Chapter 255: Battle-Crazed (3K+)
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
...
A large number of ninjutsu were released by these elite ninjas in an instant, but Tendō Pain merely stood still. Gakido Pain, who had accomplished nothing in his battle with Bai Cangshu, appeared before everyone. He spread his hands, blocking all the ninjutsu.
An invisible barrier began to form. Various ninjutsu struck before him, rapidly weakening and being absorbed. The Reincarnation Eye's suppressive power over ordinary ninjas was immeasurable.
An Anbu instantly appeared before Gakido Pain, his katana slashing down, but Gakido Pain didn't need to move; a laser had already pierced the Anbu's chest.
Under the Reincarnation Eye's insight, this level of Body Flicker Technique was simply impossible to evade.
Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan completely perceived all circumstances. He stood before the powerful enemy, Tao Bai Bai, his hands adopting the Gentle Fist stance, yet he said,
"The terrain here is narrow. First, protect the clan elders and get them out."
Bai Cangshu took a step, his figure instantly vanishing. Hyuga Hiashi raised his arm, and Bai Cangshu appeared precisely in the direction he was defending. Bai Cangshu threw a punch, and the powerful force, almost before it was unleashed, caused the air to wail like ghosts and wolves.
Hyuga Hiashi swiftly jabbed a finger at the side of Bai Cangshu's arm. Gentle Fist is a style of martial arts that targets acupoints. Utilizing the Hyuga Clan's ability to release Chakra from their entire body, combined with the Byakugan's ability to see through the body's Chakra pathways, Gentle Fist, to some extent, counters Steel Fist-type enemies in taijutsu combat.
But as Hiashi struck, he saw that the opponent, who had clearly built up a fierce punch, suddenly stopped his momentum.
A fierce punch turned into an empty strike.
Bang!
The air let out a bursting roar. The air seemed to have been punched out, slamming into Hiashi. At the same time, his Gentle Fist also struck empty space.
Hiashi's footwork was equally swift. He stepped out with his left foot, shifting his center of gravity to the left, and his entire body seemed to instantly cover two meters, dodging the "air cannon" produced by that empty strike, and simultaneously appearing behind Bai Cangshu's side.
His hands were one high and one low, one in front and one behind. His entire body was fully extended, Chakra flowing from all his acupoints, as if he stood within a giant Eight Trigrams formation.
Bai Cangshu merely tilted his head slightly, seeing Hyuga Hiashi's stance out of the corner of his eye. The smile on his face deepened. This was what he liked about these taijutsu ninjas: relatively speaking, they possessed a certain degree of resistance against his movements.
Combat is a game of strategy; combat is a struggle to the death.
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Hyuga Hiashi stepped in the Eight Trigrams gait, instantly closing in behind Bai Cangshu. His hands moved like phantoms, striking at various acupoints on Bai Cangshu's body.
Under the Byakugan's ultra-dynamic vision, all of Bai Cangshu's movements, every tremor of his muscles, were captured. This was the key to Gentle Fist: Chakra on his fists, like a sharp weapon ready to penetrate the internal organs and acupoints at any moment.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
Countless punch shadows flew. Within the Eight Trigrams formation, Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed drastically. Every palm he struck met the opponent's fists and feet. The opponent seemed to possess a Byakugan as well, completely seeing through his movements.
This was the first time he had encountered an opponent who stood before him, allowing him to complete the entire Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms without a single hit landing.
Most other enemies would choose to use ninjutsu to create distance, avoiding close-quarters Gentle Fist combat.
After completing the set, he observed through his Byakugan that his Chakra dissipated within the opponent's hands and feet. His Chakra had indeed entered the opponent's body, but the opponent's physique was extraordinary; they seemed to feel no injury at all.
No, that was no longer merely extraordinary. He clearly saw that the opponent had over three thousand muscles, several times more than a normal human, and their bone and joint count also differed from a human's.
This was a person with a human appearance, but internally, they could no longer be considered an ordinary person.
Unlike taijutsu ninjas who rely on Chakra to strengthen their bodies in combat, the opponent's body itself was a weapon.
Whoosh~
Flames ignited from Hyuga Hiashi's body. The sticky, sulfur-smelling flames instantly set Hyuga Hiashi's clan white robe ablaze. The stinging pain on his skin made Hyuga Hiashi react in an instant, and a powerful surge of Chakra erupted.
"Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven!"
He suddenly spun, Chakra enveloping him like a whirlwind, instantly extinguishing the flames on his body.
Bai Cangshu watched Hyuga Hiashi repeat his old trick, then suddenly stepped forward, and a purple Killing Intent Ripple intensely burst from his right hand.
In that instant, his eyes also took on the color of the Killing Intent Ripple. This special 'Ki' flowed incredibly smoothly within his body.
The Killing Intent Ripple enveloped Bai Cangshu, and in just a moment, it instantly covered the distance between the two. His body fully extended, he twisted his waist in the most effective posture for unleashing power, concentrating all his strength into his right fist. The Killing Intent Ripple glowed with a flash on his right fist.
"Burst!"
Boom!
Bai Cangshu's punch slammed into Hyuga Hiashi, who was performing "Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven."
A terrifying force instantly smashed into the rapidly spinning, powerful Chakra. The Hyuga Clan's Chakra control ability was strong, and the condensed Chakra, when rotating, was incredibly firm, like a barrier formed by air compressed to its extreme.
This was also why this technique was called "Absolute Defense."
Almost all ninjutsu and attacks could be blocked by the Hyuga Main Family's ninjas using this secret technique.
Crack!
The air instantly shattered. Hyuga Hiashi, spinning, could observe a full 360-degree view. At this moment, he clearly saw the opponent's fist piercing into the Revolving Heaven.
