Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 68
🕑 Added 2024-12-12 23:37:24 +0000 UTCThe speed of the fire dragon was astonishing, catching up to Killer B in an instant and diving down. The heat alone was enough to scorch the air, creating a vacuum that pulled debris in its path.
Killer B, still sprinting, quickly coated himself with the Eight-Tails' chakra, leaping forward with a sudden burst of speed. He tumbled into a half-collapsed building, rolling to safety.
A moment later, the fire dragon exploded.
With a deafening roar, the surrounding buildings toppled like blocks, flames swirling outward like a tornado, reducing everything to a sea of fire.
Killer B burst out from the debris and continued his wild dash north, the chakra cloak sizzling against the intense heat.
Behind him, the sound of collapsing structures rumbled.
There wasn't even time to look back—he had never run this fast in his entire life.
"How can this old man be so strong, yo? His flames make me dance, don't you know!"
His chakra signature... I remember this. During the clan wars—, the Eight-Tails began.
"Save the history lesson, that's what I say! Just tell me how to survive another day, hey!" B cut in, narrowly avoiding another wave of heat.
Don't get caught! If his chakra touches you, it'll burn you to ashes... Idiot! Dodge quickly! His Fire Release isn't over yet!
Serving as Killer B's "eyes," it gave constant warnings, but once again, it found that its host had misunderstood the situation. There's no winning move here, B. We need to retreat.
"Huh?" Killer B, scolded again, was momentarily confused. "Running straight's my style, but these flames are wild!" As he habitually sprinted in a straight line, the surroundings changed abruptly.
Flames surged, blazing fiercely.
The scattered fires among the ruins seemed to be infused with new life, shining brilliantly.
A deafening rumble spread outward in waves, flames carrying chunks of debris into the sky. The intense heat melted these fragments into volcanic bombs.
This was one of Kai's most powerful combination jutsu, a creation born of his mastery of Kagutsuchi. It pushed the nature transformation and shape transformation of fire to their absolute limits.
The already-red-hot rocks streaked through the air, leaving dozens of fiery trails. Watching this familiar scene, Masashi, standing beside Kai, couldn't help but admire it now that his past biases had been set aside.
"Your technique hasn't diminished at all," Masashi commented.
No wonder Kai was regarded as the strongest fire user of his generation. Even someone as discerning as Madara considered Kai his most valued follower.
Killer B, however, did not share Masashi's appreciation.
With a loud scream, he frantically dodged the volcanic bombs raining down from above.
To be fair, he was already being let off lightly. During his past lifetime, Kai could unleash this technique with hundreds of bombs.
He'd almost been killed by this move. Its range was simply too vast to escape.
At this moment, Masashi activated his Sharingan, studying Kai's flow and manipulation of chakra with undivided focus.
The name Kagutsuchi was forever linked with Kai in the clan's archives. However, the archives only recorded the name. Kai had died too soon, unable to fully document his insights.
Still, the Senju clan, particularly Tobirama, remembered his mastery of Kagutsuchi vividly.
In the original timeline, he once saw Sasuke's use of Kagutsuchi and praised it, saying, "I've never seen Kagutsuchi wielded with such power." This was because he had witnessed Kai's skill with the technique, even when using just three-tomoe Sharingan.
The Three-tomoe weren't on the same level as the Mangekyō Sharingan, and ordinary fire couldn't compare to Amaterasu.
But aside from his power ceiling, Kai's technique with Kagutsuchi was unmatched.
With this skill, even as a reanimated corpse, he could display elite jonin-level combat prowess.
Ahead, more than ten large and small volcanic bombs struck the village. The remnants of the streets turned into blazing infernos, the violent impacts cracking the ground and causing mass destruction of buildings.
Kai's face remained cold as he formed a single seal, rising with the wind toward Killer B, who was still charging through the flames.
Masashi chuckled softly and followed with the Body Flicker.
Hearing Masashi's laughter behind him, Kai's expression grew darker.
Of all people to embarrass himself in front of, why did it have to be this guy?
Once again, he activated Kagutsuchi. The firestorm began to boil inward from the edges.
---
Meanwhile, in the middle of the flames, Killer B was in dire straits.
A volcanic bomb had directly struck him earlier.
The Eight-Tails' chakra cloak dissolved instantly. While it had absorbed most of the damage, the impact broke several bones. Blood spurted from his mouth, evaporating in the intense heat.
If not for his robust physique, he would have died.
His entire body was in agony, covered in burns. But these external injuries weren't the main issue. Inside, Kai's wind chakra continued to ravage his body.
The Eight-Tails was busy expelling the invading chakra, leaving it unable to heal him completely.
