Kazuki gripped the Kusanagi Sword firmly in his hand, his eyes sharp with focus. With two swift, precise swings, he unleashed a powerful combination of attacks.
"Blade of Wind!"
"Flame Bomb!"
"Blade of Wind!"
"Flame Bomb!"
One after another, three-meter-long wind blades and two-meter-wide fireballs materialized in midair, each attack carrying immense destructive power. Then, as if following an unspoken command, the wind blades and fireballs merged.
Fire feeds the wind.
A swirling vortex of flames erupted, forming towering fire tornadoes that raged violently in the air. The friction with the surrounding atmosphere created a sharp hissing sound, as if the very fabric of space was being torn apart. Each tornado carried destructive power comparable to high-level B-rank Ninjutsu.
With an intense gaze, Kazuki formed twelve fire tornadoes in succession.
This was his own unique technique, an original fusion Ninjutsu he developed through relentless training with the Kusanagi Sword. By mastering the sword's dual elemental properties, he could instantly release two different attacks and merge them into a single, devastating technique.
The destructive force of this move had already reached A-rank Ninjutsu level!
It was currently Kazuki's most powerful attack—one that even an elite Taijutsu master like Might Guy could not ignore.
"Great Tornado!"
Kazuki tightened his grip on the Kusanagi Sword, commanding the twelve raging fire tornadoes to surge toward Might Guy, completely surrounding him.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion shook the battlefield.
The tornadoes, infused with violent flames and razor-sharp wind, tore through the area. The very air split apart, and anything caught in the swirling vortex was instantly obliterated. Even the trees surrounding the training ground were reduced to splinters, leaves scattering like ashes in the wind.
Kazuki understood Taijutsu well—he knew that its core strength lay in close combat. If an opponent couldn't close the distance, then no amount of physical prowess would matter.
During the Chunin Exams, Rock Lee had demonstrated overwhelming strength. However, he was completely countered by Gaara's sand defense and lost tragically.
Now, Kazuki was using the same principle against Might Guy.
His fire tornado technique covered the entire battlefield, leaving no room to dodge or maneuver. If Guy couldn't close the gap, his formidable Taijutsu would be rendered useless.
"Target the opponent's weakness—this is the key to victory."
Guy's eyes widened in shock as he assessed the approaching threat.
"Such immense power…! And with Wind Release enhancing the flames, the speed of these tornadoes rivals my own Taijutsu!"
This wasn't the same Kusanagi Sword Kazuki had wielded before. The power he could now unleash was more than ten times stronger than before!
Understanding the danger, Might Guy immediately abandoned any restrictions he had set for their sparring match. He crossed his arms, clenching his fists tightly against his chest.
"Eight Gates Released Formation—
Third Gate: Gate of Life… OPEN!"
With a mighty roar, a surge of green chakra erupted from Guy's body, unleashing a terrifying wave of energy. His blood vessels bulged, capillaries bursting from the immense strain. His skin turned deep red, and his speed skyrocketed—so fast that it became imperceptible to the naked eye.
"Haaah!!"
A fierce green aura radiated from his body, distorting the air around him. The battlefield was about to reach its breaking point.
The air currents were clearly visible, blowing in all directions.
And Might Guy, who had opened the Gate of Life—the third of the Eight Gates—was now dealing with Kazuki's technique, "Inferno Tempest of Wind and Flame," with much greater ease.
Even though the fire tornadoes, enhanced by Wind Release, were incredibly fast, they still struggled to keep up with Might Guy's overwhelming speed.
Is this the true power of the Eight Gates Released Formation?
With only the Gate of Life open, Might Guy's strength had already skyrocketed several times over.
At this moment, Kazuki was deeply shocked.
But...
He had not lost yet!
Since the Wind-Fire Tornado failed to overpower Might Guy,
Now, he had only one option left—his final technique!
Just as Might Guy prepared to end the battle,
Kazuki moved once more!
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
Kazuki shouted loudly.
At some point, he had already gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly.
In the next instant, a dazzling streak of light roared forth from Kazuki's blade.
The blade shimmered in the air, instantly surrounded by a flowing blue aura—like rippling water—before transforming into a dark blue wave of sword energy, surging toward Might Guy.
The attack was so fast that, in just a split second, it was already upon him.
Might Guy's face changed abruptly.
A sudden chill ran through his entire body as he sensed the lethal precision of the strike.
But—
With the instincts of a warrior who had unlocked the Eight Gates,
Might Guy's reaction was already as sharp as that of a beast.
Before the sword energy could reach him, he vanished in a flash.
"CRACK—!"
The spot where Might Guy had just been standing—
A massive tree, thick enough to require two people to wrap their arms around it, was suddenly sliced in half.
The cut was perfectly clean, and the tree crashed sideways with a heavy thud.
What terrifying swordsmanship!
Even Might Guy was stunned.
He had never realized that Kazuki had been hiding such power.
But… this would be enough for today's training.
Might Guy thought to himself.
Kazuki had already forced him to rely on the Eight Gates,
An accomplishment that far exceeded expectations.
By all logic—
Kazuki had already won.
"Kazuki…"
Might Guy opened his mouth to speak.
"SHH—!"
Kazuki's blade flashed again—
Fast. Too fast!
There was no time for words.
With another swift, relentless slash, Kazuki sent another powerful wave of sword energy hurtling toward Might Guy.
Might Guy barely had time to react, swiftly shifting his stance to evade the chilling blade aura.
'This kid—!'
Might Guy cursed inwardly.
This time, he didn't even have the chance to call out Kazuki's name.
A familiar three-meter-long blue arc of sword energy roared toward him again,
Slicing through the air like a raging hurricane, sending wind rippling in its wake.
But at this moment, Might Guy had yet to regain his balance.
He had no choice but to roll sideways, barely dodging, his footing unsteady.
Might Guy suddenly had a headache.
Although opening the first three Eight Gates was within a safe limit,
The **fourth gate—the Gate of Pain—**would begin damaging his body.
But now, in order to end this fight, it seemed there was no choice—
He had to push further, to suppress this little monster, Kazuki.
"Gate of Pain—"
Just as Might Guy was about to open the fourth gate—
Kazuki suddenly stopped?!
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