Chapter 146: The Land of Waves will be your grave
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"Hiding in Mist Technique!"
Thick fog rolled across the Land of Waves as Kabuto restarted the mist machine, enshrouding the battlefield in an impenetrable haze.
In this dense mist, where visibility was nearly nonexistent, the smaller stature of the Twelve Kizuki member Muzan provided him with excellent mobility and concealment. His swift, ghost-like movements made him a nightmare to pin down.
"Be careful, Killer Bee," the Eight-Tails warned, its voice resonating with deep concern. "This guy's speed… It's not normal. It feels like we're fighting a phantom."
"Don't sweat it, Hachibi. This mission's all about tearing this place apart, not takin' down some creepy fog ninja!" Killer Bee replied confidently, brimming with chakra.
No matter how often the enemy struck, Killer Bee's resilience and the Eight-Tails' regenerative power ensured he could recover from nearly any injury. Chakra gathered at the bull head's mouth as he began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb.
The Eight-Tails was second only to the Nine-Tails in raw power, and Killer Bee's mastery as a perfect jinchūriki allowed him to wield its strength with ease. Yet, as the glowing orb of destruction grew, a golden flash cut through the mist, snapping him from his focus.
"Is that the Yellow Flash of Konoha?" Killer Bee thought for a moment. But no—the figure was different. Wielding a sword crackling with electricity, Muzan closed in with terrifying speed.
The Sword of the Thunder God aimed not at Killer Bee directly but at the forming Tailed Beast Bomb. Muzan, unafraid of the catastrophic energy, slashed at the sphere with incredible precision.
Boom!
The unstable bomb detonated prematurely, creating a massive explosion that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. A mushroom cloud rose high into the sky, and when the smoke cleared, Muzan had vanished from sight.
"Did he run away?" Killer Bee muttered, only to feel a sudden presence above him.
"Demonic Strength Fist!"
Muzan descended with a powerful punch, enhanced by monstrous chakra, slamming into Killer Bee's bull-shaped head with tremendous force.
Crash!
The blow shook the Eight-Tails' massive form, destabilizing its chakra cloak. Despite the Eight-Tails' incredible durability, even it struggled to withstand the relentless assault.
"Weren't you just rapping about how tough you were?" Muzan sneered, his voice as cold as the mist around them.
Killer Bee clenched his fists. Muzan's attacks weren't just powerful—they were surgical, aimed at depleting his chakra reserves and keeping him from recovering. He glanced at Yugito, the Two-Tails jinchūriki, who was entangled by massive snakes summoned from Ryūchi Cave.
"Damn snakes…" Killer Bee muttered. "These ain't no ordinary summons."
The snakes weren't as strong as Manda but were more than enough to keep Yugito occupied. Meanwhile, Muzan pressed his advantage, raining down slashes with the Thunder God Sword.
Killer Bee gritted his teeth. His brother, A, the Fourth Raikage, was held up outside the Land of Waves by other members of the Twelve Kizuki. Those strange shinobi were immune to most ninjutsu and exceptionally hard to kill.
"Bro, where you at?!" Killer Bee thought.
With no reinforcements in sight, Killer Bee made a desperate decision. Using Muzan's ferocious attacks as cover, he began moving toward Yugito.
"Bee! He's coming after you!" the Eight-Tails warned.
Slash!
The Thunder God Sword cut through one of Killer Bee's chakra tails, the repeated strikes finally taking their toll. Yet, instead of fighting back, Killer Bee smiled.
"Gotcha!" he rapped, his voice echoing through the mist.
In the next instant, the severed chakra tail detonated like a flash bomb, momentarily blinding Muzan. Killer Bee used the explosion as cover, shrinking his form and reuniting with Yugito.
"Yugito, we gotta move! This guy's bad news!"
She nodded, her form half-covered in the Two-Tails' fiery chakra cloak. Together, they sped through the mist, using their enhanced speed to escape.
Muzan wasn't far behind. His multiple hearts, a product of forbidden techniques, pumped chakra into his body, propelling him forward at inhuman speeds. The ground shattered beneath his feet with each step, his predatory instincts honing in on the jinchūriki's chakra signatures.
"We can't outrun him for long," Yugito said grimly.
"I know, but we just gotta make it to the main force. Once we link up, this fog freak's toast!"
Despite his words, Killer Bee felt the weight of doubt. Muzan was relentless, and the mist gave him a distinct advantage. Their only hope was to reach their allies before Muzan closed the distance.
The chase continued, the dense fog serving as both ally and enemy. The Land of Waves, already ravaged by battle, bore witness to the fierce clash between the jinchūriki and the relentless Twelve Kizuki.
Would the jinchūriki escape with their lives, or would Muzan claim another victory for his blood-soaked legend?
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"I don't know what's going on inside," Ay muttered, his voice tense with concern.
