Chapter 150: 146: Air God Strike

Chapter 150: 146: Air God Strike

The barren hills in the Land of Grass were poised for battle.

The sounds of ninja clashes filled the air, resembling the thunderous galloping of thousands of troops. The battlefield echoed with hysterical roars, the release of jutsus, and the sharp hissing of projectiles piercing the atmosphere.

"Earth Release: Earthquake Core."

Kitsuchi took the lead in the battle, commanded the battlefield as he unleashed his earth release jutsu. With the jutsu he caused the ground beneath his feet to surge upward, drawing the attention of all.

He swiftly followed with his second jutsu.

"Earth Release: Rock Fist Jutsu."

This jutsu encased his right hand in an immense, solid rock formation, which he then used to strike forcefully against the raised ground. The massive stones crumbled at a terrifying pace, crashing into the besieging Konoha ninjas, sending them flying and causing them to cry out in pain.

Kitsuchi, as the Iwa Army's commander-in-chief in the Land of Grass, possessed not only strategic brilliance but also huge physical power, ranking among the elite ninja of Iwagakure.

Although there was a gap in power between him and Konoha's Sannin, given the right terrain and environment, the destructive potential of his jutsus should not be underestimated.

What further bolstered his might was a natural, strange power uncommon among regular ninja. Thus, when his earth release and rock fist jutsu unleashed a level of ferocity and brutality like divine intervention, leaving the enemies in pain.

After defeating the Konoha ninjas surrounding him, Kitsuchi led the Iwa ninjas forward, heading towards the upcoming battlefield, where one of Konoha's Sannin, Jiraiya, awaited him.

"Fire Release · Flame Bullet"

Jiraiya released a colossal fireball with the jutsu. nove(l)bi(n.)com

Naturally, Kitsuchi didn't need to fend off the attack himself, as the Iwa ninjas accompanying him swiftly erected a sturdy earth barrier to block the fireball.

"Today is the day you meet your end!" Kitsuchi taunted.

"I'll take your word for it." Jiraiya retorted, a smile on his face.

Following a brief exchange in close combat, Kitsuchi took advantage if his unique strength to momentarily overpower Jiraiya. He then retreated, maintaining a safe distance to avoid the next attack.

He squatted down, planting his hands on the ground. His gaze turned cold and sharp as he shouted,

"Earth Release - Moving Earth Core!"

The ground rumbled, as if a terrifying force was building beneath.

Jiraiya struggled to stay steady on the quaking ground and began forming hand seals when he sensed something strange.

Enormous shadows emerged from either side, two huge hemispherical rock masses closing in on him. Human flesh and blood would hardly withstand such pressure; without proper defenses, these large rocks could inflict fatal injuries.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A dense white smoke erupted between the two massive rocks. As the smoke cleared, a huge animal shadow came into view.

"Jiraiya, you brat! You always summon me in the strangest places!"

It was a giant toad, holding a massive and sharp short sword while berating Jiraiya. Nevertheless, it efficiently wielded its huge sword to cleave the boulders on either side.

Jiraiya maintained his composure on the toad's head, ignoring the toad's scolding. His gaze remained fixed on Kitsuchi. So far, Kitsuchi had used large-scale earth release jutsu on the battlefield, an especially formidable weapon.

When such a ninja succeeded with this type of ninjutsu, it resulted in significant casualties.

"That troublesome giant toad again?"

While his execution of the Moving Earth Core Jutsu was somewhat lacking in power due to his limited proficiency, the quick response and strength of the giant toad could not be underestimated, especially considering its ability to intercept his attack so rapidly.

With the vast size of the toad, it appears it mist be restricted.

"Why this sudden provocation at this time by Konoha? Is there a hidden agenda?"

Kitsuchi abandoned his initial plan to attack directly, considering Iwagakure's current strategic positioning.

With Konoha in its current dire state, Iwagakure merely needed to apply steady pressure to force a continuous Konoha retreat, negating the need for risky offensive maneuvers. Compared to Konoha, Iwagakure could not afford further losses.