It no longer had much hope that Killer B would survive.
Even as a reanimated corpse, Kai was terrifyingly strong, and there were still other monsters yet to act.
It saw Kai approaching, exuding murderous intent.
All around, reanimated shinobi had formed a large encirclement, keeping their distance.
Near the group of reanimated shinobi stood a living person—another Uchiha. No, he wasn't just any Uchiha. He was the summoner.
B, stop. There's no escape.
Killer B stopped. His trust in the Eight-Tails was absolute. He had never considered it a mere beast.
"What's wrong?" Killer B panted heavily.
That person is the summoner.
"Yeah, I see him. The summoner." Killer B looked at Masashi, who was walking toward him. "Another Uchiha with those eyes so red, making me wish I had stayed in bed, yeah!"
Masashi's gaze was indifferent.
In the original timeline, Killer B was an interesting person.
But Masashi wasn't Naruto. He wasn't Killer B's friend and never would be.
As the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki and an enemy in this battle, he had only one fate: death.
"Oh ho, such an arrogant jerk." Killer B grinned, his stance deceptively loose despite his injuries. "Coming at me with that smug-face perk!"
"Eight-Tails jinchuriki," Masashi finally acknowledged him with a glance. "You're a good person, but please die. It will bring the war to an end sooner."
"Killing me won't be your easy game, when I'm done you'll remember the name!" Killer B said, secretly gathering chakra. He hoped the Uchiha would attack quickly—just a little closer.
"Don't waste your energy," Masashi said. "The only way to end Edo Tensei is for the summoner to release it voluntarily. Killing him won't help. Kumo should understand this technique."
"Little brat from the Yotsuki clan." Kai descended from the air. "You've done well enough. Rest now."
Before his words were finished, a fiery blade erupted from the ground beneath B, piercing him.
It was fire from the earlier Volcanic Rock Bombs. With Kagutsuchi, Kai had sent the flames burrowing underground, cutting through earth and stone to strike B from below.
The concentrated flames formed a sharp blade, breaking through the ground, piercing B, and lifting him into the air.
Yo, Eight-o, my friend so true, this is my final verse just for you, Killer B thought with a peaceful smile as he felt death closing in. No more rhymes, no more fights... but at least you'll see the morning lights.
With that, flames erupted from B's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Guided by Kagutsuchi, they detonated. The fire tore through and consumed his body, until he was just part of the flames.
Nothing remained.
For a brief moment, Masashi sensed the Eight-Tails. But, as Killer B had requested, the beast chose to retreat.
Just as he said, the Eight-Tails, from this moment onward, was free.
---
When Killer B exploded mid-air, it was like a firework blooming in the night, radiating colorful brilliance. The last of the embers scattered in all directions before fading away.
And with that, the battle came to an end.
This time, he was truly gone.
He could deceive once, but not twice.
In the shinobi world, many jutsus can only be used once—especially secret techniques, which are most notorious in this regard.
Secret techniques are called so not because they are mysterious, but because they must remain secret.
Otherwise, they lose their effectiveness.
Killer B's earlier technique was essentially a Substitution jutsu, executed using the vast chakra of the Eight-Tails. If one were unaware of this jutsu, it could indeed succeed under the cover of the Eight-Tails' chakra.
But unfortunately, Masashi had the advantage of "New Game+" knowledge.
As he gazed at the now-quiet skies, he lamented that Killer B wasn't on his side.
Kumo was dominated by martial factions and was the most aggressive among the Five Great Villages, often threatening others with war.
Even on a personal level, he had never regarded Kumo as a potential ally. Kumo's double standards were infamous.
To them, taking from others was "survival of the fittest." If they failed, it was the other party's fault. And if they not only failed but were also beaten, then it was a grudge that had to be avenged at all costs.
This mindset of the Yotsuki clan has now become ingrained in Kumo's culture.
Maintaining peace with such a village was surprisingly simple: just beat them so thoroughly that even their mothers wouldn't recognize them.
Shifting his gaze, Masashi surveyed his surroundings.
The resurrected individuals had gathered around, all staring at him.
"Relax, I keep my promises," he said with a smile. Unlike some villages I could name. "Though promises are just another tool in our world."
He looked earnestly at all of them. This truly was the final farewell. From now on, he and these figures would have no further connection.
He formed the first hand seal.
"Wait a moment," Kai suddenly said.
Masashi paused, looking at him with confusion.
What now? Got too into the fight and don't want to go back?
"What's the current state of the Uchiha clan?" Kai asked.
The other Edo Tensei individuals perked up at this.
