Boom!
A violent explosion surged skyward with clouds of dust and blazing Black Flames, forming a pillar of black fire and ash on the flat ground a kilometer beyond Konoha's broken walls. The forest that had narrowly escaped disaster was once again blasted backward. The closer trees were uprooted into the air, burned to ash by the blazing Black Flames before they could even fall, then spiraled into the pillar as it whirled toward the sky.
Even the vine mummies hanging from the southeastern branches rustled.
The earth rumbled.
Whoosh!
As the smoke and dust dispersed, a warrior giant covered in Black Flames slowly straightened up. The blazing greatsword in its hand scattered away with the smoke, turning into wisps of Black Flames and vanishing into the air.
At the same time, within the armor-like gem set in the giant of Black Flames' forehead, a poker-faced young man slowly let out a breath.
"Although this Perfect Susanoo is immensely powerful, its Chakra consumption is far too outrageous. I'm having trouble holding on. Are you sure we still aren't using Sealing Jutsu? If we don't use it soon, I may have to dismiss the Susanoo to conserve the necessary Chakra."
Then, as the poker-faced youth exhaled, such a thought flashed through the mind of Chiba's Slug Sage Art clone, who stood in the palm of the Susanoo's right hand.
It was the inner voice of the poker-faced youth—Hirohiko's Impure World Reincarnation body.
"What about Yukina?"
In response to the warning about their dwindling Chakra, Chiba's Slug Sage Art clone turned his gaze toward the giant's left hand and sent his thoughts over.
At that moment, in the giant's left hand, the charming young woman was kneeling on one knee, gasping heavily. Her right hand covered her right eye, while a clear,