Uchiha Seiryu [208-210] (Patreon)

Chapter 208: The Melee Begins

As the second zone shrink of the day began, the safe area slowly shifted, and the remaining teams on the field started gathering together.

“They’re coming.” Hinata, responsible for scouting, activated her Byakugan and was the first to spot nine ninjas charging toward them. “They’re all wearing headbands from the Hidden Cloud.”

“Looks like the Cloud is moving together too?” Shikamaru’s voice came through the Yamanaka clan’s secret technique in everyone’s ear. “But why only nine people? Does that mean Cloud only has three teams left?”

“Let’s not overthink it. Kiba and I will lure them toward Trap 8. You all be ready to support us,” Shino said, raising his arms as a swarm of insects poured out from his sleeves.

“Got it. Sakura, get ready at Trap 6 to detonate the explosive tags. Choji, wait at the west side cave—remember to keep your chip bags hidden.”

“Understood,” came their voices over the channel.

“Naruto, you’re the closest. Once they’re in the trap, you’ll take them head-on. Kiba, Shino, and Hinata will support you. Try to finish them in under three minutes,” Shikamaru said as he marked the map.

“Three minutes is plenty for me to wipe them out,” Naruto said, rubbing his fists together.

“Don’t underestimate them. This might just be a Cloud advance squad. Take them out as quickly as possible.”

“Understood,” Naruto replied.

As the three Cloud teams rushed into the safe zone, a swarm of insects surged from the dense forest, blocking out what little sunlight made it through the trees.

“Get lost!” Members of each Cloud team formed hand seals, trying to drive the bugs away with Lightning Style jutsu.

“Lightning Style, huh? Perfect, let’s see how the half-finished Thunder-Eating Bugs—bred with the Hokage’s Lightning Chakra—work.”

Normally, insects are instinctively afraid of Fire and Lightning Style techniques. But Shino’s bugs, upon seeing the Cloud genin’s Lightning Style, acted as if they’d found food. They swarmed directly at the attack, devouring the jutsu before it could even fully form.

“What… how is this possible?” The Cloud genin whose jutsu was eaten stared in disbelief. This situation was far beyond his experience.

“Looks like it’s not a problem with our breeding method. The Hokage’s and Kakashi-sensei’s chakra is just too unique,” Shino muttered, sensing the feedback from his bugs.

As one of the core families of Seiryu’s group, the Aburame clan was privy to some of Seiryu’s long-term plans. Knowing a war was inevitable, they began researching bugs that could absorb Lightning and Earth chakra, targeting Cloud and Stone.

Training bugs to absorb Earth chakra was easy. With sufficient supply, an Aburame bug user could deploy Rock-Eating Bugs to destroy even a ten-man team’s Earth Style combination—proven on the battlefield during the Valley conflict.

Lightning Style, though, was trickier. Konoha had very few Lightning users, and except for the first and second strongest in the village, there weren’t even ten Jonin good at it. So Seiryu and Kakashi provided most of the chakra samples for the Thunder-Eating Bug experiments.

Results were clear: Seiryu’s chakra was fused with natural energy, and even if the bugs survived the Lightning chakra, they’d be eroded by the nature energy. Kakashi, after learning Seiryu’s training, also produced Lightning chakra that mimicked natural lightning. The bugs could eat the chakra, but couldn’t withstand the physical properties of the lightning.

But up against Cloud ninja, all the Aburame clan’s research finally paid off.

“Damn it, use kenjutsu!” Surrounded by bugs, the Cloud genin grit his teeth and drew his sword, swinging it so quickly not even water could get through. He barely carved a path through the swarm, but before they got far, a white whirlwind swooped down on them.

“Fang Over Fang!”

Caught by surprise, the Cloud ninja in the lead was knocked back several meters. Though toughened by years of training, he wasn’t seriously hurt, but when he stopped, he found a small dog hanging off his backside.

“Akamaru, let go! Time to go!” Kiba appeared and caught Akamaru, who dropped off the Cloud ninja’s rear, then immediately took off running.

