Of course, from another perspective, Hatake Swordsmanship was not wrong either.
Samehada's shape and design could hardly be considered that of a "sword." It was more like a spiked club that Kirigakure simply chose to use as a blade.
Clang, clang, clang!
The dense sounds of weapons colliding rang through the thick mist like bursting beans.
In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged nearly a hundred moves.
At first, Fuguki Suikazan could still use his brute strength to suppress Yuu slightly.
But as time passed, Yuu gradually saw through Fuguki's sword style. The latter began losing ground repeatedly, struggling to defend himself and looking increasingly miserable.
In truth, there was another factor contributing to this situation: the enormous difference in their builds.
Yuu was only a boy in his early teens, and his body had yet to fully develop. Fuguki, meanwhile, stood two and a half meters tall. Without enough of a technical advantage to overwhelm Yuu, his enormous body instead made him seem somewhat cumbersome.
Finally,
Fuguki Suikazan could no longer hold back. He roared into the surrounding mist,
"Jūzō! Ryūga! What are you waiting for?! Get over here and help me kill him! There's something wrong with this brat!"
"…Ryūga?"
Yuu knew the name Jūzō.
Jūzō Biwa, the first wielder of the Kubikiribōchō. He would later join the Akatsuki, partner with Itachi for some time, and ultimately be killed by the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
But who was Ryūga?
As if answering Yuu's confusion, after a brief silence, a bang rang out as the air exploded and the thick mist was violently pushed apart.
The first to emerge was a member of the Kaguya clan covered in pale bones, looking like a human-shaped hedgehog. His eyes shone with excitement as he charged forward with a wild roar.
Pale bone blades crisscrossed over his arms, forming a strange heavy weapon that pierced toward Yuu's back with a shrill scream that tore through the air.
A member of the Kaguya clan—
Kaguya Ryūga.
Another person followed behind him, but it was not Jūzō Biwa carrying the Kubikiribōchō.
Instead, it was a sinister-faced Kiri ninja with snow-white hair. While advancing, he formed seals with both hands and manipulated the surrounding water into flowing "whips" that silently coiled toward Yuu's legs.
It was not Jūzō Biwa, but Hōzuki Mutsuki of the Hōzuki clan.
Faced with attacks from three directions, Yuu remained calm.
He shifted his feet several times and avoided the water whips, while the Sword of the Thunder God in his hand became a golden streak that slashed successively toward Kaguya Ryūga and Hōzuki Mutsuki.
Ryūga crossed his arms and blocked the first slash with his hardened bone blades. Then he suddenly roared as even more sharp, pale bone spikes erupted from his body.
His entire body spun like a crazed top as he leapt toward Yuu.
"Dead Bone Pulse: Dance of the Willow!"
Beside him,
Hōzuki Mutsuki raised one hand and shaped it like a pistol.
"Water Gun Technique!"
The battle became one against three.
Fuguki Suikazan, Kaguya Ryūga, and Hōzuki Mutsuki were each jōnin-level fighters on their own, and all three possessed special abilities.
Fuguki was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The other two possessed the Dead Bone Pulse kekkei genkai and the Hydrification Technique, respectively. None of them were weak.
Although they did not usually fight together and their coordination was not especially smooth,
the pressure created by their combined assault was still astonishing.
Hōzuki Mutsuki knew that his Hydrification Technique was restrained by Lightning Release chakra, so he refused to approach Yuu directly. Instead, he remained at medium and long range, using ninjutsu, kunai, and senbon to create openings for Fuguki and Ryūga.
The other two attacked from opposite sides, trapping Yuu between them.
Because of this, Yuu no longer fought as casually as he had during his duel with Fuguki.
He displayed his true skill, making the Sword of the Thunder God dance beautifully in his hand.
From an observer's perspective, it looked as though a vast net woven from lightning surrounded Yuu, crackling continuously as it simultaneously blocked Fuguki's Samehada, Ryūga's bone blades, and Mutsuki's Water Gun Technique.
The situation appeared extremely dangerous, yet Yuu handled it with ease.
Suddenly,
Yuu flicked his wrist. The Sword of the Thunder God traced out a dazzling arc, its blade extending several inches as it slashed toward Hōzuki Mutsuki.
This strike had been planned for quite some time.
Mutsuki tried to dodge, but it was already too late.
