Chapter 77: The Sky Clears, the Rain Stops, and Uchiha Ci Rises Again!

Chapter 77: The Sky Clears, the Rain Stops, and Uchiha Ci Rises Again!

A monstrous water creature roars skyward!

Its enormous, hunched body suddenly straightens, piercing through the ceiling and shattering the castle!

Bricks, rubble, beams, and glass rain down, refracting the brilliant, prismatic hues of the rising sun.

Faced with what seems like an impending catastrophe with nowhere to hide, there is no need for words—only for battle!

Uchiha Ci spreads his arms, gripping his sword with one hand, while his other hand reaches behind his waist.

With a flick, a twist, and a throw, he sends four shurikens laced with dark threads whistling through the air, embedding them firmly into the roof shattered by the creature.

He pulls the threads taut with two backward steps, then secures the thread ends by tying them through the circular ring of a kunai, which he drives firmly into the floor.

Focusing intently on the four lines drawn by the threads below him, Uchiha Ci doesn't hesitate.

He springs upward, racing along the nearly 70-degree slant of the threads!

Amidst the cascading debris and heavy stones, he maneuvers along the four threads, his sword flashing as he advances like a determined bulldozer, pushing through everything in his path!

With water blade arcs like crescent moons, he slices through all obstacles before him, and finally, he steps!

He lands at the edge of a breach in the castle's rooftop, standing atop the cylindrical dome, looking directly at Hozuki Mangetsu atop the colossal water monster.

His scarlet Sharingan spins slightly, locking onto his opponent's position, calculating possible paths, and predicting Mangetsu's next move.

However, Uchiha Ci quickly frowns. Faced with Hozuki Mangetsu wielding a dull blade and a lightning-infused sword, he can't imagine the tactics his opponent might use.

Even during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Mangetsu, resurrected by Kabuto's Reanimation Jutsu, only used his Hydrification Technique in battle without even touching a single ninja sword, making it to the end unsealed.

To Uchiha Ci, who holds intelligence on nearly every Kage-level ninja in the world, this guy's most frustrating trait is his utter unpredictability.

Mangetsu is a complete intelligence black hole, with abilities that are anyone's guess. He could pull out an explosive Steam Danger technique or some new jutsu at any second, leaving you helpless.

For a ninja, combat is about intelligence. Fighting Mangetsu feels nothing like facing a Kage-level ninja like Kakuzu, whose skills are thoroughly documented.

At least, Uchiha Ci knows of one weakness: the Hydrification Technique is vulnerable to Lightning Release.

The paralyzing effect of Lightning can interfere with the full fluidity of his technique.

Uchiha Ci narrows his eyes, glancing at the lightning sword in Mangetsu's hand, then shifts his gaze to the heavy clouds above. A bold idea takes root.

If he could seize that lightning sword, could he channel its lightning-conducting properties to replicate Sasuke's… Lightning Release: Kirin?

Kirin, as Sasuke demonstrated in the original series, was notoriously complex, classified as an S-rank jutsu largely because of the difficulty in controlling lightning's direction, speed, and avoiding self-electrocution.

With his Sharingan, visualizing the lightning's path would be no issue for Uchiha Ci; he would only need to summon the lightning.

As for whether he might accidentally strike himself, it's irrelevant.

Through taunts and taking down five elite hunters, Uchiha Ci has achieved his goal. He's opened a door for Mangetsu—a chance to contact Kōgetsu Yagura and involve himself in the Mist's internal conflict.

For this prodigy destined for this path, it's an irresistible invitation.

At this point, Mei Terumi's fate can be left to the Water Shadow to handle; Mangetsu likely won't harm her before seeing Yagura.

The "motivational speech" Uchiha Ci force-fed to Mei earlier was for this exact purpose.

Now, having accomplished this, Uchiha Ci can once again head toward death without any reservations!

Without hesitation, Uchiha Ci squints against the gathering storm clouds and, grinning wildly, calls out:

"Prodigy of the Water Mist, have you ever seen a technique descend from the heavens?"

Mangetsu frowns slightly, wondering what trick this kid has up his sleeve.

After being humiliated by Uchiha Ci twice—once even losing an eye—Mangetsu is on high alert, summoning his strongest techniques and the village's best ninja sword with the intent to crush this brat completely.

Every potential threat must be destroyed at the outset.

With this resolve, he raises his hand, and the water creature below him forms a massive hand of pure water, raising it high like a fly swatter aimed at Uchiha Ci.

But he's not done; Mangetsu's gaze turns cold as chakra gathers rapidly in his raised hand, forming liquid bullets at his fingertips.

Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Water bullets shoot out in deadly arcs, blocking every escape route!

In the face of this relentless assault, Uchiha Ci crouches and steps forward, shattering the dome bricks beneath him as he leaps high, evading the sweeping water hand.

With his sword held firmly in both hands, he doesn't dodge the incoming water bullets but hardens his skin and swings downward with force like splitting a mountain, aiming straight for Mangetsu's head!

Mangetsu's face twists into a sinister grin. This was exactly the opening he was waiting for!

Once his opponent used skin-hardening, the inevitable stiffness would follow, creating the perfect moment to strike!

---

Elsewhere, in the midst of the earth-shaking battlefield, a massive purple tail sweeps down countless towering trees, kicking up clouds of dust and debris.

Orochimaru, wielding the Kusanagi sword, softens his body and extends the blade to various lengths, striking Shinno from every conceivable angle as blood pours from Shinno's countless wounds.

But Shinno, unfazed, lets each wound heal instantly, smashing the ground to hurl a massive boulder toward Orochimaru atop Manda's head.

The formidable Rashomon Gates rise solemnly from the ground!

The deafening clamor of their clash echoes across the distance.

Nearby, in a forest razed to flatland, Uchiha Seijiro dashes urgently toward the headquarters of the Jashin cult, his eyes bloodshot.

On his back, he carries a massive scroll nearly as tall as himself, his cloak emblazoned with the red-and-white Uchiha fan symbol.

With his Sharingan flaring, Seijiro scans both the ground and the sky, dodging the scattered rocks, towering trees, whirling sand-laden gusts, and the burning remains of serpentine bodies that rain down around him.

He doesn't know why the sudden chaos has erupted, nor does he care.

With gritted teeth, his eyes blaze with hatred and regret, the two tomoe in his left Sharingan fiercely spinning as one tomoe in his right eye evolves into a third.

"Wait for me, I'm almost there!"

"This time, I won't run. I swear, I'll save you!"

"Uchiha Ci!"