Thus, in the heat of battle, Han continuously attempted to release various ninjutsu to turn the tide, but each was swiftly interrupted by Shiyu Uchiha wielding his tanto.
Those once-potent techniques were nipped in the bud before they could take form, causing his efforts to vanish into nothingness again and again. Even the plan he'd carefully crafted—to lure Shiyu Uchiha into Roshi's trap—was falling apart. Success now seemed all but impossible.
Yet Han, as a jinchuriki with the potential for perfect synchronization, never considered giving up despite the relentless setbacks from Shiyu Uchiha. So long as he drew breath, not even the slightest thought of surrender would cross his mind.
On the contrary, in this desperate situation, he decided to go all-in. Relying on the immense power granted by his tailed beast chakra cloak, he sought to forcefully unleash a Steam Release jutsu he had never used before.
This Steam Release jutsu was one he had recently developed, still incomplete and carrying severe aftereffects. However, if successfully executed, its overwhelming power could not only disrupt the rhythm of battle currently dominated by Shiyu Uchiha but also potentially send him directly into the ambush Roshi had previously arranged. With Roshi's cooperation, victory might still be within reach.
Thinking thus, Han clenched his teeth tightly and focused intently, searching for the optimal moment. Finally, during yet another round of attack and defense, he keenly seized a fleeting opportunity.
Without hesitation, he immediately poured all his strength into forming rapid hand seals. At the same time, he commanded his five tail techniques to swing violently behind him, forming an impenetrable defensive barrier in preparation for any fierce counterattack from Shiyu Uchiha.
At that exact moment, Shiyu Uchiha's crimson Sharingan eyes had already noticed every subtle change on the battlefield. Combined with years of accumulated combat experience from countless fierce battles, he, like a sharp-eyed predator, quickly detected Han's barely perceptible intentions.
Moreover, having absolute confidence in his self-created Breaking Army Sword Technique, Shiyu Uchiha decisively chose to unleash the Breaking Army Sword Technique to deliver a fatal blow to his formidable opponent.
Meanwhile, Han, expecting an attack, felt none come. Instead, he sensed a brief pause from Shiyu Uchiha. He noticed his opponent was charging up—and in that instant, a wave of deadly dread crashed over him.
After all, at their level, even the use of ninjutsu was performed at extreme speeds, let alone taijutsu. However, once someone began charging their technique, it meant the moment of release would carry earth-shattering power—terrifying and devastating beyond imagination.
At this critical moment of life and death, Han's latent potential triggered an Overlimit Burst. Chakra surged wildly through his body, and he finished the jutsu a hair faster than usual. He swiftly swung his five tails, preparing to block the incoming assault!
[Overlimit Burst]
Those colossal tails surged forward like roaring tidal waves, tearing through the air with overwhelming force. Each tail seemed like an uncontrollable locomotive. In the blink of an eye, they had already reached where Shiyu Uchiha stood.
However, just as the Tailed Beast's tail was about to strike its target, Shiyu Uchiha's figure suddenly rippled and vanished. Han inwardly cursed, thinking, "How is this possible? What kind of Clone Technique is this? Damn it, and when did he use this move anyway?"
It turned out that this was all due to the Magical Mirage: Clone Jutsu, which Shiyu Uchiha had performed using his Sharingan without the need for hand seals. More importantly, he cleverly employed the Phantom Substitution technique, successfully shifting his real body away while leaving an illusory clone as bait. The real Shiyu now waited to deliver a deadly strike to Han.
At that very moment, the real Shiyu Uchiha, stealthily hiding slightly away from Han's position, perceived the opening and tightly gripped the red-glowing tanto in his hand.
With a sudden surge of force, he swung his arm forward. The short blade—known as a tanto—sliced forward with overwhelming force, sweeping through the air like an unstoppable tide. In an instant, a dark red, razor-sharp blade of light flashed, dazzling as lightning splitting the night sky.
This terrifying blade of light shot directly toward the Five-Tails, causing Han to sense an extreme threat to his life—the last time he'd felt such fear was when facing Onoki's Dust Release. Instinctively, all five of his thick, powerful tails simultaneously swung into action, attempting to block this fatal attack.
Yet, despite the immense strength of the Five-Tails' tails, they were instantly severed upon contact with the blade of light. Sparks flew, and a deafening roar erupted, as if the entire space trembled from the impact.
Though the blade had lost power after slicing through five tails, it still surged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Had Han not already been in his steam mode, the blade would have easily pierced his Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak and ended his life.
At that critical moment, Han had already completed the preparations for his ninjutsu thanks to his readiness. Relying on his keen Sensor Ability, Han accurately detected the danger, and the movement of the tails only confirmed his perception. Without hesitation, he unleashed his unique ninjutsu in battle for the first time—a unique steam-based mode.
In an instant, massive amounts of white steam erupted from his body, like a steam engine, enveloping him entirely.
Propelled by the steam, Han shot backward at an astonishing speed, like a fiery rocket, narrowly avoiding that terrifying blade of light that would have split him in two.
However, despite such a lucky escape, Han's waist was not entirely spared. As the blade brushed past, it mercilessly left a deep, bone-exposing gash along his side.
His blood burst forth like a river from a broken dam, staining his clothes crimson. And because of this wound, he could no longer sustain the explosive power of his steam mode. Han was forced to stop, consumed entirely by the searing pain in his body.
At the same time, Shiyu Uchiha, having unleashed such a powerful move, also hesitated momentarily. Unable to pursue further, he watched Han escape and couldn't help but let out a silent sigh of regret.
He was well aware that the Ultimate Move he had just unleashed contained many flaws. If not for a series of coincidences, such remarkable results would have never been achieved.
Despite the meticulously crafted ambush, he ultimately failed to reach his intended goal—killing the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. At this moment, Shiyu Uchiha's heart burned with eagerness and urgency to further refine his ultimate sword technique. What frustrated him even more, however, was that his attempt to lure out the hidden watcher had also failed.
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