"Then..."
"Kid, you've run out of places to hide. What are you going to do now?"
Kakuzu stared at Chen Xiaoxi and sneered to himself.
Nearby, Konan and Pain hovered in the air with Paper Style, also watching Chen Xiaoxi to see how he would respond.
After all, ordinary ninjas couldn't fly like she could.
Faced with flames like these, there were only two simple ways to deal with them: dodge or take the hit.
And now, in the narrow confines of the cave, dodging was no longer possible.
He had no choice but to take the hit.
So... how would he withstand it?
Everyone waited eagerly to see what would happen next. Then, a sight that left them all dumbfounded unfolded before their eyes.
Chen Xiaoxi wore a faint smile. With a light spring, he leaped high into the air.
Then... he simply stopped in midair!
He was actually—hovering!
Without using any technique or relying on anything beneath his feet, he had actually... taken flight?
Everyone present—Kakuzu, Zetsu, even Konan and Pain—looked as though they'd seen a ghost!
Their eyes widened, and their expressions froze.
Kakuzu's breath caught completely. His thoughts cut off, and his mind went blank.
Meanwhile,
Chen Xiaoxi stood high above them, looking down with a smile.
"Seriously?"
"Did you really think I was going to take the hit from your Fire Style?"
Gathering Reishi beneath one's feet made it possible to stand in midair.
For any Shinigami who could wield spiritual power, it was almost effortless.
Chen Xiaoxi might not have been a proper Shinigami, but he still possessed impressive Reiatsu and a powerful Zanpakuto.
So, ten years ago, when he first began learning Flash Step, he had already mastered this Air Walk technique.
In theory, as long as he had enough spiritual power, he could even sleep in midair.
"..."
The scene remained utterly silent.
After exchanging a glance with Pain, Konan saw the same disbelief in his eyes.
How had Chen Xiaoxi managed that?
Could he have mastered the same Earth Style: Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique as the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki?
No, that couldn't be it.
Ōnoki's technique essentially reduced his own gravity, allowing him to float in the air.
Chen Xiaoxi, on the other hand, was clearly suspended in midair, yet he still held a "standing" posture, as if he were walking on solid ground!
In a way, this bizarre technique was far beyond Ōnoki's flight!
Realizing this,
a few deeper lights glimmered in Pain's Rinnegan eyes.
He was beginning to understand why Konan had so much faith in this young man and had brought him back with her.
There was... so much potential in him.
Meanwhile,
Kakuzu had also recovered from his shock.
But unlike Pain and Konan, his feelings at that moment were complicated.
He never would have imagined that after completely sealing off the ground, the kid would simply stand in midair...
It was absurd beyond belief.
If that was the case,
it seemed he had no choice but to use that move...
"Phew..."
Kakuzu slowly let out a breath and focused his mind. The next instant, his eyes flashed.
His right arm began to swell and bulge again. Then another strange mask with black lines emerged—
The second Earth Grudge Fear: the Wind Release mask!
Kakuzu looked up at Chen Xiaoxi and immediately raised his hand, forming Hand Seals at lightning speed!
Then he said gravely,
"I hadn't planned to use this technique in such a cramped space..."
"But if I don't, even someone who once fought the First like me will end up being looked down on by a brat like you... Tch."
"Combined Ninjutsu—Searing Wind Turbulence!"
Boom!!
As soon as the words left his mouth, the two Earth Grudge Fear masks behind Kakuzu opened their mouths at the same time. Their violent chakra gathered rapidly, then a wind bullet and a fireball surged forth together!
As everyone knew, Wind Release could amplify the power of Fire Style.
The already powerful blast of flames was instantly boosted by the Wind Release, becoming a sea of fire that swept straight toward Chen Xiaoxi in the air!
Countless flames engulfed the entire area ahead of them. There was nowhere to hide—not even in the air!
In an instant, the whole cave became a raging sea of fire!
Every inch of ground and wall before Kakuzu was swallowed by the blazing flames!
Boom!!
In an instant, Chen Xiaoxi's figure high in the air was completely consumed by the raging inferno!
At the sight, Kakuzu's lips curled beneath his mask.
"Heh... So you were only capable of that much after all?"
But
as soon as the words left his mouth,
a faint voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Heh, you're only at the level of throwing a Shuriken from eight hundred li away, and you call that a fight?"
"Way of Destruction No. 63: Thunder Roar Cannon."
Boom!!
A blast of golden lightning suddenly appeared, dazzling as the newborn sun, so bright that it was hard to see!
In the next instant, it became a fierce golden beam of lightning and smashed straight into the two Earth Grudge Fear masks behind Kakuzu, shattering them!
Bang!!
A tremendous impact rang out.
The golden lightning cannon struck the two masks, sending Kakuzu's body flying along with them!
He slammed hard into one side of the cave wall,
sinking deep into it.
The two shattered Earth Grudge Fear masks quickly tore themselves away from Kakuzu's body, turning into black threads that fell to the ground and died on the spot!
"?"
Pain lanced through his body. Kakuzu's breath hitched, and he raised his head in disbelief, staring at Chen Xiaoxi in shock.
What had happened?
When had he gotten behind me...?
I clearly saw him get swallowed by my flames just now!
Could it have been... a genjutsu?
Realizing this, Kakuzu's expression darkened even further. He glared at Chen Xiaoxi, gritted his teeth, and said bitterly,
"Tch, you..."
"You still had... so many tricks hidden up your sleeve?"
He never would have imagined
that someone whose chakra signature was as weak as a child's could possess so many bizarre techniques after just a few exchanges!
First there had been the azure flames, unleashed at incredible speed with a single clap of his hands. Then there was the bizarre ability to stand in midair.
And now, he had revealed a strange genjutsu and... golden Lightning Release with astonishing power!
Could this guy be the bearer of some rare Kekkei Genkai?
That was terrifying!
Even more frightening to Kakuzu
was the thought that if he had revealed all five masks just now...
he might already be a corpse!
The thought sent a chill down Kakuzu's spine. He stared into Chen Xiaoxi's eyes and slowly drew in a breath.
After that brief fight, he could be almost certain—
This man named Chen Xiaoxi was an out-and-out monster.
And he might very well be as powerful as Pain!
At that thought,
a shadow passed through Kakuzu's eyes.
It seemed he would have to go collect the hearts of new Fire Style and Wind Release ninjas...
Before you continue