Chapter 69: Humanoid Tyrannosaur

On the island in the sea, two figures collided violently, their fists and palms clashing like thunder.

"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit—OPEN!"

Kamihane's hair whipped wildly as he roared, his voice erupting shockwaves that blasted layers of seawater into the air. His body rocketed upward, trailing blazing flames through the atmosphere!

Mid-air, he lunged forward and unleashed a flying kick, his body burning crimson from friction as he plummeted toward Hashirama like a meteor!

"SCREEEECH—!!!"

The air screamed, echoing across the heavens. Scarlet flames faintly outlined blazing wings as a sonic boom rippled outward, sketching the silhouette of a colossal firebird.

"Chōmei!!!"

The inferno illuminated Hashirama's tense face. His eyes narrowed with unprecedented focus as he slammed his palms together.

"Wood Release: Shield of Heroes! (Mokuton: Bōhai no Jutsu)"

The forest beneath him writhed like water. Six colossal shields, dark as ironwood, rose like armor, encasing Hashirama layer by layer in an impenetrable shell.

Kamihane, transformed into the blazing Chōmei, tore through the air and crashed into the shields!

BOOM!!!!!!

The shields shattered instantly. The island sank slightly as seawater surged inward. Wildfire and shockwaves devoured everything within a kilometer!

Hurricane winds and steam erupted. The kick shattered the island, scattering debris across the roiling sea.

Amid the chaos, both figures shot from the waves and smashed into a coastal cliff.

Kamihane's veins bulged across his crimson body. Violent green steam erupted from his pores, shrouding him like a masked oni. He seized Hashirama's face and slammed him into the stone wall, grinding him through the rock until the cliffside exploded.

With a spin, Kamihane hurled Hashirama away, then conjured chakra blades to slash two massive strikes—burying him deep into the mountain.

CLACK-CLACK.

Hashirama's body split into four wooden fragments, clattering to the ground as lifelike carvings.

Kamihane turned silently, spotting a figure rising from the sea. In a flash, he collided with it.

Hashirama's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Kamihane's raw power—even the Fifth Gate alone had obliterated his Shield of Heroes, a defense that once withstood Tailed Beast Bombs from armored Susanoo!

Kamihane's attacks were lightning incarnate. Hashirama struggled to counter. The Mangekyō's dynamic vision, godlike speed, and overwhelming force merged into one reality:

A taijutsu apex. A humanoid calamity.

Every punch and kick ignited the air. Each strike threatened to pulverize Hashirama's organs, his Sage Body barely healing fast enough to survive.

"Wood Release—"

Hashirama's hands froze mid-seal as Kamihane pried them apart and kneed him into the earth!

"I'm done with formalities!"

Debris flew. To Kamihane, even solid bedrock felt as malleable as water.

"Wood Release: Exploding Spear Trees!" (Mokuton: Bākōju)

Blood trickled from Hashirama's teeth as colossal wooden tendrils erupted from his back. A titanic tree surged upward, flinging Kamihane skyward.

Kamihane twisted mid-air, ripples swirling behind him as he dove back down—only to face hundreds of Hashirama's Wood Clones!

This became a massacre. In his Fifth Gate state, even Hashirama's true self was outmatched. Clones stood no chance.

Fists blazing, Kamihane tore through them. "Leaf on Dew" (Yōjō no Tsuyu) slashed waves of clones to splinters. He became a human wrecking ball, crushing everything in his path.

"Enton: Blazing Thunder God!"

Kamihane spread his hands. Black flames erupted beneath him, spearing hundreds of clones with fiery lances.

Within breaths, all clones were ash.

SKRRRT—

Kamihane slid atop the last wooden fragment, stopping beside a sheathed katana. Behind him, Hashirama's voice boomed:

"Wood Release: Wood Human Jutsu!" (Mokuton: Mokujin no Jutsu)

Roots churned. A gargantuan wooden titan—fanged, draconic, and towering at 200 meters—rose with Hashirama atop its head.

Kamihane ignored it. He leisurely drew "Frostfall's Resolve" before turning.

Night draped the raging sea. His pants flapped wildly as he faced the titan and the "God of Shinobi."

No words. He lunged like an arrow, his Mangekyō's crimson light streaking through the dark.

The wooden titan punched with divine fury, its fist colliding with Kamihane's air-rending slash!

Kamihane pushed his speed to the limit. Afterimages surrounded the titan as countless strikes rained on its head.

The battlefield became a meat grinder. The titan's punches cratered the earth, while Kamihane's slashes cleaved cliffs like paper.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Even the shockwaves could cripple Kage-level fighters.

Suddenly, black energy roared. A skeletal Susanoo materialized, cloaked in swirling ink-dark chakra. Kamihane's eyes bled as he forced it to Third Stage.

The stout crow-demon Susanoo paled against the titan—until it summoned a spear: Totsuka Blade & Yata Mirror fused into a single weapon.

"Divine Spear: Totsuka no Murakumo."

Kamihane leaped from the Susanoo, flanking the titan with his avatar. The spear swept low, smashing the titan's knee.

Seizing the moment, Kamihane fired "Kagutsuchi's Arrow"—grazing Hashirama's cheek.

Hashirama's eyes flashed. The titan twisted, its mountain-crushing fist slamming into the Susanoo's defensive stance.

CRACK—!!!

The earth shattered. Kamihane stood unfazed in the storm, but frowned.

Though Totsuka no Murakumo remained pristine, his Susanoo's arms now spiderwebbed with cracks.