The flurry of consecutive attacks dazzled everyone watching, leaving them stunned and full of admiration.
Though the sequence looked simple on the surface, for someone of Namikaze Minato's age, being able to chain Shadow Shuriken Jutsu, calculate the timing of explosive tags, and then follow up with a Wind Release ninjutsu was already extraordinarily rare.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi wore an appreciative expression, almost tempted to applaud.
"Minato should have this one," one jōnin commented. "The timing of that move was perfect. There was no way to dodge it."
"Trying to tank a C-rank ninjutsu head-on is impossible," another added. "Even if he barely endured it, he'd still be injured—and that would be the end of the match."
Several jōnin discussed the situation among themselves.
On the field, Minato maintained his hand seals, yet his expression showed no sign of relaxation. He remained fully focused.
Watching the roaring gale approach, Yuya's eyes flickered with a strange light.
There was no denying it—Minato's timing was impeccable. He had struck precisely when Yuya's previous burst of shock force had just ended, leaving him in a momentary state where evasion was nearly impossible.
Yuya's punch had already been thrown, his body's momentum fully committed forward. Reversing course to dodge was extremely difficult.
"If this were anyone else, they would've already lost," Yuya thought calmly.
"No time to dodge, no time to form hand seals."
"But unfortunately for you…"
"You're fighting me."
Thoughts flashed through Yuya's mind like lightning. Facing the incoming C-rank ninjutsu, he showed no panic whatsoever—only calm.
Since he couldn't dodge, why dodge at all?
So what if it was a C-rank ninjutsu?
If one punch wasn't enough—
Then he'd use two.
The next instant—
Yuya's right fist remained extended from his previous strike, while his left hand clenched tightly.
Buzz—!!
A dim white glow emerged.
Then, as Yuya let out a low shout, that glow suddenly intensified, growing dazzlingly bright!
In the next moment, Yuya's left fist—carrying his full-power shock force—smashed forward.
Buzz—!!
One punch shook the entire arena.
White shockwaves erupted violently.
Yuya's fist plunged straight into the raging vortex of Wind Release: Great Breakthrough—and detonated from within!
Crack!
Shock force spread in all directions, engulfing everything in front of him.
This was a direct collision—
Shock Release vs. a C-rank Wind Release ninjutsu!
BOOM—!!
A thunderous explosion rang out.
The C-rank ninjutsu, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, was shattered apart—violently—by Yuya's punch!
In the past, Yuya hadn't been able to directly pulverize a C-rank technique like Fire Release: Great Fireball.
But now—
Against C-rank ninjutsu, he could already crush them head-on!
In an instant, the entire arena was shaken.
"My god—he smashed a C-rank ninjutsu head-on?!"
"Yuya's Kekkei Genkai is actually that powerful?!"
"Even C-rank techniques can't withstand him… his strength is on a completely different level from ours!"
Cries of disbelief echoed everywhere.
Even the jōnin hadn't expected Yuya's shock force to reach such terrifying levels—capable of directly destroying a C-rank ninjutsu.
Likewise, Minato, who had believed the outcome nearly decided, sucked in a sharp breath, shock clearly written on his face.
"So strong…?!"
At that moment, Minato's heart sank. His expression turned extremely serious.
Defeating Yuya was far more difficult than he had imagined.
In fact—if things continued like this, losing was entirely possible.
On the other side, after smashing through Great Breakthrough, Yuya casually twisted his wrist and stretched his arm.
That punch had been delivered with full force.
Releasing his shock power at maximum output placed a slight burden on him as well.
"So… about eighty percent power is enough to shatter a C-rank ninjutsu," Yuya thought.
Only now did he have a clear sense of just how strong his full shock force truly was.
With a faintly satisfied expression, Yuya locked his gaze back onto Minato.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Yuya's figure blurred as he charged toward Minato once more.
Seeing Yuya rush in, Minato retreated almost without hesitation.
Against someone who could smash a C-rank ninjutsu with a single punch, Minato had absolutely no intention of engaging in close combat.
That would be suicide.
A punch that could destroy a C-rank technique meant Yuya effectively wielded C-rank-level power at all times—without hand seals.
Close combat was a death sentence.
However, even though Minato retreated quickly, his movement speed was still a step slower than Yuya's.
His reaction speed was astonishing, but without the Flying Thunder God Technique, his physical speed simply couldn't match Yuya's.
After only a few flashes of movement, Yuya caught up.
And then—
Yuya's fist came crashing down.
At the very last moment, Minato's hand seal speed once again drew gasps of amazement. He almost instantly performed Substitution Jutsu, narrowly avoiding Yuya's blow!
Crack—!!
The wooden log shattered into countless fragments under Yuya's punch.
Minato reappeared at a distant position, sweat covering his forehead as he panted heavily.
"Such an annoying Substitution Jutsu…" Yuya said calmly, drawing back his fist.
"But it's about time this ended, isn't it?"
Minato couldn't possibly outlast Yuya in stamina—especially with Yuya having opened the First Gate of the Eight Gates.
If the chase continued, defeat was inevitable.
"…Yeah," Minato replied after steadying his breath, his eyes flashing with resolve.
"It's about time."
There was even a hint of confidence in his gaze—
As though he had already glimpsed victory.
The next moment, Minato's hands flew through seals once more.
Another C-rank ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
The moment the jutsu was unleashed, countless confused looks appeared—even Yuya was momentarily stunned.
His fists could already shatter C-rank ninjutsu.
Casting one seemed like nothing more than a waste of chakra.
Just as Yuya felt puzzled, his brows suddenly twitched.
He glanced behind himself.
At some unknown moment, another Namikaze Minato had appeared there!
"A clone?!"
The entire audience erupted into confusion.
No one knew when Minato had used a clone—but even so, what difference would it make?
"Clones are only good for distraction—they have no real offensive power."
"That clone looks perfect… wait—no! That's not right!"
In the next instant, every puzzled expression froze—turning into sheer shock.
Because the Minato behind Yuya—
Was also forming hand seals.
And unleashing a ninjutsu!
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!!"
Rumble—!!
One in front. One behind.
Fire and wind.
Two C-rank ninjutsu slammed toward Yuya simultaneously, trapping him between them—
Forming a deadly, inescapable pincer attack!
PS
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Fūton: Daitoppa): A C-rank Wind Release ninjutsu that unleashes a powerful gust of compressed wind.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique (Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu): A C-rank Fire Release technique that launches multiple small fireballs, often used with hidden shuriken.
Eight Gates – First Gate (Gate of Opening): The first of the Eight Inner Gates, enhancing physical speed and strength by removing natural limits.
Shock Release : Yuya's special Kekkei Genkai, generating destructive shockwaves capable of crushing ninjutsu.
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