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"Cough!!" Suddenly, Hayato's complexion changed drastically as he was enveloped within the protective shell of Susanoo. He spat out a large mouthful of blood and then clutched his mouth, coughing violently. Crimson blood dripped steadily from his palm onto the snow-covered ground, his face contorted in agony.
At that moment, Miao, who had been utterly awestruck by the overwhelming power of Susanoo while perched on a nearby tree trunk, turned pale with alarm. "Father!!!!" she cried out anxiously.
"Don't come near me!!! I'm fine!!!" Hayato gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand upright. However, through her Sharingan, Miao could clearly see that his chakra reserves were completely depleted. His once scarlet Sharingan eyes were beginning to lose their color, fading into a dull white. Despite this, Susanoo still held its form, though its aura had noticeably weakened.
"This technique... it consumes life force!!!" Miao instantly realized why Hayato was still able to maintain Susanoo despite his depleted chakra. Tears welled up in her eyes as the horrifying truth sank in.
Though his Sharingan was fading, the unwavering determination in Hayato's gaze remained unchanged. The ANBU operatives observing him were momentarily startled by his condition but quickly regained their composure.
"Of course! A technique this terrifying couldn't possibly have no limits—it must come at a tremendous cost!! That man is already at his limit; there's nothing to fear anymore!!" The leader of the Hidden Mist's ANBU squad sneered upon seeing Hayato's weakened state and sensing Susanoo's diminishing presence.
"I see!! Although we've lost a few members today, it seems our mission can finally be completed!!" Another ANBU operative added coldly.
The other ANBU members sighed in relief after hearing their captain's words. If this technique could be used indefinitely, it would indeed be overwhelmingly fearsome—its unparalleled offensive power, unmatched speed, and impenetrable defense left no room for exploitation.
If Hayato had continued using this technique without restraint, they wouldn't have stood a chance of leaving alive today. "That skeletal figure's strength has significantly waned—it may not be able to withstand our attacks unscathed this time!!" one of the Hidden Mist ANBU members remarked.
"You're right!! Everyone, stay cautious!!" The ANBU captain glared coldly at Hayato before issuing orders to his team. They all nodded simultaneously, then began rapidly forming hand seals to launch another barrage of jutsu.
"Hmm!!" Hayato's eyes narrowed sharply. "Damn it!! Are they trying to wear me down with continuous long-range attacks?!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!!!" The ANBU captain struck first, summoning an immense torrent of water that erupted from beneath the snow-covered ground, transforming into a towering wave that surged violently toward Susanoo.
"Water Release: Giant Water Sphere Technique!!!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave Technique!!!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!!!"
Various devastating Water Release techniques surged forth, each carrying overwhelming force as they crashed relentlessly against Hayato.
The Hidden Mist ANBU operatives spared no expense in terms of chakra consumption, unleashing their most powerful techniques in hopes of swiftly depleting Hayato's remaining strength. Ideally, this assault would shatter Susanoo entirely!
By now, Hayato's already pale face had taken on a ghastly gray hue. The whites of his eyes surrounding the fading Sharingan were streaked with blood vessels, evidence of the immense strain on his body.
"Raaagh!!!!!!" With a thunderous roar, an explosive surge of potent chakra erupted from within Hayato. In an instant, Susanoo's aura skyrocketed.
Thick strands of energy suddenly extended between the bones of Susanoo, wrapping around its ribcage, arms, and head. These strands quickly formed a dense layer of skin over the skeletal structure, transforming Susanoo into the upper half of a colossal humanoid figure. Its newfound presence far surpassed its previous incarnation—this was Susanoo's second stage, the Growth Phase.
"Roar!!!!!!" Susanoo threw back its arms and unleashed a deafening howl. A massive shockwave rippled outward, reducing nearby houses to rubble and uprooting trees in its wake.
"W-What is this?!?!" The ANBU operatives' faces paled as they felt Susanoo's exponentially increased power.
At that moment, a barrage of high-powered Water Release techniques converged on Susanoo. "Boom!!!!!!" A deafening explosion rang out as the water-based attacks collided with Susanoo's form.
However, Susanoo's strength showed no signs of faltering. With a fierce roar, it spread its arms wide, tearing apart the incoming Water Release techniques with sheer brute force. The shattered jutsu rained down as a deluge of water droplets, creating a storm-like downpour.
The rain soaked the elite ANBU members, yet they stood frozen, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Their gazes were fixed on the unscathed Susanoo, their minds momentarily blank as if forgetting they were still in the midst of battle.
Fortunately, the ANBU captain snapped out of his daze first. Bellowing at the others, he shouted, "Focus your minds!!! No matter how powerful this technique is, look at his current state—he won't last much longer! This is his final struggle; don't let his appearance intimidate you!!!" As expected of their leader, he had immediately discerned Hayato's dire situation. Indeed, Hayato was now experiencing a fleeting resurgence—a last gasp before the end.