Breaking Free

P.S. Thanks to reader "Obscured Content" for the tip. This is the first tip this book has received, and I'm very grateful!!

In the Ninja World, Lava Release wasn't anything unusual. In fact, quite a few people possessed this Kekkei Genkai.

Most of them were famous ninja.

Each ninja's Lava Release looked and worked differently.

The most famous of them was Four-Tails Roshi. His Lava Release came from the Four-Tails' chakra, making it the most powerful and the most similar to Suifeng's.

But that was only in appearance.

The biggest difference between Suifeng's Lava Release and everyone else's was that all of his Lava Release techniques were converted from Fire Release techniques.

Put simply, his Fire Release was Lava Release. He didn't need to research new hand seals for new techniques; he could release Lava Release by using the hand seals for Fire Release.

Like the Lava Ball Technique he was using now. It was actually the Great Fireball Technique: when someone else used it, they spat out fire; when he used it, he spat out this ball.

The enormous ball of lava rolled across the ground, leaving a thick black trail behind it. With a crash, it smashed the newly built stronghold to pieces.

"It's Konoha!"

"Careful, that's Lava Release!"

"They have a Kekkei Genkai!"

"Kill them!"

Five figures rushed out of the building at the center of the stronghold, while six more charged in from different directions, surrounding Suifeng and the others.

"Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"

With a roar, the ground shuddered. A mass of rock and earth surged up and swept toward the three of them.

Lava Release: Lava Ball

As the earth came rushing at them, Suifeng used the Lava Ball Technique again.

Boom!!

The lava ball collided with the encroaching earth and rock, and was swallowed up in an instant.

"Move!"

His attack had failed. Suifeng's expression changed as he darted toward the gap before it could close.

Whoosh, thud, thud, thud...

But before he could take more than a few steps, the ground began to shake.

One spike after another shot up from the earth.

Earth Release: Earth Rising Spear

"Rock Ninja again!"

Suifeng dodged repeatedly, but the rock spikes were too fast.

Thud, thud, thud!

Several impacts rang out. Suifeng was forced back again, with broken rock spikes scattered around him.

Iron Body!

Even with Iron Body, the places where he'd been struck were burning with pain.

Haku and Hideki fared even worse. Both were injured and fell to the ground. Haku was in worse shape; a rock spike had pierced her thigh. It wasn't a fatal wound, but she could no longer move.

Boom!!

With a deafening crash, the earth and rocks closed together, completing the Earth Prison. Everything around them went pitch-black.

The Jonin who had performed the technique had no time to deal with the three people he'd trapped, because Uchiha Fukuyama had engaged him.

"Haku, are you all right?!" In the darkness, Hideki leaped to her side and anxiously examined her injuries.

"Am I supposed to think you're taking advantage of the situation?!"

People in the Naruto world matured early. Although Hideki and Haku were still teenagers, this was the age when couples got together.

Suifeng couldn't help complaining to himself.

The Sharingan was extraordinary by nature and granted its wielder night vision. The darkness couldn't hide anything from the three of them.

"What do we do now?!"

The situation was clear enough: the three of them were trapped, while the Jonin who'd trapped them wouldn't be able to break away from the fight for a while. In theory, they only needed to wait for Fukuyama to win. But anything could happen in a ninja battle. What if Fukuyama lost?

And besides...

Suifeng's thoughts shifted. He suddenly dodged, and a kunai with a bright gleam sliced through the spot where he'd just been standing. If he hadn't moved, his throat would have been cut.

Invisibility Technique!

"Heh heh heh, kid, you've got quick reactions! Looks like you're a genius!"

"You're a genius, and so's your whole family!" Suifeng muttered, his Sharingan spinning.

Whoosh! Another sound of rushing air rang out.

"Got you!"

Suifeng dodged again and threw two kunai at once toward the right.

Clink, clink...

Two light metallic sounds rang out, and a dark figure flashed past his eyes.

"Think you can run? Not a chance!"

Suifeng shifted sideways, his kunai never stopping as he thrust it at the shadow.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang...

A series of metallic clashes followed. The two figures flickered in and out of sight in the darkness, their kunai meeting again and again before they pulled apart at the instant of impact.

This was probably the most frustrating fight Suifeng had faced since becoming a ninja.

His opponent was fast, too. Suifeng could even faintly sense Wind Release chakra swirling around him.

"Someone from Sunagakure?!"

Each of the great ninja villages had its own specialties. Aside from Konoha, the other four villages' techniques were distinct and easy to recognize.

The Sand Ninja specialized in Magnet Release and Wind Release chakra.

The Land of Earth was renowned for Earth Release.

The Land of Lightning specialized in Lightning Release, while the Land of Water specialized in Water Release. Only Konoha, situated in the best location in the world, had such a wide variety of techniques.

"Suifeng, watch your back!" Haku's warning reached his ears. Suifeng planted his foot and shot forward like a cannonball.

"You can't escape, kid!" A mocking laugh sounded beside his ear.

"You're the one who can't escape!" Suifeng grinned.

Clink!!

Another light metallic sound rang out. Suifeng saw a figure flash behind him, and a kunai stuck into his back.

"Got you!"

The backstab had been vicious, but the kunai hadn't pierced Suifeng's body. The Kirigakure rogue ninja clearly felt as though his kunai had struck a stone, and even heard the faint sound of metal clashing against metal.

"He's wearing armor!"

That thought flashed through his mind. He instinctively tried to retreat, but as he looked up, a pair of blood-red eyes grew larger before him. In an instant, they transformed into an endless sea of blood, with heads floating upon its surface and countless people slaughtering one another in its depths.

Roars, weeping, cries of slaughter, and screams blended together. Faintly, he could also hear a baby crying and its parents calling out...

"No, no, no, no, no...!"

Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique

This technique showed an opponent the thing they feared most, striking at their mind. The rogue ninja had come from Kirigakure, known as the Bloody Mist for its cruelty and bloodlust.

He'd defected because he couldn't stand the village's Bloody Mist Policy. Now the illusion had brought forth the most terrifying images in his mind, and he was immediately lost in them.

Thud...

The kunai fell. Clutching his throat, the rogue ninja collapsed to the ground. Even in death, his eyes still held their fear.

"Are you two all right?!"

After Suifeng took care of the Kirigakure rogue, Hideki had already pulled the rock spike out of Haku's thigh. He'd also treated her with Medical Ninjutsu and bandaged the wound. Her expression was no longer as pained as before.

"I've treated Haku's wound for now, but she needs more thorough care," Hideki said.

"Yeah. I've taken care of the Kirigakure ninja. Let's find a way out first, then see if the captain needs help!"

They had absolute confidence in Fukuyama, but the Earth Prison was still in place, which meant he was still entangled with his opponent. It was always best to prepare for the worst. If Fukuyama, an elite Jonin, lost, then it wouldn't be easy for three Chunin and Genin to make it out alive.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...

They got to work at once. A string of Lava Balls slammed hard into one side of the prison. Golden-red light filled the dark space, and scorching heat spread through the air.

"Th-this... Can a Genin really do this?!"

Watching one Lava Ball after another spew from Suifeng's mouth and crash into the earthen wall, Hideki's face turned pale. Could a Genin really have enough chakra to use techniques with this much power, and so many of them?

Was this the difference between a genius and an ordinary person?

Boom!!

With a deafening crash, one Lava Ball finally smashed through the thick wall of the Earth Prison, blowing a huge hole in it.

"I'm exhausted, I'm exhausted! No, this kind of technique takes more output than I can manage. Looks like I need to find a way to unleash even more power!"