Water Burial

Fortunately, after being blocked by the Rasengan, the Water Shark Bullet's power had weakened considerably. When it struck him, it did not cause any serious injuries.

"Cough, cough."

After coughing dryly and spitting out several mouthfuls of water, Ryōken finally caught his breath. He steadied himself again and warily watched the direction from which the water shark had come.

Nature transformation provided an enormous boost to ninjutsu. The Water Shark Bullet cast by Asai Hane was incredibly tenacious. Even as it was being destroyed, it seemed to possess a force that continuously absorbed the surrounding water, constantly strengthening and sustaining the technique.

Even so, the Rasengan was an A-rank ninjutsu.

Most A-rank ninjutsu were forbidden techniques.

Of course, their power varied greatly depending on who used them.

Naruto, for instance, relied on his astonishing chakra reserves to derive A-rank techniques such as the Big Ball Rasengan and the Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.

Although Ryōken had only maintained it at the lowest level, it had still been at half its full power. Yet in the end, it had failed to erase even a C-rank ninjutsu. That was somewhat unbelievable.

Sure enough, even the most ordinary ninjutsu could unleash extraordinary power.

The reason B-rank ninjutsu used by Kage-level experts could even rival A-rank techniques was because of their mastery of chakra nature transformation. The deeper their mastery, the greater the power of the same ninjutsu.

And when the nature transformation in a certain aspect reached its extreme, it became an S-rank ultimate technique.

The Rasenshuriken was an example. It pushed the cutting property of Wind Release chakra to its limit, even reaching the level of cutting cells.

Fire's burning, wind's cutting, lightning's extreme speed, water's flexibility, earth's sturdiness, and so on were all typical nature transformations of their respective chakra attributes.

In the distance.

A trace of surprise and admiration appeared in Asai Hane's eyes.

A hand-signless ninjutsu!

A hand-signless ninjutsu that had never appeared before, one comparable to an A-rank technique!

"What an incredible talent. But only by killing a genius like this can I better demonstrate my own greatness!"

Asai Hane muttered to himself. A sickly frenzy flashed across his face, and he burst into wild laughter.

At that moment, he cast everything else aside. It was as if only by killing Ryōken could he prove his existence, prove his greatness.

Only then could he defend his pride!

The pride of a genius.

Suddenly, he clasped his hands together and began forming seals. It was impossible to tell what ninjutsu he was preparing to use.

His originally rapid hand seals had actually become incredibly slow.

Yet chakra surged wildly through his entire body, giving off an astonishing pressure that spread through the surrounding mist.

The calm, thick fog immediately began to churn violently. Centered on him, it formed a vortex that emitted a terrifying suction force, dragging everything nearby toward it.

More and more water in the reservoir evaporated and merged into the mist.

The fog grew even thicker.

At the same time, the suction force from the center grew stronger and stronger.

Seeing this shocking change, Ryōken narrowed his eyes, lowered his voice, and suddenly shouted.

"Everyone, get away from the direction of the vortex! Hurry!"

His voice rang through the dense fog.

Responses immediately rose one after another. Whether prisoners or Konoha ninja, everyone began running away from the vortex.

The suction force grew increasingly powerful. Gradually, everyone found it difficult even to move their feet and could only struggle toward the outskirts.

As Asai Hane's technique unfolded, the thick fog that had originally spread far and wide began to thin out. They could barely make out people now.

Naturally, the ANBU ninja waiting outside noticed such a massive change as well.

The fog had thinned to an acceptable degree, so he charged in without hesitation.

He immediately discovered what was happening.

"Not good! This is the B-rank ninjutsu, Water Burial Technique!"

A trace of urgency appeared on his face as he shouted. His thunderous voice instantly carried outward.

"Everyone, including Ryōken, gather at my position immediately!"

The mist was growing thinner and thinner, as though a black hole at its center were madly swallowing everything.

But because of that, everyone could see the ANBU ninja in the distance.

At the sight of that familiar mask, everyone relaxed slightly and hurried toward him.

The ANBU ninja formed hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart."

A massive, towering wall immediately rose before them.

Seeing this, the ANBU ninja felt somewhat relieved.

Earth countered water. Unless it was a jonin who had mastered nature transformation, it would be impossible to break through that wall.

The moisture in the air seemed to have been drained away, making the surroundings feel somewhat dry.

