If it's just for rest, about ten minutes or so is enough; Uchiha Shao Yu hasn't consumed much energy right now.
It's most cost-effective to take this opportunity to strengthen himself.
Inside the hollow, the tense atmosphere of preparation was like a fully drawn bowstring.
Uchiha Renka, Chikage, and the others were racing against time to set up and perfect the details of the traps.
While Rin and Mei looked after Shisui, they were also preparing medical and auxiliary supplies; the rest took the time to regulate their breathing, swallow Soldier Pills, and check their ninja tools.
Uchiha Shao Yu called Renka and Rice Fire to his side.
"Renka, Rice Fire, I'm leaving this place to you for now."
Shao Yu's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable decisiveness.
"I need to leave for a while, about half an hour. To handle some... personal matters, and perform a final reconnaissance to ensure there are no other hidden threats to our rear and flanks."
Renka and Rice Fire glanced at each other, both seeing a hint of confusion in the other's eyes.
At this critical juncture, Lord Shōba, the absolute core, was leaving alone? But their faith in Shao Yu's abilities kept them from asking further.
"Lord Shōba, do you need us to accompany you?" Renka asked cautiously.
"No need," Shao Yu shook his head.
"It's more convenient for me to act alone, and faster. You stay here, ensure everyone's safety and the final completion of the traps. Maintain the highest alert; if there's any movement, focus on defense and delay until I return."
"Yes! Please be careful!" Renka and Rice Fire responded in unison.
Shao Yu said no more, gave a slight nod to everyone, and with a flash of his figure, he leaped out of the hollow like a ghost merging into the night wind, vanishing into the deeper forest and mountain shadows to the northeast after a few bounds.
Shao Yu moved rapidly through the cold wind, his Sharingan scouting the surroundings to ensure there were no tails.
He chose a spot beneath a cliff about five li away from the hollow—more remote and desolate, where it was almost impossible for pursuers or others to disturb him.
The area was rugged with jagged rocks, and the cold wind howled through the crevices, forming a natural noise barrier.
He quickly formed hand signs and set up a simple barrier to block sound and conceal his presence.
Though not as stable as one set up by a professional Barrier Master, it was sufficient for short-term needs.
Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Shao Yu focused his mind and sank his consciousness into the depths of his spirit.
The dark space belonging to the Ten Shadows Technique emerged once again. The phantoms of the Black and White Divine Dogss hovered at the edge, whimpering affectionately.
His gaze turned deeper into the space, where a larger and more unruly shadow coiled.
The shadow shifted constantly—at times agile like an ape, at others revealing tiger-like fangs, its tail writhing like a live snake, emitting the agility of a flying creature and the ferocity of a beast, along with a cold, toxic aura.
It was the Shikigami named "Nue."
He suddenly opened his eyes; the Mangekyo Sharingan in his left eye flared up, its crimson light and strange bands of light seemingly piercing the gloom of the barrier.
He didn't try to communicate or soothe with gentle spiritual energy; instead, he mixed his vast Chakra with the oppressive ocular power unique to the Mangekyo, smashing it like an invisible sledgehammer against the shadow of "Nue"!
"Come out!"
Shao Yu barked softly.
As if receiving a direct provocation.
The phantom of "Nue" writhed violently within the spiritual space, letting out a silent roar full of rage and wildness.
Outside, the air within the barrier began to warp as a phantom monster composed of dark Chakra—vague in shape but already possessing the features of "Nue"—rapidly condensed and manifested before Shao Yu!
The moment it took shape, it opened its tiger-like maw and emitted a sharp, piercing shriek that blended various beastly traits; the sound waves carried a mind-disturbing power as it lunged straight at Shao Yu!
At the same time, its snake-like tail whipped forward, and a streak of dark purple lightning shot toward Shao Yu's face like an arrow!
The attack was swift and lethal.
Uchiha Shao Yu remained unfazed. He was well-prepared.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
The bands of light in his left Mangekyo spun violently! There was no specific illusion; he simply applied the most basic Genjutsu ability of the Sharingan—one whose power had skyrocketed due to the Mangekyo—in the most direct and overbearing manner.
Nue's lunging movement instantly suffered an extremely subtle lag; the mental interference within that shriek, upon hitting the spiritual barrier constructed by Shao Yu's Mangekyo, was like a clay ox entering the sea—instead, a sliver was reflected back, causing its own consciousness to fall into a moment of chaos.
The lightning's trajectory also deviated because of this pause, grazing Shao Yu's ear and striking the rocks behind him with a "chi chi" sound, emitting white smoke.
This was the momentary opening!
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Shao Yu's hand signs were lightning fast; the moment Nue was affected by the Genjutsu, scorching Chakra had already gathered in his throat! He took a deep breath and exhaled sharply!
A scorching fire dragon—far larger and more solid than a typical Great Dragon Fire, burning with dark red flames—charged out with a roaring wind, lunging straight at the still-adjusting Nue. Before the flames even arrived, the high temperature warped the air and instantly vaporized the thin snow on the ground.
Nue let out a terrified roar, instinctively wanting to flap its wings and fly away to dodge, but Shao Yu's Mangekyo Sharingan locked onto it. The heavy pressure from the ocular power acted like an invisible shackle, slowing its flight by half a beat.
"Boom!!!"
The blazing fire dragon slammed squarely into Nue! Dark red flames instantly engulfed it! Within the barrier, fire shot into the sky, and heat waves rolled.
"Roar—!!!"
A shrill, agonizing scream echoed from the sea of fire—a painful wail of both flesh and spirit being scorched simultaneously.
Uchiha Shao Yu's gaze was cold, without the slightest hesitation.
This thing was quite strong, at least much stronger than the Divine Dogss. He knew an attack of this level wasn't enough to completely "kill" such a Shikigami, but it was enough to heavily wound it and shatter most of its will to resist.
In the original work, both Sukuna and Fushiguro Megumi had summoned this thing, though the one Sukuna summoned was infinitely larger than Megumi's. Thus, Cursed Energy—which is Chakra here—and its amount would affect the size and strength of the summoned Shikigami.
He maintained his Chakra output, letting the flames burn for a few more seconds until the screams grew faint and the struggling figure within the fire gradually lost its strength.
Then, he abruptly withdrew the Fire Release.
The flames dissipated, revealing the charred, smoke-trailing, and dying phantom of Nue.
Its original ferocious aura was completely gone, leaving only pain and weakness. Its amber beastly eyes were filled with fear, looking at Shao Yu as if looking at a god.
Shao Yu stepped forward, the Mangekyo in his left eye still emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.
He reached out and, like a brand, forcibly drove Chakra—condensed with his will to conquer and the contract rules of the Ten Shadows Technique—into Nue's nearly collapsed core of consciousness.
Nue's remaining consciousness trembled violently.
Faced with absolute power and a choice between life and death, its bit of wildness and pride were utterly shattered.
The instinct to survive, along with the dread of the unfathomable power of this human with the terrifying eyes and flames, finally outweighed everything else.
It let out an extremely faint, almost whimpering cry and lowered its head, abandoning its last shred of resistance.
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808