Chapter 51

The tension in the arena thickened as Orochi stepped forward, his calm demeanor betraying the storm of determination within. "I believe it won't be fair with just the two of them. You won't mind if I join, will you?" His voice carried a weight that silenced the murmurs of the onlookers. Orochi had been watching the situation closely, and while he respected the girls' courage, he understood the glaring imbalance. Even with Naruto's boost, Ino was still the weakest link, and Orochi was not one to leave a battle to chance.

The antagonists sneered, their arrogance undeterred. The lead immortal, towering and exuding menace, leaned forward with a mocking grin. "More the merrier, as it seems Lord Uzumaki wishes to see us bully his concubines." His voice dripped with venom, his words calculated to provoke.

The taunt hit its mark. Ino's eyes narrowed, her fists clenching in anger. Hinata's calm expression hardened into a glare that promised retribution. Despite the insult, Naruto remained composed, his focus unbroken. He gave Orochi a firm nod, signaling his approval. "Go with them. I'll make sure you're ready."

Before the trio stepped into the arena, Naruto began the process of fortifying their strength. Standing before them, he summoned the full power of his Sage Arts and Six Paths Senjutsu, a golden glow radiating from his body.

"Sage Arts: Nature's Blessing."

Naruto's hands moved swiftly, intricate patterns of golden seals forming in the air before imprinting onto Ino and Orochi's bodies. The seals shimmered with an ethereal light as Naruto infused them with a fraction of his Six Paths chakra—just 1 percent, but the difference was monumental. The boost was staggering, elevating their power to levels unimaginable for most mortals. For a limited time, they could tap into the power of Six Paths Mode, a boost so immense it left the crowd awestruck as it was thousand times boost.

The sheer magnitude of Naruto's ability to amplify others' strength silenced any lingering doubts about his capabilities. Few among the immortals could claim to grant such power to their allies, let alone on this scale.

"Sage Arts: Sea of Life."

Naruto's palm slammed into the ground, sending golden energy rippling outward. A massive, glowing magic circle formed beneath Ino and Orochi, and golden mud rose up to engulf them. The substance shimmered with vitality, remaking their bodies on a fundamental level. As they sank into the Sea of Life, their cells were infused with Naruto's essence, transforming them into "Children of Uzumaki Naruto." This transformation granted them access to powerful skills: regeneration, precognition, danger sense, elemental boosts, chakra barriers, and battle spirit.

The Sea of Life wasn't just a boost—it was a safeguard. The overwhelming power of the Six Paths chakra could have torn their bodies apart, but the transformation ensured they could endure it. However, the change was temporary, lasting only an hour due to Naruto's current limitations. Even so, it was a display of mastery that left the immortals and onlookers in awe.

When Ino and Orochi emerged from the golden mud, they radiated power. Ino looked at her glowing hands, feeling a surge of energy that made her invincible. Her awe quickly turned into a confident smirk. "Is this how he feels?" she whispered, marveling at the sheer strength coursing through her. She turned to Naruto, her eyes shining with gratitude and admiration. Without hesitation, she hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. "Now, I don't think we can ever lose. It's about to get unfair for these blockheads."

Orochi, too, felt the transformation. His body was light yet brimming with power, his senses sharper than ever before. He knelt before Naruto, bowing his head slightly in respect. "Lord Uzumaki, I will not let you down. This blessing is an honor that I will never forget." His voice was steady, but the reverence in his tone was clear. Orochi had been skeptical of Naruto's ability to lead against the Great Immortals, but this moment erased any lingering doubts. Naruto wasn't just a leader—he was a force of nature, a beacon of humanity's potential.

Naruto placed a hand on Orochi's shoulder, his expression firm but encouraging. "Stand tall. You've earned this."

With their preparations complete, the trio rose into the air, the golden light surrounding them like armor. They flew into the arena, landing gracefully in front of their opponents. The immortals watched them with disdain, but the subtle tension in their postures betrayed their unease. The boost had not gone unnoticed, and they realized this battle might not be as one-sided as they had anticipated.

