Another entrance to the Land of Iron had long since become a hell on earth.
Thick smoke billowed, blotting out half the sky, while burning battle flags snapped in the fierce wind.
Blood stained the snow-covered mountain road, the congealed patches gleaming an eerie dark red in the freezing cold.
Scalding blasts from the fighting mingled with the biting wind, turning the entire mountain road into a field of carnage.
The members of Akatsuki were locked in a desperate battle with the Land of Iron's outer defense forces.
A crimson Susanoo enveloped Qingxue Uchiha. Her eyes were blood-red, and her Mangekyō Sharingan's unique ocular technique-Red Chains-writhed ceaselessly, coiling around her enemies like living things.
Crack! Crack!
Under slashes woven from fire release and chains, scores of allied shinobi were cut in half at the waist.
Her Susanoo swung both arms, every sweep raising a shower of blood, its presence like a god of slaughter descending upon the world.
Yet despite her overwhelming fighting spirit, despite the expressionless way she harvested enemy lives and let blood spatter her red Susanoo, a barely perceptible anxiety and unease lurked deep within her eyes.
Just then-
BOOM!!!
An earth-shattering explosion shook the valley. A brilliant streak of blue light suddenly split the sky, as though the heavens themselves had been torn apart!
A Perfect Susanoo a full hundred meters tall descended from above, clad in armor as blue as the sea, like a god or demon descending upon the world!
"Th-this is..."
The members of Akatsuki looked up, their pupils contracting sharply.
"Susanoo?! Is that Uchiha Itachi?" Kisame's eyes widened, his voice filled with shock.
"No, that isn't Itachi's color!" Kakuzu's voice was hoarse with disbelief.
Konan snapped her head up, her beautiful eyes fixed on the enormous figure. Her breath caught-
Atop the