Swift Release - Sarutobi Ryo and Katsuyu Team Up!

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo didn't say a word, his eyes locked on Gari.

Then, like lightning, they both moved.

Thwack!

A flash of cold steel. Sarutobi Ryo shot forward, the Sword of Kusanagi aimed right at Gari's eyes, its edge gleaming with deadly intent.

This attack wasn't just a simple thrust. It was infused with freezing cold air, combining the power of Ice Release with the spinning force of Magnetic Field Rotation.

Sarutobi Ryo's bones cracked and popped with the strain.

Gari, unflinching, threw a straight punch.

Neither fighter even thought about dodging. In a heartbeat, they were nothing but blurs.

As Gari's fist shot out, a dangerous energy began to gather - Explosion Release chakra.

Sarutobi Ryo's right eye saw it all. The chakra in Gari's right fist suddenly burst into life, like a tiny, furious sun.

It was the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai, pushed to its absolute limit.

This deadly technique was called Explosion Release: Landmine Fist!

This was Gari's second special ability, his Kekkei Genkai.

Its sole purpose was destruction, to detonate Explosion Release chakra like a bomb, turning enemies into nothing more than dust.

As the leader of the Iwagakure Explosion Corps, Gari had used this move to split mountains and shatter rocks. Nothing could stand in his way; everything was reduced to ashes.

He activated both Steel Release and Explosion Release at the same time.

Gari's offense and defense were incredibly powerful.

Regular attacks, even Ninjutsu, simply bounced off him.

But even against this seemingly impenetrable defense, Sarutobi Ryo suddenly used Swift Release. He moved with impossible speed, narrowly avoiding Gari's fist before it could connect.

At the same time, he flicked the Sword of Kusanagi upwards, aiming directly for Gari's eyes.

Gari only had time to squeeze his eyelids shut before the Sword of Kusanagi struck.

"!"

Gari grunted in pain. Even with his eyelids strengthened by Steel Release, he still felt the sharp sting of the blade.

The blow had missed its mark.

Gari's straight punch became a wild, sweeping haymaker.

Like a battering ram, it hurtled towards Sarutobi Ryo's ribs with a series of explosive sounds.

This was raw, untamed power, and the first time Sarutobi Ryo had met someone who could match him in brute strength.

Faced with this attack, Sarutobi Ryo used Swift Release again, shifting his body just enough.

Not to escape, but to circle around Gari, fighting him up close.

His free left hand rose, seemingly to block the haymaker, but suddenly, his palm unleashed a blinding light!

"Storm Release!"

Storm Release Laser.

This was Sarutobi Ryo's fastest attack.

Light travels at an incredible speed, and even a powerhouse like Gari couldn't possibly dodge it without knowing it was coming.

And not dodging meant getting hit.

Sizzle!

The laser burned into Gari's eyelids, leaving a trail of smoke.

A moment later, the upward-moving laser pierced Gari's eyeball.

His left eye was gone, and his right eye was already destroyed.

Gari roared in pain and stumbled backward.

Because Gari retreated, the laser moved off course, leaving a trail of smoke across his body.

But that was it.

Thanks to his Steel Release Kekkei Genkai, Gari suffered nothing more than some smoke rising from his skin, even from the powerful Storm Release Laser.

Even the Steel Release Kekkei Genkai had weaknesses.

Gari's Steel Release couldn't cover his internal organs, like his eyes and tongue.

This was his biggest weakness.

"Well… as expected of the Son of the Hokage…"

Gari showed the strong will of a true warrior.

Even with one eye gone, he remained calm.

But no matter how calm he was, the situation remained dire.

As his roar faded away, Yamanaka Hui and the others had also finished their battles.

The Umino Couple seemed to have suffered some injuries.

Yamanaka Hui looked a little ruffled.

Ruri was the only one completely unharmed.

She was the strongest of the four, second only to Sarutobi Ryo.

In the original story, Neji's immense talent was partly due to inheriting his mother's traits.

Hinata, on the other hand, had rather poor Ninja abilities. Even Hanabi couldn't be called a genius.

With his three comrades dead, Gari suddenly found himself alone.

He wasn't stupid. He knew he couldn't win against so many opponents by himself.

So, Gari, who had been so eager to fight just moments ago, turned and ran without hesitation.

A strong person knows when to run.

"Summoning Technique!"

The next second, Sarutobi Ryo's voice echoed through the forest, and a storm swept through the trees.

A huge, dark shadow appeared in an instant.

Then, this gigantic shadow lunged at Gari.

If Gari's charge was like a tank, then Katsuyu's charge was like a battleship.

The enormous body, with its unmatched weight, crashed directly into Gari.

"Ah!!"

Gari was sent flying, but his Steel Release Kekkei Genkai would protect him from serious injury.

But he was still shaken by Katsuyu's sudden appearance.

He recognized the Katsuyu summoned by Princess Tsunade.

And Princess Tsunade's incredible Super Strength could easily shatter his Steel Release.

The moment his mind faltered, a weakness appeared.

"Swift Release!"

Sarutobi Ryo used Swift Release, silently appearing behind Gari.

Gari was airborne, with nothing to hold on to. Sarutobi Ryo, however, stepped forward, using Magnet Release - Magnetic Field Rotation.

Then, the powerful Crushing Palm Strike, infused with Ice Release and the power of the earth, slammed into the back of Gari's head.

Bang!

The roar and shockwave spread outwards.

Gari's body mass had increased somewhat, but it was still within a reasonable limit.

At most, he could be considered a few dozen pounds, or a few dozen kilograms, heavier.

Sarutobi Ryo's overwhelming strength sent him crashing down from the sky, slamming him hard into the ground.

Sizzle!

Katsuyu spat acid at the crater where Gari had landed.

This powerful acid, capable of instantly vaporizing steel, was Gari's worst nightmare.

Gari let out a scream mixed with a roar, bursting out of the pit covered in smoke.

The moment he emerged, Sarutobi Ryo slammed him back down again.

Over and over.

The leader of Iwagakure's Explosion Corps, a powerhouse with two Kekkei Genkai, was beaten into the acid pit by Sarutobi Ryo, his defenses finally crumbling.

Then, the Storm Release Laser Sword swept across, piercing Gari's exposed flesh, killing him instantly.

Thud.

The corpse fell from the sky, a gruesome sight.

Sarutobi Ryo immediately looked up at Katsuyu: "Katsuyu, thank you…"

"Hmph…"

Katsuyu gave a cold, girlish hum.

Turning into a cloud of smoke, it disappeared on the spot…

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[T/N:

Final Total Power Stone Collection : 119 PS

Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀

Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇

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