Since You Want It So Badly, Swallow It All with Gratitude!

From triumph to ruin. From heaven to hell.

The reversal was so complete that Shinnō wanted to die.

But he could not understand it. He could not understand how such a tiny, insignificant wound had reduced him to this state.

"What... what did you do to me!"

"What did you do to me?!"

He wrapped his arms around his shriveled body, now as thin and frail as a bamboo pole, and roared at Arata Uchiha as he approached.

Even that small outburst sent him into violent coughing and relentless retching.

A lamp with no oil left—that was the best description of his condition.

"I changed the path of your chakra flow and sealed the acupoints of your Eight Gates. That's all."

Arata stopped before Shinnō and answered his question from above.

"You... you... cough, cough..."

"You dared disrupt my control over my acupoints!"

The furious shout tore from his throat between fits of coughing.

He glared at the young man. If looks could kill, he would have cut Arata to pieces a thousand times over.

"What will you do now?"

"Your ambitions will never come true."

Arata did not retreat from the curses or the vicious glare. He even crouched down until his eyes were level with Shinnō's.

The crimson eyes reflected in Shinnō's gaze were calm, without a trace of hatred or madness. Yet the chill within them was as merciless as the gaze one gave a dead man.

Shinnō knew the grand drama he had set in motion might end before it had truly begun.

But even so... even so!

A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. I haven't lost.

I haven't lost yet!

Even if I have to sacrifice my life!

I'll make you pay!

The mad resolve surged through Shinnō's mind, then burst into action.

Roar!