The long search mission continued, with hope growing ever dimmer. Yet Shaye's strength quietly took root and flourished in the soil of despair. As his body was continually enhanced by the "Modified Body Refining Furnace," his chakra reserves steadily advanced toward the level of a Jonin, and his mastery of various ninjutsu reached new heights.
The sharpness and swiftness of Wind Release, the steadiness and defense of Earth Release—neither was merely a technique in his hands any longer. They had become extensions of his limbs, ready to be unleashed at a thought. His Fierce Wind Palm cut with greater precision, his Earth-Style Wall formed faster and sturdier, and in emergencies, he could even instantly cast the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique to create openings for himself or his teammates.
However, the true transformation came from the power hidden deep within his bloodline, forcibly awakened through his wisdom and perseverance—Magnet Release.
His past theoretical research and small-scale practice finally faced the test of real combat, supported by abundant chakra and a powerful physique.
While crossing a stretch of Gobi rich in iron ore sand, they once again encountered a Hidden Rock Village reconnaissance squad by chance. The other side was likewise led by a Jonin, with two Chunin assisting him. Enemies meeting face-to-face, their eyes burned with hatred. Without a word, battle erupted instantly!
Captain Jing Liang once again took the initiative to confront the opposing Jonin. Wind Release empowered by his twin blades clashed head-on with the enemy's Earth Release, and their fierce battle continued without pause. Lukado and Xu also gave their all to hold back the other two Iwagakure Shinobi Chunin, but the pressure was immense.
As a mobile force, Shaye continually harassed them with the Spider puppet, used Earth-Style: Earth Spear to restrict their movements, and launched long-range strikes with Fierce Wind Palm. For a time, the battle fell into a stalemate.
He had to break the deadlock! Shaye's gaze sharpened as his eyes swept over the dark brown ground beneath his feet, rich with Iron Sand.
It was time!
His hands rapidly formed a unique seal. Within him, chakra bearing both the sharp transformation of wind and the weight of earth began to merge and resonate in an exceedingly complex manner. An invisible, peculiar force field spread outward from him!
"Magnet Release: Sand Iron Drizzle!"
He let out a low shout and fiercely swept his right hand forward!
Countless fine, gleaming black grains of Iron Sand rose from the earth beneath his feet, summoned by a powerful magnetic force. Like an enraged swarm of bees, they became a dense black tide and shot toward the Iwagakure Shinobi Jonin locked in fierce combat with Jing Liang!
It was incredibly fast! It covered an enormous area! The shrill hiss of it tearing through the air made one's scalp tingle!
The Iwagakure Shinobi Jonin was fully occupied dealing with Jing Liang's rapid assault and had never expected an attack so completely beyond the scope of conventional ninjutsu! By the time he sensed the danger, the "downpour" of countless tiny iron grains was already upon him!
"What is this?!" Horrified beyond measure, he hastily tried to harden his body with Earth Release for defense.
But the Iron Sand controlled by Magnet Release possessed both physical impact and magnetic penetration!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Countless grains of Iron Sand easily pierced through the earth armor he had hurriedly formed. Though each grain dealt limited damage, the impact of thousands upon thousands of them, along with the magnetic interference they carried, instantly wracked his entire body with pain and disrupted the flow of his chakra! His movements became completely distorted!
"Perfect!" Though Jing Liang was shocked by Shaye's bizarre, unheard-of technique, his battle instincts made him seize this fleeting chance to finish the enemy!
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
A highly compressed vacuum shell slammed viciously into the opening exposed by the enemy's Magnet Release-induced disruption!
Boom!
The Iwagakure Shinobi Jonin screamed as he was blasted backward. His chest caved in, and he crashed heavily to the ground, losing all ability to fight.
With their leader severely wounded and taken down in an instant, the remaining two Iwagakure Shinobi Chunin were shaken to the core, and their fighting spirit collapsed at once.
"Take them down!" Jing Liang showed no mercy. Joining forces with Shaye, Lukado, and Xu, he quickly dealt with the remaining two panicked Iwagakure Shinobi.
The battle ended faster than any of their previous fights.
Leaning on his blades, Jing Liang panted heavily. His expression was complicated as he looked at Shaye, at the strange force field still lingering around him and causing the Iron Sand on the ground to tremble faintly.
"Was that... Magnet Release?" Jing Liang's voice was hoarse with disbelief. That was the legendary Kekkei Genkai and signature technique of the Third Kazekage, hailed as the strongest Kazekage. It was a power that had long become almost mythical—how could it appear in such a young shinobi?
The magnetic field around Shaye slowly dissipated, and the suspended Iron Sand rustled as it fell. He nodded without offering much explanation. "I've only grasped the basics. I'm still not proficient with it."
Lukado and Xu also gathered around, looking at Shaye as though he were some kind of monster. The ability to control Iron Sand and injure enemies from afar was simply unheard of!
In the several subsequent encounters, Shaye's newly emerging Magnet Release became the squad's most powerful trump card.
Against enemies attempting to form seals and unleash large-scale Earth Release, a precise Sand Iron Drizzle could interrupt their technique and disrupt their chakra.
Against enemies relying on taijutsu and ninja tools, he could manipulate Iron Sand into a simple defensive wall or use it to cling to and interfere with their metal weapons.
He could even simply control Iron Sand to form obstructive zones on the ground, slowing the enemy's movements.
Though his methods remained relatively limited, and both his range and control precision still needed improvement, its bizarre attack patterns, powerful disruptive capabilities, and unexpected effects repeatedly achieved remarkable results.
Shaye, the boy once scorned for his frail body, had now grown into an indispensable core force of the squad. He possessed not only comprehensive support abilities—reconnaissance and medical treatment—but also a powerful offensive Kekkei Genkai capable of deciding a battle in a single blow.
At last, Magnet Release revealed its sharp edge amid the brutal trials of real combat.
End of Chapter
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