Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 244: Susanoo

Just as Kakuzu and Kisame were about to continue their "conversation," the space before them began to twist and distort. Slowly, a figure emerged from the swirling void.

Noticing the spatial distortion and the silent appearance of a ninja wearing a Mist Anbu mask, both Kakuzu and Kisame's expressions shifted instantly.

Kakuzu dropped the corpse he had been carrying, while Kisame gripped Samehada tightly. With just a thought, the blade could extend its spines, ready to devour chakra.

"What are you two doing?"

A familiar voice came from beneath the mask.

Hearing this, Kisame froze for a moment, while Kakuzu, more experienced, simply scoffed and muttered, "Next time, can you at least make a sound before appearing? I might not stop myself in time."

Tonari, unfazed by Kakuzu's complaints, waved dismissively.

"Kisame?!" Kisame finally recognized the voice. This unique method of appearance could only belong to Tonari.

"Yes, Kisame. It seems you're getting along well with Kakuzu," Tonari said with a smile, removing his mask.

It was no wonder Kisame didn't recognize him immediately—Tonari's aura had subtly changed.

While Kisame was surprised by Tonari's ever-changing presence, Kakuzu was already used to the fact that Tonari returned from every disappearance with newfound power.

But this time, even Kakuzu was momentarily stunned when he saw Tonari's exposed eyes.

Two crimson orbs glowed menacingly. His right eye was a familiar three-tomoe Sharingan, a signature of the Uchiha clan. However, the left eye was different—it bore a spinning, windmill-like pattern.

For a moment, neither of them could react.

Tonari smiled faintly and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Kakuzu and Kisame immediately felt the world spin around them. Their vision blurred, and when it cleared, they found themselves bound to massive crucifixes in a blood-red world.

Standing before them was the same smirking Tonari.

"Genjutsu?! When did he…?" Kakuzu's eyes widened as he quickly realized they were trapped in an illusion. Yet, he had no idea when the genjutsu had taken hold.

He had merely glanced at that peculiar Sharingan…

And that glance was all it took for him to fall into this hyper-realistic illusion.

Above them hung a crimson moon, but a closer look revealed that the moon wasn't celestial—it was the very pattern of Tonari's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Kisame also grasped the situation. He strained against his bindings, but no matter how much force he applied, he couldn't break free.

"Samehada!" Kisame barked.

If Samehada could flood his body with chakra, he could forcibly break the illusion.

But no matter how loudly he called, he felt no chakra surge.

Outside the genjutsu, Tonari watched with amusement as Kakuzu and Kisame struggled, standing like a crucifix himself, arms crossed.

Their veins bulged with effort, but their bodies merely trembled in place.

This was the essence of genjutsu—manipulating the five senses to convince the brain that the illusion was reality. Once the mind accepted the illusion as truth, the victim was effectively trapped.

As for Samehada, it lay curled up beside Tonari, wagging its tail like an obedient pet.

Though the blade recognized Kisame's chakra and accepted him as its wielder, it feared Tonari, a man whose chakra it couldn't absorb and who could destroy it effortlessly.

Tonari casually stroked Samehada, enjoying the chakra it submissively offered, while his eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

This was his first time using the Mangekyō Sharingan for genjutsu, and he couldn't deny the results were impressive. Coupled with his deep understanding of genjutsu principles, the illusion became nearly unbreakable.

However, sustaining control over Kakuzu and Kisame indefinitely was unrealistic. Kakuzu, recognizing the caster's identity, had already ceased his struggles.

The seasoned bounty hunter muttered dryly, "If you keep this up, I'll just leave. You can handle the Mist ninjas yourself."

Tonari's expression froze. Realizing that pushing further might strain their partnership, he waved his hand.

The crimson world shattered like glass, and Kakuzu and Kisame found themselves once again standing in the forest, with Tonari smiling at them.

Both men instinctively averted their eyes, avoiding direct contact with Tonari's gaze.

"Relax, it's over. I just wanted to test it out. I won't use genjutsu on you again," Tonari assured them.

But no matter what he said, neither Kakuzu nor Kisame dared to meet his eyes.

Tonari sighed, exasperated by their wariness. He genuinely hadn't expected the technique to be so effective.

