In the ninja world, tailed beasts have always been synonymous with destruction. For centuries, countless shinobi have perished at their hands, and the fear of these mythical creatures has been deeply etched into every soul. Even though Mukuro had just subdued the Three-Tails, Isobu, no one believed that he could truly defeat the beast in its current state.
Standing to the side, Mei Terumi watched Mukuro with a tense expression.
Although Mei couldn't fully grasp what had happened to Isobu, her instincts as a Kage-level ninja told her that the Three-Tails before them now was far beyond the one they had seen earlier.
At this moment, the safety of the entire Hidden Mist Village rested solely in Mukuro's hands.
In its armored state, the Three-Tails swung its massive blade several times, slicing through the Wood Release restraints binding it. Slowly, the beast rose to its feet, its two Mangekyō Sharingan glaring intently at Mukuro.
"Uchiha Madara, huh? If Hashirama Senju could defeat you with Wood Release during the battle at the Valley of the End, then so can I!" Mukuro declared.
After the initial shock, Mukuro's emotions began to settle. He reminded himself that his current strength was on par with Hashirama Senju at his peak. If Hashirama could defeat Madara back then, why couldn't he do the same now?
Moreover, with the existence of the space-time ninjutsu Kami no Rinne at his disposal, Mukuro knew he wouldn't find himself in a situation where death was inevitable.
Hearing Mukuro's words, the armored Three-Tails, under Madara's control, showed a flicker of anger in its Mangekyō Sharingan. Clearly, Madara, through his manipulation of the Three-Tails, was fully aware of everything happening on the battlefield.
"Uchiha Madara!" Mei Terumi exclaimed in disbelief upon hearing Mukuro's words. "That's impossible! Madara was the pinnacle of shinobi fifty years ago—how could he still be alive?"
Mukuro didn't have time to explain this to Mei.
Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique! Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!
A massive wooden golem slowly rose from the ground, its form towering over everyone present. Two enormous wood dragons coiled around the golem's arms, one on each side.
Without accounting for Sage Art-enhanced Wood Release, the Wood Golem Technique was undoubtedly the most powerful Wood Release ninjutsu.
Under Mukuro's control, the colossal wooden figure roared and charged at the armored Three-Tails. Its enormous fist slammed down toward Isobu's head, while the wood dragons coiled around its arms lunged to bite the beast.
The Three-Tails endured the golem's punch, and in its armored state, it slowly stood upright. Its front claws grabbed the two wood dragons, while the two additional arms on its back—now repositioned to its sides—swung their blades at the wooden golem.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!
Mukuro didn't stop unleashing ninjutsu. Massive trees erupted across the Hidden Mist Village, spreading rapidly and binding the Three-Tails' limbs.
Seizing the opportunity, the two wood dragons sank their fangs into the armored Three-Tails' neck. Their immense strength managed to pierce through the Susanoo-like armor, biting directly into Isobu beneath.
Howling in pain, the Three-Tails retaliated. Its blade-wielding arms swung down heavily on the wooden golem. Despite the sheer force of the Susanoo-enhanced strikes, capable of splitting mountains, the golem only staggered backward a few steps.
Using this moment, the Three-Tails broke free from the wood dragons' grip.
The beast opened its mouth, and a black sphere of energy began forming in the air just above it.
Tailed Beast Ball!
Tailed beasts don't use traditional ninjutsu. Their immense chakra is released in a singular, devastating form—the Tailed Beast Ball.
The next instant, the sphere was launched from the armored Three-Tails' mouth, heading straight for the wooden golem.
The golem didn't dodge. Instead, it raised an arm to catch the incoming Tailed Beast Ball. Under the sphere's immense force, the golem was pushed back several dozen meters. Yet, it managed to hold the sphere firmly in its grasp.
Stopping its retreat, the wooden golem hurled the Tailed Beast Ball back at the armored Three-Tails.
The Three-Tails didn't attempt to evade either. The sphere struck its body directly, but the Susanoo-like armor covering the beast rendered the attack ineffective.
In just a few exchanges, half of the Hidden Mist Village had been destroyed.
The golem and the armored Three-Tails continued their fierce battle, neither gaining the upper hand for over fifteen minutes.
"Damn it! This isn't going to work," Mukuro muttered, frowning as he watched the golem struggle against the armored Three-Tails.
"If that's the case, then..." Mukuro's eyes turned crimson.
Sage Mode: Activated!
Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!
A colossal wooden statue, standing over a thousand meters tall, appeared on the battlefield, crushing countless buildings beneath its massive form.
Seeing the True Several Thousand Hands, Mukuro noticed a flicker of hesitation in the Mangekyō Sharingan of the armored Three-Tails. Madara, controlling the beast, clearly understood the terrifying power of the technique that followed.
However, the hesitation was brief. The armored Three-Tails, blade in hand, charged forward.
The wooden statue suddenly opened its eyes!
Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands - Top Transformed Buddha!
Thousands upon thousands of arms, forming fists and palms, rained down upon the armored Three-Tails with relentless force.
Under the overwhelming assault of the Top Transformed Buddha, the armored Three-Tails couldn't hold out for even half a minute. Its armor shattered entirely, leaving Isobu severely weakened. The Mangekyō Sharingan faded from its eyes.
"This... is this even ninjutsu?"
"You've got to be kidding! Half of the Hidden Mist Village is gone!"
"The Death God of Konoha... he's unstoppable!"
None of the Mist ninjas could believe what had just happened. Yet, the destruction of half the village was undeniable proof.
Standing to the side, Mei Terumi was frozen in place, unable to utter a single word.
From the beginning, Mukuro had continuously shattered her understanding of the limits of ninja power. Mei, who had once prided herself on reaching Kage-level strength before the age of twenty, now found her confidence utterly crushed by this battle.
"To think that Konoha now has a genius like you. You're no less extraordinary than Hashirama or myself," an aged voice suddenly echoed.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Welcome to visit my Patreon, read the early chapters, and enjoy your reading!
patreon.com/DarkGolds