As Yami and Rei navigate the winding corridors, the heavy, damp air of the underground prison begins to thin, replaced by a bitter stench. Smoke, thick and dark, fills the exit as they near the surface, and the faint, chilling scent of blood follows. Emerging into the open, they are met with a scene of utter devastation: the once-sturdy buildings lay in ruins, flickering with the flames that twist upward into the sky. The cries of injured villagers echo faintly, and scattered bodies lie amidst the rubble.
At the center of the destruction stands Vistago, a figure of eerie calm amidst the chaos he has unleashed. His cloak billows around him, stained with dust and blood, as he dances through the smoke with a fluidity that is almost haunting. His carefree fighting style makes him unpredictable—effortlessly switching between swift, powerful strikes and nimble dodges. Despite his age, his movements are youthful and deceptively quick. A mocking smile twists his lips as he effortlessly counters the best efforts of those facing him.
At the forefront of the fray, Buddha stands, breathing heavily, his face lined with frustration. Horiba, the Moukage, struggles to maintain his stance, bleeding from his wounds. Around them, the shinobi who came across the ocean—Kakashi, Jiraiya, B, Naruto, and others—fight alongside Buddha, Qwana, and Nijira, each desperately trying to close in on Vistago. Yet, he evades each attack with a lightness that only furthers his menacing aura. His movements are unrestrained, wild, and deceptively playful, as though he's toying with them all.
Yami clenches his fists as he watches, anger simmering beneath his skin. Vistago's power isn't just overwhelming; it's humiliating those who stand against him. He looks at Rei, and in her gaze, he sees the same determination reflected back at him. There's no choice but to act.
Without hesitation, Yami steps forward, his expression hardening as he reaches deep within himself. He summons the energy needed to awaken his Death Deity form. Dark markings snake across his skin, his eyes gleaming with a ghostly light as a surge of formidable energy pulses outward. His skin pales, and his muscles shift with the surge of newfound strength. The transformation completes, and Yami's aura becomes thick with an ominous, deathly calm that feels both foreign and powerful.
Rei glances at him, worry flickering in her eyes, but she gives him a nod of encouragement. Yami meets her gaze briefly, giving a nod of his own before turning his focus back to the battlefield.
With a single, swift leap, Yami launches himself toward Vistago, crashing down in the middle of the fray, sending a ripple of dark energy outward. His landing momentarily halts the battle as all eyes turn to him, the sheer intensity of his aura enough to command attention.
"Vistago!" Yami's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade. "This ends now."
Vistago pauses, his mocking smile fading as he observes Yami with interest. "Ah, the young one with the Death Deity form. Finally here to join us?" His tone is light, but there's a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Let's see if you're as strong as they say."
Without another word, Yami rushes forward, his body a blur as he closes the distance. Vistago meets him head-on, laughing as he deflects Yami's initial strikes with ease, but Yami's movements are relentless, each attack backed by the weight of his enhanced form.