...

"Hmmm?"

Ayane, who had been running through the forest, suddenly stopped. Her attention was drawn to a particular direction, where she detected nine individuals.

Among them were two Root teams, totaling eight individuals, and their leaders. One of them was Shimura Danzo, the head of the Konoha's Shimura clan who had set a bounty of 100 million ryo on her in Iwagakure.

"Nine people, with a combined reward of 140 million ryo. As for this Danzo, I left him alive when I left Konoha last time. It seems I'll take revenge for that arrow from a few years ago."

For Danzo, as the leader of the Root, he and Ayane share a life-and-death enmity.

She will never forget the ordeal when she was betrayed by the Root, almost on the brink of death at the hands of that Suna Group.

If it weren't for the Root's miscalculation of their capabilities and a series of accidental factors, their survival and the ensuing battle for revenge against Konoha and Hyuga would likely not be happening today.

"I'm different from Shiraishi-kun. Women are petty creatures, they must always take their revenge."

However, with the nine people led by Danzo, and her own strength to consider, Ayane questioned whether her plan would succeed.

As the leader of the Root and a disciple of the previous generation's Hokage, Senju Tobirama, Danzo undoubtedly boasted powerful abilities among the Jonin. Additionally, the Root entourage comprised elite individuals, each possessing specialized skills in their respective fields.

She resolved to give it a shot, musing, "Test the waters first, and if it doesn't work, we'll consider a retreat."

While Ayane stood contemplating her next move, Danzo's group rapidly approached her.

"It appears there are sensory ninjas among them, with sensory abilities extending beyond the range of my Byakugan. The fact that they've found me couldn't have been a mere coincidence. Did they vanish earlier because they wanted to determine my approximate location?"

It seemed that Konoha's resolve to eliminate her was more difficult than anticipated. She pondered whether the Hyuga clan had a hand in this.

Overwhelmed by these questions, Ayane opted not to dwell on them for long. She rushed forth toward Danzo.

"Danzo-sama" one of the accompanying sensory ninjas whispered.

"Has the other party started moving?" Danzo inquired.

"Yes.".

"Despite her petite appearance, we must not underestimate her. Be cautious of her Byakugan and Gentle Fists."

Danzo cautioned, his gaze piercing.

"Understood."

"Proceed with the plan. The other party is unaware of our possession of crucial information regarding her. We must use this to our advantage." Danzo declared.

With those words, the eight Root ninjas accompanying him accelerated their pace to draw nearer.

One hundred meters... fifty meters... twenty meters... The gap between the two groups steadily closed until they could clearly discern each other's figures with the naked eye. There was no need for sensory jutsus or chakra perception; both sides could rely on their eyes to pinpoint their opponents' precise locations.

Ayane kept a mental count of the diminishing distance between her and Danzo's group.

In her sights, Danzo's cold and gloomy image was becoming more prominent.

His hands formed hand seals, chakra gathered in his mouth as he readied to execute a jutsu.

The rest of the Root ninjas likewise readied their chakra silently. When they were within ten meters, Ayane abruptly concentrated chakra in her legs, darting forward at an accelerated pace.

Five meters... This distance fell well within the range of her Byakugan. Ayane promptly channelled Senjutsu chakra into her Byakugan, sending forth an unseen, air-penetrating wave of coercion that silently advanced.

Her objective was clear: she needed to eliminate the two Root ninjas first and then leverage her Byakugan's advantage to outmaneuver her enemies within the complicated terrain. This was Ayane's strategic approach.

Her plan seemed to be progressing as intended when a Root ninja launched a ninjutsu attack.

Boom!

The explosion reverberated through the unseen air, creating a storm that widened Ayane's eyes in shock. Her coercion attack had been deflected.

"This guy's jutsu is..."

Ayane was shocked by this development. How could members of the Root be aware of her pupil jutsu's method and range? Konoha's intelligence network should not possess such information about her.

