Chapter 267: Mizuki—A True Loyal Retainer!
"Quick—use the Edo Tensei to block them!"
Facing the Uchiha surging forward like a tidal wave, Kazuma panicked greatly, hastily ordering the Edo Tensei bodies forward.
But the queue of apologies had brought both sides too close together.
In mere moments, the Uchiha crashed into Konoha's ranks.
"Kill them!"
"Slaughter them all!"
The Uchiha screamed maniacally, blades cutting down enemies one after another.
"Rally to me! Three-man defensive formations!"
At the critical moment, Third proved more reliable. He shouted commands, guiding Konoha shinobi to form back-to-back defensive circles, barely holding their ground.
Instantly the battlefield erupted—kunai and ninja tools flew everywhere, jutsu light interweaving with blade gleams, transforming the area into a life-or-death arena.
But the Uchiha Edo Tensei completely disregarded tactics, hacking wildly like demons purely to vent fury. They most preferred mutual destruction.
"Don't get entangled! Use binding techniques!" Third shouted, rapidly forming hand seals before slamming his palms down.
"Earth Release: Quicksand Trap!"
Dozens of quicksand vortexes appeared simultaneously beneath Uchiha feet, swallowing the Edo bodies.
"Tch!"
Without hesitation, those Edo Tensei slashed off their own legs. While airborne, they rapidly formed seals and opened their mouths.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Flames erupted from their mouths. Rotating their heads, they sprayed fire in all directions, completely uncaring whether allies stood there.
Directional Fire Release could be dodged or blocked, but this kind of indiscriminate area attack—how could you defend?
How could you predict what attack would come from where next?
Chaos bred casualties. Within moments, blood soaked the ground. Even grass turned dark brown. The air filled with the stench of burning corpses.
"Hahahaha..."
Yasushi stood on high ground laughing wildly, watching blood and flesh fly below, his eyes filled with pathological satisfaction.
"No!!!"
A anguished cry rang out. Itachi, kneeling all this time, finally recovered some rationality. He activated Susanoo, charging forward to rescue his village comrades.
After experiencing multiple rounds of stimulation, Itachi's strength had progressed greatly. The dark chakra around him grew increasingly dense, his reserves more abundant.
The manifestation was his brown Susanoo becoming taller and more powerful.
Though still unable to reach Perfect Form, it had begun taking shape.
If not for losing an eye to Izanagi years ago—the replacement three-tomoe Sharingan holding him back—perhaps current Itachi could activate Perfect Susanoo.
"Get away!"
Itachi roared, swinging his massive blade in a horizontal sweep, cutting a dozen Edo bodies in half at the waist.
But such injuries meant nothing to Edo Tensei. Instead, it stimulated the Uchiha to greater frenzy.
"Itachi!"
"It's Itachi!"
"Kill him!"
Bloodlust overwhelming them, these Uchiha forgot Yasushi wanted Itachi kept alive. They abandoned other Konoha villagers, charging at Itachi en masse.
Seeing this, Third hastily commanded Konoha's people to retreat.
But suddenly more Edo Tensei surged forward.
Karin and the others noticed combat resuming, so they summoned the other two Edo Tensei legions to join the battle.
A figure flickered before Third. Hyuga Hizashi's half-smiling face appeared.
"Ah, my deepest apologies, Lord Third. I can't control myself either!"
While speaking respectfully, Hizashi immediately threw a punch.
"Damn it!" Third cursed but had no choice but to stop and continue fighting.
Just that brief delay brought several Uzumaki clansmen to his side. Dozens of golden chains descended directly overhead.
Third hastily retreated, unleashing various compound jutsu to either immobilize or blow away these Edo bodies, preventing them from approaching for mutual destruction.
But enemy numbers proved excessive. No sooner did he blow away one batch than another arrived, giving him no moment's rest.
If not for Edo bodies' infinite chakra, human wave tactics would have overwhelmed him long ago.
Seeing Third blocked, Itachi immediately maneuvered Susanoo to support him.
The massive blade casually swept aside large batches of people.
Yasushi sat leisurely, watching Itachi's unstoppable rampage without personally joining the fray.
His gaze glanced toward Mizuki. With a slight head tilt toward Itachi, Mizuki immediately understood, charging toward Susanoo.
"Itachi, don't get entangled! Quickly protect Lord Kazuma and retreat!"
Mizuki shouted loudly from a distance.
The desperately struggling Kazuma naturally heard, immediately feeling gratitude surge within.
'Mizuki—a true loyal retainer!'
After returning to Konoha, he'd definitely reward him generously!
"Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"
"Earth Release: Antlion Pit!"
"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison!"
Kazuma launched several Earth Release techniques in succession, temporarily restraining approaching Edo bodies before sprinting rapidly toward Susanoo.
"Itachi, stop fighting! Hurry and escort me away!"
Almost instinctively, Itachi left his position, moving toward Kazuma.
But the moment he moved, Konoha villagers sheltered behind Susanoo immediately couldn't hold.
"Itachi, don't leave!"
"Block the enemies!"
"If we're retreating, we retreat together!"
Those shouts immediately halted Susanoo's steps.
Meanwhile, new Edo bodies blocked Kazuma's path.
Kazuma wasn't an Edo body—he lacked infinite chakra. After launching several Earth Release techniques, his reserves depleted significantly. Gasping for breath, he struggled to defend against attacks while cursing furiously:
"Itachi, what are you hesitating for?"
"Hurry over and save me!"
But Itachi's gaze swept between the many shinobi comrades behind him and Kazuma. He immediately judged—more people here. Rescuing these shinobi comrades most benefited the village.
So Itachi turned deaf ears to Kazuma's pleas, focusing solely on protecting Konoha clan shinobi as they slowly retreated.
"Hey, Itachi! How dare you abandon me?!"
Kazuma seethed with fury and rage. He repeatedly attempted breaking through to reach Itachi's side, retreating with the main force.
But with Yasushi deliberately targeting him, Edo bodies around Kazuma multiplied endlessly. He couldn't break through no matter what.