Chapter 100: Tailed Beast Blockade Battle (Part 2)
The Tailed Beast Blockade Battle officially begins!
Seeing the few tiny figures rushing toward it across the lake's surface, the Three-Tails Isobu—rudely awakened from its slumber—instantly unleashed a massive tsunami in retaliation.
The raging waves threatened to engulf everyone in a single devastating sweep.
"Kushimaru, that guy's all yours!"
Jūzō Biwa, dragging his massive Kubikiribōchō behind him, crouched low and moved like a hunting cheetah, surging through the churning lake water with deadly intent.
The blade carved a wide trench through the lake surface, its fierce and violent aura coalescing around him, transforming him into a demon risen from hell itself—howling as he charged toward the enormous monster.
"Your opponent is right here—!"
Jūzō Biwa stomped his foot down hard on the lake surface, the chakra stored beneath his feet exploding violently like buried explosives, creating a massive spray of water.
BOOM!
In an instant, the air exploded with a deafening roar.
Immediately afterward, his figure leaped high into the air, chakra swirling violently around his body. The friction between his body and the air created massive amounts of steam, reflecting his crimson, determined eyes. A sonic boom followed in his wake as he swung his heavy Kubikiribōchō with devastating force!
Silent Killing: Decapitating Carving!
The thick blade sliced cleanly through the air, producing a piercing, high-pitched sonic boom.
In an instant, the blade tore through the surrounding airflow, the shockwave sweeping across the entire lake surface—reaching dozens of meters away and making the Hunter-nin's ears ring painfully!
Fueled by all his available chakra, the Kubikiribōchō—carrying enough power to cleave through mountains—slashed down toward Isobu's massive head!
CLANG—!!!
Brilliant sparks flew through the mist as blade met armor, producing a piercing metallic clash that echoed across the battlefield.
The Kubikiribōchō struck Isobu's head with tremendous force, but the devastating blow only managed to leave a shallow white scratch on the incredibly thick, hardened carapace. Meanwhile, the sheer force of the impact sent violent vibrations through Jūzō Biwa's hands, nearly causing the blade to fly from his grasp as his palms split open.
Suppressing the metallic taste of blood rising in his throat, Jūzō Biwa barely managed to calm the surging blood churning within his body.
Isobu, on the other hand, seemed utterly unaffected by the attack. It paused for perhaps half a second, its enormous yellow eyes blinking slowly, before finally realizing that something had dared to attack it. Enraged beyond measure, it roared thunderously—unleashing a powerful gust of wind that struck the airborne Jūzō Biwa like a massive cannonball.
BOOM!
Jūzō Biwa was sent flying backward by the sheer force of the wind pressure alone, vomiting a spray of blood while still in mid-air.
Then, like a kite with a severed string, he traced a perfect arc through the sky before plunging directly into the freezing lake with a tremendous splash.
"Impressive."
Uchiha Kazuki couldn't help but give a mental thumbs up as he watched this scene unfold.
From now on, if anyone dared to call Danzō foolish, he'd be the first to disagree.
Is stabbing Susanoo with a kunai outrageous?
Not at all! Just look at Jūzō Biwa—he actually dared to take up a blade and directly attack Isobu! Would Danzō dare to take up a sword and attack the Nine-Tails?
Obviously not. Even throughout the entire shinobi world, there weren't many with that level of courage—or recklessness.
Just then, Kushimaru Kuriarare charged in from the side, his Nuibari crackling with lightning chakra as he slashed diagonally toward Uchiha Kazuki's neck. "Uchiha Kazuki, your opponent is me!"
BOOM!
The attack came almost instantaneously—blindingly fast.
A flash of lightning cut through the air, mixed with a slight rumble of thunder, and the slash arrived in less than a heartbeat.
Just as the lightning-infused blade was about to strike his exposed neck, Uchiha Kazuki subtly shifted his feet, effortlessly dodging the attack. His indifferent eyes fixed calmly on Kushimaru Kuriarare as he casually caught the Nuibari with one hand—completely ignoring the crackling lightning—and simultaneously delivered a devastating side kick.
