Bab 167: Dead End
In a sparsely furnished laboratory, Kurenai's fingers danced nimbly over holographic screens, managing parts of the zergs in battle while her gaze shifted between the strategic battlefield data on the screen and the eerie black larvae stationed in the lab's central area.
This ominous larvae, intricately connected to a network of equipment and fleshy appendages, was Ying, in the midst of a devouring process and rebirth.
While the critical stage had passed, Kurenai still couldn't completely shake off her worry. After all, Ying was more than just an experiment; she was Kurenai's cherished disciple.
Suddenly, the laboratory quaked. No, it was more than that - the entire secret realm shuddered, sending unsettling vibrations through the air!
Kurenai's crimson eyes narrowed, a surge of instinctual alarm coursing through her. Swiftly, she dived into the ground, melding with the earth itself, and soon emerged outside the lab, her gaze turning upwards and fixed upon the anomaly above.
Surveying the boundaries of the system space, she noticed an additional, faint layer of black mist now serving as an extra barrier.
But her attention was drawn to one part of the skies, where an enormous hand, colossal in its proportions, had breached the secret realm's ceiling. Cracks spider-webbed outward from the point of entry, the integrity of the space itself threatened. Even the new layer of black mist couldn't withstand the hand's intrusion.
"That hand... those sleeves... the Sage!" Rising from the ground with alarm and apprehension, Kurenai initiated a complex array of seals, sending synchronized commands with Karina to activate the formidable defenses they had painstakingly established within the system space.
Meanwhile, with a slow, deliberate grace, the giant hand reached down as the sleeve of its immense white robe flowed as though submerged in water. The colossal hand descended, seemingly unimpeded, its target unmistakably clear - the creep landmass below, the heart of their lair, where the hatcheries were situated!
And within that cluster, a unique hatchery stood out, its grotesque form bearing an abnormal white texture. It was the vessel containing Chomei, the host of the Seven-Tails, the target of this monumental intrusion.
However, midway through its descent, the colossal hand's expected success was disrupted by a startling transformation of its intended target. A distortion rippled across the surface of the white hatchery, followed by protrusions emerging from multiple parts of its grotesque fleshy surface.
The white, fleshy substance expanded and extended outwards, morphing at an astonishing pace, soon taking on the appearance of gnarled wood - a manifestation of the wood release technique!
With each passing moment, thick wooden branches erupted from the peculiar hatchery, interweaving rapidly as they shot skyward. Beneath the earth, more branches extended, embedding themselves like roots, solidifying the structure's hold as it braced for the impending clash.
From a distance, Kurenai's eyes widened in sheer wonder. Before her, an awe-inspiring sight unfolded: an enormous wooden hand surged forth to meet the intruding sage's hand.
Rumble! At the point of impact, the wooden hand was suddenly pressed into the ground, sending subtle ripples of tremors throughout the landmass. Then, a seismic jolt shook the earth, gullies forming across the creep-infested terrain as the Sage's hand attempted to fish out its prey!
Yet, the wooden hand stood unwavering, its grip steadfast within the ground. As if synchronized with the hatchery's struggle, the very biomass composing the landmass responded, constricting around the roots of the wooden hand, preventing it from being plucked out.
But Shino's plan was far from over. Determined to benefit from the unwanted advance, the wooden hand continued to grow, its fingers elongating and ensnaring the Sage's hand. Wood extended further, intricately weaving and interlocking with the Sage's appendage, ensnaring it in a tantalizing stalemate, thwarting its attempts to withdraw!
On the battlefield outside, Shino's determination blazed in his eyes as he clenched his bloodied teeth beneath his mask. Though his body remained sealed and immobilized, his spirit refused to yield. So what if there was a power gap. Shino wasn't going to give up without a fight!
His struggle was etched across his features, and with a surge of willpower, half of his once-orange hair began to shift, the brown mahogany overtaking the half of the vibrant orange in a dazzling display of power, a transformation that signaled the activation of his Kurama bloodline despite simultaneously using Jugo's sage transformation! Shino was able to activate two bloodline limits at once!
This feat, however, was short-lived, the color soon reverting to its former shade of orange as Shino fought to maintain his sage transformation, gasping from the strain.
But the fleeting moments he managed were enough, for he had succeeded in pulling Karina into his system space!
