This group of idiots... they really know how to mess around.
Even Aizen had to admit their creativity. He would've never thought of a ridiculous title like "Minato's Temptation."
Meanwhile, Minato himself was having a rough time.
Kushina's unreasonable chain attacks were hard to dodge, even with his incredible speed. He was barely holding on.
"Give it up, Minato." Kushina sat calmly on a high platform, not even moving. "With how poorly you control your spiritual energy, you're no match for me."
"That's never going to happen!" Namikaze Minato stared at Kushina with unwavering eyes. "For Naruto, for you, and for the future of the ninja world..."
Before he could finish, a chain suddenly wrapped around his right leg, yanking him off balance.
"The future of the ninja world?" Kushina let out a cold laugh. "You still don't get it, Minato. What you're fighting for isn't the future of the whole ninja world—just the future of a few powerful clans."
"The resources in this world have always been controlled by elite families. Without Jiraiya-sensei noticing you, do you think someone like you—a commoner ninja—would ever have gotten a shot? And even after becoming Hokage, how much real power do you actually have?"
Minato fell silent, a complicated look in his eyes. "You're saying Aizen is in the right?"
"I don't know," Kushina replied honestly. "But I believe under his rule, the ninja world wouldn't be worse off than it is now."
"Kushina, you've really changed." Minato looked pained, gripping his kunai tightly. "The old you would never blindly worship a man with that much ambition."
"You're right." Kushina didn't deny it. Her voice was calm. "Ever since I saw what Naruto went through, I've never been the same."
Countless golden chains exploded out, rushing toward Namikaze Minato like a flood.
Doujin Artist: It's over.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Yeah, it's over.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Against the Kushina we're seeing now, Minato didn't stand a chance.
Amegakure Village's Angel: And she was holding back. She didn't even go all out. But I guess that makes sense—after all, he was the man she once loved.
Machete Girl: "Once" loved... Don't tell me Kushina's actually fallen for Anzen-san now? I don't even know what to say if that's true.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Anzen-san is amazing, no doubt. But I don't think that's love. At least not yet. It's probably more like admiration and respect?
Doujin Artist: Exactly! After seeing what Naruto went through, she started to agree with Anzen-san's ideas about changing the ninja world. At the same time, Minato's actions really let her down. That's what made her completely switch sides.
Soul Society's Villain: Anzen really knows how to play the game. Honestly, even the real Aizen might not have pulled this off.
This is an Actor: Should I say thanks for the compliment?
Still, like before, he hadn't actually planned for things to go this far. But at this point, it was already done. No amount of explaining would change anything. Might as well own it.
The image on the screen shifts, returning to Shisui. Judging by the scene, he doesn't seem to be in any better shape than Minato.
He looks beat up and shaky on his feet.
Standing across from him, Hozuki Mangetsu wears a cocky grin, his crab claw snapping toward Shisui's head like a pair of scissors. "Tch, this is the end of the road. Ninjas are fragile creatures after all."
Shisui suddenly raises his right hand, firmly grabbing the claw. "Yeah, it should end here." His voice carries a metallic tone.
Hozuki Mangetsu's eyes narrow in shock. In his stunned gaze, Shisui slowly lifts his head. A white bone-like mask now covers his entire face, with black and red markings around his eyes.
Still in shock, Hozuki Mangetsu is sent flying. Before he even hits the ground, Shisui is already above him.
A flash of red light—his flaming blade swings straight down toward Mangetsu.
Dark red flames shoot into the sky as the ground collapses beneath them.
Struggling up from the bottom of the crater, bits of the bone armor on Hozuki Mangetsu's body fall away. His face is a mix of shock and disbelief. "What... what is that form of yours?"
"You'll have to ask your Lord Aizen about that." Shisui's golden eyes lock onto him, his voice echoing with that same metallic tone. "I think he can give you the answer."
"So that's it... He gave you this power?" Mangetsu seems to realize something, his face twisting in anger. "I get it now! To him, we're just toys! All of us—nothing but toys!" He raises both crab claws, aiming their tips at where Shisui is standing.
A streak of bluish light fires out.
Everything in its path—rocks, walls, debris—is turned to dust. The ground is left with a deep trench carved through it.
But Shisui doesn't move a muscle. Instead, the surface of his sword glows with fire again.
The flame-covered blade collides with the energy beam, triggering a violent reaction as if the whole world were shaking. Moments later, a thunderous explosion erupts.
From the center of their clash, a bright, sun-like flash bursts outward. A dome of white-hot light rapidly expands in all directions. The ground shakes violently, chunks of earth flying into the air.
A huge, visible mushroom cloud rises above the palace. Smoke and dust fill the sky.
A powerful gust blows the smoke away.
Tattered and worn, Shisui reappears, looking rough. Across from him, only half of Hozuki Mangetsu's body remains. His mouth twitches as if he wants to say something, but then he fades away into dust.