Interrupted Bankai

Jonin Version of Blood Stasis Armor. This was a brand-new jonin-level ninjutsu developed by Orochimaru and Danzo based on the principles of Blood Stasis Armor.

Because it required extremely rare Chakra Metal to be ground into paint and liquid for conduction, only a handful of Konoha's top ninja possessed this improved Blood Stasis Armor technique. But without question, its effects were powerful.

The resonance between the rare Chakra Metal and chakra itself formed countless defensive markings within the blood vessels, blocking the explosive fireball outside the shield. Even an ordinary jonin-level attack would likely be unable to affect this version of Blood Stasis Armor at all.

More importantly, once this Blood Stasis Armor was activated, it did not completely eliminate the user's ability to cast ninjutsu.

Now was the time to sound the horn of counterattack!

Confirming that the Explosive Fireball could no longer harm him, Jiraiya immediately began forming hand seals.

Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram—the five seals were completed in a single fluid motion in less than a second. Chakra instantly gathered in his palm, which he slammed against the ground, revealing a ring of ant-like script.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

"Summoning Jutsu and Reverse Summoning are very convenient, but—Mimicry Binding Way, Forty-Three: Boundary Seal."

Watching Jiraiya endure his attacks and forcibly complete the Summoning Jutsu seals in a second, the mysterious Uchiha ninja shook his head and stomped his foot hard.

The surrounding world seemed to overlap with some kind of shadow in an instant. The moment Jiraiya's chakra for summoning touched the ground, it nearly rebounded at once, blasting his palm bloody.

Although the film of light from the Blood Stasis Armor reduced the chaotic chakra current—which should have instantly blown both his arms apart—to no more than cuts across the surface of his skin, Jiraiya still stared gravely at the Uchiha ninja who had disrupted his Summoning Jutsu. Looking at the hazy, intersecting space around him, an uneasy premonition sent his mood plummeting.

He had never even heard of a seal-less ninjutsu capable of preventing Space-Time Ninjutsu from activating.

Then again, was that really seal-less ninjutsu?

"This is what happens when Space-Time Ninjutsu is interrupted. It's difficult to interrupt, but all it takes is a slight disruption of the spatial coordinates, and such delicate tricks become useless."

As Jiraiya endured the agonizing pain in both hands and kicked at him, the mysterious Uchiha used the Body Flicker Technique to evade him again.

With a soft whoosh, the Uchiha sidestepped the groin kick aimed at him and fired a Roaring Fireball at Jiraiya's back.

As if he were taking a stroll through his own garden, standing amid the endless flames and looking at the Pale Blue Blood Stasis Armor on Jiraiya's body, his voice seemed to warp and distort in the violent heat.

"Even if you've enhanced your mobility and taijutsu power, your reaction speed remains unchanged. Your chance to turn this around was that Summoning Jutsu just now. What will you do next to deal with an enemy like me? And how long can your Blood Stasis Armor last?"

"Haha, it'll probably last much longer than you think, Senior."

So I can only use pure taijutsu... But I'm so tired...

Jiraiya looked through blurred vision at the Uchiha's red eyes. He spoke with a smile, but he could feel his heartbeat growing ever more rapid.

The instant he tried to launch another attack, a feeling of oxygen deprivation swept through his limbs and bones. He nearly failed to maintain the Blood Stasis Armor, staggering down onto one knee. All he could do was open his mouth and gasp desperately for air.

This was not an effect of the Blood Stasis Armor. It was as if the surrounding air had been burned away entirely by the massive flames. The moment Jiraiya forcibly gathered his strength, he noticed something was wrong.

Why is it so hard to breathe...? Was the air around me burned away? Impossible. We're in an open area—why?

Gasping heavily, Jiraiya looked in surprise at the Uchiha Clan ninja standing calmly before him, holding a Withered Branch with tiny flames flickering at its tip.

Under normal circumstances, Jiraiya would have been able to handle a battle of this level of offense and defense with ease, using various seal-less ninjutsu and taijutsu. After all, he could ignore his opponent's attacks.

But for some unknown reason, Jiraiya could only feel his strength weakening and his vision growing dimmer. If Blood Stasis Armor had not been forcibly supporting him, he would likely already have fallen to his knees, gasping and begging for air.

Yet even with Blood Stasis Armor, Jiraiya could feel the feverish heat and suffocating pressure caused by oxygen deprivation gradually constricting his movements from within.

The few arrogant exchanges just now had rapidly consumed the oxygen in his body. Now, he could only stand where he was and wait for an opportunity.

Why is this happening... Is it poison? Or is it the ability of that Withered Branch?

"Have you finally noticed?"

"...What?"

"It took you quite a while to recognize my ability. If this had continued for a few more minutes, you might have died beneath my Shikai, Jiraiya."

Watching Jiraiya stand there, afraid to move too much and gasping with his mouth open, the Uchiha ninja shook his head as though disappointed by his failure to meet expectations.

"You thought my teammate's ability was to create a hidden space isolated from the outside world, while mine was merely to set fires? You underestimate the ability reflected by this soul—and you underestimate us, Jiraiya. Do not judge things by their surface."

Holding the burning Withered Branch horizontally before his chest, the Uchiha ninja looked at the struggling Jiraiya, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Mimicry Shikai, Jiejin. Its ability is to convert oxygen into fuel, filling the blade with it before unleashing ferocious slashes. The faster it is swung, the more oxygen it absorbs, and the more powerful the released slashes become."