"Is that… also a Sharingan?" Kakuzu asked, narrowing his eyes.

Though he'd seen Tonari experiment with body modifications before, this was his first time witnessing him wield a Sharingan. It didn't particularly surprise him, given Tonari's penchant for peculiar experiments.

However, the distinctive pattern in Tonari's left eye made him uneasy.

"Yes, it's the Mangekyō Sharingan—the evolved form of the three-tomoe Sharingan," Tonari confirmed.

"Mangekyō Sharingan?" Kakuzu's eyes narrowed further, as if recalling something significant.

"You mean the same Mangekyō Sharingan possessed by Uchiha Madara, the man once considered equal to the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju?"

Even Kisame, unfamiliar with the specifics of the Sharingan, looked visibly startled upon hearing Madara's name.

Tonari hesitated briefly before nodding. "If you put it that way, yes. It's the same type of eye. Though my abilities differ from Madara's, the power level is comparable."

Kakuzu's eyes flickered with disbelief.

Hashirama's Wood Release and Madara's Sharingan…

Tonari had now acquired the core abilities of both legendary figures. Though his current strength didn't yet match theirs, his youth left ample room for growth.

Kakuzu, despite his pride, couldn't help but feel impressed.

As for Kisame…

He had already been humbled by Tonari during their encounter at sea. And, truthfully, Tonari's persuasive words had done more than physical might to win Kisame's allegiance.

Years spent alongside Orochimaru had sharpened Tonari's ability to manipulate and persuade, making him as dangerous with words as with jutsu.

"I only recently acquired it," Tonari continued, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "And what better way to test its power than against the Mist ninja?"

Kakuzu rolled his eyes. "Should Kisame and I step aside and let you have your fun?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't need that many targets," Tonari waved dismissively.

If he'd intended to fight two hundred ninjas alone, there'd have been no need to summon Kisame and Kakuzu in the first place.

"Speaking of which—Kisame, are you fine fighting Mist ninjas?" Tonari asked, glancing at Kisame.

After all, Kisame had once been one of them.

But Kisame merely grinned, hoisting Samehada onto his shoulder. "Tonari-san, don't forget—even when I was still part of the Mist, every corpse beneath my blade was a fellow Mist ninja."

Tonari blinked in surprise before chuckling. "Fair point."

Their banter didn't last long. Soon, the Mist's main force emerged on the horizon.

"They're here," Tonari muttered, donning his Anbu mask once more.

"Let's see who racks up the highest kill count," he challenged.

"You're on!" Kisame grinned eagerly.

Kakuzu nodded but added, "If you pull out any big jutsu, it doesn't count. And warn us first—I'd rather not get caught in your blast."

By "big jutsu," Kakuzu clearly meant techniques like Lightning Release: Kirin, Rasen Shuriken, or even a Tailed Beast Bomb.

"Deal! Let's move!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The trio charged toward the two-hundred-strong Mist force.

Tonari drew the Hiramekarei, the twin-bladed sword from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

There was no better weapon for this scenario—Hiramekarei grew stronger with each kill, accumulating chakra for devastating strikes.

Kisame, likewise, thrived in large-scale battles, where chakra replenishment was never a concern.

"Ready, Kisame?" Tonari called.

"Got it, Tonari-san!" Kisame responded immediately.

Both formed hand seals simultaneously.

"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Shockwave!"

"Lightning Release: Cloud Thunder Step!"

Kisame leapt into the air, spewing an endless torrent of water from his mouth. The flood engulfed the forest, drowning everything in its path.

Tonari, standing atop the water, infused it with lightning, creating a deadly current that surged through the waves.

Anyone touched by the water would either be electrocuted outright or left paralyzed and defenseless.

"That's cheating, damn it!" Kakuzu cursed.

Tonari and Kisame exchanged smug glances.

The Mist ninjas, caught off guard by the sudden deluge, scrambled in disarray.

The vanguard fell instantly, bodies convulsing as they were swept away by the electrified tide. The rear guard, realizing the danger, hastily attempted to counter or retreat.

Within moments, the once-organized two-hundred-man formation dissolved into chaos.

