JST Chapter 240: A Dance of Death and Destiny

Under the surveillance network of White Zetsu, Uchiha Izuna and the others could access most of the intelligence and movements across the ninja world…

Except for Kazuki's.

As for why—after Black Zetsu witnessed the madness of his 'brother' firsthand—he truly didn’t dare let Kazuki notice him.

Forget assigning White Zetsu to keep tabs on him...

Black Zetsu could only hope Kazuki would never even realize they existed.

The resurrection of Uchiha Izuna was one of their trump cards. If they could somehow team up with Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Madara to bring Kazuki down, that would be ideal...

In Black Zetsu's mind, Kazuki was even more dangerous than the Sage of Six Paths himself. After all, the Sage merely sealed away Kaguya—he hadn’t done anything more outrageous than that.

But Kazuki? There was no telling what he might do.

So at this moment—

Uchiha Izuna and the others had no idea what Kazuki was planning.

As Izuna watched Kazuki stand there with his arms crossed, expressionless and proud, his thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the Warring States era.

Back then…

Madara had once stood alone against enemy forces to protect their clan, not allowing anyone else to intervene.

“Brother, this kid… he kind of reminds me of you back in the day.”

“…Yeah,” Madara nodded, his gaze fixed on Kazuki.

“He’s a lot like me.”

Obito scoffed under his breath.

Kazuki like you?

More like you wish you were like Kazuki!

Still, even as he thought that, Obito watched the scene unfold with rapt attention, not even daring to blink.

Now that he had awakened both Kamui eyes and gained a White Zetsu-enhanced body, a part of him couldn’t help but want to see how he’d measure up against Kazuki…

Even though, in Obito’s heart, Kazuki and Rin stood on the same tier—his most important people…

The more important someone was, the more Obito wanted to surpass them.

Classic Uchiha syndrome.

“…All right then,” Izuna murmured.

“Right now we’re in the shadows, and he’s out in the open. Two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, and one pair of unique Rinnegan—more than enough to extract valuable intel…”

Izuna wasn’t eager to take action just yet.

After viewing Madara’s secret footage of Kazuki, Izuna had initially assumed that Kazuki was some forbidden creation of Tobirama…

A theory not too far off from Mito’s ideas.

But after watching the footage frame by frame, Izuna started noticing inconsistencies.

In the battle at Iwagakure, Kazuki used the Adamantine Sealing Chains to absorb massive amounts of tailed beast chakra from both the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails…

Considering the Moon’s Eye Plan that Madara had described—requiring all nine tailed beasts’ chakra to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi—

Izuna, who had never trusted that plan, immediately sensed something off.

Absorbing two tailed beasts’ chakra at once?

That didn’t sit right.

As an Uchiha capable of controlling tailed beasts with ocular powers alone, who in their right mind would willingly seal those monsters inside themselves?

Let alone two at the same time?

Kazuki’s ocular power had to be beyond even the Mangekyō Sharingan. If that was the case, could he have deciphered the Uchiha Stone Tablet that held the secrets of Infinite Tsukuyomi?

To Izuna, Kazuki seemed to be trying to recreate the method recorded on the stone tablet—to collect all nine tailed beasts’ chakra in his own body.

After all, he didn’t possess the Rinnegan. He couldn’t summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path…

Izuna believed that Infinite Tsukuyomi was likely a trap left behind by the Sage of Six Paths.

He didn’t want Madara to be the first to bite that poisoned fruit—it was far too dangerous.

Conveniently, Kazuki was already out there acting like a guinea pig, standing at the very front…

Then let the younger one from their clan carry that burden.

If Infinite Tsukuyomi wasn’t a trap, then this young man—who had defended the honor of the Uchiha—deserved the glory of bringing peace to the entire shinobi world.

But if it was a trap, they still had Madara with his Rinnegan, himself, and Obito to pull Kazuki out of it…

So, for now, Izuna soothed Madara and Obito with words, choosing to watch and wait.

Behind them, Black Zetsu stood silently, his gaze fixed on Izuna's back, secretly shaking its head.

It didn’t like clever people.

Especially not clever people who thought for themselves—and looked way too much like Kazuki.

