The sun blazed overhead, but a blizzard had appeared in the distance, splitting the world in two.
After destroying the Mizukage's Giant Clam, Uzumaki Shori watched the weather change abruptly in the distance.
His opponent, Hozuki Gengetsu, wore a smile.
"Second Uzukage, what do you think of this scene, with snow flying everywhere? As a Kekkei Genkai of the Yuki Clan, it seems my subordinate has the upper hand."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Shori couldn't help feeling a sense of urgency.
From Uzumaki Shori's perspective, the blizzard was growing stronger, and the battlefield's conditions were increasingly favorable to the enemy. Would his teammates gradually end up at a disadvantage too?
He couldn't keep thinking like that. He had to defeat the Mizukage as quickly as possible. He formed Hand Seals.
"Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Five chains whipped toward Hozuki Gengetsu, striking him directly.
But as they hit, the chains passed straight through him and slammed into the ground.
They pierced deep into the earth and kept moving quickly, striking four targets in succession. Every one of them was hit.
The targets turned into puddles of water and splattered across the ground. Uzumaki Shori continued sensing for his target with Mind's Eye of the Kagura. All five targets had been water clones. Why hadn't he sensed that?
Hozuki Gengetsu had gained a deeper understanding of his opponent's sensory abilities.
Using Water Transformation Technique, Hozuki Gengetsu merged with the puddles on the ground, confusing his opponent's senses.
So he could avoid his opponent's perception by using Water Transformation Technique while submerged in water. That meant he had a good chance in the fight ahead. He would create an environment of his own. He formed Hand Seals.
"Water Release: Water Ball Technique!"
Dozens of bubbles shot out from behind to launch a sneak attack.
But as soon as he leaped out, Mind's Eye of the Kagura immediately detected the target.
The Adamantine Chains quickly returned to shield him from the Water Ball Technique. The water balls slammed into the chains.
"Bang! Bang!"
The sound was nothing like water balls striking something. It sounded more like iron balls colliding.
Uzumaki Shori could only dodge. He couldn't withstand the attacks, even with the chains shielding him.
Under the Water Ball Technique's assault, the Adamantine Chains began to corrode and snapped apart.
The Mizukage's Water Ball Technique was no ordinary technique; it contained a special oil. The water balls had battered the battlefield into a pitted mess.
Now! He formed Hand Seals.
"Water Release: Waterfall Technique!"
In an instant, he created a massive waterfall. A great torrent surged out like a breached dam, covering the entire area.
The Mizukage looked with satisfaction at his handiwork and formed Hand Seals.
"Boiling Vigor!"
Hozuki Gengetsu combined the water and oil in his body with chakra.
He created a child-shaped clone that looked just like him. It took off on its two short legs and charged toward Uzumaki Shori as fast as it could.
The Adamantine Chains swung straight at it. The little Gengetsu didn't even try to dodge. It kept charging head-on.
When the chains struck it, they knocked it flat, and its whole body swelled up.
Uzumaki Shori understood. The more it swelled, the more dangerous it was. It was better to attack Hozuki Gengetsu himself.
Hozuki Gengetsu was hiding in a puddle on the ground, making him hard to find. But the little Gengetsu remained untouched, and as it ran, it kept growing larger.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Technique!"
Dozens of Uzumaki Shori clones began searching for Hozuki Gengetsu across the battlefield. But events could change in the blink of an eye.
The little Gengetsu suddenly grew up, his face flushed red.
"Boiling Vigor!"
"Boom!"
It exploded.
Even Uzumaki Shori, out on the perimeter, couldn't avoid the shock wave. He was caught in the blast.
Uzumaki Shori panted, bracing his hands on his thighs. He hadn't expected the explosion to be so powerful. Even from the perimeter, he'd been caught in it.
After the little Gengetsu finished exploding, it returned to its original form and began chasing the enemy again.
Seeing that water had soaked the whole area and softened the earth, Uzumaki Shori thought, Let's see how you handle this, Mizukage. He formed Hand Seals.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The ground turned to liquid, and the soil absorbed the water, creating a swamp.
The Mizukage couldn't stay in the water and had no choice but to run out.
Uzumaki Shori had been waiting for this moment. He formed Hand Seals.
He swung his arms and brought his hands together. The mud on both sides quickly engulfed Hozuki Gengetsu.
Hozuki Gengetsu struggled desperately inside, while the little Gengetsu ran over from elsewhere and leaped in too.
They merged into a single ball of mud, and the Adamantine Chains wrapped around it.
Uzumaki Shori finally breathed a sigh of relief. All that remained was to seal him and end the fight.
Just as he was about to use a Sealing Jutsu on the Mizukage, the Mizukage came up with a countermeasure. The little Gengetsu swelled up once more, its head emerging from the mud.
"Boiling Vigor!"
Another explosion rang out, sending mud flying everywhere.
Hozuki Gengetsu ran straight out. He formed Hand Seals.
"Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
He drew a large amount of water from the swamp, and a thousand sharks launched an attack.
Uzumaki Shori kept his eyes fixed on Hozuki Gengetsu. He wouldn't let him hide underwater again.
He activated Body Control. His sensory abilities weakened, his muscle strength doubled, and his chakra control became twice as precise.
He used Body Flicker Technique to close in on his opponent. When a shark blocked his path, he concentrated chakra into his fist and punched it apart.
Seeing the enemy rapidly approach, Hozuki Gengetsu panicked. Genjutsu didn't work, Water Release didn't work—what else could he use now? He formed Hand Seals.
"Water Gun Technique—rapid fire!"
He unleashed a frantic barrage. Uzumaki Shori pushed Body Control further. His hearing weakened, his muscles surged again, and his strength increased threefold.
With his body's explosive force combined with Body Flicker Technique, he moved at incredible speed and charged straight up to Hozuki Gengetsu. Hozuki Gengetsu looked terrified and pulled the little Gengetsu in front of himself as a shield.
Uzumaki Shori didn't care. The Adamantine Chains pulled the little Gengetsu—which had just exploded and was still in its weakened state—away and wrapped around it. Four chains shot out at once.
"Sealing Jutsu: Four Symbols Seal!"
The little Gengetsu was sealed by the Adamantine Chains. They detached from Uzumaki Shori's back, and the little Gengetsu fell from the air.
Uzumaki Shori fixed his resolute gaze on Hozuki Gengetsu, whose eyes darted about in panic.
He abandoned chakra protection throughout his body and focused it into his fist instead. Then he activated Fire Release chakra, ensuring that Hozuki Gengetsu's Water Transformation Technique wouldn't spare him from injury.
Hozuki Gengetsu still clung to a sliver of hope and activated Water Transformation Technique.
But when Uzumaki Shori punched him, Hozuki Gengetsu was knocked flat. His eyes rolled back, his face swelled up like a giant steamed bun, and steam rose from it.
With a "pop," the little Gengetsu vanished.
Uzumaki Shori released Body Control and sat down beside Hozuki Gengetsu, panting.
"I won this battle in the end."
He pushed himself upright and walked over to Hozuki Gengetsu. He formed Hand Seals.
"Five Elements Seal!"
He concentrated chakra into his five fingers.
He used Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind chakra to imprint the seal on Hozuki Gengetsu's abdomen, completely sealing his chakra.
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