A brief moment of doubt crept into Ayane's mind.

"Could it be ...."

"Wind Release Vacuum Wave!"

As the sharp wind approached, it was intercepted by her chakra sphere.

This momentary pause provided Dai with a favorable offensive chance. The huge chakra radiating from Ayane's entire body caused an explosive reaction on the spot.

Dai's expression twisted as he rolled backward. His eyes widened in disbelief as he observed Ayane standing unharmed in the field.

"Is this merely compensating for the stiffness after using the Rotation by using the One Body Blow?"

Hizashi discerned that Ayane's approach, involving releasing chakra throughout her entire body, closely resembled the fundamental 'One Body Blow' Taijutsu of the Hyuga clan.

This method involved utilizing one's entire body to emanate powerful chakra and could often serve as an alternative to the Rotation's absolute defense.

Hizashi was observing this approach for the first time. While it sounded simple, it was a challenging jutsu to execute.

Not every Hyuga ninja could mobilize chakra swiftly enough and seamlessly release the 'One Blow' in the brief interval of vulnerability following Rotation. A strong physique and precise chakra control were key requirements.

"Wasting chakra in this manner is a luxury I wouldn't indulge in if it weren't for this dire situation."

Ayane said. Her words underscored her level of commitment to this battle. The moment Ayane spoke, the tension in the air spiked as everyone within immediately became vigilant

"I won't play with you any longer; I intend to end this battle as quick as possible."

Ayane said as she amassed a huge amount of senjutsu chakra in the palm of her hand, a prelude to unleashing a certain jutsu.

"Don't bother!"

Might Dai, shrouded in steaming green energy, darted toward Ayane at a speed almost impossible for human eyes to follow.

"Too slow!"

The atmosphere resonated with a foreboding presence. Every inch of visible terrain was affected by this peculiar force, asif there would be no survivors.

The explosive shockwave, generated by the turbulent chakra flow, was even more deadly than an artillery shell.

Dust and debris filled the air.

As they awaited the dispersal of the smoke, they found that the terrain covered by the Four Purple Flame Formation was no longer suitable for footing.

Ayane stood on top of a rock raised from the earth, her posture nearly unscathed. She became the focal point in the field, amid battered Konoha ninjas.

Danzo retreated with injuries across his body, his arms and torso bleeding significantly. His injuries were severe, and he looked at Ayane with resentment.

Fear of Ayane had reached its peak. Although she had hidden her true abilities, no one had anticipated they were of this magnitude.

Ayane observed Danzo, who retreated without any action, and then scanned her surroundings. Having surveyed the area, she directed her attention to Minato, who had just risen from the rubble. He was the least injured among the Konoha ninjas.

Ayane had already discerned his attack patterns.

"There are a total of twenty-six time-space imprints here, with six on the Root operatives... I won't give you the chance for sneak attacks."

Although she could react with her own nerve response, but letting the other party approach her rashly was tantamount to a kind of gambling.

Compared to the others, Minato was the greatest threat to her.

Minato noticed Ayane's vigilance toward him. He recognized that using his space-time ninjutsu would undoubtedly make him a prime target. However, this was quite troublesome.

All the time-space imprints he left here have been discovered.

And just as Ayane prepared to act, something captured her attention. Her gaze locked onto a particular location.

With the sound of explosions, a deluge of debris was hurled into the sky by the maelstrom of chakra-infused airflow. Meanwhile, the green steam enveloping Might Dai began to change color.

His fluctuating chakra waves expanded, while the dense steam wall gradually solidified, nearing materialization.

"Seventh Gate: Gate of Shock – Open!"

Roaring with an intensity almost like bellow, Dai generated an outward surge of turbulent air, repelling everything in its vicinity.

Minato was momentarily taken aback and marveled at the power of Dai's Taijutsu. No wonder he had been called in for this battle. He might be the only Taijutsu specialist capable of confronting Ayane head-on in this group.

Ayane used her slender body to withstand the sudden, violent airflow and frowned slightly.

