"Clang, clang, clang."
Inside the Third Training Ground.
Two figures flashed back and forth, their ninja swords colliding repeatedly and sending sparks flying.
The two fighting were none other than Seiryū and Sakumo!
Their movements were incredibly swift, their techniques fierce and extraordinary, and their ninja swords swung so fast they left afterimages!
"Clang!"
With another collision and a spray of sparks, the two simultaneously retreated.
"Be careful, Uncle Sakumo. This is a technique I recently developed that combines swordsmanship and Ninjutsu, Hadō #51: Flying Blade Circular Slash!"
After steadying his footing, Seiryū smiled at Sakumo.
Raising his ninja sword high, Seiryū channeled Chakra into the blade, which faintly gave off a sharp, piercing aura.
Then, as Seiryū slashed down, a shrieking sound erupted. The Chakra condensed into a circular shape, its serrated edges exceptionally sharp, slicing through the air as it flew toward Sakumo!
The reward of improved swordsmanship talent allowed Seiryū to pick up the swordsmanship he had previously neglected.
Just like his previous improvement in Hakuda talent, Seiryū's understanding of swordsmanship had become somewhat superhuman.
Because of the improvement in his swordsmanship, those Kidō-like techniques similar to a "Flying Slash" that he could not use before could now be unleashed!
And without the need for hand seals. It was more like a seal-less Ninjutsu. Or rather, a technique that combined swordsmanship and Ninjutsu!
"You brat, you really are a monster."
Watching the incoming slash, Sakumo's temple twitched. Just from the whistling sound of it cutting through the air, he could tell how lethal this technique was.
He did not dare be careless in the slightest!
Taking a deep breath, he used his perfected Hatake Swordsmanship, channeling his Chakra into Wind Release Chakra properties to grant it even greater cutting power! Then, he slashed down heavily!
"Boom! Szzzz."
Sakumo's strike shattered the Flying Blade Circular Slash, causing the broken Chakra fragments to fly everywhere, cutting long, thin trenches into the surroundings!
"Again. Hadō #78: Zangerin!"
Seiryū was not surprised that his attack was blocked.
Sakumo's strength was not weak. His White Fang short blade, combined with Hatake Swordsmanship, had allowed him to dominate the battlefield and earn the title of Konoha's White Fang!
Seiryū's offensive did not stop. Instead, he was gathering an even stronger attack.
"Hummmm."
Because the Chakra was highly condensed and compressed, even this ordinary ninja sword began to vibrate at high frequency.
Hadō #78: Hana-Karin was the superior version of Hadō #51: Flying Blade Circular Slash. It had greater power, faster speed, and mobilized even more powerful Chakra!
"Szzzz."
The serrated, arc-shaped slash shot out from Seiryū's ninja sword, cutting along the ground and leaving a deep trench before slashing forward, slicing even the invisible air!
For some reason, Seiryū wanted to rename Zangerin.
How about calling it Getsuga Tenshō?
Slashing down and shouting "Getsuga Tenshō", that feeling would be so cool!
"Hey, hey, are you trying to kill me?"
Cold sweat broke out on Sakumo. Such Chakra fluctuations indicated how terrifying this attack was, far more powerful than the previous one.
He could have shattered the previous attack.
But this move, he felt he could not block.
If he took it head-on, both his White Fang short blade and he himself would be split in two!
Though he did not know Sensor-type Ninjutsu, his battle-hardened instincts gave him a very clear judgment of danger. This move absolutely could not be taken head-on!
"Whoosh!"
Decisively choosing to dodge, Sakumo was skilled not only in swordsmanship but also in speed. He was a speed-type shinobi.
Just as the attack was about to hit him, he used the Body Flicker Technique and narrowly evaded it!
"Szzzz."
Then, everything behind him suffered.
Seiryū's attack flew in a straight line, destroying and severing everything in its path.
Towering trees, protruding rocks. Everything under this serrated slash was sliced open as easily as if it were tofu, leaving a deep trench that extended to the end of the Forest of Death.
Kakashi: "..."
He knew Seiryū was very strong now, but was this not too exaggerated?
What on earth was this attack?
A combination of swordsmanship and Ninjutsu.
Seiryū had only started practicing swordsmanship again a short while ago, so how did he develop such a terrifying technique?
