"Understood!"
Gengetsu didn't stop Fugaku, instead calmly addressing Jiraiya. "Your assessment was wrong. While some have yet to arrive, many powerful individuals are already here."
"They just didn't get involved initially, like Uchiha Fugaku."
Jiraiya's brow twitched, a foreboding sense filling his chest.
In the next moment, Fugaku was thrown back by a puppet, clutching his chest as he looked up.
Before him stood the Third Kazekage, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Lady Chiyo—top experts from Sunagakure.
Elsewhere, other figures appeared one by one, including Hanzō of the Salamander and even a flying shinobi…
"Hyuga clan?"
Seeing the unmistakable Byakugan—but now glowing with a blue radiance—Jiraiya's unease deepened.
Blue Byakugan… an indication of evolution toward the Tenseigan!
Hovering above the battlefield, Hyuga Miyuki summoned the strongest power permitted by Hyuga Fuji.
Truth-Seeking Orbs materialized behind her, as she became the vessel for Hyuga Fuji's energy. The overwhelming Tenseigan power concentrated in her eyes surged with unmatched might.
"So this is his power?"
Suppressing her excitement, Hyuga Miyuki began to manipulate the Truth-Seeking Orbs in front of her.
Boom!
A distant Lightning Release attack struck the orb-turned-shield without causing her the slightest trouble.
Glancing at a Kumogakure shinobi in the distance, she ignored him and activated her dojutsu instead.
Let today's events be etched into the minds of all the Allied Forces.
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
Harnessing just 30% of Hyuga Fuji's power, she unleashed a silver storm in front of her.
Whoosh!
At the center of the storm, dazzling light shone like a silver sun. The storm spiraled with destructive force, tearing through everything in its path as it surged toward the enemy.
"What is that?!"
Allied shinobi unfamiliar with the technique were horrified. The storm's speed was incredible, reaching them in the blink of an eye.
They tried to evade, but its vast range left no room for escape.
"Quick, defend! Earth Release—"
A shinobi from Iwagakure shouted, attempting to organize a defense.
But it was too late.
Boom!
The silver storm slammed into the Allied Forces' ranks, erupting with a deafening roar. The ground of the genjutsu space cracked, trees were uprooted, and rocks were ground into dust.
"Ahhh!"
Screams filled the air as the Allied shinobi were swept up, spun, and shredded by the storm.
Eventually, their bodies dissolved into a bloody mist, raining down on the battlefield.
The storm didn't stop, crashing into the genjutsu space's barrier.
Crack!
In the northwest direction, the space shattered.
A thousand-meter-high, hundred-meter-long hole appeared in the once-impenetrable barrier that Fugaku's dojutsu had required to penetrate.
And then, a soft yet nightmarish voice echoed around them.
"Engrave this scene into your mind!"
Shinobi from every nation heard the words, imprinting the horrors before them deep in their memories.
The Artificial Tailed Beasts, the overwhelming number of powerful foes, and those blue Tenseigan eyes…
In the future, when they faced Snow Country again, they would surely recall today's events—and their own helplessness.
(End of Chapter)