Malphegor
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YTS: Ch. 155
🕑 Added 2025-04-11 16:48:40 +0000 UTC"You are a Kage. Do you not even have the courage to face the enemy?" Ōnoki leaned forward slightly, his gaze heavy as he looked at the group of shadowy figures gradually surrounding them, trying to ignite Yagura's fighting spirit.
The strength of the enemy was completely beyond his expectations.
Such an overwhelming and unrivaled power—perhaps even if Hashirama and Madara were reborn, they would be no different from this. But as for him now... He was no longer the weakling who once had to muster all his courage just to lift his head in front of Madara.
He was the wielder of the Dust Release!
And Yagura, as the Mizukage and jinchūriki of the Three-Tails, should be able to summon the courage to fight seriously. Even that formidable subordinate under his command was no longer hesitating or thinking about running away.
They were not completely powerless against the enemy.
"You are right. As the Mizukage, I really shouldn't be this cowardly."
"In that case, I will... I will resign when I return."
"???!!!"
Ōnoki's vision went black upon hearing this. His chest heaved violently, and he almost coughed up blood on the spot.
Was this even a proper response?! Had Kiri completely run out of decent people?! How did someone like this become the Mizukage?!
This was an utter disgrace to all Kage!
Black Zetsu, who was possessing Yagura, didn't even spare Ōnoki a glance. If Kei didn't possess that strange ability to suddenly strip people of their powers... He would have long since removed all restrictions on Yagura and the Three-Tails, allowing a complete tailed beast transformation to charge forward—there would have been no need for Ōnoki's nonsense.
However, just before he dove underground, that bone-chilling sense of dread, coupled with Kei's persistent attempts to face him directly... Everything pointed to one thing.
The enemy wanted to use on him the same technique they had previously used on Madara. And that technique was extremely dangerous to him.
Could it be some kind of Sage Technique?
His thoughts raced.
Theoretically speaking, Sage Techniques shouldn't be able to harm him, as he was a being of Yin-Yang Release and couldn't be directly killed. But theory was just theory. Over the millennia, the shinobi world had produced countless secret techniques and forbidden jutsu.
Who knew if a new variation had emerged?
If he were to fall victim to an unforeseen attack, what would happen to his mother?
He curled himself into a small ball, hiding securely behind Tobi, always ready to jump from Yagura's body to Tobi's body at any moment.
At that moment, the figures of the Six Paths descended from the sky. They quickly gathered around Black Zetsu and Tobi, their identical Rinnegan eyes locked onto Kei's figure.
Meanwhile, under Black Zetsu's instruction, Tobi continuously channeled chakra within his body, activating the Yachihoko imprint left by Hikaru.
The member of the Hōzuki clan whom he had possessed naturally had an abundance of chakra and a fairly strong physique. But compared to Nagato, who possessed the Uzumaki bloodline and immense natural talent, he was still far inferior.
Even though Black Zetsu had enhanced his body with his own power, he could only barely utilize part of the Rinnegan's abilities.
If he wanted to unleash greater power... The only way now was for Hikaru to use the Yachihoko to transfer a portion of the chakra from the hundred thousand White Zetsu bodies.
Ōnoki turned to look at Yagura and the subordinates beside him.
Just as he was about to use words to provoke them again, he suddenly noticed something—one of Yagura's subordinates had lost their forehead protector, revealing their eyes.
Those violet eyes, adorned with concentric rings... Was that the legendary supreme dōjutsu that controlled life and death—the Sage of the Six Paths' Rinnegan?!
A storm of shock surged in his heart, and at the same time, he once again felt the urge to curse out loud.
Wait—his subordinate had this kind of power?! And yet he didn't even dare to show his face, looking like he was ready to flee at any moment?!
Ōnoki was momentarily stunned, his gaze fixed on the black aura surrounding Kei and the ferocious, roaring dragon that coiled around him. Then, he turned his eyes to the towering trees surrounding them, their branches thrashing wildly as if demons had descended upon the battlefield.
His allies were indeed strong. But the enemy was even stronger. This wasn't just a matter of power—it was about courage and will.
Even with the Rinnegan, what use was immense strength if the wielder was a cowardly weakling? Moreover, Kei who could rival the First Hokage, alongside Hiruzen, the now fully matured Three Legendary Sannin, and the recently seen Minato... Iwa already had fewer ninjas than Konoha, but its high-level combat power wasn't even close.
He feared that if he fell here today, there would be no one left in Iwa capable of bearing the Tsuchikage's responsibilities.
Damn it, he had truly been blind to have allied with Kiri!
He subtly shifted his footing, putting some distance between himself and Yagura's group. Then, he turned to Kei and spoke, "There is actually no deep-seated hatred between Iwa and Konoha."
As soon as those words left his mouth, even Black Zetsu was momentarily taken aback, staring at Ōnoki in disbelief.
This old man... was defecting?!
"Hmm?" Kei was slightly surprised, feeling genuinely caught off guard. He hadn't expected the stubborn old man from the original story to change his stance so quickly!
Wait a second.
In the Fourth Great Ninja War, wasn't this guy supposed to be resolute, encouraging the other Kage to fight Madara to the bitter end? What was happening now? Without Gaara and Naruto's morale-boosting speeches, was he just giving up right away?
Or was it that, in the original story, he only fought desperately because Madara had pushed things too far, forcing all the Kage to fight for survival?
"You foolish old man. Do you really think the enemy would care?" Black Zetsu sneered in mock disdain.
While he appeared scornful, his mind was racing, trying to figure out how to buy more time. At the same time, he mentally cursed Hikaru.
Logically, with her mastery over Yachihoko, the chakra reinforcement should have arrived long ago. But until now, there was no response at all.
"In truth, Iwa and Konoha could work together. How about we join forces and attack Kiri instead? The Land of Water might not be vast, but it is incredibly rich in resources..."
Ōnoki's mind was working at lightning speed. He spoke eloquently, spinning a plan that he had just made up on the spot.
Buzz—
A golden-red, semi-transparent barrier suddenly rose beyond the range of the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.
The pillar-shaped barrier was wrapped in countless golden-red flames, blocking all external personnel and energy from entering.
This was a powerful barrier that required the combined efforts of four Kage-level chakra users infused with senjutsu chakra. In the blink of an eye, it had completely sealed off the battlefield.
Black Zetsu's pupils shrank.
Only now, through the reflection of the barrier's glow, did he see, the massive trees spawned by the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees were continuously emitting invisible waves of senjutsu chakra.
These thin, mist-like layers of chakra were forming a barrier that blocked the flow of incoming chakra from the sky.
Damn it!
His enemy had already anticipated Hikaru's involvement and had even prepared countermeasures.
"In the shinobi world, we don't necessarily need another village... but I do think we could use a few more Kage. What do you think, Tsuchikage?" Kei crossed his arms over his chest, a confident smile on his face.
The barrier was now fully formed—strong enough to withstand the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.
Hikaru's Yachihoko was completely blocked outside, and the surrounding trees were continuously dispersing large amounts of senjutsu chakra to reinforce the defense.
If Black Zetsu still managed to escape now, he would refine his technique further.
As for Ōnoki—well, since he had already captured Black Zetsu, if the old man was smart, he would bring Iwa's ten thousand ninjas to work under him.
If not?
Then he would simply wash the land clean with Wood Release—and maybe even expand Konoha's territory a bit.
