"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 163: Vaporization
Shadow clones are fragile, so the moment the barrier sealed shut, both Yūshin clones at opposite ends immediately began releasing Boil Release: Acid Mist at maximum intensity.
The scene inside the barrier instantly resembled a "drainage channel spectacle"—scalding acid mist rapidly filled the entire sealed space with billowing vapor.
The air within the barrier could barely circulate, causing the highly corrosive suspended particles in the mist to first accumulate at the bottom of the enclosed space, then gradually rise upward, filling every inch.
A white shroud obscured everything within the barrier, yet the screams that erupted grew increasingly intense, carrying across the battlefield to reach every enemy's ears.
Never mind the enemy—even the Fireflies' own ninja felt their hearts grow cold at these hellish wails.
The war had only just begun, yet already a large contingent of enemies had vanished.
Most ninja of this era could certainly accept death, but dying so inexplicably after stumbling into a trap was genuinely demoralizing.
The screams reached their crescendo, then gradually subsided from high to low until silence returned to the barrier—and then it suddenly vanished.
The sealing barrier had appeared abruptly and disappeared even more so... Clearly, someone had dispelled it.
The enemy's main force had just witnessed a considerable number of their comrades trapped by the barrier and instinctively launched full-scale rescue efforts. However, for those unfamiliar with such techniques, brute force alone could never breach this type of barrier.
After their various efforts proved fruitless, they could only leave a small group to continue searching for solutions while the rest followed orders to pursue the Fireflies ninja.
The psychological impact of the barrier trap manifested immediately—these enemies became far more cautious during their pursuit, abandoning their previous recklessness for careful vigilance, their formations spreading out considerably...
After all, the subconscious contempt born from their overwhelming numerical superiority had completely evaporated. They had reverted to their proper ninja forms—taking war seriously and maintaining full battle readiness... Reality is the finest teacher, and harsh reality checks provide the most effective education.
The order to immediately dispel the barrier after eliminating the trapped enemies had been issued by Yūshin beforehand, and the Uzumaki ninja had complied.
This certainly wasn't to give the enemy a chance to rescue survivors—there weren't any survivors to begin with.
Even if some ninja trapped in the barrier had somehow survived prolonged exposure to acid mist, Yūshin wasn't nearly charitable enough to allow anyone to rescue them.
He ordered the barrier's removal purely for psychological warfare.
If he didn't let the enemies witness such a rare and spectacular sight, how could he better shatter their morale?
Based on the natural differences in human sensory information processing, auditory stimulation could never compare to visual impact.
Of course, as the barrier dissolved, it naturally exhaled a "smoke ring"—the unrestrained acid mist, buffeted by external air currents, dispersed in all directions.
Although most ninja remaining in the area maintained maximum vigilance and instantly retreated to avoid secondary damage, a few unlucky souls with insufficient reaction speed were still engulfed by the mist.
From being swallowed by acid mist, to realizing its danger, to activating their bodies for escape... If their movements were timely and swift, these individuals might indeed suffer injuries or even fatal wounds, but temporary injury without death was still achievable.
However...
They were called "insufficiently quick" unfortunates for a reason.
Loud cries for help, rapid gasping, panicked wailing—all of this only accelerated their death process.
When the mist finally cleared, the surrounding forest had withered by more than half, and the scene within the barrier was completely revealed to the Ishikawa coalition ninja.
Continuous sizzling sounds echoed as acid mixed with dissolved flesh and blood continued corroding the earth.
The recent barrier had been like a giant cauldron where cannibals cooked their delicacies—except these cannibals had only simmered their food to a thick but half-cooked consistency before overturning the entire pot.
The sticky, multicolored mass instantly splattered across the ground.
An extremely foul odor permeated the forest. Under the triple assault of sight, sound, and smell, even these coalition ninja accustomed to scenes of carnage couldn't help but suffer emotional breakdowns, howling and retching.
Put it this way—Yūshin had turned this place into something resembling a Cthulhu sacrifice site. Who could witness such a scene without losing sanity points?
Fortunately, he didn't have to personally witness his own masterpiece.
While these ninja were suffering emotional collapse, screams once again echoed through the forest. Shortly after, mist began seeping out from between the tree canopies in wisps and threads...
The finest enclosed space had been reserved for the first group; the remaining traps were clearly of diminished quality, but no matter—what they lacked in quality, they made up for in quantity. Did they understand the concept of "quantity over quality"?
