#50
A surprise attack—flawless and concealed.
The purple-black Tailed Beast Bomb shot forward like a cannonball, cutting through the air with terrifying speed and precision.
Gaara and Sasuke's eyes widened.
"Sensei!"
"Boss!"
The remnants of the ninja army noticed Roshi's sudden movement. Those who could scrambled to escape, diving away from the impending impact.
Under the protection of his elite guard, Heiru exhaled in relief, his lips curling into a grin. He had survived.
"Perfect."
"He's done for."
From the ground, they could all see it clearly—the Tailed Beast Bomb struck directly beneath Mufasa's feet. A hit like that? Escape was impossible.
Kakuzu crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "If he dies to the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, what happens to the bounty?"
Kitsuchi smirked. "Hah! Just proves the ninjas of Iwagakure are the strongest."
All eyes remained locked on the moment of impact, waiting for the explosion to rip Mufasa apart.
But… it never came.
Instead of a massive detonation or the expected deflection, something entirely unnatural happened.
The Tailed Beast Bomb passed right through Mufasa's body.
And then—
It shot toward the sky, streaking into the distance like a falling star, missing entirely.
For a brief second, there was silence.
Then everyone on the battlefield saw it.
A gaping hole had been blown through Mufasa's abdomen.
Then, before their very eyes…
The wound closed.
Skin, muscle, and tissue regenerated at an inhuman pace.
A few moments later, he stood there, completely unscathed.
The battlefield fell into stunned silence.
"What… what kind of jutsu is this?!"
Even Son Gokū, the Four-Tails, rumbled with uncertainty. "Roshi… what just happened?"
Roshi, still in battle stance, could only grit his teeth. "Damn it… I don't know."
Ao's expression darkened. Something wasn't right. He quickly activated his Byakugan, scanning the battlefield.
His face paled instantly.
"No… this isn't good!"
"It was an illusion!"
From above, Mufasa's voice echoed through the air.
"Hah! Not bad, Roshi. That was a powerful Tailed Beast Bomb."
His figure shimmered into existence, standing in the sky.
The realization hit the ninja below all at once—
Mufasa had used a decoy.
He had swapped himself with an electromagnetic projection clone the moment he ascended. The attack had hit nothing but an illusion.
His real body had never been in danger.
On the ground, Gaara and Sasuke exchanged a knowing glance.
As expected of a master tactician.
Mufasa glanced at the battlefield below, scanning the surviving enemies.
"Hah… some of you are still alive."
He smirked. "Guess I held back too much. Wouldn't want to kill too many rats before I finish my business."
His words struck a nerve.
Roshi clenched his fists, anger boiling over. "Tch… calling us rats?!"
Son Gokū rumbled in agreement. "Roshi, let's go all out. No more holding back."
Roshi's lips curled into a feral grin. "Agreed."
The air trembled.
A powerful, overwhelming chakra erupted from Roshi's body.
Lava bubbled up from beneath his feet, melting steel and scorching the very ground.
The other ninja quickly leaped back, distancing themselves from the heat.
Then—
With a deafening roar—
Roshi transformed.
The Four-Tails fully emerged.
A towering red-furred ape with four massive tails swayed in the wind, each one tipped with molten chakra. His muscular body pulsed with energy, veins of lava running through his skin, burning everything in his presence.
A diamond ring sat upon his forehead, a relic of his beastly pride.
Son Gokū raised his head to the sky, roaring so loudly the heavens themselves seemed to shake.
And then—
A dark orb of swirling chakra formed in his mouth.
A second Tailed Beast Bomb was already forming.
Mufasa, still floating above, observed the transformation with intrigue. His golden eyes gleamed.
He smirked. "Heh. Perfect."
With a single command—
Seven thousand Judgement Eye projections vanished.
His body sparked with power, electric currents surging through him.
Mufasa clasped his hands together.
"Time to test my new technique."
Roshi narrowed his eyes. "What technique?!"
Mufasa's voice boomed through the battlefield.
"Sage Art—Electromagnetic Release: Buddha's Palm!"
An immense surge of energy erupted as three thousand Natural Eyes reassembled, forming something colossal.
Above Son Gokū's head, a massive silver palm, nearly a hundred meters wide, materialized in the sky.
Mufasa stood atop it, glowing with raw power.
The Judgement Eyes channeled energy directly into him, flooding his body with nature chakra.
Golden markings spread across his skin.
Sage Mode.
The sky lit up as golden lightning crackled through the battlefield.
Mufasa's eyes shimmered, now fully golden.
Even the palm itself began to glow, the sheer energy radiating from it overwhelming.
The battlefield froze.
Even the seasoned warriors below couldn't believe what they were seeing.
A golden palm, burning like the sun itself.
Son Gokū's chakra pulsed.
Roshi bared his teeth. "I don't care what jutsu that is—I'm crushing it!"
The Tailed Beast Bomb in his mouth swelled, crackling with black and purple energy.
He fired.
The attack shot forward with immense force, aimed directly at Mufasa's palm.
Mufasa merely chuckled.
"Alright then… let's see how you handle this."
He brought his hands together.
The golden palm descended.
The impact was instantaneous.
The moment the two forces met, Mufasa's golden fingers snapped shut, pinching the Tailed Beast Bomb between them.
The dense chakra sphere trembled, its dark energy colliding against Mufasa's divine chakra.
Then—
With a light squeeze—
POP!
The Tailed Beast Bomb shattered like a soap bubble.
Silence.
The battlefield was stunned.
Even Roshi froze, still in mid-attack.
What…?
The massive golden palm loomed closer.
Mufasa smirked. "Still want to keep fighting?"
Roshi gritted his teeth. "Tch… like hell I'm backing down!"
A third Tailed Beast Bomb began forming.
Mufasa shook his head. "Wrong answer."
The golden palm slammed down.
The force of impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, crushing everything in its path.
The sheer weight of it warped the earth, leaving behind a massive crater where Roshi once stood.
And when the dust cleared…
There was silence.
Mufasa exhaled, floating above the destruction.
"Hah. Now, that was fun."