“Damn Konoha ninja!” The Cloud ninja’s face twitched with anger. Kiba’s attack wasn’t that damaging, but it was humiliating. If the guys back in the village found out he got bitten on the butt by a dog during a mission, how could he ever show his face again?

“After him!” Ignoring his bleeding wound, the ninja barked an order and raced after Kiba.

“They seem pretty mad,” Kiba said gleefully over the channel. “Naruto, get ready!”

With that, Kiba formed a seal, and his figure instantly split into six, each running off in a different direction.

With Uchiha Shisui now leading Team 8 instead of Kurenai, their strength had improved greatly. Kurenai, being a genjutsu specialist, wasn’t ideal for a recon team—a decision more about the Third Hokage paving the way for his own son. Everyone knew Kurenai couldn’t really teach them much.

But after Shisui became their teacher, he put his heart into training his first team of disciples.

The first jutsu he taught wasn’t some high-powered move, but an escape technique.

After all, for a recon squad, bringing back information alive is more important than hurting the enemy.

So Shisui simplified his signature Body Flicker and taught it to them. Kiba’s use of this move now was a huge headache for the pursuing Cloud ninja.

“His chakra isn’t split, so these aren’t shadow clones,” the Cloud ninja calculated as he watched Kiba closely. “But which is the real one? Each of the six looks like the real one…”

“Captain, should we split up to chase?” One Cloud ninja threw shuriken at one of the Kibas, who dodged with ease. “Should we?”

“No! Don’t split up. We don’t know what tricks they have. If we divide, we might get picked off one by one.” As angry as he was, he kept his cool.

“They’re within the trap’s range,” Hinata reported with her Byakugan.

“Sakura!” Shikamaru called.

“On it!” Sakura, following his orders, split her chakra with precision, infusing it into dozens of remote detonation seals.

A series of explosions erupted around the Cloud ninja, who dodged frantically but found themselves still within the blast zone, forced to use jutsu to defend.

Sakura’s control was impeccable—each seal got just enough chakra, each detonation timed to Shikamaru’s plan. Where it would have taken three people for perfection, Sakura did it alone with her talent and memory.

“Amazing, Sakura!” Ino praised over the channel.

“This is nothing compared to a complicated surgery,” Sakura laughed.

“Naruto, go finish it! Choji, stay hidden. If anyone slips through, you take care of it.”

“Yes!”

“Finally my turn!” Perched atop a tall tree, Naruto heard Shikamaru’s order, flexed his wrists, then called down to the smoky, blasted zone below: “Kurama, lend me some chakra!”

Inside his mind, the Nine-Tails looked up, sensed the weak enemies, and snapped, “My power isn’t for dealing with these small fry.”

“Come on, big bro, help me out. The smoke won’t clear for a while. I need your chakra’s sensing to find them,” Naruto said, leaping down.

“Annoying brat,” Kurama grumbled, but as Naruto fell, a faint golden aura spread over his body.

“Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

Naruto formed seals in midair, dozens of shadow clones appearing in the smoke. With Kurama’s chakra, he locked onto the nine Cloud ninja still in the blast zone.

Chapter 209: Cloud Wiped Out

“Super Big Ball Rasengan!” Naruto shouted. The Cloud ninja, still reeling from the explosions, suddenly sensed a massive chakra surge overhead. Looking up, they saw a blond kid above each of them, each holding a huge Rasengan.

A moment later, the space-time ripples of the summoning armbands appeared. When the smoke cleared, only one Cloud ninja was still standing.

He wasn’t the strongest, just lucky—he’d found a scroll containing a Jonin-level defensive jutsu, which created a sturdy Earth Wall when activated.

But even this defense, which even its creator had trouble breaking, began to crack under the Rasengan’s assault.

“That’s… the Rasengan? This must be a joke.” The last Cloud ninja’s hands trembled as he gripped his sword. This Rasengan was nothing like the evil Yellow Flash jutsu described in Cloud’s records.

