Chapter 186: Heavily Injuring the Four-Tails Jinchūriki
Lava Release: Flower-Fruit Mountain!
Rōshi slammed his hands onto the ground, channeling terrifying chakra into the earth. In an instant, the ground began to burn and flow, transforming into a massive sea of molten lava. The seawater Hoshikawa had created evaporated at an alarming rate, sending up dense plumes of steam.
Tsunade and the remaining Iwagakure ninja, who had intended to assist, were forced to retreat to avoid the rapidly spreading lava.
BOOM!
The lava shot up towards the sky like a volcanic eruption, making the air incredibly hot.
"Be careful!" Tsunade couldn't help but shout a warning.
The nearly ten-meter-high lava surge rushed toward Hoshikawa , threatening to completely engulf him. Despite the rain still falling and the ocean created by the jutsu surrounding them, the scene before them was overwhelmingly terrifying.
Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Explosion!
Hoshikawa stood his ground without dodging, deploying the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju's jutsu. The surrounding seawater swirled, forming a ten-meter-wide vortex near him. The vortex was pulled by chakra, ascending and transforming into an incomparably massive water dragon as it rose.
A roar echoed!
The water dragon descended from the heavens, as if all the rainwater had instantly coalesced, plummeting towards the lava. The moment the water hit the lava, it generated massive amounts of steam. But the lava cooled even faster.
To the stunned disbelief of the onlookers, the vast sea of molten rock was completely submerged, eventually solidifying into a colossal slab of stone.
"How is this possible? Where did Konoha get a Water Release ninja this powerful?"
"He's Hoshikawa ! He killed Kushimaru Kuriarare, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, before!"
"Why is Tsunade's student so skilled in Water Release?"
The Iwagakure ninja watching from the ocean surface couldn't help but discuss the scene. Some of them had heard Hoshikawa 's name before, but in their minds, he was just an Elite Jōnin. There were gaps even between Jōnin, and a Jinchūriki, with their Tailed Beast chakra, sat at the absolute peak, surpassing most Jōnin. In the Shinobi World, those who could suppress a Jinchūriki were invariably the Kage of the Five Great Villages. Now, a youth much younger than them was actually holding his own against a Jinchūriki—it was simply unbelievable.
Tsunade's lips curled slightly, a look of pride on her face. Though the brat's performance surprised even her, he was her student, and his success brought her great satisfaction.
"Your Water Release is quite impressive." Rōshi had dropped his previous arrogance. He had defeated countless Water Release ninja with his Lava Release, but this was the first time he had encountered one who could suppress him.
"But how much chakra do you have?!" Rōshi sneered, lava bubbling up all over his body.
Submarine Needle!
He rapidly charged toward Hoshikawa , gathering all his chakra into his hand as he ran. The air around his right arm twisted violently due to the pervasive heat. Wherever he passed, the seawater instantly evaporated, and even the ground was scorched black.
Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!
Hoshikawa opened his mouth and spat out four needles of water. This jutsu required no hand seals and possessed immense power. Rōshi glanced at them and didn't bother to block, taking the hit with his body. His body was covered in a layer of lava, granting him incredibly tough defense. Furthermore, the water needles looked utterly unremarkable.
The four water needles struck his heart. Rōshi's face changed slightly, and he let out a muffled groan, feeling a sharp, stinging pain. His forward momentum abruptly halted.
Water Release: Water Instantaneous Body Technique!
Hoshikawa 's body dissolved into a puddle of water and vanished instantly.
"What?" Rōshi had been momentarily distracted by the water needles, and when he looked up, Hoshikawa was gone. He quickly scanned left and right but couldn't find him.
Rōshi frowned slightly, canceling Submarine Needle and instead covering his entire body with massive amounts of chakra.
The sound of rushing water rang out. Rōshi quickly spun around and saw a water dragon. He scoffed dismissively. A mere Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu? He wouldn't even bother to dodge.
However, remembering the Water Release: Heavenly Weeping, he decided not to be overconfident. After all, this guy's Water Release was different.
Lava Release: Scorching Flow Rock Technique!
Rōshi formed hand seals and spat out several lava spheres, hurtling them towards the water dragon. But the expected sight of the water dragon evaporating didn't occur. Rōshi looked on, completely bewildered, as the water dragon knocked aside the lava spheres and plummeted towards him.
Lava Release: Granite!
Something abnormal was happening. Rōshi unleashed his chakra, forming a layer of granite-like armor over his body, transforming him into a rock man once more.
The next second, the water dragon struck him. The instant Rōshi made contact with the dragon, massive amounts of lightning permeated the area, completely engulfing him. Although the granite armor was thick, the sheer amount of electricity still caused his body to momentarily paralyze.
