Chapter 107.1 : Ashisogi Jizō vs Zero-Tails!!

A pair of eyes brimming with the world's darkest malevolence locked onto Kagetsu and his group as Zero-Tails swung its head in their direction.

"So, it's finally our turn?" Kakuzu sighed reluctantly, but before Kagetsu could respond, he stepped forward to stand at the front, positioning himself as the first line of defense.

"Let Ashisogi Jizō go first. If it can handle the situation, we'll head to their base and take care of that," Kagetsu said.

Kakuzu felt slightly comforted by Kagetsu's words. At least it didn't seem like he was being sent out as cannon fodder again.

Though confident in his abilities, the oppressive aura emanating from Zero-Tails was undeniable. The threat it posed seemed even greater than that of most Tailed Beasts.

In the face of Zero-Tails' malice, Ashisogi Jizō, encouraged by Kagetsu, let out an invisible roar of the soul—a soundless attack that struck the spirit and soul with a ferocious impact, leaving a momentary but heavy sense of disorientation.

The two colossal entities collided.

Ashisogi Jizō's body erupted as its black scales flared outward. Each scale, sharp as a blade, sliced into Zero-Tails' flesh with a grating noise, leaving pale marks all over its surface.

Not to be outdone, Zero-Tails retaliated. Despite being on the receiving end of the assault, its malleable, clay-like body adapted, splitting into countless tendrils that tightly ensnared Ashisogi Jizō layer upon layer.

With its steel-like hide and rapid regenerative ability, Zero-Tails showed little concern for the damage to its body. Its singular focus was to devour Ashisogi Jizō, absorbing its strength and soul.

The two monstrosities fiercely battled in the ocean waters.

"Let's go claim Shinnō's legacy," Kagetsu said, showing no intention of waiting for the battle to conclude. He had already seen what he needed.

"Legacy, huh?"

Through the sea mist, Kakuzu gazed at the colossal structure gradually emerging into view, along with faint silhouettes of figures moving on its surface. His interest piqued.

For such an imposing building to exist, housing so many shinobi while remaining unknown, Shinnō's legacy must indeed be no small matter.

Kakuzu's gaze subtly shifted to glance at the young man, Kagetsu, behind him. Although the money from this mission wouldn't end up in his hands, at least the boy could help count it and take a cut as compensation for the effort.

It wasn't much, but earning something was better than earning nothing.

Wealth is built little by little, after all.

The second wave of Sky Ninja reinforcements arrived and stopped just outside the area where the two monstrous beasts were battling. They seemed to be observing the situation.

However, the two enraged beasts had already entered a mode of indiscriminate attacks.

Zzzap!

Blinding sparks of electricity erupted from Ashisogi Jizō, spreading through the body of Zero-Tails and into the surrounding seawater.

The electricity surged wildly through the water but quickly disappeared.

Zero-Tails, like a massive battery, absorbed most of the electricity from Ashisogi Jizō and converted it into chakra.

The spreading electrical charge affected the surrounding Sky Ninja, leaving their bodies tingling and briefly paralyzed. Their chakra flows became chaotic, disrupting their control and causing them to fall helplessly into the sea.

Fortunately, the paralysis faded quickly. Once they regained control of their bodies, the Sky Ninja at the front spread out over the water's surface, forming a fan-shaped formation and preparing their jutsu.

The leader among them had seen Zero-Tails before and knew it had been summoned by Shinnō. Though Shinnō himself was nowhere to be seen, they could clearly sense his chakra emanating from Zero-Tails's body.

Thus, they decided to work with Zero-Tails to take down the other monster first.

As dozens of Sky Ninja formed seals, the winds over the sea suddenly turned fierce and wild. Under the influence of Wind Release techniques, the chakra-infused gusts were shaped into various lethal forms.

Thin, razor-sharp wind blades with unparalleled cutting power, and wind bullets with immense penetrating force, were unleashed in an instant. They rained down like a storm, targeting Ashisogi Jizō battling Zero-Tails.

The relentless barrage inevitably affected Zero-Tails as well, as it stubbornly clung to Ashisogi Jizō in close combat.

Most of the Wind Release attacks either bounced off the monsters' tough hides or scales, but a few managed to pierce through and inflict real damage.

After the wave of attacks, both beasts were left covered in fresh battle scars. But in the next moment, their wounds began healing rapidly, thanks to their powerful regenerative abilities.

The Sky Ninja's assault seemed to have angered the two monsters. While they continued biting and tearing at each other, absorbing each other's strength, they also began directing some of their power toward dealing with those annoying little insects on the sidelines.

The severe wounds on both monsters mostly came from each other, and the surrounding seawater was heavily tainted with their blood and chakra.

Web-like tendrils shot out from Zero-Tails' body, easily sweeping away Sky Ninja within a hundred-meter radius. In an instant, it created over a dozen black cocoons on the ocean's surface.

Meanwhile, Ashisogi Jizō spat a lightning spear-like ninjutsu from its mouth, striking an area densely packed with Sky Ninja. The lightning strike instantly illuminated the region, and those struck directly by the spear were charred and lifeless in moments.

Shisui, sprinting quickly across the ocean toward Ancor Vantian, noticed something peculiar with his spinning three-tomoe Sharingan, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Although he couldn't confirm it, it seemed that the so-called Zero-Tails wasn't just consuming chakra.

The flesh of its victims remained intact, but once the black cocoons cracked open and the tendrils retracted, the ninjas inside were left lifeless.

Their chakra was completely drained, their lives extinguished, and it seemed as though even their souls were pulled out by those black tendrils and absorbed into Zero-Tails.

"Its aura is even stronger now!" Despite being far away, Kakuzu could still feel the overwhelming pressure emanating from Zero-Tails, a force that seemed to weigh on his very soul. 

As more ninjas lost their lives and chakra to the beast, its power appeared to grow at an incomprehensible speed.

Vaguely, Kakuzu noticed that the second wave of Wind Release attacks from the Sky Ninja seemed far less effective. Few of their techniques even left a mark on Zero-Tails' body.

Were the ninja's attacks getting weaker?

Kakuzu doubted that.

The most likely explanation was that Zero-Tails had grown stronger, and its defensive power had increased dramatically.

The attacks that could harm it just moments ago now couldn't break through its enhanced steel-like defense.

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