With a crackle, violent Lightning Release chakra poured into his body through the tip of the sword. His liquefied body suddenly stiffened, and blue-white electrical arcs danced across him.
His entire body convulsed violently as he fell into temporary paralysis.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yuu held the Sword of the Thunder God in one hand to block Fuguki's Samehada.
With his other hand, he drew the White Fang short blade from his back and slashed backward, preparing to sever Mutsuki's neck.
At that critical moment,
another chakra presence surged forward and arrived beside them.
Then—
Clang—!!!
A massive Kubikiribōchō, as broad as a door, swept across with a mournful shriek and placed itself between the White Fang short blade and Hōzuki Mutsuki's neck.
The blades collided, sending sparks flying.
Jūzō Biwa had used a Mist Body Flicker to burst from the thick fog. At the crucial moment, he swung the Kubikiribōchō and blocked Yuu's blade, saving Hōzuki Mutsuki.
"Mutsuki, retreat!"
There was no need for further explanation.
Enduring the paralysis, Hōzuki Mutsuki crawled and rolled away from the battlefield in a body resembling thick paste.
After that, Jūzō joined the battle.
His Kubikiribōchō moved in broad, powerful arcs, combining with Fuguki's Samehada and Ryūga's bone blades to form another deadly storm that swept toward Yuu.
At this moment, Yuu spared some attention for the galgame system's text box.
[Ding! Potential target detected: Kirigakure Sword Style—Thunder Quake Slash!]
[Ding! Potential target detected: Kirigakure Sword Style—…]
[Ding! Potential target detected: Hydrification Technique!]
"…Hydrification Technique?"
Yuu was somewhat surprised.
That could be攻略ed too?
Yuu had little interest in the Kirigakure sword styles. After all, he already possessed Hatake Swordsmanship, and Hatake Swordsmanship was somewhat incompatible with other sword styles.
He had already confirmed this before, so he only needed to focus his energy on practicing this one style.
But…
the Hydrification Technique was somewhat noteworthy.
This secret technique passed down within the Hōzuki clan was one of the few abilities in the ninja world capable of elementalizing the user's body.
Although it had the weakness of being countered by Lightning Release, it was extremely useful in most situations and could almost be considered a lower-grade version of Kamui's intangibility.
If he could obtain it…
it would be a good choice.
Whether he used it or not was secondary. At the very least, it would give him another trump card. Perhaps it could even unlock some special traits later and raise the technique's power further.
That would be an even more pleasant surprise.
Thus, while fighting, Yuu divided some of his attention toward the galgame system's text box.
[You see a restrained girl curled up in a corner of the battlefield. Water is both her prison and her body. She looks at you while trembling, sensing the remaining power of thunder on your blade—the kind of force that seems capable of shattering everything. Perhaps it represents the possibility of breaking her chains?]
[Would you like to help the Hydrification Technique break her restraints and complete a fateful encounter?]
"…Restraints?"
What did that mean?
Could it be that the Hydrification Technique's characterization was that of a weaponized girl imprisoned by the Hōzuki clan?
Did he need to kill the people imprisoning and oppressing her—in other words, members of the Hōzuki clan—to free her and complete this encounter?
What kind of gender-swapped Kimimaro scenario was this?
Yuu pondered inwardly.
The galgame system provided no further useful hints. However, judging from the current situation, this possibility seemed fairly likely, so there was no harm in trying.
Even if it failed, he would lose nothing.
At worst, only one Hōzuki clansman's life would be wasted.
However…
before that, he first needed to eliminate the three troublesome enemies in front of him, so they would not interfere with his actions later.
At once,
Yuu took a deep breath and activated another one of his trump cards.
Neural Activation Technique: Overload Pulse!
At that moment, the chakra inside Yuu's body seemed to ignite.
A bone-chilling current circulated through him before turning into tiny electrical arcs that danced across his skin. His muscle fibers contracted, erupting with strength and speed far beyond his normal state.
Whoosh—!
Yuu's sword speed suddenly more than doubled.
Wherever the blade passed, the air was casually torn apart, producing piercing shrieks.
This sudden burst caused Fuguki Suikazan, Jūzō Biwa, and Kaguya Ryūga's pupils to contract sharply.
A chill rushed directly to their heads.
How could he be…
this fast?!
Yuu's swordsmanship had already been extremely powerful before, but it had still remained within Fuguki and the others' range of acceptance.
