Ryuki shook his head violently. Years of experience as a ninja had taught him the dangers of losing his vision, and he instinctively leaped backward. When his sight finally cleared, a look of horror flashed in his eyes. The boy he had just tried to kill with an explosive tag was now lunging toward him with a kunai, aiming directly for his throat. If Ryuki had reacted even a second later, his neck would have been slit open.
At the spot where the spinning chakra sphere had struck just moments ago, a massive crater had formed in the ground. If that attack had hit him directly, he might not have died instantly, but he would have suffered severe injuries—possibly losing the ability to move.
"This brat… he's not simple."
Ryuki began to take Naruto seriously. His grip on his kunai tightened as he frowned, engaging Naruto in close combat.
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the night as their kunai struck against each other again and again. Sparks flew with every collision, lighting up the riverbank with fleeting flashes of fire.
"Damn it!"
Sharp pain radiated from several of his chakra pathways, disrupting his flow of chakra and preventing him from using his full strength. Under normal circumstances, as a senior Jonin, Ryuki would have been able to take down this brat with ease. After all, despite Naruto's powerful attacks, his movements were inexperienced—he left far too many openings.
Naruto's kunai suddenly slashed across Ryuki's arm, leaving a deep wound. Bright red blood dripped from the torn flesh, the pain searing through him. Even so, Ryuki gritted his teeth, refusing to let go of the girl in his grasp. The Hyuga bloodline was a prize his comrades had sacrificed their lives to obtain. If this boy managed to take her back, he wouldn't be able to return to his village.
"In that case… let me show you the difference between us!"
With a furious roar, Ryuki leaped backward, pulling a rope from his ninja pouch and securing Hinata to his back. Then, his hands flashed through a series of complex hand seals.
"Earth Release: Armor of Rock!"
As soon as he finished the jutsu, layers of solid rock erupted from the ground, encasing his entire body. Even Hinata, tied to his back, was shielded within the thick stone armor. A sinister smirk crept onto Ryuki's face. This technique channeled earth chakra through the pathways in his feet, spreading it throughout his body to form a near-impenetrable defense. Even kunai couldn't pierce through it. Right now, he was unable to use many jutsu due to his disrupted chakra flow, but against a mere brat, this one was more than enough.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
At the same time Ryuki completed his technique, Naruto's hands moved rapidly, forming a different set of seals. Now that Hinata was bound behind Ryuki, Naruto didn't have to worry about her getting caught in the blast. A scorching torrent of fire spewed from his mouth, expanding as it surged forward. The flames roared violently, forming a massive fireball that scorched the riverbank as it rushed toward Ryuki. The intense heat illuminated the night, casting flickering shadows over the trees.
And yet—
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. Ryuki didn't even try to dodge. Instead, he charged straight into the flames. The raging inferno engulfed him completely. But after a few seconds, Ryuki emerged from the fire, completely unharmed, his heavy footsteps echoing as he stomped toward Naruto.
"W-What!? That's impossible!"
Naruto couldn't believe what he was seeing. His Fireball Jutsu had passed through Ryuki as if he were walking through nothing but warm air.
"Little brat! Time to die!"
Before Naruto could recover from his shock, Ryuki was already in front of him. His enormous fists swung forward in a crushing blow. Naruto quickly leaped back, raising his kunai to block—
The moment his kunai struck the stone-covered fist, a powerful shockwave traveled up his arm. His hands went numb, and his kunai was sent flying. Ryuki's next punch smashed into a massive boulder beside Naruto, shattering it into countless fragments. Sharp shards of rock pelted Naruto, sending jolts of pain through his back.
If just getting hit by stray debris hurt this much… then if one of those fists actually landed—
He'd be dead.
"This guy is tough..."
Gritting his teeth, Naruto realized he couldn't fight Ryuki head-on. His attack power was strong, but Ryuki's rock armor had drastically slowed his movements.
"Tch… you're nothing special. As long as I don't fight you head-on, you can't do anything to me."
Naruto smirked, quickly retreating. Konoha's ninja weren't useless. If he stalled long enough, reinforcements would arrive.
[Ryuki's Anger +66]
"Damn brat!!"
Ryuki's expression darkened as he furiously pursued Naruto, his attacks growing more reckless. He knew the boy was right. The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for him.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Naruto stopped at the edge of the stream and unleashed another massive fireball. Ryuki sneered. The same jutsu again? Did this brat seriously think it would work a second time?
Scoffing internally, Ryuki charged straight through the flames. The heat was uncomfortable, and the lack of oxygen made breathing difficult… but it wasn't enough to stop him. As he emerged from the fire, he smirked—only to realize something was wrong.
Naruto was gone.
"Where—?"
"Rasengan!!"
A sudden shout rang out from beneath him. Naruto had been hiding inside the crater Ryuki had created earlier. Now, he lunged upward, a swirling sphere of chakra in his palm—
And drove it straight toward Ryuki's chest.
(End of Chapter)