Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

Of course, this was merely an illusion.

The thousands of white flashes were just afterimages created by Hatake Sakumo's rapid movements, and the Kamishini no Yari he was using now was not the same overwhelming attack as before.

Both Hatake Sakumo's Kamishini no Yari and Aizen's Sword force possessed enough power to overwhelm even a fully formed Susanoo. Such techniques, even with Aizen's Sage Body, could not be used recklessly.

What Hatake Sakumo had condensed now was a standard Kamishini no Yari blade. As a master of kendo, he could wield his power with absolute control—whether one blade or hundreds, he could summon them at will as long as he had the energy.

But the previous barrage of hundreds of Kamishini no Yari had already consumed a significant amount of his chakra. To maximize his strength, he had to combine ranged techniques like Shadow Slash with pinpoint attacks like Kamishini no Yari.

Shhhhhh!

The air filled with white flashes darting in every direction, sending multiple Kamishini no Yari strikes toward Aizen from all angles.

Aizen, however, showed no fear. His form split into countless afterimages as he engaged the onslaught head-on, clashing with the relentless Kamishini no Yari.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At the epicenter of their clash, a thousand meters in every direction, the only visible sights were white lights and fleeting afterimages as their attacks met with each other, generating an incessant symphony of clashing swords.

The shockwaves from their battle reverberated through the surrounding landscape, reshaping the terrain on a massive scale. The earth split, mountain peaks crumbled, and the very landscape shifted from the sheer force of their collision.

Witnessing this destructive display, Orochimaru, who had already fled several kilometers away, was utterly shocked, his eyes wide in disbelief. The battle unfolding before him redefined his understanding of the word "shinobi."

"I used to be skeptical of the legends surrounding the Valley of the End, but seeing this… those legends may have even understated the true power involved," Zashi muttered, a dazed look on his face.

"Yeah… this is the power that transcends even the highest Kage level," murmured Yoru, barely able to comprehend the magnitude of what he was witnessing.

As for Hyuga Gin, he was utterly paralyzed with fear. Even powerful figures like Orochimaru and Zashi were shaken, so it was no wonder that he was beyond terrified.

As everyone watching from afar tried to process the spectacle, Aizen and Hatake Sakumo, locked in the heart of the battle, had no such concerns.

Their minds focused on one thing alone: to kill.

In a battle of this level, even the smallest advantage could determine the final outcome.

Both warriors continued to increase their speed, raise their attack power, and push themselves to unleash even greater strength.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Their original thousands of afterimages multiplied until they numbered in the tens of thousands.

Hatake Sakumo, who initially wielded only a handful of Kamishini no Yari blades, now had dozens at his command. Likewise, Aizen's slashes, initially just a few, now filled the air in torrents.

They fought with unrestrained intensity, pushing each other to the very limits of their abilities.

As the battle escalated, Orochimaru and the others, who had thought themselves at a safe distance, found that they were anything but.

"These two… are monsters!" Orochimaru cursed as he felt the rising power of scattered sword energy. He grabbed Zashi and Yoru, pulling them further away to avoid the deadly shockwaves.

The clash between Aizen and Hatake Sakumo raged on for half an hour. Despite the intensity, neither had managed to gain a decisive advantage, and both had drained much of their chakra.

Realizing that continued fighting might lead nowhere, the two separated, creating distance between them.

They landed on the scarred battlefield, exchanging steely glances.

The ground beneath them had been torn asunder, revealing bottomless cracks, and a once-level plain had transformed into a jagged canyon. Within kilometers, not a single mountain remained intact.

"Hahahahaha!"

Feeling the exhaustion in his body yet thrilled by the ferocity of the battle, Aizen laughed with exhilaration.

Hatake Sakumo, whose energy reserves were far more depleted, instantly became wary, bracing for Aizen's next move.

"Incredible, Hatake Sakumo! This has been truly exhilarating!" Aizen exclaimed. "You know, ever since I fought Namikaze Minato, I haven't had a battle where I could truly go all out like this!"

As his laughter faded, Aizen's expression grew intense, his gaze fixed on Sakumo with a hint of wild excitement.

"Eight Inner Gates… Shock Gate, open!" he whispered to himself.

Suddenly, Aizen's body was enveloped in a fierce blue chakra steam, and his aura surged to an even higher level.

"You can dance, can't you, Hatake Sakumo?" Aizen taunted, his eyes alight with challenge. "Come on, give me everything you've got!"

Boom!

With that, Aizen's aura exploded upward, and he charged toward Hatake Sakumo with renewed vigor.

"This guy… he can still push his power further?!" Sakumo gritted his teeth, feeling the overwhelming surge of energy coming from Aizen like a relentless tidal wave.

He knew he was already near his limit, and his chances of defeating Aizen seemed slim.

But as he thought of Konoha, of Zashi and Yoru, who were still in danger, his resolve hardened. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, he could not afford to give up.

"Hatake style: Severance Strike!"

Sakumo gripped his White Fang short blade with both hands. In response, the silver-white light within Sakumo's soul began to pulse intensely. From those shimmering lights, a tremendous energy surged forth, pouring into his White Fang blade.

The silver-white light surrounding Sakumo grew brighter, and an immensely sharp, terrifying aura rose from him as he prepared his final, most powerful strike.