Although none of them could defeat him one-on-one, the three of them working together had still managed to gain a certain advantage.
But now…
Yuu's sword speed had suddenly increased to the point where their nerves could barely keep up with the golden afterimages of his blade.
"Damn it…"
Kaguya Ryūga was careless for a moment, and one of the bone blades in his hand was knocked away.
Several sharp bone spikes extending from his arm and shoulder blade were also cut short.
Jūzō Biwa reacted faster. When Yuu's sword-light arrived, he raised the massive Kubikiribōchō in front of him to block.
But his blade had already collided with Yuu's Sword of the Thunder God multiple times.
Now, accompanied by a heavy metallic crash, a deep crack was cut into the broad body of the Kubikiribōchō.
Fine fractures spread outward like a spiderweb.
As for Fuguki Suikazan, he had been the main force fighting Yuu and felt the change most deeply.
The force transmitted through Samehada had clearly increased by several levels. Even with his powerful physique, blocking it was becoming increasingly difficult.
The webbing between his fingers began trembling, giving him the feeling that it was about to split open.
Yuu noticed their struggle. A sharp light flashed through his eyes.
Using the extraordinary state brought by Overload Pulse, he suddenly spun his body. The Sword of the Thunder God drew a perfect, azure arc that covered all three hundred and sixty degrees around him.
"Hatake Style: Circular Dance Slash!"
Boom!
A ring of lightning erupted violently.
Fuguki Suikazan, Jūzō Biwa, and Kaguya Ryūga were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer. With muffled groans, all three were sent flying backward.
Scarlet sprays of blood burst from their bodies at the same time.
Fuguki's shoulder armor shattered.
A wound was cut across Jūzō's chest.
Ryūga was slashed across the abdomen.
Then Yuu did not pause at all.
He pushed off the ground hard enough to leave a small crater, then used Substitution Technique to flash toward Hōzuki Mutsuki, who had only just struggled back to his feet and still suffered from the paralysis of Lightning Release.
"?"
Hōzuki Mutsuki froze.
Genuine terror appeared on his face, which had turned pale from blood loss and paralysis.
If he had been in normal condition, he might still have found some way to resist.
But he had just had his Hydrification Technique broken by Lightning Release and was still under several debilitating effects.
Under these conditions, being pursued by Yuu could only have one outcome.
Relying almost entirely on instinct, Hōzuki Mutsuki frantically formed seals with both hands.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall… Modified!"
A hemispherical water shield, smaller but far more condensed than an ordinary Water Formation Wall, instantly formed before him.
This was clearly a defensive ninjutsu specially modified by the Hōzuki clan. Mutsuki released it in a desperate attempt to win a chance at survival.
Unfortunately, before the Sword of the Thunder God enhanced by both Overload Pulse and Super Strength, this hastily condensed water shield appeared incomparably fragile.
Hiss—!
There was no earth-shattering explosion.
Only a quiet cutting sound, like a heated knife slicing through butter.
The condensed water shield was pierced and torn apart with ease.
The violent lightning dancing across the Sword of the Thunder God instantly evaporated large quantities of water and completely destroyed the stability of the Hydrification Technique.
The blade passed through Hōzuki Mutsuki's body without resistance, splitting both him and the futile water shield cleanly in two.
"Mutsuki—!!"
Jūzō Biwa's eyes widened until they nearly split, and he released a grief-stricken roar.
He had a fairly good relationship with the Hōzuki clan. Otherwise, he would not have intervened earlier to save Mutsuki.
Now, after personally watching his companion be cut in half beneath that merciless lightning, Jūzō felt overwhelming grief and fury.
He wished he could personally kill the murderer and avenge him.
Fuguki Suikazan's pupils contracted violently.
An enormous fear rose in his heart and overwhelmed his initial anger.
Something was wrong!
Ten parts wrong—no, at least nine!
This brat must have used some kind of explosive secret technique to increase his strength so dramatically in such a short time.
Charging forward to clash with him directly right now would probably bring no good outcome.
They might even end up like Hōzuki Mutsuki—killed for no clear reason before they could display any of their abilities.
"Ryūga! Fall back! Wait for his secret technique to wear off!"
Fuguki Suikazan shouted.
However, Kaguya Ryūga ignored him completely.
He only stared at Yuu with blazing eyes.
~~~
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