Chapter 250: The Trickster’s Blue Pill – The Otsutsuki’s Scheme

Yomotsu Hirasaka was one of the abilities granted by the crimson Rinnegan. It could create a portal in space, making it one of the most powerful space-time techniques.

If Yomotsu Hirasaka was opened wide enough for a person to pass through, it would create a considerable disturbance. However, if only a small opening was created, enough for a sword to pass through, the commotion would be far less noticeable.

Combined with Akira's Kusanagi Sword, which had an extension effect, this ability allowed him to launch sudden attacks from any blind spot.

Even Otsutsuki Urashiki was caught off guard by this, taking a cut to his shoulder—fresh blood pouring from the wound.

"He's using the Rinnegan quite proficiently, isn't he?" Sasuke was a bit surprised as he watched Akira manage to wound Urashiki.

"You bastard!" Urashiki roared, enraged that he had actually been injured. He swung his fishing rod once again, the hooks coming at Akira like a storm.

While in Sharingan mode, Akira found it difficult to keep up with the speed of the hooks—everything felt overwhelming. But with the Rinnegan activated, he could clearly see each attack, understanding them with perfect clarity.

Kusanagi Sword in hand, Akira didn't rely on any fancy sword techniques; he simply used speed and strength, parrying every one of Urashiki's attacks.

Meanwhile, with Akira drawing much of Urashiki's fire, Sasuke moved quickly toward Urashiki, his Kusanagi Sword charged with lightning chakra, enhancing its piercing power.

Their coordination was perfect. Together, Akira and Sasuke were managing to push Urashiki back, leaving him struggling to keep up.

By this point in the battle, it seemed that using ninjutsu was no longer viable; the preparation time was simply too long. So, without discussing it, all three fighters were relying on taijutsu.

To the spectators from Iwagakure, the fight looked like a chaotic entanglement of red, purple, and blue streaks due to the different eye colors of the fighters.

"At this level... forget joining the fight, we can't even follow it!" Roshi spoke, frustration evident on his face.

Han and Kurotsuchi were silent, but they shared Roshi's sentiments. The speed of their movements made it impossible for them to see what was happening, let alone interfere.

Was this the strength of the world's true elites?

Recently, a new concept emerged in the shinobi world—a classification known as "Kage-level." It referred to those who surpassed most of the shinobi, existing beyond the level of Jonin—strong enough to be considered a Kage.

The shinobi world gradually accepted this "Kage-level" concept. Kage of the five great nations, Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan users, and Jinchūriki—these were all Kage-level entities.

But now? In front of these three, even the "Kage-level" fighters seemed as fragile as children.

Just as the shinobi world had grown accustomed to the concept of Kage-level, Akira Uchiha demonstrated that there existed another stage beyond that—an entirely different dimension of power. This wasn't just a comparison between stronger and weaker Kage-level fighters; it was an entirely new qualitative leap.

The key point here was that Akira Uchiha was helping to defend Iwagakure against this attacker. And that fact alone was terrifying. This last fighter had come with the intention of assaulting Iwagakure, and without Akira's help, how could they possibly have stood a chance against such an overwhelming force?

While the people of Iwagakure wrestled with their thoughts, the battle between Akira, Sasuke, and Urashiki continued, the three fighters pushing their taijutsu to the limit.

Akira's Kusanagi Sword, combined with Yomotsu Hirasaka, made his strikes as unpredictable as a ghost's.

Sasuke, on the other hand, utilized his Rinnegan ability, Amenotejikara, which allowed him to swap places with any object. It was impossible to defend against.

After nearly five minutes of fierce combat, with hundreds of exchanges between them, Akira had sustained two wounds. Sasuke wasn't much better off, also bearing significant injuries. Of course, Urashiki, too, had taken damage.

At this point, it seemed as though neither side could gain the upper hand.

Suddenly, Sasuke called out, "Akira, hit me with your strongest attack, now!"

Akira hesitated, unsure of what Sasuke was planning. But if Sasuke was asking for it, Akira had no reason not to trust him.

Five minutes of intense fighting had drained him significantly. He felt his chakra was already more than halfway depleted. Taking a deep breath, Akira gathered natural energy around him, entering Sage Mode and replenishing his chakra. He then gathered his chakra into his left hand.

Blue Sage Chakra coalesced, forming into a mass of fierce lightning. The chakra compressed into a large, menacing blue lightning sphere.

"Is this... Chidori combined with a shape transformation?" Sasuke wondered, recognizing the technique. He knew Chidori could be adapted into several forms—Chidori Spear, Chidori Senbon, Chidori Stream—but he had never seen it used like this before.

"Sage Art: Lightning Style—Lightning Cutter!" Akira muttered to himself, charging his most potent single-target attack straight at Sasuke.

The Lightning Style, enhanced by shape transformation and chakra from Sage Mode—Akira believed that, with this move, he could shatter a mountain instantly.

As Akira's attack bore down on him, Sasuke didn't move, standing his ground.

Then, just as the attack was about to hit him, Sasuke activated his left Rinnegan, which glowed with a brilliant light.

Amenotejikara activated—Sasuke swapped positions with Urashiki.

Where Sasuke once stood, Urashiki now found himself facing Akira's attack.

"This guy's abilities are truly a nuisance," Urashiki muttered to himself, instantly understanding Sasuke's Rinnegan ability. After all, they had been adversaries for some time.

However, Urashiki's reaction was swift.

A crimson glow enveloped him, forming a massive shield that completely covered his form. The technique appeared to be a variant of the power he used to create his rod and fishing net.

Instead of an offensive technique, he now used it as a defensive barrier.

Boom!

The blue Sage Lightning exploded against the crimson shield, resulting in a massive explosion akin to a nuclear blast.

The shockwave was terrifying, its sheer power enough to blow many of Iwagakure's shinobi off their feet.

The impact of the clash alone was akin to a natural disaster, deeply shocking Iwagakure once again. This level of power—it was as though gods were at war.

Even the so-called Kage-level fighters were nothing more than stronger ants in comparison. And to an adult, whether an ant was weak or strong made no difference—both could be crushed underfoot just as easily.

Finally, the explosion's aftermath began to subside. Everyone's eyes turned toward the area of impact.

The crimson barrier had completely dissipated, and Urashiki stood, visibly battered and breathing heavily.

Akira, too, was breathing hard. That attack had nearly depleted his chakra.

"How terrifying," Akira thought, "The Rinnegan's power is frightening, and its chakra consumption is equally terrifying."

"I only have about thirty percent of my chakra left," Sasuke said, glancing at Akira.

"I have less than twenty percent remaining," Akira responded. That last attack, akin to a nuclear bomb, had drained him heavily.

They had only been fighting for five minutes, yet the expenditure was immense.

Akira recalled once hearing about the Bugatti Veyron, a top-tier supercar, which could run out of fuel in about ten minutes if driven at full speed.

And now, he felt as though his Rinnegan-powered battle was not much different from that Bugatti—burning through energy at a breakneck pace.

"But likewise, his chakra should also be running low," Akira added, glancing at the equally exhausted Urashiki.

"Heh... impressive abilities. I never imagined I'd meet someone like you in this era," Urashiki spoke, his breathing labored. He offered Akira a compliment, though his tone suggested otherwise.

"However," Urashiki continued, not waiting for Akira's response, "you're right—I'm almost out of chakra. I only have about thirty percent left myself."

"Huh? He actually revealed his condition?" Akira thought, surprised. Was this the trope of villains talking too much and causing their own downfall?

But before Akira could react, Urashiki reached into his fishing net, pulling something out.

A moment later, a red pill appeared in his hand.

With a faint smile, Urashiki popped the pill into his mouth.

Instantly, Akira could feel Urashiki's chakra surging—his reserves replenished.

"Shall we continue?" Urashiki asked, a confident smile on his face. "Now my chakra is back to full!"

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POWER STONE!!!

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Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 300+ at patreon.com/Emik01.