Chapter 156: Power of Fusion

Beneath the somber sky, Takeshi raised his head slightly, extending his hands and folding his palms towards the sky.

Supported by the cyan radiance, Takeshi descended gradually, exhaling a long breath. He seemed to embody the world's core, his presence taking on an otherworldly, surreal quality.

*Pat-*

Takeshi's toes met the ground, akin to treading upon the hearts of Chiyo and Ebizō. The scene fell silent for a moment, the only sounds being the wind rustling over the gravel and the faint hissing of the white snakes nearby.

At this juncture, Takeshi's aura had reached the cusp of the Kage level!

This was a result of his formidable Sage Mode after the fusion of souls, fueled by the power of natural energy.

"Hmph, do you believe I can't see through your disguise, acting like a phantom?"

Seeing Takeshi's nonchalant and haughty demeanour, Chiyo's heart simmered with anger.

As the Sand Ninja's leading figure among the younger generation, what scenes hadn't she witnessed? While Takeshi's aura did stir unease within her, it didn't suffice to intimidate her. It was merely a minor challenge!

"Oh, a trickster?"

Takeshi stared coldly at Chiyo. The surge of power imbued him with newfound confidence, and his control over the natural energy was more precise than ever, granting him a sensation of mastery he had never experienced before.

At this moment, Takeshi was still assimilating his own state, mastering the art of flight and absolute breath control.

His eyes could perceive the multicoloured hues of the five elemental powers encircling him, just as he had anticipated. His mental perception had surged exponentially, rendering no target capable of eluding his gaze.

Given that provocation was in motion, it was time to unleash this new body's power!

*Huuuu--!*

Takeshi's fingers brushed the blade's edge, producing a resonant hum. Simultaneously, his pupils took on an unusual hue, and subtle spiritual energy infiltrated Chiyo's mental realm via the sound's vibrations!

"Well!"

Chiyo's countenance underwent a drastic shift, her hands controlling the puppet trembling uncontrollably!

*Huuuu--!*

Yet another ripple ensued. Chiyo faltered, her footsteps unstable, her visage paling!

"Elder sister!"

Ebizō's urgent cry rang out as he seized Chiyo, rapidly retreating before Takeshi's blade resonated once more!

*Huuuu--!*

The soundwave infused with a frigid mental pulse surged anew. Ebizō felt a sudden pang in his head, and Chiyo, too, seemed to awaken suddenly, clutching her chest as she succumbed to violent coughs!

*Cough, cough!*

Bright crimson stained Chiyo's fingers. She gazed sternly at Takeshi, her demeanour turning frosty. In a mere face-to-face interaction, she had been covertly harmed!

How could his strength increase so dramatically after his transformation?

"What a formidable illusion, capable of directly afflicting my spiritual will, inducing an irrepressible disorientation. I must remain vigilant!"

Chiyo exchanged a glance with her younger brother. The two nodded, jointly advancing toward Takeshi.

"This youngster must not escape!"

Takeshi leaned back and delicately tapped the ground. He seemed to glide through the air, covering an astonishing distance. The puppet's razor-sharp blade appeared inches away from Takeshi's neck, yet that distance transformed into an unbridgeable chasm.

Myriad scrolls fluttered, but Takeshi didn't employ the Kusanagi sword to parry. Instead, he adroitly altered his form within a confined space. Ribbons undulated, bafflingly eluding every assault.

Ebizō's puppet lunged ferociously, and Takeshi's form blurred once more. Within Ebizō's sight, Takeshi and the puppet passed by, the puppet suspended in mid-air as if, in that instant, Takeshi were merely a phantom!

"Far from easy! An illusion, or an augmentation of his strength?"

With ease, Takeshi dodged the attacks of the two, then initiated hand seals reminiscent of falling leaves. The atmosphere grew heated, weighted with tension.

"Let me experience Ninjutsu's augmentation: Sage Art : Extinguishing Fire!"

Raging flames engulfed the surroundings, tinged with a faint emerald luminescence. Any object they touched combusted violently. The searing temperatures even ignited the gravel, sparking crystallization on a grand scale. Heatwaves surged, and visibility blurred amidst the scorching inferno!

"Watch out! Puppet Art: Mechanical Light Shield Block!"

Ebizō's lizard puppet resisted the Fire Style jutsu unleashed by Takeshi. Yet, he didn't linger around the searing blaze conjured by Takeshi.

Ebizō activated mechanisms within the puppet, summoning a colossal chakra shield overhead to obstruct the flames. All who beheld it were struck with awe!

"What a Fire Release! My chakra wanes swiftly!"

Ebizō's features tightened. His calm had returned, yet now he grappled with a dire predicament.

Simultaneously infusing chakra and brainstorming countermeasures, Ebizō's resolve solidified.

"From whence did this kid emerge? Among Konoha's younger generation of ninjas, there's no equal. Could it be that our Sand Ninja has grown too insular? This matter must be addressed in due time!"

A surge of icy despair inundated Ebizō's heart. He gazed upon Takeshi with an expression transformed, grappling with the idea that recklessly categorizing this early riser as an adversary proved unwise, even with Hashirama and Madara's absence.

Perceiving the grim situation, Chiyo interposed the puppets between Takeshi and the two of them. Their gazes bore wariness, yet Takeshi refrained from further assault.

"The previous manoeuvre exacted a considerable toll!"

Furrowing his brows, Takeshi absorbed White Scale's voice. The melding of their two souls had been triggered by his expansive movement, rousing his partner from dormancy.

"Every power bears its cost. Despite the remarkable potential of your white-scale bloodline, the amalgamation of our souls is merely the start!"

"Why does this guy stand still? Chakra deficiency, perhaps?"

Chiyo's regard lingered on the motionless Takeshi, who, aside from his aura, seemed as though he didn't exist at all.

"Instant power escalation through ninjutsu harbours drawbacks. Greater augmentation entails more severe repercussions. Perhaps he's been ensnared in backlash!"

Ebizō recomposed himself. Given the circumstances, he resolved to scrutinize Takeshi's authenticity with his most potent gambit!

With the puppet reconnected, Ebizō's lizard puppet transformed into a fearsome visage. Blades jutted forth, the puppet swelling as it sprouted colossal circular saws.

The puppet emitted a silent roar, careening towards Takeshi with unbridled fury!

"Wind Style: Wind Cyclone!"

Ebizō's puppetry deviated starkly from convention. He meticulously crafted an overpowering puppet before maximizing its potential via diverse enhancements. A profusion of radiance attached to the puppet, the cyan gust lifting it to accelerate its pace. The searing heat clung to the blades, augmenting their potency, while the khaki luminescence fortified the puppet's armour, rendering it impervious!

Now equipped with myriad enhancements, the puppet resembled an unstoppable engine of destruction as it hurtled towards Takeshi!

"Quite formidable."

Takeshi sighed, the Kusanagi sword once more held before his chest. He raised the blade heavenward, his form ascending once more. The tip of the blade pointed skyward, and the overcast sky flickered intermittently with a faint lightning.

"From this distance, evasion proves fruitless. Accept your fate!"

Ebizō exerted renewed force, the puppet's snout morphing to form a massive acute angle. With gaping maw agape, the puppet lunged from beneath, its trajectory from bottom to top, as if intent on devouring Takeshi in midair!

"Perish!"