Chapter 371: The Changing Mindset of Kitsuchi
The appearance of Hyuga Fuji instantly silenced the entire battlefield, as if even the air had frozen.
Everyone's eyes instinctively focused on him, their breathing growing heavier, with some even breaking out in a cold sweat.
This was the greatest enemy of the Allied Forces. Just the sight of his eyes was enough to instill fear.
But after the fear came relief.
If Hyuga Fuji hadn't arrived, the damage that this so-called Ten-Tails' master might have caused was unimaginable.
Although relying on an enemy for rescue was laughable, after witnessing Nagato being effortlessly controlled by Kaguya, few among the Allied Forces had the courage to face her.
On the other side, Kaguya looked at Hyuga Fuji, her eyes narrowing.
"You've finally come."
Hyuga Fuji scanned the battlefield, his gaze lingering momentarily on the split form of Hyuga Shizuka before shifting back to Kaguya. He spoke calmly:
"I can allow you to retain some power and live in the ninja world, but you must hand over the Ten-Tails."
"Dream on!" Kaguya scoffed. "Do you really think I would believe you? Isshiki!"
"..."
Isshiki? What was Kaguya imagining? Did she mistake me for Isshiki?
From Kaguya's perspective, it wasn't entirely unreasonable. A mysterious new powerhouse had emerged in the ninja world, and he even possessed an Ōtsutsuki-style Kāma. Associating this with Isshiki's revival wasn't far-fetched.
Hyuga Fuji's expression turned momentarily strange but quickly returned to normal.
"This is not a request. It's a demand."
As soon as he finished speaking, the black eye on Hyuga Fuji's forehead erupted with a terrifying ocular power. In response, Kaguya's third eye—the Rinne Sharingan—reacted, blooming with an eerie glow. The blood-red tomoe within it darkened, each radiating an ominous light, sensing a formidable opponent.
A silent clash of powers commenced as their eyes met.
The next moment, to the remaining conscious ninja, Hyuga Fuji and Kaguya had vanished.
Boom!
In that instant, many ninjas caught a fleeting glimpse of their collision. The dazzling night sky seemed to distort, as if space itself was being shattered.
A deafening explosion erupted from the center of the battlefield, unleashing a blinding light that resembled the descent of a sun. The scorching energy waves surged outward, lifting clouds of dust and debris into the air.
The ninja instinctively shielded their faces, their ears ringing from the thunderous roar, as if the world itself was trembling.
"Is this the power of a Sage of Six Paths-level battle?"
"No way… The scale of destruction is too vast. We're not even qualified to stay nearby and watch."
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Tsuchikage, what should we do?"
Before the battle had even escalated, the spectators realized they couldn't even remain close enough to observe. Fear-stricken, they turned their gazes toward their leaders.
A single exchange between these two inhuman beings had already triggered an overwhelming storm. The mere aftershocks of their clash were terrifying beyond imagination. If they continued fighting, the destruction would be catastrophic.
No one wanted to be caught in the crossfire.
Kitsuchi and Tsunade exchanged glances. Kitsuchi nodded at her.
Seeing this, Tsunade cast a complicated look at Hyuga Fuji before giving a decisive order:
"Anyone still able to move, retreat immediately!"
Hearing this command, the Allied Forces breathed a sigh of relief and began withdrawing.
Though many of their comrades were still trapped on the Divine Tree, they had already attempted to rescue them before, only to realize they couldn't break through its bindings or undo the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Since they couldn't help, all they could do was pray that their comrades wouldn't be caught in the ensuing battle.
As Kitsuchi retreated, he took the unconscious Fourth Raikage with him.
He had observed closely—Raikage had become a puppet under the control of Nagato. With Nagato now consumed by Kaguya, the Fourth Raikage had collapsed, lifeless.
Now unmoving, he resembled a corpse.
...A corpse?
Kitsuchi checked the Raikage's body and found it was growing cold, his life force rapidly fading. He was stunned.
Could it be that Nagato's control was so absolute? Once released, the Fourth Raikage would just die?
And worse… did he just die in my hands?
A chill ran down Kitsuchi's spine.
He had never expected that his well-intentioned attempt to rescue someone would land him in such a situation.
The Land of Earth couldn't afford more trouble. If the Land of Lightning decided to use this as a pretext, they could demand hefty compensation.
Maybe… maybe he should just leave the body here and claim that the Raikage was killed in the battle's aftermath?
No, that wouldn't work. Some Cloud Village ninjas had already intended to take Raikage away, but stopped when they saw him. If he didn't bring Raikage back, he wouldn't be able to explain.
Wait… wasn't this war started by Raikage? And he was also controlled by Nagato. Shouldn't the Land of Lightning be the one offering an explanation to him and Tsunade instead?
Kitsuchi let out a bitter chuckle.
What was he even thinking just now? Since when did he start acting so subservient to the Land of Lightning?
That was the mindset of the weak.
As he carried Raikage away, Kitsuchi turned to glance back at the battlefield, where sandstorms raged and the ground heaved violently. His expression grew complex.
But it was true. Compared to them, both he and the Land of Earth were weak.
As the ninja alliance continued their retreat, Hyuga Miyuki received a signal from Hyuga Fuji. She grabbed Hyuga Shizuka and led the forces of the Land of Snow to withdraw.
But before they could escape to safety, a surge of immense energy roared down from the sky.
With an earsplitting explosion, the entire battlefield was engulfed.
Renowned figures like the Third Raikage, legends of the ninja world, were swept up like ants and obliterated. Their Edo Tensei bodies crumbled instantly.
From the spatial rift behind the retreating Allied Forces, a massive Truth-Seeking Orb suddenly emerged—and detonated.
A blinding flash erupted, splitting the ground apart.
The land was torn asunder, sending waves of rock and debris skyward. The shockwave threw the ninja into the air like leaves in a storm, only for them to crash down heavily.
When they finally scrambled to their feet, dazed, they turned back—only to see an abyss where the battlefield once stood.
High above, Kitsuchi swallowed nervously.
If I hadn't been airborne… if I had hesitated for even a moment… I would've been annihilated.
This… this is the power of the Ten-Tails' master and Hyuga Fuji?
A single strike could reshape the world. They weren't just on a different level—they were entirely different beings.
How ridiculous it was to think the Alliance had a chance against the Land of Snow.
Now, it was obvious: just one Hyuga Fuji was enough to wipe out the entire Allied Forces.
The real obstacle to delaying their conquest wasn't power.
"Perhaps… the Land of Earth needs to start making plans."
At that moment, Kitsuchi's mindset shifted—he no longer wanted to struggle futilely.