In the training ground.
Gin and Sakumo stood facing each other, both unarmed—after all, it was just a sparring match, not a life-and-death battle.
At least, that was the general idea.
There weren't many spectators for this match.
After all, everyone was quite busy. Those passing by only spared a quick glance.
They had to constantly monitor the movements of Cloud ninjas and keep an eye on the village's intel.
Few were as idle as Gin and Sakumo.
Sakumo was considered a camp "nuclear weapon," only deployed when powerful enemies or large forces appeared. His mere presence was a deterrent.
Gin, on the other hand, was known for slacking off when no elite enemies were around.
For example, the three Cloud ninjas who had nearly reached the camp earlier—Gin had detected them long before. But he waited until they got closer before acting.
A breeze stirred, and a single leaf fell between them.
The moment the leaf hit the ground, Sakumo moved. Before Gin could react, he was already in front of him.
Sakumo's foot swung in a horizontal kick, whistling through the air.
"Swish!"
Gin's body twisted beneath Sakumo's kick, transforming into a black substance that began to wrap around him.
Yoton: Dark Clone Technique.
But Sakumo stomped down, reappearing at a distance, leaving the dark substance grasping at empty air.
From behind Sakumo, Gin emerged from the ground, hands already weaving signs for a jutsu.
"Yoton! Ankoku Shibari Eikyū Sō!" (Dark Release: Eternal Darkness Binding!)
Darkness erupted from the ground, attempting to entangle Sakumo.
But Sakumo, forming a knife-hand, struck downward as white energy gathered around his hand.
A white crescent slash tore through the approaching darkness.
"Hatake Kenjutsu! Arashi Zan!" (Hatake Sword Art: Storm Slash!)
The white slash ripped the dark material to shreds, scattering it into nothingness.
Gin then chose to engage in close combat.
"Hachimon Tonkō—Kaimon! Kyūmon!" (Eight Gates Release—Gate of Opening, Gate of Rest—Open!)
Black chakra surged from Gin's body as his speed drastically increased.
His Shunpo now matched Sakumo's Soru.
The two of them flashed around the training field, their hands and feet colliding so quickly that it produced sounds like bubbles bursting—caused by the sheer speed of their strikes.
With every clash, sparks of darkness flickered in the air.
With the help of the Eight Gates, Gin was able to hold his own in taijutsu for a while.
However, Sakumo still found an opening, kicking Gin away.
Gin flipped and landed on the ground, hands digging into the earth as he slid backward, forced back by the immense force.
But his jutsu was already prepared.
"Yoton! Ankoku Sōrenchi!" (Dark Release: Dark Chain Domain!)
This was a jutsu Gin had developed by combining the properties of Mokuton (Wood Release) seeds and the Darkwalker Technique. Seeds would quickly grow into vines that created a chain-like effect to lock down an area.
Due to their black appearance, it seemed as though the darkness itself had formed chains, continuously linking together to seal off the space.
Sakumo's eyes darted around rapidly.
Above, below, left, right, front, and back—all were sealed by darkness, with no gaps wide enough for a person to pass through.
"This jutsu is really troublesome."
Sakumo sighed.
The darkness completely enveloped him, his body momentarily frozen in place.
"Yoton! Teishin Jutsu!" (Dark Release: Paralyzing Technique!)
From within the darkness, Gin's voice rang out with a hint of satisfaction.
At last, he had a chance to teach Sakumo a lesson.
This guy had been arrogant for far too long.
But Sakumo wasn't one to sit idly by.
"This jutsu is strong, but it still has a fatal flaw."
White chakra exploded from Sakumo's body.
At that moment, his body regained its mobility.
This was the power of someone half a step into the realm of the strongest—approaching the level of the top two in the ninja world.
"Don't think this is over."
Gin gritted his teeth. This was just more proof that Sakumo was taking advantage of his limited chakra.
Although he didn't want to admit it, it seemed that Sakumo had already become the strongest ninja below Uchiha Madara.
"Yoton! Mugen Gouku!" (Dark Release: Infinite Hell!)
The darkness trembled as countless sharp wooden branches, concealed within the black void, began attacking Sakumo.
The branches grew rapidly, using the darkness as cover to launch sharp, piercing attacks on the enemy, spread throughout the entire dark space.
Sakumo's eyes glowed faintly red as he gracefully maneuvered within the darkness, evading the incoming branches.
For those he couldn't dodge, he used his knife-hand technique, surrounded by white light, to slice through them.
Every attack was shattered in an instant.
And he still had energy to spare.
"I've always wondered—what kind of torment do the Cloud ninjas face when they enter your darkness?"
Every time the Cloud ninjas fought Gin, their screams lasted for quite a while.
"You want to know? Then I'll let you see for yourself."
Large eyes suddenly appeared throughout the darkness, slowly opening to reveal pitch-black sclera and blood-red pupils.
The black Sharingan tomoe began to spin.
"Meikon Jutsu! Mugen Sharingan!" (Soul Manipulation Technique: Infinite Sharingan!)
No one could escape the Sharingan's genjutsu when faced with so many of them.
The darkness faded.
A scarlet world appeared.
Sakumo found himself bound to a cross.
Gin stood in front of him.
"Pseudo Tsukuyomi!"
Countless figures, all resembling Gin, appeared around him.
"The time here flows at a rate of 864,000 to 1 compared to the outside world."
"In other words, one day and night here is equivalent to one second outside."
"And the pain you endure here will accumulate and be unleashed in that one second."
"I can sustain this for up to one second in the outside world. Twenty-four hours should be more than enough for you to endure some proper torture."
One Gin finished speaking, and another Gin immediately began.
There was a strange sense of precision to it.
But it was undeniably brutal.
"So that's how it is."
Sakumo understood now.
Gin really did torment his enemies, torturing them for twenty-four hours before all the pain was unleashed at once. Not everyone could withstand that.
"Let's settle our scores from over the years."
One by one, the Gins picked up weapons.
Swords, spears, staffs, axes, hooks, and forks.
"The ones in the back are overdoing it!" Sakumo exclaimed, noticing with his Kenbunshoku Haki that one of the Gins at the back was holding a spiked club.
Staring at his back!
This guy was getting more ridiculous.
He was definitely learning this from Jiraiya.
White energy surged from Sakumo's body, shooting skyward.
A massive, blurry white figure appeared behind him.
"It's so much easier to use this here."
Compared to the real world, where the figure only stood ten meters tall, the giant in this realm stood at a hundred meters.
A massive white sword appeared in the giant's hand.
It was raised high.
"Gin, you bastard!!!"
The sword descended.
The world was torn apart.
Back in reality.
Gin knelt on the ground, his darkness dispersed, blood trickling from his eye.
"You lost," Sakumo said, grinning as he patted Gin on the shoulder.
At this moment, it felt like time had looped back to earlier.
"You son of a—"
Gin forced a smile, though it looked sinister.
Gin swore that from now on, no matter what, he would never let Sakumo take his own life.
He would kill him personally!!!
Just then.
A figure appeared beside Sakumo.
"Sakumo-dono, there's a message from Orochimaru-sama."
"Hm?"
(End of Chapter)