468. The Six-Tails, Saiken

As the thick smoke rose into the air and the massive crater left behind after the smoke cleared became visible, all the shinobi of Kirigakure—whether pro-Konoha or loyal to the Mizukage—lost all will to resist.

The psychological pressure this man had inflicted on them was simply too overwhelming.

With a single move, he had annihilated the most elite unit of the Land of Water.

How could they possibly fight back?

Not to mention the three aircraft carriers hovering above and the numerous Konoha shinobi equipped with flight tools, relentlessly bombarding them from the sky.

With the pro-Konoha faction within Kirigakure cooperating, the Mizukage's forces were quickly pushed back.

Some surrendered, while others fled.

---

Meanwhile, near the Kirigakure shrine, a figure slowly emerged from the thick mist.

"Danzō Shimura, are you truly going to commit such a heinous act?"

Elder Genji, a senior figure in Kirigakure, stepped out of the shrine, leaning on his cane, and stood in front of the figure.

Seeing the elderly man before him, Danzō's expression remained unchanged.

"Elder Genji, the unification of the ninja world is an inevitable trend. I gave Kirigakure a chance, but you failed to seize it."

His voice was cold and resolute, leaving no room for compromise.

Genji wasn't surprised.

Someone who had risen to Danzō's position would never be soft-hearted.

"In that case, this old man can only do his best to stop you."

A powerful surge of chakra erupted from Genji's aged body.

With practiced hand seals, the lake behind him churned violently, forming a ferocious water dragon that roared toward Danzō.

Facing this attack, Danzō remained calm.

He slowly drew the katana at his waist and said softly, "Times have changed, Genji."

In the next moment, a surge of ocular power erupted from his eyes.

The terrifying aura instantly dispersed the surrounding mist, and his crimson eyes glowed like two blood-red moons in the night sky.

As Danzō's katana was coated in a crimson light, a devastating slash split the water dragon and the lake behind it in two.

The churning waters were forced apart, revealing the rocky lakebed and what lay hidden in its depths—

the Six-Tails Jinchūriki!

Seeing this, Genji, bleeding profusely from his forehead to his abdomen, used the last of his strength to shout:

"Run, Utakata!"

Hearing this desperate cry, Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, finally snapped out of his daze.

But the cold, effeminate man didn't choose to flee. Instead, he launched a fierce attack on the intruder.

"You damn fool, you're asking for death!"

In the next moment, he blew a stream of bubbles from the small pipe in his mouth.

Like tiny bombs, they surrounded Danzō from all sides.

Then, a massive explosion engulfed him!

"Hmph, the Darkness of Shinobi, huh?"

"Don't underestimate a Jinchūriki, you bastard."

Utakata stood on the now turbulent lake surface, wiping his mouth, his narrowed eyes filled with coldness.

Unfortunately, as the smoke from the explosion cleared, what appeared before Utakata was a massive white Susanoo.

And the darkness stood safely within it.

Protected by the thick chakra armor, the explosion hadn't harmed him in the slightest.

"How is this possible...?"

Utakata stared in disbelief.

Since becoming the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, no one had ever so easily blocked his attack.

But recalling how Danzō had effortlessly killed Genji and split the lake with a single slash, this level of power seemed almost expected.

Danzō observed Utakata's shifting emotions and spoke calmly.

"Six-Tails Jinchūriki, you now have two choices."

"One, come with me to Konoha."

"Two, be defeated, and then come with me to Konoha."

Such domineering words instantly enraged Utakata.

"Don't think blocking one of my attacks means you can get cocky, you bastard!"

He roared, and a massive surge of red chakra erupted from every pore of his body.

A thick layer of tailed beast chakra cloaked him.

The violent shockwave pushed the surrounding waters aside, creating a wet hurricane that swept toward the shore.

Of course, these residual effects were nothing to the Susanoo.

In fact, even the fully transformed Six-Tails was no longer a threat to Danzō.

Losing patience with the stubborn Jinchūriki, Danzō coldly clapped his hands together.

"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"

As the technique activated, an immense amount of chakra flowed through Danzō's feet into the ground.

Countless thick trees began to grow, breaking free from the earth and bursting out from the lakebed.

In an instant, the once vast lake was transformed into a dense, mist-covered tropical rainforest!

Faced with this divine spectacle, Utakata's jaw dropped.

Isn't this a bit too much?

Before he could react, the trees around him seemed to come alive, surging toward him.

With no escape, Utakata had no choice but to borrow the Six-Tails' power, releasing a massive amount of acidic gas from his body.

The gas corroded the incoming trees, reducing them to decay.

Seeing the decayed trees, Utakata smirked again.

"Now, let's break out of this forest in one go!"

He crouched down, releasing another wave of acidic gas.

But at that moment, Danzō's hoarse voice rang out.

"You seem to be underestimating me."

Somehow, Danzō had appeared behind Utakata.

As the Jinchūriki turned his head, a massive white fist came crashing down.

"Boom!!!"

The Susanoo's punch sent Utakata deep into the ground.

The violent force spread across the terrain, shattering rocks and cracking the earth!

But in Danzō's vision, Utakata's chakra signature didn't disappear. Instead, it grew stronger.

A massive surge of chakra erupted from his body, and the crimson tailed beast cloak expanded until it fully transformed into the Six-Tails—

Saiken.

"Screech!!!"

The moment Saiken fully manifested, it let out a piercing cry.

Then, a tidal wave of corrosive liquid surged outward.

Everything it touched was instantly corroded and dissolved.

Even Danzō's Susanoo had to temporarily retreat from its path.