Chapter 241: Terrifyingly Powerful Combination Ninjutsu
Whoosh!
Kari, the Explosion Release user, concentrated his Chakra in his feet and burst forward at extreme speed toward Mugetsu. All other opponents vanished from his attention—his target was now solely the blond Konoha Ninja before him.
Even the same Bloodline Limit could manifest in different ways depending on the user.
For example, both the Third and Fourth Kazekage wielded Magnet Release—the Third controlled Iron Sand, while the Fourth preferred Gold Dust. Both focused on offense, while Troy of the Land of Lightning used Magnet Release for control and defense.
Kari didn't look particularly intimidating. He wasn't tall or heavily muscled, but his strength and speed far exceeded what his build suggested. His strikes carried immense explosive power, enough to rival even physically gifted Shinobi.
He had integrated his Explosion Release into his Taijutsu, using it to amplify every punch and kick into a concussive blast.
Ordinarily, such a style was suicidal. Ninjutsu didn't grant immunity to its own power, and each explosion could harm the user just as easily as the enemy.
However, Kari had mastered the Hardening Technique of Earth Release to perfection, layering it over his body even while using Explosion Release. This made him immune to the recoil of his own explosions, allowing him to attack with full force.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Mugetsu pulled several Shuriken from his pouch and hurled them in rapid succession.
The weapons glinted in the light, spinning toward Kari like a storm of silver blades.
Kari barely tilted his head, allowing a few to strike him directly.
Clang! Clang!
Instead of flesh, the Shuriken struck solid rock. They bounced off harmlessly.
Mugetsu wasn't surprised. His Appraisal had already revealed every detail of Kari's abilities. He knew exactly what the man was capable of—and what he wasn't.
The Shuriken assault was only for show. Mugetsu wanted to make their battle appear evenly matched, to conceal his full strength.
"Remember this—" Kari bellowed as Chakra surged around his arm. "—the one who kills you is Kari of Iwagakure's Blast Corps!"
He leaped high, fist wreathed in light.
Whoosh!
Rumble!!!
The ground erupted as his punch landed. Dirt and stone flew in all directions, smoke and dust rising like a thundercloud. The shockwave split the earth open, sending vibrations through the entire battlefield.
"The lord over there should be fine… right?" one Konoha Ninja muttered nervously, staring toward the massive explosion.
As the dust slowly cleared, Kari's figure came into view—covered in dirt and panting slightly. Not far from him stood Mugetsu, untouched.
Kari narrowed his eyes. "Your speed is impressive. Let's see if you can dodge every attack."
Mugetsu smiled faintly but didn't respond. For him, this speed wasn't even remarkable. He hadn't used Lightning Breathing or the Body Flicker yet—only Rock Breathing and Shave.
In truth, Mugetsu could have ended this fight instantly through Taijutsu alone. His Rock Breathing combined with the Eight Gates could easily crush Kari.
But he chose not to reveal his hand. He hadn't built the foundation for a Taijutsu-based persona yet, and showing such ability out of nowhere would only raise questions.
Instead, he intended to establish himself publicly as a Ninjutsu prodigy.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Mugetsu formed seals in rapid succession, inhaled deeply, and released a massive fireball nearly five meters in diameter that surged toward Kari.
He could have made it larger, but there was no need—he wasn't trying to obliterate the landscape.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Kari slammed his palm onto the ground, raising a thick wall of stone between them. The barrier blocked the flames and obscured Mugetsu's view completely.
The next moment, Kari's figure appeared atop the earthen wall. He used its height as a launching point, propelling himself down toward Mugetsu like a missile.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Mugetsu quickly formed hand seals and unleashed a torrent of water from his mouth, forming a defensive barrier in front of him.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from beneath the ground, reaching for Mugetsu's leg.
But Mugetsu had already sensed it. In an instant, he flickered away, leaving the attack grasping at empty air.
"Such sharp perception," Kari muttered, emerging from the ground with a frown.
Fast reaction speed and acute awareness—Mugetsu countered him perfectly.
"You really can't underestimate Iwagakure Ninja," Mugetsu thought to himself. "They might look reckless, but they're all cunning beneath the surface."
Kari's tactics were simple yet deadly. After creating the Earth Flow Wall, he had split into an Earth Clone. The clone launched an aerial assault, while his real body tunneled underground to strike from below.
Unfortunately for him, none of that could fool the Byakugan hidden behind Mugetsu's black-rimmed glasses. Every move, every layer of deception—laid bare before his eyes.
"If this is all you've got," Mugetsu said calmly, "then this battle's already decided."
He formed a single hand sign, and a Shadow Clone appeared beside him.
The real Mugetsu began weaving seals for Fire Release, while his clone performed a different set—for Wind Release.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Mugetsu gathered a massive amount of Chakra in his throat, transforming it through precise Nature Transformation. Three enormous fire dragons erupted from his mouth, roaring as they blazed forward.
The flames burned fiercely, twisting together like living serpents of molten fury. Their orange-red light bathed the entire battlefield in a searing glow, melting stone and scorching the air.
After the three enormous fire dragons appeared, they roared forward, rushing toward Kari, the Explosion Release user. At that exact moment, Mugetsu's Shadow Clone completed its jutsu.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The clone opened its mouth and unleashed a violent gust of wind. The swirling air fueled the flames, transforming the already fearsome dragons into an overwhelming sea of blazing orange-red fire that pressed down on Kari with devastating force.
