Tsukuyomi

"It seems your growth falls short of expectations."

On the other side of the battlefield, Orochimaru was watching Kakashi and Tenzo with a playful gaze.

His breathing was steady and his expression normal, but Kakashi and Tenzo appeared rather battered.

"Especially you, Kakashi. You're still the exact same as you were when I left back then."

"..."

Neither Kakashi nor Tenzo spoke, quickly adjusting their own states.

Yet deep down, they felt rather anxious; Hyuga Makoto had clearly fallen into battle as well.

Even with all the effort they could muster, Orochimaru remained completely at ease.

He gave them no opportunity to break through and create conditions for Hyuga Makoto to retreat!

That sense of helplessness was truly beyond description.

"Though somewhat disappointed, it doesn't really matter."

Unfazed by their silence, Orochimaru licked his lips and let out a raspy laugh.

"I need to get a little more serious myself, seeing as I still have to retrieve my test subject."

The moment his voice fell, Orochimaru's chakra surged once more, and his figure flashed into motion!

"Watch out!"

Kakashi and Tenzo immediately assumed defensive postures, though a single drop of cold sweat slipped down their foreheads.

Because Orochimaru at this moment seemed to have grown even more terrifying than before!

"Huh?"

Yet just as they focused all their attention, Orochimaru suddenly halted, his gaze shifting into the distance.

A moment later, Orochimaru frowned, let out a cold snort, and abruptly altered his course to head off into the distance!

"What... is going on?"

Kakashi and Tenzo were both bewildered, but they dared not dwell on it.

Because the direction Orochimaru headed was precisely where Hyuga Makoto was...

Rumble-

Deep within the dense forests of the Land of Whirlpools, Shinno slid to a halt only after crashing through several large trees in succession.

The violent pain caused him to cough up blood continuously, yet seeing Hyuga Makoto advancing toward him again, he could only force himself up through the agony.

"This can't go on..."

As a medic, he knew full well that the previous blow had already shattered his internal organs.

If not for his Body Regeneration Technique, he would already be dead!

"No wonder someone so young could join the Anbu, these Konoha bastards..."

He cursed inwardly, though his gaze couldn't help sweeping toward where Orochimaru had been.

He was well aware that Orochimaru wanted his Body Regeneration Secret Technique, which was why he had intercepted Kakashi and the other two, but...

"If I fail to 'demonstrate value', he will abandon me without a second thought!"

He had "too much trust" in Orochimaru's character!

Watching Hyuga Makoto approach step by step, he finally made up his mind.

"Brat, it's rare for anyone to push me to this extent, so..."

Glaring at Hyuga Makoto, he let out a low roar, and in an instant, the chakra within his body erupted once more!

The wounds on his body began to writhe frantically, and accompanied by a burst of mist, they were restored to their original state.

Meanwhile, his already robust physique grew bulky and muscular, his muscles bulging threateningly!

Feeling the overwhelming power within himself, he clenched his fists and roared.

"I will definitely let you live to watch me tear you apart!"

Hum-

Shinno's speed turned blindingly fast, leaving behind an afterimage as he lunged fiercely at Hyuga Makoto.

Yet Hyuga Makoto appeared even calmer than before, simply assuming the starting stance of the Gentle Fist.

"You still think I'm the same as before?"

Seeing this, the corners of Shinno's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a ferocious grin.

"Good, this can end sooner!"

Yet the instant he collided with Hyuga Makoto once again, his smile froze on his face.

Bang-

Another dull roar echoed, accompanied by a visible wave of air that rapidly rippled outward.

At the center of the shockwave, Hyuga Makoto used just a single palm to block Shinno's full-power strike!

Beneath their feet, spiderweb-like cracks fractured and spread across the ground.

"What... is going on?"

Shinno's mind spun in confusion, completely unable to comprehend the scene before him.

He had already gone all out, so why was this fellow still calm and entirely at ease?

Even more relaxed than before?

"Quite a lot of momentum, but..."

Just as the utter bewilderment overwhelmed him, Hyuga Makoto spoke again.

"Amount to nothing."

The very next instant, however, he had already lashed out with a sweeping kick.

"Such speed..."

Shinno caught sight of nothing more than a blur, and the next moment a sharp pain struck his face as he was sent flying backward!