BANG!
Kushimaru Kuriarare was kicked squarely in the abdomen, the intense impact making it feel as if his internal organs were being violently churned and crushed.
The excruciating pain made his vision blur completely, and he heard the distinct sound of multiple ribs cracking. He involuntarily loosened his grip on the Nuibari and was sent flying dozens of meters backward—bouncing and rolling across the ice repeatedly before finally managing to stop himself by desperately driving his weapon into the frozen surface.
"Cough cough... Ugh!"
Kushimaru Kuriarare scrambled awkwardly to his knees, clutching his cramping abdomen, cold sweat beading profusely on his forehead as veins bulged dangerously.
He immediately realized his critical mistake.
"Damn it... I shouldn't have tried to fight this monster in close combat!"
Kushimaru, gripping his Nuibari tightly, staggered painfully to his feet while enduring the excruciating agony of his broken ribs.
His carelessness and overconfidence had nearly cost him his weapon, leaving him feeling deeply uncertain about this confrontation.
"Here you go."
Just then, Uchiha Kazuki casually tossed the second Nuibari back toward him.
Clang!
The needle-like blade spun a dozen times through the air before landing firmly in the ice directly in front of Kushimaru.
Staring at his weapon now within arm's reach, Kushimaru was stunned into silence for several seconds, then looked up in complete disbelief at the man before him. "Why?"
He didn't understand why his opponent would so easily return a stolen weapon.
Could it be... some kind of elaborate trap?
Thinking along these lines, Kushimaru became extremely vigilant, and even though his Nuibari was right in front of him, he didn't dare reach out to reclaim it.
"Instead of wasting time here with me, why don't you go help your comrades?"
Uchiha Kazuki turned his head, his gaze fixed on the figure being relentlessly chased by the enraged Isobu in the distance, and said with a somewhat playful expression. "Look~ If you don't go help him soon, you'll only be able to collect his corpse afterward."
However, Kushimaru Kuriarare remained completely unmoved, not even glancing in that direction, his eyes locked firmly on Kazuki. "Uchiha Kazuki, don't think you can get rid of me that easily. I trust Jūzō completely!"
"Instead of stalling me here, isn't your actual goal to stop the Three-Tails Isobu?" Uchiha Kazuki tilted his head slightly, speaking in a meaningful tone. "Besides, even if you do manage to stop me here, Jūzō alone absolutely cannot stop a Tailed Beast."
"Enough with your mind games! Unless you kill me, you won't take a single step past this point!"
Kushimaru Kuriarare's temple throbbed painfully, and he bit his lip hard, forcing himself not to look toward the distant battle.
He knew perfectly well, of course, that Jūzō Biwa and a handful of Hunter-nin operatives alone couldn't possibly stop a rampaging Tailed Beast.
But he absolutely had to keep watch over Uchiha Kazuki—in many ways, this man was just as dangerous and threatening as the Tailed Beast itself.
"Since that's the case, let's call a temporary truce."
With that casual declaration, Uchiha Kazuki sat down cross-legged on the ice, resting his hands calmly on his knees with a faint smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry. My goal happens to align with yours, so I have absolutely no intention of fighting you right now."
"Your goal... aligns with ours?"
Kushimaru Kuriarare frowned deeply, suddenly realizing what he meant. His expression changed drastically. "Your actual target is... the Mizukage?!"
"Correct."
Uchiha Kazuki rested his chin thoughtfully on one hand, smiling with obvious amusement. "But unfortunately, there's no prize for guessing correctly."
"You really are completely insane! A total madman!"
Even Kushimaru Kuriarare was genuinely shocked by this revelation, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You bastard—are you seriously planning to assassinate the Mizukage and completely ignite all-out war between our nations?!"
"Let me correct you on something important." Uchiha Kazuki wagged his finger slowly, speaking with deliberate emphasis. "It wasn't me who 'ignited' this war. From the very moment you allied with the Iwagakure shinobi to launch coordinated attacks on Konohagakure... the war had already begun!"
[End of Chapter 100]
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