The Ultimate Move Is Art

"Teacher Kazuhara, we're surrounded. What do we do?"

Kanzuki Chiba's voice trembled slightly. In a situation like this, death was almost certain. As ninjas, they had long been prepared to die, but when truly facing death, they still felt a helpless fear.

"Damn it..."

Uchiha Shinsui gritted his teeth. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and even the hand gripping his kunai trembled slightly.

"This really is bad, but don't panic..."

Sarutobi Kazuhara did his best to remain calm. "Looks like my ninja career ends here. It's just a pity for these three children..."

"But no matter what, I have to fight for a sliver of survival for you children..."

Sarutobi Kazuhara shouted, "Gengetsu, Shinsui, Chiba, listen carefully. In a moment, break through separately with all your strength. I'll do my best to hold off their Jonin!"

"Teacher Kazuhara!"

Kanzuki Chiba could not help but cry.

"What are you crying for? This is a ninja's fate!"

Uchiha Shinsui shouted coldly, then revealed a proud expression. "Teacher Kazuhara, I won't leave. Even if I die, I'll take the enemy down with me. I won't let the Uchiha name be dishonored!"

Kanzuki Chiba wiped away her tears. "Teacher Kazuhara, I won't leave you behind either!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara was both moved and somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Then he looked at Gengetsu.

"Teacher Kazuhara, I'm not someone who abandons his companions!"

Gengetsu formed hand seals with both hands. "Yin Seal, release!"

As his words fell, an enormous amount of Chakra surged from his forehead and spread throughout his body. The sheer quantity overflowed from his body, flickering like pale blue flames.

"What immense Chakra!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara and the other two could not help but be shocked.

"Attack!"

A Mist Ninja shouted, and all twelve moved at once. At the same time, the uninjured Mist Ninja Jonin from behind caught up.

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!

Gengetsu formed hand seals and created four clones, all rushing out to attack. Rasengan formed in their hands, followed immediately by a piercing shriek.

"Fall back!"

Gengetsu's Main Body shouted as he leaped down from the tree and pressed both hands to the ground.

Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!

Layer upon layer of walls rose up ahead. At the same time, Sarutobi Kazuhara launched an SOS Flare, then charged back toward the attacking Mist Ninja Jonin with Uchiha Shinsui and Kanzuki Chiba.

The next moment, dazzling white light abruptly expanded with a roar, and one wall after another collapsed. Gengetsu quickly turned and sprinted away, but he was too close. The storm unleashed by four Rasenshuriken arrived in an instant and sent him flying.

Kanzuki Chiba cried out and immediately turned back, forcing her way through the gale to Gengetsu's side and helping him up. Up ahead, Sarutobi Kazuhara and Uchiha Shinsui joined forces against the Mist Ninja Jonin. Blood splattered, and in the blink of an eye, the Mist Ninja Jonin's corpse fell from the air.

"Cough, cough..."

As he landed, Uchiha Shinsui coughed up blood. A large amount of blood seeped from the wound in his abdomen beneath his left hand. Sarutobi Kazuhara, who landed beside him, also had a slash across his chest that had cut through his vest, blood flowing out.

Though they had killed a Mist Ninja Jonin in an instant, Uchiha Shinsui had also suffered severe injuries. He had nearly been cut in half.

"Shinsui, how are you?"

Sarutobi Kazuhara stepped forward and supported Uchiha Shinsui.

"Cough, cough... Teacher Kazuhara, I'm done for. Take Chiba and Gengetsu and go. I'll cover your retreat!"

Uchiha Shinsui gritted out.

"What nonsense are you talking about? With me here, you won't die from a wound like this!"

Gengetsu and Kanzuki Chiba caught up.

First, Gengetsu used bandages to seal Uchiha Shinsui's wound so his intestines would not spill out. Otherwise, even saving him would be impossible. Then he had Kanzuki Chiba carry Uchiha Shinsui ahead while he followed behind, using the Mystical Palm Technique to treat him as they fled. Though he could not apply it directly to the wound, his control over Chakra was enough to heal him even like this. The effect was weaker, but this was the only option for now.

"Teacher Kazuhara, can you still hold on?"

Seeing Sarutobi Kazuhara constantly leaving a trail of blood ahead, Gengetsu could not help worrying. But with his current Chakra, he could no longer create Shadow Clones.

"I'm fine, just flesh wounds!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara turned and smiled, inwardly sighing. Thank goodness Gengetsu is here this time. Otherwise, we might have been wiped out entirely!

"However, the danger hasn't completely passed yet..."

Sarutobi Kazuhara turned back again and saw several figures appearing behind them.

The pursuers had caught up!

"These three children are inheritors of the Will of Fire. Their future achievements will far surpass mine. I absolutely can't let them fall here..."

Sarutobi Kazuhara suddenly turned and charged toward the pursuers. "Gengetsu, you go first!"

"Teacher Kazuhara!"

Gengetsu and Kanzuki Chiba could not help stopping.

"Gengetsu, what do we do?"

Kanzuki Chiba was completely at a loss.

Gengetsu's expression was grave. Though the four Shadow Clones had unleashed their ultimate move, they probably had not killed many people. The Mist Ninja were not fools; they knew how to dodge. If he could have thrown the attack at them, he was confident he could have killed half and injured the other half.

"Three Mist Ninja have caught up, and they may all be Jonin-level. Teacher Kazuhara alone, I'm afraid..."

Gritting his teeth, Gengetsu withdrew his hands. "Chiba, take Shinsui and go first. I'll go support Teacher Kazuhara. But be careful of that other Mist Ninja Jonin. My Shadow Clone injured him, but I don't know whether he can still fight!"