Of course, the Rasengan was originally developed by Minato to break through defenses that kunai couldn’t penetrate. Even after the Fourth, all research on it stayed true to that purpose. But in Naruto’s hands, it became a massive finisher. With his chakra reserves, he could throw out finishers like basic attacks.

“Just one left?” Naruto looked at his opponent, stomped the ground, and dashed forward, swinging a punch.

“A move with this many openings will never hit me!” The Cloud ninja gritted his teeth and met Naruto’s charge with his sword.

But as they exchanged blows, the Cloud ninja realized that while Naruto’s attacks had openings, his speed was so overwhelming that none of those openings could be exploited.

Bang!

In an instant, Naruto’s punch landed. The Cloud ninja, striking back, managed to cut Naruto’s waist, feeling his blade bite into flesh. He smiled, ignoring the pain.

Are Konoha genin really so weak in taijutsu?

But before he could rejoice, Naruto’s next kick slammed into his side, followed by another, and then a tide of relentless attacks.

Impossible! Isn’t he hurt at all? And… that chakra—Wind Style taijutsu?

The Cloud ninja, struggling, caught a glimpse through the tear in Naruto’s clothes and saw unbroken skin inside. But he’d definitely felt the blade cut flesh.

“He’s actually trying to out-brawl Naruto?” Choji, hidden away, winced. He had to respect the Cloud ninja’s courage.

Naruto’s fighting style was unreasonable. Anyone with even basic taijutsu training could see his moves were full of openings, but with overwhelming speed and healing, seeing an opening and exploiting it were two different things.

Within Konoha, aside from Sasuke and Neji, no one below Kage level could keep up with Naruto’s speed. Even if they could, his insane healing made effective damage nearly impossible—sometimes his own Wind Style taijutsu hurt him more than enemy attacks.

“Hyaaah!” With a roar, Naruto kicked his opponent flying. Two shadow clones waited in the direction the enemy was sent, each with a Rasengan ready.

With the last enemy sent out of the arena, Naruto looked toward Shikamaru’s hiding spot and reported, “Two minutes fifty-seven seconds. Didn’t go over three minutes.”

“Shino, Kiba, refresh the explosive tags in the traps. Naruto, go wait with Hinata,” Shikamaru said, focused on the battle. He was puzzled. “If these were just the vanguard, the fight took long enough for reinforcements. Does Cloud really only have three squads left?”

“The rest are over here,” Neji reported over the channel. “Four squads found a gap in our and Stone’s defenses. They’re trying to break through.”

“Why? If they’d grouped together, even with seven squads, our defenses would be stretched thin,” Shikamaru wondered.

“Probably infighting. The last Cloud team was all white, right?” Sasuke said, smiling.

“That… can’t be. I heard Cloud had issues with internal strife, but not to this degree,” Shikamaru said, shocked.

“This is nothing. Reality doesn’t have to make sense,” Sasuke replied.

“Let’s wait for Stone to act first on your side,” Shikamaru said.

“Lava Style: Quicklime Congealing Jutsu!”

Just as Shikamaru finished speaking, Kurotsuchi, hidden at the edge, made her move. A wave of quicklime sprayed from her mouth, landing at the feet of Omoi’s four Cloud teams.

“She’s a Kekkei Genkai user! Everyone scatter!” Omoi shouted, forming hand seals.

“Cloud Flow: Crescent Slash!” Omoi drew his sword and unleashed three arcs of chakra, slicing through the Water Style that followed the quicklime and preventing Kurotsuchi’s combo. But two other teams couldn’t dodge and were caught.

Sticky cement immobilized them, and in the next instant, Stone’s trademark Earth Dragon Bullets launched, sending the trapped Cloud ninja out of the arena.

“Uchiha kid, are you just going to watch?” Kurotsuchi called out to Sasuke from a nearby tree.

“I’ll take the strongest, you handle the rest. Deal?” Sasuke replied with a smile.

