The End

The End

He subtly adjusted his stance, his left hand brushing across his waist. A second kunai slipped into his palm, its tip hidden within the shadow of his sleeve.

Focus. Refine.

Visible pale-blue chakra flames surged up, enveloping Shuji's entire body.

Centered on where he stood, a violent gust exploded outward!

Rubble, dust, and fragments of broken weapons were violently shoved aside and crushed by the sudden pressure.

His sword swing stalled under the abrupt physical impact caused purely by the quality of that chakra. Surprise appeared on the Black Erosion Corps leader's face.

So even that first blow hadn't been his full strength.

This chakra... was something a teenager possessed?

This was what a great ninja village was like...

The lament did not show on his face, and the surprise vanished in an instant.

He roared, "Bluffing!"

Forcing down his body as it swayed beneath the blast, he changed his long sword from a downward chop into a sweeping strike, raising a scorching curtain of steel as he slashed at Shuji's waist from point-blank range.

At that moment, Shuji found the opening he had been waiting for.

Whoosh!

His left hand, hidden in his sleeve, shot out faster than the eye could follow! The concealed kunai traced no fancy arc, stabbing straight toward the spot beneath Beast Soldier Guard's right chest, at the edge of his ribcage, where a massive old scar covered the flesh.

Right there.

"Urgh?!"

Beast Soldier Guard's body burst forth with unprecedented speed as he tried to evade, swinging up his left arm to block.

But it was too fast! Too close! Too late!

Time seemed to stretch infinitely at that instant, then freeze.

All of Beast Soldier Guard's movements stopped. His long sword hung in midair, while the dim-blue flames around his body flickered violently like frozen fire before beginning to collapse and extinguish uncontrollably.

The brutality and madness in his crimson eyes receded like a tide, revealing the fathomless exhaustion and emptiness beneath.

Slowly, with immense difficulty, he lowered his head.

His gaze fell upon the kunai buried deep beneath his right ribs, sunk all the way to its hilt.

Warm liquid, strangely viscous, slowly seeped along the kunai and dripped onto the cracked bluestone slabs below.

His massive body swayed. The burning flames went out completely, revealing skin that rapidly turned gray and lifeless beneath them.

"In the end..." Beast Soldier Guard—or rather, Nether Erosion, leader of the Black Erosion Corps—raised his head and looked past Shuji's shoulder toward the sky above the courtyard.

There was no hatred or resentment in his gaze, only an endless desert of exhaustion and the last spark deep within it, utterly extinguished.

"...I still failed."

As his words fell, his heavy body collapsed like a crumbling mountain, crashing to the ground. Dust rose, then settled again.

Retrieving his kunai, Shuji flicked off the viscous substance that did not appear to be blood.

He hurried to Shizune's side. The female ninja's left hand glowed with intense green light as she pressed it against the boy's waist.

Itachi's face was pale as paper, his lips tinged blue-purple.

"Miss Shizune, how is Itachi?"

"It isn't poison. It's more like he's been corroded by some foreign energy. Itachi-kun can't move for now. Lord Katsuyu and I can keep his condition from worsening."

At that moment, the thunder of explosions and chaotic shouts from the rear courtyard were growing increasingly frantic.

"Please look after Itachi for now." Shuji turned toward the inner residence.

Only by ending the battle could they have a safe environment for treatment.

At the entrance to the rear courtyard corridor, the master of the Tide of Filth, thoroughly enraged by the unceasing explosions, aimed the mouth of his gourd toward the watchtower.

The instant the black water emerged from the gourd, it was controlled by an invisible hand, gathering and twisting upward.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into several enormous pythons composed entirely of writhing black insect swarms.

The insect pythons raised countless heads formed from dense mouthparts, emitting piercing high-frequency shrieks as they lunged toward Jirocho and the guards, who were continuously firing arrows.

Before he could fire another arrow, a guard beside Jirocho yanked him away.

"Ah—!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out instantly! An insect python pierced straight through the man's chest, and the filthy swarm immediately covered his entire body.

The horrifying sizzle and the sound of flesh being frantically devoured made everyone's skin crawl! In only a few seconds, a living man turned before their eyes into a smoking skeleton that rapidly dissolved!

"No—!" Another guard was grazed on the arm by an insect python. His entire arm visibly blackened and rotted, while countless tiny insects burrowed madly into his flesh!

He screamed as he rolled across the ground.

