Perfect Susanoo

Sensing the chakra fluctuations coming from not far away, Uchiha Ensei jumped down from the beast at the head of the pack, formed hand seals, and pressed both hands to the ground.

Earth Release: Hardening Jutsu.

This jutsu had originally been used to harden one's own body, but with a different application, it could naturally affect other objects as well.

And to harden such a vast stretch of land as Uchiha Ensei had done, the chakra required could probably only be supplied by a Jinchuriki.

But for the current Uchiha Ensei, what was sealed within him was chakra no weaker than that of the Nine-Tails.

Soon, as an immense amount of chakra poured in, the surrounding earth began to change color and spread into the distance alongside the beast army.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Raikage had already returned to Kumogakure's camp and was commanding every Earth Release ninja to use terrain-altering jutsu.

Kumogakure had never had many Earth Release ninja, and the effects of casting in concert were difficult to predict. But against the approaching horde of ninja beasts, this was the only option left.

They did not need any particularly powerful jutsu. They only needed to create a somewhat wider ravine in the path of the ninja beast horde.

Fortunately, Kumogakure's sensory ninja had detected Konoha's movements in time and decisively gathered the Earth Release ninja.

Otherwise, it would probably have already been too late.

"Where did that old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi find an army of ninja beasts on this scale?"

Having already done everything he could, the Fourth Raikage began considering the matters a Raikage ought to consider.

But another piece of bad news soon arrived.

"Lord Raikage, all the surrounding land has been affected by a jutsu. Our Earth Release has failed."

Hearing his subordinate's report, the Fourth Raikage's expression changed drastically.

"Killer B, Yugito Nii! Use Complete Tailed Beast Transformation! Everyone else... run!"

Following the Fourth Raikage's command, the Eight-Tails' complete form appeared on the battlefield, ready to block the incoming beast horde.

"Hey! Gyuki, cut off a tail for me, will you?"

Uchiha Ensei's voice suddenly rang across the battlefield.

The next instant, a pale blue giant appeared before everyone and threw a punch at the Eight-Tails.

Faced with the attack, Killer B showed no fear and swung his own fist to meet it.

The two enormous fists collided with a deafening boom. The Genin present, and even some Chunin, were affected by the shockwave.

"Damn it!"

With an angry curse, the Fourth Raikage's fist slammed heavily into Susanoo's lower leg.

As cracks spread across it, the Susanoo controlled by Uchiha Ensei lost control for an instant.

Killer B on the other side seized that opening perfectly. A Tailed Beast Bomb gathered in his mouth, aimed at Uchiha Ensei's position, and fired directly at him.

The Eight-Tails formed Tailed Beast Bombs quickly. Uchiha Ensei had only just noticed it when the blast struck him square in the face.

"Was it because I hadn't activated my Mangekyo, or were those two just too strong?"

Uchiha Ensei's real body watched the shattered Susanoo from afar, feeling somewhat regretful.

Unfortunately, a Shadow Clone Technique could only bear enough ocular power to activate Susanoo's third stage.

Otherwise, the fourth stage—the form clad in Black Tengu Armor—should not have been defeated so easily.

As for why Uchiha Ensei could use Susanoo without activating the Mangekyō...

Despite Susanoo sounding so grand, it was really just the application of ocular power.

In theory, anyone with enough chakra in their body could create a similar form.

Normally, only the ocular power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was sufficient to manifest Susanoo, and even then, it could not be sustained for long. Otherwise, even the Mangekyō Sharingan would fail to endure it.

But for Uchiha Ensei, ocular power was the one thing he lacked least.

With nearly endless ocular power, the vessel no longer mattered to Susanoo.

As for the difference between the ocular power of the Byakugan and that of the Mangekyō Sharingan...

Their colors were different? In any case, Uchiha Ensei had used them for so long without noticing any real difference.

Perhaps the Sharingan and the Byakugan had very similar origins.

There was one more point: the ocular power of a single Byakugan was difficult to extract, but that changed when there were enough of them.

On the other side, seeing Susanoo slowly dissipate, Killer B began searching for Uchiha Ensei's corpse.

Beside him, the Fourth Raikage watched with a grim expression and reminded him, "Stop looking. That guy was only a Shadow Clone."

At this point, the Fourth Raikage no longer demanded that Killer B stop the ninja beast horde.

Because during that brief stretch of time, those who could survive the horde no longer needed saving. As for those who could not...

They were probably already reduced to pulp.

Although most of the dead were Genin and Chunin, once their numbers reached a certain point, it was enough to affect a ninja village's normal development.

From that perspective, Kumogakure had already lost this war.

After all, Jonin grew from Chunin and Genin.

"Yugito Nii, are you ready yet?"

Following the Fourth Raikage's furious shout, a cat-like figure wreathed in flames finally appeared on the battlefield.

Compared to Killer B, a perfect Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii's control over the Two-Tails was exceptionally strenuous. Even when she barely managed Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, she could easily lose control.

"Go. Today, we have to make that damned brat leave his life behind."

"Use Tailed Beast Bombs. Don't worry about casualties."

Just as the Fourth Raikage finished speaking, Killer B's expression turned strange.

A moment ago, he had spoken with the Eight-Tails in their mental space. The Eight-Tails wanted him to ask why the other side knew its name.

But at a time like this, there was naturally no way to capture the enemy alive.

Tailed Beast Bombs began gathering in the mouths of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails, but before they could fire, an unknown force attacked them.

After the attack, the not-yet-stabilized yin-yang chakra froze, then split apart and dissipated like a huge black sphere.

"I can't let that attack be fired, or I'd be embarrassed!"

With Uchiha Ensei's words, Susanoo appeared on the battlefield once more.

But this time, it was Uchiha Ensei's real body taking action, and the ocular power within him was nearly limitless.

Perfect Susanoo had finally appeared in the Ninja World once again.

Susanoo's body had become extraordinarily massive, nearly twice its previous size, with wings on its back and four arms.

Each of those four hands held a gigantic chakra blade that looked almost solid.

"Since you won't give it to me, I'll take it myself."

Susanoo clashed with the Eight-Tails once again, but this time, with sufficient ocular power, its speed, defense, and strength all held an almost overwhelming advantage.

Had the Fourth Raikage not stepped in to help in time, Killer B would likely have already been defeated.

As for the Two-Tails... it was still fighting itself.

"Big brother, the enemy is very strong."

It was the first time Killer B had encountered an enemy whom even Complete Tailed Beast Transformation could not handle. He had no time for rapping now, and his expression was exceptionally grave.

"I can feel it..."

The Fourth Raikage endured the pain coursing through his body as he continuously searched for a way to break the deadlock.

Previously, the Fourth Raikage's attacks had been able to break through Susanoo's defense, but now they could barely serve as a distraction.

If they wanted to win this war, then they could only...

With that thought, the Fourth Raikage vanished in an instant and, in the blink of an eye, charged into the Konoha ninja camp.