Ryōken stood firmly not far from the vortex, his feet sunk deep into the ground.

One glance at the towering wall in the distance told Ryōken that this ANBU ninja was not a jonin.

That wall could not stop the ninjutsu that was about to arrive.

Asai Hane had already mastered nature transformation. He had surpassed the realm of a special jonin.

Even if a true jonin used this move, it would be no more powerful than this.

Gradually, many people had retreated behind the wall, but Ryōken was nowhere among them.

The ANBU ninja grew anxious. He leaped up, tapped the wall several times with the tips of his feet, and arrived atop the rampart, looking ahead.

Some people noticed his strange behavior and understood. They followed him up the wall as well.

When they saw Ryōken standing not far before the vortex, they could not help crying out in alarm, their faces filled with confusion.

"Ryōken is so strong. There's no way he couldn't retreat!"

"Why hasn't he come back yet?"

In the distance, the massive spinning vortex suddenly trembled. A suction force far stronger than before burst forth. Even those standing atop the wall could barely endure it, staggering several steps before managing to steady themselves.

The ANBU ninja was startled. After looking carefully, the surprise on his face turned to shock, then bitterness.

He said blankly, "It's a B-rank ninjutsu infused with nature transformation. It's over."

Hearing this, everyone revealed looks of despair, their hearts turning cold as ash.

At that moment, the strongest person there was only this ANBU ninja.

His strength was merely that of a special jonin.

The towering wall that had once given them such confidence now seemed so thin and powerless.

They all understood the gap between themselves and a jonin.

There was no way this wall could block the long-prepared B-rank ninjutsu.

At that moment.

"Now!"

Ryōken suddenly stepped forward. Under the immense suction force, that single step carried him a great distance.

That step sent everyone's hearts into their throats.

Ryōken—what was he trying to do?

This was a genuine B-rank ninjutsu. Even a jonin could only barely resist it.

Before they could think further, Ryōken showed them what he intended to do through his actions.

Ryōken suddenly broke into a run. Under the immense suction force, he moved as swiftly as the wind.

At that sight, everyone's gazes froze, and their hearts trembled.

Perhaps—perhaps Ryōken could save them?

Though they knew it was wishful thinking, they could not help praying, clinging to this lone straw like drowning people.

Even the ANBU ninja was the same.

At that moment, Asai Hane's ninjutsu was nearly ready. Watching Ryōken rush toward him, a trace of cruelty and arrogance appeared in his eyes.

He brought his hands together and shouted in a low voice.

"Super Water Burial Technique!"

"Die! To die beneath this move is your honor!"

As his words fell, the vortex that had been gathering power for so long suddenly went still. Then it transformed into a torrential flood that blotted out the sky and swept toward Ryōken.

Rumble!

The earth shook and the heavens roared.

The surging flood seemed unstoppable, destroying anything that dared stand in its way.

On the wall, everyone fell into the depths of despair. This apocalyptic scene utterly shattered the last remnants of hope in their hearts.

They stood there as if they had lost their souls, staring blankly.

Before that overwhelming flood, Ryōken's small figure was like an ant in a painting, utterly inconspicuous.

Yet that ant-like figure now carried an aura that was not inferior in the slightest.

Unruly and unyielding, its edge fully revealed.

As Ryōken ran faster and faster, Sword Intent erupted from him, even causing the air around him to seem as though it had become a sword.

The wind pressure brought by the rushing flood did not make that seemingly slender figure hesitate in the slightest.

His charging figure abruptly stopped. Holding his sword in both hands, the light on Ryōken's blade grew brighter and brighter. In the end, the intense radiance forced the crowd to narrow their eyes.

"Fleeting Light!"

Terrifying chakra gathered around the longsword, seemingly surging within it. Its brilliance was dazzling, as if it could cut through everything.

Without a sound.

It was as though even sound had been severed. Space suddenly froze.

Amid the torrential flood, a massive Sword Qi abruptly appeared. Wherever the Sword Qi passed, everything in its path was crushed, and the earth split apart.

Slash!

In a single instant.

The Water Burial Technique was forcibly cleaved in two.

Unstoppable.

The remaining Sword Qi flashed past at incredible speed, instantly cutting Asai Hane in half.

Only the admiration in his eyes remained, along with a trace of relief.

Dying at the hands of someone like him isn't so bad.

It's just a pity I can't avenge Yu.