The Outcome of the Eastern Front

Uzumaki Jiro dragged his injured body and struggled to open his eyes. Summoning all his strength, he said,

"Jiraiya, next door—Uzumaki Muto's opponent is Munashi Jinpachi. Hurry and go check on him. It's been a long time, and he still hasn't come back."

Inside the Earth Style Barrier: Earth Prison Dome.

Uzumaki Muto panted heavily as he watched Munashi Jinpachi charge at him. He drew a shuriken and met his opponent head-on.

Munashi Jinpachi held the Exploding Blade Shibuki, but couldn't use its explosions. The longer the fight went on, the more agitated he became. If he used Explosion Release in this enclosed space, he'd hurt himself too.

As time passed, the Earth Prison Hall gradually drained his chakra. He couldn't afford to worry about that anymore. The Exploding Blade Shibuki slashed straight at Uzumaki Muto.

"Boom!"

The Exploding Blade Shibuki let loose a powerful blast, sending Uzumaki Muto flying into the wall.

Munashi Jinpachi was also struck by the blast in the enclosed space and fell to his knees.

Uzumaki Muto stared at his opponent. He'd thought the man wouldn't use Explosion Release again. He'd never expected Munashi Jinpachi to trade injuries with him.

A sharp pain came from his insides. His broken ribs had pierced his organs.

Munashi Jinpachi let out a crazed laugh. Seeing how badly his opponent was hurt compared to himself, he figured he had the upper hand.

"Are you lying there to get some rest? I'm ready to go. Let's see which of us can hold out the longest."

He charged at Uzumaki Muto again, Exploding Blade Shibuki in hand.

Uzumaki Muto's expression darkened. His injuries were worse, and he couldn't let the man get close. He formed Hand Seals.

"Earth Release: Mud Master!"

A layer of mud appeared over the hard ground, and rocks burst out of it, pelting Munashi Jinpachi.

Munashi Jinpachi casually knocked them aside.

"It's no use. Just lie back and enjoy my attack."

The Exploding Blade Shibuki came down in another slash.

"Boom!"

Another powerful blast rang through the Earth Prison Hall, and the shockwave knocked Uzumaki Muto to the ground again.

Munashi Jinpachi, however, slowly braced himself against the force of the blast. He was growing more and more excited.

He stared at Uzumaki Muto lying on the ground. The man could still move. It looked like he'd have to increase the power this time and finish him off in one blow.

He raised the Exploding Blade Shibuki and attacked again, triggering a double explosion.

"Boom!"

Munashi Jinpachi was also knocked to the ground by the blast. When he came to, his first concern wasn't himself. He immediately looked up at Uzumaki Muto.

Uzumaki Muto lay motionless on the ground. Seeing that the fight was finally over, Munashi Jinpachi got to his feet.

But his face had turned blue, and he was struggling to breathe. The Exploding Blade Shibuki fell to the ground as he gasped desperately for air.

Uzumaki Muto lay still on the ground, his body wrapped in a layer of mud that had protected him from the blast.

The explosions had used up all the air in the Earth Prison Hall. Now both men lay on the ground, waiting to see whether someone would come to rescue them or the air would run out completely.

The Eastern Front.

Uzumaki Shiro was still struggling to hold on. Biwa Juzo's attacks, combined with the Silent Killing Technique in the Hiding in Mist Technique, were utterly silent.

Biwa Juzo fixed his gaze on the prey in his hands. Seeing the helpless target, he smiled with satisfaction.

"Little bug from the Land of Whirlpools, have you realized you can't fight back? That's right. Your other teammates are struggling against the Mist Ninja too. Give up already. Stop resisting. It's useless."

Break down in this place where you can't see your own hand in front of your face. Despair.

Harassed by his opponent in the thick fog, he couldn't sense what was happening outside. Was it true, as his opponent claimed, that the Uzushio Ninja were like pigs and sheep, helpless before the Mist Ninja?

He kept asking himself the same question. The more anxious he became, the harder it was for Uzumaki Shiro to focus.

Biwa Juzo raised the Kubikiribōchō, quietly circled around to the left, and launched another vicious slash.

Uzumaki Shiro used the Hardening Technique to block it, but was sent crashing through several trees before the force of the attack finally eased.

Uzumaki Shiro got to his feet and coughed up a handful of blood. Even the Hardening Technique couldn't withstand the blow.

The Kubikiribōchō's impact had severely injured his internal organs. He had only one option left.

This was no time to let his mind wander. He couldn't see whether the Uzushio Ninja were winning in this place engulfed by thick fog.

The most important thing now was to defeat his opponent. That would leave his teammates with one fewer enemy.

Uzumaki Shiro spoke hoarsely.

"You're just making things up. You haven't even defeated me. How could you possibly take care of the others?"

Biwa Juzo smiled and continued sizing up his prey.

"That's ridiculous. All you can do now is spout nonsense to encourage yourself. Listen carefully. I'll finish you off in three seconds."

"Three, two..."

He didn't say one. Dragging the Kubikiribōchō behind him, Biwa Juzo launched a slash from the right.

Uzumaki Shiro dragged his injured body along, waiting for this very moment.

His muscles exerted a hundred and fifty percent of their strength. He let the Kubikiribōchō cut into his body, using his bones as the last line of defense, then clamped down on the blade with his muscles.

He stared at the Kubikiribōchō, now halfway inside him. The instant it was stuck, he grabbed the hand Biwa Juzo had wrapped around its hilt and held it fast, giving him no room to move.

Faced with this mad act, Biwa Juzo tugged with all his might and kicked at his opponent, but Uzumaki Shiro didn't budge an inch.

Uzumaki Shiro stayed calm and burst into laughter. At last, he'd achieved his goal.

"Be sealed here with me, Biwa Juzo." He formed a Hand Seal with one hand.

"Sealing Binding Formation!"

The Sealing Runes hidden around them drifted into the air. Along with the Sealing Scroll, they wrapped around the two men.

Biwa Juzo saw the runes crawl up from his legs and struggled even harder to pry Uzumaki Shiro's hand loose.

But the runes climbed faster and faster. His movements gradually stiffened as their binding effect grew stronger.

The runes ensnared not only Biwa Juzo. They also followed the hand Uzumaki Shiro had clamped onto him and continued crawling over Shiro's body.

Biwa Juzo looked horrified. The kid meant to die with him!

"Let go! Your Sealing Jutsu is starting to seal you too! Can't we just call it quits? I don't want to be buried with you."

Uzumaki Shiro's body was gradually stiffening too. Though he was in rough shape, he could still give himself a little credit. You did well. At least I took care of my opponent.

"Biwa Juzo, it's not over yet. Someone as strong as you could break through the seal, so I'm adding another layer of security."

He formed a Hand Seal with one hand, initiating the second layer of the seal!

"Sealing Technique: Four Symbols Seal!"

The four small scrolls hidden outside activated their Sealing Binding Formation and wrapped around them.

As the jutsu activated, the earth beneath the two men gradually peeled away, revealing a huge scroll that had long been laid out on the ground.

They had both been standing at the center of the enormous scroll.

Seeing it, Biwa Juzo was overcome with despair.

"Seal!"

"Activate!"

Under the power of the Sealing Jutsu, the two men were slowly dragged into the scroll. When the scroll had finished pulling them in,

Sealing Runes covered the ground, forming the Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams. The scroll stood upright at the center of the Eight Trigrams.

The thick fog dispersed, and the two men were nowhere to be seen.

The Eastern Front was over.