"Yeah, and what about the Hōzuki clan?"
"What about the Kaguya? Did they join Kiri?"
"Did my family finally overthrow those idiots in the Hōzuki Clan?"
"What about the Tsuchigumo clan? Did they join any village?"
"Is Shukaku still controlled by Suna? Who's the current Kazekage?"
Questions burst out from everywhere as the Edo Tensei figures crowded around, their eyes full of hope, eager to hear good news.
But Masashi had no time for this.
"You're dead; why worry about such things?" he said, waving them off. "Keep pushing, and I might just change my mind."
The group immediately backed off, those who had been the most vocal hurriedly assuring him that they were merely curious and that he didn't have to answer.
Kai snorted, clearly unfazed.
"Really? You join the Uchiha clan, and now I can't even ask questions?"
"Ask if you want, but keep it short," Masashi grumbled.
"You claim you're protecting the Uchiha. Did the Senju do something to them?"
"The Senju clan dissolved long ago; there's no Senju clan anymore," Masashi replied.
He decided to answer Kai's question for once.
"You know how Madara and the Senju fell out. Tobirama didn't actively oppress the Uchiha, but some of his students couldn't let go of their biases."
"Ah, that's why you're protecting the Uchiha now," Kai said, clearly satisfied. "What, just a few brats couldn't handle you? How many of them are left?"
Is this guy even listening to himself?
"Do I look like I enjoy killing people?" Masashi asked. "Only one's dead."
"Tsk tsk…" Kai practically smirked, his schadenfreude written all over his face. "The rest probably won't last much longer either. Alright, I'm good. You can proceed."
He frowned, then held up a hand.
"Wait, one more thing. How far have you progressed with the Sharingan?"
"About the same as you," Masashi said irritably. "Why?"
"Then learn Kagutsuchi and record it in the clan library," Kai instructed. "You won't master it just by relying on your Sharingan. I'll teach you. Watch closely. The Sharingan isn't just for copying."
"I know the theory. It's the application that—"
"Theory?" Kai cut him off with a scoff. "This is about feeling the flames in your blood. The Sharingan guides, but the power comes from within."
"Wow, so generous. Don't you hate me anymore?"
"Generous? Becoming an Uchiha is punishment enough for you. You'll be stuck fighting for the Uchiha for the rest of your life." Kai sneered before launching into a detailed explanation of how to use the three-tomoe Sharingan to perform Kagutsuchi.
"The flames respond to emotion as much as chakra. Remember that."
The other Edo Tensei figures initially listened with interest but soon found it tedious. They began to grumble about the Uchiha clan's absurdity.
Always making simple things complicated, one muttered under their breath.
In their view, manipulating chakra should suffice. Why complicate things with ocular powers?
"The Sharingan is just a crutch," someone whispered. "Real shinobi rely on their own strength."
They eventually sat down, chatting among themselves and thinking about their past lives.
When Pakura arrived, she found this bizarre scene of resurrected individuals casually hanging out. Upon seeing Masashi learning jutsu from Kai, she couldn't help but think it was even more surreal.
Not even the dead are safe from you?
Yet she no longer felt so uneasy around the Edo Tensei figures. Apart from their corpse-like appearance, they weren't much different from the living.
As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight painted the earth, Masashi concluded his training session. His Sharingan had recorded every detail of the technique.
"I don't expect you to master it, but at least remember it and record it. Just because you can't doesn't mean others can't," Kai said smugly.
"Stop showing off. I've already added more jutsus to the library than you."
"Those are trash compared to mine."
"Trash? Let's see you pull off a Susanoo then!" Masashi shot back before forming hand seals.
He released the Edo Tensei jutsu, sending all the resurrected souls back to the Pure Land.
The gathered spirits began to glow, their forms shimmering as they prepared for their final departure.
"Finally going back?"
"Thank goodness."
"Next time, I'll make sure to die somewhere less conspicuous."
Kai also began to glow as the dust on his body began to crumble away.
"At least you kept your word this time." He raised a hand, sensing the jutsu's diminishing hold on him. He knew it wouldn't be long before he found peace in the Pure Land.
"One last piece of advice," he said to Masashi. "As an Uchiha, there are many things you have no choice in."
With that, his body disintegrated, his soul ascending in a pillar of light.
All around, other beams of light rose, carrying souls with peaceful smiles back to their rest.
As the dust settled, the remains of sacrifices used in the Edo Tensei revealed their true forms.
Standing before Masashi was a young man's corpse—Kai's eldest son.
This time, he would ensure they all returned to the earth properly. It was the least he could do for those whose rest he had disturbed, even if it had been necessary.