“Fine, we’ll take a loss this time.” Kurotsuchi nodded. “Lava Style: Quicklime Congealing Jutsu!”

She drew a 20-meter circle of quicklime around Omoi, then reinforced it with Earth Style.

“I set up a nice arena for you. He can’t run like last time. Aren’t I a helpful ally?”

“Thanks,” Sasuke said with a meaningful smile, then drew his sword and jumped into the field.

“We meet again,” Sasuke said casually, twirling his sword at Omoi.

“Stone isn’t exactly known for trustworthiness. Aren’t you afraid they’ll turn on you?” Omoi asked, sword at the ready.

“That’s not your concern. You’ll be out of here soon. Got a new sword? Show me Cloud’s kenjutsu.”

“I may lose in Lightning Style, but in swordsmanship, as Lord Killer B’s student, I won’t lose to you.”

In the next instant, two flashes of lightning clashed, swords ringing.

Inside the quicklime arena, blue and purple lightning crashed together, sparks flying.

“You’re fast!” Omoi admitted, forced to retreat.

“Try this!” Omoi changed his rhythm, stepping in with his sword ready. Sasuke realized he couldn’t predict where the next attack would land. With his current limitations, he couldn’t risk trading blows, so he dodged.

“Wu Style: Hidden Mist Slash!” Omoi struck at an impossible angle.

“Lightning Flash!” Sasuke’s Sharingan caught the glint at the last possible moment. He twisted and dodged, then countered with a strike of his own.

Omoi finally saw the thin steel wire attached to Sasuke’s waist, glinting in the sun.

“Wire? When—?” Before he could finish the thought, Sasuke’s attack hit, knocking him out.

“Uchiha Manipulated Shuriken Technique,” Sasuke said, sheathing his sword as Kurotsuchi finished off the last Cloud teams.

“Kurotsuchi, you can take down the arena now,” Sasuke called.

“Really? I don’t think that’s necessary.” Kurotsuchi smiled, moving closer. “You’re fast, and your sword skills are strong. Might be trouble for us later.”

She formed hand seals, and the quicklime began closing in on Sasuke.

Chapter 210: The Final Battle

“Knew you Stone types wouldn’t play fair. Your village’s reputation is so bad, even the underground exchange won’t give you credit,” Sasuke said calmly, watching the quicklime close in.

“That may be true, but what will you do now?” Kurotsuchi smiled as the space around Sasuke shrank. “You’re fast, but in this environment, you’re trapped.”

“Hokage, looks like my granddaughter will win this one.” In the VIP room, Onoki laughed.

“Don’t be so sure, Tsuchikage,” Seiryu replied, watching the calm Sasuke. With his understanding of his student, if Sasuke jumped in knowing Kurotsuchi was scheming, he definitely had a plan.

“Hmph, two schemers—do you really need to see who’s worse?” Raikage snorted. Cloud’s performance in this exam had been the worst among the major villages: not only did they show their internal strife to all the leaders, but even their strongest young ninja, Omoi, was crushed by Sasuke at his own specialties—Lightning and kenjutsu.

On the field, Kurotsuchi launched a signal flare, and the Iwa teams emerged from hiding, unleashing a massive Earth Style attack at Sasuke.

“Bye now, Uchiha kid.” Kurotsuchi waved with a smirk.

But as the quicklime trapped Sasuke’s feet, he smiled, threw his sword behind him, and—poof—vanished in a puff of smoke.

“What? A shadow clone?” Kurotsuchi stared in disbelief as her attack hit empty ground—so the one fighting Omoi was just a clone?

Boom!

A colorful signal flare exploded in the sky. Sasuke reappeared with Neji and Naruto, catching the sword his clone had thrown. The hidden Konoha squads emerged, regrouping behind Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji.

“So you never planned to cooperate with us,” Kurotsuchi said, taking a deep breath.

“Right back at you,” Sasuke replied.