Jirocho, who had fallen to the ground, reddened his eyes and suddenly grabbed an arrow bundled with Explosive Tags. Using all his strength, he hurled it viciously at the nearest insect python!

The flames and shockwave from the explosion threw the black insect swarm forming the giant python into violent agitation and retreat.

The insects at the edge of the flames curled up in patches, blackened, and lost all vitality.

However, the explosion was far too close to the watchtower!

The raging blast and flying stones struck like sledgehammers, violently throwing Jirocho and the two remaining guards to the ground!

Their ears rang, their vision swam, their blood churned, and everything before them blurred. Even breathing burned.

"Urgh..." Jirocho struggled to push himself up, but sweetness filled his throat as blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Just as the insect python was about to dive again—

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Three brown snakes lunged at Water Erosion. Water Erosion did not even turn his head.

His broad oilcloth cloak billowed without wind. Viscous black water surged from the gourd's mouth like a living shield, instantly blocking the snakes' path with perfect precision!

The venomous snakes crashed into the black water as if falling into strong acid! Their tough scales and flesh dissolved with a teeth-grinding sound beneath the frantic devouring of the dense insect swarm! In the span of a single breath, two snakes were completely consumed and melted away, leaving not even bone fragments behind!

"Tch!" Anko's scalp went numb at the sight, her face turning slightly pale.

Suddenly, she recalled the cover assault Itachi had launched earlier.

And the Explosive Tag arrows that Jirocho and the others on the watchtower had continuously fired down. Every burst of flame made those insects agitated and retreat.

An idea flashed through her mind. The purple-haired female ninja formed hand seals, drew in a deep breath, and puffed out her chest.

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"

A crimson torrent of flame tore through the rear courtyard's damp, frigid air, hurtling straight toward Water Erosion and the filthy insect swarm churning before him!

The fire dragon slammed precisely into the head of an insect python that had reared up to devour her!

Boom—!!

Flames and insects collided violently! A piercing series of sizzling detonations erupted! Countless tiny insects let out shrill wails under the extreme heat, their bodies curling and blackening before turning to ash! The insect python's head was blasted apart, and the swarm forming its body descended into violent chaos and retreat!

"It works!" Anko's spirits lifted. So they really feared fire!

However, Water Erosion moved even faster! The remaining insect pythons suddenly changed direction, lashing toward Anko like several enormous black whips with shrieking force. Having just used a ninjutsu, she was caught in a brief moment of stiffness!

The swarm churned, and a foul wind struck her face!

"Watch out!!"

Jirocho's roar came from the watchtower.

Struggling to rise to one knee, he clutched the final Explosive Tag in his bloodied hand and tremblingly tied it to an arrow shaft.

There wasn't enough time! The insect pythons were too fast!

Anko's pupils contracted sharply. She forcibly twisted her body to dodge, but the earlier exertion and the slippery ground caused her to stumble!

Using the last of his strength, Jirocho drew back his heavy hardbow!

The bowstring snapped, and the arrow bearing the burning Explosive Tag shot toward Water Erosion.

A deafening explosion erupted violently beneath Water Erosion's feet!

Raging flames and a shockwave blasted upward!

Water Erosion's broad cloak was instantly engulfed and torn apart by the flames! The impact flung him several feet into the air before he crashed heavily into the depths of the corridor!

A shriek sharp enough to nearly rupture eardrums burst from beneath the torn cloak fragments! It was the collective wail of countless insects being incinerated in an instant!

Having lost their controller, the insect pythons diving at Anko abruptly lost their solid forms, turning into scattered black rain that pattered onto the ground. Most had already curled up and blackened before hitting the floor!

An opportunity!

A sharp glint flashed through Anko's eyes. She forcibly steadied herself and formed hand seals again!

Her target was Water Erosion, who had crashed into the corridor's shadows and was struggling to rise, his torn cloak revealing the bizarre blue-gray body beneath!

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"

The second scorching fire dragon roared into the depths of the corridor, swallowing that blue-gray figure!

The flames surged. Wooden pillars snapped, while the stench of charred flesh and burned insects instantly filled the air! Piercing sizzling and the dying shrieks of insects rang out together, only to be swiftly drowned out by the roar of the flames!

Firelight reddened Anko's cheeks and illuminated Jirocho's pale face atop the watchtower, where a trace of relief finally appeared. He slumped weakly against the cold battlement, gasping for breath as he watched the rolling blaze deep within the corridor.

It was over.