Kuriarare Kushimaru lunged forward with incredible speed.
Hanekawa raised his Thunderfire Sword to meet him, but soon noticed an issue.
Kushimaru had changed his strategy.
With the Nuibari's extended blade and its steel wire, Kushimaru kept his distance, attacking from afar.
Using the advantage of his weapon's length, the Nuibari could reach Hanekawa, while the Thunderfire Sword was just slightly shorter.
Hanekawa frowned slightly.
After a brief exchange, he was at a disadvantage. Kushimaru stayed out of his attack range, and one misstep could leave him vulnerable to Nuibari's strikes.
Body Flicker Technique!
Hanekawa retreated, instantly putting distance between himself and Kushimaru.
"What's this? Planning to run?"
Kushimaru sneered. "So this is all Tsunade's student amounts to?"
Hanekawa casually sheathed his Thunderfire Sword.
While his swordsmanship was decent, it wasn't his specialty—his ninjutsu was far superior.
If Kushimaru wanted a long-range fight, Hanekawa would show him what true long-range combat was.
He didn't reply and instead began forming hand seals.
"You're trying to use ninjutsu?"
Kushimaru saw through Hanekawa's intention and snorted. "Too slow!"
In a flash, Kushimaru became a blur, Nuibari's tip gleaming as it appeared before Hanekawa's eyes.
As a master swordsman, Kushimaru's speed surpassed most ninja's hand seal techniques.
Many jōnin had fallen to him before they could even complete a jutsu.
And this brat? How fast could someone his age possibly be at forming seals?
But suddenly, Kushimaru's expression changed.
Just as Nuibari was about to pierce Hanekawa's forehead, the ground beneath him turned into a swirling river of mud, sweeping him away.
Earth Release: Earth Flow River!
The jutsu's power varied with the enemy's size, and it was enough to disrupt Kushimaru.
"You can use Earth Release too?"
Kushimaru quickly leapt out of the mud's range, visibly surprised.
Hanekawa didn't respond, immediately forming another set of hand seals.
"Not that easy!"
Kushimaru activated the Body Flicker Technique.
A wall of water rose before Hanekawa.
Nuibari struck the water wall but couldn't penetrate it, becoming embedded.
"So fast!"
Kushimaru sensed something was wrong.
The water wall collapsed abruptly, transforming into a water dragon that crashed down on him.
Boom!
Kushimaru instinctively raised Nuibari to block, but the water dragon struck him hard, sending him sliding several meters across the ground.
As he struggled to recover, Hanekawa launched a massive three-meter-high fireball.
The searing heat made Kushimaru break into a sweat.
He rolled awkwardly on the ground, narrowly avoiding the fireball.
"Damn it!"
Standing up, Kushimaru felt humiliated.
As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, this was the first time he had been forced into such a dire situation by a ninjutsu specialist.
Hanekawa ignored him, forming more hand seals as a dragon-shaped flame shot toward Kushimaru.
"Get lost!"
Kushimaru's face darkened as he thrust Nuibari forward, splitting the flame apart.
But before he could celebrate, he heard the sound of something breaking through the air above him.
Looking up, he saw a barrage of clay falling from the sky.
This wasn't something Nuibari could destroy.
Kushimaru quickly used the Body Flicker Technique, dodging out of the clay's range.
The sound of rushing water echoed around him.
Kushimaru glanced around to find streams of water converging on him from all directions.
"Damn it!"
He leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the streams.
As he prepared to escape, the sound of wind cutting through the air reached his ears.
Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!
Hanekawa exhaled compressed air bullets that shot toward Kushimaru like missiles—five in total.
In mid-air, Kushimaru had nowhere to dodge.
Despite his best efforts, one bullet struck his left shoulder, tearing it open and spilling blood.
"I'll kill you!"
Enraged by the pain, Kushimaru was consumed by a murderous aura.
But it was futile.
Before he could act, three massive fire dragons flew toward him, their flames illuminating the area and radiating intense heat.
"He has the Yin Seal. His chakra is practically infinite!"
A surge of danger forced Kushimaru to regain his composure.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he dodged to the side, rolling on the ground before forming hand seals.
He spat out a massive water sphere to counter the fire dragons.
When water and fire collided, thick mist enveloped the battlefield.
