The ground cracks open, and a shadow jumps out of it.

Whoosh…

"What?" Izumi jumps out of the ground and pierces the soft stomach of the crystal lizard.

Sploosh…

A burst of blood leaks from the wound.

Roar…

The crystal lizard roars in pain and stabs its tail into the earth.

Clank… clank… clank…

Numerous blue crystals burst out from the ground. The crystal lizard disappears in a puff of smoke to recover.

"Kesshō"

Guren cries in pain at the tragic sight of her summon.

Fwoosh…

A lightning spear also pierces out of the earth and stabs into Guren's foot.

Argh…

Guren winces in pain. The lightning from the spear jolts her, bringing her back to her senses. She crystallizes her wound to prevent bleeding.

Whoosh…

Izumi also jumps out of the ground. She pricks out a crystal shard from her thigh. Despite her efforts, the desperate attack of the crystal lizard managed to hit her. Thanks to her quick reflexes, she managed to avoid her vital points.

Bzzt…

Lightning flickers through her hands as she cauterizes the wound on her thigh.

Huff… Huff…

Guren and Izumi confront each other again. Guren's eyes are red from fury and exhaustion. The aftereffects of the Forbidden jutsu are still in effect. She glares at Izumi and mutter.

"Initially, I didn't want to use this technique since I didn't trust the power that I can't control. But you forced my hand…"

Guren grits her teeth as a curse seal appears on her neck. Black lines slowly spread across her body. Her appearance changes rapidly. Her skin turns tan and the sclera in her eyes turns black.

Argh…

Guren roars in pain as purple jade crystal juts out from her arms and legs.

Roar…

Guren's transformation releases a shockwave of chakra pushing Izumi back.

"Her chakra has reached an incredible height!" Izumi examines Guren's condition with her Sharingan.

The wounds on Guren's body heal rapidly. She turns towards Izumi and smirks.

'There is a slight change in her chakra signature.'

Whoosh…

In the blink of an eye, Guren appears beside Izumi.

Swoosh…

She swings a kick toward Izumi's head.

Clang…

Izumi blocked the kick with her chakra blade.

Crack…

A crack appears on the blade and it snaps in half.

Bang…

Izumi is sent flying by the impact as the crystal blade on Guren's leg pierces her arm.

The wound on her arm begins to crystalize rapidly.

Chirp… Chii…

Izumi channels lightning chakra through her arm to neutralize the infection, but it also paralyzes her arm.

Whoosh…

Izumi rapidly flicked through the forest to avoid the barrage of crystals raining down on her. She pops a chakra and healing pill to restore her chakra and stamina.

'She can't maintain this form for long. There must be a limit to it. If I can prolong this fight to that moment, then I might be able to capture her in her weakened state.'

"I won't give you that opportunity."

Guren also senses Izumi's intention. She makes some rapid hand signs and slams her palm on the ground.

'Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Labyrinth,'

Rumble… rumble…

Trembles run through the ground as massive crystalline pillars rise from the earth. The crystalline pillar rapidly grows outward and forms a gigantic spherical cage encasing the surrounding area.

Izumi stops in her track and stares at the giant crystal dome. She infuses a kunai with her lightning chakra and throws it toward the crystal in an attempt to shatter it at one point.

Clang…

Lightning disperses on impact with an effect on the crystal dome. Izumi narrows her eyes.

'This dome has a very stable molecular structure which disperses the force homogeneously through the entire structure. I need time to prepare a jutsu to shatter it in one blow. But I don't think she will give me…'

"Crystal Release: The God's Crossing,"

Guren stomps her foot on the ground.

Fwoosh…

A long stream of sharp blue crystals rapidly approaches Izumi.

Whoosh…

Izumi jumps in the air and avoids the attack.

Swoosh…

Izumi tilts her head and avoids a sharp beam of chakra aimed at her head. A few strains of her long hair split in half and turns into ashes.

Bang…

Guren appears in front of Izumi and kicks her again.

Swoosh…

Izumi redirects the impact from the kick and falls back.

Argh…

Blood leaks from her mouth as she pricks out a crystal from her waist. She bites her lower lip and stares at Guren. Guren continues to launch multiple energy projectiles at her.

'She has gained a new ability to discharge energy with her curse seals. They are quite fast and almost unavoidable. At this rate, I can't hold back for much longer. I have to use that technique.'