This made him, a genius, look very dull!
His Chidori had been developed for quite some time, and he had only developed a few derivative applications since then.
But Seiryū.
What a freak!
Looking at the trench behind him that extended into the Forest of Death, Sakumo swallowed hard.
It was a good thing he dodged.
Otherwise, he would really be dead!
Sakumo suppressed the shock in his heart, turned to look at Seiryū, and asked curiously, "How did you do it? To be able to unleash Chakra in this way."
If he could master this kind of attack, his combat power would improve once again.
This seemed to be the correct way to unlock the potential of swordsmanship!
"Actually, it's not difficult. As long as your swordsmanship reaches a certain level, combined with precise control of Chakra, and you finally master the technique of materializing and shaping Chakra, you can unleash a 'Flying Slash'."
Seiryū explained briefly.
According to his research, to unleash a Flying Slash in this world, those conditions were required.
This was a technique combining swordsmanship and Ninjutsu, not the brute force of a Perfect Susanoo wielding a Chakra katana.
The principles were different.
"Flying Slash? That's an apt description."
Sakumo nodded and continued to ask, "The technique of materializing and shaping Chakra? What exactly does that mean? Is it like your Rasengan?"
"No, the Rasengan is just precise control and shape transformation of Chakra. It's not the same thing as materializing and shaping Chakra."
Seiryū shook his head and explained, "For example, the Nara clan's Shadow Secret Technique actually uses the technique of materializing and shaping Chakra."
The Flying Slash required the use of the technique of materializing and shaping Chakra.
It had to be shaped into a slash before it could be released.
Did the Tailed Beast Ball not also require the use of Yin Release Chakra?
Come to think of it, the Flying Slash had some similarities to the Tailed Beast Ball!
"The Nara clan's Shadow Secret Technique?"
Sakumo recalled the condensation and shaping of the Nara clan's Shadow Secret Technique, which indeed had some similarities to Seiryū's Flying Slash just now.
"I see. Condensing and shaping Chakra into the form of a blade, then slashing it out with a sword stroke to achieve medium-to-long-range damage. This ingenious idea is truly astonishing. You are indeed a genius, Seiryū!"
As a master of swordsmanship, Sakumo was quick-witted and roughly understood the specific principles of the Flying Slash.
Seiryū chuckled. "You flatter me!"
Sakumo said, "Can I learn this Chakra application technique of materializing and shaping Chakra? This technique is extremely useful for shinobi like us who use swords!"
Seiryū thought for a moment and nodded. "It should be possible. This is a special application of Yin Release Chakra properties, and any shinobi could potentially master it."
This was just a technique for applying Chakra.
It had nothing to do with his own uniqueness.
Others could also unleash a Flying Slash. The principles were right there.
Well, the prerequisite was mastering the application of Yin Release Chakra properties, which was still somewhat difficult, as Yin Release Chakra properties were not easy to refine.
"As long as you can reach my level, you should be able to unleash a Flying Slash."
As he spoke, Seiryū demonstrated, condensing a mass of materialized Chakra in his hand, which began to constantly change shape like modeling clay under his control.
This was the first time they had seen someone "play" with Chakra to such an extent.
This was simply not the same concept of Chakra that they knew!
At this moment, Kakashi suddenly said, "You can condense Chakra into the shape of a ninja sword, right? Why do you still use this ninja sword that isn't even sharp? Is a materialized, shaped Chakra blade too fragile?"
Hearing this, Seiryū's expression stiffened.
He looked at the ninja sword in his hand, which had been chipped from the previous collision, and suddenly slapped his thigh. "That's right, why didn't I think of that?"
He could clearly condense Chakra into swords and blades, so why was he still using this dull ninja sword?
Was that not redundant?
Kakashi: "..."
He was somewhat exasperated. "Are you telling me you really didn't think of this? My Chidori Sharp Spear was only developed after your reminder."
The Chidori Sharp Spear, which was a shape transformation of Chidori, was also sword-shaped.
It was also a derivative application of Chidori that Seiryū had told him about.
Yet, how could Seiryū have forgotten about this?
"I'm just forgetful. There's been a lot to do lately. Trying to develop new techniques, plus the arrival of the war, has had my brain spinning, and I can hardly keep up."
Seiryū shrugged.