"You may not understand why you feel oxygen is scarce even in such an open environment. That is because it does not deprive the environment of oxygen. It deprives your soul of its understanding of oxygen. Your lungs will refuse to comprehend breathing, and this concept will be imposed upon my attacks."

"It was not the light flames I unleashed that set this forest ablaze, but the explosion brought forth by your immense vitality and desire to survive. And the more fiercely these flames burn, the more they will steal your breath."

"Unfortunately, if you cannot think of a way to resist me, you will suffocate to death. Within five minutes."

"..."

It seemed there was no way out.

Looking at the Uchiha standing quietly amid the burning forest, seemingly waiting for something, Jiraiya felt a strange bitterness in his heart.

If he did not deactivate Blood Stasis Armor, he could not use more ninjutsu, nor could he use secret techniques to dispel the suffocating illusion affecting him. But if he deactivated Blood Stasis Armor, Jiejin would likely burn him to ashes immediately.

The Summoning Jutsu had been sealed, so he could not enter Sage Mode. Ninjutsu such as Needle Jizo, which he excelled at, had weaker defenses than Blood Stasis Armor, and he still had to maintain his chakra circulation. He could not focus on three things at once. It seemed slow death was his only future.

But was this really how it ended?

Facing the Uchiha who wore a Konoha Headband and seemed utterly serious, Jiraiya asked quietly:

"Why... did you deliberately tell us your ability?"

"Why? What a strange question. Is there any other reason to explain one's ability during battle?"

As he looked at the nearly unconscious Jiraiya, a trace of bone-deep hatred flashed in the depths of Uchiha's pupils.

"Of course, I hope you can defeat us! The strength you've shown now isn't even a fifth of ours. How can you expect me to have any hopes for you?"

"...What?"

"If you can kill us and free us from this sorrowful cycle, that would be the best possible outcome."

Using Instant Step again, Uchiha appeared before Jiraiya in an instant. With Withered Branch, he brushed aside Jiraiya's slow, almost struggling punches, and the flaming branch was aimed at Jiraiya's pupils.

"But the strength you three possess right now probably isn't enough. You need to realize what power we possess. Then, realize what is hidden in this world's shadows, realize what is watching you. Only then will it be possible."

"But before that, you have to hold on. You must survive, Jiraiya. Only those who survive have the right to warn others. Only those who survive and obtain information can face everything. From a ninja's perspective, you're already exceptional. After all, you've held out before me for nearly twenty minutes. But it's still not enough."

"Far from enough."

The sword shaped like a withered tree branch pointed at the utterly stunned Jiraiya. The disheveled Uchiha grabbed his right wrist with his left hand and took a deep breath.

"...Mimicry, commence."

Boom!

It was here again! That pressure!

And this pressure was far greater than before, directly forcing Jiraiya to his knees and leaving cracked fissures across the charred ground.

He did not even feel it drawing near. Merely watching the decayed wood gradually peel away, Jiraiya felt as though he were suffocating as he witnessed an indescribable hallucination.

Ashes.

Countless ashes.

Like the ashes left behind after the world had burned to nothing, black dust fell from the sky.

Accompanied by the crackling sound of deadwood snapping apart, countless ashes gradually blanketed this sorrowful world from the heavens.

Within that sea of black ash, dim dark red flames flickered into view. It was as though some form of hope still remained amid the calamity ash scattered throughout the world.

"...Bankai."

The man spoke in a low voice.

All things burned to ashes, calamity ash danced in the air.

In Jiraiya's nearly lifeless gaze, robbed of oxygen and breath, the world seemed about to transform into something beyond his comprehension.

"Ash Burning h—"

"...Don't do anything unnecessary, Kagami."

Just as that terrifying pressure, enough to crush a person, was about to reach its peak, a hand suddenly seized the Uchiha Clan man's wrist and directly interrupted the process.

The masked man with Moon-white long hair appeared silently beside him. Under Jiraiya's shocked gaze, he tossed the two Sannin from his back onto the ground, letting them roll over beside Jiraiya, their condition unknown.

"If you use that move, that guy will definitely notice. We can't die yet."

"...True."

The ashes filling the sky vanished without a trace in an instant.

The long sword resembling a Withered Branch slowly lowered. The mysterious Uchiha looked at the unconscious, bedraggled Sannin on the ground and sighed.

"Go tell every ninja in Konoha, and even the entire world, to beware of their shadows. Beware of the dead. Beware of the person closest to them."

"Something more terrifying than any ninja is lurking in the shadows. Only by joining forces can you resist such an existence. But you definitely don't understand, do you? You know nothing, and we have no way to explain it clearly."

"Savor this feeling carefully. Farewell, ninja of Konoha. If there's another chance, we'll meet again."

This alone would not do.

The scarlet Three Tomoe looked at the white-haired ninja beneath his feet, whose face had already turned purplish-red as he clutched his throat. Uchiha shook his head regretfully.

Together with the Moon-white figure suspected to be Dan Katō, the two stood bathed in pure white moonlight. With only a light tap of their toes, they vanished from the clearing in an instant, as though they had never been there.

Only the bedraggled Sannin remained in the burning forest, gasping without pause as they tasted defeat.