Having studied both the Uchiha clan and human nature deeply, Black Zetsu could already tell: Izuna was wary of the Moon’s Eye Plan.

It began plotting: how could it get closer to Obito?

It needed to work with him.

This pair of tragic lovebirds had already been toyed with and controlled by Kazuki—and now Izuna showed up to complicate things even more…

It was just too much…

As Black Zetsu brooded—

The hills and plains were suddenly filled with movement. The Allied Shinobi Forces had emerged from the lowlands and were now charging straight at Kazuki!

Kazuki scanned the battlefield and let out a soft chuckle.

Through the vision of the Byakugan, he could clearly see the rear guard of the formation: dozens of squads brimming with chakra of various natures, hands mid-seal, eyes raised to the skies—ready to unleash their jutsu at any moment.

That was likely their countermeasure for Konoha’s aerial bombing corps…

This was the advantage of numbers.

Even though Kazuki had developed new weaponry, the comparatively primitive Allied Forces could make up the gap with sheer manpower.

“Numbers can compensate for a lack of mid-tier fighters,” Kazuki muttered as he stepped forward slowly,

“…but they can’t bridge the gap in top-tier power.”

As the waves of tens of thousands surged toward him, Kazuki smiled and gently patted the three small white snakes coiled around his arm.

“Go,” he said softly. “Take my chakra and continue your path to enlightenment. You’ve worked hard these past few days…”

The three snake princesses looked at him with solemn eyes.

“Please be careful… take care of yourself!”

When Kazuki candidly explained the matter of the sealing technique to the shinobi of Kirigakure, he didn’t shield the three Snake Princesses from hearing it. After all, it was a noble act of self-sacrifice for the sake of peace in the shinobi world—what secrets could there possibly be?

He nodded, sending the Snake Princesses back to Ryuchi Cave, then cast a glance toward the rear of the Allied Forces.

There, Kazuki sensed nearly ten powerful chakra signatures. They had carefully suppressed their presence and were lying in silent ambush.

But with the combined perception of his Byakugan and Kagura's Mind Eye, their true identities were revealed.

The Third Raikage, the Third Kazekage, Hanzō, Chiyo, the One-Tails Jinchūriki Bunpuku the monk, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki...

Kazuki studied the lineup and then instinctively looked up at the sky, a flash of white light flickering in his eyes.

“Onoki... and a Seven-Tails Jinchūriki I don’t recognize. Perfect…”

“They're all here, aren't they?”

It was obvious these elite warriors hiding among the troops and in the sky had come specifically for Kazuki.

But what they didn’t know was…

Kazuki had come for them too.

By now, the roaring Allied Shinobi Forces were less than a hundred meters from Kazuki. Each attacker was at least a seasoned chunin, armed with explosive tags, the sharpest blades, and driven by the most desperate, ferocious intent.

They were the suicide squad.

Their mission: to deplete Kazuki’s chakra, to force him to reveal his hidden trump cards, and to pave the way for the Kage-level assassination squad waiting behind them.

Kazuki stepped forward casually, then gradually picked up speed—faster and faster!

Alone, he charged straight at the enemy ranks!

He didn’t use any ninjutsu. It was purely his physical strength and raw speed that created an unstoppable force.

The Allied Forces, so confident just moments ago, now found themselves gripped by fear as Kazuki closed in with terrifying momentum...

[Stone’s Destruction]: When you make Iwagakure shinobi feel fear, dread, and helplessness, your Earth Release ninjutsu skills and techniques are strengthened.

Under the influence of their growing terror, Stone’s Destruction joyfully fed Kazuki even more power.

“To quickly grow stronger and prepare for the Ōtsutsuki who could appear at any moment,” Kazuki murmured inwardly, “I’ll have to let you feel some... unpleasant emotions through killing.”

“Even if you die, I will grow stronger... and I will use that strength to protect this planet.”

“This is a necessary sacrifice. The planet will remember your contributions.”

What Kazuki had in mind was not only the Destruction of the Stone and the earth pact that it brought with it when the final link with Iwa was unlocked, but also the final links yet to be established with Sunagakure and Kumogakure...

And Konoha.

To awaken all these unique special talents at once, this battlefield, where the entire shinobi world had gathered, was the perfect setting.

