Bab 139: Chapter 139: Some Persistently Pursue, While Others Begin to Seek Substitutes
Most ninjas are aware that Kekkei Genkai is a powerful innate talent, and many know the essence of Kekkei Genkai.
Kekkei Genkai can be divided into two types. One is bloodline Kekkei Genkai, such as the Sharingan of the Uchiha and the Byakugan of the Hyuga. These are powers inherent in the bloodline.
The other type is formed by mixing Chakra of two different attributes to create a new Chakra. Jutsu performed using this new Chakra is called Kekkei Genkai Ninjutsu.
Examples include the Magnet Release of the Kazekage, the Boil Release and Lava Release of the from Iwa and Kiri, the Ice Release of the Snow Clan, and the Wood Release of the First Hokage of Konoha, Senju Hashirama. All of these belong to Kekkei Genkai.
However, even when using Chakra of the same attribute, differences in individuals or changes in factors such as Chakra proportions can lead to different Kekkei Genkai Ninjutsu. Additionally, even the same Kekkei Genkai may manifest differently.
Beyond Kekkei Genkai, there exists Kekkei Tota, which requires the use of three attributes of Chakra to master powerful techniques. For example, the Dust Release of the Second and Third Tsuchikage falls under Kekkei Tota.
Regardless of the type of Kekkei Genkai, practitioners face extremely high demands. Apart from some innate or externally acquired Kekkei Genkai, those who wish to practice must master Nature Transformation of Chakra to the utmost.
However, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was a formidable ninja who mastered all five attributes of Chakra to the utmost. Yet, he possessed no Kekkei Genkai because he never pursued that path.
Instead, he followed another path, one that rivaled most Kekkei Genkai abilities—the path of Combination Ninjutsu.
Combination Ninjutsu involves the usage of two separate techniques, which are then combined after being cast, contrary to Kekkei Genkai Ninjutsu.
The principle relies on the characteristics of various attribute Chakras and the combination of Ninjutsu traits to enable the two techniques to surpass the combined effects of the individual techniques.
The simplest example is Wind Release and Fire Release being cast together, where the wind fuels the fire and the fire utilizes the momentum of the wind. Many ninjas use this small technique, but it cannot be considered Combination Ninjutsu; it's merely a basic approach.
However, the "Fire Release! Ninja Art! Ultra Phoenix Sage Flower Light Wheel Flame Dance 2nd Style," previously coordinated by Tatsuma and Minato, could barely be termed as Combination Ninjutsu because the combination of the two techniques can compete with over a dozen Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson.
The coordination between the two is quite ingenious. For the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, the best match among Fire Releases is limited to Fire Release: Flame Bullet and Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet. Not just any Fire Release Ninjutsu can be used.
If the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu is combined with Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu or Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu, the Shuriken Shadow Clone will collapse first, burned away by flames before hitting the enemy.
However, Flame Bullet and Big Flame Bullet are different because these two techniques actually spray oil instead of fire. The substance enveloping the Shuriken Shadow Clone is not flames but Chakra-infused fire oil. The outer layer of flames burns the fire oil and does not directly contact the Shuriken.
Therefore, these two techniques can be used in combination to achieve an effect greater than the sum of their parts, which is the charm of Combination Ninjutsu.
As a master of Combination Ninjutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen studied numerous Combination Ninjutsu techniques. At the same time, he also shared some of his own experiences as gifts with Tatsuma and Minato.
The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the two using Shadow Clone, he speculated that they intended to use Combination Ninjutsu to defeat the remaining opponents.
Because this was the best solution for the two at the moment. The power of a single Ninjutsu was insufficient, and with their current proficiency in Ninjutsu and amount of Chakra, they could not make up for it.
Only by relying on the strategy of using Combination Ninjutsu could they cause greater destruction. This was also the reason Sarutobi Hiruzen anticipated it; he wanted to see if anyone could replicate his talent in the field of Combination Ninjutsu.
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that the power of the two individuals' techniques must be significant, so he stood up, prepared to intervene at any moment.
On the arena, after completing the hand seals, Minato summoned a Shadow Clone. As soon as the main body and the Shadow Clone appeared, they swiftly launched an attack because there were several moving shadows on the ground chasing towards them.
