Chapter 41: A Youth Strong Enough to Make One's Hair Stand on End
Chapter 41: A Youth Strong Enough to Make One's Hair Stand on End
The sword clash between Zabuza Momochi and Kisame Hoshigaki was far less intense than the battle between Uehara Naraka and Mangetsu Hōzuki, which didn't resemble a fight between twelve or thirteen-year-olds at all.
Mangetsu Hōzuki slashed down with Hiramekarei, the killing intent leaving a deep trench in the earth. However, the blade edge struck a yellow, circular defensive net!
It was precisely Uehara's defensive stance [Spiked Defense]. It tightly enveloped Uehara's body, and spikes even protruded from the intersection points of the net's grid!
"Is this all you've got?"
A smile touched Uehara's lips. The defensive stance from the Spiked Defense skill, rewarded just after defeating the Three-Tails, was sufficient for him to tank the enemy's swordsmanship in this battle.
As long as he didn't encounter Konoha Village's Might Guy, his taijutsu could completely match most current ninjas in a 50-50 fight.
Mangetsu Hōzuki looked at Uehara Naraka's smiling face, twisted his wrist, and a stream of gas emitted from the 'eyes' [holes] of the Hiramekarei ninja sword, enveloping the entire blade!
"Hiramekarei: Release!"
Mangetsu Hōzuki shouted coldly, swinging Hiramekarei towards Uehara!
As his voice fell, a chakra light sphere suddenly condensed from the Hiramekarei blade and struck Uehara Naraka's body, instantly sending Uehara flying!
Just this sword technique alone wasn't enough!
Mangetsu Hōzuki quickly withdrew his hand, unfurled the summoning scroll beside him, and raised his fingers, "Summoning Technique, Blunt Sword: Kabutowari!"
The appearance of Blunt Sword: Kabutowari was very peculiar; one end was a ninja sword resembling an axe, the other end was a hammer!
Mangetsu Hōzuki leaped forward, grabbing the ninja sword [axe end] with one hand and slashing at Uehara Naraka; his other hand lifted the hammer and fiercely smashed it onto the back of the blade!
Blunt Sword: Kabutowari was said to be capable of breaking through any defense precisely because two forces were superimposed when it struck an enemy.
CLANG!
Blunt Sword: Kabutowari once again struck the yellow circular defensive grid!
But this time, Uehara Naraka's body used the force to fly backward; the superposition of dual forces made it somewhat hard for him to withstand!
Mangetsu Hōzuki's body also suffered reflected damage from Spiked Defense. Blood pooled at the corner of his mouth, slowly trickling out...
"This ninja sword... is too noisy, isn't it?"
Uehara Naraka stood up, patted the dirt off himself, ignoring his Life Energy consumption, pointed at Kabutowari in Mangetsu Hōzuki's hand, "A hammer and an axe don't quite match. Pairing it with a scythe is the way to go!"
"What?"
Mangetsu Hōzuki looked at Uehara uncertainly, ignoring his crazy talk, his mind still reeling from the defensive technique Uehara had just used.
What on earth was that yellow spherical grid?
Even Blunt Sword: Kabutowari couldn't destroy his defense?
Kabutowari in Mangetsu Hōzuki's hand dispersed into smoke. His hand quickly flipped open the scroll, summoning another ninja sword!
Longsword: Nuibari.
"That's not the one I want!"
Uehara Naraka's voice reached Mangetsu Hōzuki's ears. He had instantly darted beside his enemy, about to kick the ninja sword from his hand.
The longsword in Mangetsu Hōzuki's hand suddenly lifted, dodging Uehara's attack. Then, the steel wire from the back of Longsword: Nuibari fiercely wrapped around Uehara's ankle!
"Hmph, this time, you won't escape!"
Mangetsu Hōzuki threw Longsword: Nuibari from his hand. The sharp, slender ninja sword deeply pierced a large tree, while the steel wire from its hilt wrapped around Uehara's body, binding him tightly to the tree!
Truly worthy of being the genius ninja proficient with the Seven Ninja Swords.
