Just as the Kirigakure forces braced themselves for the appearance and "betrayal" of Zabuza, Haku, and Kisame, focusing most of their attention on the enemies out at sea...
A sudden upheaval erupted quietly behind them, inland from Kirigakure's coastal defense line.
"Lightning Release: Takemikuraiko!"
An icy, commanding shout thundered above Kirigakure's defenses like a bolt from the heavens.
The chilling force in that voice made every Kirigakure ninja who heard it shudder and instinctively look back.
Behind Kirigakure, near the cliffs and woods, a towering purple giant wreathed in lightning hurtled toward the coastal defenses, its advance devastating and unstoppable!
It was Sasuke Uchiha, with his Susanoo in its complete form.
Empowered by Takemikazuchi, the Susanoo radiated suffocating pressure.
Even more striking were the six enormous circular energy drums that materialized around it, each a full seven meters in diameter.
These drums were not physical objects. They were formed from highly concentrated chakra flashing with blinding lightning, with three black tomoe clearly emblazoned at the center of each drumhead.
The six massive lightning drums were not still. As though alive, they circled behind the Susanoo's head, slowly rotating, rising, and falling along an arcane path.
Among them, six slightly smaller masses of lightning energy, equally brilliant and shaped like tomoe, darted and drifted like satellites, resonating with the great drums.
Boom!
Boom-!!
Boom--!!!
Without anything striking them, the six Takemikuraiko drums seemed to sense Sasuke's will and fighting spirit, beginning to beat on their own in unison with a deafening roar!
With every beat, the three tomoe at the center of each drumhead erupted with even fiercer lightning.
The drumbeats were more than mere sound waves. They carried exceptionally pure, violent Lightning Release chakra with powerful paralyzing and intimidating effects.
Like tangible shock waves mingled with rampaging lightning energy, the