"Dust Release?"
Kushina was startled by the opponent's jutsu.
Dust Release was the Tsuchikage's signature technique—a Kekkei Tōta that surpassed Kekkei Genkai. Even Kushina, who wasn't the best student, had learned from textbooks about this powerful jutsu wielded by the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure.
But this opponent's version…
"This isn't Dust Release at all!"
Kushina burst forward, using Shave to close the distance between them in an instant. She appeared right in front of the girl and threw a punch straight at her face.
Monstrous Strength Fist.
With a thunderous crack of air, the girl shattered into scattered dust, her figure vanishing—yet her voice lingered.
"I may not compare to the Third, but my Dust Release isn't weak either."
The swirling dust grew sharper under the influence of chakra, each particle honed to a fine edge.
But the actual power was lacking.
It was like trying to cut someone with nail clippers—not fatal, but painful as hell.
Three golden chains erupted from Kushina's back, wrapping around her protectively to block the dust's assault.
"Useless. Tiny dust particles aren't so easy to block."
The girl's smug voice echoed from within the dust storm.
Instead of searching for the girl, Kushina focused on the nearby stream.
She used Shave again to dash toward it.
The girl realized Kushina's intention.
"Oh no, you don't!"
"Dust Release: Dust Condensation Body Technique!"
The dust gathered into the girl's likeness—though entirely black, her body composed of individual grains.
The dust clone moved to intercept Kushina.
"Get out of my way!!"
Kushina smashed through the clone with a single punch. With her monstrous strength, she wasn't about to be stopped so easily—especially by such a weak clone.
Breaking free, she dove headfirst into the stream.
The dust pursued her but couldn't penetrate the thin layer of water.
It could only watch helplessly as Kushina submerged herself.
The dust coalesced back into the girl's form, her expression dark as she glared at Kushina beneath the surface.
Her so-called "Dust Release" was actually just a variant of Earth Release—a secret technique many villages possessed.
But her version was far from formidable, excelling only in reconnaissance.
And for Dust Release, water was its greatest weakness.
"Don't think hiding in there will save you!"
The girl hurled shuriken at Kushina.
Kushina's chains lashed out, deflecting the projectiles and continuing toward the girl.
The chains wrapped around her, crushing her into dust once more.
"What an annoying jutsu."
Kushina crouched in the shallow stream, her wounds already healing rapidly thanks to Kurama's chakra.
But this stalemate couldn't last. If the girl's allies returned, things would get complicated.
"My teammates and sensei are chasing yours right now."
Mentioning allies, the girl tried to taunt Kushina.
"That blond boy is facing my partner—the so-called 'Frenzied Beast' of the Mountain. He loves torturing his prey. By now, he's probably started tearing your friend apart."
The words were meant to provoke, but they only calmed Kushina.
Namikaze Minato was anything but weak. She wasn't worried about him!
Seeing her tactic fail, the girl switched targets.
"And that other one—the Uchiha. My sensei has been dying to add a pair of Sharingan to his collection."
Kushina's expression shifted underwater.
She might clash with Uchiha Kin constantly, but he was still her comrade.
"An elite jōnin is after Kin? I need to end this fast."
Kushina formed hand seals.
"Kagura Mind's Eye! Activate!"
The next moment, she burst out of the water.
"Finally!"
The girl cheered, directing the dust to swarm Kushina.
But Kushina ignored the injuries, charging forward.
"A sensory jutsu?!"
The girl, hidden behind a tree, paled and bolted. She had been concealed there the entire time.
Even as she fled, she commanded the dust to tear at Kushina's body.
"Dammit! How is this brat still standing after losing so much blood?!"
Her fighting style relied on bleeding opponents dry.
But this girl was like a damn blood tank—no matter how much she lost, she remained unfazed.
"Found you!!"
Kushina leaped high into the air, spotting the girl instantly.
As she descended, her chains shot out, binding the girl tightly.
"Die a hundred times over!!"
Kushina's fist slammed into the girl's head with enough force to cave it in. Blood filled the girl's eyes as she collapsed, motionless.
Panting heavily, Kushina stood victorious.
