Chapitre 142: Against the Wind: Sasori's Desperate Escape
"I'm sorry it took this long, but it will be over in an instant now...", Hikari suddenly said calmly to Pakura behind him, who was still experiencing an increasing amount of pain.
"It's because I'm using this move for the first time against someone today. This guy thinks that distance can give him some advantage against me, despite me being so much more powerful than him, just due to me being a Hyuga, but I'm obviously not an average one...",
With a deep exhale, Hikari shifted into a fluid and sharply precise stance. His feet planted firmly on the ground, and he channeled his chakra with meticulous control.
His hands moved with deliberate grace and rhythm, signaling the unleashing of a new and slightly more powerful technique in his vast arsenal: utilizing Wind and natural energy, which was also especially fit for this occasion.
Hikari's stance only intensified as he prepared to unleash his formidable technique, one specifically crafted to leverage the vast power disparity between him and impress Pakura further for his upcoming plans. "Senjutsu: Infinite Serpent Gale..." he announced quietly.
Thus, thousands of wind currents burst forth from his outstretched arms, each swirling and undulating like serpents.
These were not literal snakes but currents of wind shaped by chakra, designed to mimic serpents' sinuous, relentless motion as they raced toward their target.
The currents grew larger and more forceful with distance, a deliberate feature of the jutsu to maximize impact upon reaching Sasori.
As the thousands of wind 'serpents' converged on their target, their collective force combined to create a massive, enveloping storm.
This storm was relentless and all-consuming, designed to obliterate Sasori in an instant, leaving no room for escape or defense.
As the relentless wave of wind currents surged toward him, Sasori's face registered a mix of shock and desperation.
The sheer scale and intensity of Hikari's attack—thousands of wind currents expanding and strengthening as they traveled—left him momentarily stunned.
The realization that he was facing a potentially fatal onslaught jolted him into action before he thought about anything else.
Scrambling to counter the imminent threat, Sasori channeled every last reserve of his chakra to propel himself upward, attempting to gain altitude and evade the deadly wind serpents. He did not care if anyone saw him anymore.
Simultaneously, he summoned a massive wall of Iron Sand, manipulating it into a thick shield behind him in a desperate bid to block the attack.
However, the wind currents unleashed by Hikari were no ordinary gusts. They tore through the Iron Sand barrier with terrifying ease, disintegrating the metal as if it were mere paper.
The wind's eerie, almost supernatural appearance and ability to shred through his defenses struck Sasori with deep fear.
As the winds howled closer, carrying with them the inevitability of death, Sasori felt a chill that went beyond physical danger.
It was the chilling realization of his mortality, the stark understanding of what it might feel like to face one's end.
So, in a final, desperate bid to survive, Sasori tapped into the last vestiges of his energy. With grim determination, he coated his entire body in a thick layer of iron, transforming himself into a metallic fortress, the Third Kazelage's puppet body hanging closely to him.
This was more than just a defensive maneuver—it was a testament to his resolve to live and continue pursuing what he considered an eternal art.
Channeling his remaining chakra, Sasori used the magnetic properties of the Iron Sand to catapult himself far into the distance, as far away as possible, hurtling through the air like a human cannonball.
His body was battered and bruised, a testament to the ferocity of Hikari's attack, and uncertainty clouded his mind as he flew.
He didn't know if he would survive the landing or the injuries he had sustained, but his will to live pushed him to escape.
As he sailed through the sky, Sasori's emotions churned tumultuously. He felt defeated, having been overpowered and outmatched in a way he had never experienced before. But alongside the sting of defeat was a burning indignation.
Hatred toward Hikari simmered within him, fueling a deep-seated desire for revenge. In Sasori's view, Hikari hadn't just thwarted his plans—he had stolen what Sasori considered his ultimate art, the pinnacle of his life's work.
This mix of defeat and hatred solidified Hikari as his primary nemesis. Even in the midst of escape and survival, Sasori's mind began to plot and plan.
If he lived through this, he would need to rethink his strategies to reclaim his art and exact vengeance on the Hyuga prodigy who had dared to challenge and surpass him.
Hikari, meanwhile, still standing on the ground next to Pakura, surveyed the aftermath of his devastating attack.
The landscape around them bore the scars of his power: trees uprooted, rocks displaced, and even sections of mountains altered.
Despite the destruction, his focus remained sharp as he used his Byakugan to track Sasori's retreat with pinpoint accuracy.
Yet, his gaze was clearly dismissive—as if Sasori were nothing more than an insignificant insect escaping his notice.
"I don't have time to chase him now...", Hikari murmured, his voice calm and analytical. His eyes, still peering through the vast landscape with their enhanced vision, followed Sasori's trajectory until he made a decision.
'I need to start the operation on Pakura's body as soon as possible if I want to save her. She is far more critical of my plans than mindlessly chasing after a character of such little importance...',
He glanced once more in the direction Sasori had fled, a final thought crossing his mind: "If he survives this, then I guess it's his good luck."
