Ruohuo didn't have many B-rank ninjutsu in reserve, and most of them were Fire Style.
They were also fairly practical.
There was no need to say much about original Fire Style techniques; they were known for their power.
The Fire (Water) Dragon Bullet he was currently using was also a B-rank skill.
"So I just have to choose between Majestic Destroyer Flame and Water Dragon Bullet?"
Though he had to choose in advance, Ruohuo didn't want to get the short end of the stick.
Majestic Destroyer Flame was hailed as the most impressive B-rank ninjutsu largely because of Uchiha Madara's battle record.
As for Fire (Water) Dragon Bullet, it was Ruohuo's current flying mount. It was already equipped with Ship-borne Machine Guns and Ship-borne Flamethrowers, while Ship-borne Rockets were still in development.
"Too bad neither of them has any special traits."
Like the first two traits on the C-rank main skill, Great Fireball, both simply increased power and reduced the cost.
Even the boost was identical: a 300% increase in power and a 90% reduction in cost. That was the basic boost for a main skill.
"I can do that by using 1.5 times as much chakra. Doesn't feel worth it..."
Ruohuo wasn't too keen.
Without a Senjutsu boost, the upper limit of Fire Style was Amaterasu, which he had already given up on once.
He would be able to solve his chakra problem sooner or later, and this boost would eventually become insignificant to him.
By comparison, the special traits a main skill could trigger were what Ruohuo cared about most.
Ruohuo quickly cycled through his other B-rank skills.
It was all Orochimaru's fault for rushing to bring him out on a mission.
He'd even forgotten to check beforehand while they were on the road.
"None of the other techniques have anything, either. I still have too few B-rank ninjutsu... Huh?"
Ruohuo blinked. He'd actually found a little treasure.
[B-rank Main Skill: Shadow Clone Technique (Trial): Creates a tangible Shadow Clone that can share memories with the original and fight in its place. Main Skill Boost 1: Shadow Clone's resistance to physical attacks ↑300%. Can share the host's buff bonuses. When the original is struck, the Shadow Clone takes 80% of the damage. Main Skill Restriction 1: Once upgraded to a main skill, the maximum number of uses is locked at "1," and the skill has a 1-minute cooldown. Main Skill Restriction 2: Once upgraded to a main skill, the maximum amount of chakra the skill can carry is 20% of the host's.]
"How did I not notice you sooner, darling..."
There were three traits and two restrictions, but both restrictions could be ignored.
After all, he could still learn the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique.
Ruohuo confirmed his choice without a second thought!
Not only did he choose the technique, but a whole series of tactics popped into his head!
For instance, he could stockpile eighty or a hundred Shadow Clones, then go out and do whatever he wanted.
Or he could use Shadow Clones to scout ahead. After all, they had 300% resistance to physical attacks!
"Just as I thought, the traits are the essence of a main skill!"
Ruohuo was thrilled. Even without the buff boost, the Shadow Clone was a god-tier skill thanks to its other two traits!
"Could it be that Shadow Clones can't have their power boosted, so they gave it so many traits instead?"
Whoosh!
A pitch-black Tailed Beast Bomb shot past Ruohuo's left side, kicking up a fierce gust of wind before slamming into a mountain not far away.
BOOM!!!!
Tailed Beast Bombs never disappointed. The explosion shook the heavens!
Ruohuo sobered up in an instant. He still had a rampaging Tailed Beast chasing him.
"Then I'd better figure out how to calm this guy down first..."
Ruohuo glanced back, only to see that Han had completely transformed into a Partial Tailed Beast. Black-and-red chakra now covered his skin, and five tails had appeared behind him!
Using the rocks as footholds, he charged after Ruohuo like Manda, moving at incredible speed!
"Th-this is about to break the seal!?"
Ruohuo's expression turned strange. If the Tailed Beast inside a Jinchuriki broke through its seal, the Jinchuriki would die outright.
That was one of the risks of becoming a Jinchuriki, and also the only way for a Tailed Beast to escape the bond that tied its life to the Jinchuriki.
Kokuō was the Five-Tails.
Han clearly wasn't a Perfect Jinchuriki, and his relationship with Kokuō probably wasn't very good, either.
Now that Kokuō saw a chance to break through the seal, it wouldn't hold back.
Han still looked human, but judging by the five tails behind him...
It was only a matter of time before Kokuō broke through the seal.
"Perfect. I can test the Shadow Clone's durability."
Ruohuo raised an eyebrow and immediately formed Hand Seals to create his Treasure Shadow Clone.
"How does it feel?"
"Hmm... You'll find out in a moment." The Shadow Clone squeezed his own arm, then looked at Han, who was still hot on their heels in his Partial Tailed Beast form.
"By the way, want to try training in the Eight Inner Gates?"
The Shadow Clone suddenly asked. "If 80% of the damage gets transferred, it seems like opening the gates wouldn't be a problem."
"Good point. You go first." Ruohuo kicked the Shadow Clone off the Fire Dragon.
Then he tensed every muscle in his body, preparing to receive the painful memories that were about to come flooding back!
The Shadow Clone prepared to meet his end while still in midair. He adjusted his posture, curled himself into as tight a ball as he could, and used his knees and elbows to shield his vital points.
And then...
Smack—
The rampaging Han, still in his Partial Tailed Beast form, casually swatted him.
Whoosh—
Bam!!
The Shadow Clone was embedded in the nearby wall!
But he didn't disappear!
With triple the resistance to physical attacks, the Shadow Clone had survived even a blow like that!
He even gave a thumbs-up!
"Not bad..."
"A Shadow Clone that's tougher than the original?"
Ruohuo swallowed. The Shadow Clone was limited to just 20% of his chakra, but once he raised his chakra limit and added another thick layer of armor to himself, that Shadow Clone...
Wouldn't it be unstoppable?
"ROAR!!!!!"
Just then, Han abruptly stopped in the middle of his pursuit and let out an ear-splitting roar!
He was still furious, but now his roar also brimmed with the exhilaration and relief of breaking free into the open air!
"ROAR!!!!"
He let out another deafening roar, but this time his voice wasn't as hoarse and crude as before. It no longer sounded like an irrational human roaring in anger. The beastly quality in his voice was much clearer!
Ruohuo kept moving forward and glanced back. His eye twitched.
Han, still in his Partial Tailed Beast form, was on all fours with his head tilted toward the sky. Crimson chakra poured madly from his seven orifices, gathering in front of him to form a gigantic creature that looked like a cross between a dog and a horse...
Ruohuo had seen this scene before.
The blackened version of Obito had done the same thing to Kushina.
In the end, the Nine-Tails had enjoyed a few episodes of freedom before being split in two and sealed again.
"ROAR!!!!!"
Another roar rang out, now filled only with the relief of seeing daylight again!
The Five-Tails, Kokuō, had completely broken through the seal!
But it didn't immediately look for the figure in the sky. Instead, it turned to look behind itself.
There lay Han's motionless corpse. He was clearly dead...
Thud!
Kokuō stomped on it, then ground its foot against the body several times.
"Being sealed wasn't much fun, was it?"
Ruohuo's voice suddenly rang out.
"From now on, you're coming with me. The Ninja World in this era... is just too chaotic."
Thud!
Kokuō stomped down again, driving the Shadow Clone straight into the dirt!
But the Shadow Clone refused to give in. He even formed a hand seal!
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
The blast of heat beneath its foot made Kokuō stumble. In its fury, it failed to notice the other boy riding a dragon as he charged toward it...
"Look into my eyes, Kokuō!"
"Have you already forgotten who I am!?"
Before you continue