Chapter 186 : Carelessness!

"What's happening?!" Shouted Senju Fumio, his eyes wide with shock and panic, as he surveyed the scene. Tsushima, Kazama, and One-Tail were present, the latter not lightly injured.

"Elder Akira, why did One-Tail break free on his own?" Senju Fumio questioned, not letting Elder Senju's injuries distract him. His tone held a hint of vigilance.

"How would I know? I was just about to complete the seal!" Elder Akira of the Hyuga clan responded angrily, a tinge of fear apparent in his voice. The attack of the tailed beast could prove fatal if he wasn't cautious.

"Don't blame me! I was almost done with the seal! What benefit would I get from letting him out?!" 

Akira retorted, frustration evident in his voice.

"..."

Kazama fell silent, choosing to observe the colossal One-Tail instead.

Countless grains of sand adhered to One-Tail's khaki-colored body, becoming part of him under the influence of the tailed beast Chakra. The dull appearance from moments ago vanished, replaced by a more humanoid, cunning, and vengeful expression.

"I may not know who aided my release, but you meddling old fools still attempted to seal me! I despise you all the most!" One-Tail's body emitted faint light blue lines resembling the incomplete seal Elder Akira had been working on.

However, as One-Tail struggled, the technique flickered, overwhelmed, and shattered into dissipating fragments.

"Roar—!"

Freed from the seal, One-Tail's strength became fully evident, intensifying the oppressive atmosphere. It was the imposing aura of a higher life form.

"This little pest is inside me... Uncomfortable, but I can't get rid of it for now!" One-Tail commented unhappily, referring to the puppet Jinchūriki within him, now entirely controlled.

"Oh well, it's not a significant issue. Let's get down to business!" One-Tail looked down at the trio below, especially Elder Akira, and flashed a cruel smile.

Meanwhile, Sand Jinchūriki's consciousness had collapsed, rendering him a mere container. Takeshi couldn't entirely break the seal, nor did he want to.

"Boom!"

In the distance, a resounding roar echoed, and a massive water column shot skyward like a blue horse. It burst into a mist, forming a dazzling rainbow in the sunlight.

"Hahaha, Tobirama, don't waste your efforts. You can't stop me!" An enormous iron mass descended, creating a deep pit upon impact. Many iron fragments scattered, revealing a dent several meters thick, likely caused by the earlier water release.

"Ahem... Tobirama, this is Magnet Release. It controls all metals, turning them into weapons. Quite powerful, isn't it?" 

The depression on the iron lump smoothed out as if influenced by energy, becoming hard again. It unfolded into numerous giant cutting tools and thick iron armor, suspended around Shamon, creating a spectacular sight.

Despite the discomfort from the water escape impact, Shamon remained confident. Tobirama, though losing, had yet to find a way to overcome him.

"Controlling the power of metal, this is the first time I've encountered it. Truly unique. Such power on the battlefield renders the enemy's weapons useless. A magnetic ninja could be quite formidable with a substantial amount of metal around," Tobirama remarked calmly, carefully sensing Shukaku's chakra fluctuations.

"One-Tail's power is waning, not a significant concern," Tobirama added. "Your Bloodline Limit is intriguing, but it pales in comparison to my elder brother, Hashirama, like the difference between clouds and mud."

"Humph!" Shamon expressed his dissatisfaction. The Wood Release amidst the Bloodline Limit was a natural creation, and Shamon's mastery of the Magnet Release, after years of study, had finally awakened and been honed to a challenging level. But the two were indeed incomparable."

"Even so, it won't alter the outcome of your defeat."

Tobirama swiftly produced a kunai, hurling it forth and executing a sealing technique: "Ninjutsu, Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The kunai, embodying the Flying Thunder God technique seal, transformed into a barrage hurtling towards Shamon.

Shamon, acknowledging the power of Tobirama's attack, cautiously controlled the positioning of an iron block before him, while the remainder of his weapons metamorphosed into black meteors, assailing Tobirama.

As the pioneer ninja to unlock the Magnet Release, Shamon was still refining his usage of the technique. He hadn't yet conceived the notion of manipulating the iron sand with the Magnet Release, relying solely on a combination of conventional ninja tools and iron fragments.

When Tobirama's kunai drew near Shamon, it inexplicably veered off course, particularly the frontal kunai, which abruptly halted in mid-air.

Sensing the potency of Shamon's retaliatory weapons, Tobirama effortlessly evaded, contemplating the situation.

"It appears that although he can manipulate a substantial amount of metal for defense, even resisting my attacks, the range is limited—the farther, the weaker."

Tobirama analyzed, "Shamon's defense is formidable when utilizing metal, especially at close range. However, he should be vulnerable to Lightning Release!"

Regrettably, Tobirama wasn't proficient in Lightning Release, and even Konoha lacked a Kage-level powerhouse specializing in it, leaving him unable to pose a real threat to Shamon.

After pondering for a moment, Tobirama retrieved another kunai.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

Numerous kunai soared towards the ascetic, who coldly snorted, repeating the same defensive maneuver.

Foregoing retaliation, Shamon's sand had already succumbed to Water Release, and the control range of the Magnet Release was limited. As its originator, he hadn't attained the level of the Third Kazekage, so he now pinned his hopes on his resilience.

"useless!"

On the third assault by the kunai, Shamon couldn't be bothered to alter their trajectories. After all, without exploding tags attached, they merely clattered against the iron plate.

"Ha ha!"

Observing Shamon's reluctance to employ magnetic escape to control the kunai, Tobirama displayed a meaningful smile, brandishing another kunai from afar.

"Are you done? Words are futile!"

Despite Shamon's defiant words, a sudden surge of danger enveloped him. Tobirama vanished from the distance!

"Flying Thunder God ·Flying Thunder God Slash!"

A kunai swept past Shamon, accompanied by a blue figure traversing the phantom of the kunai. Shamon, devoid of the protection of the iron block, felt the phantom sweep across him, and suddenly, his chest erupted in a spray of blood.

As the blood dripped, Tobirama materialized behind Shamon, deftly catching the kunai.

The clash between ninja unfolded at a breakneck pace, with potential outcomes uncertain in the face of unfamiliar techniques. Shamon's magnetic evasion proved astonishing, and Tobirama's elusive Flying Thunder God only added to the unpredictability.

"Damn it! I should have realized sooner. So, that's how you evaded my last attack? My carelessness cost me!"

"Oh, you can still talk? It seems—!"

Tobirama confidently turned, only to be blindsided by an unforeseen assault—a myriad of iron weapons coalesced into the densest storm, enveloping him.

"What?! How did you—"

Much like Shamon's earlier surprise, Tobirama found himself bewildered. He hastily employed the Water Release technique for defense!

"Boom-boom-boom!"

The onslaught of iron flakes resembled a relentless meat grinder. Tobirama's hastily formed water defenses crumbled under the relentless assault of Shamon's magnetic jutsu, burying all of Tobirama's kunai—nullifying the efficacy of Flying Thunder God!

"Boom—!"

Shamon's full-strength attack sent Tobirama hurtling, marking a rare advantage for the first time.

Desperate, Tobirama struggled to sense suitable coordinates and found himself injured by a hefty iron block.

"Cough, are you all right?!"

Wiping blood from the corners of his mouth, Tobirama gazed at Shamon in disbelief. This was the same technique that had claimed the life of his old nemesis, Uchiha Izumi. He died consumed by hatred. How could Shamon react with such precision?

"Whoa, whoa-"

Countless grains of sand cascaded from Shamon's chest. Injured, yet the wound was long but not deep.

"Huh—the sand armor? How could I forget about this!"

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