The instant before the Three-Tails Jinchuriki broke free, the Adamantine Prison Wall shattered.
Dozens of staff scattered into the sky as afterimages while the enormous rolling wheel surged forward once more!
This time, the accumulated power was even more violent than before, yet just as it broke free and reached the peak of its momentum, Isshin had already shifted his stance and gathered his strength, then his right fist shot forward explosively!
Crimson Heaven Purge!
A massive wave of flames, dozens of meters wide, erupted from his fist.
The rain transformed into white mist the instant it touched the blazing wave, and even the air itself warped under the intense heat.
The attack struck the side of the rolling giant wheel with perfect accuracy!
The colossal wheel that had originally been charging straight toward Isshin and Konoha's battle line was abruptly knocked off course, and its direction changed instantly.
Instead of crushing Konoha's forces, it now barreled directly toward the Village Hidden in the Mist's formation!
The dozen or so Kirigakure ninjas standing in front have their pupils shrink in terror, but the rolling wheel is already upon them, and there is no time to dodge.
'Not good!'
Hyakume Sosuke roared inwardly.
Using every ounce of strength in his body, he desperately attempted to stop the out-of-control momentum.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The sounds of flesh and bone being crushed rang out one after another.
Despite his efforts, the edge of his gigantic body still swept through the front ranks of Kirigakure ninjas, instantly crushing more than a dozen of them to death.
Fortunately, the ninjas behind them managed to scatter during the brief delay, preventing further casualties.
Before Hyakume Sosuke could recover from the aftereffects of the emergency stop, a gigantic staff swept toward him with a sharp howl and blasted him away once more!
Hyakume Sosuke's enormous body crashed heavily into a ruined hill in the distance.
Dust and shattered stones exploded into the air, temporarily separating him from the battlefield.
While standing straight in the distance, Isshin exhaled softly and glanced quickly toward the sky.
'Almost there.'
Originally, Isshin had already completed most of the preparation deep within the thunderclouds, but the Three-Tails Jinchuriki's Tailed Beast Ball blasted in, ruining all the previous preparations.
Now the main body had no choice but to start over, while he remained behind to stall the enemies on the ground.
Fortunately, the main body possessed numerous talent enhancements.
Not only could it prepare far faster than the clone, but the resulting attack would be even more powerful.
Before Isshin could think further, a savage aura resembling a primordial beast locked firmly onto him.
Roar!!!
Amid the earth-shaking roar, a ferocious beast with three crimson tails transformed into a streak of red lightning as it tore through the rainstorm and lunged toward Isshin!
Partial Tailed Beast State.
Clearly, after realizing that a Complete Tailed Beast State offered tremendous power but suffered from excessive bulk, Hyakume Sosuke had decisively switched forms; he abandoned the mountain-sized body in exchange for greater speed and agility.
"Coming straight for me."
Seeing this, Isshin neither dodged nor retreated, and with a powerful step forward, he charged directly to meet him head-on!
If it were a Complete Tailed Beast State, he might have fought more tactically, but against a partial transformation, he felt no fear whatsoever!
Boom!!!
Two crimson figures collided violently amid the raging storm!
From the center of impact, a visible circular shockwave exploded outward, blowing away all surrounding wind and rain!
One man and one beast, two pairs of eyes burning with fighting spirit, locked onto each other from only inches away.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two crimson figures continuously crossed paths, collided, separated, crossed paths again, and collided once more amid the storm!
Every collision resembled two meteors smashing together in the most savage fashion imaginable.
The sounds of metal clashing and flesh colliding merged into one overwhelming cacophony, sending giant ripples through the surrounding rain.
"Roar!"
During the relentless battle, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki unleashed another ferocious roar.
An even more violent burst of chakra erupted from his body, and his three red tails whipped around in the torrential rain with a piercing whistling sound while his power and speed surged again in the same instant!
His figure transformed into a raging crimson lightning bolt, and with a thunderous explosion, he slammed Isshin directly into a ruined hill.
Broken rocks flew everywhere, and the hillside cracked apart.
Rain and dust mixed together into a gray haze.
"Shinichi Higashino!"
Hyakume Sosuke's two gigantic crimson chakra hands firmly pinned the young man before him, nailing him against the shattered mountainside.
A savage grin spread across his barely human face, revealing rows of white teeth.
Rain poured onto his chakra cloak, producing layers of steam, yet it could not conceal the undisguised killing intent in his crimson eyes, or the faint trace of regret hidden deep within them.
"I have to admit, in over sixty years of my life, you are the most astonishing genius I have ever seen. Even Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, at your age, were far inferior to you."
He paused, then added more force to his crimson chakra hand, the sound like muffled thunder, drowning out the howling wind and rain.
"But that is exactly why you are too terrifying as an enemy! No matter what, you should not be allowed to live in this world!"
Pinned among the shattered rocks, Isshin stared at him expressionlessly.
Hyakume Sosuke did not seem to expect any response as crimson chakra danced wildly around his body, casting shifting shadows across his half-bestial face.
"I heard the Shinobi World calls you Crimson Flame Shinichi. But do you know this? No matter how fiercely flames burn, before the depths of the ocean, they will eventually be extinguished. No matter how loudly flames roar, before the murmur of the sea, they will eventually fade away!"
As he spoke, Hyakume Sosuke's voice became incredibly calm, yet it carried even greater resolve.
"Shinichi Higashino, today, even if I must stake my very life…"
"Are you done talking?"
Isshin finally spoke.
Hyakume Sosuke froze in place.
"Old man."
"Hm?"
Isshin raised his eyes and looked expressionlessly at the hideous face only inches away.
"How long has it been since you brushed your teeth? Your breath stinks."
Before he even finished speaking, Isshin raised his foot and kicked hard, landing a heavy blow on the Three-Tails Jinchuriki's abdomen!
Boom!
The tremendous force blasted Hyakume Sosuke away.
The crimson figure shot backward through the rain and crashed heavily into the distant mud and ruins.
Boom!
Hyakume Sosuke flipped upright from the pile of rubble, and his furious roar had not yet escaped his mouth when a crimson blur crashed down before him like a meteor!
With one hand holding the Adamantine Nyoil and a fist as heavy as a hammer, the shadow of the staff and the sharpness of the fist covered the sky and gave Hyakume Sosuke no opportunity to catch his breath.
The two figures became entangled in battle once more.
The staff swept horizontally, and the tails danced wildly.
Every punch landed with flesh-crushing force.
Every claw drew blood.
Wherever they passed, ruins collapsed, and rainwater surged backward.
Another explosion, and a crimson figure was sent flying backward, but this time, it was the Three-Tails Jinchuriki who was sent flying backward.
Isshin dashed forward in a single step, and the Adamantine Nyoi in his hand viciously struck the opponent's abdomen!
That tyrannical force instantly shattered the tailed beast chakra cloak surrounding Hyakume Sosuke, making the crimson chakra violently contract like a receding tide.