Chapter Thirty-One: The Battle Between Shadows and Departure

Chapter 31: Battle Between Shadows and Departure

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“What an enormous amount of chakra… Shadow level!” The Third Hokage stared in astonishment at the thick mist surrounding them. The sheer control over such tremendous chakra could only be achieved at the pinnacle of the Kage rank.

“This isn’t good! Ninjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!” The Second Hokage immediately cast the jutsu that could force people out of hiding.

“Tch, so this is my reward? Such a powerful technique—there’s nowhere to hide!” Shuster and his numerous clones dispersed the fog.

“Wood Release Secret Art: Deep Forest Emergence.” The First Hokage unleashed a terrain-altering jutsu. Colossal trees sprouted up all around them.

“Wah!” Countless clones were strangled to death by the rapidly growing trees.

“Damn it, so this is the power of the First Hokage? But you shouldn’t underestimate me!” Shuster’s true body cleaved a branch with his sword and gritted his teeth.

“Main body, let’s all use that technique,” the clone with 80% of Shuster’s strength said, coming to his side.

“Damn it, looks like this is the only way. Fortunately, Orochimaru can only control one Hokage at a time.” The real Shuster and his clone stood together.

“Lightning Release: Dragon Chain Massacre!” In an instant, all the clones lined up, formed the cross sign, and shouted as one.

In the next moment, hundreds of lightning dragons intertwined and surged toward Orochimaru and the two Hokage.

“Water Release: Water Formation Wall!” “Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!” Seeing the ferocity of the attack, the two Hokage hurriedly unleashed defensive ninjutsu.

“Boom!” “This isn’t good! Summoning: Triple Rashomon!” Realizing the Hokages’ ninjutsu wouldn’t be enough, Orochimaru quickly deployed his ultimate defense.

“Huff… The power of this jutsu could annihilate a Kage in an instant.” Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief. Although all the gates were shattered and the Hokages’ defenses broken, the attack had been barely blocked.

A cloudless sky, the union of slowness and speed! Heed the ancient contract of lightning and fire! Strike him! Thunderclap Judgment!

Shuster and his clones murmured in unison. Thunderclouds gathered, and lightning flickered ominously in the sky.

A bolt of lightning crashed down, striking directly at the two Hokage below. Having just expended themselves on defense, they had no time to cast another—they were not the bugged characters of some novels who could unleash endless jutsu one after another.

“Hah!” A direct hit—no ninja could ever hope to match the speed of light.

Afterwards, countless thunder spears, wielded by a legion of Shusters, rained down on the paralyzed Hokage, just like a barrage of Saiyan energy blasts converging on a single point.

*Cough* “Such power… Who are you in Leaf Village?” As the smoke cleared, the First and Second Hokage, charred all over, struggled to stand. Their miserable state left the three ANBU watching outside utterly stunned.

“I am Konoha’s newly promoted elite jonin, codename Thunder, Hatake Shuster.” Shuster introduced himself to the two Hokage, whose forms were starting to crumble into dust.

“Then, the future of Konoha is in your hands, newcomer,” the two Hokage said in unison.

“I’m sorry, but I may not be able to fulfill that task,” Shuster replied, surprising both Hokage. But they had no chance to ask why—a gust of wind swept past, and the two turned to dust.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for leveling up. Current rank: Tier Seven, Intermediate Peak. Attention: Remaining time in this plane is thirty minutes. Countdown begins.”

“Well then, next is you, Orochimaru!” Shuster turned to face Orochimaru.

“Tch, I didn’t expect you to be this strong. My plans have gone awry…” Orochimaru muttered, unwilling.

“Don’t even think about escaping—you won’t get the chance.” In an instant, clones surrounded Orochimaru.

“Rasengan!” With a roar, Jiraiya appeared at the barrier, smashing it apart with a Rasengan. The four Sound ninja were instantly killed by the backlash.

“Heh, long time no see, Jiraiya!” Orochimaru greeted him.

“You haven’t changed a bit—the same detestable eyes, you bastard.” Jiraiya smiled.

“In that case, let’s change locations. This space really isn’t suited for battle.” Orochimaru suggested.

“Hmph, just what I was thinking. Third Lord, please handle the remaining Sound ninja. Orochimaru is ours.” Shuster dispelled his Shadow Clones and turned to the Third Hokage.

“Understood, I’ll leave it to you two.” The Third, unable to bear seeing his disciple killed, departed.

