With the sound, the area centered around Takashi was enveloped in a massive white cube.
When the cube, which lasted for several seconds, disappeared, it left only a huge crater on the ground.
This technique is essentially an upgraded version of the Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu.
The range is larger, and the duration is longer, among other enhancements.
Of course, the consumption is equally significant.
Standing not far to the side, Onoki slowly withdrew his hand.
Earlier, he had engaged in close combat to lure his opponent into staying in place. Then he used an Earth Clone to distract, while his real body launched a surprise attack from the side.
If only the opponent belonged to Iwagakure, how great would that be?
As Onoki sighed inwardly, he heard a noise behind him.
"Flame Finger!"
With the sound came a white flame spear as thick as an egg.
In Sage Mode, the power of the Flame Finger naturally increased significantly; under normal circumstances, its power wouldn't be so explosive.
At the critical moment of life and death, Onoki demonstrated the strength of an experienced Kage-level ninja.
His body dodged at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the Flame Finger.
As expected of the Tsuchikage! Even among the Kage-level ninjas of Sunagakure, Chiyo would have to bow to him.
If Takashi hadn't realized he was holding an Earth Clone and anticipated Onoki's move, accelerating to create distance, he might have been defeated.
Attack with full force!
After several rounds of exchanges, Onoki began to be suppressed.
In Sage Mode, Takashi's close combat skills improved dramatically. Suppressing a ninjutsu-type expert like Onoki was only natural, wasn't it?
If he couldn't even suppress his opponent in close combat, he might as well wash up and go to sleep early.
Thus, Onoki started using ninjutsu for support.
"Earth Style: Super Weighted Boulder Jutsu!"
His hand signs were incredibly fast, and he used his experience to create an opening for the technique, successfully executing the jutsu.
Otherwise, with Takashi's close combat abilities, along with mid- to short-range ninjutsu like the Flame Finger, there would be no chance for him to perform a technique.
An invisible, terrifying gravity weighed down on Takashi.
Onoki's ability to fly relied on another jutsu with the opposite effect.
Earth Style: Super Light-Weight Rock Technique!
This technique allows a ninja to lighten their weight, enabling them to fly freely in the air.
These two jutsus are techniques Takashi greatly desires, but unfortunately, they are Iwagakure secrets, and he has no chance to access them.
The significant increase in gravity did not bring Takashi to his knees.
Because he was in Sage Mode, his strength and physique were unmatched by normal ninjas, and even a tenfold increase in gravity wasn't a problem.
Damn! Takashi cursed Onoki in his heart for not playing fair. Weren't they supposed to engage in close combat? And here he was using ninjutsu.
Hmm, he completely forgot that his own taijutsu also involved using ninjutsu.
Double standards are truly appealing to those who use them.
"Sage Art: Flame Bullet!"
Takashi felt that this state wasn't suitable for continued close combat, so he chose to create distance and engage in a ninjutsu clash.
But if you observe closely, you'll notice his terminology.
Sage Art!
Whether it's the True Fire of the Sun or the Sword of Kusanagi, his prefix is always 'Sage Art.'
Don't be fooled by the difference of one word; the distinction is significant.
The Sage Mode's enhancement is substantial, and even a C-rank jutsu, when performed with Sage Chakra, is not inferior to an A-rank jutsu.
Onoki quickly formed hand signs.
"Earth Style: Multiple Earth-Style Wall!"
Several massive earth walls, like city walls, appeared in front of him, blocking the Flame Bullet's impact.
The power of ninjutsu enhanced by Sage Chakra is terrifyingly strong. If it were just a simple Earth-Style Wall, it would have been shattered long ago.
Both sides unleashed their full firepower.
In Sage Mode, the power of any ninjutsu is greatly amplified, giving a significant advantage in a ninjutsu clash.
Of course, techniques like the True Fire of the Sun can't be used, as they would be easily countered by Particle Style.
After several rounds of exchanges, Takashi began to appreciate the immense chakra reserves of a veteran Kage-level ninja.
It's important to note that he himself had a considerable amount of chakra.
A full ten cards! Yet during the clash with Onoki, the latter showed no signs of chakra depletion.
It can only be said that Onoki, at this stage, has chakra reserves far exceeding those of several decades later, almost like a 'chakra powerhouse.'
Fortunately, he didn't choose to exhaust Onoki's chakra by running away.
