Chapter 37 — Manifestation of Haki's Power
"Lightning Release: False Darkness."
Yusuke swiftly formed the hand seals, and lightning surged forward, crackling violently through the seawater.
"Damn it!" Hōzuki Murakami's body went numb from the shock, but he managed to maintain his Hydrification Technique.
"You brat... just because I'm weak against lightning doesn't mean I can't use Hydrification," Murakami growled with a sinister grin. Unlike most members of the Hōzuki Clan, Murakami was an anomaly. Typically, those born into the Hōzuki Clan mastered their signature Hydrification Technique, allowing them to nullify physical attacks—but it came with a vulnerability to Fire and especially Lightning. A single jolt could disable their bodies. But Murakami was different. Since childhood, he'd shown a rare affinity for the Lightning Element. Though biologically aligned with Water Release like all Hōzukis, he'd somehow developed a natural resistance to lightning.
(Note: The Hydrification Technique is a secret jutsu exclusive to the Hōzuki bloodline. It cannot be learned outside the clan.)
"Water Release: Selfless Wave."
Murakami's body melted into liquid, merging with the surrounding sea before sweeping toward Yusuke with massive force.
"Sea Quake."
A thunderous quake split the ocean. The water shattered like fractured glass, and the surface split apart, exposing cracked plates of seabed like broken earth.
"Give it up, brat. Your technique is powerful, sure—but it won't hurt me. I don't believe you can keep using it indefinitely. And your lightning? It's useless on me," Murakami taunted.
"You think you've already won?" Yusuke smirked, unshaken.
Murakami didn't consider the boy a threat. In underwater combat, not even the Mizukage could defeat him easily.
Then Yusuke drew his sword—Enma.
Armament Haki.
His arms turned jet-black, and dark energy wrapped itself around the sword's edge. A thick, heavy aura poured out of the blade like a dense shadow given form.
"Still relying on physical attacks? I already told you, they're useless!" Murakami sneered. His body dispersed again, reforming into a massive water serpent-like maw.
Yusuke didn't reply. He simply swung his blade.
Hatake Sword Style: Annihilation.
A single slash tore through the sea, carving a canyon-like gorge that stretched endlessly.
"This... This is impossible... How did you injure me?!" Murakami's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Typical frog in a well," Yusuke muttered coldly.
"You damn brat! It's that sword, isn't it?!" Murakami glared at Enma, panic rising in his chest.
"You've got a vivid imagination, old man. But I don't have time to keep entertaining you," Yusuke said with an exhausted tone.
Phoenix of Hundred and Eight Torments.
Yusuke bit Enma between his teeth and summoned two swords of light into his hands. While not as powerful as the Sword of Totsuka, they were far sharper than standard blades. Both swords took on a black hue—not as deep as Enma's—but still enhanced with Armament Haki. (Note: Enma has the ability to convert Armament Haki into Ryuō.)
That alone was enough to threaten Murakami's true body.
Water Release: Giant Vortex Arm Technique.
A titanic water fist—over five meters wide—barreled toward Yusuke.
The impact shattered the limb of water into pieces, but the light blades also disintegrated under the pressure. Had Yusuke not partially transformed into elemental form, he would've taken serious damage.
He stopped underestimating his opponent.
Meanwhile, Murakami gritted his teeth, clutching his injured arm.
"No way... that technique—it's like Space-Time Ninjutsu... Why does your body lack physical form?" he gasped, watching Yusuke's shattered frame reconstitute itself.
"Why would I explain that to you?" Yusuke scoffed. What, tell you so you can kill me afterward? Even if you knew, it's not like you'd touch my real body anyway, he thought.
This boy's too dangerous... Not only can he hit my true body, but his power is overwhelming. If I didn't have Hydrification, I'd be dead already. I can't let him live.
"Water Release..."
Murakami made his move. His body dissolved into water, which began swirling into a massive, grotesque fish-like creature Yusuke had never seen before.
Faced with the oncoming beast, Yusuke had no choice. He had to use the power of the Gura Gura no Mi. But this time, the strain would be greater—enough to damage his own body. If he pushed further, his right arm might shatter. Still, fear never entered his eyes.
For two years, he had trained with this Devil Fruit. And now, it was time to unleash it.
"Let's end this. Vibrating Blade!"
Raising Enma high, Yusuke channeled the full power of the Gura Gura no Mi into its tip. A small orb of blinding white light shimmered at the end of the sword.
"Jade Shatter."
"Water Release: Grand Fish Bomb!"
They both struck at once.
From Murakami's side, the monstrous fish surged forward.
From Yusuke's side, the tiny glowing orb glided forward—calm, silent, almost underwhelming.
Until it detonated.
The very air fractured like broken glass. Cracks spread across the sky and sea. The entire battlefield crumbled like a shattered mirror.
And then—silence.
Murakami's water construct disintegrated. The sea calmed.
From afar, Minato and Dan Kato watched in stunned silence. Had that technique landed on land, the entire area would have been devastated.
If not for Hydrification, Murakami would already be dead.
"Such a pain," Yusuke muttered, seeing that Murakami had survived with only moderate injuries. The old man's ability to liquefy was truly troublesome. Sword techniques didn't work. Taijutsu was pointless. Even Gura Gura and Pika Pika powers couldn't touch his real body.
There was only one way to get to him—speed.
"Old man… do you know what the speed of light looks like?" Yusuke asked, face unreadable.
"What?" Murakami's brow furrowed.
In the next instant, Yusuke was already behind him.
Sensing danger, Murakami quickly transformed into water—but Yusuke reached out with his Haki-coated hand and grabbed the mass of water.
"Wha—?!"
"I've got your real body now. Let's see you escape this," Yusuke said, as the air around his right hand distorted with Gura Gura no Mi's vibrating energy.
"ARGHHH!"
Murakami screamed in agony.
His form reverted back into human shape. He was in shambles.
"Old man, just die already. I'll remember the Hōzuki Clan," Yusuke said coldly, lifting Enma for the final strike.
Murakami's face contorted in terror. His murderous bravado evaporated.
"Wait—No! I'm not even loyal to the Hōzuki Clan!" he cried, desperate.
"Too bad. You don't get to decide that," Yusuke said, and with one swift motion, he brought Enma down.
Murakami died on the spot.
Elsewhere, Minato and Dan Kato had nearly finished their battles too. Yusuke didn't intervene. Their opponents were merely elite jōnin—powerful, but nothing beyond their league. Without the water advantage, they'd have been defeated already.
Sure enough, moments later, Minato brought down his enemy with a precise Rasengan, and Dan Kato finished his own with a high-level Ninjutsu.
All enemies eliminated.
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