Chapter 173: The Sneaky Shinobi World Thief
A massive explosion erupted on Susanoo, blooming like nuclear detonation into a mushroom cloud shooting skyward, blowing away half the rain clouds overhead to reveal clear skies.
Blinding white light and shockwaves swept in all directions. Surface rock layers collapsed like fragile cookies. Even the ground skin was scraped completely clean.
After persisting briefly, Susanoo's energy armor was cut open—then flesh, then bones.
Finally under this golden light's cutting, entire Susanoo was cleaved through the chest, violently exploding.
Golden light penetrated straight through, falling into Amegakure like cutting tofu—silently splitting everything in two.
The light sword's remaining momentum cleaved open earth, forming a bottomless chasm directly dividing entire Amegakure into two parts.
Amegakure's central tower began splitting from the top, slowly sliding groundward. The cut surface was mirror-smooth, almost reflecting faces.
The entire battlefield immediately fell deathly silent. Only those puppets remained indifferent, still exploding randomly everywhere according to preset programs.
Previously, Nagato and Otsutsuki Yukio's battle occurred in midair. When attacked, they either dodged or used chakra absorption to nullify attack power. Such violent explosions were unprecedented.
Just this one strike's damage exceeded all previous puppet damage combined.
Nagato couldn't help raging.
He truly managed Amegakure as his own home. Every blade of grass, every villager—he knew them all intimately.
Usually he made others feel pain. Who'd have thought someone would attack his doorstep?
Absolutely outrageous!
"The shinobi world's deity can only be one!"
Nagato declared coldly, finally making his decision.
His hands rapidly formed seals, slapping the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu: Gedo Statue!"
The earth immediately trembled. Then a massive hand suddenly extended from underground, forcefully pulling its enormous body from underground to the surface.
A super-massive wooden statue rose from beneath the earth, standing at Nagato's feet. Fists raised high, it released ear-splitting roars toward the sky.
The Gedo Statue reappeared!
Enemy attacks were simply too powerful. Besides the Gedo Statue, Nagato couldn't think of anything capable of blocking them.
After seeing this Gedo Statue, Otsutsuki Yukio's liver nearly exploded with rage.
"Shameless shinobi world thief!"
"First stealing our Gedo Statue, then stealing our pure Byakugan!"
"Today you and I fight to the death!"
He raised his right arm, once again condensing "Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion."
Driven by furious emotions, his Tenseigan emitted piercing blue light, making this golden light sword more condensed and violent than before.
Nagato also hastily controlled the Gedo Statue beneath his feet, charging toward him.
The current Gedo Statue hadn't yet filled with Tailed Beasts. To attack required Nagato providing chakra.
Current Nagato was no longer that underdeveloped appearance from years ago. Though still unable to completely satisfy the Gedo Statue's needs, basic functions remained usable.
"Die, thief!"
Otsutsuki Yukio slashed out another "Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion," but Nagato directly used the Gedo Statue to block.
The instant two energies collided, time seemed to freeze one second.
Then massive explosion occurred where they met—even more violent than before, like a second sun rising at the horizon.
Tremendous light and heat erupted, spreading toward surroundings with unstoppable momentum. Everything along the way was blown away. Even the ground undulated ceaselessly like ocean waves.
The Gedo Statue seemingly also felt pain, roaring skyward. Large patches of wooden skin surface peeled away, revealing strange tissue resembling both wood and flesh beneath.
Massive shockwaves violently impacted Otsutsuki Yukio's chakra cloak, making those dark green robe sleeves flutter intensely.
Otsutsuki Yukio breathed rapidly several times, feeling his aged body's silent protest, yet still had no intention of retreating.
After discovering the enemy before him was the thief who'd twice stolen from the Otsutsuki clan on the moon, he knew this person must be the great one's future enemy.
Today he'd rather die fighting here than let this thief continue interfering with the great one's growth.
He inhaled deeply, raising his right hand once more.
But before he could attack, space behind him suddenly fluctuated. Someone materialized behind him, extending a hand to lightly press his back.
"Did you forget about me?!"
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
Otsutsuki Yukio screamed miserably, struck flying by the Wood Release spear. He crashed heavily into the ground, bouncing forward several times before stabilizing.
His eyes blazing with fury looked toward Yasushi's direction, shouting angrily:
"Sneaky shinobi world people—only knowing such petty tricks!"
"You think I'll fall for the same trap twice?"
After being ambushed once by Zetsu using Hanabi's body last time, Otsutsuki Yukio learned his lesson. During battle, he wrapped his entire body in chakra cloak without any gaps.
Though wasting considerable chakra, with the moon's "Giant Tenseigan" support, his chakra was virtually infinite.
The effect was also very obvious.
If not blocked by the chakra cloak this time, he'd definitely have fallen to the same jutsu twice.
Being pierced by "Wood Release: Cutting Technique"—the result was obvious without asking. Certain death.
"Tch!" Yasushi disappointedly curled his lip. "Most annoying are you Six Paths-level guys. Each one's physical quality stronger than the last. Plus chakra cloaks for defense—without strong enough attack power, you can't even break through defenses!"
"But lucky for me, I have jutsu specifically countering defense."
Yasushi removed his outer coat, revealing two Mangekyo Sharingan on his chest.
But he didn't immediately activate them, patiently waiting for Otsutsuki Yukio to attack first.
Kamui's attack power was strong, but required precise timing. Once discovered by enemies, they could easily dodge.
Otsutsuki Yukio raised both arms. Dozens of chakra orbs condensed, floating before him.
He pointed forward. Those chakra orbs shot toward Yasushi like machine gun fire.
Yasushi shifted his body into Kamui dimension, watching those attacks pass through his body and explode behind him.
Violent explosions erupted continuously, blasting Yasushi's location into pockmarked craters without footing.