Thud-

He slammed heavily into the ground, the sheer impact creating a massive crater in the earth.

Looking at the miserable figure of Shinno, Hyuga Makoto wore a smile beneath his mask.

"So this is the power of the Tenseigan's chakra..."

At this moment, he had already activated "Tsukuyomi"!

He had initially worried that using this technique might trigger some unforeseen circumstances.

Yet once he actually used it, he discovered an interesting fact.

"The technique Tsukuyomi allows control over the exact amount of Tenseigan chakra descending!"

He did not know whether the technique was originally designed this way or if it was a change brought by this recent upgrade, but this helped him avoid a great deal of trouble!

Moreover, he had always held a suspicion regarding the energy supply within the moon.

"There are mountains, rivers, the alternating cycles of the sun and moon, oceans, and floating islands inside the moon; it's impossible for these to exist without energy and functioning systems."

Perhaps the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had sustained it in the past, but after Uchiha Madara summoned the Demonic Statue Summoning away, it was hard to say whether the Tenseigan was meant to be used instead!

"If that's the case, then making small-scale withdrawals truly won't attract any notice..."

Unsure whether his guess was correct, at least for now he was facing no interference!

"And even in small amounts, it is more than enough for me right now..."

Watching Shinno scramble back to his feet in the distance, he charged forward in a flash!

The chakra of the Lunar Tenseigan enhanced every single aspect of his abilities.

"Especially since this power shares the same origin with me, controlling it is no different from my own chakra, and furthermore..."

Bolstered by this strength, he could exercise slight control over the Yang Release and Yin Release within his body!

Both Yin Release and Yang Release could be infused into techniques.

The secret techniques of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans as well as Uchiha Madara's Yin Release: Lightning Faction were proof of this.

Hyuga Makoto could now achieve the exact same thing; his Gentle Fist worked precisely this way!

"What on earth... is going on?"

Shinno's mind remained muddled; he had already reinforced himself further, so why hadn't the situation improved? Why had it grown even worse?

Before he could dwell on it, however, Hyuga Makoto arrived right in front of him like a phantom!

"You look strong, but your condition is abyssal."

Crack-

A single palm struck out, and in an instant Shinno felt a sharp pain in his chest as the sound of fracturing bone echoed in his ears alongside Hyuga Makoto's voice.

Unable to react in time, Hyuga Makoto's technique shifted rapidly.

"You're forcibly using chakra to stimulate cellular division in order to rapidly heal wounds, quickly recover chakra, and even revert to youthfulness, only..."

Bang-

Another violent impact followed, contorting Shinno's entire body!

"Only, the number of times cells can divide is limited. Without a vast reserve of chakra to sustain it..."

Rumble-

Another palm thrust forward, and at that moment Shinno could no longer even manage to stand, collapsing directly onto his knees.

Yet that calm voice continued to echo in his ears like a lingering nightmare.

"The more you use it, the harder you push, the faster you rush toward your death. How much longer can you even hold on now?"

"You..."

Shinno opened his mouth, but only spewed out a pool of fresh blood. His body had already collapsed.

And collapsing right along with it were his nerves; his secrets had actually been seen completely through by Hyuga Makoto!

He truly lacked massive chakra as a foundation, and he had no chance at a Tailed Beast.

Yet carving out a new path and making "artificial Tailed Beasts" was not entirely out of the question.

Moreover, according to reports, Konoha had conducted experiments after founding the village, which was the very reason he needed to go to Konoha.

Yet right now, his dream appeared to be on the verge of shattering!

"Still, I should also thank you."

Hyuga Makoto paid no mind to Shinno's miserable state. He gathered chakra once more and slowly spoke.

"I suppose I've managed to figure a few things out..."

He finally understood why Orochimaru was always impossible to kill and why sealing him was an absolute necessity.

Living Corpse Reincarnation already reached its limit at the three-year mark, and during that time it did not matter how many forbidden techniques of physical regeneration he used!

Only by employing a seal was there a chance to deal with him!

"And my judgment was right, too..."

In Hyuga Makoto's vision, he already saw Orochimaru rushing over.

Therefore, without hesitation, he struck out at Shinno once more!

"No!"

Shinno let out an angry roar. Right now, he truly could not withstand it anymore.

Yet just as he fell into utter despair, a massive earth wall blocked the way in front of him...