At the same time, Minato also formed the Seal of Confrontation with one hand, guarding against the Genjutsu of the several ninja with red eyes. Through teleportation, he continuously manipulated the positions of the remaining opponents.
Unbeknownst to their adversaries, they were gradually being herded together like a flock of sheep by two border collies, moving closer towards the center.
Finally, Minato found a favorable position. His Shadow Clone also stood in confrontation with him, separated by the crowd, both the main body and the Shadow Clone simultaneously forming seals.
Minato took a deep breath, then his mouth spouted out a column of something, not water as recognized by Sarutobi Hiruzen with narrowed eyes, but Chakra-infused fire oil.
On the opposite side, the Shadow Clone also took a deep breath and exhaled a large gust of wind, not just any wind but a swirling one akin to a tornado, though it wasn't vertical but almost parallel to the ground.
The column of fire oil collided with the hurricane-like wind, shattering the fire oil into tiny crystalline droplets that dispersed like a sparkling mist, enveloping almost all of the remaining opponents.
"Combination Ninjutsu! Swift Wind Phoenix Fireworks Jutsu!"
Minato spoke loudly, while the Shadow Clone had already formed seals once again, the final seal of the tiger placed. From the center of the mist, tiny sparks appeared.
A very simple ignition jutsu, igniting the mist with small sparks, and the Shadow Clone, having exhausted its Chakra, dispersed into smoke with a bang.
As the saying goes, a small spark can start a prairie fire, and the spark ignited by the dissipating Shadow Clone was the spark that set everything ablaze. The mist enveloping all opponents was ignited in the next instant.
A blazing sun emerged in the center of the arena. Minato, having finished, paled slightly. He had almost depleted his own Chakra, and whether this would succeed or not depended solely on this one jutsu.
"Boom~~~"
The sound wave and the air wave, compared to the blazing flames, appeared slightly later. The surrounding Jonin noticed that the power of this jutsu seemed to be somewhat beyond imagination, and they became astonished and nervous.
Several Jonin even went directly to the examinees who had already left the arena, using Ninjutsu for defense to block the waves of air that were rolling in.
Even Minato, the caster of the jutsu, was slapped by the air wave in flight, constantly adjusting his posture in the air. He finally landed and stabilized himself at the edge of the arena where the impact was slightly less. Suddenly, worry appeared in his eyes, after all, there were so many fellow village ninjas.
"No need to worry!"
The voice of Sarutobi Hiruzen came, resonating in the thunderous scene, still as steady and impossible to ignore as a mountain. Minato breathed a sigh of relief and looked towards the source of the voice, only to find Sarutobi Hiruzen had appeared on the adjacent platform, which was less than three square meters in size, at some point.
Tatsuma was already there, smiling broadly and waving at him.
The flames dispersed, and Minato could see the condition of the examinees clearly. They all wore expressions of panic and shock. The arena beneath them, originally flat, had now sunken two to three meters, leaving a layer of water above them, separating them from the exploding fire oil.
With a wave of Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand, the water dispersed, pouring down on the examinees, washing away the residual fire oil on their clothes. Meanwhile, the surrounding Jonin, in unspoken agreement, used Wind Release to refresh the air around them.
"The ultimate victors, Sakamoto Tatsuma! Minato Namikaze! Congratulations to both of you for successfully advancing to Chunin. As for the other examinees, return home and await further instructions. After comprehensive consideration by the village, you will be notified," Sarutobi Hiruzen announced loudly. At this moment, neither the examinees nor the surrounding Jonin voiced any objections. Tatsuma smiled and said, "Minato, that jutsu you just performed was very powerful! I approve of your title as the Little Sun of Konoha! However, between us, I still have a slight edge!"
At that moment, everyone was discussing the title "Little Sun of Konoha." It had to be said that the jutsu just performed truly lived up to this name, shining as dazzlingly as the sun itself.
Moreover, Minato, as the caster of the jutsu, appeared very sunny himself, with a warm and inviting smile. This title was immediately recognized by many.
Minato chuckled shyly, scratching his head in embarrassment. Despite this so-called title, he was more curious about what jutsu Tatsuma had used to win the victory just now.
However, he had been too focused just now and hadn't paid attention to Tatsuma's side. What Minato didn't see, but Sarutobi Hiruzen and the surrounding Jonin did, was that Tatsuma had faced a similar situation. The moment his Shadow Clone appeared, he was surrounded. The reduction in numbers allowed the other examinees to perform better, but it also increased Tatsuma's agility once again.
Without worrying about someone blocking his path at any moment, Tatsuma could freely use his strength to enhance his speed, evading the attacks of others.
However, unlike Minato, Tatsuma didn't separate from his Shadow Clone but acted together with it. As the Shadow Clone passed by him, it grabbed a scroll, while Tatsuma himself began to rapidly form hand seals.
With the seals completed, Tatsuma spun around and his hand landed precisely on the scroll opened by the Shadow Clone. On the scroll, the densely written Sealing Jutsu formulas were continuously peeling off.
"Splash~"
"Boom~"
At the moment when the Sealing Jutsu formulas were completely peeled off, a massive amount of water surged out from the sealing scroll. Tatsuma's Shadow Clone was lifted several meters away by the recoil force.
Tatsuma's mastery of Nature Transformation of Chakra was not sufficient to produce large amounts of water, but with the help of various notes and insights from Senju Tobirama, he had reached a decent level of calling upon water from the natural world.
Facing Tatsuma's borderline cheating tactics, the examinees gasped in astonishment. They didn't understand, but they were greatly impressed.
Some examinees even pointed at Tatsuma, casting silent accusations towards Sarutobi Hiruzen on the high platform. However, Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored them. After all, the rules only prohibited the use of Summoning Jutsu, but Sealing Jutsu and sealing scrolls were allowed. It's just that using such a sealing scroll, especially one with such a large capacity, to seal a large amount of water seemed like a waste to Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Tatsuma: "I made the sealing scroll myself, so I can use it however I want!"
Tatsuma, standing at the edge of the arena, and his Shadow Clone standing in the center of the water, quickly formed hand seals. He had to make use of the water before it reached the edge of the arena; otherwise, it would be wasted.
"Earth Release! Earth Flow Rampart Jutsu!"
Tatsuma slammed his hands onto the arena floor. The ground in front of him trembled, and the solid earth of the arena turned into mud amidst the vibrations. The part mixed with the flowing water turned into mud even more.
At this moment, the Shadow Clone also completed its seals. With a clap of its hands, the surrounding water began to swirl rapidly around it. The spinning water accelerated the dissolution of the mud on the arena, and the column of muddy water continued to rise.
The examinees on the arena were continuously gathering at this moment. After all, the arena beneath their feet was being dissolved by the flowing water. If they didn't leave, they would be swept into the mudflow. However, as the arena shrank, they could only continue to gather.
"Combination Ninjutsu! Mud Dragon Burst!"
As the Shadow Clone depleted its Chakra and vanished, Tatsuma formed the hand seals with both hands. He struggled to control the immensely heavy surge of mud, directing it to change direction and crash towards the crowded area of the arena.
Watching the mud dragon, Tatsuma felt a twinge of regret. Indeed, his Chakra quantity and mastery of Chakra Nature Transformation were still lacking a bit. Otherwise, he would have definitely molded the dragon's head better.
"Boom~"
The mud dragon, carrying a large amount of dissolved mud and sand, collided with the already somewhat loose arena platform. In an instant, the platform collapsed, and all the examinees were about to be swallowed by the mudflow.
"Third Hokage-sama!"
A panicked examinee, watching the figure who had lifted him up and thrown him out, shouted in gratitude, his determination fueled by the fiery will within him.
"Earth Release! Earth Flow River!"
After throwing out all the examinees, Sarutobi Hiruzen formed hand seals. In an instant, the surging mud dragon obediently lay down, flowing gently in all directions. Sarutobi Hiruzen's figure also appeared beside Tatsuma.
With a playful pat on the head, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and said to Tatsuma, "Well done. Keep developing this jutsu; it has great potential."
Tatsuma nodded, taking the opportunity to dodge Sarutobi Hiruzen's playful gesture. He then looked towards the adjacent platform where Minato was standing, singing praises, and smiled.
Sure enough, he had won again.
"Ding~ [Stamina+356], [Strength+302], [Speed+373], [Spirit+229], [Wisdom+158], [Ninjutsu+483]. Would you like to claim?"
"Ding~ [Strength+5], [Spirit+10], [Ninjutsu+8]. Would you like to claim?"
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