Shino knows he definitely can't beat the original Hagoromo. And now he even knows he may not be able to beat Hagoromo's consciousness.
But, he can at least beat the old man's hand, right? So, since Hagoromo stuck his hand into his territory, don't expect to get it back!
The battleground outside held an adversary too formidable for direct confrontation, but this intrusion into Shino's domain offered a chance to tip the scales in their favor!
Karina materialized within the system space, her gaze locked on the ensnared hand above. A fierce scowl etched her features, teeth grinding in frustration. "Why are these troublesome old men always interfering with Shino? They meddle with our lives and waste the precious time I can spend with my dear. I'll make sure they regret it someday! Now, let's take some interest! "
Time was of the essence, and Karina wasted no moment. A torrent of adamantine chains erupted from her, encasing the trapped hand and rapidly coalescing into a sealing barrier, weakening the hand's struggle.
Swift and resolute, she also embedded herself within the very earth with her chains, an auxiliary anchor to reinforce their efforts, preventing the hand from ever escaping.
Simultaneously, both Kurenai and Karina synchronized their efforts, wielding the power of wind release to sever the wrist of the colossal hand!
As the blade-like gusts sawed into the wrist over and over, swarms of zergs surged upwards, crawling along the appendage, their relentless gnawing further cutting into the wrist. The atmosphere within the system space brimmed with tension, the clash between unyielding forces mirroring the unfolding battle in the physical realm.
Outside, Hagoromo's surprise was palpable as he felt the persistent gnawing at his ensnared hand. Frustration and curiosity mingled in his expression as he attempted to withdraw his hand, only to find it stubbornly stuck.
A crease formed on his forehead, his powers momentarily thwarted by the tenacious grip of Shino's strategy.
With a decisive thought, Hagoromo brought his staff crashing down towards Shino, a manifestation of his determination to reclaim control!
The air seemed to ripple around Shino as the young ninja contorted his form, abnormal and almost grotesque, to thwart the descending blow. Bony blades jutted from his body, forming a strong scaffold against Hagoromo's lowering arm, designed to ward off Hagoromo's assault and entrap his other hand!
Seeing the success of his plan, Shino wasn't going to waste this chance!
In a display of otherworldly prowess, Shino's limbs contorted and abnormally bent backwards, generating an ethereal blade formed from blue-white energy. The azure-white blade then bit into Hagoromo's flesh, sawing away at his hand and causing a reaction of surprise to flicker across the sage's features. "What manner of energy is this? It can counteract my sage energy…"
Soon, Hagoromo's calm gaze bore into Shino's transformed limbs and energy, a keen assessment leading to a realization. "An outsider, just like her and them," he mused, drawing an unspoken connection.
Shino remained silent, focused on sawing away, but the lack of denial was a confirmation in itself. The realization ignited a decisive resolve within Hagoromo as he commanded his truth-seeking jades to intertwine into an impregnable shield, an intricate dance of power to deflect both swarms of insects and Konan's unrelenting paper barrage.
In tandem, the Sage's staff left Hagoromo's hand and hovered in the air. Simultaneously, unknown chains snaked towards Shino and coiling around his form, applying another layer of seal.
Then, with a solemn face, Hagoromo commanded his staff to smash down upon the hand trapped within Shino's domain! The decisive impact of Hagoromo's staff against his own ensnared hand shattered the stalemate, ending the friendship shake between the colossal hand and the writhing wood.
With mere moments, Hagoromo vanished from his position, reappearing at a distant vantage point.
And in his previous location, a dark sphere lingered, an eerie testament to his favorite trap.
Shino felt a tumultuous sense of liberation as he sensed the giant hand tumble down through the sky within his system space, but his shock soon gave way to seething anger as he sensed the inescapable force dragging him inward towards the black sphere!
A guttural growl escaped Shino's lips, his features contorting with rage as his chakra remained sealed and even his body was immobilized in place. Even his access to the system space was denied!
Trapped within the grip of the growing black sphere, a sense of finality settled over Shino, his voice resonating with defiant fury as he recognized the infamous sealing technique. "Chibaku Tensei!"
It was a sealing technique that could create an artificial satellite from scratch, strong enough to seal even powerful existences like the ancestor of chakra!
This was overkill for sealing Shino, but it was also for this reason that Shino was angry because it was certainly effective!
