Now that the situation was completely clear, only one question remained—how to resolve the impending crisis.
With the broken seal, an immense amount of white mist gushed forth from the ground. If the fog in this space had once been as thick as liquid, it had now solidified to the density of a viscous mass, giving the surroundings the appearance of a white, opaque block.
"What level is the fog at now?"
Mizuki Ryosuke turned to the large orange cat beside him, his tone sharp.
Nyutaro opened his mouth to answer.
Suddenly, the circular layer of ice that had been separating Ryosuke and the others from the fog trembled as if something had touched it. A moment later, two massive gray tentacles latched onto the outer surface of the ice wall.
From within the mist, a gigantic octopus-like creature, standing nearly three stories tall, emerged. Its grotesque mouth, lined with jagged teeth, widened as it attempted to swallow the ice barrier whole.
Ryosuke, unfazed by the monstrosity, retaliated instantly. Ice spears shot out from the reinforced ice dome, piercing through the creature's gaping maw, skewering its brainstem, and erupting from the back of its head.
The fog-shrouded space remained eerily silent as the massive octopus collapsed, its body dissipating into gray mist before merging once more with the surrounding white haze.
One danger had barely passed when a new one emerged. From the fog, a swarm of enormous gray beetles, each bearing colossal rhino-like horns, surged forward, their intent clear—to break through the ice.
But Ryosuke was already prepared. Without hesitation, the gray beetles met the same fate as the octopus, their forms dissolving back into the mist.
"F-Fourth level… the 'Fog Nightmare' state…"
Nyutaro finally managed to stammer out a response, his voice trembling. The sight of the fearsome creatures had drained the color from his face, and his legs wobbled visibly.
The answer confirmed what Ryosuke suspected—this was the most advanced and dangerous form of the fog, capable of distorting reality itself.
The only way to end this catastrophe was to undo what had been unleashed. Ryosuke had sensed it the moment the seal was broken—there was a midpoint in the structure of the seal, a crucial core that likely held the key to resolving everything.
But how to navigate the fog itself remained a daunting challenge.
The mist at this concentration was more than just a sensory obstruction—it was a lethal force. Not only would they be relentlessly attacked by the fog-born entities, but the illusions it generated could suppress perception to an unimaginable degree, leading victims into an inescapable cycle of hallucination.
"What to do…?"
Ryosuke pondered deeply.
Suddenly, a new gray monstrosity—this time a centaur-like being—manifested from the fog.
A sharp glint flashed in Ryosuke's eyes.
Just like before, the creature charged toward the ice barrier the moment it detected them.
"Hold on tight!"
Ryosuke whispered swiftly into Terumi Mei's ear.
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, anchoring herself securely.
Ryosuke reinforced the ice structure once more, ensuring it could withstand the collision. At the same time, he subtly altered the angle of the ice dome.
The moment the gray centaur slammed into the barrier, the puck-shaped ice structure didn't shatter. Instead, it began rolling wildly—just as Ryosuke had intended.
Within the spinning ice dome, Ryosuke remained stable at the center, his grip firm. Terumi Mei, thanks to his warning, managed to stay steady despite the turbulence.
The same, however, could not be said for Nyutaro.
The orange cat had no time to react. Caught off guard, he was sent tumbling uncontrollably, his body colliding with the walls of the dome. The repeated impacts left him dizzy and disoriented, his expression one of utter regret.
Using the same method, Ryosuke continued luring gray monsters from the fog, using the force of their attacks to propel the ice dome closer to the central area of the haze.
His mind remained sharp.
As he estimated the distances traveled and mapped the spatial layout in his head, Ryosuke finally arrived at a conclusion.
They had reached the center.
This was the core of the haze space. The crucial moment had arrived.
Even though the fog was infused with Yin Release chakra, it still possessed the fundamental properties of mist. This meant that, at least to some extent, it would be susceptible to the same natural laws as any other fog.
And what was the greatest natural enemy of fog?
Fire.
It was a risky move, but it was worth the gamble.
With a swift, one-handed sequence of three seals, Ryosuke dispersed the ice layer protecting them from the mist.
The fog surged forward instantly, like a tidal wave crashing upon the shore, threatening to engulf them.
But it was already too late.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
From Ryosuke's mouth, flames the size of meteorites erupted, roaring across the ground in every direction.
The thick, suffocating mist was instantly replaced by a raging inferno.
For the first time, the underground haze space was illuminated in its entirety, revealing its true form.
The sheer scale of the flames was overwhelming. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this technique ranked among the top three Fire Release jutsu ever displayed in the ninja world.
This was the Uchiha Clan's signature Fire Release technique—one of the most devastating jutsu within their arsenal.
The already formidable power of the technique was amplified further by Ryosuke's chakra reserves, allowing the flames to consume the surrounding mist within moments.
Of course, against the endless sea of fog, this attack was merely a temporary reprieve. But it had accomplished its true purpose—unveiling what lay at the center.
And what Ryosuke saw confirmed his suspicions.
Thirty meters ahead, a circular pool of water came into view.
The pool was divided perfectly in half—one side completely dried up, the other filled with a thick, black viscous liquid.
From the dark half of the pool, a tremendous amount of mist poured forth.
There was no doubt about it.
This was the source of everything.
It was the exact scene depicted in the ancient murals.
The truth was now undeniable. The black liquid was the remnant of the Yin-aligned spring—its counterpart, the Yang-aligned half, had long since been taken by Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths.
The moment of clarity lasted only an instant before the mist began to surge once again, threatening to reclaim its dominion.
Ryosuke wasted no time.
He reconstructed an even larger ice barrier, shielding them from the fog's encroachment.
As the haze engulfed the space once more, vision became impossible.
But it no longer mattered.
For Ryosuke, that single glimpse had been enough.
Now, he knew exactly what needed to be done.
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