Old Man, You Really Do Have One Trick After Another!

"Damn brat!"

Ōnoki dispersed the cone-shaped Dust Release in his hand and looked at the Hagoromo that had descended from the sky.

This guy is even stronger than he was back in the Kumogakure Village!

Even the slightest improvement in a typical ninja requires time and training. What on earth did this kid eat to grow up like this?

Furthermore, what's the deal with that absorption technique?

Why can it not only absorb his Dust Release, but also directly analyze it?

Yes, analysis.

Upon first contact, Ōnoki realized that Hagoromo's Dust Release was not as powerful as his own.

But this is indeed Dust Release!

If one of one's descendants is able to learn this escape technique.

Without saying a word, he gave him the position of Tsuchikage!

Do you really think Kekkei Tōta is a common, mass-produced product?

Looking across the entire Shinobi World, only he and his master, the Second, could control it.

Given some time, Ōnoki believed that Dust Release would be perfectly executed in his hands.

"Konoha is truly blessed!"

Without further hesitation, Ōnoki floated up into the air.

He was just careless for a moment, but that doesn't mean that he— the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure —is only capable of this much!

Oh? Your fighting spirit has returned?

Looking at Hagoromo, whose demeanor had changed so much, Ōnoki couldn't help but sigh.

As expected of a Shadow, he recovered in a very short time.

But so what?

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!

With one hand forming a hand seal, Hagoromo's chest bulged, and a raging inferno erupted from his throat, crashing towards Ōnoki like a tsunami.

The intense heat directly distorted the air.

"Earth Release · Earth Style Wall!"

Ōnoki, suspended in mid-air, snorted coldly and with a single wave of his hand, a massive rock wall instantly rose from the ground.

He placed it directly in front of himself, the flames violently crashing against the rock wall, sending debris flying.

Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, but Ōnoki remained suspended in mid-air, motionless.

Hagoromo raised an eyebrow and took advantage of the gap in the Fire Style concealment to circle around from the side.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"

A dozen or so incredibly sharp, high-pressure wind blades tore through the air, directly blocking Ōnoki's various evasive paths from different angles.

Upon seeing this, Ōnoki swayed and, in mid-air, performed an impossible maneuver to dodge the wind blade.

"A trivial skill!"

Ōnoki swung his hands in both directions, and several huge rocks were grabbed by an invisible force.

Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!

The rocks instantly coalesced into a gigantic fist, hurtling towards where Hagoromo was.

Without Hagoromo or evading, Yu Yi instantly covered his right fist with Yang Release Armament and threw a straight punch directly at Rock Fist.

Bang--!

A tremendous sound erupted, and the massive Rock Fist was shattered to pieces by Hagoromo's punch.

Gravel rained down in all directions.

Before she could even turn around, a thin, white beam of light shot silently towards Hagoromo.

Hagoromo smiled. This old guy is still as cunning as ever!

Boom--!

With a single punch, the Hagoromo shattered the white beam of light heading straight for him.

"Why is the power weaker this time?!"

Whoosh--

Before the words were even finished, Hagoromo stepped forward.

The surging, invisible air currents carved a straight path across the entire ground.

A piercing whistling sound came quickly as the fist hurtled straight toward Ōnoki's head.

Ōnoki was startled and quickly formed hand seals, instantly creating an oval-shaped Dust Release in front of him, which blocked Hagoromo's punch.

"Monster--"

Ōnoki noticed that the Dust Release barrier was showing signs of breaking, and a smirk involuntarily crept onto his face.

This is defensive mode!

"That's all I'm saying, but I'm going to sue you for defamation!"

With a single, forceful movement, Hagoromo's dark gray fist instantly shattered Ōnoki's Dust Release.

Under the force, Ōnoki lost his balance, but his hands did not stop, flipping the object rapidly.

"Earth Release: Earth Opening and Digging!"

The earth trembled violently, and in the next instant, several huge, sharp rock pillars, like spikes, suddenly pierced out from under Hagoromo's feet and around her.

With Hagoromo dodged the attack, formed a hand seal, and spat out a stream of water.

"Water Release · Water Formation Wall!"

The circular stream of water shot skyward instantly, completely obscuring the rock pillar that was still hurtling towards him.

Feathered Hagoromo, having just regained their footing, didn't stop, and her hands formed hand seals once more.

Lightning Release: Earth Flow!

A powerful electric current flowed rapidly along the water and damp earth, reaching the feet of Ōnoki.

"The idea is good, but it's too slow!"

Ōnoki paid no attention to the lightning coming towards him, and his body suddenly rose up again, just barely dodging the range of the current.

"Besides, are you creating opportunities for me in your current position?"

Before he could finish speaking, Ōnoki raised his hands and formed a hand seal, "Added-Weight Rock Technique!"

An invisible force instantly pressed down on Hagoromo, intending to make him fall into the still-present Water Formation Wall below.

It's the same old routine again!

Having already experienced the power of Hagoromo from the Kitsuchi, I was somewhat speechless.

Although this move is disgusting, it must be said that the Earth Release of the Iwagakure lineage are indeed quite impressive!

"It's over! Now let's see how you escape!"

Ōnoki, thinking Hagoromo couldn't break free, clapped his hands and shouted:

Earth Release: Rock Fist Cage!

Instantly, four enormous rocks engraved with runes rose from around the Hagoromo, forming a cubic cage that trapped him in the center.

The top closed rapidly, giving Hagoromo no chance to escape.

At the same time, four enormous Rock Fists emerged directly from inside the cage and slammed fiercely into the trapped Hagoromo.

Inside the cage, dull thuds echoed, intermittently accompanied by the sound of rocks cracking.

The airborne Ōnoki finally smiled triumphantly, his hands forming a gesture that once again condensed into a white light cube exuding an aura of destruction.

"This time! Let's see how you stop me!"

"That old guy, he really has one trick after another!"

Chakra condensed directly on Hagoromo's feet. He flipped over to dodge the Rock Fist that was smashing towards him, and then kicked directly upwards.

Boom--!

A huge gap was instantly blasted open from the inside of the solid rock prison, and a figure radiating Chakra energy broke free.

"What?!"

Ōnoki never expected that his opponent would break free in such a short time.

The Dust Release cube in his hand had just taken shape, and without hesitation, he glanced at Hagoromo's location again.

The terrifying decomposition energy instantly distorted the surroundings slightly, and a huge white beam of light shot into the sky.

"That old bastard!"

Hagoromo raised her right foot high, covered by Yang Release Armament, and unleashed her Monster Strength once again.

"Yang Release: Heavenly Foot of Pain!"

The white beam of Dust Release dispersed as soon as it touched the target, just like ice crystals.

Hagoromo's attack did not diminish; she shattered the Dust Release beam and slammed it into Ōnoki.