Chapter 194: Gentle Fist Style: Wind Release Chakra Mode (Wind King's Barrier)
"This time I truly embarrassed myself. Hokage-sama, Shisui, thank you for the assistance."
Hiruko rejoined the battle.
The genjutsu he'd been caught in had already been dispelled by Uchiha Fugaku's help. After all, it was merely genjutsu casually cast by Uchiha Madara. Uchiha Fugaku could dispel it with some effort.
Having broken free from the genjutsu, Hiruko didn't choose to rest but immediately rushed forward to the battlefield again.
Minato's gaze swept over Hiruko and Uchiha Fugaku. Kakashi and the Sand ninja had retreated together. He possessed clear self-awareness. From Hiruko-senpai and Shisui-senpai's near-death experiences, he judged that if it were himself, he might not even survive until Minato-sensei could extend aid.
Against this level of enemy, forget facing them directly—he wasn't even qualified to provide support from the sidelines. One careless moment and he'd be swept away by the "aftershocks."
So—
Temporarily withdrawing from the battlefield was currently the most correct choice. He could accept being unable to help but absolutely refused to become a burden to others.
Minato at this moment made his decision, speaking gravely, "Hiruko-senpai, Uchiha Clan Head, and Shisui—I need time to deploy my trump card. Find a way to hold out for a period. Not too long—three minutes. Try to buy me three minutes."
Three minutes?
Hiruko glanced at Minato.
His heart thoughtful.
As a classmate of the Sannin, he knew Jiraiya possessed a method to comprehensively enhance his combat power significantly—reportedly learned from Mount Myoboku, one of the three great summoning beast sanctuaries. It appeared Minato had also mastered this technique.
He immediately agreed. "Hokage-sama, I'll restrain this fellow even if it means exhausting all my chakra." But he didn't dare say he could definitely hold out for three minutes.
He truly lacked confidence. Even with Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui accompanying him, he didn't dare pat his chest guaranteeing success—only daring to promise his best effort.
Uchiha Shisui, however, possessed youthful vigor. "Don't worry, Hokage-sama! Even if I must stake my life, I'll absolutely block him!" His heart secretly resolved that even risking severely declining vision, he'd restrain that Uchiha Madara replica.
Uchiha Fugaku's lips curved in a bitter, helpless smile.
His thinking aligned with Hiruko's. How could one speak words like "definitely" or "absolutely" in such matters? One shouldn't lightly promise things without complete confidence of accomplishment.
Unfortunately, Shisui had already boasted. He could only feel helpless.
However—
Minato's brow furrowed. Rather than rejoicing at Shisui's determination, he instead rebuked aloud, "Shisui, don't speak lightly of life and death. This isn't a critical moment requiring your life's sacrifice to accomplish some purpose."
"Remember this—only by living well can you make more contributions and changes for the village and your family."
His voice wasn't severe.
But it still possessed sufficient deterrent force.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. My apologies."
After being lectured, Shisui shrank his head, apologizing repeatedly.
Only then did Minato nod satisfactorily. But immediately he sensed something wrong. The sea of fire had already been extinguished, leaving only dispersed water vapor. But replica Uchiha Madara hadn't immediately attacked them—completely inconsistent with the aggression he'd previously displayed.
However, the next instant—
Sky-piercing firelight blazed again.
Minato looked at the firelight's appearing location, his heart clenching. "Bad! He's going after Hyuga Clan Head!"
The sea of fire's spreading position was precisely the battlefield where Hyuga Ritsu fought the five Rinnegan Paths.
However, concern only lasted an instant. He didn't immediately rush over to help. Because Hyuga Clan Head's strength was powerful, his trump cards numerous. Moreover, unlike himself who utilized "extreme speed" to maneuver, Hyuga Ritsu was even more skilled at frontal assault—whether attack or defense abilities, both top-tier.
So he probably didn't need to worry about Hyuga Ritsu encountering any accidents.
Furthermore, dealing with replica Uchiha Madara proved somewhat strenuous relying only on his normal state. He had to display a stronger posture, commanding more powerful force. Only thus could he lead everyone to complete this operation.
He didn't choose to charge forward but instead quietly stood in place, maintaining a "motionless" posture.
He held even more confidence in Hyuga Ritsu than himself.