"Ha!"
Bai Cangshu exhaled, his punch fierce and resolute. The strong 'Ki' around his body enveloped him. The posture of his fist striking the Revolving Heaven momentarily stiffened, and then, with a terrifying sound as if the entire building was being shattered, it exploded.
Boom!
The brilliant white Revolving Heaven suddenly shattered. A powerful surge of 'Ki' propelled Bai Cangshu backward, while Hyuga Hiashi, like a black shadow, was sent flying backward, directly smashing through the front wall of the Hokage building and crashing into a distant structure.
Bai Cangshu's feet were rooted to the ground, firmly digging two meter-long furrows into the solid stone. His shoes simultaneously shattered, but even as his feet crushed the stone beneath them, his feet remained completely unharmed.
Clearly, Bai Cangshu's physical body had completely surpassed ordinary "armor."
He casually flicked his feet, discarding his two tattered shoes. He realized that he was still "restricting" himself by ordinary human standards.
Why did he wear shoes? Because ordinary people need to protect their feet, but even if he walked on blades, he wouldn't be harmed.
Similarly, normal temperature differences had no effect on him. The reason he wore clothes was also because human concepts were influencing him.
Bai Cangshu's mind grew increasingly frenzied, and the purple Killing Intent Ripple had completely enveloped him.
This exhilarating taijutsu battle continuously activated his Killing Intent Ripple.
"Killing Intent Ripple slightly increased, currently: Lv3 (44/1200)"
"Not enough, still not enough…"
Tendō Pain frowned slightly. He could sense that Tao Bai Bai seemed to be at risk of losing control, but before he could speak, a Sarutobi violently slammed into Gakido Pain. Projectiles and taijutsu attacks had little effect on it.
Then, the Sarutobi transformed into a Kongo Nyoi staff, which Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed and swung fiercely.
The Kongo Nyoi staff was incredibly hard. Coupled with the swing, it violently broke the already two-walled Hokage building in half, and all the ninjas took the opportunity to dodge outside.
Tendō Pain and Konan both took a step back, naturally falling from the edge of the building.
Meanwhile, Tao Bai Bai, already battle-crazed, did not dodge or evade, but directly raised a single hand.
Pfft!
After the Kongo Nyoi staff swept through the building, it was gripped by the opponent's single hand.
The terrifying force seemed to dissipate in his grasp.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed. The upper part of the building had already collapsed with a crash. He could only release the Kongo Nyoi staff and mentally order the Sarutobi to release its transformation.
Rumble!
The building crashed down, burying Tao Bai Bai within it. The Sarutobi was also buried.
Hiruzen Sarutobi merely looked back once. He no longer had the mind to care for his old partner; the person who attacked today was incredibly powerful.
Moreover…
"Uchiha Fugaku, are you Uchiha Clan truly going to betray Konoha?!"
He shouted sternly. Although his voice showed his age, that imposing aura momentarily brought back memories of the young "Shinobi Professor" in Uchiha Fugaku's mind.
This Third Hokage was also a powerful Hokage who rose from the fires of war. Was the Uchiha Clan truly ready for a full-scale battle?
No, the Uchiha Clan was not at all prepared internally. The Uchiha were not all soldiers; there were also ordinary people who couldn't master Chakra refinement, and ordinary ninjas who couldn't activate the Sharingan...
The so-called coup d'état and rebellion was definitely not a decision that could be made on a whim. If the wrong choice was made, it would cause the deaths of many innocent clan members.
"Hokage-sama, the Uchiha Clan has nothing to do with today's rebellion."
A clear, young voice sounded. Uchiha Itachi, holding the sharp blade that had just killed Konoha's Hokage Advisor Koharu Utatane, appeared before the Third Hokage with lowered eyelids.
Blood continuously dripped from the blade. He looked up, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan met Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze. The latter instantly shifted his eyes, looking at the shadow.
Uchiha Itachi, however, did not activate his Sharingan genjutsu. He merely calmly tore off the inner shirt beneath his combat uniform that bore the Uchiha Clan crest, and then sliced that fan crest in half with a blade.
"Today's slaughter was entirely decided by me, Uchiha Itachi, alone. I believe that compared to Konoha being completely destroyed, my selective slaughter of some high-ranking officials and ninjas in cooperation with Tao Bai Bai is the method that will cause the least damage to Konoha and the Uchiha."
"Hokage-sama, I presume you will also understand this line of Logic."
His tone was devoid of mockery, terrifyingly rational and calm.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart continuously sank. He had indeed praised this young man, who at only four years old had been caught in a brutal war and possessed a Hokage-like thinking ability that surpassed the narrow vision of the Uchiha Clan.
However… when the other party applied that thinking Logic to the current situation, it was so cruel and cold-blooded.
He turned his head and saw his old friend, half-buried in the collapsed ruins. For the first time in years, he felt that pain again.
Hokage-style thinking… so the sacrificed party was truly this painful…
Uchiha Itachi did not wait for his reply. His heart grew colder and colder. He disliked Tao Bai Bai, but Tao Bai Bai's words were gradually being confirmed by these Konoha higher-ups.
So, this world was all about interests after all…
"Heh…"
"Hokage-sama, our capacities seem to be far from enough."
Clang!
The blade lit up again. The next moment, a figure suddenly blocked Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Fugaku, holding a kunai, precisely parried Uchiha Itachi's long sword. Their Three-Tomoe Sharingan met, and their ocular power seemed to collide as well.
Uchiha Fugaku's face was ashen. He could hardly believe that his kind, sensitive, yet exceptionally intelligent eldest son had come to this point.
"What exactly did you encounter… Itachi."
"What about Zhi Shui? What did Tao Bai Bai do to Zhi Shui?!"