The terrifying impact of the high pressure water smashed forward. Several cracks appeared on the walls of the High Tower, marked with distorted, scar-like traces, as if everything ahead was about to be swallowed whole. The dragon of water and lightning tore through the space above.
On the web woven from dense black shadows, the figure showed no panic at all. Yunchuan Hyuga calmly watched the attacking water dragon. He slowly raised his arm, and a black bead compressed and reshaped within the shadows, forming a shield.
With a deafening crash, the water dragon slammed into the shield. Massive waves mixed with violent lightning surged into the air. Blinding electric light exploded at the point of impact, crackling nonstop and lighting up the dark High Tower and the night like daylight.
White steam and scorched black smoke spread outward. The High Tower began to crumble under the strain, sending out sharp cracking sounds. The structure was clearly reaching its limit.
"Damn it! Pull back!"
Hanzo shouted with a dark expression and immediately led the Amegakure ninja to retreat. He did not hesitate for even a second. The order was clear and final.
Kakashi Hatake ignored the falling debris and stared into the lightning and mist. When a figure slowly emerged from the haze, a bone chilling cold rushed through him. His voice came out hoarse as he shouted, "Retreat…"
His leg muscles tensed instantly as he formed seals to use Body Flicker. His body stretched into a blur, pushing his speed past its limit as he shot backward like an arrow. Others reacted a moment slower and raised their hands to form seals.
But it was already too late. "What a pity. Between you and me, distance has no meaning." Yunchuan Hyuga spoke with a smile, as the shield returned to a round bead and revealed shadow spikes compressed to the extreme beside him.
He flipped his wrist, loosened his clenched fist, and his lips lightly touched. "Bang." The sound was like a death sentence.
In an instant, countless sharp spikes shot out from his side. Piercing screams filled the air as they tore through water mist and rain, blasting holes through them and carving black lines of water in midair. This speed and this power were beyond reason.
Not just flesh and blood, even steel plates would be pierced. The minds of the people from Konoha went nearly blank as they stared at the falling spikes. Their faces twisted in terror, eyes filled with the sharp points rushing toward them.
Too fast, far too fast. The fear of death nearly broke them. They screamed and swung their weapons wildly, blade shadows flashing as sparks burst and died in front of them.
Some spikes aimed at hearts and heads were barely knocked away. But others punched straight through their bodies. Blood burst out again and again.
Like nails through paper, the spikes pierced them instantly, leaving bloody holes straight through their bodies. The terrible penetration meant the force did not stop in flesh and bone, but blasted straight through and buried itself deeper beyond them.
Blood splattered across the surrounding walls, spraying arcs like crescent shapes and staining everything red. The space was filled with the sight of shattered stone and spreading blood, as the aftermath of the attack settled into silence.
"Huff. Huff."
Kakashi Hatake almost threw himself out. He crashed down into the pool of water outside the tower and gasped hard, fear and pushing past his limits making sweat pour down him.
His legs were nearly numb. From his feet to his thighs they were covered in charred marks, his muscles twitching without control, and dark red burns could even be seen under the skin.
It was obvious he had forced his body with Lightning Release Chakra to escape, and there was not even time left to use Earth Release and Earth Style Earth Wall to block. That meant the others were still inside.
Bang!
A harsh cracking sound rang out, enough to hurt the ears, as two figures were blasted out and smashed toward him. Kakashi Hatake reached out by reflex to catch them, sliding several steps back before he could steady himself.
He frowned and looked down, then saw two familiar faces and felt shock mixed with relief. Yunchuan Hyuga was only exhausted, but Tenzo had his abdomen pierced through, as if a chunk had been torn out.
Yes, Kaiten did not need hand seals. Yunchuan had actually saved Tenzo.
Having mostly figured out that man's abilities, he knew they were troublesome. Still, if Yunchuan was helping, maybe there was still a chance.
"Kakashi Hatake… senior…"
The one he was holding, Yunchuan Hyuga, spoke hoarsely from exhaustion. "Go, now. Hanzo and those Amegakure Ninja are about to act."
The words were like cold water poured over him, and Kakashi Hatake woke up at once. Hanzo had been persuaded by that man, and with only him and Yunchuan, they could not face so many enemies.
Kakashi Hatake staggered to his feet and looked back toward the tower. Damn it, if that sudden intruder had not appeared, the alliance between Konoha and Amegakure would already have been settled.
Now, the dozen people he had brought were probably all dead. The sounds inside the tower faded, and Kakashi Hatake knew it would be too late if they stayed, so he gritted his teeth and dragged the two away.
At the same time, inside the High Tower, Hanzo entered with the Amegakure Ninja. They instinctively twitched their noses as they smelled the endless stench of blood, and many faces turned pale.
What they saw was a field of eerie crimson, like a pool of blood from a cut artery. Thick red blood had already spread across and swallowed the floor.
Everyone looked up. Under the moonlight, a web woven from black shadows hung quietly in the air.
It was cruel, violent, and soaked in blood, yet there was a strange and twisted sense of beauty to it. Several Konoha Ninja who still had a trace of life were suspended in the air by dark shadows, struggling in vain.
They found that the Chakra in their bodies could not be used at all. Unable to break free, their curses slowly turned into low sobs and pleas as the shadows crept up their bodies, until everything fell into a chilling silence.
Everyone could feel the savage presence above them, close enough to touch. The suffocating pressure made teeth clench and bodies tremble, urging them to flee in fear.
"…"
Hanzo let out a deep breath, as if trying to expel the cold from his chest along with the heavy smell of blood. He looked at the shadow above and spoke in a low voice.
"Do your words still count? We can buy supplies at a ten percent premium over black market prices, but what you said at the end…"
Land of Rain and Amegakure were never short on money, and their steel industry was well developed. Assassination skills in Amegakure were famous, and many hired Amegakure Ninja for such work, so they never lacked bounties.
What Land of Rain lacked was food. In peacetime they could buy it, but in war trade would be cut off, and even smugglers would charge prices they could not bear.
If Yunchuan Hyuga could truly provide food, they really would dare to fight the Five Great Nations to the end. Still, what Hanzo cared about most was that final promise.
"You mean a young body, and greater power?"
Yunchuan Hyuga put Tenzo's flesh and blood into the Scroll. He stepped onto an unseen shadow and walked down from above, step by step, under gazes filled with fear and vigilance.