A Fierce Battle

In the valley, Ginkaku once again activated the Tailed Beast Chakra cloak. Having tasted the effects of Amaterasu, he immediately shifted targets and launched an attack at Uchiha Hikari.

"Take this!"

Having unleashed two ocular techniques in succession, Hikari's face was already covered in blood, and her vision had begun to blur. Hearing a sharp gust of wind rush toward her, she hurriedly clasped her hands together. "Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

She threw back her head and exhaled. Flames formed into a lifelike dragon's head, carrying scorching heat as it charged toward the slash!

With a crack, the fire dragon split in two from the center. Accompanied by Ginkaku's wild laughter, the sword light continued forward with unstoppable force!

As the Seven Star Sword drew ever closer, Uchiha Hikari's eyes lit up.

At that moment, her vision blurred, and a somewhat slender figure stepped in front of her.

A pitch-black skeletal hand shot out and, with lightning speed, caught the slash head-on with a clang, gripping the Seven Star Sword in its palm.

Within the surging Black Qi, Shin'yu stared coldly at Ginkaku. His two Mangekyo Sharingan shimmered with frigid, ghostly light.

"You damned brat, you're pretty quick!" Ginkaku said with a savage grin.

The Seven Star Sword seemed embedded in a massive mountain, impossible to pull free for the moment. Seeing another Bone Arm raised high, he immediately abandoned the sword and retreated.

"What a nuisance." Ginkaku silently recited the incantation and put away the Crimson Gourd, freeing his other hand.

"I'll feint. Find an opening and finish him with an ocular technique," Shin'yu said swiftly. Blue light swirled around his hands as icy-blue Chakra surged forth like blades.

Before Uchiha Hikari could respond, the black Bone Arm suddenly swung, hurling the Seven Star Sword high into the sky. It vanished in the blink of an eye, and Shin'yu also disappeared from the Original Spot.

Ginkaku's heart skipped a beat. Part of his attention had been drawn to the Seven Star Sword overhead, and a fatal Chakra Blade slashed toward him head-on. He had already lost the initiative to counterattack.

He nearly erupted with all his strength to twist his body aside. The blade flashed past, and with a hiss, half his silver hair scattered like snow.

"My hair!"

Ginkaku roared as he pounced at Shin'yu. His burly frame blocked out the sunlight, like a ferocious tiger poised to devour its prey.

After only a few exchanges, Shin'yu was already struggling to hold on.

Under Ginkaku's fierce assault, he was forced into a clumsy defense and was faintly unable to keep up with his speed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several rounds, he had already been struck multiple times by Ginkaku!

If not for the Susanoo, he would have already suffered Serious Injury. That terrifying force was even causing faint cracks in the skeletal frame.

"Heh. Looks like this is the limit of my Normal state."

Shin'yu's expression turned solemn as he began secretly gathering strength.

"Eight Gates Release Formation, Opening Gate, open."

Faint Veins bulged on his forehead.

"Healing Gate, open!"

His Hair strands fluttered, and his black clothes stirred despite the lack of wind. His body flushed red from the rushing blood, like a boiled shrimp, and even began to emit faint heat.

"Life Gate, open!"

With a boom, accompanied by a violent rush of air, Shin'yu spread his arms. Flowing wind coiled around his body as tangible green energy burst into flames around him!

At this moment, his physical abilities had surpassed his Normal state by more than ten times!

Ginkaku only saw a blur before a refined yet savage crimson face instantly appeared in front of him!

Then countless fists and kicks descended like a raging storm. Ginkaku hurriedly blocked, only to be kicked squarely in the chest and sent flying straight into the ground, plowing out a deep human-shaped trench.

Azure Light flashed, and Shin'yu charged before Ginkaku again. Violent energy left a straight trail of light through the air. Flowing wind wrapped around his Hands as sharp Chakra Blades condensed like ice.

"Brat! Don't underestimate me!"

Ginkaku roared and shot out from the flying rubble, charging toward Shin'yu.

"It's not over yet! Fourth Gate of Injury, open!"

Shin'yu's speed abruptly rose to another level. His whole body seemed to merge with the air like a phantom. Autumn Dew on Leaves combined with the Body Flicker Technique, and he vanished from the Original Spot. The next instant, a fatal chop appeared at the back of Ginkaku's neck!

Hiss!

Every hair on Ginkaku's body stood on end. He desperately twisted his body, feeling his neck go numb before fiery pain erupted from it!

"Bastard! You almost took my head off!"

Ginkaku clutched his neck as hot blood streamed through his fingers. Panic flickered in his Pupils, and the cold sweat on his forehead evaporated in the heat.

So close!

Just a tiny bit closer!

His artery had nearly been severed!

"Arghhhhh! I'll kill you!"

As though responding to his fury, Nine-Tails Chakra began Burning Fiercely. His entire body shot toward Shin'yu like a cannonball!

One red and one green streak of light clashed madly, tearing through the valley. Fists and palms swept like wind, sword shadows flashed across the air, and shattered stones flew everywhere. Their figures became too blurred to make out.

Only afterimages crisscrossed and tangled together, impossible to separate. One could barely trace their movements through the rock walls that suddenly exploded and the dust clouds rising in all directions.

Hikari looked around, her red lips pressed together as a subtle change came over her heart.

