The massive chakra entity that appeared was towering, its heavy armor making one feel its invincibility, and two points of light, possibly eyes, flickered faintly in its head, its face obscured, yet giving the impression that something even more terrifying was bound within the heavy armor.
"Is this the true power of the Mangekyo Sharingan?" Asuna stared at the chakra entity, called Susanoo, her face faintly beaded with sweat, which even the serene Sage Mode couldn't prevent.
Even those without chakra sensing could feel the oppressive force of that immense chakra, and Asuna, whose senses were sharpened by Sage Mode, understood even more clearly the power it contained.
"Yes. This is the power of the Sage's Eyes. Asuna Fumori, Sage Mode is indeed a method for mortals to approach the realm of the Six Paths Sage, but compared to us, who truly inherit the Sage's bloodline, the gap is still too vast." Uchiha Kokuya said with a laugh.
Asuna felt it was very tricky. The chakra entity in front of her was enormous, and its surface defense seemed incredibly strong. Her Sage Arts might be able to destroy localized areas, but completely destroying it was still unlikely.
—However, with such a massive chakra entity, what would its attack be like?
Asuna had just thought of this when the opponent launched an attack. A sudden gust of wind swept up, and then a sword-like chakra beam came at Asuna with unimaginable speed.
Asuna immediately darted away, reaching Mizuki's side with lightning speed, embracing Mizuki's waist, and pulling her off the rooftop. Mizuki gasped, feeling herself being pulled away by a force, her waist aching, but she quickly understood that this pain was nothing.
Almost in the next moment, the chakra beam enveloped the spot where they had just been. This materialized chakra had astonishing mass, and with the amplification of speed, the destructive power it unleashed was incredibly frightening.
Due to the previous battle, the people in the house where Asuna and Uchiha Kokuya were had already fled. However, the aftershocks caused by Susanoo ripped up the surrounding houses, and those who were blocked by the chakra samurai were not so lucky.
"Ah!" People's screams immediately erupted, quickly drowned out by the rising wind and the deafening explosions. Those caught in it were undoubtedly killed, their bodies torn to pieces.
Asuna turned to see this scene and immediately felt heartbroken. She didn't want the civilians to be caught up in it, but many things don't go as one wishes. She might care about the lives of the civilians, but Uchiha Kokuya would not.
Asuna also didn't know that the special power Uchiha Kokuya possessed allowed the souls of those killed by Susanoo to enter the space within his Mangekyo Sharingan, providing him with power and security.
"Do you see, Asuna Fumori, don't think you're fearless just because you have Sage Mode!" Uchiha Kokuya shouted, "Of course, if you went all out without restraint, you might be able to contend with Susanoo for a bit."
Asuna and Mizuki landed on the ground. She didn't want to go back to the rooftops and cause more trouble for the civilians. Her nearby companions immediately gathered. Hyuga Hiashi didn't look back, but his Byakugan clearly saw Uchiha Kokuya's Susanoo, and he said, "What astonishing power. This is the Uchiha clan's Mangekyo Sharingan. My Byakugan is completely unable to contend with it."
"Can only Asuna's Sage Mode deal with it?" Mizuki asked anxiously, even though her waist was still aching, she couldn't pay attention to it right now.
"However, the chakra in the meridians around his Mangekyo Sharingan is incredibly vast. Over time, it should cause significant damage to his optic nerves," Hyuga Hiashi said.
"I'm afraid he'll have finished us all off before that," Fujimura Yuuki said with a wry smile. He wasn't trying to boost the enemy's morale, but the oppressive feeling brought by Susanoo was indeed astonishing.
Indeed, Asuna herself felt it was very troublesome. Her Sage Mode had a time limit. Not only Uchiha Kokuya, but there were also guardian ninja and chakra samurai lurking nearby. Leaving aside the guardian ninja for now, those chakra samurai would certainly not care about Uchiha Kokuya's attacks; they would rush forward even if it meant death.
—What should I do? Should I release all my chakra and see if I can destroy the opponent's Susanoo?