Even if unable to defeat Uchiha Madara's replica, holding out for several exchanges should present no problems. Moreover, Hiruko and others were rushing over for support. Hiruko-senpai treasured his disciple dearly.
Indeed, this was the case.
After Hiruko noticed replica Uchiha Madara abandoning them to instead attack Hyuga Ritsu locked in fierce battle with the five Rinnegan Paths, he also silently charged over. Steam sprayed from every pore across his body, continuously accelerating his movement speed.
In this high-intensity fierce combat, potential seized through Chimera Technique was forcibly excavated. The internal application method of Boil Release Kekkei Genkai was rapidly being mastered.
Uchiha Shisui likewise didn't hesitate, similarly following close behind.
Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the motionless Minato, contemplated two seconds, and decided to remain to escort the Fourth Hokage.
These past ten-plus minutes of brutal combat had given him extremely accurate positioning of his own strength.
As clan head, his strength was naturally formidable. But the definition of strong and weak wasn't immutable. When comparing against different targets, strength relationships could change or even reverse.
Fourth Hokage, Hyuga Clan Head, and Shisui's strength already surpassed his own.
Even Hiruko, this formerly obscure senpai, now shone brilliantly, successively displaying Wood Release and Boil Release, two Kekkei Genkai, in this battle.
Rushing over now probably wouldn't accomplish much.
Better to remain with Kakashi, guarding the Fourth Hokage who clearly was gathering power to prepare an ultimate technique, preventing ambush from interrupting the process.
Hyuga Ritsu also hadn't anticipated replica Uchiha Madara would abandon Minato and others to turn and attack himself together with Nagato's five avatars. However, reconsidering, such judgment was actually quite reasonable.
Everyone understood the principle: better to sever one finger than injure ten. Perhaps they couldn't summarize and distill such concise, clear language, but these battle-hardened experts had long engraved this principle into their bones.
"Of all targets, you choose me—the hardest 'finger.'"
Hyuga Ritsu smiled.
Replica Uchiha Madara's addition sharply increased his pressure. But he didn't panic. If it were self-aware Uchiha Madara, he'd definitely be extremely cautious. But against merely an instinct-driven beast, he truly wasn't afraid.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation.
Replica Uchiha Madara repeated his old trick. Hands forming seals, his mouth spat out a vast, surging blazing sea of fire.
Simultaneously—
The Asura Path also acted.
Arm Missiles.
Using his right hand, he pulled his left hand off, tearing it away. The steel cable connecting wrist and arm was strung with densely packed missiles like sweet potatoes. With chakra injection, these approximately thirty-plus missiles all launched, trailing long flames as they soared skyward, tracing beautiful arcs before carpet-bombing Hyuga Ritsu below.
The Byakugan saw everything clearly.
Hyuga Ritsu's lips curved upward, intense fighting spirit and excitement surfacing in his eyes.
He murmured softly to himself, "Let's test the effectiveness of this technique I recently developed."
The next instant—
Hyuga Ritsu released Wind Release nature-transformed chakra from multiple points across his body, then constrained it with form transformation. In just an instant, pale green violent wind like ropes or armor covered both shoulders, waist, abdomen, and other positions.
From a distance, Hyuga Ritsu appeared to wear pale green outer garments.
Howling wind sounds echoed in his ears.
The sea of fire was already close at hand.
Missiles descended from the sky.
But—
A greenish-white stream of light stretched long afterimages through the drizzle, moving so fast human eyes could barely capture specific motion. The sea of fire, half a beat slow, grasped at empty air. The missiles, a step late, bombarded the hard rock ground surface without touching a single hair on Hyuga Ritsu's head.
Hyuga Ritsu stood safely outside the two combined attacks' range.
This was—
Gentle Fist Style: Wind Release Chakra Mode.
Hyuga Ritsu also playfully called it "Wind King's Barrier."
This was the technique he'd developed to improve and compensate for his weakness in movement speed, to enhance the family's overall combat power, imitating jinchuriki Tailed Beast cloaks and Cloud ninja's Lightning Release Chakra Mode—developed after exhausting effort, racking his brains, and expending great energy.
Now was its first deployment in actual combat after completing this technique.
And the results truly hadn't disappointed him.
His greatest weakness—speed—had been effectively compensated. He now dared not claim invincibility, but indeed no longer possessed obvious exploitable weaknesses.
