The Overlord Who Could Lift a Fortress

"Whoosh…"

With a long, drawn-out hiss, the massive floating fortress lost its power source and began to plummet, tumbling erratically from the sky.

Its mountainous size made the scene appear all the more catastrophic to those watching from the ground.

As the fortress drew closer to the earth, the screeching friction between its structure and the air grew louder, almost deafening. A massive shadow spread across the plains, casting half of the area into darkness.

This apocalyptic sight resembled a comet hurtling toward the earth—a disaster that no mortal could resist.

Orochimaru, observing the scene with a heavy gaze, barked orders in a commanding tone:

"Everyone, to the ground below the fortress! Nawaki, Minato, come with me to create a buffer pit using Earth Release! The rest of you, use Water Release to form a massive swamp!"

As a researcher, Orochimaru had already noticed the mysteries hidden within the fortress created by the Sky Ninjas, and he was intrigued.

However, if it crashed from such a height, its original structure might sustain severe damage, making it difficult for Orochimaru's current technology to restore it.

The technology displayed by the Sky Ninjas, from ninja tool craftsmanship to aerodynamics, was something the shinobi world had never seen before. It was an era ahead of its time.

While Orochimaru was a biologist with profound expertise in cloning and cellular studies, the industrial and mechanical fields were still areas he hadn't delved into.

But that didn't diminish his curiosity about Sky Ninja technology. As a man eager to revolutionize the shinobi world, his thirst for the unknown burned brightly.

Interestingly, he wasn't at all worried about Fuma's safety.

Not only could Fuma now fly, but even if he had to fall from this height, it would be a mere inconvenience—something he could easily shrug off, just as he had done a decade ago.

Orochimaru vividly recalled seeing Fuma during his youth, casually jumping off cliffs to train. Fuma would even leisurely read books during freefall. That scene left a deep impression on Orochimaru and marked the beginning of their friendship.

At that time, Orochimaru had already felt somewhat disconnected from his peers. Yet, compared to Fuma, who treated cliff-jumping as entertainment, he seemed downright ordinary.

Hearing Orochimaru's command, Nawaki smiled and was the first to rush forward.

His hands moved rapidly to form seals as he channeled all his chakra, shouting softly:

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide!"

Under his control, the ground quickly cracked apart, forming a massive pit hundreds of meters long and dozens of meters deep.

Minato glanced at Nawaki with curiosity, silently marveling, "In just a year under Orochimaru-sama's guidance, he has changed so much…"

Orochimaru, known for his harsh yet effective teaching methods, not only instilled mature thinking in Nawaki but also helped him tap into the latent bloodline power of the Senju clan.

While Nawaki had yet to awaken Wood Release, he could now wield his abundant chakra with skill, transforming it into considerable combat power.

If he continued developing at this rate, achieving strength comparable to the Third Hokage would not be out of reach.

Inspired by Nawaki's display, the Mist Ninjas surged forward like a tide, showcasing their Water Release techniques.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Water Release: Water Cannonball!"

Jets of water filled the pit created by Nawaki, gradually forming a massive swamp.

Though these Mist Ninjas had spent most of the battle on the sidelines, they now worked tirelessly to prove their worth, hoping to leave a good impression on Fuma.

Even with the fortress looming above like a blade suspended by a thread, no one entertained the thought of fleeing. Instead, they poured all their chakra into this effort.

Kushina bit her lip, her eyes filled with concern. She asked hesitantly, "Will this work? The mud and water might cushion the impact a bit, but from this height, won't the fortress still be damaged?"

Minato clicked his tongue and, glancing at the bubbling swamp, replied helplessly, "This is just a stopgap. As long as the fortress remains somewhat intact, it'll already be a good outcome."

"Still, these Mist Ninjas… they've shown their value."

Though initially seen as deserters, every Mist Ninja had used at least one advanced Water Release technique, with the weakest among them performing C-rank jutsu.

This demonstrated their strength—most were at least chunin level. With proper organization, they could become a formidable force.

Orochimaru hesitated briefly, debating whether to summon Manda to serve as a giant serpentine buffer.

After a moment, his eyes sharpened, and he bit his finger, deciding to proceed, "Hmph… It's just a beast. Sacrificing it won't be a big loss."

A giant plume of smoke erupted, revealing a colossal snake over a hundred meters long.

Manda hissed arrogantly, roaring, "Why have you summoned me again, Orochimaru? Did you prepare a sacrifice this time?"

"Heh, I've got a big one for you, Lord Manda. I hope you like it." Orochimaru smirked mischievously.

"What?!"

Manda quickly realized it was standing in a swamp, and above it, a fortress the size of a small city was plummeting straight down.

"You wretched human! I'll kill you!"

Manda thrashed about wildly but couldn't escape the swamp's grip. Its venomous eyes glared at the humans, filled with seething hatred.

At that moment, a massive sonic boom echoed from above, drawing everyone's attention.

They looked up and witnessed a sight that would be etched into their memories forever—a display of raw, unparalleled power.

Fuma had once again transformed into his [Gluttony Beast Form]. His body, enveloped in blood-red energy and black smoke, expanded to a size comparable to a Tailed Beast.

His massive black wings stirred violent gales, while his bulging arms, lined with veins like writhing dragons, radiated overwhelming strength. Beads of sweat turned into steam, creating waves of heat distortion in the air around him.

The sheer sight of Fuma's form sent chills down the spines of every ninja present. This was raw, primal power that demanded respect and fear.

"Heh, heavier than Shukaku, that's for sure… But as far as anaerobic exercises go, this makes for excellent training equipment…"

"Rise!"

With a thunderous roar, Fuma planted his hands into the base of the fortress and lifted it overhead. The floating fortress, as large as a city, rested securely in his grip.

"Not so heavy after all…"

As if to demonstrate his dominance, Fuma began performing overhead presses with the fortress, using it like a piece of gym equipment.

The ninjas below were stunned. Some Mist Ninjas collapsed to their knees, muttering in awe: "This must be divine power… A god has descended to save this wretched world…"

They began convincing themselves that Fuma was a savior, desperately erasing the earlier memory of him annihilating thousands of Sky Ninjas with his [Gluttony Hell] technique.

A being of such strength couldn't possibly be evil, right? If he were, the shinobi world would already be doomed.

He "had" to be a god—a savior. That was the only explanation that brought them comfort.

Minato let out a long sigh, closing his eyes in resignation as doubt crept into his mind.

"It seems I have no chance of ever surpassing Fuma. Perhaps… I should go back and focus on training Obito. He might inherit my will."

Meanwhile, Orochimaru trembled with excitement, his low chuckles brimming with ecstasy as though he had just unlocked the secret to eternal life.

With precision, Fuma gently lowered the fortress to the ground. The earth trembled slightly, and a small cloud of dust rose.

"Phew… This thing's definitely heavier than the Tailed Beasts."

Reverting to his normal form, Fuma stretched his sore arms and wiped the sweat from his brow, speaking casually.

"Hey… Why are you all just standing there?"

"And you—what are you staring at? Got a problem?"

Fuma's annoyed tone snapped the dazed Manda out of its stupor, though the snake remained frozen in terror.

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