Body Flicker Technique!
Hoshikawa instantly appeared in front of him.
Uncommon Strength!
He clenched his fist and aimed a punch at Rōshi's head, unleashing it with a roar.
BANG!
The tremendous force was fully released. With a horrifying impact sound, Rōshi's body was sent flying backward. He tore through the camp, setting tents ablaze, and finally slammed into the earthen wall, where he stopped.
The entire area fell silent!
The Iwagakure ninja watched the scene dumbfounded. They had thought Hoshikawa could, at most, trade a few blows with Rōshi. After all, Jinchūriki had endless chakra. But who would have thought that Rōshi would be the one on the defensive first!
"What kind of Water Release is that? Why does it have electricity?"
"It's not just Water Release! It's a Water and Lightning Composite Jutsu!"
"A composite jutsu? Is that even possible? I remember many Elite Jōnin can't even do that!"
"He's an absolute monster!"
The Iwagakure camp had nearly one hundred ninja, including several Jōnin. Aside from Rōshi, the commanding Jōnin was Dōshisha, the one responsible for the surprise attack on the Land of Fire's border in the original story, where he reduced the Konoha Defense Force to just four survivors.
Now, Dōshisha had a terrible premonition. Rōshi's purpose in the Land of Grass was simple: to create the false impression for Kumogakure that Iwagakure was preparing a massive invasion of Konoha. Once the Third Raikage lowered his guard, Iwagakure would mobilize ten thousand ninja to enter the Land of Lightning. However, the current situation was far exceeding his expectations, giving him a feeling of powerlessness.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
Composite Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet?
This brat's mastery is actually that high? It seemed she needed to pressure the old man into revealing more composite jutsu secrets when they got back.
"Damn it!" Rōshi struggled to his feet. He never imagined he would be punched away by a brat. Although Hoshikawa 's Water Release was indeed strong, this was a massive blow to his pride. Especially when the pain and paralyzing sensation hit him simultaneously, it fueled his rage.
"Agh!" Rōshi roared, his chakra exploding once more. Four tails thrashed wildly, and the silhouette of an ape began to vaguely appear. This was the Four-Tails, Son Gokū.
Hoshikawa watched him with a grave expression. But this shouldn't be a Full Tailed Beast Transformation.
"Die!" Rōshi slammed both fists onto the ground.
Scorching River Eruption!
The terrifying force caused the ground to split apart, and a giant volcano surged up from the rupture. The volcano shook violently like a cannon barrel, spewing countless streams of lava.
"Retreat quickly!" Dōshisha's face turned pale at the sight and he frantically shouted. The range of Scorching River Eruption was too large, already encroaching upon their position.
Tsunade was also retreating. She looked at Hoshikawa , her face filled with worry.
Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
Hoshikawa once again utilized the chakra stored in his Strength of a Hundred Seal. He leaned back, exhaling a massive volume of chakra that turned into seawater, instantly forming an ocean.
The lava and the ocean met, creating a constant sizzling sound, and the entire encampment was enveloped in a thick mist.
Body Flicker Technique: Mist Flicker!
Hoshikawa mentally commanded, his body concealing itself within the mist, and he quickly vanished.
"Where does this guy get so much chakra?" Rōshi was highly annoyed and completely unable to understand. The lava on his body grew brighter, attempting to repel the ever-increasing seawater. The water would often evaporate the moment it approached him due to the high temperature of the lava. But the sheer volume of seawater was starting to irritate him.
"Where is he?"
Rōshi's heart suddenly pounded. He looked around; all he saw was mist. Fortunately, as a Jinchūriki, or rather, as a Tailed Beast, their sensory abilities were not bad. Rin Nohara had been discovered earlier thanks to his sensing capability.
He quickly became aware of something. A sharp, high-pitched chirping sound echoed from a distance.
Body Flicker Technique!
Rōshi's body turned into a blur, and he instantly appeared in front of Hoshikawa . Hoshikawa was currently enveloped in lightning—Chidori Stream. Rōshi remembered the paralyzing shock he felt earlier. His face darkened, and without a word, he charged at Hoshikawa .
In reality, this was not just Chidori Stream, but also the Lightning Release Body Armor. Hoshikawa watched him, his final hand seal completing at that moment. With the [Rain God] and [Water Release Special Jōnin] traits, his Water Release already had a 200% power boost. Now, adding the Lightning Release Body Armor, his attack gained another 100% boost. In other words, Hoshikawa had achieved his peak power state.
Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
Hoshikawa tilted his head back, unleashing a stream of water from his mouth that was straight and narrow, like an infinitely long spear. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, possessed numerous Water Release jutsu, but Water Severing Wave was undoubtedly the one with the strongest penetration and cutting power. While most Water Release focused on volume, this jutsu relied on extreme compression, like a high-pressure water jet, possessing terrifying destructive force. In the Fourth Great Ninja War in the original story, Tobirama used Water Severing Wave to sever the roots of the God Tree.
Rōshi's heart jolted. A sense of life-or-death crisis surged within him. He immediately halted his charge and formed hand seals.
Lava Release: Granite!
A thick layer of granite materialized over his body, transforming him into a rock man once more. But that was all he could manage. The Water Release: Water Severing Wave was too fast for him to execute a second jutsu.
The moment of impact, Rōshi's face turned ashen. A powerful shockwave hit him, and his body slid backward uncontrollably. But the more terrifying aspect was its destructive power. The granite armor on his body only held for two seconds before blood began to seep out. Rōshi's face was pale, but he seized the moment to deploy the Body Flicker Technique. He shifted his body an inch to the left.
That single inch was enough to make the Water Release: Water Severing Wave bypass his vitals, instead slicing through his shoulder.
BOOM!
Rōshi crashed onto the ground, even more blood pouring out.
"Impossible!"
"Lord Rōshi!"
"Save him quickly!"
The Iwagakure ninja, recovering from their shock, rushed toward Rōshi.
"Not so fast!" Tsunade intercepted them. But the shock Hoshikawa had caused her was not diminished at all. He actually severely injured a Jinchūriki?
"Stay back!" Rōshi roared, staggering to his feet.
Everyone subconsciously looked at him. His shoulder had a gash several centimeters wide—not merely deep enough to see bone, but completely pierced through. His entire shoulder was a bloody mess, and blood flowed down his body in torrents.
"You, retreat!" Rōshi glared at Hoshikawa , enduring the intense pain as chakra exploded from him again. Just a little more, and he might have been killed.
Tsunade's expression suddenly changed. Is he going to use a Tailed Beast Ball?!
The next second, the chakra covering Rōshi condensed into the full form of an ape. The ape opened its mouth, and terrifying chakra began to compress, turning black.
"Run! Get as far away as possible!" Dōshisha instantly recognized the technique and yelled frantically.
The Iwagakure ninja ignored Tsunade and fled for their lives. Some of them had seen the Tailed Beast Ball, others had only heard of it. Either way, they knew its power could easily destroy a mountain.
"Hoshikawa !" Only Tsunade ran toward the center. She appeared beside Hoshikawa in an instant.
"Please, Lady Katsuyu!" Hoshikawa couldn't withstand a Tailed Beast Ball head-on. The moment Rōshi began forming the ape silhouette, he thought of one solution: asking Katsuyu to teleport them to the Shikkotsu Forest.
"Lord Hajik... A Tailed Beast Ball?" Katsuyu was about to greet him when her tone shifted to one of grave concern.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared.
"...?" Minato Namikaze saw Rōshi, covered in blood and deploying a Tailed Beast Ball, and was stunned for a moment. What in the world is happening?
After meeting Kurenai, he had immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique. The Flying Thunder God Kunai he had given Hoshikawa earlier had just been put to use. However, he had expected to find Tsunade and Hoshikawa surrounded and in dire peril by a hundred Iwagakure ninja. Instead... a Jinchūriki was severely injured and forced to use a Tailed Beast Ball?
The Tailed Beast Ball was the last resort for Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts. Its power surpassed most ninjutsu. But because of its immense destructive power, it consumed a tremendous amount of chakra and was rarely used unless absolutely necessary. In other words, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi, had been pushed to the brink by Hoshikawa and Tsunade.
"Go!" Minato grabbed Tsunade and Hoshikawa by the shoulders and instantly used the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Katsuyu, seeing this, immediately ended the summoning jutsu and vanished in a cloud of smoke.
RUMBLE!
The Tailed Beast Ball slammed into the ground. The earth instantly pulverized, forming a bottomless crater. The surging shockwave spread in all directions, and the chakra destroyed everything in its path. The Iwagakure camp was utterly annihilated by the Tailed Beast Ball attack.
"That's truly terrifying," Hoshikawa sighed, feeling the ground still shaking.
"How did you manage to force him to use a Tailed Beast Ball?" Minato couldn't help but ask. He was utterly confused.
"It wasn't me," Tsunade shook her head. "Hoshikawa 's Water Release suppressed him."
"Huh?" Minato stood frozen. Although Water Release countered Fire Release, that was a Jinchūriki, and Rōshi used the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai. How could anyone suppress that?
Minato looked at Hoshikawa , who was even younger than himself, and couldn't help but think, What kind of monster is this?
(End of Chapter)
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