In truth, Mugetsu's Wind Release was fairly average—mediocre among Jonin by most standards. Its power alone was limited, offering little beyond raw pressure. But combined with his powerful Fire Release and mastery of coordination, the result became truly monstrous.
Facing the overwhelming wall of flame, Kari's eyes widened in disbelief. The last time he had seen such terrifying Fire Release power was from Jiraiya of the Sannin. But that was different—Jiraiya hadn't been his enemy. Mugetsu was.
He instinctively tried to retreat, knowing full well that taking such an attack head-on would be suicide. But then, a chill ran down his spine. His foot sank slightly—the ground was wet.
He froze. Behind him stood the lingering remnants of the Water Formation Wall.
Kari quickly glanced around, and his expression darkened further. There were few Iwagakure Ninja nearby—only Konoha forces surrounded him now.
"Damn it… I chased too far," Kari realized, cursing under his breath. He had walked straight into Mugetsu's trap.
Mugetsu's evasive movements earlier hadn't been due to a lack of openings, but a calculated ploy. By dodging repeatedly, he had lured Kari deep into Konoha's territory. Now, Kari was boxed in—water behind him, enemies on both sides, and an inferno bearing down from the front.
There was only one option left: block the attack.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Kari's hands blurred through seals. In an instant, thick earthen walls rose up around him, enclosing him on three sides.
Boom! Boom!
The moment the walls formed, the sea of fire crashed into them. The impact ignited a blinding explosion that shook the battlefield. The fire roared into the sky, a pillar of flame visible to every Ninja within miles.
Both Iwagakure and Konoha forces instinctively pulled back, unwilling to be caught in the inferno's deadly range.
"I didn't expect Jonin Mugetsu to have such power," a Konoha Jonin exclaimed in awe. "That combination technique… it's too strong."
He recognized the blond figure from the village. Mugetsu's name was faintly familiar—a quiet teacher at the Ninja Academy and a Special Jonin who rarely drew attention.
To most, that title meant mediocrity. A teacher? A Special Jonin? It sounded like someone who had given up on combat to settle into the safety of Konoha. But now, seeing the blazing destruction before them, those assumptions shattered instantly.
"Damn it… Lord Kari couldn't have—" an Iwagakure Ninja muttered, his voice trembling.
The balance of power on this section of the battlefield was delicate. Kari's fall could tip it entirely. The Iwagakure forces surged forward desperately, trying to reach him before Konoha could finish the job.
Mugetsu didn't move. His Chakra reserves were not limitless, but among ordinary Jonin, he still had plenty to spare. He could unleash a few more of these Combination Ninjutsu if needed.
As the flames slowly faded, the aftermath came into view—blackened earth stretched as far as the eye could see. The once-sturdy Earth Flow Walls had melted under the sheer heat, and even the Water Formation Wall had evaporated into steam.
At the center of the scorched ground lay Kari. His body was charred, his clothes in tatters, and his limbs refused to obey him. Even his Earth Clone had collapsed into dust.
He tried to lift himself but could barely move. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest showed he was still alive.
If not for his Taijutsu-hardened physique, he would have been reduced to ash. The Hardening Technique of Earth Release was the only reason he had survived at all. Even so, the experience left him shaken to the core.
I'll never take a Fire Release head-on again… not even from a lesser Shinobi.
Though Mugetsu still had Chakra to spare, he began to breathe heavily, wiping sweat from his forehead. To the onlookers, he appeared utterly drained—a Jonin who had narrowly pushed past his limits to claim victory.
It was all part of the act.
He wanted everyone to believe that he had won not through overwhelming power, but through skill, planning, and precision. A narrow, hard-earned victory left a stronger impression than an effortless one.
Seeing Mugetsu's apparent exhaustion, several Konoha Ninja rushed to his side, forming a protective line around him in case the Iwagakure forces tried to retaliate.
Others turned their focus on Kari's fallen body, launching Ninjutsu to finish him off completely. Killing an elite enemy Jonin like him would be a major advantage for Konoha.
But the Iwagakure forces weren't about to let that happen. Dozens of them formed hand seals and raised fresh Earth Flow Walls, shielding Kari from the incoming attacks.
Both sides tensed, preparing for a renewed clash centered around Kari's battered form—one side desperate to kill him, the other desperate to protect him.
Then, without warning—
Rumble!!!
A thunderous explosion shook the ground, followed by a blinding flash of light in the distance.
"What was that!?" shouted a Chunin.
The light that followed was brighter and more violent than Mugetsu's flames—an explosion of overwhelming scale that illuminated the entire battlefield.
"Tailed Beast Ball," Mugetsu murmured, his eyes narrowing as he extended his senses.
But even with his Byakugan, the distance was too great. The battle between Jiraiya's forces and Iwagakure's Jinchuriki had already moved beyond his sight. He could only sense the distant, crushing presence of immense Chakra.
The earth rumbled again. The war was far from over.
[TL: I have a small announcement for everyone.
I just released a new fanfic titled "I Just Want to Die and Sit on the Throne of Heroes."
From the title alone some of you probably already know the fandom, but for those who do not, this story is based on the Fate Series. The main character is thrown into the era of Gilgamesh, so expect heroes, gods, and all kinds of divine trouble.
As for the Tensura based fanfic I mentioned before, I decided to stop that project. After reading further into the original series, I found too many plot holes and inconsistencies for the kind of story I want, so I chose not to continue it rather than force a messy fanfic.
If you are interested in the new Fate fanfic, feel free to check my profile and you will find it there.]