Ino, Orochi, and Hinata stood side by side, their confidence radiating. Ino smirked at the immortals, her tone dripping with mockery. "Still think you can bully us? Let's see if you can back up those big words."

Orochi cracked his knuckles, his calm demeanor hiding a storm of determination. "Prepare yourselves. We won't hold back."

The crowd roared with excitement as the battle began, the arena trembling under the weight of the clash to come.

Deimos stood tall, his imposing presence enough to make the entire arena feel like a battlefield before the first blow was struck. Encased in black, jagged armor that seemed to absorb the light, he exuded an aura of fear so intense it felt suffocating. Every step he took cracked the ground beneath him, the earth crumbling under his weight as though bowing to his dominance.

"Are you going to fight us alone?" Hinata asked, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of challenge as she stepped forward, her Tensaigan active and her stance firm.

Deimos let out a deep, rumbling chuckle, his voice reverberating like thunder. "Yes, alone. My name is Deimos, son of Ares. I am the embodiment of fear—the warrior whose very presence causes enemies to crumble before a battle even begins. The fear I represent is greater than death, greater than anything you have ever faced. So, tell me," he said, stepping closer, his shadow engulfing her. "Can you handle it now?"

The air seemed to grow heavier with every step he took, the sheer intensity of his aura sending chills down the spines of even the most seasoned warriors watching from the stands. The pressure alone was enough to make lesser beings collapse, their life force drained by the oppressive weight of his presence. Deimos was a titan, his size dwarfing the trio and making them appear almost insignificant.

Hinata was about to respond, her chakra flaring in preparation for battle, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Hinata, please allow me this chance," Ino said, stepping forward with a determined look. Her voice carried an undertone of desperation, a need to prove herself. She wanted to show Naruto—and herself—that she could stand on her own, even in the face of such overwhelming odds.

Hinata glanced at Ino, her eyes scanning the situation, then nodded reluctantly. "I'll interfere if it looks dangerous."

"I trust your judgment," Ino replied with a faint smile, her confidence bolstered by Hinata's trust.

Without the protection of Hinata's Truth-Seeking Balls barrier, Ino faced Deimos alone. The oppressive fear aura bore down on her like a tidal wave, every step Deimos took amplifying the pressure. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stand firm. She began erecting mental barriers within her mind, visualizing walls and mazes to keep the fear at bay. But Deimos's aura was relentless, tearing through her defenses with ease, each breach chipping away at her composure.

Realizing that her base form wouldn't be enough, Ino activated her fusion with Mothra. Her body underwent a dramatic transformation: she grew taller, her form encased in an ethereal white dress that shimmered like moonlight. Two large, radiant wings sprouted from her back, glimmering with iridescent patterns, while her head was adorned with two elegant, glowing antennae. Her power surged, her energy levels skyrocketing to moon-level strength thanks to Naruto's earlier Six Paths boost.

"Let's see how you handle this," Ino muttered as she flapped her wings. A burst of psychic energy radiated outward, forming a massive wave that crashed into Deimos like a tsunami. The force was enough to obliterate anything in its path, but Deimos stood unmoving, his armor and aura absorbing the attack without a scratch.

Ino shifted tactics. She delved deep into her mental reserves, weaving a maze of complex barriers within her mind to shield herself from Deimos's fear aura. Simultaneously, she projected the overwhelming fear she felt onto Deimos, hoping to turn his power against him. But the attempt failed. Deimos's immunity to fear rendered the attack useless, his smirk widening as he walked through her mental assault as if it were a gentle breeze.

Growing frustrated, Ino fired a concentrated psychic beam from her antennae. The purple beam crackled with energy, radiating confusion and mental disruption. Its sheer presence caused the arena to tremble, its energy sending tremors across the battlefield. But Deimos was unfazed. He strode through the beam, his grin never faltering.

"Is that all you've got?" Deimos taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "I thought you had something to feel confident about. But no, you're nothing but a leech, borrowing power you don't understand. Let me show you how it's really done."