Hyuga Ritsu's lips curved high upward, his face revealing a pleased smile.
His gaze turned toward Nagato's five avatars plus replica Uchiha Madara. Killing intent overflowed from his eyes.
"Such fast speed!"
Within the mountain belly, Pain standing on the Gedo Statue exclaimed involuntarily.
The Rinnegan's perception fell short of the Byakugan, but dynamic visual acuity proved exceptionally outstanding. Moreover, the battlefield had a full five Rinnegan observing from different positions and angles. Even with sea of fire interference, they'd still captured Hyuga Ritsu's movement.
Uchiha Tatsuhata asked aloud, "What happened? What's the situation?"
His ocular technique Toyoakitsushihime lacked the ability to share vision with the replicas he created. He could only roughly sense his replicas' specific states.
Pain answered, "That White Yaksha used very impressive means. It appears he utilized Wind Release chakra nature transformation to significantly increase his movement speed..."
At this moment—
The Venus flytrap-shaped half-White Zetsu spoke. "That thing looks somewhat like jinchuriki Tailed Beast cloaks, also somewhat similar to Cloud ninja's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Feels like it should be the same type of technique."
White Zetsu's two examples proved vivid and direct.
Even without witnessing it personally, Uchiha Tatsuhata immediately constructed a rough impression in his mind.
He frowned. "Wind Release? I've never heard of similar Wind Release techniques. Zetsu, have you seen anything like this?"
"No."
Black Zetsu answered.
Hearing this, Uchiha Tatsuhata raised an eyebrow. "So White Yaksha developed a new technique?"
"Should be."
Black Zetsu confirmed.
Having lived a thousand years, he was knowledgeable and experienced, but truly had never seen anyone use similar Wind Release techniques. Because Wind Release chakra's cutting properties possessed astonishing lethality, and moreover changed unpredictably, proving exceptionally difficult to restrain. One careless moment could injure oneself—severe cases might cause disability or death.
Therefore, from past to present, Wind Release techniques researched and developed by countless ninja were basically offensive techniques. Even if usable for defense, they were offense-as-defense types.
This Wind Release technique Hyuga Ritsu developed was truly the first he'd seen.
Honestly—
Wasn't he afraid of accidentally cutting himself open?
Uchiha Tatsuhata looked toward Pain. "What's the current situation? How difficult is dealing with White Yaksha's technique?"
Pain didn't answer.
His silence was actually the best answer. Because Nagato had to invest more attention into the plateau battle, lacking leisure to control Pain and speak with Uchiha Tatsuhata.
This technique called Gentle Fist Style: Wind Release Chakra Mode granted Hyuga Ritsu extremely astonishing movement speed. After dodging the two combined attacks, he immediately launched a counterattack.
Relying on this astonishing movement speed, Hyuga Ritsu instantly closed in on the Asura Path positioned at the very front.
The Asura Path's body was almost entirely steel mechanical structure. While possessing varied and tremendously powerful attack capabilities, it also had extremely strong defense.
Facing this iron lump, Hyuga Ritsu cleanly and decisively chose to punch.
Gentle Fist Style: Whirlwind Iron-Cutting Fist.
This was one of the byproducts born during the development of Gentle Fist Style: Wind Release Chakra Mode. Unlike the Wind Release Chakra Mode's difficulty, this technique's development had come naturally.
His palms were wrapped with layer upon layer of extremely sharp wind blades. One punch could cut even steel.
One could say it deployed Wind Release technique's offensive nature to the fullest.
At this moment, precisely so—
The literally three-headed, six-armed, steel-boned Asura Path traded a punch with Hyuga Ritsu. Its arm was forcibly severed, exposing the mechanical structure's cross-section.
Though Hyuga Ritsu clearly only had two hands, under Wind Release Chakra Mode's propulsion, his punching speed was so fast it seemed he possessed many arms. Instead, the three-headed, six-armed Asura Path didn't have enough hands.
After just a brief exchange, the Asura Path's three heads and six arms were all severed by Hyuga Ritsu, leaving only a bare trunk like a tree with all branches sawed off, collapsing to the ground.
"First one!"
Hyuga Ritsu's lips held a smile.
The Byakugan had already locked onto the nearest target—the Preta Path.
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