"Water Release: Horn Formation Wall!"
Amidst the raging torrent, Haruto Saito forcefully erected a conical water barrier around himself, its pointed end facing the oncoming surge. The flood was split, diverging to either side...
An interesting defensive jutsu—effective against water and wind-based attacks. However, if struck by Fire Release, Lightning Release, or Earth Release, it would likely be shattered with ease!
The flood continued its relentless assault!
"Earth Release: Earth Prison Coffin!" Haruto Saito completed another series of hand seals!
This time, an overwhelming surge of chakra erupted from him!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
From all four directions beneath Hattori Ryuuno—front, back, left, and right—gigantic rock walls shot up almost instantaneously. These towering walls rapidly converged upon him!
Crack!
Hattori Ryuuno's water barrier was instantly crushed by the Earth Prison Coffin!
This was an S-rank forbidden technique that required an immense amount of chakra to execute!
If Hattori Ryuuno couldn't escape, he would be crushed to pieces!
But this jutsu was nearly inescapable—his only exit was above. With all other directions sealed off, if he didn't choose to go up, he would have to break through the Earth Prison Coffin to flee.
The moment Haruto Saito completed his hand seals, he swiftly hurled a kunai towards the top of the earth prison. He had timed it precisely—if Hattori Ryuuno attempted to escape upwards, the attached A-rank explosive tag would detonate immediately!
All of this happened in mere moments!
"Hundred and Twenty-Eight Heavy Cannon Slash!"
BOOM!
A terrifying slash of light erupted within the Earth Prison Coffin, unleashing an earth-shaking force that shattered one of the rock walls from sheer impact… To counter an S-rank jutsu with a close-combat samurai technique—Hattori Ryuuno's attack had reached an extreme level of power!
Boom! BOOM!
The Earth Prison Coffin was destroyed, triggering a massive explosion.
Hattori Ryuuno used Body Flicker to escape instantly…
Haruto Saito was momentarily puzzled. Strange. Why hadn't Hattori Ryuuno used Body Flicker earlier, instead of waiting until after breaking free? Logically, that should mean he was unable to teleport before… But that didn't make sense. He could have gone up, but he chose not to—meaning he had no choice but to break through the Earth Prison Coffin first?
"Is it a speed-based Body Flicker technique?" Haruto Saito considered the possibility.
"No… Wait…!"
"Damn!"
"It's a samurai technique!"
Haruto Saito finally realized it. He hadn't deduced it logically—he had felt it! The escaping Hattori Ryuuno radiated only the presence of samurai techniques… Every move he used was a samurai technique! Even his Body Flicker!
"Hattori Ryuuno! That Body Flicker technique of yours must be tearing your body apart, huh? Hahaha!" Haruto Saito suddenly laughed.
He had uncovered Hattori Ryuuno's secret!
Unlike ninjutsu, which could bend space or summon elements, all samurai techniques relied on the user's body. The samurai's Body Flicker had to be purely speed-based—a momentary burst of extreme velocity. This technique, much like the Eight Gates, placed enormous strain on the body. Overuse would be devastating!
Haruto Saito understood now—completely!
He had always been suspicious. How could Hattori Ryuuno's Body Flicker cover such long distances? How could he use it so frequently?
Now he had his answer!
It was a speed-based Body Flicker—a samurai technique!
This ability had no strict limitations on range or frequency—it was only restricted by what the body could endure!
Hattori Ryuuno was definitely suffering internal injuries now! His bones might even be fractured, though it wasn't visible on the surface yet.
Their battlefield was deep in the mountains, and after dodging the explosion, Hattori Ryuuno had appeared on a nearby cliff, staring down at Haruto Saito. He looked battered—his clothes were scorched in places, his body bleeding. His right hand, in particular, seemed to be injured!
"Brat! I underestimated you! But today, you will die!" Hattori Ryuuno growled, clenching his teeth. His right hand trembled slightly from the backlash of his earlier desperate attack, where he had unleashed an ultra-powerful samurai technique at close range, causing recoil damage to his own sword arm.
He had to switch his sword to his left hand. His right hand was still usable, but it had lost its dexterity.
"Oh? Is that what you think?" Haruto Saito smirked, pulling out several cards and biting down on them… His chakra reserves were nearly depleted. Injuring Hattori Ryuuno had not been easy—he had to keep using high-powered techniques!
A normal shinobi at Haruto Saito's level wouldn't be able to fight this way—the chakra consumption was too high! They would lose quickly!
But Haruto Saito didn't care—he had cards to burn!
"Hmph! How much chakra do you even have left?" Hattori Ryuuno sneered. Though he was clearly at a disadvantage, his chakra reserves were still ample.
"Chakra, huh…" Haruto Saito curled his lips slightly, biting down on his last medium-level recovery card. "More than enough!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Both figures moved at once, turning into afterimages as they clashed once again!
Blade against blade!
Both moved like phantoms, their swords flashing like lightning!
Over a thousand strikes exchanged!
"Blade Dream Technique! How do you know the Blade Dream Technique?!" Hattori Ryuuno suddenly shouted in shock!
He had realized it! Haruto Saito was learning his swordsmanship as they fought! With his injured arm reducing his balance, Haruto Saito's swordplay was now surpassing his own…
Blade Dream Technique! It was the same forbidden technique Haruto Saito had acquired when he killed Momochi Chigen. Back then, Momochi Chigen had used this technique to rapidly learn Haruto Saito's sword style, adapting to his movements!
"Surprised? Delighted?" Haruto Saito grinned.
Suddenly, he drew a second sword! In an instant, his rapid blades slashed across Hattori Ryuuno's abdomen—just narrowly dodged, but still drawing blood… Another wound!
"Why?! How do you know the Blade Dream Technique?! How do you have the Shikotsumyaku?! Why?!" Hattori Ryuuno was in utter confusion, roaring his questions.
"You talk too much!" Haruto Saito snapped back. As he swung his right-hand sword, his left hand shot forward!
"Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
Too close!
Hattori Ryuuno dodged with Body Flicker! Haruto Saito immediately threw a Flying Thunder God kunai, giving chase!
For twenty more minutes, the two clashed relentlessly!
Hattori Ryuuno's movements slowed. He was using Body Flicker less frequently—his injuries were becoming severe… Haruto Saito, however, had consumed many recovery cards, restoring his chakra. His advantage was purely fueled by relentless chakra regeneration!
Their battle carried them into a mountain hollow, surrounded by peaks.
"It's time for you to die!" Haruto Saito suddenly halted and stepped back, drawing another card from his inventory and biting down… A golden radiance erupted behind him, forming a towering giant wielding a bow…
The arrow struck Hattori Ryuuno's feet, encasing him in a golden light circle.
This was not just a Boss Card—this was a Super Boss Card!
"You arrogant brat! DIE!" Hattori Ryuuno roared, forming seals!
"Earth Release: Earth Rock Dragon Pillar!"
Haruto Saito smirked and charged directly into the attack…