Chen Xiaoxi's Strangeness

"Well then..."

"Little brat, you have nowhere left to hide. What will you do now?"

Kakuzu stared at Chen Xiaoxi ahead, a cold sneer forming in his heart.

Meanwhile, Konan and Pain, suspended in the air by Paper Style, also watched Chen Xiaoxi, eager to see how he would respond.

After all, ordinary ninjas did not possess the power of flight like she did.

Facing such flames, there were almost only two simple ways to respond: either dodge or tank it head-on.

But now, in the narrow confines of the cave, dodging was no longer an option.

Only tanking it remained.

So... how exactly would he endure it?

Everyone was anticipating what would happen next, yet the scene that followed left them all dumbfounded.

Chen Xiaoxi wore a faint smile, gave a slight leap, and soared high into the air.

Then... he actually remained suspended in mid-air!

He had—hovered!

Without using any technique, and with nothing beneath his feet for support, he had actually... started flying?

Everyone present, whether it was Kakuzu, Zetsu, or Konan and Pain, looked as if they had seen a ghost!

Everyone's eyes widened, their expressions frozen.

Kakuzu's breath hitched completely, his thoughts instantly cut off, his brain short-circuiting.

At this moment, Chen Xiaoxi stood high in the air, looking down at them with a smile:

"No way?"

"Did you... really think I was going to tank that Fire Style head-on?"

Gathering Reishi beneath his feet to stand upon the air.

For any Shinigami who had mastered spiritual power, this was almost an effortless feat.

While Chen Xiaoxi wasn't exactly a proper Shinigami, he at least possessed considerable Reiatsu and a powerful Zanpakuto.

Therefore, as early as ten years ago, when he first learned Flash Step, he had already mastered this Air Walk to perfection.

Theoretically, as long as he had enough spiritual power, he could even sleep in the air.

"..."

The scene remained deathly silent.

Konan, in the air, exchanged a glance with Pain, and both saw a trace of disbelief in each other's eyes.

How on earth did this Chen Xiaoxi manage to do that...

Could it be that he had also mastered the Earth Style: Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique, just like the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki?

No, that wasn't it.

Onoki's technique essentially reduced his own gravity to achieve the goal of floating.

But the Chen Xiaoxi before them, while clearly hovering in the air, maintained a "standing" posture, as if walking on flat ground!

This strange technique, in a sense, completely surpassed Onoki's flight!

Realizing this, A deeper light flickered within Pain's Rinnegan.

He began to understand why Konan had such confidence in this youth and had brought him back directly.

There were indeed... many possibilities within him.

At this time, Kakuzu, on the ground, had naturally recovered as well.

However, compared to Pain and Konan, his mood was incredibly complex.

He never would have imagined that after completely sealing off the ground, this brat would simply stand in mid-air...

It was absolutely absurd, beyond all reason.

Since that was the case, It seemed—he would have to use that move after all...

"Hoo..."

Kakuzu slowly exhaled, steadying his mind, and the next moment, his gaze sharpened.

His right arm began to bulge and swell rapidly, and then, another strange black-threaded masked monster emerged—

The second Earth Grudge Fear, the Wind Style mask!

Looking at Chen Xiaoxi high above, Kakuzu did not hesitate for a moment; he quickly raised his hands and completed the hand seals at lightning speed!

Then, he said in a low voice:

"I originally didn't intend to use this technique in such a confined area..."

"But if I don't, even I, someone who has fought the First Hokage, would be looked down upon by a brat like you... Tch."

"Combined Ninjutsu—Searing Wind Turbulence!"

BOOM!!

As soon as he finished speaking, the two Earth Grudge Fear masks on Kakuzu's back opened their mouths simultaneously. Violent chakra began to condense rapidly, and then, a wind bullet and a fireball surged out, merging together!

As everyone knows, Wind Style can amplify the power of Fire Style.

Thus, that already powerful flame strike, bolstered by the Wind Style, instantly transformed into a sea of fire that filled the sky, rushing directly toward Chen Xiaoxi in the air ahead to engulf him!

Countless flames completely shrouded the front of the cave, leaving no place to hide, not even in the air!

The entire cave turned into a raging sea of fire in an instant!

Every inch of ground and wall in front of Kakuzu was swallowed whole by the scorching flames without exception!

BOOM!!

In an instant, Chen Xiaoxi's figure in the high air ahead was completely annihilated by the chaotic flames!

Seeing this, the corners of Kakuzu's mouth curled up beneath his mask.

"Heh heh... In the end, is this all you amount to?"

However, No sooner had his voice fallen than a faint voice suddenly appeared behind him.

"Heh, is that all? Calling that a battle when you're at the level of throwing shuriken from eight hundred miles away?"

"Way of Destruction No. 63: Thunder Roar Cannon."

BOOM!!

A burst of golden lightning suddenly appeared, as blinding as the rising sun, making it difficult to see!

But immediately after, it transformed into a fierce golden lightning laser cannon, instantly shattering the two Earth Grudge Fear masks on Kakuzu's back!

BANG!!

A massive sound of impact rang out.

The golden lightning cannon slammed into the two Earth Grudge Fear masks, sending Kakuzu's body flying along with them!

He crashed heavily into the side wall of the cave.

He was deeply embedded into the rock.

The next moment, the two shattered Earth Grudge Fear masks began to rapidly detach from Kakuzu's body, turning into black threads that fell to the ground, dead on the spot!

"?"

Feeling the pain in his body, Kakuzu's breath hitched. He raised his face in disbelief, looking at Chen Xiaoxi ahead, his heart filled with shock.

What is going on?

When exactly did he appear behind me...?

I clearly saw his figure being swallowed by my flames just a moment ago!

Could it be... an illusion?

Realizing this, Kakuzu's expression turned even uglier. He gritted his teeth and said unwillingly, staring at Chen Xiaoxi:

"Tch, you guy..."

"To think you still... had so many trump cards hidden away?"

He never expected that someone whose chakra signature was as weak as a toddler's would hide so many bizarre techniques after only a few rounds of combat!

First, there was the pale blue flame released instantly with a clap of his hands, followed by the strange ability to stand in mid-air.

And now, there was an even more bizarre illusion, and... a golden Lightning Style technique with astonishing power!

Could this guy... be a wielder of some rare Bloodline Limit?

This is getting a bit too terrifying!

More than that, What made Kakuzu feel even more fearful was that if he had revealed all five masks just now...

Then perhaps he would already be a corpse!

Thinking of this, Kakuzu felt a chill run down his spine. He stared into Chen Xiaoxi's eyes and slowly drew in a sharp breath.

After that brief skirmish, he was essentially certain of one thing—

This fellow named Chen Xiaoxi was a bona fide monster.

Furthermore, his full strength was very likely no weaker than that of Pain!

At this thought, a flicker of gloom crossed Kakuzu's eyes.

It seemed he would have to go collect new hearts from Fire Style and Wind Style ninja again...