As Asuna was contemplating, she heard a voice ring out: "Hmph, have you forgotten about me? That guy has the Mangekyo Sharingan, and so do I!"
Everyone looked over and saw that Uchiha Ken's eyes had already transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan. Orange chakra, resembling flames, gradually emerged from his body. He looked up at Uchiha Kokuya and said, "Asuna, you take the others and go first. With your Sage Mode, these people can't stop you. I'll hold this guy off."
"What about you?" Asuna quickly asked.
"After I stall this guy, I'll catch up with you. You just need to rendezvous then." Uchiha Ken said this, and the orange chakra, like a living entity, appeared on his body, forming a skeletal chakra entity that sent the charging chakra samurai flying.
The immense force broke most of their bones, and even those who weren't dead couldn't get up. Although it was only a prototype, it showed powerful strength.
"I understand. I'm counting on you." In this critical moment, Asuna didn't hesitate much and immediately nodded, rushing off in a certain direction with the others.
At this moment, Uchiha Kokuya's attack came again, but it was blocked by an orange arm. The arm's surface was already covered in a thick layer of armor-like material. Although cracks appeared, it still blocked one of Uchiha Kokuya's sword strikes.
Uchiha Kokuya paid no attention to the departing group. He didn't have the luxury of time to do so, because the young man in front of him genuinely posed a threat.
"Uchiha Ken, as a descendant of the Uchiha clan, why do you help Konoha Village?" Uchiha Kokuya said, "I've tried to recruit you many times, explaining the stakes, but you just don't understand!"
"Why should I understand the thoughts of a scoundrel like you! In the end, wasn't my father killed by people like you?" Uchiha Ken shouted furiously.
At the same time, the orange chakra rapidly expanded, like clashing flames, quickly reaching the same height as Uchiha Kokuya's Susanoo. Meridians and flesh then grew on its surface, followed by heavy armor. In a short time, a Susanoo identical to Uchiha Kokuya's in appearance, but different in color, emerged.
"Your father? Ah, speaking of which, Uchiha Setsuna did mention that he pulled some strings in that matter. But what does it matter? Didn't you awaken your Sharingan because of it? Your father would surely be very happy." Uchiha Kokuya said.
"Nonsense! It's because of your way of thinking that my father died!" Uchiha Ken was furious. In the past Uchiha clan, the pursuit of power was above all else—deep affection was a characteristic of the Uchiha clan, but it was latent, few could clearly recognize it, and as the Sharingan's level increased, it often got mixed up with the pursuit of power—thus, it led to certain undesirable traditions, such as being able to kill one's own family for power. This ideology was particularly evident among the hawks.
As Uchiha Ken spoke, the two Susanoo, identical in appearance but different in color, collided, creating an impact almost visible to the naked eye. Nearby houses collapsed one after another, chakra samurai were knocked to the ground, and some residents frantically fled, running as far away as possible.
Occasionally, someone would look back and see the two chakra entities clashing like wild beasts, entangled with each other. They seemed to emit heavy breathing sounds like living creatures, or perhaps it was just an illusion caused by the rapidly moving wind. But to these civilians, Susanoo was like a god.
"What's wrong with that? Carrying the regret for your father, standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world, once you establish supreme status, what else is there to be dissatisfied with?" Uchiha Kokuya laughed heartily.
Uchiha Ken controlled his Susanoo to block Uchiha Kokuya, his face ashen. Every cell in his body was screaming in incredible pain. Although he was able to advance Susanoo to its third form due to his proficient control over the Mangekyo Sharingan, it was his first time using it without restraint, making it difficult for his body to adapt.
The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan was indeed immense, but the burden on the body was also significant. Perhaps it would be better at the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan stage, but ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan was not that good. Uchiha Ken felt his body was almost numb.
—Why, why does this guy look so relaxed?
Uchiha Ken looked at Uchiha Kokuya in front of him, somewhat unable to understand. The other party should also have an ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan, and like himself, had almost never used Susanoo, but why didn't he seem to bear the burden of Susanoo?