The defensive tactics here were executing excellently, while Yūshin's squad moved with equal precision.
Enemy ninja surged like flowing tide, while Yūshin's squad cutting into enemy ranks stood like an immovable reef.
No, not merely immovable—they were actually advancing against the current.
"The enemy's strength has increased. What does this mean? Withdrawing ordinary ninja and sending capable elites to die instead?"
As he fought, Hatake Sakumo noticed the enemies he encountered were changing... Previously it had been like slicing tofu; now it felt more like chopping brittle bones. The difference in resistance was quite obvious.
"No, it's just that the enemy commander still lacks clear understanding of our capabilities, thinking his subordinates can stop us... War is serious business, and the enemy commander's impractical attitude requires correction."
"Everyone, increase intensity."
Yūshin felt the enemy commander either had vision problems or intelligence issues. Looking down on him was one thing—after all, he was currently collecting chakra and recovering combat strength—but...
Honestly, few people in the ninja world would underestimate Hatake Sakumo. Did they really expect these few worthless scrubs to stop the White Fang of Konoha?
"Yes, Lord Yūshin."
Hatake Sakumo immediately accepted Yūshin's command, though Yūshin's recent words felt somewhat awkward...
Correcting the enemy's attitude? Should the enemy commander thank Lord Yūshin for that?
"They're coming."
At that moment, Lan suddenly looked up and spoke.
Yūshin caught her movement and instinctively looked toward where she faced, spotting a gray-haired, half-bearded old ninja leaping into the sky.
"The main target has appeared. Initial combat objective achieved."
"I'm about ready. Everyone, commence free hunting. Whether you provide rear support or maintain position here, it's your choice, but... I suggest staying as far from me as possible."
Yūshin feared that once fighting intensified, he might accidentally feed his own allies a mouthful of concentrated acid—now that would be quite the disaster.
"Understood!"
Seeing Yūshin's chakra had recovered to about seventy or eighty percent, the three immediately dispersed from his vicinity... Concentrating all three together was actually somewhat wasteful of combat power.
By splitting up, their enemy elimination efficiency could improve further.
Yūshin abruptly stopped, locking gazes with Ishikawa Suijin hovering diagonally above.
Ishikawa Suijin wasn't foolish either. Upon discovering that several elite squads had been instantly shattered by the enemy, he immediately understood that only his personal intervention could eliminate these opponents.
"Truly... utterly arrogant."
Witnessing Yūshin's three guards scatter in different directions, Ishikawa Suijin couldn't help feeling somewhat irritated.
His side possessed absolute advantage, yet the enemy treated it as if it were nothing.
Yūshin stood quietly in place, actually waiting for the airborne enemy to unleash that famous killing technique. However, the opponent showed no corresponding movement—what did this indicate?
It meant this person simply didn't know how.
In that case, this enemy's threat level instantly dropped by a significant margin.
If expectations proved correct, the enemy before him was the current Ishikawa Clan chief and future First Tsuchikage. The opponent was currently just hovering stupidly in the air without functioning as a "artillery platform," suggesting he very likely couldn't use the Kekkei Tōta: Dust Release.
Dust Release was rumored to be a Kekkei Tōta developed by the Second Tsuchikage—this appeared to be factual... So where was the current Second Tsuchikage? Had he already developed Dust Release?
Most likely not.
The Second Tsuchikage's age was probably similar to Yūshin's. If he could develop Kekkei Tōta at this age, his talent would exceed even Senju Tobirama's...
Not impossible, but extremely unlikely. Would there really be ninja in this era more capable than Tobirama? Yūshin didn't believe it.
Various thoughts flashed through Yūshin's mind, but his actions showed no hesitation. Lightning flickered around his body as he rapidly ascended, shooting toward Ishikawa Suijin like an arrow.
Ishikawa Suijin instantly widened his eyes—Yūshin's speed was simply too fast, reaching his position in the blink of an eye.
"Why..."
Yūshin paid no attention to the opponent's confusion, forming his left hand into a blade and thrusting straight toward the enemy's chest.
"Lightning Release? Could it be Storm Release?"
Suijin momentarily couldn't determine the nature of the attack. Something bulged on his shoulder and chest—he was subconsciously reinforcing his Weighted Rock Armor.
