The Sky Screen continued.
[The Masked Man spoke in a casual tone, making no attempt to conceal anything. "Who knows?"]
[As he spoke, he drew a pitch-black Iron Chain from beneath his black robe and wrapped it around his wrist, its chill utterly bone-piercing.]
[Minato Namikaze instantly gripped the Sword of Shinobi Love tighter, his aura condensing to its peak as he entered a battle-ready stance.]
["The Nine-Tails has already broken free of its seal and is ravaging everything in its path. You no longer have even the slightest chance of winning."]
[Before the Masked Man had finished speaking, both of them moved at the same time!]
[The two figures shot toward each other like meteors.]
[Just as they were about to collide head-on, Minato Namikaze's gaze sharpened. He thrust his sword forward, its edge aimed directly at the Masked Man's head.]
[Yet the attack was still completely futile, passing straight through the other man's body without inflicting the slightest harm.]
[Their figures eerily overlapped and passed through one another before separating onto opposite sides.]
[Before he could steady himself, the Masked Man flicked his wrist. The Iron Chain behind him suddenly snapped taut, instantly coiling around Minato Namikaze's body and locking him firmly in place.]
[Minato Namikaze's pupils contracted. He decisively activated Flying Thunder God, flashing away and instantly breaking free from the Iron Chain's restraints.]
[The moment he landed, he rapidly reviewed the flaw in his mind:]
[Under normal circumstances, this man's body was completely intangible, rendering all physical attacks ineffective. Only when he actively attacked and attempted to devour someone would he briefly become solid.]
[In other words, the instant he appeared to attack was the only opportunity to fight and kill him.]
[The other side faced the same limitation. Attacking meant exposing a flaw. Furthermore, with the Nine-Tails' seal out of control and constantly draining him, the other man had no intention of fighting a prolonged battle of attrition.]
[The key to victory depended solely on whose attack speed and spatial prediction were faster.]
Inside Spirit Hall's Worship Hall
The worshippers watched Minato Namikaze see through the flaw in the Masked Man's Intangibility and reverse the battle on the spot. For a long while, no one spoke.
Qian Daoliu slowly exhaled, his expression relieved yet full of admiration.
"So that's how it is! I knew this Intangibility ability couldn't truly be invincible. There had to be a weakness."
"This Minato Namikaze truly deserved the title of Fourth Hokage. His ability to adapt in battle and instantly analyze his opponent's weakness—over my hundreds of years, I have rarely seen such a mind and vision. He is a genuine, peerless genius!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo deeply agreed and nodded heavily with a sigh.
"It seems the other continents are just as full of talent, their foundations unfathomably deep. Looking through Spirit Hall's younger generation, it seems only Yu Zhi possesses talent and judgment of this caliber."
Mighty Lion Douluo spread his hands at that, sighing helplessly. "What a pity. That kid himself came from the Naruto Continent. Strictly speaking, he isn't a prodigy native to our Douluo Continent at all."
The other worshippers looked at one another, all at a loss for words.
Clear Sky Sect's mountaintop council hall
The elders gazed up at the Sky Screen. Upon realizing that the Masked Man's Intangibility had a flaw, they were immensely relieved and began voicing their thoughts.
"Excellent! So this Intangibility isn't without a solution. As long as it has a weakness, it's fine! Otherwise, this ability would be far too heaven-defying. It would practically be a natural counter to the Clear Sky Sect's power-focused combat style!"
As soon as he finished speaking, one elder furrowed his brows slightly and voiced his concern. "But our Clear Sky Sect has always specialized in strength rather than speed. Even if we know the flaw, I'm afraid it would be difficult to seize that fleeting instant when he becomes solid."
Tang Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, calm and confident.
"No matter. If speed is lacking, numbers can make up for it. As long as the sect's elders join forces to surround him, with Thunder holding the field and denying him any chance to attack, turn intangible, or shift forms, we can naturally suppress him with certainty."
The elders all nodded in agreement, full of confidence.
"Indeed! Our Clear Sky Sect has sealed itself away for many years and cultivated in seclusion. The number of our Titled Douluo powerhouses has long surpassed the count of one hand. Our foundation is formidable!"
Tang Xiao turned his gaze back to the Sky Screen in the heavens, his expression calm.
"Next, let us see how this Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, intends to defeat the Masked Man."
Shrek Academy
Everyone instinctively turned to look at Tang San.
Tang San's face carried a trace of annoyance as he deliberately spoke in a calm tone. "Minato Namikaze's response is far too naive. Competing in attack speed against someone who also possesses spatial Intangibility is simply foolish."
After giving it some thought, everyone felt that his words made sense.
Trying to compete in speed with a powerhouse who could turn intangible at any time to evade physical attacks and also manipulate space was indeed unwise.
Seeing that everyone agreed with him, Tang San regained some of his confidence, and his tone became increasingly self-assured.
"If it were me, I wouldn't confront him head-on and compete in speed."
"I would use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to keep moving around, harassing him relentlessly with hidden weapons and patiently wearing him down. Once his Chakra ran low and he could no longer maintain Intangibility, that would be the moment to secure victory."
Flender nodded repeatedly, his face full of approval. "That's a prudent and thorough analysis. As expected of Xiao Gang's Disciple, your insight is truly exceptional."
The other students also chimed in with praise.
"Little San really thinks far ahead!"
"So you had already thought it through so carefully earlier. That's incredible!"
Ning Rongrong listened silently from the side, her heart full of disdain and contempt.
You call Minato Namikaze naive for competing with the Masked Man in speed, but you think endlessly running around with movement techniques and blindly wearing him down with hidden weapons isn't naive?
He could remain intangible the entire time and take no damage at all. He didn't need to take the attacks head-on. Intangibility alone let him attack when advancing and defend when retreating, placing him naturally in an invincible position.
On the contrary, only by seizing the instant he became solid and counterattacking at close range could Minato Namikaze possibly defeat him.
Raised since childhood as the heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong's perspective and judgment far surpassed those of her peers. She saw things more clearly than everyone present!
But she did not expose him on the spot. Instead, she silently made up her mind.
She would keep quiet for now. Once the Sky Screen showed the outcome of the battle, she would publicly expose Tang San's empty armchair theories and mock him a few more times!
The Sky Screen continued.
[Minato Namikaze suddenly rose and charged straight at the battle-ready Masked Man.]
[The Masked Man did not retreat in the slightest. Instead, he stepped forward and charged to meet him.]
[This exchange was completely different.]
[Just as they were about to close in on each other, Minato Namikaze suddenly released his grip, firing a Flying Thunder God Kunai at high speed. At the same time, the Masked Man raised his hand and reached directly for Minato's shoulder.]
[Time seemed to suddenly slow at that moment.]
[The Flying Thunder God Kunai passed through the Masked Man's head, still as ineffective as before. But the instant the kunai completely passed through him, the Masked Man's hand had already drawn near, on the verge of touching Minato Namikaze's shoulder.]
[At that critical moment, a brilliant blue glow suddenly lit up in Minato Namikaze's right palm. A spiraling ball of energy rapidly condensed, spinning without end—it was the Rasengan!]
[But in the end, he was still half a step too slow.]
[Before the Rasengan could strike its target, the Masked Man was about to touch Minato. Confidently dispelling his Intangibility, he declared in an incomparably assured tone, "I won."]
Before you continue