There was a distinct shift in Dai's form, which appeared to tremble ever so slightly. At that moment, Ayane's expression changed, and she took a step back.

Dai vanished from view and, upon reappearing, was now before Ayane. A surging wave of air had been harnessed to form a dense shell around him.

A thunderous explosion resonated.

Boom!

While flying, Ayane managed to stabilize herself just before colliding with the barrier.

She narrowly averted being thrown backward. As she regained her balance, she noticed a fresh scratch on the back of her hand, and blood droplets began to emerge.

"Blocked, but not entirely."

The Root operatives watched Ayane in astonishment.

"This is different. Dai's Taijutsu attack was partially offset by Ayane's chakra release. Her body isn't as strong as it seems."

Hizashi, with his Byakugan, was capable of witnessing Ayane and Dai's battle in great detail. He understood that, although Dai currently surpassed Ayane in speed, her ability to expel the chakra air wall from her body at will largely negated Dai's power.

To be honest, a deawn out engagement was disadvantageous for Dai. The Eight Inner Gates was a form of self-harm, resulting in a burst of power over a brief period.

However, from Hizashi's perspective, Ayane was an all-around ninja, an impregnable fortress, and her defensive capabilities negated most of Dai's power, even after he had opened the Seventh Gate. The attacks that landed on her subsequently proved inconsequential.

"In these past few years, aside from the Sharingan woman, you're the first person who has made me bleed." Ayane said with a faint smile on her face, but her eyes remained as cold as ice.

Dai had activated the Seventh Gate, and speaking at this point would only waste energy. He was fully aware that he couldn't sustain this mode for long. Even his own attacks would be nullified by Ayane's Gentle Fist. He knew he had about three minutes before it would become life-threatening, so it wasn't the time to hesitate.

Without a second thought, Dai swiftly retrieved a yellow pill from his ninja pouch and swallowed it whole.

"Taking medicine?"

Ayane narrowed her eyes. She recognized the pill as a secret remedy from the Akimichi clan, known to enhance physical abilities, restore chakra and blood, and slow down physical deterioration.

After ingesting the pill, the blue steam enveloping Dai burned more intensely.

At that very moment, both Dai and Ayane vanished from sight, creating an explosion on the ground.

Ayane's frowned as she struggled to keep up with Dai's speed, realizing her strength was not dominant.

Dai was no better off, with bulging veins visible through his green tights and an unnatural crimson tint to his distorted face.

Even with the secret medicine from the Akimichi clan to mitigate physical strain, he found it challenging to endure the side effects of the Eight Inner Gates.

Ayane knew that if she could survive this round, victory was hers. Suddenly, Dai disappeared from sight. Under her Byakugans's watchful eye, he rapidly lowered his body.

Instinctively, Ayane crossed her arms, redirecting Dai's upward kick from her chin to her arm, but the force still sent her upwards.

Realizing the opportune moment, Minato and Danzo sprang into action. With Dai deprived of his leverage, he could only brace himself for the enemy's onslaught.

"Dai, focus on disrupting her attacks! Don't relax!"

Danzo yelled excitedly as a seal materialized on his palm. He leaped into action, charging towards the momentarily helpless Ayane.

Minato, on the other hand, condensed a small, rotating chakra ball in his hands. He had placed a space-time imprint on Danzo, ready to direct his attacks onto Ayane when Danzo got close.

The outcome of the battle seemed clear. Every move was meticulously observed by Ayane's white eyes. She parted her lips, revealing a serene smile tinged with blood.

Her fingers extended towards a moon-blue metal ring on her neck, which shattered into fragments that fell to the ground.

Her Senjutsu chakra surged within her, and her pure white pupils gazed at the bright blue sky.

'The sun is a bit harsh. Speaking of which, the weather today is also fine.'

In a low voice, she calmly uttered three words:

"Air God Strike."

It was a unique energy fluctuation, existing between the tangible and the intangible, capable of dying the world into shades of black and white.

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