Chapitre 114: Chp-114: Unleashing the Sword Storm
On the grasslands, a large number of Konoha ninjas clad in dark green vests raced forward with lowered stances, their arms extended behind them as they sprinted. From a high vantage point, they resembled a surging green torrent.
At the edge of their field of vision, a brownish-yellow torrent was rapidly approaching.
"It seems the intel was accurate. Iwa's forces are even larger than in the last battle!" Jiraiya's expression was grim.
It appeared that Iwagakure was determined to fight Konoha to the bitter end. The casualties from this war might be far greater than anticipated.
The two torrents collided amidst roars and shouts.
The Iwa-nin, learning from the last battle, had armoured their necks with fur pelts to better protect themselves. They didn't expect to fully defend against Satoru Hyūga's tricky tactics but aimed to avoid getting their throats easily slit.
Their strategy shifted to prolonging ninjutsu battles and minimizing close combat and shuriken exchanges, reducing the number of metal weapons left on the battlefield.
In short, they were hunkering down.
If they couldn't kill Satoru with their jinchūriki, and their regular ninjas were merely cannon fodder, they'd focus entirely on defence.
"Think you can hide? Think again."
With a slight movement of his electromagnetic force, Satoru dismantled the metal tools around him, fashioning them into the shapes of flying swords. Unlike conventional swords, these had sharper tips and more slender bodies to enhance armour-piercing and penetration capabilities.
And then...
I am the Sword Grandmaster!
A multitude of metal flying swords danced around Satoru, resembling a Sword Storm. Wherever they passed, Iwa-nin fell in pools of blood.
One Iwa-nin, gasping for breath, hastily formed hand seals and slammed his hands into the ground.
"Earth Style! Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"
Four stone walls rose around him, forming an impenetrable barrier that shielded him from attacks from all angles.
Satoru shook his head slightly. The swords curved and pierced through the top opening. The Iwa-nin's agonized screams echoed, and blood splattered through the gaps.
Digging his own grave?
Satoru rolled his eyes. The Earth-Style Wall technique was practical and versatile, allowing the creation of single or multiple walls. But it had one weakness: it could only be used where it touched the ground. Using Earth-Style Walls in mid-air was impractical unless you first laid a foundation with Earth Release.
Seeing this, Jiraiya, whose heart had been heavy, felt a slight relief. Thank goodness Satoru is here. He alone is worth an entire division.
"Han was right. Your Magnet Release is indeed as terrifying as Ōnoki's Dust Release."
While Satoru was enjoying his rampant swordsmanship, a cold voice accompanied by intense heat reached him from behind. He leapt away just in time, turning to see a burly man covered in lava, molten rock flowing underfoot, emitting blistering heat.
Roshi???
One of Iwagakure's two jinchūriki, host to the Four-Tails Son Gokū. Satoru instantly recognized his adversary.
So this is Iwa's trump card? The Four-Tails jinchūriki has been deployed. Both jinchūriki are now on this battlefield. Satoru activated his Byakugan, scanning the battlefield for Han but finding no trace.
"Han isn't here? It seems he hasn't recovered from his injuries. So, you're all alone? How confident are you?"
Satoru's tone was mocking as he gazed at Roshi. Roshi's exposed eyes flashed coldly, stung by his words.
Han had been severely injured, and without Kitsuchi's foresight, he might have fallen into Satoru's hands. Through Han's reports from his sickbed, Roshi had learned about Satoru's abilities and dared not underestimate him.
Roshi and Han, one mastering Lava Release, the other Boil Release, one the Four-Tails jinchūriki, the other the Five-Tails jinchūriki. Their strengths were hard to compare, and their abilities differed in focus. But if Han had been beaten into such a state by Satoru, Roshi realized he stood little chance either.
However...
Roshi took a deep breath. Ōnoki's orders were simple: stall Satoru.
He only needed to fulfil this task. Slamming his foot down, lava splashed forth like volcanic eruptions, swiftly spreading toward Satoru. Satoru deftly leapt, avoiding the encroaching lava. The flying swords around him, as if commanded, shot toward Roshi.
Roshi's eyes widened as chakra surged, his lava armour intensifying.
Clang, clang, clang!
The continuous clash of metal against lava forced Roshi back. Sparks flew, scorching the surrounding grassland. The leading swords' tips melted into droplets, rapidly cooling on the ground.
Close call!
Roshi exhaled in relief as his lava armour withstood the assault. Despite the pain from numerous stabs, he feigned nonchalance, slightly raising his head.
"It seems your Magnet Release isn't all that."
Satoru frowned slightly. Roshi's abilities were indeed more suited to countering his Magnet Release. The lava armour's physical defence exceeded his expectations. His flying swords, travelling at twice the speed of sound, struggled to penetrate it. More critically, the high temperatures melted the metal, reducing the swords to single-use weapons.
Satoru couldn't help but think that Ninjutsu defies scientific logic.
Lava typically ranges from 900 to 1400 degrees Celsius, while iron melts at around 1500 degrees. Other metals have even higher melting points. Roshi's lava could melt his swords, likely due to chakra acting as a catalyst, pushing the temperature beyond ordinary metal's melting points.
"Lava Release! Flowing River of Lava!"
Roshi took a deep breath, spewing massive, fiery magma spheres from his mouth, like meteor showers raining down on Satoru. With electromagnetic propulsion, Satoru's speed soared, his body enveloped in a faint electric glow, dodging swiftly.
Roshi, relentless, continued launching lava spheres, uncaring if they missed, only aiming to push Satoru back.
Annoying!
Satoru frowned. Roshi was playing it too safe, encased in his turtle-like lava armour, surrounded by flowing lava, acting like a stationary turret, spewing lava like a pea shooter. Is he that afraid of close combat? How much trauma did Han's beating give him?
"Enough of this. I won't play with you anymore."
Satoru flew high, looking down at Roshi. He extracted a vast number of metal particles from the ground, forging them into countless flying swords, filling the sky behind him.
"You can fly?"
On the ground, Roshi's eyes widened in shock. I've underestimated him. Assuming Satoru couldn't fly because he hadn't shown the ability against Han was a grave mistake. Even the inferior magnet user Rasa could fly with his gold dust. Why not Satoru?
The tide of battle had shifted dramatically.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone