Chapter 65: Switching Sides!
Chapter 65: Switching Sides!
Exploding bolts of lightning spread like serpents.
Nearby tents were torn apart, and cracks spread across the ground like webbed roots.
The clash of lightning against lightning thundered across the battlefield!
In mere moments, dozens of strikes were exchanged between the two combatants.
---
Uchiha Kagami was the first to withdraw, instantly appearing atop a tall tree.
"Heh, kid, is that all you've got?"
The Third Raikage's fists charged forward again.
Kagami chuckled lightly. "Can you barbarians even fight without running your mouths?"
---
"You brat!!"
Lightning flashed as the Third Raikage withdrew one finger.
Three-Fingered Hell Stab!
Kagami raised a finger, forming a one-handed seal.
A dazzling, crimson-red flame surged forth like flowing water, forming a fiery barrier in front of him.
Flame Release – Crimson Lotus Barrier.
The piercing thrust of the Hell Stab veered upward upon contact, diverted by an unseen force.
What is this thing?!
The Third Raikage quickly withdrew his hand, noticing faint traces of the crimson flame clinging to his lightning armor, burning away his chakra.
Along with the flames came an intense, bone-chilling coldness.
Cold flames?
The Raikage didn't dare act rashly without understanding the nature of this ability. He swiftly retreated, shedding the afflicted portion of his chakra along with the flames.
Having survived countless battles during the chaotic wars of his time, he was no fool.
Frowning, he observed the dancing flames.
The shape reminded him somewhat of the Two-Tails' flames, yet these bore a unique icy property. They behaved like fire, yet felt as fluid as water.
Moreover, an unmistakable sense of danger lingered. Being touched by these flames was clearly no minor issue.
---
The fire flowed seamlessly around Kagami's body, forming a cloak of flames.
"Lava-Style Chakra Mode?"
"Simpleton. It's Flame Release."
---
In quick succession, several cloud shinobi arrived to reinforce the Raikage.
Jiraiya also appeared beside Kagami, frowning deeply.
The Raikage himself has shown up?
"I've already ordered the others to retreat. This level of combat is far beyond them."
"Kagami, I'll summon Gamaken to assist you in battle."
"Give me a moment—I need to enter Sage Mode!"
Kagami glanced at Jiraiya and responded calmly, "Fine, show me what you've got."
After a moment of thought, he added, "By the way, Onoki is here too. Be careful of his Dust Release."
"What?!"
Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply.
The Raikage was bad enough—now the Tsuchikage was involved?
What are they doing?
Why aren't they targeting the Hokage instead?
"Did you see him? Where is he hiding?"
Kagami shook his head. "He's keeping out of sight. I just sensed his chakra for a brief moment."
He was lying.
A seasoned ninja like Onoki wouldn't make such a rookie mistake.
As for how Kagami knew…
Because he was the one who leaked his own intelligence to the Tsuchikage and Raikage.
He orchestrated this decapitation strike against himself.
---
Boom!!
"Lightning Plow Hot Knife!!"
Cloaked in a layer of red chakra, Killer Bee and A came charging from opposite sides, their movements synchronized.
Killer Bee's arm swung down like a guillotine.
Kagami leapt up, planting both feet against their strikes to kick them apart.
The battle reignited.
In the world of shinobi, there was no tradition of single combat. The Third Raikage and his allies fought Kagami together.
Their figures clashed and separated in an instant, so fast they were reduced to nothing more than blurred streaks of light.
Explosive bursts of sound and shockwaves echoed in relentless succession.
Kagami was slowly being pushed into a disadvantage.
Despite this, his expression remained composed, with not a hint of retreat in his demeanor.
---
Boom!
A massive crimson toad with U-shaped markings on its face entered the fray, aiding Kagami in his defense.
"Gamaken! Protect Kagami!"
Jiraiya yelled, retreating into the forest.
He needed time to summon the Great Toad Sages and enter Sage Mode.
"I understand... I may be clumsy, but I'll protect you with my life."
---
Thanks to medicinal baths and intense training, Kagami's body had developed to the equivalent of a 16 or 17-year-old.
But shinobi had their limits.
Even Kakashi, a prodigy in his own right, saw little improvement in raw strength as he aged; only his combat experience and jutsu arsenal grew.
The source of Uchiha power lay in their eyes.
Unless something extraordinary occurred, Kagami's physical growth had essentially reached its peak.
Like Guy, he could only strengthen his body further through time and relentless effort.
However, Kagami understood that his focus needed to remain on his Sharingan. He couldn't afford to devote himself entirely to taijutsu like Guy.
His greatest asset was his mental energy—so immense it could rival even the elderly Uchiha Madara in a battle of genjutsu.
He had effortlessly shattered Fugaku's illusionary world.
In truth, Kagami had already ascended to the pinnacle of the current shinobi world, standing at the so-called "Kage" level.
Against certain Kage with less versatile abilities, he could even claim an overwhelming advantage.
Take Rasa, for instance, or even Fugaku with his Mangekyo Sharingan.
---
The next steps toward power had been clearly laid out in the original timeline.
Sasuke and Naruto were the two strongest shinobi of their era.
With the power of the Dragon Veins, Kagami could emulate Sasuke's sage-powered Susanoo.
Combined with Sukuna's influence and his own immense mental energy, he could unlock a Mangekyo Sharingan that never deteriorates.
But… it felt all too predictable.
This path had a visible endpoint.
Even with perfect stats, the peak would be nothing more than an Eternal Mangekyo Susanoo enhanced by Sage Mode.
It wouldn't be enough to face the future threat of the Otsutsuki clan.
Even without that looming danger…
Kagami refused to walk a road with an obvious conclusion.
---
Shing!
Suddenly, three figures appeared on the battlefield.
It was Minato!
"Kagami! I'm here!"
Kushina had regained some composure, though her expression remained grim.
Seeing Kagami, she forced herself to rally and scanned the scene.
"Cloud shinobi… how annoying. Perfect, because I'm really mad right now!"
---
A piercing beam of white light shot forth from the distance.
Dust Release!
Kagami deliberately extended his arm, angling himself into the attack's path.
The pure white light obliterated his arm.
"Kagami!!"
Minato had pushed his Flying Thunder God to its limits to arrive with Kushina and Orochimaru, but his chakra reserves were nearly depleted. He couldn't save Kagami in time.
Nor could he resist the genjutsu Kagami unleashed.
"Minato!!" Kushina caught the collapsing Minato, completely bewildered.
Kagami's Sharingan spun violently, pouring out Madara's residual chakra.
It resonated with the Nine-Tails sealed within Kushina.
Already emotionally unstable, Kushina's eyes reflected the tomoe of the Sharingan as red chakra surged out.
A ferocious and oppressive roar echoed across the battlefield.
The Nine-Tails…
---
Sweat trickled down Orochimaru's forehead.
In that brief moment, countless scenarios flashed through his mind.
Was this a plot by Kagami, Cloud, and Stone to kill us all?
Had the Uchiha finally betrayed the village?
Could it be that… Danzo was right after all?
---
"Orochimaru, take Minato and leave."
Kagami's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Beneath the moonlight, Kagami stood with blood dripping from his severed arm, a crazed grin twisting his face.
"From here on…"
"Sukuna."
"It's your turn."
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To be continued.
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