There were too many things going on, so he had not thought carefully about some matters and had even forgotten such a simple principle.
Kakashi said leisurely, "Has your illness worsened again?"
Seiryū: "..."
He could not be bothered to argue with these people who stubbornly insisted he was sick.
He was used to it.
Mentioning the Chidori Sharp Spear reminded Seiryū of the advice he had once given Kakashi.
He asked curiously, "Speaking of which, have you mastered the SSS-rank Ninjutsu 'Excalibur' I told you about?"
Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes. "Do you think humans can actually perform that kind of technique?"
"Hum."
Before Kakashi could finish, Seiryū focused his mind, and the Dragon Vein Chakra was mobilized.
Then, the Chakra mass in his hand surged into the sky, forming a giant beam sword thousands of meters long and several meters wide, with a blue-purple color.
Seiryū looked up at the giant beam sword and showed an expression of surprise. "It actually worked? It seems it isn't that difficult, as long as the Chakra is massive enough."
He had only tried it out. He did not expect it to actually succeed.
The technique of materializing and shaping Chakra, combined with the massive Dragon Vein Chakra, allowed Seiryū to replicate Saber's Excalibur!
And judging from the Chakra fluctuations, it did not seem weak at all.
He could probably bat away a Tailed Beast Ball like a baseball!
Thinking of that image, the corners of Seiryū's mouth curled into a smile, and he thought, 'Hehe, should I go chat with the Nine-Tails? Come to think of it, I've almost forgotten about that guy. I wonder how it's getting along with Kushina-nee.'
'Hmm, and while I'm at it, see if I can grind some missions or something.'
Come to think of it, Seiryū had indeed forgotten about the existence of the Nine-Tails in Konoha, since it was sealed inside Kushina.
Its presence was very low.
After it had gone berserk once, Kushina had reinforced her own seal, and Seiryū had helped at the time.
The current Nine-Tails could not even influence Kushina, let alone leak a single bit of Chakra.
It would be snuffed out the moment it showed its head.
It was sealed tight!
"I. you."
Looking at the giant blue-purple beam sword hanging overhead, Kakashi opened his mouth.
In the end, he could only say this, "Forget it, no matter what you do, it seems perfectly normal."
Seiryū had given him too many surprises.
He was almost used to it.
Habit was truly a terrifying thing.
"No wonder you were able to severely injure the Third Raikage on the battlefield. This strength has already surpassed many people's understanding. I'm afraid only the former First Hokage and Madara could possess such power, right?"
Sakumo sighed with emotion.
Someone with this strength was actually just an eleven or twelve-year-old boy.
Seiryū always managed to redefine his understanding of shinobi!
Sakumo slowly exhaled, his tone very grave. "Perhaps in this era, only you can stand against Madara."
"Don't jinx it, Uncle Sakumo. What do you mean, 'only me'?"
Seiryū's mouth twitched.
He continued, "I'm not his only enemy. People from other hidden villages are wary of him too."
Now, the news that the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara, was still alive was no longer a secret.
The Land of Rain was located between Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure, making it a contested battleground.
Naturally, there were spies from all three factions present.
The great battle in the Land of Rain a month ago was also witnessed by many scout shinobi.
The Uchiha clan's Susanoo was no secret to many people.
A Susanoo of that size. In many people's understanding, only the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara, possessed it!
Furthermore, Seiryū's idea of bringing Madara to the forefront had not changed.
He had taken the opportunity to stir up trouble in the shadows and release information, letting all the hidden villages in the shinobi world know the fact that Madara was still alive.
And it was the kind with solid evidence!
The "return" of the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara, naturally terrified countless people who knew his name.
Coupled with the fact that Madara's goal was the Tailed Beasts, it made the people from the other hidden villages even more vigilant.
Although the Eight-Tails and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki were killed by "Konoha's Reaper," Uzumaki Seiryū, Madara was also involved!
The only thing the other hidden villages felt relieved about was that Madara was not on the same side as Konoha. Instead, they seemed like enemies!
Otherwise, with the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara, and Konoha's Shinigami, Uzumaki Seiryū, joining forces, the scene of them sweeping across the shinobi world would repeat itself!
How could anyone possibly compete with Konoha?
Surrendering early might be the only way to avoid heavy casualties.
(To be continued.)