However, his defensive technique was Earth Release, while Yūshin's attack, whether Lightning Release or Storm Release, carried lightning attributes.
Lightning attributes counter earth attributes—completely decisive.
The lightning easily parted the opponent's armor. Simultaneously, Yūshin's elbow began expelling large amounts of steam, making his attack as fierce as wind-cutting lightning strikes... No, this was already lightning piercing, enhanced with extremely heavy force.
"Not good!"
Just as Yūshin's hand blade pierced Suijin's skin and was rapidly cutting downward, he instantly sensed a death threat.
Fortunately, as a battle-hardened ninja, when Yūshin had charged directly at him, he had already prepared for counterattack.
Yūshin possessed speed advantage, but Suijin's attack speed didn't need to be that fast—he only needed to position himself and wait for Yūshin to collide... In this regard, young people never disappointed him.
Yūshin saw the fist approaching his abdomen and instinctively sensed a certain threat.
"Can't take this directly!"
He gripped the hilt of the bladeless sword at his waist with his right hand, pulling it forward while drawing it from its sheath.
The half-drawn blade he extracted at his side precisely blocked the opponent's fist, and then...
Boom!
With a tremendous explosion, Yūshin's body was instantly enveloped by brilliant white flames, thick smoke, and high-frequency shockwaves.
Simultaneously, though his thrusting hand blade also struck the enemy, its position had shifted, losing its initial lethality.
Both endured each other's impact and crashed to the ground from midair.
"Cough, cough..."
Yūshin struggled to rise, half his body riddled with wounds.
Fortunately, he had blocked with his bladeless sword and hadn't taken a direct hit, or the consequences would have been unthinkable.
At this point, Yūshin had also seen through the opponent's technique.
"Explosion Release."
Not the self-proclaimed Explosion Release of the artist Deidara, but genuine Kekkei Genkai: Explosion Release.
That made sense—although this Ishikawa clan chief couldn't use Kekkei Tōta: Dust Release, if he lacked real skills, he couldn't possibly become the First Tsuchikage.
Strike while the enemy is down—seeing Yūshin severely wounded, surrounding Ishikawa coalition ninja immediately rushed forward to finish him off.
However, at this moment, the "steam" emanating from his body grew increasingly abundant.
Ishikawa Suijin hadn't ignored the situation on the distant battlefield—that appearing and disappearing barrier, along with the dense mist within it, had filled him with unease. He even thought he could hear his own ninja's lamentations.
He determined these white mists were extremely dangerous.
So he immediately formed hand seals:
"Earth Release: Seismic Core!"
The ground beneath Yūshin suddenly rose, instantly separating him from the surrounding ninja.
"I'll handle this person myself. You go support the front lines—don't approach him!"
"Yes, Chief/*Lord Ishikawa!"
After giving his orders, Ishikawa Suijin immediately rushed up the flat-topped earthen hill he had created.
Yūshin stood on the other side of the plateau, seemingly waiting for his opponent to ascend... Deliberately raising the terrain—was it to prevent my acid mist from taking effect?
He was quite principled, not immediately changing the battlefield at this moment.
Ishikawa Suijin's shoulder bled, but when he saw Yūshin again, his movements involuntarily paused... Yūshin's wounds were rapidly healing.
This wasn't flesh regeneration—it was clearly like a master craftsman applying putty, smoothing, and painting in one seamless process.
"Such exaggerated recovery ability—I've only heard of one person possessing it."
Yūshin tested his right arm's movement, then said:
"Live and learn—now you've gained new knowledge."
"Hmph, never mind that. Your flying ability just now was clearly our Ishikawa Clan's Light-Weight Rock Technique. Where did you learn it?"
This old fellow had quite sharp eyes—one glance and he had seen through how Yūshin had taken flight.
Huh? Did learning the Ishikawa Clan's ninjutsu require reporting to them? That made no sense.
Yūshin's figure flashed as he again struck at Ishikawa Suijin, but when he repeated his previous thrusting attack, his hand blade was blocked by an extremely resilient barrier.
An earth-brown spherical shield with openings protected Suijin.
"Lava Release... plus the earlier Explosion Release..."
"If I'm not mistaken, you're a Boil Release Kekkei Genkai user. Your application of Boil Release is quite impressive, but today you've hit an iron wall..."
"Young man, you're the one who should broaden your horizons. I possess two Kekkei Genkai—bet you've never seen that before!"
"Uh..."
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