Hollowing out a kilometer-wide perimeter around the inner city was a move that essentially sacrificed the capital of the Land of Lightning as collateral—all for the sake of killing a single man.
The result was a colossal fortress consisting of a three-layered pyramid structure spanning ten hectares, standing between heaven and earth. To look upon it was to feel its majestic, imposing, and formidable presence.
At this moment, before the highest and most central Tenshu Pavilion, Jiraiya gazed down at the undulating, unnatural terrain with a heavy expression. There was no doubt that this manipulation of the earth, orchestrated in secret by the Hidden Cloud and Stone, was a lethal strike aimed squarely at Ren Uchiha.
This is a death trap built entirely on the intelligence Ren exposed!
The skeletal giant known as Susanoo appeared three times in the last battle. After the third time, the Cloud realized Ren's chakra was depleted. Losing the Zero-Tails at the Valley of Hell wasn't without consequence for him.
Finally, if it weren't for that unique Sage Art that uses pure natural energy instead of blended chakra, Ren never would have survived a direct confrontation with two Jinchuriki.
So—
Jiraiya glanced sideways at the young A, who was peering through binoculars toward the walls and barking orders to his subordinates. He took a deep breath.
Facing a Ren Uchiha who possesses an immortal body, high-speed regeneration, monstrous strength, skeletal defense, unique Sage Arts, and peerless perception—all while being a master of Genjutsu and Ninjutsu—the Cloud can only target the one flaw he has revealed: his chakra reserves!
But even this... it's not enough! Just trapping him won't be enough to kill him!
With that thought, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. He quietly wove hand seals with his toes—a movement hidden beneath his wooden geta sandals that looked like a simple scratch of his leg.
Poof!
A tiny cloud of dust rose, masked behind a stone block. From it, a frog the size of a fingernail hopped out and stealthily made its way toward A, attempting to eavesdrop on his plans.
"Lord A, Ren Uchiha has fallen into the trenches as planned."
"Currently, the first defensive line is carrying out the operation to drain his chakra according to the established protocol!"
Hearing the report from the intelligence unit member, A continued to observe the northern gate. Seeing the situation progressing favorably, his lips curled into a cold smirk.
"Very good! A hundred-meter trench, the Explosive Flame Formation, and a rain of tools laden with explosive tags... these techniques can't kill him, but they will force him to burn through his chakra."
"But that won't stop the brat. The first ring is to drain his reserves; our setup in the second ring is meant to force out that troublesome Sage Art of his!"
A's expression grew stern. "The battle will move quickly now. I can't stay here." He turned his fierce gaze to the intelligence chief. "Stay here and push Bee to keep firing the Chakra Cannon. Keep bombardment on the invaders from both sides and stall their progress! I am going to command from the field!"
"Yes, sir!"
However, just as the Intelligence Chief was about to carry out the order, he saw a sudden, violent upheaval at the distant first defensive line.
"Eh?!" The chief's eyes widened. "Lord A, wait! Look over there!"
A snapped his head around.
To the north, a teenager's feral roar tore through the air:
"Composite Ninja Art: Great Sky Cannon! HAH!"
A massive pillar of air and flame erupted toward the sky, seemingly powerful enough to blow a hole through the clouds! The shockwave sent the falling ninja tools flying back into the air, reversing the deadly rain.
RUMBLE!
The world-shaking vibration made the entire city shudder!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
It sounded as if someone were repeatedly shoving sticks of dynamite into the city's foundations and detonating them. Massive crashes rose from beneath the wall.
Blasting through every obstacle with Wind Style, the skeletal giant was climbing up from the hundred-meter-deep valley. Every time a skeletal palm slammed into the mountain wall, the city trembled.
As the final roar subsided, a colossal skeletal hand—so large it seemed to blot out the sun—slammed onto the top of the wall. With a casual sweep, it swatted away countless shinobi and samurai.
A terrifying, giant skull rose over the edge of the wall, casting an immense shadow over the city. Two blinding, flame-like lights ignited within its hollow eye sockets. With a cold, emotionless gaze, it looked down at the people behind the walls.
The brilliant morning sun rose slowly, its rays soon flooding the city. Clouds drifted, birds fled in panic, and the people fell into a deathly silence.
On that day, the people of the Cloud finally remembered the terror of being dominated by those eyes... and the humiliation of being trapped like birds in a cage.
"Quick!" A roared, snapping out of his shock. "Where are the Stone ninjas? Push him back! Bury him in that ditch we dug for him!"
The intelligence officer behind him immediately ran into the Tenshu Pavilion to relay the command.
"Wait, Lord A! What is he doing now!?"
The chief gasped again, staring in horror toward the gate. The massive skeletal giant had finally climbed fully onto the wall. Standing thirty meters tall on the twenty-meter rampart, the half-body skeleton looked level with the Tenshu Pavilion at the center of the city.
Then, it abruptly raised a single palm toward the sky.
"Is it coming?!" A's pupils shrank. He stared fixedly at the Susanoo, whispering to himself, "Is he going to call down the heavens' lightning to form that glorious lightning sword again!?"
But contrary to his expectations...
The skeletal palm seemed to steal the very radiance of the sun. Endless, brilliant fire ignited within its hand, appearing like a miniature sun to everyone in Unraikyō.
Within the dazzling sphere of light, a terrifying, deep, condensed, and eerie chakra gathered at a frantic pace—
Finally, it solidified into a crimson bead burning with intense flames!
"It's not a lightning sword?" A's pupils shrank to pinpricks. "Then what on earth is that!?"
For a moment, he suffered a hallucination. It felt as if, across the vast distance, he could see the boy within the Susanoo coldly spitting out a single phrase:
"Look closely... This is the Yasaka Beads!!!"
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