Haruto Saito could use the Flying Thunder God Technique!
His ability to escape wasn't necessarily the best in the ninja world, but those who could surpass him were few and far between!
Yet despite this, not long after his battle with Hattori Ryuno began, Haruto found himself facing a life-threatening crisis!
This made him realize that reaching Hattori Ryuno's level wasn't just about combat ability—it was also about tactical prowess! Hattori Ryuno had managed to threaten Haruto using pure strategy...
It was incredibly swift!
This reminded Haruto of Terado...
The Flying Thunder God kunai were made of metal, and metal conducted electricity, making it easier to be struck by lightning. Hattori Ryuno's main body launched a powerful attack, while his clone unleashed an even faster Lightning Release assault... The attack wasn't particularly strong, but it was fast enough to destroy Haruto's Flying Thunder God kunai!
Truthfully speaking...
The speed at which Haruto threw his kunai could never be faster than lightning!
His kunai were destroyed!
A massive thunderbolt was already upon him!
"Earth Release: Rock Armor!"
At the critical moment, Haruto released an intense surge of Earth Release chakra, transforming his body. In an instant, he was covered in a layer of rock.
Boom!
His rock armor shattered, but since stone didn't conduct electricity, Haruto himself avoided electrocution. However, the sheer impact of the attack sent him flying!
"Ugh..." He spat blood!
Hattori Ryuno, still in midair, flickered and disappeared, leaving only an afterimage. In the next instant, he reappeared beside the airborne Haruto—despite the fact that they had been over 200 meters apart! No one knew what kind of secret body flicker technique he had used to achieve such an incredible distance in an instant!
Most instant movement techniques could only cover short distances, usually under 100 meters, unless hand seals were used. Even Haruto's Flying Thunder God required pre-established coordinates for teleportation...
Hattori Ryuno appeared right beside Haruto!
His blade slashed fiercely!
Whoosh!
Haruto struck back with a Rasengan!
Boom!
Both were blasted away!
Haruto flung another Flying Thunder God kunai!
And disappeared in an instant.
Hattori Ryuno flipped through the air, landed, and immediately gave chase...
Haruto darted into the forest, escaping westward... He still felt somewhat restricted in his movements. The battlefield wasn't far from where the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist were fighting against Kakuzu and the others—just a few kilometers away...
Haruto needed to lure Hattori Ryuno even farther away!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!" Haruto leaped and unleashed a massive fire attack!
"Fire Release: True Crimson Jade!" Hattori Ryuno, still in pursuit, performed hand seals and countered with his own technique!
The enormous fire dragon and the massive fireball collided, exploding into a sea of flames, with fire plumes rising nearly 100 meters into the sky!
After his attack, Haruto kept running!
Thus, one chased while the other fled, occasionally clashing along the way. Everywhere they passed turned to ruins! Hattori Ryuno was fierce, experienced, and highly strategic, but he wasn't as fast as Haruto. Unless Haruto was willing to risk everything in a direct fight, killing him would be incredibly difficult!
Thirty minutes passed.
Haruto entered a mountainous forest, with Hattori Ryuno hot on his heels!
"Come on, then, dear opponent!"
Haruto suddenly stopped. It was time to fight seriously! He was irritated—earlier, he had been injured by Hattori Ryuno!
With a deep breath, Haruto's body surged with violent chakra waves!
Eight Gates Released—Open!
Though he could only open the first gate, Haruto's base strength was already overwhelming. Even a percentage-based enhancement was terrifying!
Hattori Ryuno didn't care what technique Haruto used. He was excited—he had confirmed that this arrogant brat was truly alone. It was as if Haruto had served himself up on a silver platter!
An afterimage streaked toward Haruto!
Boom!
The afterimage was blasted backward! It was Hattori Ryuno—Haruto had struck him with a single blow!
Haruto stood firm, panting heavily, eyes locked onto his opponent with an icy glare!
Hattori Ryuno was sent flying over 100 meters like a cannonball before he managed to stabilize himself, flipping midair and landing forcefully.
In terms of raw power, Hattori Ryuno was no match for an Eight Gates-enhanced Haruto!
"An augmentation technique? A forbidden jutsu?" Hattori Ryuno wasn't discouraged. He sneered and rushed forward, forming hand seals mid-stride. Then, he leapt—"Wind Release: Violent Jade!"
Dozens of razor-sharp wind blades rained down on Haruto. Individually, they weren't overly powerful, but they were incredibly fast!
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!" Haruto quickly formed hand seals and unleashed a hurricane before the wind blades could reach him.
The ground was torn apart, trees reduced to splinters, and everything within range was annihilated!
Hattori Ryuno's wind blades were obliterated, and he was forced to retreat, lowering his stance to withstand the storm's force... But at that moment, Haruto's body shuddered, releasing a strange chakra wave!
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern!"
Boom!
In an instant, the ground within a 100-meter radius erupted, with massive bone spikes shooting skyward, creating a terrifying bone forest!
And because the Pressure Damage was still dissipating, Hattori Ryuno was pinned close to the ground, unable to leap or defend in time. He had only one option—Body Flicker!
He vanished from the attack range!
A moment later, he reappeared above the bone forest, eyes wide in shock as he stared at Haruto!
Haruto smirked coldly. Another forced Body Flicker—how many more did Hattori Ryuno have left?
"You... Shikotsumyaku?!" Hattori Ryuno was dumbfounded. Anyone would be—this had nothing to do with rank or skill!
How could Haruto possibly possess Shikotsumyaku? That was a Kekkei Genkai!
"Surprised? Delighted?" Haruto grinned mockingly, then flung over a hundred Flying Thunder God kunai straight at Hattori Ryuno...
It was time for the counterattack!
The dense rain of kunai streaked toward Hattori Ryuno like a storm of bullets!
"One Hundred Twenty-Eight Instant Slashes!"
Hattori Ryuno swung his blade wildly, unleashing a web of crisscrossing sword energy. His attacks were over ten meters long, slicing through most of the incoming kunai—but not all of them!
Haruto appeared beside Hattori Ryuno mid-air! He raised his hand!
"Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
Another Shikotsumyaku technique!
Haruto was pushing Hattori Ryuno's Body Flicker to its limit! Unless Hattori Ryuno also had the Flying Thunder God technique, he couldn't teleport indefinitely—not even forbidden jutsu could grant unlimited movement...
Ten bone bullets shot toward Hattori Ryuno at real bullet speed!
They were too fast! And at such close range!
Hattori Ryuno seemed to lack an instant defensive jutsu—his only option was to dodge!
He disappeared once again!
"Running away again?" Haruto chuckled.
He didn't care where Hattori Ryuno went—he formed hand seals and unleashed another large-scale technique!
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Another Great Waterfall!
Eightfold power, immense attack range!
A massive torrent of water crashed down, sweeping across the land. Hattori Ryuno, just reappearing, was caught in the flood. He was furious—how much chakra did Haruto even have? How could he keep unleashing such massive techniques?!