"Compared to your earlier godlike speed, this Lightning Release Ninja Taijutsu you're using now is hardly surprising."
Everything is relative. Although Haseo's Lightning Release: Mikage was a highly versatile and practical taijutsu technique, compared to the terrifying Lightning Release Chakra Mode that could startle someone into breaking out in a cold sweat, it really wasn't much of anything.
Especially for those who had just witnessed his Senken Zesshou and still had vivid memories of its overwhelming impression—though ironically, everyone who'd seen that move seemed to end up dead anyway.
Yet anyone who had seen Haseo's Lightning Release Chakra Mode could feel the intense, piercing chakra it gave off. It was clearly a high-risk move—an "exclusive" one, not meant for regular combat.
Because it was so unique, enemies arriving at such a conclusion weren't unexpected. Therefore, the most likely scenario was that Haseo wouldn't continue using it further.
Still, the enemy kept their guard up, watching for any sudden moves from Haseo. Though they could tell his technique carried self-damaging risks, if it erupted unexpectedly, it would be nearly impossible to defend against.
So the enemy violently knocked aside Haseo's long blade, then took several steps backward while beginning to form hand seals.
Haseo lifted the arm holding his sword, frowning as he got pushed back—this opponent's physical stamina and chakra strength were genuinely extraordinary.
Yet during battle with Haseo, although close-quarters melee wasn't particularly advisable, a decently skilled taijutsu user should still choose to engage him head-on because stepping back to perform techniques became practically the wrong decision… no matter how fast someone performed hand seals, they'd never match Haseo's spellcasting speed.
The enemy finished their hand seals. Soon after, the air in the desolate night grew oppressively hot. Then, an orange-red fire dragon surged directly toward Haseo.
[Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet]
But this attack wasn't finished yet; in the next instant, the size and explosive intensity of this fire dragon abruptly escalated several levels higher.
[Wind Release: Great Breakthrough]
It was a combined Wind-Fire Ninjutsu. Although the speed of combining these two techniques wasn't nearly as swift or efficient as Haseo's, since wind enhanced fire, the multiplied effect of these techniques was perfectly manifested.
A thick torrent of flames erupted with volcanic force, rolling forward in endless waves.
The heat curled Haseo's bangs, the intense light banishing darkness from around him, yet stretching his shadow far behind. Beneath the colossal dragon of fire, Haseo—who'd already visibly shrunk multiple times over—seemed especially tiny, as if the next moment he would be completely engulfed by the inferno.
Yet at this moment, one of his hands held onto his sword, while his other empty palm formed into a blade shape. He swung his arm forward in a mighty downward slash.
The torrent of Wind Release jutsu poured from between his fingers, surging forward with relentless momentum. The dense wind chakra surged without faltering, its sharp cutting power manifesting in a clear aura—not only as Wind Blades, but also in the sudden appearance of V-shaped energy fields on either side. Together, they crashed down onto the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet. What followed was…
[Wind Release: Ame no Ohabari no Jutsu]
For an instant, Haseo's invisible sword appeared to be engulfed by the wild flames, and even his own Wind Release ended up further fueling the enemy's fire-based technique. But the next moment, a completely different sound—an intense current of wind chakra unique to Wind Release—resounded once again.
Then, Tenpen'usha reformed and surged forward once more.
With overwhelming chakra, Haseo forcefully drove the untamed fire dragon, flowing midair, into the ground—and cut it cleanly in two from head to tail.
Finally, the fire dragon submitted, splitting into two under the pressure of the wind blades. The twin flames roared into the houses along the street.
Wooden houses burst into flames, filling Konoha's skies with smoke and fire, casting harsh light over the battlefield.
Haseo crushed the enemy's momentum, though using wind to counter fire was a reckless move. It came off as stubborn and forceful. Given Haseo's skill level, such a confrontation could have been handled far more elegantly. Yet he still chose that path, because…even when comparing raw chakra strength alone, he refused to lose to the man standing opposite him.
This sheer display of brute-force superiority surprised the enemy slightly, but before he could even finish reacting, a violent chakra reaction suddenly erupted beneath his feet. In an instant, countless sharp streams of water spiraled upward like spears from the earth, launching an upward assault.
Trouble!
Chakra exploded from the enemy's body as he bolted backward at full speed.
That's why you don't challenge a specialist in hand seal speed. While the enemy formed hand seals for two techniques and executed two ninjutsu, how many techniques could Haseo seal through in that time?
The rising water pillars missed their mark—but the technique wasn't over yet. The jets of water reassembled midair at ten meters high, reforming into a single water dragon. Then, twisting and flowing through the sky, it smashed downward onto the opponent.
[Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Explosion]
Being struck by a current of this scale would undoubtedly result in severe injury. Worse than the damage itself was the several seconds of stun it would cause.
To any ninja—even one like Haseo—those few moments were all the time needed to dismantle his foe completely.
So the enemy formed seals at top speed again.
[Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall]
But before the defensive barrier could fully rise, lightning surged across the water-covered battlefield from Haseo's body.
Under the combined effect of [Lightning Release: Mikage] and [Water Release: Surfing Strike], both high-speed techniques, Haseo's figure swiftly glided across the surface of the water and then stepped onto the barely half-meter-high earthen wall.
Then, Haseo cracked his neck, rolling it from side to side.
[Water Release: Rising Water Slicer]
The opponent facing Haseo was certainly no ordinary ninja. Yet as long as he remained a normal ninja, it would be extremely difficult to adapt to the high-speed consecutive attacks of this ninjutsu.
Either the crushing snap of the Water Dragon from above would tear him apart, or the Water Dragon Blast in front of him—he had to make a choice between the two.
Watching his body twist desperately to dodge, the signature technique of Suikami slashed downward along the outside of his right shoulder. Although the arm itself wasn't completely severed, nearly half of the skin and muscles on its outer side were instantly stripped away… as if someone had swiftly skinned an apple with a single stroke.
"Why... how could you..."
"There's no explanation. My approach just dominates yours."
The surging current of the Water Dragon's strike swept downward past Haseo's head, instantly engulfing the enemy in its powerful torrent.
The slender Water Dragon suddenly compressed itself into a beautiful cluster of Suiren.
A half-formed Earth Flow Wall blocked Haseo's front—it couldn't withstand such intense pressure but managed to momentarily divert the flow at the very first moment.
Thus, on both sides of the Earth Flow Wall, two stunning whirlpools formed.
So, the only real chance against Haseo was to strike first. Trying to keep your distance? That would only make you the one getting picked off.
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