Breathing a sigh of relief within the mist, Kushimaru prepared his next move.
As a Kirigakure ninja, he was adept at using the Hidden Mist Technique and Silent Killing.
This gave him an idea.
Kushimaru formed hand seals to cast the Hidden Mist Technique.
But in the next instant, a fierce wind swept through, blowing away the mist entirely.
"Damn it!"
Kushimaru couldn't help but curse.
He had never encountered a ninja proficient in all five chakra natures. At most, he had only faced opponents who could use three.
Now, Kushimaru finally understood just how terrifying a Five-Release Ninja could be.
No, this was worse.
Hanekawa wasn't just a Five-Release Ninja; he was more nauseatingly powerful because of his exceptional speed in forming hand seals, vast chakra reserves, and mastery of all five elemental releases.
Many jōnin could use multiple nature releases, but very few truly mastered them all—they usually specialized in one.
Suddenly, Kushimaru realized something terrifying:
He might not be able to defeat Hanekawa.
He had been running circles around the area, but Hanekawa remained rooted in the same spot, unbothered.
This guy's a medical ninja?!
Regret flooded Kushimaru's mind. If he'd known how troublesome this opponent was, he wouldn't have picked this fight.
But it was too late to retreat.
Kushimaru felt a sudden change underfoot.
The ground rose sharply, and multiple stone spears shot toward him.
His reaction was quick—Nuibari slashed through the spears in an instant.
Then came a gale of wind.
Kushimaru swiftly formed seals, summoning a Water Wall to shield himself.
Above him, the air twisted as a large mass of clay descended from the sky.
His Water Wall could block the front, but not the falling clay.
While dodging Hanekawa's relentless ninjutsu, Kushimaru wracked his brain for a solution.
There was only one way: he had to close the distance.
Water Release: Water Flow Wall!
He formed seals again, blocking a massive fireball.
Smoke filled the air, and then Kushimaru froze in place.
Hanekawa, who had stayed motionless the entire fight, was gone.
Not good!
Kushimaru's face changed drastically as he scanned his surroundings.
Hanekawa wasn't the type to retreat when he held the advantage. The only explanation was that he was planning an ambush.
But from where?
A chill ran down Kushimaru's spine. With Hanekawa's mastery of five nature releases, the attack could come from any direction. There was no way to defend against everything.
Then, he felt the ground shift beneath him.
Earth Release: Head Hunter Jutsu!
Hanekawa's hand emerged from the ground, grabbing Kushimaru's legs.
"Die!"
Seeing this, Kushimaru thrust Nuibari into the ground without hesitation.
His legs sank into the earth, but Nuibari pierced through Hanekawa's arm.
Bang!
No blood spilled.
It was a shadow clone.
Kushimaru's heart raced. He immediately tried to escape the earth, but it was too late.
Buried deep below, an explosive tag detonated with a deafening roar. Fire and heat surged into the sky.
All the nearby ninjas instinctively turned toward the explosion.
The sheer force was impossible to ignore.
When the explosion subsided, Kushimaru's broken body was revealed.
His legs were shredded, and only half of his torso remained intact.
Hanekawa appeared, calmly picking up Nuibari and driving it into Kushimaru's heart.
Kushimaru's body twitched twice before falling lifeless.
"Lord Kushimaru is dead? How is this possible?!"
Nearby Kirigakure ninjas were stunned.
Dying to Tsunade was understandable, but being killed by her student—a mere teenager—was incomprehensible.
"Hanekawa actually defeated Kushimaru?"
Even the Konoha jōnin were in disbelief.
In their eyes, Hanekawa was a prodigy, but prodigies were typically seen as unpolished potential.
After the Chūnin Exams and his recent performances, they acknowledged him as having jōnin-level strength.
But only an ordinary jōnin, not one of the elites.
Kushimaru, as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, was undoubtedly an elite jōnin.
For such a formidable opponent to fall to Hanekawa, it meant Hanekawa's strength might already surpass theirs—or even reach new heights.
"This kid is full of surprises."
Tsunade's lips curled into a faint smile as she glanced at her opponent, Fuguki Suikazan.
No longer as composed as before, Fuguki Suikazan had sustained serious injuries.
Even though Samehada was working hard to transfer chakra to him, it was far from enough.
"As a teacher, I can't let my student outshine me."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened as she disappeared in an instant.