“Looks like we’ll have to settle this by force,” Kurotsuchi said, her hands coated in black rock. “Stone’s will is with us!”

Sasuke drew his sword: “The Will of Fire never dies!”

With that, everyone charged.

“Careful! Something’s moving underground!” Hinata shouted.

The ground surged as Kurotsuchi leapt up, her rock fists smashing down. Behind her, Stone shinobi formed hand seals, and eighteen stone pillars erupted, forming a snarling wolf’s head in the air.

“Earth Style: Iron Wolf Fang Formation!”

“Scatter!” Sasuke’s lightning flashed, Chidori chirped, and his sword, wrapped in purple lightning, sliced through the first wave of stone.

“Neji, Hinata!” Shikamaru called.

Neji and Hinata regrouped, using the Eight Trigrams footwork and Gentle Fist to shatter the rock walls with chakra-infused strikes.

“Konosuke—get the Fire Style combo ready! Goro, your team prep Water Style!” Shikamaru’s orders came through Ino’s mind relay.

“Naruto, you take the toughest one. Don’t let his quicklime trap you!”

“Roger!” A golden figure burst from the melee, charging at Kurotsuchi.

“Kurotsuchi, your opponent is me!” Naruto’s body, wrapped in razor-sharp Wind chakra, moved at blinding speed.

Kurotsuchi barely raised her arms in time to block Naruto’s punch, the black rock on her arms shattering from the impact.

But Naruto’s next attack was already coming.

Suddenly, the ground before Kurotsuchi turned to mud, and a hand reached out to grab Naruto’s ankle. But as it touched him, the Wind chakra sliced it, forcing the attacker to retreat before his hand was shredded.

“Don’t worry about me! Support our combo jutsu!” Kurotsuchi called, summoning an Earth Wall to block Naruto.

The wall crumbled quickly under Naruto’s assault. Kurotsuchi couldn’t help but curse: “Who develops Wind Style taijutsu?!”

Both sides prepared their combo jutsu, but neither would let the other finish. The strike teams clashed at close range beside their artillery ninjas.

“Gate Three: Life Gate Open! Front Lotus!” Lee, surrounded by green steam, charged into the enemy. Stone’s defense team surrounded him, trying to teach him a lesson.

Huge rocks formed a cage around Lee. He punched at the walls, but before he could break through, the ground beneath him turned to mud and hands reached up with kunai to strike.

At that moment, a swarm of bugs ate a hole in the wall, and a golden chain shot in, dragging the wounded Lee out to safety.

“Don’t be so reckless!” Karin scolded, tossing Lee to Sakura, who began healing him with green-glowing hands.

Such an obvious healing display drew Stone’s attention—a medical ninja healing in enemy lines was unheard of except for Tsunade herself. One Stone ninja rushed at Sakura, kunai aimed at her back.

“Shānnarō!” Sakura turned and punched him into the ground, triggering his summoning band and scattering supplies.

Damn, she really is like Tsunade!

The remaining Stone ninja hesitated, but just then, Neji dropped in beside Sakura, filling the gap in their defense.

Sarutobi Konosuke and his clanmates rapidly formed hand seals, as did Goro’s Water team.

Two Stone ninja emerged from underground to disrupt them, but shadow jutsu trapped them.

“Partial Expansion Jutsu!” Two massive hands slammed down on the trapped enemies.

With Stone forced into the open, they tried to free their teammates, but runes appeared under their feet, draining their chakra.

“Kurotsuchi! We can’t hold out!” Stone’s defense team shouted.

“Release the jutsu!” Kurotsuchi, battered by Naruto’s attacks, gritted her teeth.

“But if we do, the power—”

“I said release it!” she snapped.

“Yes! Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!” The artillery team unleashed their half-charged attack. Massive earth dragons rose, hurling chakra-infused boulders at the Konoha teams.

“Konosuke!” Shikamaru called.

“Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon!”

The three Sarutobi breathed out flames, combining them into a giant fire dragon that roared toward the incoming earth dragons.