Chapter 52

Deimos's roar of fury echoed across the arena as his shockwave collided with Ino's psychic barrier. The sheer force of his immortal energy sent her reeling back, her wings struggling to maintain her balance in the air. The darkness surrounding them grew thicker, consuming the light and replacing it with grotesque, writhing shapes. The creatures born of the Fear Domain howled and screeched, their forms flickering like twisted nightmares come to life.

Deimos's pride burned like a fire, his anger fueling his every move. How could someone like Ino, someone he had deemed weak and unworthy, push him this far? Yet, as much as he hated to admit it, she had succeeded in doing something no one else had: she had resisted his conceptual fear ability—an ability that was supposed to be unstoppable. For a moment, his aura had faltered, and she had exploited it.

But now, Deimos was done playing. His Fear Domain intensified, the air thick with the oppressive weight of dread. Shadows coiled like serpents, snapping at Ino's fragile mental defenses. The horrifying wails of the domain echoed in her mind, amplifying the disorienting pressure. Deimos's Fear Empowerment thrived on the terror in the atmosphere, granting him more strength with every moment.

Then came his most insidious attack—Phobia Inducement. Deimos zeroed in on Ino's mind, peeling back the layers of her psyche to uncover her deepest fears. What he found was something primal yet poignant: her fear of being alone, of facing the world without support. Deimos smirked as he amplified her autophobia, weaving in a new terror—the fear of darkness itself. The blackness around her seemed to come alive, the shadows whispering lies and tormenting her with visions of abandonment.

Ino was forced onto the defensive, barely holding her ground. Her once intricate mental barriers were crumbling under the relentless assault. Every breath was a struggle, her movements slowed by the oppressive weight of Deimos's Fear Domain. Her attempts to fight back were ineffective; her Mental Drain was repelled by his fortified defenses, and her psychic blasts barely left a scratch.

'I can't win this battle like this.' The realization hit her like a cold splash of water. Deimos wasn't just stronger—he was far more experienced in wielding his powers. Ino's own abilities, while formidable, were still raw and unrefined.

But Ino wasn't one to give up. She had one last technique, a gambit that could change the course of the battle. Drawing on the memories stored within her mental library, she activated a powerful psychic ability: Mental Image: Uzumaki Naruto.

Ino's time training alongside Naruto had left her with an intimate knowledge of his techniques, movements, and battle strategies. She couldn't replicate his essence perfectly, but with the memories she had gathered, she could create a mental construct of him—a flawless mimicry in mind, body, and spirit. It wasn't just a clone; it was a projection of Naruto himself, crafted from her psychic energy and enhanced by her Six Paths boost.

As the technique took hold, Ino's movements shifted dramatically. Her stance became more grounded, more aggressive. The chakra cloak surrounding her stabilized, glowing with an unmistakable golden hue. The aura of confidence and determination that radiated from her was so similar to Naruto's that it stunned everyone watching. Even Hinata, who knew Ino's capabilities, briefly wondered if Naruto himself had somehow taken her place.

But Naruto, watching from the sidelines, immediately understood. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw himself reflected in Ino's movements. It wasn't just the techniques—she had captured his essence, his resolve, his unyielding spirit. Pride swelled in his chest as he realized what Ino had done.

Deimos, however, was less impressed. He sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "What is this? A cheap imitation? Do you think copying someone else will save you?"

The Naruto construct smirked, its expression a perfect mirror of the real thing. "You're about to find out," it said, its voice filled with Naruto's characteristic confidence.

The battle was far from over, but the tides had shifted. With Ino's ingenuity and the strength of the mental Naruto she had created, the fight had entered a new phase—one where Deimos would learn the true power of resilience and teamwork.

The arena was in chaos, the spectators caught between awe and disbelief as the battle reached its crescendo. The Rasenshuriken screamed through the air, a vortex of destruction spinning at incredible speed. The ground beneath Deimos cracked as enormous chakra claws erupted, their purpose clear—to pin him down. The very air seemed to rebel against him, the pressure increasing exponentially to weigh him down, while the once-solid ground beneath him shifted into a swamp, eager to swallow him whole.

Deimos, ever the warrior, remained composed. His curiosity was piqued by the sudden change in tempo and strategy. Taking flight, his dark armor gleamed ominously in the dim light of the Fear Domain as he erected a barrier to block the storm of wind needles. The Rasenshuriken collided with his defenses, creating a massive explosion that reverberated throughout the arena, but he stood firm. His crimson eyes scanned his opponent, noting that the oppressive fear he had relied upon seemed to have significantly diminished.

Before Deimos could even process the shift, Ino's body—now moving with the ferocity and precision of Naruto—followed up with another technique.

"Sage Art: Laser Circus!"

Thousands of glowing lasers erupted, converging on Deimos from every direction. The sheer intensity of the light overwhelmed him, forcing him to shield his eyes as the attack relentlessly pushed him back. While he was momentarily blinded, Ino seized the opportunity to charge.

Her body accelerated to unfathomable speeds, far surpassing the subluminal threshold and entering superluminal territory. Her movements became a blur, streaks of light trailing behind her as though the very stars were at her command. The bands of light that encased her arms shimmered with a lethal brilliance, disintegrating anything they touched. These streams of light coiled together to form a radiant lance, the sheer energy emanating from it shaking the very foundation of the arena.

"Starburst Hunter!"

Ino, embodying Naruto's confidence and skill, aimed the glowing lance at Deimos's abdomen with pinpoint accuracy. Deimos, despite his strength and experience, found himself unable to react in time. The lance pierced through his formidable defenses, impaling him cleanly and pinning him to the arena wall. The destructive energy of the lance didn't merely wound him—it erased parts of his body entirely, forcing his regenerative abilities into overdrive to prevent his complete annihilation.

