Chapter 92: Chapter 92
"Ryūjin Jakka."
Just as Tatsuya unveiled Zanpakutō's strongest Shikai even more formidable than most bankai, a sudden surge of heat ripples outward. The world around him seems to ignite as if Izanami itself responds to his Shikai.
In the underground cemetery, Madara sat upon a withered wooden throne within the grotto, his left eye replaced by a spare one.
Simultaneously, the death of the Third Mizukage was sensed by the White Zetsu clone transplanted onto him.
"The power of this young brat... is beyond imagination."
Despite not possessing the Rinnegan at the moment. But with the visual sharing from Sharingan and the white Zetsu clone implanted in Mizukage was gone. All the things used to monitor the Third Mizukage were gone just in a single moment.
Anyway, how could an 80-year-old man, devoid of any external implants, suppress the likes of Sarutobi and his friends alone? However, at the very moment, he replaced the sacrificed Sharingan. The puppet he had controlled for decades, the Third Mizukage, had been destroyed in almost an instant.
The contemptuous expression Madara had once held for Tatsuya, a non-blood successor ninja, had vanished. If that power belonged to the Hatake clan from the Sengoku era, the Hatake clan wasn't even strong enough to rival the vassals of Uchiha and Senju clans.
Obito, who had been implanted with Hashirama's cells, groaned in pain on the nearby wooden bed. Madara frowned. Tatsuya can be dealt with later first he must deceive this young one.
"Madara-sama, if the mission to capture that girl fails, what shall we do with your successor?" Black Zetsu emerged from the cave wall and inquired.
"..."
Madara stood and approached Obito. After thinking briefly, he replied, "Then, worsen his injuries."
On the battlefields of Konoha and Kiri,
An immense sea of flames jumped out of the ice-mirrored room. The ice and water started to evaporate and the temperature started to rise.
The pillar of flames that flew into the sky appeared to be the only thing at the moment connecting the sky and the earth, casting a crimson hue upon the sky.
Both Konoha and Mist Shinobi, observing the battle from the outside, instinctively halted their combat battles.
Jinpachi gazed upon the sea of fire, which had replaced the once-mighty ice wall. Akamichi Choza was awestruck and clenched his fists. "What… what is this?"
Inoichi suddenly recalled the Hatake brothers' unique abilities; one excelled in lightning, the other in fire.
Unconsciously, they exclaimed, "Is this Master Tatsuya's new jutsu?" The sound resonated, accompanying a figure that slowly emerged from the depths of the blazing inferno.
Before outsiders could catch a glimpse of his true form, they heard his voice, "Izanami, which can only be unlocked by recognizing your true self, appears to have been automatically deactivated after I deciphered the release incantation of Shikai. But it was a close call; I almost tumbled into certain death today."
As he completed this sentence, Tatsuya's figure fully materialized before the eyes of the two village ninjas. Even he had to acknowledge the dreadfulness of Izanami's technique, trapping the target in an endless loop that could only be escaped by completely surrendering one's fate, the certain death.
Nonetheless, Zanpakutō is the embodiment of a person's soul. When these two symbolic inner forces clash, the illusionary world cannot endure it and ultimately crumbles.
"Alright, what's the current situation?" Tatsuya inquired, scanning the battlefield.
Everyone remained in a state of shock. A few moments later, Nara Shikaku was the first to react, suppressing his amazement and saying, "Master Tatsuya, Rin... she was abducted by Ringo, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"
"Ah?" Tatsuya raised an eyebrow.
"Master Tatsuya, we never anticipated that they would target Rin! But don't worry, we'll do everything possible to rescue her!" Inoichi quickly lent his support, mindful of Tatsuya's potential anger.
"We truly didn't expect them to suddenly go after Rin," added another comrade.
"Yes, that's correct, we are still some distance from the border of the Land of Water; it's entirely unexpected!" Akamichi Choza nodded vigorously.
"As far back as the rule of the Third Mizukage, the Mist Shinobi were being manipulated by Uchiha Madara," Tatsuya thought to himself. The Third Mizukage not only possessed an ice bloodline limit but also demonstrated abilities characteristic of the Senju and Uchiha clans.
"It seems that Madara couldn't resist taking a shot at Rin," Tatsuya mused. "He's truly an old man who seizes every opportunity."
"You need not be so tense; none of you are to blame." Tatsuya stepped forward and spoke candidly. Tatsuya wasn't even sure if he could guard Rin's life, let alone Ino-Shika-Chō and the others.
Simultaneously, the sea of fire surrounding his body, seemingly imbued with life, began to contract and coil around the blade in Tatsuya's right hand, Zanpakutō.
"Even with Jonin's swiftness, it would take more than two days to run from here to the border of the Land of Fire, and over a week to return to the Land of Water. It's not too late."
Tatsuya clutched a knife in his right hand, gestured with his left, and commanded, "From now command belongs to Nara Shikaku. I'll head there."
"Yes!"
Konoha could feel that Tatsuya now emitted an even more daunting presence than before. Even sensing it from a distance made people feel a burning sensation deep in their souls as if they would combust from within.
The morale of Konoha shinobi soared in a moment. But they had overlooked a critical detail: Nara Shikaku was the deputy commander-in-chief, and Tatsuya held no military rank.
"Where is Master Mizukage?" Yagura, who had not fallen under Sharingan's control or become the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, attempted to locate the Third Mizukage as he vanished with the Ice Mirror killer jutsu. However, he failed to reveal any traces or signs.
Gazing at the blazing sword in Tatsuya's hand, an incredible thought arose in Yagura's mind: "Could it be that just a moment ago, he... killed.... Mizukage-sama?"
Tatsuya observed the few individuals who stood before him, each brandishing Shinobi swords, all with feral expressions, and he said with an air of illusion, "Are you the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? You're qualified to be my first targets."
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