"Stone is still just stone."
Those words swept through like a chill wind from the underworld, instantly scattering the tiny spark of triumph that had just flared above Iwagakure.
The cheers were still caught in thousands of Stone Ninja throats, as though an invisible hand had forcibly cut them off.
Every expression froze.
Their eyes widened as they stared at the scene overhead-the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, whom they revered like a god, hovered rigidly in midair.
Behind Ōnoki, the black-clad demon who should have vanished in the white light of Dust Release wore a mocking smile as he gently rested his long blade, burning with golden flames, against the major artery in the Lord Tsuchikage's neck.
The blade had yet to move, but its heat had already reached him.
Ōnoki could even smell his graying beard singeing.
Gulp.
Ōnoki swallowed with difficulty. His body, once light enough to fly freely, now felt as heavy as though he carried the Taihang Mountains on his back.
Cold sweat trickled down his wrinkled forehead and dripped onto Ryūjin Jakka, instantly becoming a wisp of white vapor that vanished with a hiss.
"You... when did you..."
Ōnoki's voice was painfully dry, every word seeming to scrape across sandpaper.
The sensory abilities he took such pride in had failed to detect his opponent's movement at all!
Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique was an absolute killing move that broke down all matter within its barrier into molecules. The space inside was sealed the instant it activated.
Unless...
Unless his opponent was faster than the limits of human neural response, fast enough to complete his movement in the final microsecond before the barrier closed.
"I told you. Your windup is too long."
Chiya spoke softly beside Ōnoki's ear, yet his voice made him feel