Chapter 391: Naruto's Instant Defeat, Might Guy Enters the Fight
This was the same technique Jiraiya had once used to trap Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki—a move specifically designed to restrain enemies.
Naruto used it now to counter Li Yao's space-time abilities. Even if he couldn't kill Li Yao, at the very least he should have been able to force him into a direct confrontation—wait, what?!
Boom!
In an instant, an explosion of pitch-black ink burst forth, flooding the area and corrupting the toad's stomach walls. The entire space twisted into a sealed trap—and Naruto found himself the one bound up instead.
"Ah—! Poof!"
Unable to withstand the ink technique, the Toad Guts Barrier dispelled, and the toad returned to Mount Myōboku. Naruto was left alone—and before he could react—
Whoosh whoosh!
Two ink tentacles whipped toward him and bound him up like a twisted pretzel.
Only then did Naruto realize: his legs had been immobilized, and he was completely unable to resist.
He was powerful in Sage Mode.
But Li Yao, in Perfect Sage Mode, was on another level—his Ink Release Sage Jutsu was overwhelmingly stronger.
Naruto was completely restrained in an instant.
"You have the same weakness as Minato."
As the ink faded and Naruto lay bound by black tendrils, Li Yao shook his head.
Minato had made the same mistake—thinking his specialty could counter Li Yao, only to be turned against himself.
Naruto believed his shadow clone tactics could fool Li Yao, but Li Yao had sensed the positions of all clones and the real body the entire time.
And Naruto's skillset was too narrow.
It might work on others for a surprise finish, but against a versatile opponent like Li Yao, it was useless.
Li Yao didn't even need to use space-time jutsu—Naruto was already defeated. Instantly.
"Damn it!!"
"I can't break free!"
Naruto thrashed with all his might, but it was useless. The ink chakra was made of Sage energy—it was far too durable for him to tear through.
"Naruto!!"
Within the dimensional layer, Jiraiya and Tsunade stood nearby. They hadn't expected Naruto to lose so thoroughly, so quickly.
But considering Li Yao could use Perfect Sage Mode, their shock was understandable.
Still, understanding didn't help the fact: Naruto had been crushed. What now? What would become of Konoha?
Just then, a blue figure dashed in from afar. With a mighty leap, he landed in front of Naruto.
"The Blue Beast of Konoha has arrived!"
Might Guy crossed his arms over his chest, eyes gleaming with fearless determination.
Blue steam poured from his body, like a raging engine in overdrive. He was bursting with power.
"Guy-sensei!!"
Seeing his teacher, Naruto struggled even harder.
"Naruto…"
Shima, the elderly toad on Guy's shoulder, leapt down beside Naruto and quickly performed a Water Style jutsu to cut the ink tentacles.
Clang!
Sparks flew as if metal had struck metal. The ink was as tough as steel—Shima's jutsu had no effect.
Li Yao's jutsu differed from others in one key way: even after leaving his body, his ink techniques remained under his absolute control.
Most ink jutsu, once released, lose their strength when detached from the caster.
But not Li Yao's. His chakra and will remained embedded in every strand, maintaining its density and adaptability no matter the distance.
Shima's best efforts didn't make a dent.
Seeing this, she had no choice but to carry Naruto on her back.
"I'll leave this to you, bushy brows. Hold him off!"
She glanced at Li Yao, then swiftly carried Naruto away.
For now, the priority was getting Naruto to safety—even if that meant having Guy stall for time.
"Watch out for his Ink Jutsu—don't let it touch you, Guy-sensei!"
Naruto shouted out the only intel he had before vanishing into the distance.
"Got it. Leave it to me."
Guy replied with a dazzling smile and a thumbs-up.
"Blue steam?"
"You look down on me?" Li Yao muttered as Naruto disappeared. He had finally found someone mildly interesting. Looking at Might Guy, who had opened the Seventh Gate, Li Yao shook his head.
"But this level… still isn't enough."
"Then let's burn it up—youth!!"
With a roar, Might Guy took one step forward—shattering the ground beneath him. Before his foot even landed again, he was already in front of Li Yao, delivering a devastating punch.
With insane speed and monstrous power, Guy unleashed a blow backed by pure force.
The air itself thickened into something dense and heavy. Ripples of wind radiated from the shockwave. Before the punch even landed, the pressure alone locked Li Yao's body in place.
"Impressive!!"
Li Yao's eyes lit up. Guy's raw power was a surprise.
And this was just with the Seventh Gate.
It wasn't that much weaker than the power of Hiruzen Sarutobi's kin who had once opened all Eight Gates during the Five Kage's assault.
Was this world's Guy stronger than expected?
Or had the original Might Guy always been this powerful?
Li Yao didn't know. What he did know was—this Guy was stronger than anticipated. Strong enough to catch him off guard.
Truly worthy of being the man who nearly ended the series with a single kick.
Even Madara had once acknowledged him as the strongest in taijutsu.
This punch—if Li Yao didn't open at least five gates or activate Lightning Release Chakra Mode—would be impossible to block.
Only one jutsu could stop it.
"Ninja Art: Mass Technique – 10,000 Tons!"
Li Yao sank his stance, coiling his muscles, and met the punch head-on.
In that moment, he imagined ten thousand tons of weight over his body. His body density surged—his mass artificially enhanced through jutsu.
Boom!
Rumble!
When the fists collided, the shockwaves rolled through both of them.
The ground beneath them sank two meters under the pressure, then shattered like brittle crackers, flinging dust and debris in every direction.
Crack!
A sickening sound echoed—the sound of bones cracking.
Guy's face changed. He leapt back, retreating fifty meters, landing with a heavy thud. His right arm trembled, shaking uncontrollably.
Huff… Huff…
He panted, sweat dripping. His arm dangled at his side.
"Damn… he's hard as steel!"
For a moment, it had felt like punching solid iron. The backlash had nearly shattered his arm.
If not for his experience absorbing the recoil, it wouldn't have stopped at a fracture—his entire arm would be ruined.
Step… Step… Step…
Li Yao slowly walked forward.
"I told you—just blue steam won't be enough."
His tone was calm. His aura—unshaken.
Guy understood then: that punch hadn't even made a dent.
As things stood, he really wasn't strong enough.
If he wanted to buy Naruto time to recover, he'd need far greater power.
(END CHAPTER)
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