Mangetsu Hōzuki could use almost every strangely shaped ninja sword skillfully and at the most opportune moments.
Mangetsu Hōzuki looked at the bound Uehara Naraka, extended his left hand, and shouted in a low voice, "Water Release: Great Water Arm Technique!"
Mangetsu Hōzuki's arm visibly swelled and thickened!
This was a secret technique of the Hōzuki clan, capable of concentrating the body's moisture into the arm, thereby enhancing arm strength.
Mangetsu Hōzuki glanced at the other battlefield. Zabuza Momochi was hidden in the mist, tangling with Kisame Hoshigaki. It seemed he didn't need his ninja sword right now.
"Zabuza-senpai, let me borrow the Executioner's Blade!"
After quickly forming hand seals, Mangetsu Hōzuki opened his palm, "Summoning Technique... Executioner's Blade!"
"Damn kid, take it!"
Zabuza Momochi, hidden in the mist, cursed but ultimately didn't object verbally. He had also been secretly observing the battlefield between Uehara and Mangetsu Hōzuki.
Although these two twelve or thirteen-year-old kids hadn't used overwhelmingly powerful ninjutsu, their taijutsu clash looked exceptionally brutal!
Every time, Zabuza Momochi thought Uehara Naraka was done for, yet every time Uehara used his defensive technique to tank the hit, he would casually pat his butt and stand up again...
Conversely, Mangetsu Hōzuki, the aggressor, had already suffered considerable internal injuries. That kid named Uehara Naraka, his defensive technique was ridiculously strong!
This kid, just how afraid of dying was he?
You couldn't pick out many powerful offensive ninjutsu from him, but his defensive ninjutsu were used very skillfully!
Since Mangetsu Hōzuki had now seized another winning opportunity, Zabuza Momochi definitely had to support him, especially since it was just lending him the Executioner's Blade for one use.
Only the Executioner's Blade could sever anything!
But...
Zabuza Momochi remembered Uehara Naraka's strange technique and shouted loudly, "Be careful! This guy seems to be able to use a defensive ninjutsu that makes him completely invulnerable, even stronger than that yellow defensive technique from before..."
However, Zabuza's reminder came too late!
After borrowing the Executioner's Blade using the Summoning Technique, Mangetsu Hōzuki absolutely didn't want to miss the rare opportunity. He tightly gripped the Executioner's Blade and slashed towards Uehara Naraka's head!
A dazzling golden shield emerged from Uehara's body.
That golden light entered Mangetsu Hōzuki's vision, and was also reflected by the sharp, smooth Executioner's Blade into the sightlines of both Kisame and Zabuza...
As ninjas who had fought Uehara Naraka, Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza both knew how powerful this golden shield's defense was...
An involuntary thought surfaced in both their minds: That kid Mangetsu Hōzuki is in trouble! Are all the Seven Ninja Swordsmen going to lose to Uehara?
Uehara Naraka, bathed in golden light, calmly met the Executioner's Blade.
Outside Intervention's invincibility shield, Uehara laid down another layer of yellow Spiked Defense, directly meeting the edge of the Executioner's Blade like this.
BANG!
Countless blade fragments flew everywhere!
The moment Mangetsu Hōzuki's Executioner's Blade touched Uehara Naraka's first layer of defense, it encountered immense repulsive force, and the entire blade edge of the Executioner's Blade was completely destroyed!
If even the sharp Executioner's Blade fared thus, Mangetsu Hōzuki's body fared worse. He was injured by the backlash force; the genius ninja of Kirigakure violently spat out a mouthful of blood, who knows how many bones in his body were broken...
Uehara Naraka opened his eyes, looked down at the heavily injured Mangetsu Hōzuki lying on the ground, tilted his head, "Ha, I haven't even attacked yet, how did you fall down already?"
"..."
Mangetsu Hōzuki turned his head to look down. Only the hilt of the Executioner's Blade remained in his hand, making him somewhat suspect he was caught in a genjutsu.
But the situation allowed no time for hesitation.
"Water Release: Hydrification Healing!"
(End of Chapter)
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