Yet, Shino's anger was met with a chilling realization – the very seal Hagoromo had imposed before had severed his access to his chakra, natural energy, and even the system space, preventing any further spatial transmissions, rendering his plight even more dire because he couldn't summon Karina to save him!
Staring at the encroaching abyss, Shino's helplessness seemed absolute, his situation an inescapable web. This was a dead end!
"It is praiseworthy for someone like you to have knowledge regarding this sealing technique. I don't know what strange abilities you have, and perhaps there may be methods to evade death. But, as long as I seal you, all problems will be solved." Hagoromo's voice carried an air of finality, his words threading through the tense atmosphere.
Glancing down at his missing arm, a silent reminder of their struggle, Hagoromo let out a weary sigh from the ancient entity as he efficiently commanded his Truth-seeking jades and maintained his hold against Konan's attempt to save Shino.
Believing Shino's captivity was a foregone conclusion within the grasp of his sealing technique, an unwavering determination resonated within Hagoromo's gaze. "There is no escape. Oh, and do not worry, I will ensure to hide you in a place where no one can see, as you don't deserve to be displayed in a respected location like her."
Nani?! The Sage's words hit Shino like a wave, unraveling the layers of Hagoromo's strategy.
The realization that there were specialized locations for sealing, distinctions between captives, sent a jolt of disbelief through Shino's thoughts.
In the midst of his struggle, Shino's mind traversed history's corridors, piecing together a tapestry of ancient secrets.
Shino didn't see any other satellites floating around the world. So, he had the false impression that there were no other invaders.
But the notion of other outsiders, forgotten invaders sealed away in the annals of time, emerged as an apparent possibility.
After all, there were apparent signs that there were more than one alien discovering this world. They left their relics in the world, some powerful ones still roaming the lands, but, there must have been more that have not been mentioned in the anime and manga. Where did all the other aliens go?
Now, Shino knew.
Due to her relationship with Hagoromo, Kaguya, the worshiped progenitor of chakra, afforded a prestigious resting place as the moon of this world, while others were concealed within the shadows of obscurity, probably in the vast universe beyond, never to be found!
Shino's deduction took a darker turn, his thoughts crystallizing around the grim reality. Hagoromo's tactics were indeed formidable, more than just a clash of power. The unfolding scene challenged Shino's expectations, revealing the true extent of Hagoromo's calculated approach.
The old sage didn't play cards by the book!
The Sage's cautious nature and the direct sealing maneuver shattered any illusions of a straightforward confrontation. It was a calculated gamble, a swift and efficient strategy that threatened to close the curtains on Shino's story.
If he was really sealed away… even if he wanted to save himself using his zergs, he won't be able to! Not only that, everyone within his system space would be sealed forever within, except Konan.
However, it was clear Konan would have no chance of escaping because she was also beginning to be affected by the attraction force! Not only that, with Hagoromo watching, her fate was doomed.
Shino's contemplation danced on the precipice of despair, his gaze locked on the ever-changing projection of potential plans and their inevitable invalidation by Karina.
However, there was one unchanging option, always hanging at the topmost corner of the constantly changing screen before his eyes.
Shino's chaos of thoughts converged as he moved his gaze towards this singular glimmer of hope – a trump card, one of the most important powers he had gained from his upgrade into a zerg lifeform.
It was power capable of growing with his own evolution, but it was also a power that had been deemed unusable with his current standards of energy reserves. It was a completely overpowered ability, yet the consequences were unknown even with all the effort they had invested in researching it.
It was a hidden hole card... probably given to him to fill in plot holes…
[Shino… the consequences of using it is unknown! Just wait! Don't do stupid things! I promise I'll find a solution to-] Karina's frantic voice pulsed within his consciousness.
[We can't wait any longer. I'll leave the rest to you, Karina.]
Shino's resolve solidified, his decision unwavering as he brushed aside hesitation. A somber certainty colored his response, a conviction that spoke of the necessity of this sacrifice. "Because only this way, there is a chance..."
As the inky abyss of the sphere gradually swallowed his form, under his mask, Shino's vibrant orange pupils underwent a metamorphosis, transitioning into a deep and vibrant hue of royal violet. Concealed behind his inscrutable mask, his eyes glowed with a newfound intensity and insanity, an ominous presence radiating from them as if an indescribable existence was descending...
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone