บท 94: Shiten

The release of the Shikai had not only unlocked Ryūjin Jakka's power but had also transformed Chen's Chakra.

Where Zanpakutō normally strengthened Reiatsu, in Chen's case, who used Chakra to wield Ryūjin Jakka, the Shikai had greatly enhanced his vital energy. The quality and purity of his Chakra had reached new levels.

Descending slowly towards the battlefield, his arms crossed over his chest in a posture of supreme confidence.

His gaze swept over the stunned ninjas watching him from below, a mixture of fear and awe on their faces.

With a smile dancing between arrogance and amusement, Chen broke the tense silence. "Why don't you call me the 666? Or better yet, 'Chen Hyuga the most handsome' or 'Chen the invincible'."

His playful tone generated an effect that made the tension in the air dissipate slightly.

"Puff!" Tsunade, unable to contain herself, let out a soft laugh.

The sound of her laughter seemed to break the spell of terror that had fallen over the battlefield.

The Kage-level powers, who had been observing Chen, felt momentary relief. The overwhelming aura emanating from Chen had made them fear a devastating attack, but his almost childish behavior provided an unexpected respite.

Landing softly on the ground, he continued. "Well! I don't want to intimidate you anymore. Is there any Kage-level master who wants to face me? Otherwise, I'll just keep eliminating you!"

His words had the desired effect.

The Tsuchikage's assistant, recognizing the threat Chen posed, made a quick decision. "I'll take care of that kid," he declared, abandoning his confrontation with Orochimaru. "You take care of Orochimaru."

The strategy was clear: Chen had to be contained at all costs. His power was capable of changing the course of the battle in an instant, and they couldn't afford the luxury of letting him act freely.

"Shiten, be careful! Don't underestimate your opponent," Ōnoki's voice resonated. The Tsuchikage had been deeply impressed by Chen's demonstration of power in eliminating four quasi-Kage with a single move.

Although he himself possessed such power, he rarely deployed it so openly, aware of the responsibilities that came with his position as a leader.

Shiten, however, responded confidently. "Don't worry, Tsuchikage-sama. I will definitely kill him."

Despite the shocking strength displayed by Chen, Shiten couldn't help but underestimate him due to his youth. In his mind, Chen's age was an inherent weakness that couldn't be compensated for by any amount of power.

With a roar, he launched his attack. "Earth Element: Rock Fist Jutsu! Die and join the earth along with our Iwagakure comrades!"

His fist, covered in a thick layer of solid rock, headed straight for Chen with demolishing force.

However, Chen remained unperturbed. With a simple "Hmph!", his own fist darkened, acquiring a metallic sheen.

In an instant, both fists collided in the air.

The result was shocking.

Shiten's rock-covered fist shattered as if it were made of glass, while the hand that had executed the technique trembled uncontrollably. Chen, for his part, remained completely unharmed.

Shiten stepped back, astonishment replacing his previous disdain.

"It's a powerful force," he muttered, observing Chen with a new perspective. This single exchange had been enough for him to understand the raw reality: his opponent's age was irrelevant in the face of his overwhelming power.

"Rasengan!"

Whoosh!

In his hand, the purple Chakra spun and compressed continuously, forming a dense, pulsating sphere of energy.

In an instant, Chen used Soru, practically teleporting next to Shiten.

Fwoosh!

The Rasengan in his hand headed straight for his opponent's head, with enough force to send anyone to the afterlife.

Swish!

Faced with Chen's supernatural speed, Shiten's pupils contracted in terror. With a desperate move, he tried to dodge the attack.

However, thanks to the Tenseigan and Observation Haki, Chen had anticipated Shiten's evasion direction.

Boom!

The Rasengan impacted, seemingly crushing Shiten's head and making it burst into pieces.

But Chen didn't celebrate. Instead, he turned quickly.

Swish!

Shiten appeared behind him, unharmed, while the body Chen had "destroyed" crumbled into mud.

"As expected of a Kage-level ninja," he commented with genuine admiration. "When dodging was impossible, he used a substitute."

Chen recognized his opponent's superior combat experience. On this occasion, he had deliberately suppressed his power to face Shiten on equal terms, seeking to improve his own experience.

However, he was aware that, against an opponent of similar strength, this lack of experience could cost him dearly. Even with the Tenseigan and Observation Haki, which allowed him to perceive and anticipate enemy attacks, he couldn't completely compensate for his lack of experience in real combat.

This realization was frustrating, aware that this weakness could be exploited by a skilled enough enemy.

After the initial exchange, Chen decided to deliberately suppress his power to match Shiten. What followed was an intense back-and-forth combat, during which Chen's experience grew exponentially.

His comprehension and learning abilities were extraordinary, something evident in his independent development of a Super S-level Genjutsu. His potential to create powerful ninjutsus was undeniable, but the diversity of his skills and lack of time had prevented him from fully exploring this path.

He had prioritized physical training, sword handling, mastery of the Devil Fruit and the Tenseigan, leaving little room for the development of new ninjutsus. His specialization in illusion techniques had been a strategic choice to compensate for his limited repertoire of Genjutsus.

After half an hour of intense combat, Chen, matching Shiten's power, began to dominate the confrontation. This progress, however, did not come without cost. He had received several blows, a necessary price to gain real combat experience.

Nevertheless, his physical condition, superior even to that of the Third Raikage, allowed him to resist S-level ninjutsus without suffering significant damage. Shiten's attacks, although powerful, only managed to damage his clothes, leaving him looking disheveled but without real injuries.

This extraordinary resistance was the fruit of years of rigorous physical training. Chen had dedicated incalculable effort to strengthening his body, and now he was reaping the benefits of that hard work. (Or so he believes)

The decision to prioritize physical development had proven to be correct, providing him with a solid foundation upon which to build his other skills. Although he still had much to learn in terms of combat experience, his adaptability and quick learning were rapidly closing that gap.

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