The Raikage had been held back by Upper Moon Kaede, a member of the Twelve Kizuki. Her abilities seemed perfectly tailored to counter his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and the Land of Waves, dominated by Muzan's influence, made her even more formidable. The appearance of countless venomous insects only worsened the situation, hindering Ay's attempts to assist his comrades.
For now, Ay was trapped on the battlefield. According to the original plan, Killer Bee and Yugito were to unleash their full power, creating chaos and devastation in the Land of Waves. But now, the sudden silence from inside the mist-laden battleground gnawed at the nerves of every Kumo ninja outside.
Cutting through a swarm of insects with a single slash of his lightning-imbued hand, Ay turned toward Dodai, his strategist.
"I'm afraid things inside are worse than we anticipated," Ay said grimly. "Prepare to extract both jinchūriki and withdraw from the Land of Waves immediately."
Dodai nodded, already calculating their next moves. The mission had been clear: strike hard, sow chaos, and retreat before engaging in prolonged combat. Fighting Muzan or his Twelve Kizuki head-on was never the plan.
"I'll alert the nearby squads to prepare for extraction," Dodai replied.
While the Kumo ninjas moved to regroup, the Twelve Kizuki grew increasingly impatient.
"I wonder if Lord Muzan has finished them off yet," Kaede mused, her confidence in Muzan unwavering. Her elegant yet deadly figure stood amidst a swarm of black-and-purple insects.
"These Kumo shinobi are tougher than I thought," Raiga Kurosuki muttered, his blood-red eyes glowing with the power of Muzan's blood. Armed with Ranmaru's heightened vision, Raiga had managed to hold off several elite Jōnin despite his lack of refined skill.
"Focus on your task, Raiga," Kaede snapped, disdain evident in her voice. She disapproved of Raiga's over-reliance on Ranmaru, considering him more of a liability than an asset.
Kaede raised her hands. "Blood Demon Art: Swarm of Locusts!"
Insects multiplied at a terrifying rate, filling the battlefield with buzzing chaos. Yet, even the venomous swarm couldn't pierce Ay's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He tore through the writhing mass, his movements like a living storm.
Then, the ground beneath them rumbled. A wave of oppressive, malevolent chakra washed over the battlefield.
"Lord Muzan is here!" one of the Twelve Kizuki announced, awe and fear mingling in their voice.
From the mist emerged Muzan, his white hair flowing and his crimson eyes glowing with malevolent intent. His presence alone was enough to instill terror, and the Kumo shinobi could feel the tide turning against them.
"Kumo ninjas, your arrogance ends here!" Muzan declared, his voice resonating across the battlefield.
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Killer Bee and Yugito, battered and bleeding, spotted their comrades in the distance. They pushed forward with all their remaining strength, desperate to regroup.
"We're almost there!" Yugito shouted, her Two-Tails chakra flickering weakly around her.
But Muzan wasn't about to let them escape. He closed the distance with terrifying speed, his movements a blur. Killer Bee gritted his teeth, drawing his blade.
"Desolate Heron Cutting Sword!"
Using his unique kenjutsu style, Killer Bee unleashed a flurry of attacks, turning every part of his body into a weapon. Yet, Muzan was unfazed. The strikes, no matter how precise, couldn't slow him down.
Boom!
Killer Bee's sword clashed with Muzan's punch. The force of the impact shattered the blade, and the jinchūriki was sent flying, crashing through a row of trees. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as pain shot through his body.
"Cough… cough…"
"Killer Bee!" Yugito screamed, panic overtaking her usual calm demeanor.
"I'm fine! Go, now!" Killer Bee barked, forcing himself to his feet. His arms trembled from the strain, but he refused to give up.
Muzan advanced slowly, his predatory gaze locked onto them.
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From the distance, Ay noticed the dire state of his brother and Yugito. Rage and desperation surged within him.
"Lariat!"
Ay's Lightning Release Chakra Mode surged with power as he charged through the swarm of insects, vaporizing them in an instant. His speed turned him into a streak of light, and he shot past Killer Bee, heading straight for Muzan.
"Raikage…" Muzan murmured, intrigued.
The impact of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, creating a massive crater. The ground cracked beneath them as Ay and Muzan tested their strength against each other.
For a moment, it seemed like Ay's raw power might match Muzan's, but the Raikage took a single step back.
That one step was enough.
The Kumo ninjas watching from afar felt their hope waver. The Twelve Kizuki members, however, erupted into cheers.
"Lord Muzan is unstoppable!"
"We'll crush every last one of these invaders!"
Muzan's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Your resistance is futile. The Land of Waves will be your grave."
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Dodai moved quickly, knowing the situation was slipping out of their control. He approached Killer Bee, who was struggling to stay on his feet.
"Killer Bee, can you still fight?" Dodai asked urgently.
"Yeah," Killer Bee replied, determination flickering in his eyes despite the pain.
"We'll need you and Raikage to hold Muzan off. I'll evacuate Yugito and the remaining forces. Once we regroup, we'll reassess and strike back with everything we've got."
Killer Bee nodded. Though exhausted, he knew this battle was far from over.
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