Exactly as Tonari and Kisame had planned.

While cleaving through clustered enemies had its appeal, dispersed foes were easier to pick off individually.

"That's… that's Samehada! One of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist!" a Mist ninja cried in alarm.

Kisame sneered, slamming Samehada into the speaker, reducing him to a bloodied pulp. The victim's chakra drained away in an instant.

"That shark face… it's Hoshigaki Kisame! He was once Xiguasama Fuguki's subordinate! The Monster of the Hidden Mist! He's the one who stole Samehada! A traitor to the Blood Mist!"

Kisame didn't bother to respond. He simply continued cutting down his former comrades, Samehada devouring their chakra with each strike.

"Water Release: Thousand Feeding Sharks!"

A thousand water-formed sharks surged forward, ripping through the enemy ranks.

Meanwhile, Tonari, wielding Hiramekarei, carved through the scattered Mist ninjas with ruthless efficiency. The more he fought, the stronger the sword grew, radiating with stored chakra.

"That's… Hiramekarei! He's the Blue Cat of Konoha! He's the one who stole three of our Seven Ninja Swords!"

Hearing Tonari's infamous moniker, the Blood Mist ninjas didn't retreat—they charged, eyes bloodshot with rage.

Seeing the horde rushing toward him, Tonari couldn't suppress a grin beneath his mask.

Kunai, shuriken, water-style jutsu, and explosive tags rained down upon him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Did we get him? Is he dead?" one Mist ninja asked, squinting through the smoke.

Kisame, momentarily distracted by the commotion, frowned and glanced toward the blast zone.

But before another thought could form, the smoke cleared.

Tonari stood unscathed, enveloped by an ethereal, blue chakra construct.

Ribs and a skeletal arm surrounded his body, forming an impenetrable barrier. Though gaps remained between the bones, none of the attacks had reached him.

Kisame blinked in disbelief. "So this… this is one of Tonari-san's trump cards? What the hell is that thing?!"

The Mist ninjas shared Kisame's confusion.

"What is that?!"

"Why aren't our attacks working?!"

"This can't be real!!"

One particularly stubborn ninja, refusing to accept reality, charged at Tonari with a kunai.

Clang!

The kunai snapped against the chakra ribs, while the skeleton itself remained unscathed.

Tonari, observing the futile assault, smirked.

"That must be the first person in history to try stabbing a Susanoo with a kunai," he mused.

Within the protective embrace of the chakra skeleton, Tonari felt an overwhelming sense of security.

"So this is one of the Mangekyō Sharingan's ultimate abilities—Susanoo. What terrifying defense."

Indeed, the skeletal structure enveloping Tonari was the Susanoo—albeit its most basic form, lacking a humanoid shape or head. Only ribs and an arm manifested.

Yet, even this rudimentary stage offered near-impenetrable protection.

Tonari clenched his fist, and the skeletal hand mimicked the motion, grabbing the charging Mist ninja.

Crunch!

With a pained scream, the ninja was crushed into a bloody mist.

"If you love the Blood Mist so much, let me turn you into real mist!" Tonari sneered.

Though the initial stage of Susanoo lacked overwhelming offensive power, its defensive capabilities rendered Tonari nearly untouchable.

Within moments, the battlefield became a slaughterhouse.

The Mist ninjas' agonized cries filled the air.

Kisame swallowed hard, realizing he'd been duped. There was no fair contest here.

"I actually thought I could compete by relying on my infinite chakra. But this? This is ridiculous."

Kakuzu, noticing Kisame's disillusionment, chuckled.

"Still too naive. I never took this competition seriously. Knowing Tonari, he'd never propose a challenge unless victory was guaranteed."

"Can a human ever match an Ultraman? Even a partial 'Ultraman' like this? Of course not."

The Mist ninja, already outmatched, now faced an unstoppable force.

Sensing imminent disaster, Ao, the commander of the Mist forces, ordered an immediate retreat.

But escape was not an option.

A massive red python—Akaya, Tonari's summon—coiled around their rear, cutting off their path.

Trapped between Tonari's Susanoo, Kakuzu and Kisame's flanking attacks, and Akaya's blockade, the Mist ninja's fate was sealed.

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