His fear aura intensified, the pressure crushing Ino's mental shields and sapping the strength from her attacks. She staggered, clutching her head as the oppressive energy bore down on her. Before she could react, Deimos closed the distance. He loomed over her, a living nightmare made flesh. With one swift motion, he raised his massive foot and slammed it onto her head, forcing her to the ground.

The arena fell silent as Deimos pressed Ino's head into the dirt, his mocking laughter echoing through the air. The scene was humiliating, a stark contrast to the confidence Ino had shown moments before.

In the stands, Naruto's fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. His rage boiled beneath the surface, but he held himself back, his instincts screaming at him to intervene. Yet, he had made a promise—to trust Ino, to let her fight her own battle. Even so, the sight of her being humiliated like this tested every ounce of his restraint.

Deimos loomed over Ino, his oppressive aura still crashing against her like waves in a storm. His mocking laughter echoed in her ears as she struggled to build her defenses, each barrier she crafted crumbling as quickly as she could construct it. It felt futile, and for a fleeting moment, doubt crept into her mind. She clenched her fists, her lips trembling as the urge to call for help swelled within her.

But then her gaze flickered toward Naruto. She saw the tension in his body, the silent fury in his clenched fists, and the trust shining through his eyes despite the scene before him. In that moment, something inside Ino reignited—a fire that the fear had tried to snuff out. This wasn't the time to falter. She had been given power beyond her normal capabilities, and she refused to waste it.

Taking a deep breath, Ino shifted her strategy. Instead of focusing on small, intricate barriers, she expanded her vision. Her mental maze grew exponentially, no longer confined to simplistic designs. She envisioned a labyrinth of colossal proportions, one that stretched beyond comprehension—a mental construct larger than a city, with over a thousand interconnected layers. Each wall was reinforced by smaller, intricate barriers, forming an endless web of protection and complexity. It was a fortress of the mind, one that even Deimos's fearsome aura couldn't easily penetrate.

For the first time since the battle began, Ino felt a reprieve. The oppressive weight of Deimos's fear began to lift, her mental stronghold giving her the chance to breathe. She steadied herself, her ethereal wings fluttering as she refocused her energies. Deimos, still radiating arrogance, didn't press his advantage, instead reveling in what he thought was her inevitable defeat.

But Ino had other plans. She used the moment to strike back, drawing on an idea she had refined while working with Naruto. Her ultimate move wasn't one of brute force but of overwhelming the mind. Within the mental library she had created during her training, she had stored countless memories—not just her own, but fragments from Naruto and others who had shared their lives with her. It was a collection of experiences, emotions, and moments spanning millennia, all condensed into a psychic arsenal.

Without hesitation, Ino unleashed this arsenal on Deimos. The memories surged forward like a flood, crashing against his mental defenses with a ferocity he hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just the sheer volume of memories that overwhelmed him but the depth of emotion and intensity they carried. Each memory was a fragment of life, filled with joy, pain, hope, and despair. To a mortal mind, it was like living thousands of years in an instant.

Deimos staggered, his confident smirk fading as confusion took hold. His steps faltered, and his dark aura flickered like a candle in the wind. He growled, shaking his head as if to dispel the invasion, but it was too late. Ino's psychic assault had breached his mind, forcing him to confront an overwhelming tide of experiences that weren't his own.

Seizing the opportunity, Ino pushed further. She focused her psychic powers, channeling them into an attack aimed not just at his mind but his very being. Her antennae glowed with a brilliant light as she directed her energy to pull Deimos in multiple directions at once. The pressure built around him, invisible forces tugging at his body at the atomic level. His armor groaned under the strain, cracks beginning to form as his form distorted slightly.

"Bloody whore!" Deimos bellowed, his voice filled with fury and desperation. He tried to lash out, swinging his massive arm in a wide arc to break her concentration, but Ino hovered just out of reach, her wings keeping her aloft and agile.

"I am no one's victim," Ino muttered through gritted teeth, her confidence growing as Deimos's struggles became more erratic. "You'll remember this battle, Deimos—the day you underestimated me."

The crowd watched in stunned silence, their eyes glued to the spectacle. Ino, who had started as the underdog, was now turning the tide of the battle in a way no one had expected.