Kanzuki Chiba hurriedly said, "Let's go together!"

"You go together. I can go alone!"

Uchiha Shinsui raised his head and said.

"No, Shinsui. It's too dangerous for you alone!"

Gengetsu was utterly resolute and immediately set off to support Sarutobi Kazuhara. Kanzuki Chiba gritted her teeth and continued onward with Uchiha Shinsui on her back.

Water Release: Water Severing Wave!

Landing on a tree branch, Gengetsu opened his mouth and fired a jet of water. Then he turned his neck, sweeping the water blade through the air and forcibly driving back a Mist Ninja.

Though Water Severing Wave had astonishing destructive power, it was not easy to kill a Jonin in one blow.

"Retreat! Their reinforcements are here!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara shouted as he fought while retreating, but two Jonin entangled him while the other charged straight at Gengetsu.

Moreover, Gengetsu saw two more Mist Ninja catching up from behind.

"Retreating like this isn't my style!"

Gengetsu gritted his teeth and charged forward. Until the very last moment, he would never give up. It was his habit, and even more so, his principle in life!

Boom!

A punch and kick landed, shaking the ground. Thick tree trunks burst apart one after another. At that moment, Gengetsu seemed to transform into a humanoid monster. Everything that blocked his path was smashed apart by his fists and feet. The Mist Ninja repeatedly dodged away, breaking out in cold sweat.

"This Kid is ridiculously strong. Is this Konoha's Monster Strength? The intelligence said he had become the disciple of Tsunade, one of the Sannin. I never expected him to master Monster Strength so quickly!"

"But I'm not easy to deal with either! I've already found your weakness..."

The Mist Ninja grinned viciously and charged with his tachi. He was swift and nimble, rapidly circling Gengetsu.

"Damn it, he saw through my weakness..."

Gengetsu's heart sank. Monster Strength possessed terrifying attack power and gave him powerful bursts of force. But because he had trained for too short a time, his speed was not nimble enough. It was fine against Chunin, but against a Jonin, it was not worth mentioning.

Moreover, Jonin had rich combat experience. Many could predict their opponent's next move from subtle movements. Clearly, the Mist Ninja Jonin before him possessed that ability, and he was also a nimble Jonin skilled in swordsmanship.

Most importantly, this Jonin was not in a hurry. He was waiting for his other two companions!

Shouldn't villains talk more? This bastard hasn't said a single word...

Gengetsu was furious as he watched the Mist Ninja keep harassing him without confronting him head-on. Yet there was nothing he could do except do everything he could to increase the frequency and speed of his attacks.

Suddenly, Gengetsu's offensive weakened, sweat pouring down like rain.

"Is his stamina running out..."

A smile appeared on the Mist Ninja's lips. Then he saw Gengetsu's steps become unsteady and was immediately overjoyed. He instantly dashed in and launched a fierce attack from the side.

"Not good..."

Gengetsu's expression changed. His body staggered, and he was a step too slow.

"Kid, I've got you!"

The Mist Ninja tilted the tachi in his hand, not aiming for Gengetsu's vital points.

"Not good, Gengetsu..."

Seeing this, Sarutobi Kazuhara in the distance was horrified.

Pfft!

The tachi pierced into Gengetsu's body. He gritted his teeth, but a smile appeared on his face as he seized the Mist Ninja's wrist with one hand. "Those are my words. I've got you!"

"You..."

The Mist Ninja's expression changed drastically. He had been tricked.

"Die!"

Gengetsu raised his right hand. His fist, flickering with pale blue Chakra, came down and blasted the Mist Ninja away with one punch. But the next moment, blade light flashed. He retreated rapidly, staggering as he landed. Two slash wounds had appeared on his body, blood flowing out.

The other two Mist Ninja had arrived!

"What a terrifying Kid..."

"But this time, you're not faking that condition, are you?"

"Give up obediently. Otherwise, we won't hold back just because we need to capture you alive!"

The two Mist Ninja looked at Gengetsu, who was panting heavily, and did not dare let down their guard in the slightest.

"You can try!"

Gengetsu grinned and pressed both hands against his wounds, using the Mystical Palm Technique to heal himself.

"Don't give him a chance to heal! Attack!"

The two Mist Ninja charged from the left and right.

"You bastards, can't you just say a few more words..."

Gengetsu fought while retreating. Heavy punches and kicks smashed out one after another, blasting crater after crater into the ground, but the Mist Ninja dodged them all.

Damn it, I should have mastered Lightning Release first...

Regretting it inwardly, Gengetsu watched the Mist Ninja charge at him again and brought his hands together. "Die, Hard Vortex Water Dragon!"

The powers of wind and water merged. A water dragon wrapped in a hurricane spiraled upward around his body, taking the form of a tornado.

This was a fused ninjutsu, combining Hard Vortex Tornado and Tornado—one Water Release ninjutsu and one Wind Release ninjutsu. The two techniques had originally possessed similar forms and principles, but together they became incomparably dazzling, and their power increased by an unknown number of times. The charging Mist Ninja could not retreat in time and were caught in the water tornado. Empowered by both wind and water, their bones shattered and tendons tore as blood sprayed everywhere.

Huff! Huff!

The water tornado dissipated. Gengetsu panted heavily as exhaustion assailed his mind. His body immediately gave out, and he dropped to one knee. Yet a smile still appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Sure enough, ultimate moves are art... Hm? Water Clone..."

The smile froze on his face. Gengetsu's scalp went numb as he looked up and saw blade light flash before him. Not good, I'm done for...

Both chapters today are three thousand words. In an era where single chapters are all two thousand words, that should count as rare. So shouldn't everyone hand over your votes? Otherwise, be careful—I might unleash my ultimate move!