The fight was over.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
"Jackpot."
Kin stood atop a rock, eyeing the man before him, his hand already resting on his sword's hilt.
Chūdō hung upside-down from a tree, watching Uchiha Kin intently.
The moment Kin was marked, escape was impossible.
"How about you pretend you never saw me and let me go?"
Kin wasn't particularly interested in the Five Great Nations' conflicts.
If Namikaze Minato hadn't noticed something amiss, he wouldn't have spoken up at all.
"Sorry. Duty calls."
As Chūdō responded, a kunai materialized soundlessly behind Kin.
Clang!
Metal rang out as Kin's blade intercepted the kunai mid-air.
The Chūdō hanging from the tree vanished.
Both men began forming one-handed seals simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Earth Release: Rock Pellet Technique!"
Kin unleashed a roaring fireball, while Chūdō spat out pebbles that rapidly expanded.
Boom!
The collision created a shockwave, forcing both combatants apart.
They clashed again instantly, their taijutsu evenly matched—though Chūdō's larger frame gave him the edge.
Kin raised a finger, a blue glow forming at its tip.
Spirit Bullet!
The blue light streaked forward, too fast for Chūdō to dodge. It struck his shoulder, leaving a bloody hole.
Chūdō grunted, forcing Kin back with a kunai before retreating.
"They say I'm no match for a jōnin. I call bullshit."
Kin pressed the attack.
But as he lifted his foot, he found it stuck. Looking down, he saw a hand gripping his ankle.
"When did—?!"
The enemy jōnin, who should've been recovering nearby, had somehow burrowed underground.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Kin was yanked into the earth. But in that split second, his hands flew through seals.
"Six Treasuries Immortal Thief!"
Chūdō's chakra surged into Kin's body, forcing him to release his grip.
Kin broke free, landing on another rock—only to hear a faint click.
He looked down.
An explosive tag was stuck to his sole.
"Iron Body!"
Boom!
The blast sent Kin flying, his pants now shorts, his shoes gone, and his legs scorched.
Chūdō's assault was relentless, leaving Kin no room to counter.
He scanned the area where Chūdō had appeared—only an empty hole remained.
Kin formed seals again.
"Shadow Clo—!"
"Earth Release: Splitting Earth Technique!"
Before he could finish, the ground beneath him split open, sending him tumbling down.
He kicked off falling debris, desperate to escape.
Spotting Chūdō in the distance, Kin realized the attacks wouldn't stop.
Chūdō slammed a fist into the ground, activating another jutsu.
"Earth Release: Sand Flow Technique!"
The shattered earth turned into fine sand.
Just as Kin was about to break free, the sand surged like a tidal wave, swallowing him whole.
Buried, Kin gritted his teeth, curling up to minimize the grinding damage.
He was trapped in Chūdō's rhythm now. This man was nothing like the ninja he'd faced before.
Their styles were similar, but the results were worlds apart.
The relentless assault left him no room to breathe.
One misstep led to another.
"Earth Release: Quicksand Jutsu!"
The sand liquefied, swirling clockwise, threatening to crush Kin's body.
He could hear his bones groaning under the pressure.
Chūdō had predicted his every move, leading him step by step into this trap.
Kin racked his brain for any usable jutsu—but most required time he didn't have, or were useless here.
"I won't…"
"Die here!!"
"Gate of Opening! Release!"
A single Gate wasn't enough for a significant boost, and his chakra was too depleted for the modified Six Treasuries Immortal Thief combined with the Eight Gates.
"I refuse to die like this!!"
"Spirit Bullet! Self-Destruct!"
A blue light erupted within the earth, expanding outward.
The Spirit Bullet wasn't pure chakra—it was a chaotic fusion of all seven nature transformations, unstable by design.
Fired outward, it became a high-speed projectile.
But left in place?
It was a bomb.
Boom!!
The ground exploded.
Kin emerged, bloodied and battered, his skin scorched despite Iron Body's protection.
Covering his face with one hand, he peered through his fingers at Chūdō.
His crimson eyes burned with defiance.
...
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(End of Chapter)