The ANBU squad captain's shout shattered the last remnants of silence within the Mizukage Building. Dozens of ANBU and upper-ranking Kiri shinobi on the second and third floors poked their heads out, rushing toward the staircase to see what was happening.
Seeing that she had been discovered, Pakura stopped holding back. She controlled three blazing orange spheres of Scorch Release, sending them rampaging through the ANBU ranks. The glowing spheres exploded among them, forcing the Kirigakure operatives to scatter in panic.
But in the narrow confines of the stairwell, where could they possibly run?
Even those few who barely dodged Pakura's Extremely Steaming Murder didn't survive long — Hoshiyomi, hidden by his Transparent Escape Technique, cut them down silently before they could even scream.
By now, Hoshiyomi's Transparent Escape Technique had reached a realm of mastery. Without Byakugan or sensory ninjutsu, even elite jōnin found it nearly impossible to detect him.
In just a few seconds of combined assault, Hoshiyomi and Pakura had already wiped out over a dozen Kirigakure ANBU.
The ANBU captain quickly realized something was terribly wrong.
"Fall back!" he shouted. "Get to a wider area — don't fight in this corridor!"
But as he turned, his path was completely blocked. More and more Kirigakure shinobi poured out from nearby offices until the entire staircase was packed shoulder to shoulder.
Watching the crowd bunch together, Hoshiyomi canceled his invisibility and appeared before them, raising his left hand.
A cold smirk touched his lips.
You can't blame me for being ruthless; you chose to crowd together. Blame your Seven Ninja Swordsmen and your own damned curiosity.
Ultimate: Soul-Devouring Demon-Sealing Slash!
As Hoshiyomi's voice thundered, a massive crimson-black vortex of gravity burst open from his outstretched hand. The force was overwhelming — like a fragment of hell itself.
Pakura's eyes widened. She instantly recalled that terrifying attack he had unleashed in the White Mist Valley before — and instinctively shivered.
She quickly withdrew her Scorch Spheres and ducked behind Hoshiyomi. She had no intention of being caught in that pull again — once was enough to make anyone fear it.
But this time… it was different.
Even without seeing the previous version firsthand, Pakura could feel that this Soul-Devouring Slash was far beyond that one — the oppressive power alone was at least twice as strong!
The Kirigakure shinobi froze at the sudden appearance of Hoshiyomi. After clearly seeing Hoshiyomi's attire, they were scared out of their wits.
"I-It's Konoha's Silver Moon! He's invading Kirigakure! Everyone, run!"
"Someone, call the Mizukage!"
"Spread out! Gekkō Hoshiyomi's taijutsu is formidable. If he gets close, you're dead!"
There were at least thirty to fifty people gathered — ANBU and high-ranking ninja alike — but not one dared to step forward.
They all knew what that title meant.
The name "Konoha's Silver Moon" wasn't just a reputation — it was forged through blood, blade, and battle, a legend recognized by the strongest across the shinobi world.
And one rule was carved into every Kiri shinobi's memory:
Never fight the Silver Moon in close quarters.
Unfortunately, realization came too late.
Once the vortex of the Soul-Devouring Demon-Sealing Slash was unleashed, it was no longer something human beings could resist.
Those who tried to flee found themselves dragged backward — no matter how fast they ran, they were pulled inexorably toward Hoshiyomi.
The more they struggled, the faster they were drawn in, until their bodies collided violently with one another, crushed together by the immense gravitational pressure.
Dozens of Kirigakure shinobi — ANBU, elites, and officers — were packed so tightly that they couldn't even move their arms. And worst of all, the vortex's pull was still growing stronger, sucking in more and more people from behind.
As more and more Kirigakure shinobi were dragged into the vortex, the space at the front grew tighter and tighter — what had begun as mere crowding soon turned into crushing compression.
The few who were closest to Hoshiyomi's outstretched left hand were already distorted beyond recognition. As the gravitational force intensified, their bodies could no longer withstand the pressure.
A chorus of agonized screams filled the air.
Crack… crack… crack!
The sharp, nauseating sound of breaking bones echoed through the corridor. The shinobi in the front ranks had their skeletons crushed outright, squeezed to pulp by the sheer number of bodies piling up behind them.
Pakura, hidden behind Hoshiyomi, could even see one man's forearm bone snap and be squeezed out of the muscle by the excessive crowding. The pale bone, covered in torn flesh, sent shivers down her spine.
In fact, even Hoshiyomi was somewhat startled by the power and range of the Ultimate: Soul-Devouring Demon-Sealing Slash. He knew the Ultimate would strengthen the gravitational force and range, and enhance the slashing power, but he hadn't expected the boost to be this effective.
It was powerful enough to crush people alive!
The agony of bones being crushed alive caused the Kirigakure shinobi at the very front to scream in terror, their cries echoing throughout the Mizukage Building. At this moment, the entire Mizukage Building was painted like a living hell.
No matter how preoccupied the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was, he realized something was terribly wrong. He quickly left his office and used a few Body Flicker techniques to reach the scene.
Seeing the crimson vortex filled with human bodies before him, even the Mizukage himself was stunned into momentary stupefaction. Then he hurriedly tried to stop it:
"GekkoHoshiyomi! Stop this at once! Whatever your purpose, we can still talk this out—"
But before he could finish, Hoshiyomi's Soul-Devouring Slash had already reached full charge. He had no intention of talking.
With a decisive motion, he swung the Mikazuki Munechika in his right hand.
The sword cut through the air with a shriek like the cry of a hellish demon. A massive crimson X-shaped arc of energy exploded outward — and then, suddenly, everything fell silent.
No one moved.
Not the Fourth Mizukage, not Pakura, not even the few Kirigakure ANBU who had managed to avoid the gravitational pull. All of them stood there, staring blankly at the enormous, glowing X.
The slash carved through the entire vortex of helpless Kirigakure shinobi — and kept going, tearing straight through the back wall of the building. When the light faded, a gigantic X-shaped scar was gouged across the structure, spanning nearly the entire Mizukage Building
Then came the aftermath.
A downpour of blood and flesh rained from above. Severed limbs and crimson mist fell like macabre snowflakes, coating everyone in sight. Not one person remained untouched — each was drenched head to toe, transformed into a literal figure of blood.
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, stood motionless, staring blankly at the devastation before him.
Those faces — the subordinates who had greeted him every morning, the shinobi who had come to his office to receive missions — were now nothing but scattered chunks of meat on the floor.
At that moment, his mind nearly shattered.