For the first time, the crowd fell silent. Moments ago, they had cheered for Deimos, enthralled by his overwhelming aura of fear and dominance. Now, they watched in stunned disbelief as the mighty son of Ares was humbled, his form battered and pinned by a warrior they had underestimated.

But the victory came at a cost.

As Ino's body prepared to follow up by conjuring chains to seal Deimos, her energy reserves suddenly collapsed. The incredible strain of maintaining Naruto's mindset and techniques had drained her completely, pushing her body beyond its limits. The glowing lance dissipated, and Ino's body fell like a lifeless doll toward the ground.

Hinata moved instantly, catching her friend before she could hit the ground. Ino's breathing was shallow, and her body trembled from the immense chakra expenditure. The mental clone of Naruto had been a brilliant strategy, but it had nearly killed her by consuming almost all of her energy. She had managed to cancel the technique at the last second, narrowly avoiding complete chakra depletion.

'I need to fix that problem before it kills me next time,' Ino thought weakly, even as her lips curved into a tired smile. Despite her close brush with death, a profound sense of accomplishment filled her heart. For the first time, she felt like she had achieved something extraordinary—something worthy of recognition.

"You did wonderful, Ino. Honestly, I can't believe what I just witnessed," Hinata said, her voice warm and full of admiration. There was no trace of jealousy in her tone, only genuine happiness for her friend's triumph. Her eyes glowed with respect and pride, and her joyful expression only reinforced Ino's sense of pride.

Ino looked toward the stands and saw the expression on Naruto's face—a mix of amazement and pride. The roar of the crowd soon followed, their cheers echoing like thunder as they recognized her incredible feat. For a brief moment, Ino basked in the glory of her achievement, knowing she had not only stood her ground but had also risen to heights she had never thought possible.

Despite the toll it had taken on her body, Ino felt triumphant. She had proven her worth, not just to others but to herself. As Hinata held her, and the crowd's cheers grew louder, Ino silently vowed to refine her abilities, to ensure that next time, she would emerge even stronger.

As the battlefield shifted into a stage for a new clash, Orochi observed with a calculating gaze, his voice steady yet cautionary as he addressed Hinata.

"Miss Hinata, the battle seems to be starting soon. Deimos personified fear before battle, but the brother—Phobos—embodies fear during battle. His confidence in not intervening earlier shows he trusts his abilities. We must tread carefully now."

The lion-headed warrior, Phobos, strode forward with a regal air, his steps slow and deliberate. Without hesitation, he approached his wounded brother, Deimos, breaking the light lance that pinned him. His aura of dread and dominance grew exponentially, a clear sign that this fight would be on an entirely different level.

"You have changed my mind, young warriors," Phobos declared, his deep, commanding voice reverberating across the arena. "I shall honor you with a battle. But do not insult me by comparing me to my younger brother. This will end swiftly if you do."

With a single gesture, Phobos channeled his fear-infused power, healing Deimos of his grievous wounds and further empowering him. The combined aura of the brothers filled the arena with an oppressive darkness, their fear-inducing presence enough to send shivers through even the most seasoned warriors.

Ino, having spent nearly all her chakra in the previous battle, could barely stand. However, Hinata, glowing with resolve, transferred some of her chakra into Ino, revitalizing her just enough to act in a support role. Hinata's Tenseigan form shimmered with celestial energy, her eyes burning with determination.

"We never underestimate our enemies," Hinata declared, her voice steady yet brimming with power. "That's why I'll attack with everything I have."

Without hesitation, she raised her hands, forming a black-and-blue bow of energy from the essence of her Tenseigan. The heat around her surged, pulling from the world's very core as she nocked an arrow crafted from concentrated truth-seeking ball energy.

"Omega Burst."

The arrow gleamed like a miniature sun, radiating an overwhelming heat that distorted the air around it. Yet, the arrow was more than just an instrument of destruction. Hinata infused it with a conceptual force born from her studies of the Sage's ancient texts—a technique born of her belief in the transformative power of love.

"Sage Arts: A Withering Affection Is Not Love."

This technique was a testament to Hinata's deepest conviction: that love could be a weapon as much as it could be a healing force. The arrow's presence created a domain of affection, a radiant field that banished the darkness and filled the space with warmth and light.

The arrow flew with unparalleled precision, colliding with Phobos's dark barrier. The impact was catastrophic, blossoming into a massive, flower-shaped magical diagram that engulfed the battlefield in light and heat. The arena shook violently as the explosion of love-infused energy overwhelmed Phobos and Deimos.

The result was devastating. Deimos, already weakened from his earlier battle, was utterly consumed by the heat, which burned as hot as the sun's core. The erasure effect of the truth-seeking ball obliterated his defenses and body alike, leaving no room for recovery. But what truly undid him was the love embedded in the attack—it was his and his brother's natural weakness. The overwhelming affection smothered Deimos's fear and left him dazed, almost enchanted by the purity of the emotion.

Phobos, realizing the danger, acted swiftly. He eliminated Deimos from the battlefield with a swift, decisive strike, sparing him from the complete humiliation of falling for their opponent. His face was grim, his pride clearly wounded as he recognized the danger posed by Hinata's technique.

The sudden turn of events sparked a ripple of intrigue among the divine spectators. Aphrodite, the immortal of love, leaned forward with fascination, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and recognition of the love-laden power Hinata had wielded. Artemis, too, observed keenly, her interest piqued by the combination of Hinata's grace, strength, and the conceptual depth of her attack.

As the arena fell silent, Hinata stood resolute, her bow dissipating into particles of light. She turned to glance at Ino, who offered a weak but proud smile. The crowd erupted into cheers once again, their awe at Hinata's brilliance only further solidifying her as a formidable warrior—and perhaps something much more.