Cicada's Lament

The ceaseless torrent of blades surged like a galloping dragon, grinding several lava fireballs to nothing.

Wherever the torrent passed, it plowed a deep ravine through the earth.

The blade stream did not lose any momentum, trapping that crimson figure within the storm.

Within a radius of several hundred meters, earth and stone exploded into dust, while massive trees turned to drifting ash!

"Wh-what is that?"

Shibi and the others, seeing such a technique for the first time, could not help but cry out in alarm.

"Wind Release? No, it doesn't feel like Wind Release chakra!"

"A technique like this is practically a forbidden technique! Just how many trump cards does he have?"

"He's simply a monster!"

Fugaku stared wide-eyed, trying to discern the principles behind the technique.

"Slash Release. This is Kagami's unique secret technique. It probably doesn't count as a Kekkei Genkai."

The howling wind made Minato's voice somewhat indistinct, but everyone present was a jonin with keen hearing.

"These are ultra-high-frequency slashes formed from spiritual energy... As far as spiritual energy goes, as far as I know..."

"Perhaps only one creature can compare to Kagami."

The creature he meant was not human.

"Pure spiritual slashes!" Nara Suzaku was himself a Yin Release user, and he could scarcely imagine it.

"Could this be a modified version of the Spirit Transformation Technique? Should we protect Kagami's body?"

"Though I don't think he really needs it..."

Minato pressed his fingers against the ground and continued, "This presence... Han, the Five-Tails is approaching with a group of people."

"Xuan Huo, Shibi, stay behind and assist Kagami. Everyone else, come with me and intercept them!"

"Understood!"

Within the blade storm, Roshi felt utterly miserable.

He no longer looked human. His skin and flesh were lava, and a massive tail extended behind him, making him resemble some kind of lava demon.

This was the Lava Release Chakra Mode he had developed.

Lava Release was the Four-Tails' signature ability. After years of training, he had also mastered this Kekkei Genkai himself, allowing him to assume such a form.

In this form, both his attack and defense were greatly enhanced. In terms of strength, he was even stronger than Han, the Five-Tails.

Among the Iwagakure squad Kagami had killed was his nephew. The posthumous son of his elder brother, the boy was even more important to him than his own son.

After they lost contact, the enraged Roshi ignored his companions' attempts to stop him and charged over alone.

He had thought his new form would burn the bastards who had violated the Land of Earth's border to ashes, yet the moment he appeared, he was swept up and shredded.

These tiny blade streams could not inflict fatal wounds for the moment, but if he did nothing...

Gurgle, gurgle...

More and more Tailed Beast chakra seeped out, responding to Roshi's furious emotions.

Roar!!!!

The earth-shaking roar accompanied a violent surge of scorching chakra that forcibly tore open a gap in the blade storm!

He had entered Tailed Beast Transformation so quickly...

Seeing the three tails emerging from Roshi, Kagami Uchiha took the initiative to stop Thousand Blade Flowing Scenery Severity and summoned a giant eagle.

The Uchiha Clan had several contracted summoning clans, the best known of which was the Ninja Cat Clan.

Some clan members more inclined toward genjutsu also chose crow contracts.

This giant eagle had been personally subdued by Kagami Uchiha to complete his combat system.

Flight was an enormous advantage. Against ordinary ninja, it allowed him to remain invincible.

With Xuan Huo and Shibi aboard, Kagami Uchiha felt somewhat troubled.

Ordinary jonin were useless against Tailed Beasts if they lacked methods to deal with massive creatures.

Shibi Aburame's insect secret techniques were powerful, but his Kikaichū could not get anywhere near Roshi.

Shibi was an experienced ninja as well. He saw from a single look in Kagami Uchiha's eyes that Kagami was displeased with him, so he hurriedly said,

"I've already hidden a large number of Kikaichū beneath the battlefield. As long as he has a moment when he dispels his Tailed Beast Transformation, I can control the Kikaichū to erode his chakra!"

"Have you ever used Kikaichū to drain Tailed Beast chakra before?"

"...No."

"I'll try to knock off some of his chakra later. If you can do it, assist me in battle."

"If you can't, run for your life. Don't hold me back."

I'm a jonin too...

Their exchange lasted only seconds. Below them, Roshi stabilized his Tailed Beast chakra and raised his pitch-black pupils toward the giant eagle.

Terrifying chakra gathered before him. Visible particles of chakra gradually formed a dense black energy sphere.

A Tailed Beast Ball.

An oppressive atmosphere filled the entire space. Facing a Tailed Beast Ball for the first time, Xuan Huo's hands could not help trembling.

This was a natural disaster, a vicious weapon that humans could never contend with.

"What are you afraid of?"

The calm voice pulled Xuan Huo back to his senses. He looked at Kagami Uchiha's cold profile.

"A mere Tailed Beast is nothing more than livestock to the Uchiha Clan. How can you fear an animal?"

Kagami Uchiha's absolute confidence infected Xuan Huo. Even Shibi was affected, his blood gradually heating up.

"Use all your chakra and unleash Great Fire Annihilation. Leave the rest to me."

"Understood!"

Xuan Huo rapidly formed hand seals, expending his chakra without restraint.

He released an incomparably violent blaze from his mouth. The flames surged like a raging sea, as though they could devour everything in an ocean of fire.

Facing the raging inferno, the Tailed Beast-transformed Roshi paid it no heed. At this temperature, the flames would be too cold even for a bath.

Crunch!

He swallowed the black energy sphere in one bite, just as he was about to fire it.

The vast sea of flames seemed to come alive, forming into a giant dragon.

The essence of Yin Release lay in creating form from nothing.

Kagami Uchiha could not create forms that did not exist, but he could still use Yin Release to construct things that existed.

The crimson fire dragon was dyed blue-violet as it coiled around the Tailed Beast-transformed Roshi.

Compound Ninjutsu—Yin Dragon Fire Prison!

Boom!!!

The enormous explosion was like a blazing sun rising from the earth.

Kagami Uchiha guided the giant eagle higher once more, his gaze piercing through the massive explosion as he watched Roshi's condition.

When the explosion subsided, a gigantic crater had appeared near Kannabi Bridge, changing the landscape itself.

Trickling water flowed out through the gaps in the massive crater.

At its center, the Tailed Beast-transformed body showed no visible damage. Roshi merely gathered another Tailed Beast Ball.

"Tailed Beasts... Those monsters truly are peculiar. Kid, you're in trouble now."

Sukuna's teasing voice rang out. Since their last conversation, his resentment toward Kagami Uchiha had increased considerably.

"Trouble?"

A faint curve rose at the corner of Kagami Uchiha's lips.

If he were facing a Kage-level powerhouse of equal rank, he truly still had some shortcomings.

But when it came to Tailed Beasts, he really was not afraid.

It was like...

A game of rock-paper-scissors.

Kagami Uchiha atop the giant eagle quietly vanished, turning into a wisp of green smoke.

Shibi and Xuan Huo only felt a faint cicada chirp ring beside their ears.

Below, Roshi's movements froze as well. The Tailed Beast Ball before him shattered before it could even form.

"Slash Release—One Blade: Cicada's Lament."

Kagami Uchiha appeared in the spiritual space where the Four-Tails was sealed.

Looking up, he saw a gigantic red-furred Four-Tails ape bound by chains.

Roar!!!

The Four-Tails let out an enraged roar, stirring a hurricane within the spiritual space.

Kagami Uchiha's black hair whipped wildly as his scarlet Sharingan stared directly at the monster.

"For something like you to be called Son Goku is somewhat insulting."