Thunderstorm! Huge Harvest

The Earth Grudge Fear Fire Release Masked Monster stared at Uchiha Mo, warily edging to the side. It was clearly looking for a chance to flee.

Although Earth Grudge Fear allowed its host to gain corresponding abilities so long as it possessed hearts with the appropriate chakra natures, the heart of a genin could naturally not compare to that of a jonin, nor could a genius's heart have the same potential as a mediocre person's.

The hearts Kakuzu currently possessed were the finest set he had amassed over nearly a century since the Warring States era. Yet this battle had directly cost him three hearts—Water Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release. They even included his own Earth Release heart and his highest-quality Lightning Release heart. His losses were devastating!

Therefore, even if he had to flee for his life, Kakuzu would never readily abandon this masked monster carrying the Fire Release heart.

"Roar!"

The Fire Release Masked Monster let out a furious howl, then suddenly spewed another sea of flames!

Fire Release: Searing Migraine!

The flames surged toward him in a reverse tide, while the masked monster immediately turned and fled at top speed!

If Uchiha Mo used the same method as before to evade the technique, the monster would surely widen the distance between them considerably. It had evidently calculated this, which was why it turned and ran without hesitation.

Mo watched the Fire Release Masked Monster race away without the slightest hurry. He raised both hands before his chest and formed a cross.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

The next moment, an identical figure appeared at his side. Mo then leaped into the air, a layer of scarlet flames suddenly gathering beneath his feet. At the same time, his shadow clone clenched its right fist, and dense blood-red flames gathered around its right arm as well.

Boom!

Under Mo's exquisite fire control, the two streams of blood-red flame exploded beneath his feet without harming him in the slightest. Propelled by the violent blast, Mo shot over the sea of fire toward the Fire Release Masked Monster!

Bang!

The shadow clone burst apart where it stood, replenishing a small amount of Mo's chakra. After fighting for so long, his chakra reserves were running low. After all, his body was only ten years old and still developing.

But what remained was enough...

"Chidori."

"Chirp—!"

Amid the sharp cry of a thousand birds, dazzling lightning suddenly erupted from Uchiha Mo's right hand. Then...

"Perfect time to test this."

As his words fell, Mo forcefully infused a large amount of highly condensed Fire Release chakra into the Chidori!

"Crackle, crackle—chirp—!"

The lightning abruptly turned blood-red, and the air around it warped from the intense heat.

"Scarlet Scorch: Chidori!"

A streak of bloody lightning tore through the air, violently piercing the massive Fire Release Masked Monster!

Boom!

Uchiha Mo landed and straightened up, shaking out his right arm. A distinct bloody gash appeared across the massive monster behind him. Steam rose from it with a hissing sound, and the creature split apart along the wound before collapsing!

"It can still be improved..."

Mo frowned as he looked at his right arm, dissatisfied.

Chidori and Rasengan were both incredibly versatile techniques. Whether it was the curse mark, which was nearly of the same origin as senjutsu, senjutsu itself, or the power of the Six Paths, all could be applied to enhance them. But those were powers beyond the basic chakra natures. In theory, Fire Release chakra could only affect Lightning Release through a kekkei genkai.

However, Mo had exploited a loophole with his fire-control ability. Still, because his command over Lightning Release was insufficient, its power had failed to meet his expectations.

Setting those thoughts aside, Mo shifted his attention to the illusory panel. The instant he saw its contents, his pupils contracted sharply. In a moment of inattention, his Sharingan spun wildly and became three tomoe, an enormous surge of ocular power pouring forth!

Red Child Fusion Rate: 8.91% (Reach 10% to unlock the ability Innate Divine Strength)

Orange Child Fusion Rate: 20.57% (Ability unlocked: Clairvoyance. Reach 30% to unlock the next-stage ability Clairaudience)

Yellow Child Fusion Rate: 8.91% + 16.39% (Both must reach 10% to unlock the ability Immunity to Blades and Spears)

Green Child Fusion Rate: 20.31% + 22.65% (Abilities unlocked: Blazing Fire, Thunderstorm. Reach 50% in both and unlock the second-stage abilities of Red Child and Orange Child to unlock the next ability, Heavenly Fire)

Cyan Child Fusion Rate: 10.85% (Reach 20% to unlock the ability Water Control)

Blue Baby Fusion Rate: 20.57% + 10.74% (Ability unlocked: Invisibility. Reach 30% in both to unlock the ability Trackless)

Purple Child Fusion Rate: 0.01% (Reach 50% to unlock the ability Universe in the Sleeve)

In this battle, every corresponding unlock rate had increased, aside from Wind Release proficiency and the space-time attribute.

The greatest improvements had undoubtedly been in Earth Release, the dual Lightning-Fire Release, and Yin Release proficiency. The Yin Release increase came from Mo awakening his three-tomoe Sharingan, while the increases to Earth Release and the dual Lightning-Fire Release had been brought entirely by Kakuzu.

The tremendous increase in his dual Lightning-Fire Release had even directly unlocked Green Child's second-stage ability—Thunderstorm! Red Child and Yellow Child were also close to unlocking their first-stage abilities... But just as he had expected, once the unlock rate crossed the critical threshold of twenty percent, further improvement became exceptionally difficult.

Kakuzu's heart had directly raised Earth Release by sixteen percent, yet the Lightning-Fire Release hearts, which were not much weaker, had provided only a negligible increase after passing the twenty-percent threshold...

"Kakuzu..." Mo looked in the direction Kakuzu had fled, the corners of his lips curling slightly. "We'll meet again."

As his words fell, Mo immersed his mind in the panel, intending to study the new ability he had just acquired.

But at that moment, a voice suddenly came from afar.

"Teacher Mo!"

Mo turned toward the voice, and the three members of Team 8 quickly ran up to him. Kurenai Yuhi panted heavily as she asked:

"Where's that unkillable monster?"

"He ran away."

Mo's pitch-black eyes shifted as he temporarily set the matter aside.

Judging from Green Child's first-stage abilities, Mo concluded that its second-stage ability should be a corresponding Lightning Release technique. If so, fully mastering it would take some time. Moreover, Green Child's next ability, "Heavenly Fire," was also well worth studying.

This was bound to be a long-term endeavor, so there was no need to rush. Fortunately, he had already learned Chidori in advance and no longer needed to go through the trouble of covering it up.

Extreme shape transformation was far too extraordinary and required careful thought, but abilities such as innate superhuman strength and invulnerability to blades and spears could be concealed with ninjutsu or physical conditioning. As for invisibility, it could not be freely displayed in front of others anyway. So, for the time being, Mo did not need to worry about it.

"Still... I can't keep hiding my abilities or exhausting myself trying to deal with them forever... Hidden Leaf..."

"He ran away? Mo, you drove him off?" Kurenai Yuhi stared wide-eyed, raising a hand to cover her slightly parted lips.

No emotion could be seen in Mo's dark eyes. He turned around without answering, merely saying flatly:

"Return to the village."

The group gradually walked away. No one noticed the black figure standing silently atop the steep cliff above, taking everything in.