In Hikari's overall casual assessment, Sasori's current level of power didn't even quite reach the heights of a Kage-level shinobi, or it was somewhere on the edges of it.
He noted that Sasori lacked his own transformed humanoid puppet body, the "core," and the array of additional tricks and puppets that had defined him in the original series.
However, Hikari briefly mentally acknowledged that Sasori had managed to enhance the Third Kazekage's magnetic abilities beyond what was previously demonstrated in the original work for some reason.
Perhaps a consequence of some unforeseen ripple effect from Hikari's own interventions in this timeline. A distant butterfly effect altered events subtly yet significantly in this part of the world too, as in many other places.
Yet, despite these enhancements, Hikari remained largely unimpressed by Sasori's threat level for the future.
Meanwhile, Pakura also silently watched Hikari's adept handling of his technique the entire time. Sasori's subsequent humiliating defeat deepened her respect for his abilities.
The realization that the rumors about his prowess were indeed accurate affirmed her initial impressions and added a layer of admiration.
However, despite this newfound additional respect, Pakura's seasoned shinobi instincts kicked in, prompting her to compare her capabilities to Hikari's display immediately.
She acknowledged that while she could execute moves of similar potency, her techniques were more effective at close range—a limitation she had always recognized in her combat.
So, the fact that Hikari, a member of the Hyuga clan, which was traditionally known for close-range combat, had demonstrated such a powerful long-range attack and overtook her in that regard was both surprising and impressive to her.
Additionally, her current vulnerability due to Sasori's sneaking poisoning frustrated her; on any ordinary day, she was confident in her ability to neutralize Sasori with minimal effort, using just the residual heat effects of her typical techniques to melt him alive even before he managed to try and fly high in the air, thanks to the vast difference in power between them on the same level that Hikari also wielded over him.
The poisoning had curbed her abilities, preventing her from demonstrating her full power, which she felt had also evolved significantly thanks to those strange new sensations pulsing through her bloodline at this time.
She presently felt a profound connection with her bloodline abilities, which seemed to be evolving in response to the extreme stress and danger she faced.
The sensations pulsing through her suggested that she was on the cusp of accessing even more formidable powers than those Hikari had displayed.
Unfortunately, the debilitating effects of Sasori's poison complicated this transformation, impeding her ability to harness or even understand these emerging capabilities fully.
Nonetheless, what truly stood out to Pakura during Hikari's display was not just the raw power of his technique but its remarkable flexibility.
Hikari's mastery and intimate connection over the Wind Release element impressed her deeply, especially considering that he seemed to surpass even the most skilled shinobi from her homeland, the Land of Wind, known for their wind elemental affinity and prowess.
The way Hikari integrated the Hyuga clan's taijutsu with the wind element—and possibly that mysterious natural energy rumored to enhance his abilities—suggested a deeper, more innovative level of skill.
The sheer potency of his attack hinted that it was fueled by more than mere wind; an additional, potent force, such as that kind of rumored elusive energy, was at play.
This level of skill indicated that what she had witnessed was likely just a fraction of Hikari's true capabilities.
So, her respect for Hikari transformed into a more profound regard, and she recognized him as a potentially vital part of her recovery process.
The hope that he could assist in curing her condition became intertwined with her admiration for his innovative approach to ninjutsu.
Hikari's Byakugan diligently monitored the battlefield, capturing every movement as Konoha and Sunagakure's forces clashed.
The significant disruption caused by his powerful technique had inevitably drawn attention.
He noticed multiple shinobi converging toward their location, clearly alerted by the massive display of his jutsu.
Understanding the immediate need for discretion with Pakura in her fragile state, Hikari quickly made a decision.
He turned to Pakura, his tone softer and more reassuring than before, signaling his protective intent.
"Pakura-san, there are many shinobi coming our way. The next few minutes will be crucial if you want to survive this ordeal. We need to move to a more secluded location right away if that's fine with you. "
Pakura's expression paused momentarily as if realizing only now the inevitable attention their presence would draw due to the scale of Hikari's previous jutsu.
As Hikari suggested moving to a more secluded location, she began to speak confusedly, aware of her inability to move that quickly now, if at all,
"But I can't mo—" she started, but her voice trailed off quickly as she caught the implication in Hikari's words.
A slight widening of her eyes conveyed her realization that he intended to physically carry her on himself next to a more secure location.
Noticing her understanding, Hikari offered a small, knowing, and reassuring smile for some reason first whilst his gaze then briefly and covertly admired her petite and enchanting, battle-worn figure below, at the same time, before he crouched down to lift her up quickly.
He then moved with efficiency, understanding the urgency of their situation above all else.
As Hikari scooped her up, Pakura opened her mouth instinctively as if to object, likely out of a mix of woman's modesty and her pride as a shinobi.
However, seeing the determination in Hikari's eyes and recognizing the urgency of their situation, she restrained herself well.
Instead of speaking, she silently acquiesced, understanding that the practicality of their swift evacuation far outweighed any personal barrier or hesitation that she might feel.
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