As if seeing what Uchiha Ken was thinking, Uchiha Kokuya's face curled into a cold sneer and he said, "You're wondering why I look more relaxed than you? Haha, it's because your pursuit of power isn't enough. You haven't truly grasped the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan, which is why you're in such a sorry state."
Actually, Uchiha Kokuya was just boasting. The reason he was more relaxed than Uchiha Ken was because of his Mangekyo Sharingan and his special abilities, which allowed those souls to bear and replenish his power, thus he didn't have as much drain as Uchiha Ken.
The massive Susanoo had no technique to speak of; it relied entirely on brute force, like irrational beasts tearing at each other until one side completely collapsed.
"Ken-kun, do you understand? I always hoped you would join us." Uchiha Kokuya's voice suddenly softened. "Because you were once Uchiha Setsuna's hope. In his heart, he believed he could lead the clan back to the glorious peak."
"Wh-why?" Due to the intense pain and chakra depletion, Uchiha Ken's voice was somewhat intermittent.
Uchiha Ken still didn't know why Uchiha Setsuna wanted to harm his own father and take him in as an adopted son. He had no outstanding qualities at the time, and his current power was entirely due to his own hard work, and strong will that he reached this point.
"Because your body holds a great soul from ancient times, the spirit of our Uchiha clan's ancestor, Lord Indra, is within you!" Uchiha Kokuya's words were astonishing. "You could have been like Uchiha Madara, as the reincarnation of Lord Indra, gaining enviable power, enough to rival the God of Shinobi, and even go further, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Six Paths Sage! But—"
Uchiha Kokuya's voice carried deep disappointment. He stared at Uchiha Ken, who was enveloped in the orange Susanoo, and shook his head, saying, "You have abandoned all of this, throwing yourself into the embrace of our ancestor's enemy, the Asura lineage! He was clearly our ancestor's enemy, who beguiled the Six Paths Sage and stole the position of successor!"
Uchiha Ken's face revealed a look of shock. He had never thought that the soul of Indra would be within him. According to Uchiha Kokuya, the former clan head, Uchiha Madara, also had Indra's soul and was Indra's reincarnation. So, did that mean he was also Indra's reincarnation?
For Uchiha Ken, who did not come from a prominent background within the Uchiha clan, this news was undoubtedly unexpected and somewhat incomprehensible.
"Since you have abandoned such a gift in vain, yet still cling to the power of our ancestor Indra, then I shall obtain this power!" Uchiha Kokuya shouted loudly.
Just then, a dark ink-like substance appeared at Uchiha Ken's feet. At this third stage of Susanoo, the lower half hadn't appeared yet, and Uchiha Ken was currently on the ground. By the time he noticed it, it was already too late, because he was impacted by the information revealed by Uchiha Kokuya and his own pain, causing his reaction to be somewhat slow.
The dark ink-like substance wrapped around Uchiha Ken's body. Uchiha Ken immediately felt his body go numb, his tongue and mouth seemingly unable to move freely, and the light on the surface of his Susanoo instantly dimmed.
Uchiha Kokuya's eyes widened, and the purplish-black Susanoo immediately exerted force, crushing the opposing orange Susanoo. Uchiha Ken couldn't help but fall to his knees.
"Come, grant me Lord Indra's blessing." Uchiha Kokuya looked at the opponent, a phantom figure appearing and darting out with lightning speed. And Uchiha Ken, whose body was temporarily controlled by Black Zetsu, though still able to resist, couldn't evade the attack before him.
The phantom figure passed through Uchiha Ken's body. Uchiha Ken immediately felt his mind greatly shaken, and Black Zetsu's erosion instantly intensified. Originally, Uchiha Ken, possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan, wouldn't have been so easily controlled. The Mangekyo Sharingan was excellent at countering mental control; after all, it was the strongest illusionary eye.
However, due to the consumption of Susanoo and the mental blow from the opponent's attack, Uchiha Ken was now somewhat powerless to resist. Watching Uchiha Kokuya getting closer, a sense of despair crept into his heart—was this the end for him? It seems I must follow you, Father.
Just as Uchiha Ken's eyes turned black, he saw something approaching from afar, faintly, like a ray of light, bringing with it hope.