Earth Style: Five Elements Formation!
Facing an Earth Style master like Onoki, Shiraishi finally showcased his own proficiency in Earth Release. Infusing five distinct chakra natures into the ground, he instantly manifested five special Earth Clones, each bearing a unique seal.
"That's Ebizo's tactical formation, but the Kazekage has enhanced and refined it," Minato observed.
Though they were Earth Clones, each one possessed a different power and chakra nature. This was an upgraded version of Ebizo's "Earth Flow Four-Square Formation," expanding from four elemental attributes to five.
The Sand's Earth Style tactical formation?
Encircled by the five clones, Onoki's expression remained unchanged. In a flash, a specialized barrier materialized around the five constructs. The instantaneous barrier ensnared the clones, and in the next heartbeat, they were reduced to atoms and utterly erased.
Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique
This technique, developed by the Second Tsuchikage, is a Bloodline Totality that transcends even Bloodline Limits, created by merging Wind, Earth, and Fire natures. He had passed this secret on to his disciple, Onoki. The move Onoki just performed was an advanced version of the "Primitive World Detachment Jutsu"—greater in range, power, and duration. Anything that touched the boundary of the light would be reduced to subatomic particles.
With a single move, he had dismantled Shiraishi's tactical formation. The light of the Dust Release glowed in Onoki's palms as he locked onto the Kazekage.
The lethality of the Dust Release was even greater than Shiraishi had anticipated. Onoki's grasp of the battlefield was superb; he used the Dust Release to crush Shiraishi's Earth Style probing attack immediately.
Beneath Shiraishi's feet, waves of silver magnetic sand surged, devouring the rocky terrain. Unlike the high-tempo Raikage or the terraforming Mizukage, Onoki had the least effective counter to Shiraishi's Sand Gathering Technique. Consequently, Shiraishi's Magnetic Sand began to grow in mass and density.
Onoki's face twitched. Among his Earth Style techniques, only the "Earth Flow River" could forcefully reverse the Sand Manipulation domain, but at his age, his chakra reserves weren't sufficient for such a wasteful war of attrition.
Onoki, who preferred clever tactics, couldn't afford a head-on clash with the Kazekage. However, he wasn't without options; he noticed that Shiraishi still bore the lightning-induced wounds from his previous fight with the Raikage.
The dismantling light shone again. As Shiraishi retreated, he manifested a massive silver hand of Magnetic Sand to block the light, but Onoki's Dust Release was too destructive; the silver hand was pulverized instantly.
"The Kazekage's condition is declining," Shisui noted through his Sharingan. He could clearly see that the Magnetic Sand's power wasn't as sharp as it should be—Shiraishi's precision in sand control was slipping.
In a thunderous explosion, vast amounts of silver sand were destroyed. Shiraishi took to the air, and the Azure Flame in his right eye fired out like a blade.
Onoki countered by using the Light-Weight Rock Technique, snatching up a massive boulder with one hand to shield himself from the flames.
Shiraishi couldn't yet fully control the powers within his two new Supreme Red cards, so he relied on the Blue Flame to pressure Onoki.
Water-natured chakra threads shot out, piercing the boulder, but Onoki vanished again. Simultaneously, gargantuan stones rose from all directions, encasing Shiraishi.
Earth Release: Earth-Flow Rampart
A wind blade from Shiraishi's palm shattered the construct with a shockwave, but as more debris swarmed him, Shiraishi realized Onoki's intent: the Tsuchikage was detonating the rubble in sequence.
Onoki is purely draining the Kazekage's mental energy...
Unlike the frontal assaults of the Raikage and Mizukage, Onoki's style was filled with agile, indirect counters. For the first time, Shiraishi appeared to be on the defensive.
The Seven Heavens of the South
In the southern waters of the Land of Vegetables, the disaster caused by the Box of Ultimate Bliss was expanding.
Three Sand squads stood outside the quarantine zone, watching the black mist with grim faces. Amidst an unimaginable stench, a tide of zombie-like monsters charged.
"Hold them back!"
A massive Earth Style barrier was activated, forming a shield to contain the monsters. Suddenly, one massive beast leaped high, gathering a powerful energy beam in its palm that instantly shattered the Sand's barrier.
These creatures, warped by the Box, were biologically similar to Orochimaru's Cursed Seal experiments.
However, their power was more extreme; though they exceeded human limits, they were disposable, "one-time-use" weapons.
Under the onslaught of chakra beams, the front-line squad faltered. Two ninjas had their hearts crushed by a monster, and the corrosive natural energy immediately began to assimilate them.
"Kyujiro!"
"Don't go near him! He's not our comrade anymore!"
The infected Sand ninja mutated instantly, sprouting massive wings and jagged horns. The stronger the ninja, the more terrifying the resulting monster.
As the remaining ninjas retreated, a sharp wave of chakra boomed through the air.
Dojari Souji struck, knocking the monster back. The creatures immediately turned to swarm him.
"You all, leave now."
"But—"
Ignoring them, Souji faced the monsters. He didn't draw his sword; instead, he shifted into a unique Taijutsu stance.
Taijutsu?
Souji's chakra began to cover his body like countless feathers. The air around him vibrated with high-pitched sonic waves.
Seven Heavens Breathing Method: Fourth Activation!
As a Taijutsu style capable of rivaling the Eight Inner Gates, the Seven Heavens Breathing Method displayed staggering power in Souji's hands.
It is a technique that uses specific breathing patterns to absorb massive amounts of oxygen, hyper-activating the user's cells.
It is divided into seven stages. The first three activations are generally comparable to the first few gates of the Leaf's style.
In history, Souji would eventually die defending the Land of Vegetables by pushing the technique to its Seventh Activation to defeat a massive rebel group.
Because of his early death, the technique never progressed past the Seventh stage.
With the Fourth Activation active, the "feather-like" chakra around Souji became sharper and more terrifying. His physical activity reached an incredible peak.
He drew his long sword, his energy concentrating into a single point. Amidst the falling "feathers," the combination of the Dojari swordsmanship and the Seven Heavens Breathing made Souji's speed so high that the battle ended in an instant.
As the monsters fell, the violent natural energy continued to billow from the darkness. Souji pushed into the Fifth Activation, swinging his sword. The resulting hurricane of slashes physically blocked the encroaching mist.
This guy... he was holding back this much power? Did he throw our last fight? Ryoji thought with a bitter smile.
Both Obito and the mysterious woman in the distance sensed the unique power of the slashes...
Meanwhile, at the Five Kage Summit, facing Onoki's relentless Earth Style bombardment, Shiraishi dodged through the debris. He gripped the Sword of the Sage tightly, and a powerful aura erupted from his body.
Facing the immense pressure of the Tsuchikage, Shiraishi was finally ready to draw his blade!
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