“Why dismiss your clones? Aren’t you afraid I’ll run?” Orochimaru asked.

“Heh, have you ever heard of anyone escaping from my hands?” Shuster couldn’t help but laugh at Orochimaru’s words.

“…Follow me, then.” Embarrassed by his own slip, Orochimaru turned and left.

Scene shift: a vast, open plain.

“So, is this the grave you’ve chosen for yourself, Orochimaru?” Shuster asked, standing on the open ground.

“Orochimaru, we were classmates once. I’ll leave you a whole corpse,” Jiraiya stepped forward.

“Heh heh, that’s exactly what I was going to say. You two will stay here!” Suddenly, Orochimaru unleashed a massive aura.

“What are you doing, Orochimaru?” Jiraiya asked, horrified at the sight of Orochimaru’s body beginning to liquefy.

“Heh heh, this is for you to see. Stay here! Hahaha!” Orochimaru’s clothes burst apart, revealing a body covered in slime, swelling to a size rivaling the Tailed Beasts—he had transformed into the Eight-Headed Serpent and erected a barrier around them.

“Ding! Mission difficulty updated. Mission is now SS-ranked storyline. Rewards: Soul Crystal x200,000, Skill Scroll: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.”

“In that case, I have no choice but to use that move. Jiraiya-sensei, I’ll use all my strength to send you out. Please tell my brother—I’m going ahead of him.” Shuster turned to Jiraiya, and without waiting for a reply, slashed the barrier five times. With a 10% chance, an opening appeared. Shuster kicked the still-stunned Jiraiya through the gap.

“Hey, kid, don’t do anything foolish!” Only after being kicked out did Jiraiya, shaken by Orochimaru’s transformation, react—but the barrier had already closed.

“Damn it, Rasengan!” Boom—the barrier didn’t budge.

“Shunshin no Jutsu—what’s going on, Lord Jiraiya?” Kakashi and the other jonin arrived outside the massive barrier.

“What is that? The Eight-Headed Serpent?!” The Third Hokage immediately recognized Orochimaru’s transformation.

“Orochimaru, you actually researched such a forbidden jutsu… You bastard! Hm? Is that… Shuster?! What are you doing in there?!” The Third shouted at Orochimaru, then noticed Shuster seemingly murmuring to himself inside.

“Heh, Sarutobi-sensei, this is my trump card. I intended to keep Jiraiya and this brat here, but the kid went to great lengths to send Jiraiya out. No matter—after killing her, I’ll come for you all.” Orochimaru emerged from one of the snake heads, his slimy body disgusting.

“What? Shuster’s inside?” Kakashi exclaimed in shock.

“Kakashi, calm down. Your brother asked me to tell you: he’s going ahead of you,” Jiraiya said, stopping the frantic Kakashi and shaking his head.

“Damn it…” Kakashi was on the verge of losing control.

“Heh heh, so, kid, are you ready to die?” Orochimaru taunted.

“Hmph—All the unfortunate souls of the world, all evil and fallen spirits, let the purifying light return the worlds to their rightful places! Let everything return to nothingness!” Shuster raised the Blood Dance Crescent Moon before his chest, right hand braced against the sword’s back.

“What? This enormous chakra is actually magic power. Not good!” Orochimaru lunged at Shuster.

“Final Act: Wrath of the Thunder God!” With a voice as if judgment itself had descended, Shuster’s majestic words echoed in everyone’s ears.

In the next instant, time seemed to freeze—only Shuster could move. Slowly, he drove the lightning-charged Blood Dance Crescent Moon into the giant serpent’s head, just half a meter away…

“What is this?!” The Third Hokage was utterly shocked.

“How could this be?” Even Jiraiya lost his composure.

A flash of lightning split the air, its presence almost unfathomable.

“It’s over.” Shuster withdrew the Blood Dance Crescent Moon and blew gently on it. The Eight-Headed Serpent dissolved into dust.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for reaching Tier Seven, Advanced Peak. Since your level exceeds the limits of this world, you will now be forcibly returned to the main plane.”

“Ding! Mission objective achieved…” Upon hearing the first message, Shuster knew he’d succeeded. Now, all he wanted was to sleep. The second message only half-reached his ears before he slipped into endless darkness…

PS: The next volume begins! The book’s Penguin group: 134063679. More people, more suggestions—bring them on!