Where's My Dad?

"Mū's Dust Release uses the nature transformations of wind, fire, and earth chakra to break whatever it hits down into molecules...

My Light Release uses the four chakra attributes of lightning, fire, yin, and yang... Does it melt things through the immense energy it contains?"

This was practically... like the sun!

Xuanhui had originally thought that a kekkei tōta required mixing three or more types of chakra, and that they had to be among the five basic chakra natures.

But seeing it today, that idea did not seem entirely rigorous!

"There must be plenty of differences between Light Release and Dust Release!"

As Xuanhui spoke, he began experimenting.

A few minutes later, he had roughly summarized his findings.

First, Dust Release manifested as regular geometric shapes, while his Light Release possessed fluidity!

It would naturally spread along a path toward areas with lower energy!

This was quite powerful. Not only could the chakra's form be customized, making it more malleable, but it also consumed less chakra.

Second, Dust Release's bursts were calculated one at a time, with each use consuming a fixed amount of chakra.

Light Release chakra was calculated continuously, using only as much as needed. Its efficiency was higher than Dust Release's!

Coupled with their different activation mechanisms, although the two had the same effect and could both deal true damage, Light Release was more versatile and had a greater margin for error!

"Is this the difference brought by adding Yin Release and Yang Release?"

Xuanhui sighed in admiration, followed by an uncontrollable surge of secret delight.

His face flushed, his steps grew unsteady, and his whole body trembled!

I have to show my teacher and my dad!

I've got cheats!

I invented it myself! Hahahahaha!

He ran to Orochimaru's tent, but he was not there!

He ran to his dad's tent, but he was not there either!

He went looking for Jiraiya and Tsunade! Neither of them was there!

"What the hell... where is everyone?

Damn! Look at my brain!"

Xuanhui closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings.

"Why isn't there anyone within several kilometers?

Wait a minute? The north seems a little chaotic?"

Had they started fighting? He had only been in seclusion for less than two days!

Wait...

Xuanhui suddenly slapped his forehead, then quickly put on his gear and rushed north.

"Damn it! Who could make all three of them move at once!

My brain's completely fried! When exactly did Hanzo show up!"

Ten minutes earlier, on the main battlefield between Hidden Rain and Konoha.

Hanzo forced himself to stand atop his salamander, looking down at the three below him.

He watched their resolute eyes, along with the other Konoha ninja, all covered in wounds yet still glaring stubbornly at him.

"Konoha's ninja... are quite impressive!"

He lifted his clothes and sliced open one of his wounds.

"This is a poison sac that was transplanted into me when I was young... Its venom is even stronger than the salamander's...

Everyone was transplanted back then... Only I survived..."

As he spoke, a trace of reminiscence flashed through his eyes before being crushed by ruthless resolve.

"For those of us caught between great nations, only military expansion can make you fear us!

Forgive me! Konoha ninja!"

Hanzo cut open the wound, and although Jiraiya and the other two tried to stop him, they were already too late!

After fighting for so long, the Konoha ninja's gas masks had either shattered or developed leaks!

The moment Hanzo's poison emerged, everyone collapsed to the ground in agony!

Katsuyu clung to the ninja's shoulders, treating them while growing increasingly anxious!

On the battlefield, a man wielding twin blades struggled to his knees, his scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan fixed on the comrades around him.

"Qingyun! Yushan! You two, hold on!"

The two merely glanced briefly at Uchiha Uzumaki. Before they could say a word, their eyes rolled back, and they fell face-first to the ground!

"Damn it! Shit!"

He suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his heart, followed by ringing in his ears!

Katsuyu spoke encouraging words beside him, seemingly saying something like, "Hold on a little longer! Everyone will be fine!"

But none of that mattered anymore!

All that seemed to remain in his ears were his wife's voice and his son's voice.

"No! I can't die!"

He clutched his head in agony, as though brute force could drive the poison out!

The image of his wife crying, looking so pitiful in his arms, tormented his mind as though it were being shocked by electricity!

"No! My wife is still waiting for me to come home!"

He threw back his head and let out a roar, but sadly, no one could hear it.

The intense mental stimulation made him collapse limp after exhausting all his strength in that shout.

The instant his eyelids closed, something black and red seemed to flow through half of his pupil.

The rain continued to fall, its icy water soaking through their clothes. At this moment, no one was warm.

By then, only four people remained standing on the field.

Jiraiya was supported by Tsunade, while Orochimaru held two kunai. All three stared intently at the powerful man before them!

"Jiraiya... Orochimaru... this is the antidote... it can alleviate it somewhat..."

Tsunade took out three antidotes and injected them into the three of them.

Jiraiya stretched his body and found that he had indeed regained some strength, though he was still utterly exhausted!

"Tsunade... our people..."

Orochimaru's hoarse voice drifted over. His gaze also flicked toward Uchiha Uzumaki.

"No need to worry... within a day, they'll be..."

The air fell silent. The three stood shoulder to shoulder, six blazing eyes seeming ready to pierce Hanzo to death with their gazes.

Even if all their comrades had fallen, they would still stand and stare down their enemy.

The three before him possessed such spirit!

"You three, state your names. I will spread your renown elsewhere!"

"Jiraiya!"

"Tsunade!"

"Orochimaru!"

"...Good names! You three are all excellent ninja!

From this day onward! I shall call you Konoha's Three Ninja!"

Hanzo put away his sickle, straightened his clothes, and left atop his salamander with his few remaining subordinates.

The three forced themselves to remain standing as they watched Hanzo depart, until his back vanished into the torrential rain.

The moment they relaxed, all three instantly collapsed to the ground.

They panted heavily. After nearly a day and a half of fighting, they were exhausted in both body and mind. Slumped on the ground, they could only look at one another, unable to say a single word.

"..."

"Orochimaru-sensei! Lord Jiraiya! Sister Tsunade!"

A faint yet exceptionally clear cry!

Orochimaru sat on the ground without even raising his head. "It's Xuanhui..."

"Orochimaru-sensei!"

Like a bolt of lightning, Xuanhui charged over the instant he saw the three of them.

Tsunade was sitting nearby, while Jiraiya leaned against her shoulder.

When Xuanhui ran over, lightning-nature chakra still wrapped around his legs. Orochimaru recognized it as the ninjutsu he had taught him.

"Sensei! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine..."

Xuanhui opened his mouth, but the words reached his lips and refused to come out.

He wiped the rainwater from his face, then asked anyway.

"Sensei... my dad... did he go on another mission?"