Chapter 45: A Thunderbolt Flashes

The cat demon ablaze with blue flames, the giant clad in emerald armor, and the eight-tailed ox demon brandishing its tentacles—these three colossal beings fought as they advanced, quickly approaching the battlefield by the fortress. Wherever they passed, the earth quaked and mountains trembled, trees were shattered and splintered, their might far surpassing that of the previous giant summoned beasts.

Ninjas from both sides stood aghast, their spirits shaken with awe, retreating in waves before the oncoming titans.

“Susanoo?”

Fugaku Uchiha recognized the signature technique of his clan, his gaze tightening; when he caught sight of the figure within the giant, he exclaimed in shock, “Shisui—it's him?”

With Shisui’s talent, he indeed qualified to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, but at his age, to wield Susanoo to such an extent was astonishing.

The other Uchihas soon identified Shisui as the one controlling Susanoo. Surprise gave way to wild elation; pride surged, filling their chests.

So, their Uchiha clan now had a warrior capable of standing against the tailed beasts!

“Uchiha Shisui—it was him who entangled Yugito and Killer Bee,” the Fourth Raikage also recognized the forbidden eyes of the Uchiha, his expression darkening.

It could be said that Shisui’s presence had ensured the utter defeat of the Cloud Hidden in this war.

“He cannot be allowed to live!” The Fourth Raikage resolved, his body transforming into lightning and swiftly arriving at the zone where the three giants clashed.

At that moment, the two Cloud Hidden jinchūriki immediately shifted their tactics.

Matatabi, the Two-Tails, no longer fled, but unleashed a barrage of fiery spheres upon Susanoo’s chest armor, driving it back repeatedly.

The Eight-Tails stretched its tentacles, seizing the opportunity to bind Susanoo’s legs and feet completely.

For a moment, Susanoo struggled in vain, held fast by the Eight-Tails, unable to evade.

The Fourth Raikage would not let such an opportunity slip by; his body became a bolt of thunder, pounding down like a heavy hammer again and again.

Susanoo, unable to bear the onslaught, began to fracture like an eggshell under the relentless rain of blows.

Seeing this, Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki, felt immense satisfaction. She had struggled so long before reverting from tailed beast form, all for this moment.

“Die, Uchiha Shisui!”

Inside Susanoo’s space, Shisui’s eyes streamed with blood, the pain twisting his face as he collapsed to his knees.

“No—I must hold on.”

Now, Shisui’s vision had deteriorated severely; he could no longer discern the battle, only clinging to the command to entangle the jinchūriki, persisting with all his will.

He drew out the last syringe from his pocket and plunged it into his arm.

Injecting the genetic serum, though it could no longer enhance his body, served as an excellent means of recovery.

Yet it was a luxury, a prodigal act.

Feeling strength surge anew within him, Shisui began to draw on his ocular power once more, attempting to repair Susanoo.

However, unlike before, this forced extraction caused his eyes to exit the Mangekyō state; even the Sharingan could not be sustained.

There was truly not a drop left.

Susanoo vanished amid the Eight-Tails’ entanglement; Shisui lost his support and plummeted from the air.

Though his ocular power was spent, chakra remained. What left Shisui truly bewildered, even helpless, was that his vision was fading at an alarming rate.

A mist veiled his sight; the world grew indistinct, darkness steadily claiming his field of vision.

The reckless extraction of his ocular power was now exacting its price.

With effort, he flung a kunai tied with a fine thread, making a final struggle while his sight lingered.

Yet he could only bitterly smile; even at his best, how could his speed rival the Fourth Raikage?

“At last, the shell is broken. As expected of big brother,” Killer Bee exhaled, though his spirit remained alert, his gaze locked on Shisui as he swept a tentacle toward him with the force of a gale.

At the same time, the Fourth Raikage landed upon a tentacle, halting his descent, lightning coalescing in his arm as he struck fiercely at Shisui.

Clang—

A sword rang out; Orochimaru blocked the Raikage’s fist, grinning, “To attack my man so brazenly, you truly don’t regard me at all.”

The Fourth Raikage’s hair and beard bristled, his gaze glancing toward Shisui.

Orochimaru was stretched thin; he could block the Raikage, but not Killer Bee.

Yet what unfolded startled him: a flash of lightning, and the Eight-Tails’ tentacle swung at empty air.

“Who is that? Such speed—nearly rivaling my Lightning Release Chakra Mode.”

Deep in the forest, Kakashi set Shisui down, forming seals with both hands. “Summoning Jutsu!”

White smoke cleared, and a giant snake, several meters long, appeared before Kakashi.

“Don’t resist. I’ll send you somewhere safe to rest.”

Shisui recognized Kakashi’s voice, relaxed his body, and allowed the snake to swallow him inch by inch.

Once the summoning was undone, Kakashi covered his left eye with his forehead protector, leaning against a tree, gasping for breath.

Based on Orochimaru’s breathing techniques, he had developed his own lightning-style attack, deadlier than Chidori.

But now, his physical stamina could barely support a few uses.

“Should I return to the battle?”

Kakashi steadied himself against the tree, his gaze falling on the distant battlefield.

For this battle, Orochimaru had assigned him a single task: to rescue Shisui at the crucial moment.

Normally, after completing the mission, Kakashi would continue to fight against the Cloud Hidden.

But he hesitated; the mysterious enemy capable of space-time ninjutsu had yet to act.

If that enemy struck while Orochimaru was engaged with the Raikage, Orochimaru would be in grave danger.

Kakashi reckoned he could still perform ‘Thunder Flash’ once more, perhaps to turn the tide at a critical juncture.

With resolve, Kakashi slipped into the shadows at the edge of the battlefield, ready to assist at any moment.

Just then, a surge of energy erupted from the center of the battlefield.

Kakashi paused, adjusting his forehead protector, the tomoe swirling in his Sharingan as he focused on Orochimaru.

“That technique—is it the same as before?”

…

The Fourth Raikage also sensed the sudden change radiating from Orochimaru, his expression dark as water, wary as never before.

“Heh… The fortress is destroyed; your Cloud Hidden forces have been utterly defeated. This war should end here,” Orochimaru grinned, his visage fierce. “Yet you refuse to retreat. Are you hoping to keep me here?”

His intentions exposed, the Fourth Raikage’s expression did not change.

Learning that the fortress had been breached by four giant snake summons, he had suspected as much; after probing, he found Orochimaru’s chakra was nearly depleted.

Orochimaru had not unleashed the White Serpent form from that night, likely because more than half his chakra was sustaining the summons.

In the earlier battle, Orochimaru had been severely wounded repeatedly, and healing had consumed much more chakra.

Now was Orochimaru’s weakest moment, while the Fourth Raikage believed he could fight all day.

“At this point, using such a costly ability is sheer folly. If I can withstand this attack…”

A battle intent fiercer than ever blazed in the Raikage’s eyes; he could not return to the village empty-handed, bearing only defeat.