Ch. 426True Sage Mode
Akaseki and Hikari struggled against future Akaseki’s Sage Mode-enhanced Susanoo, with Akaseki cautiously feeding senjutsu chakra through Engraving so Hikari could strengthen her own Susanoo. As both sides neared exhaustion, Kakashi prepared Team 7 to attack and buy Akaseki time to recover, while the battle remained trapped in Rōran.
- Future Akaseki transformed his Susanoo by incorporating senjutsu chakra, then severed one of Hikari’s Susanoo’s arms.
- At Hikari’s insistence, Akaseki slowly supplied senjutsu chakra through Engraving, allowing her to add snake markings to her Susanoo and narrow the power gap.
- Akaseki repeatedly exhausted himself supplying Hikari, while she drained her own chakra and his Mirror Clones as the battle devastated Rōran City.
- Future Akaseki urged Hikari to stop as her Susanoo weakened, revealing that he still held the advantage.
- Kakashi recognized that Akaseki could recover chakra while not fighting and rallied Team 7 to create an opening for him.
- Akaseki tossed Kakashi White Fang as Ranwu realized that neither group could leave Rōran.