Chapter 425: A Weak Question — How Do You Fight Susanoo-Buddha Combo?
Rasa stood on the hill, gazing at the massive summoned beasts, Manda and Gamabunta, wreaking havoc alongside Konoha's former Kage.
He had anticipated this scene, but not to this extent.
Just a handful of people had stopped their assault force. How strong could Konoha truly be?
Rasa frowned. He had initially planned to instruct Sunagakure's ninjas to feign an attack and then order a breakout.
The assault force he led consisted of only a thousand ninjas. Even if they were sacrificed, it didn't matter.
When Rasa saw the reanimated Second and Fourth Hokage, he knew the Anti-Konoha Alliance was doomed to fail and would soon fall apart.
Preserving strength and seeking maximum benefit was the best strategy in this war.
Just as he was about to speak with Baki, Roshi volunteered for battle.
"Lord Kazekage, we can't let Jiraiya and Orochimaru's summoned beasts run rampant any longer! If this continues, our mission is bound to fail!"
Rasa was well aware that continuing would lead to failure, but what could be done? Konoha's main defensive forces hadn't even shown up, and this war was already lost.
Still, Rasa was willing to play along.
"Then fight. It will at least boost morale."
With that, Rasa led the charge, riding on his gold sand towards Manda, putting on a show of leading from the front.
Behind the scenes, he had already signaled Baki and his loyal subordinates with Sunagakure's codes to prepare for a breakout.
Rasa's Magnet Release was particularly effective against large summoned beasts and tailed beasts.
He could manipulate vast amounts of gold sand to form wave-like assaults, causing massive casualties.
This tactic worked well against both Manda and Gamabunta.
As the wave of gold sand surged towards Manda, it engulfed the snake like seawater.
Although it didn't harm Manda, it significantly slowed the serpent down, trapping it in the golden sand sea.
Orochimaru, standing atop Manda, observed Rasa's movements with great interest, particularly the flow of Magnet Release chakra.
Observation was a basic scientific method, and by watching the external chakra flow, Orochimaru could glean insights into Magnet Release.
When Manda, frustrated by the gold sand, couldn't help but lash out at Orochimaru, he finally used a Water Release jutsu to soak the sand.
Rasa, knowing the increased chakra consumption required to control wet sand, abandoned his prepared attack.
At that moment, Roshi, in his partial Tailed Beast form, joined the fray.
Instead of targeting Jiraiya, he remained hidden, ready to team up with Rasa to eliminate Orochimaru first.
Taking down one enemy was the key to breaking the stalemate.
If he went after Jiraiya and delayed too long, Konoha's reinforcements would arrive, sealing their defeat.
As a perfect Jinchuriki, Roshi quickly gathered a Tailed Beast Bomb.
By the time Orochimaru finished his Water Release jutsu, Roshi had already launched the Tailed Beast Bomb at Manda and Orochimaru.
The soaked sand had freed Manda but also restricted its movements.
There was no way Manda could dodge in time, prompting it to urge Orochimaru to cancel the summoning contract.
Seeing this, Jiraiya tried to help, and Gamabunta attempted to leap across the battlefield, but it was too late.
The Tailed Beast Bomb was already upon Manda and Orochimaru.
Orochimaru smiled faintly, and in a flash of yellow light, Minato appeared.
Just as he was about to use the Flying Thunder God to teleport the bomb away, the Tailed Beast Bomb was deflected back!
A crimson Susanoo appeared, clad in tengu armor with wings on its back, wielding the Yata Mirror in its left hand and the Totsuka Blade in its right.
It was the complete form of Susanoo!
The Tailed Beast Bomb had been repelled by the Yata Mirror!
The Yata Mirror could reflect all physical attacks, making the Tailed Beast Bomb seem like a mere toy before Itachi.
Itachi, controlling Susanoo, extended the Totsuka Blade towards Roshi.
The Totsuka Blade could seal anyone it pierced into a drunken dream-like illusion forever.
It was a variant of the Kusanagi Sword, capable of quickly extending and retracting, adaptable to different lengths.
The blade itself carried a sealing technique that could permanently trap the target in its hilt.
If Roshi were pierced, he would fall into the illusion, and the Four-Tails sealed within him would also be trapped by the Totsuka Blade!
But Roshi wasn't as overconfident as Orochimaru; he knew when to retreat.
The moment he saw the Yata Mirror deflect the Tailed Beast Bomb, he grew wary of the Totsuka Blade in Itachi's right hand.
The Totsuka Blade wasn't invincible — it had to extend to strike, making slashes difficult.
As long as Roshi kept moving, his agile, partially Tailed Beast-transformed body would make it hard for the Totsuka Blade to hit him.
But Itachi wasn't going to let Roshi go.
He wanted to end this battle quickly to prevent further bloodshed.
Thus, he unleashed his ultimate form on the battlefield!
Inside Susanoo's head, Itachi clapped his hands: "Sage Art — Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands!"
A colossal Buddha statue with a thousand hands rose from the ground, towering hundreds of meters high.
One of its hands alone matched the size of a full Tailed Beast. In the past, Hashirama Senju had used this technique to single-handedly subdue the Nine-Tails.
What chance did the Four-Tails, with only four tails, stand?
But that wasn't all!
The thousand-handed Buddha statue was clad in the fiery crimson armor of Susanoo.
The ninja of the assault force, seeing this familiar scene, were reminded of their past fears.
Especially the ninjas from Iwagakure and Kumogakure, who felt it most acutely.
This was the Susanoo-Buddha combo!
In the past, Fifth Hokage Uchiha Haneda had used this technique to defeat a Raikage, two perfect Jinchuriki, and ten thousand ninjas from Kumogakure!
Roshi's pupils contracted in fear. He had witnessed Haneda use the Susanoo-Buddha combo before.
He knew just how terrifyingly powerful this technique was.
Haneda had nearly destroyed Iwagakure with this ninjutsu!
Right before the eyes of Iwagakure's army, Haneda had killed the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki!
Could they possibly fight such a powerful enemy?
Could they even escape from such a terrifying foe?
Roshi was in despair. Just as he was about to order a retreat, he saw Rasa frown and quietly withdraw with Sunagakure's thousand-strong force, shielding Roshi and the assault force.
"Rasa, you son of a...!!!"
The spectators' expressions were equally dramatic, especially Tobirama's.
His expression changed rapidly, from initial surprise to outright shock and bewilderment.
Wasn't that his brother's Wood Release?!
What?
Had Danzo's experiments with Hashirama's cells actually succeeded?
Or had Orochimaru, through researching Haneda's case, successfully replicated it?
Did this mean that Itachi, like Haneda, possessed the best bloodline of the Senju clan?!
No wonder he was a descendant of the Senju, just like my brother!!!
The more Tobirama looked at Itachi, the more satisfied he became. Any previous discontent about the Uchiha's continuous rise to power disappeared.
After all, the next in line was Itachi, a descendant of the Senju clan and a genuine powerhouse.
He was very pleased with Itachi's love for the village.