So this is his strength? So... the gap between us is this wide...

Although Shin'yu had entrusted her with the task of delivering the fatal blow, her feelings became complicated.

After five years of training, both of them had grown stronger. If her own growth could be described as soaring by leaps and bounds, then Shin'yu's progress was advancing a thousand miles a day.

In terms of forbidden techniques, the Spiritualization Technique had strengthened his soul. With spiritual power as its foundation, both his Yin Release and Eye Power had improved. The Eight Gates Release Formation had raised his limits even further. With his current strength, he could even open as far as the Limit Gate!

In terms of Ninjutsu, under Madara's guidance, he had not only mastered a large number of Fire Style techniques, but his fine control over Chakra had also improved considerably. Even minor Ninjutsu possessed formidable power.

In terms of Taijutsu, he had inherited Madara's true teachings. He had changed his approach of fighting at the cost of his life, becoming swifter and more efficient, simple yet deadly.

As for Illusion Techniques, through sparring with Uchiha Hikari, he had gradually become highly proficient. He was likely not much weaker than Itachi Uchiha from the Original Timeline. But if the opponent used Tsukuyomi, that would be another matter entirely. After all, he did not possess illusion eyes.

His development of the Mangekyo Sharingan was no less impressive, not to mention the devastating weapon that was Susanoo.

Hikari narrowed her sparkling eyes. In her blurred vision, the reflection of that youth's back appeared as he fought bloodily.

Rumble!

Ginkaku slammed both fists into the ground, unleashing a violent shockwave. His expression was fierce, his fangs clenched tight, and his entire body was covered in bloody wounds.

He had already experienced the Unique aspect of Shin'yu's Chakra Blades. They were not merely a simple shape transformation. Though the blades looked ordinary, the Chakra Flow Method inside them resembled an endlessly flowing river, forming a perfectly closed circuit throughout the entire blade—unceasing and inexhaustible!

Every seemingly simple clash felt as though he were being cut by an electric saw. His Tailed Beast Chakra cloak had become nothing more than decoration.

A fierce wind swept past as Shin'yu leaped into the air, drawing in his limbs. Pitch Black ribs appeared at his will, wrapping around his body like armor.

A savage glint appeared in Ginkaku's eyes, and the ground beneath his feet exploded. His ferocious upward charge arrived the very next second.

Bang!!!

The sharp horn collided brutally with the Susanoo skeleton. The impact alone produced an earth-shattering roar, shaking and breaking the ground as powerful winds burst outward.

Shin'yu was flung high into the sky. Just as he was about to form the hand signs for a Fire Style technique, he discovered that a golden rope had wrapped around the ribs outside his body.

"Brat! Forgot about this move, didn't you?"

Ginkaku laughed wildly. With a pull and a tug, Shin'yu shot back at even greater speed.

"Drain him, Purifying Rope!" Ginkaku drew back his fist, ready to strike. He had been waiting for the instant Shin'yu's Susanoo lost control.

Shin'yu remained calm and actually reached out to grab the Purifying Rope himself!

"???"

"Let me advise you: don't use the same move on me a second time," Shin'yu said lightly. His left eye rotated faintly, blood flowing from it as it released an eerie glow.

With Mahoraga, Shin'yu had long since completed his adaptation to the three great ninja tools!

He tugged on the Purifying Rope and repeated Ginkaku's incantation. "Drain him, Purifying Rope!"

Ginkaku's Eyes widened. His Tailed Beast Chakra cloak instantly collapsed. In that moment, he seemed to lose control of his body, as though he had become disconnected from the world.

"Bleurgh—" Blue luminous mist spilled uncontrollably from his mouth. That was his Kotodama.

"How is this possible? How could the Purifying Rope backlash against me?!" Ginkaku's Pupils contracted violently. "What did you do?!"

Naturally, Shin'yu would not let such an opportunity pass. Rubbing his Hands together, he formed a tangible Chakra Blade that pierced through Ginkaku's chest. Using the tremendous momentum of his descent, he nailed him firmly to the ground!

But it was not over yet. A Bone Arm grew from the Susanoo ribs and lifted slightly, as if catching something.

Shin'yu leaped from the Original Spot. The Bone Arm gathered strength and swung downward. Silver light flashed, and Ginkaku's panicked face reflected on the flowing blade.

That was... the Seven Star Sword!

"Damn it! Had he calculated the timing and landing point from the beginning?!"

"Curse him, Seven Star Sword!"

With a ripping sound, Ginkaku turned his head. One of his ears was sliced off, along with the Kotodama that had been slowly drifting down.

Shin'yu stepped on Ginkaku's chest and reached toward his pocket, where the Crimson Gourd was stored.

"Damn it!!!!!" Ginkaku raged. "I'll make you pay the price!!!"

He clapped his palms together. The surrounding air surged violently as scorching, heavy Tailed Beast Chakra erupted from his body, turning into long tails that swept wildly around him. Shin'yu immediately withdrew from his attack range.

Dust and shattered stones rose slightly into the air as enormous power continued to swell. Dark-red Chakra flowed like infernal lava, wrapping Ginkaku within it.

Suddenly, crackling sounds came from within the lava. It expanded explosively in an instant, and before Shin'yu's shocked gaze, a burly figure clad entirely in skeletal armor threw back its head and let out a long roar!

"That is..."