So… he had no choice but to kill.

Kazuki leapt alone into the heart of the Allied Shinobi Forces and roared: “Kill!”

The first to meet him was an Iwagakure jōnin.

The man forced himself to suppress the fear boiling inside him. He tried not to recall the suffering this demon had once brought upon his village. With all his strength, he raised his blade and swung down at Kazuki’s head!

But Kazuki’s fist was much faster than his sword.

With terrifying speed and force, the punch smashed the jōnin’s head clean off.

The severed head flew like a cannonball, tearing a path straight through the crowd of shinobi...

What was once a comrade’s corpse had now become the deadliest of weapons.

Any ninja unlucky enough to be grazed by the flying head was sent flying, and those who failed to reinforce their bodies with ninjutsu were instantly torn to shreds.

Kazuki looked at the headless corpse of the Iwa-nin and chuckled. He snatched the ninja blade from the corpse’s limp hand and twirled it with slight regret.

“Such a pity… Muramasa is with Shisui now. I don’t have it on me.”

The words had barely left his lips when Kazuki, wielding this ordinary blade, swung it in rapid succession.

With each strike, chakra-infused slashes burst forth—razor-sharp, overwhelming—the tightly packed enemy forces were instantly shredded.

Chunks of flesh, rivers of blood, wails of agony, and the tangible stench of fear filled the air above the battlefield.

Behind Kazuki, the shinobi of Konoha stood in stunned silence, watching him carve through the enemy ranks like a dragon in flight.

Uchiha Itachi tightened his grip on his father’s hand and nervously asked, “Is this… is this what he meant when he said he’d bring twenty years of peace to Konoha?”

Uchiha Fugaku couldn’t even respond.

His Sharingan had activated on its own, all three tomoe spinning. He stared at Kazuki’s figure, palms drenched in sweat.

A true expert only needs one move to be recognized.

Kazuki wasn’t using ninjutsu or dōjutsu—just sheer, monstrous physical power, speed, and reflexes...

And that alone had given Uchiha Fugaku all the information he needed.

For an ordinary jōnin with no special techniques, there was no meaning in standing before Kazuki.

His speed allowed him to evade most attacks, and his raw strength was faster and more efficient than any hand seal-based technique.

One punch, one swing—that was all it took to kill.

“Father? Father?” Itachi felt the dampness of his father’s hand and gently tugged on his arm.

Cold sweat dripped down Uchiha Fugaku’s spine.

“Itachi, don’t be fooled by what you see on the surface!”

Fugaku’s tone turned serious. He leaned in close and warned, “You must always stay calm. Blind faith in one’s own power will only lead to ruin.”

“Watch carefully. Burn this war into your memory!”

Thanks to his dōjutsu’s premonitions, Fugaku was convinced Kazuki would eventually fall in this war.

But exactly how... that, he did not know.

Someone feeling the exact same way as Fugaku was Shimura Danzō.

Danzō, in his mind, was urging the Allied Forces like a coach on the sidelines: “Where’s Dust Release?! Where’s a Tailed Beast Bomb?! What happened to your Kinjutsu?! Hurry up and kill this damn Uchiha!”

Because if Kazuki survived...

Danzō had already made up his mind—he’d defect from Konoha for his own safety.

If this lunatic Uchiha ever turned his gaze toward him, he might one day end up like that poor Iwa-nin—with his head punched clean off…

But right now, many of the mid-ranking and low-ranking Konoha ninja couldn’t hold back their excitement. Their blood was boiling—they began cheering in unison.

So it was true...

Someone could face an army of a hundred thousand—alone!

If Kazuki was on their side... wouldn't Konoha be invincible in the shinobi world?

Meanwhile, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and others watched Kazuki’s every move with bated breath, ready to support him at any moment.

They all knew—this war had only just begun.

The real enemies hadn’t even appeared yet.

But no one’s thoughts could stop Kazuki’s rampage.

Amid the flashing blades and swirling chakra—

With either a punch that shattered an entire line or a slash that cleaved through multiple foes...

The suicide squads, so meticulously prepared by the Allied Forces, couldn’t slow Kazuki down in the slightest.

In a sea of blood…

Kazuki began to dance.