Aoki Yoru, knowing he needed to end this quickly, raised yerun, which was already wrapped in Natural Energy.
The previous attack was just to buy time for this move.
At this moment, Samehada's heart sank, and a sense of lethal threat instantly surged within him. His instincts as a powerhouse told him that this blow was not to be trifled with. He stared intently at yerun, not daring to be even slightly careless.
"If I'm careless, I'll be killed."
Kisame's veins bulged all over his body as he desperately squeezed the last bit of Chakra from himself, mobilizing every remaining drop without reservation.
"The winner is about to be decided!"
This was the shared thought in the hearts of Kakashi and the others outside the water sphere.
When they left the range of the water sphere, the two sides were merely facing off and hadn't made a move.
Uchiha Itachi didn't want to fight the village Ninjas, nor did he want to waste his ocular power.
Kakashi knew that Uchiha Itachi's strength was not simple; each eye of the Mangekyo Sharingan had a unique ocular technique, and he had only used Tsukuyomi.
It was hard to say who would win or lose if the fight continued, and since he was worried about Aoki Yoru's safety, the two sides reached a tacit understanding to stop and face off.
At this time, Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan was constantly fixed on Aoki Yoru, ready to save him at the final moment.
At that moment, the two in the field moved.
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
Violent Chakra converged frantically within the Water Prison, transforming into a giant shark that blotted out the sky. It opened a bloody maw large enough to swallow everything and crashed toward Aoki Yoru with world-destroying momentum!
Looking at the incoming giant water shark, Aoki Yoru suddenly raised yerun, poured all his Chakra and Natural Energy into it, and swung with all his might!
"Sage Art: Immortal Might Flow!"
A giant blade of energy spanning the Water Prison slashed out, carrying a sharpness that could tear through anything, and cleaved fiercely toward the Great Shark Bullet.
"Boom—"
The two Ninjutsu collided violently, and the rampaging Chakra exploded in the water, setting off a towering wave that even shattered the Water Prison Technique. A massive amount of water surged in all directions.
Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and the others outside narrowed their eyes and immediately activated the Body Flicker Technique, quickly dodging through the splashing waves to avoid the massive shockwave.
"Swoosh—"
The Ninjutsu duel was decided. The giant water shark was sliced in half. Although the remaining blade energy was mostly weakened by the shark's resistance, it still carried a sharp edge and lunged straight for Kisame.
Kisame's pupils shrank, and his expression changed drastically, but his Chakra was exhausted, and he no longer had the ability to dodge.
"Slash—"
A terrifyingly large wound was torn across Kisame's body from his right shoulder down to his abdomen, and blood sprayed out wildly.
Kisame suddenly felt his vision go dark. Unable to support himself any longer, he collapsed straight down, completely unconscious.
"Susanoo!"
Seeing Kisame's condition, Uchiha Itachi gave a low shout. Both of his Mangekyo eyes lit up simultaneously, and crimson Chakra erupted!
A giant skeletal phantom slowly took shape behind him. Its pitch-black bones glinted with a cold light as it reached out an arm, grabbed Kisame's body, and pulled him to his side.
This sudden action left Kakashi no time to stop him.
Aoki Yoru watched his movements but didn't stop him. Susanoo was not easy to deal with. Although the possibility was small, what if Itachi hit him with the Sword of Totsuka?
He used the Body Flicker Technique to get behind Kakashi. His Chakra consumption had been very high just now, and he needed to recover properly; it was safer with Kakashi in front.
Suddenly, a green figure appeared in front of Itachi.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Might Guy let out a roar, his Chakra surging. His right leg, accompanied by the sharp sound of breaking wind, kicked hard against the armor of the Susanoo!
"Clang—!!"
The loud sound of metal clashing echoed through the area. Guy felt a sharp pain in his calf, as if he had kicked a giant mountain made of fine gold. The Susanoo didn't budge an inch, not even leaving a scratch.
"So hard!"
Guy's pupils shrank as he looked at the giant in front of him in disbelief.
Seeing Guy's arrival, Itachi knew that Konoha's main force was about to arrive.
His eyes turned cold, and the Susanoo raised its hand. A Magatama condensed in its palm!
Aoki Yoru watched the forming Magatama in shock. Itachi couldn't really be trying to kill them, could he? He shouted, "Let's block it together!"
"Yasakani Magatama!"
With a cold shout, a spiral-shaped giant Magatama, carrying destructive power, blasted toward Kakashi and the others like a rainstorm.
Seeing the incoming Yasakani Magatama, everyone present changed expression. Feeling a lethal threat, they all used Ninjutsu to counter-attack.
"Kamui!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori Katana!"
"Sixth Gate: Gate of View, Open! Morning Peacock!"
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
At this critical moment, the five of them didn't care about anything else and performed their own ultimate techniques.
"Boom—!!!"
The Magatama and Ninjutsu collided. Towering flames and shockwaves exploded, instantly vaporizing the river water and setting off a massive wave tens of meters high. Steam and dust shot into the sky.
The entire river surface shook violently. The undercurrents were forced backward, and even the rocks at the bottom of the river were shattered. The people standing in the river were pushed back repeatedly by the airwaves.
After a long time, the water flow gradually stabilized, and the steam slowly dissipated.
A giant made of electricity, composed entirely of purple lightning and resembling a Susanoo, appeared in the field, firmly protecting them inside.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Armor Susanoo."
Facing an attack like the Yasakani Magatama, which was comparable to a Tailed Beast Ball, Aoki Yoru knew that their hurried defense wouldn't do much. In the end, when the Yasakani Magatama exploded near them, Aoki Yoru could only protect the others.
During the last war, the Lightning Armor Susanoo had withstood the Triple Lightning Strike Formation, a combined Ninjutsu from Darui and two others. As long as it didn't take a direct hit, it was more than enough to withstand the explosion's shockwave.
However, Aoki Yoru also realized that Itachi had no intention of killing them. Even if they hadn't blocked the attack, it would have passed them by, only affecting them with the explosion's shockwave.
He, Kakashi, and Guy should be fine, but Asuma and Kurenai would likely have been seriously injured.
As the steam completely dissipated, the figures of Uchiha Itachi and Kisame had already disappeared.
"Whew! We survived!"
Asuma let out a sigh of relief. In that instant, he really felt like he was going to see his father. The power of that move still left him with lingering fear.
Uchiha Itachi truly lived up to his reputation as the ruthless man who could wipe out his entire clan; there were very few in Konoha who could take that move.
At this time, Asuma looked at Aoki Yoru, whose face was pale and who was clearly suffering from excessive Chakra consumption.
Originally, he only felt that although Aoki Yoru was strong, he only excelled because of his unique techniques. Even that S-rank forbidden technique that defeated the Eight-Tails, he had heard from his father that it relied on the right timing and could not be used under normal circumstances.
Their strengths should have been about equal. If it were truly a life-and-death struggle, the outcome would still be uncertain.
But now he realized with a start that this young man was already on a completely different level from him.
If he were to face Kisame's techniques, he might have been killed instantly.
He was even a bit envious of Kakashi. Not only was Kakashi himself exceptionally talented, but his father and teacher were also powerhouses. Even his disciple had surpassed him, and his new disciples, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Uchiha Sasuke, were also destined to be powerhouses.
"Sigh! It's all fate," Asuma couldn't help but lament.