Naruto: The Sage Body of Konoha

Above the sea surface.

"Tch, looks like quite a show."

From a safe vantage point, Black Zetsu observed the chaotic clash between Heiyan's group and Gato's men before turning to the man beside him. "Fortunately we arrived just in time, or we would've missed this spectacle. Don't you agree, Mr. Kakuzu?"

"Thanks to Lord's tracking techniques, no matter how secretly our targets move, they cannot escape your sight."

Kakuzu bowed slightly, offering some flattery.

"Haha, I won't be modest about it. When it comes to tracking, hiding, and escaping abilities, indeed no one in the entire shinobi world can surpass me."

Self-satisfied after his boast, Black Zetsu abruptly changed tone. "However, when it comes to direct combat with enemies, I'm practically useless. So for that aspect, I'll have to rely on you, Mr. Kakuzu. Please get ready."

"Oh? Finally time to take action?"

Kakuzu's eyes sharpened, and the killing intent hidden deep within his body surged outward instantly.

"I believe the timing is right."

Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes, speaking slowly. "Wait until these people fight themselves to mutual ruin, then step in to clean up. Remember, you must kill his two friends right before Fugaku Uchiha's eyes. Afterward, all the corpses—including that brat Heiyan—will belong to you. In addition, I'll also pay you a very satisfying commission."

"In that case, allow me to thank you in advance, Lord."

Upon hearing this, Kakuzu—who was usually as steady as a rock—could barely suppress his excitement. Even by conservative estimates, his earnings from this mission would exceed 200 million ryō.

That sum could directly buy several smaller countries.

Just as Black Zetsu and Kakuzu were secretly plotting—

Boom!

At the battlefield center near the beach, two powerful Water Release ninjutsu clashed, sending a massive geyser shooting straight into the sky.

In this chaotic battle, Heiyan and Tashigi clearly surpassed the others in strength.

On one side was the sole jinchuriki of Kiri Village, regarded by many as the village's strongest warrior.

On the other side stood Konoha's Number One Prodigy, who had risen to fame through his legendary battle at Valley of the End.

Their clash naturally became a confrontation between two mighty forces.

Coincidentally, both instinctively unleashed their signature Water Release ninjutsu upon engagement.

Tashigi's mastery of Water Release ninjutsu needed no explanation; being from Kiri Village, his proficiency in this art was only natural. However, unlike conventional Water Release, he infused Six-Tails' acidic fluid into his techniques, giving them intense corrosive properties—

a prototype form of the Kekkei Genkai known as [Boil Release].

Moreover, he could channel Six-Tails' vast chakra reserves inside his body to magnify the scale of his Water Release ninjutsu.

Therefore, Tashigi always firmly believed his Water Release ninjutsu was undoubtedly the strongest in the entire shinobi world!

Perhaps only the semi-legendary "Sanshouo Hanzo," the so-called Semi-God from Ame Village, could rival him across the whole shinobi realm.

Until now.

When he engaged Heiyan in actual combat, Tashigi suddenly realized what truly lay beyond—one discovers there's always someone stronger.

For instance, just now both combatants had used the exact same technique — the Water Dragon Bullet. Yet Heiyan's hand seals were simply faster and his ninjutsu more powerful, creating a complete domination over his opponent.

This was the overwhelming power of the Sage Body.

But Tashigi wouldn't back down yet.

"It should be nearly ready."

Suddenly he looked up at the sky, muttering to himself with a cold smirk on his lips.

Indeed, countless water vapors floated in midair — leftover vapor from their earlier technique clash. As Tashigi rapidly formed hand seals, those tiny droplets became his secret weapon.

[Water Release: Acid Rain Technique!]

In an instant, Mist Island's skies darkened as huge clouds of vapor condensed into raindrops, showering down to create a wide-area downpour.

"Aaaargh!"

Across the battlefield, many soldiers caught in the acidic rainfall screamed in agony. Their bodies corroded by the droplets, releasing white smoke and eating away at their flesh.

This move proved almost impossible to defend against. It was far more terrifying than Sanshouo Hanzo's poison gas attacks.

Moreover, to prevent Heiyan from evading, Tashigi expanded the acid rain technique to maximum range, deliberately engulfing even his own allies in its lethal zone. That cold-blooded move showed just how ruthless he could be.