If he had played that way, he might have been defeated long ago.
Now, using Sage Mode, Takashi consumes 1 unit of senjutsu chakra, while Onoki needs to expend at least 5 units to counter it. Even with this, he can't exhaust the opponent's chakra, let alone think about escaping.
Feeling his senjutsu chakra nearing depletion.
Takashi raised his right index finger high, a streak of blue and white flame appeared.
Time to unleash the big move!
Having achieved the goal of draining the opponent's chakra and stalling for time, it was naturally time to deliver the final blow.
Onoki, of course, didn't dare to be careless.
Clap! With a clap of his hands, a small white light cube appeared between his palms, a prelude to activating Dust Release.
"Sage Art: Great Orochi Slash!"
Takashi suddenly swung his right hand forward, unleashing the attack.
He didn't use the more concentrated power of the Sage Art: Totsuka Blade because a wide-range attack was more suitable at this moment.
As long as it hit, whether it was the Great Orochi Slash or the Totsuka Blade, it could result in a kill.
Whoosh! The small blue and white flame left his finger and suddenly transformed into a massive wave of fire, engulfing everything in its path.
The atmosphere twisted, and the air ignited! Others might have chosen to dodge first, but Onoki had absolute confidence in his Dust Release, so the white light between his hands grew even stronger.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Another terrifying Dust Release technique was unleashed.
Countless white lights spread out from Onoki as the center, devouring everything around.
The raging wave of fire was instantly consumed by the Dust Release.
Capable of disintegrating everything into atoms, naturally including flames, it was overwhelmingly powerful.
If Takashi had the chance, he would definitely want to learn it.
With Dust Release, a Bloodline Selection, he could easily reach the pinnacle of life.
In the future, Onoki might play a minor role, not because Dust Release is weak, but because he encounters 'cheat' opponents, like the 'Sealing Jutsu Absorption' ability of the Rinnegan, which directly counters Dust Release.
It's practically a plot device!
Of course, no matter how strong Dust Release is, it has its weaknesses, and there are ways to counter it.
The strength always lies in the ninja, not the ninjutsu.
At this stage, Takashi was unfortunate to face Onoki in his prime and witnessed the terrifying power of Dust Release.
Once everything calmed down, only a massive crater remained, with Onoki at its center.
"Impossible!"
After carefully surveying the surroundings, Onoki didn't find Takashi.
He wouldn't believe that a single Dust Release could easily kill him, so the only possibility was that he escaped.
Thinking of this, Onoki used the 'Super Light-Weight Rock Technique' to ascend, allowing him to see several kilometers around.
Unfortunately, even after ascending, Onoki didn't spot Uchiha Takashi, as if he had vanished into thin air.
Puzzled, he searched every inch of the surrounding land, finally concluding that the opponent had escaped! Though he didn't know how, it was a fact.
However, Onoki was not willing to give up and continued searching the area.
He knew very well that there wouldn't be another chance.
If it weren't for the urgent situation on the northern front, he wouldn't have left, and he would have made sure to eliminate Takashi, the Konoha genius who could harm him.
And what about Takashi, who was on Onoki's mind?
Well, he had actually escaped long ago.
The moment he unleashed the Great Orochi Slash, he exited Sage Mode and leaped backward, disappearing from sight.
Of course, this wasn't a ninjutsu.
It was because of Chubimaru! This hidden summoning beast had been camouflaged and waiting since it was summoned. When Takashi unleashed the Great Orochi Slash, it opened its mouth, and once Takashi jumped in, it took him away.
With its innate camouflage ability, it naturally evaded Onoki's detection, creating the bizarre scene.
After unleashing his big move, he vanished.
The Great Orochi Slash, besides forcing Onoki to expend chakra, was mainly to cover Takashi's escape.
Who would have thought that Takashi could escape invisibly?
It just goes to show how crucial intelligence is for a ninja. If the opponent had known in advance, they wouldn't have given him the chance to escape.
But Takashi had every reason to be proud.
Not only did he escape from being hunted by the Third Tsuchikage, but he also managed to injure him.
Even if the injury wasn't severe, the fact remains, did he injure him or not?
It was precisely because of Chubimaru, this life-saving trump card, that Takashi dared to lure Onoki away alone.
Otherwise, do you think he would be so loyal as to risk his life for Konoha?
Not even in his dreams.
(End of Chapter)