Shiing…

The tomoes in Izumi's eyes revolve rapidly and merge. A three-leaf clover pattern appears in her eyes.

"Kamo-wakei-kazuchi"

Bzzt…

A surge of lightning gathers around Izumi. Izumi stretches her palm as six lightning magatama materializes in front of her.

Shoom… shoom…

The lightning magatamas hover in mid-air. Purple lightning channels through the magatamas, connecting them. The lightning magatama forms a halo behind Izumi.

Haah…

'Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Lance,'

Guren forms a gigantic spear-like crystal and throws it toward Izumi to impale her.

"Shield!" Izumi mutters slightly as a drop of blood leaks from her left eye.

Whoosh…

One of the lightning magatamas morphs into a purple shield and blocks the incoming spear.

BANG…

The crystal lance shatters into countless crystal fragments. Guren's eyes widen in surprise.

'Those eyes… what… what are they? There was no record of such a Sharingan.' Guren mutters to herself. Earlier, she had taken numerous precautions and countermeasures to target Sharingan's weakness.

The lightning magatama returns to the halo beside Izumi as she slowly mutters.

"Spear!"

Swoosh…

Another lightning magatama transforms into a giant lightning lance.

Bzzt…

Purple lightning flickers across the spear as the surrounding terrain crumbles from the stray lightning discharges.

"Discharge"

Izumi aims the spear toward Guren and releases it.

"Oh, no!"

Guren's expression turns pale. She immediately clasps her hand and completes her most powerful jutsu.

"Crystal Release: String of Glory"

A transparent blue crystal prism encases her body within it.

Whoosh…

Suddenly, numerous beams of energy shoot from multiple directions.

'That's…' Izumi recognizes the energy beams from earlier.

'These energy beams weren't aimed at me. From the start, she was preparing for this jutsu to end the battle. This gigantic crystal cage provided her with the perfect opportunity. Since it's made up of her chakra, it's very hard for me to differentiate it from her chakra signature. Because of its reflective nature, it became harder for me to perceive any of her hidden attacks. Also, after multiple reflections and refractions, she managed to position her jutsu in such a way for them to meet at a focal point.'

Izumi stares at the prism floating in mid-air.

Fwoosh…

The prism refracts all the energy beams once again and converges them at one focal point. The tip of the prism glows with a blinding radiance as it shoots out a concentrated beam of energy.

BOOM…

The magatama spear and the energy beam clash in the center of the giant crystalline labyrinth.

A blinding explosion covers their vision.

Bang… bang…

Multiple cracks spread throughout the labyrinth as it's almost on the verge of shattering.

"Armor!"

A magatama envelope Izumi's body in a set of purple armor from head to toe.

BOOM…

Dust and debris rise within the confinement of the crystal. Amidst the explosion, the ground underneath them has torn apart.

A few minutes later,

The dust and debris settle down to reveal Izumi and Guren. The prism around Guren is barely sustaining itself, with a massive chunk of it shattered into multiple large fragments. Half of Guren's body is scorched from the lightning discharge. The curse mark on her body is slowly withdrawing back into the seal.

On the other side, Izumi appears to be in a much better condition. Purple flames disperse around her to reveal her body clad in a set of armor. Blood leaks from both of her eyes as she is barely maintaining her position.

Huff… Huff…

Izumi breathes heavily and stares at Guren.

'She forced me to such an extent. Her abilities are very impressive. She is almost at the level of a Kage with the curse marks.'

She clenches her fist.

'I am sorry, Itachi… I have to break our promise.'

****Flashback****

A few years after the Uchiha Massacre,

Itachi, Shisui, and Izumi are training their Sharingan abilities under Izuna's guidance.

"Itachi, Shisui… both of your Mangekyo abilities are very powerful. Shisui… after my observation, your Mangekyo ability 'Kotoamatsukami' allows you to not just manipulate memories or mind. It also has a hidden ability."

"Hidden ability?"

Shisui is surprised by Izuna's remark.

"Yes, during my training. I delved into your mindscape and observed it, since your ability is related to mind manipulation. There, I noticed unique energy or chakra."

"Unique chakra?" Even Itachi and Izumi's curiosity piques.

"Yes, I call this energy…"