Sure enough, Heiyan got hit too.

A sizzling sound filled the air as the acid rain struck his body, causing excruciating pain and visible corrosive injuries.

Under normal circumstances, anyone else would've lost their fighting capability completely. Yet Heiyan managed to endure it by relying on the Sage Body's superior resistance and regeneration.

[Water Release: Water Formation Wall!]

Using one-handed hand seals with his left hand, he conjured a hemispherical high-speed rotating water shield around his body, deflecting all incoming acidic raindrops outward.

At the same time, his right hand also performed one-handed hand seals before finally raising his index finger to his lips. He exhaled forcefully.

[Water Release: Water Fang Wave!]

Whoosh!

A white jet of high-pressure water erupted from the water barrier formation. Within half a second, it crossed the battlefield distance of fifty-six meters, directly heading toward Tashigi.

"Not good!"

Tashigi never expected that even after being hit by the acid rain technique, Heiyan could still launch such a fierce and rapid counterattack.

He frantically dodged sideways purely on instinct, saving his life at the cost of...

Slash!

His six tails behind his back got bisected by the Water Fang Wave, cleanly cut in two.

"Why? Why are you forcing me like this?"

Gritting his teeth furiously, Tashigi abandoned all restraints and immediately entered a partial beast transformation state.

"ROARRR!"

A deafening roar thundered across the battlefield, rising straight into the sky.

"What is that thing?"

Everyone gazed in horror at where Tashigi stood. The transformation took the form of a monstrous, beast-like figure, completely covered in dark red tailed beast chakra. Six tails extended from his back as continuous streams of chakra surged out from within him.

"That's... the Tailed Beast Cloak?"

Observing this transformation, Heiyan frowned.

As a jinchuriki, Tashigi's mastery of the Tailed Beast Cloak placed him among the top-tier Kage-level fighters.

Moreover, Heiyan also noticed that while in her Tailed Beast Cloak state, Yuta's entire body was continuously secreting a highly corrosive liquid. If burned by that substance, even his Sage Transformation might not be able to withstand it.

So close combat must be avoided at all costs.

Swoosh!

Just as Heiyan was thinking of countermeasures, Yuta had already launched her attack, like a rabid beast trying to tear him apart.

Looks like he would have to go all out then.

At this moment, Heiyan hesitated no longer and brought forth one of his most powerful techniques—the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Whizzzzzzz!

With a dazzling golden light, eight golden chains erupted from behind him, like eight colossal dragons lunging at Yuta with bared claws.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two sides clashed fiercely, creating an intense battle neither side willing to yield.

During this process, the chain attacks were repeatedly broken by Yuta, but the Adamantine Sealing Chains kept her from getting close to Heiyan.

Eventually, the decisive factor of this battle would come down to endurance.

As time passed, Yuta wasn't as fierce as before—her strength weakened and her movements became sluggish.

In contrast, although Heiyan had also used up quite a bit of energy, he still appeared energetic and ready for three hundred more rounds.

Boom!

After another clash, both retreated backward and separated some distance.

Yuta clearly realized too that continuing like this would only put herself at a disadvantage.

Thus, she dropped on all fours, opened her mouth wide, and began gathering a terrifying black energy sphere charged with wild chakra, aiming directly at Heiyan.

Tailed Beast Ball!

This S-rank Ninjutsu technique could be used when a Jinchuriki partially transforms into the Tailed Beast. It condenses the Tailed Beast's chakra in a yin-yang proportion of 2:8. The chakra spins rapidly, forming a high-density black energy ball. Once swallowed, it's fired straight from the mouth in a beam, unleashing an explosive force powerful enough to flatten entire mountains.

It had just one flaw — it took time to build up.

Heiyan naturally wouldn't allow Yuta to complete the move.

Therefore, almost simultaneously, he quickly formed hand seals and finally clasped his hands together, unleashing his most powerful jutsu.

[Storm Release: Shockwave Fang!]

Whoosh!

A blue-white beam of light erupted from Heiyan's mouth first, striking Yuta right in the mouth before she could react.

Boom!

Yuta's Tailed Beast Ball immediately exploded mid-creation. The entire body flew backward from the blast, and when she landed on the ground, her Tailed Beast Cloak vanished completely, reverting back to her original form.

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