Fuguki Suikazan, panting heavily, struggled to his feet, only to be met with a fist the size of a boulder.
Boom!
The impact centered around Fuguki Suikazan, shaking the ground violently.
Cracks spread like a spiderweb, rocks scattered, and wind howled.
Everyone turned instinctively to see Tsunade standing amidst the chaos, her golden hair flowing.
Before her lay the unconscious body of Fuguki Suikazan
Samehada, sensing its master's loss of consciousness, twitched on the ground.
Tsunade stepped forward and delivered a powerful stomp, silencing the blade.
"Daytime Tiger!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed.
Might Duy leapt into the air, his aura surging like a white tiger, engulfing Jinin Akebino in its devastating power.
Boom, boom, boom!
Explosions erupted one after another.
Countless waves of energy rippled outward, forcing all the nearby ninjas to step back.
For many, this was their first time witnessing the power of the Eight Gates' Daytime Tiger, and their faces showed astonishment.
The sheer destructive force was overwhelming—greater even than Tsunade's superhuman strength earlier.
Tsunade, having seen it once before, was unaffected.
In a flash, she appeared before a man with bandages wrapped around his head.
This was Munashi Jinpachi, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
His sword, Shibuki – the Blast Sword, was covered with explosive tags.
The moment he saw Tsunade, his expression changed. He raised Shibuki and swung it toward her.
Explosive tags ignited, sending flames rushing at Tsunade.
She quickly retreated.
At that moment, the ground behind Munashi Jinpachi surged upward, and Hanekawa leaped out.
The moment Tsunade called out to him, he instantly understood her intentions.
After all, the two of them had spent so much time together that they worked seamlessly.
Chidori Current!
Lightning Release Armor!
Monstrous Strength!
Hanekawa unleashed his full power, throwing a punch.
Hearing the sound of wind splitting, Jinpachi twisted his hand, swinging Shibuki toward his back.
Body Flicker Jutsu!
Superhuman Strength!
Tsunade closed the distance, her fist slamming directly into his heart.
Hanekawa drew Zangetsu, a short wakizashi forged by the Cat Granny that he rarely used, with his left hand.
Zangetsu intercepted Shibuki, while his right fist struck Jinpachi's back.
With Tsunade and Hanekawa attacking from the front and back, their combined force exploded in an instant.
Blood splattered everywhere as Jinpachi screamed and fell unconscious.
The teacher and student stepped back simultaneously, avoiding the spray of blood.
Hanekawa casually sealed Shibuki into a storage scroll.
Just like he had done with Kushimaru Kuriarare's Nuibari, he hadn't let it go to waste.
Tsunade couldn't help but laugh.
Who taught this kid to be like this?
Hanekawa simply shrugged, saying it was instinctive for a "player" to loot everything—not that these were mere scraps.
"Run… run for your lives!"
A jōnin from Kirigakure shouted and turned to flee.
Seeing this, the other Kirigakure ninjas quickly followed suit, abandoning the fight.
The reason was simple.
With Kushimaru's death, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had been completely annihilated.
The wielder of Hiramekarei had already been dealt with by Baki and Hyūga Saku's team.
With all their commanders dead, staying was pointless. Fleeing meant there was at least a chance for survival—and perhaps to preserve a few remnants of their forces.
"Pursue them!"
Tsunade shouted, and the Konoha jōnin immediately gave chase, launching into another round of battles.
But the morale of the Kirigakure forces had crumbled. Compared to earlier, their combat effectiveness had plummeted, making the battle one-sided.
"Lady Tsunade."
Half an hour later, Hyūga Saku returned, looking slightly guilty.
"Some of the Kirigakure ninjas managed to escape."
"It doesn't matter," Tsunade replied without concern. "They won't be able to stir up any trouble."
To her, the defeat of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen marked a decisive victory.
If Kirigakure didn't send reinforcements, it meant they had lost to Konoha and Sunagakure in this battle.
Even if reinforcements came, the loss of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and this wave of forces was a crippling blow to Kirigakure.
"You four, return to camp and bring the rest of the ninjas here," Tsunade instructed, addressing Hyūga Saku and the two jōnin flanking him.
This island was in a strategically advantageous position and served as Kirigakure's front-line center. Securing it would put Kirigakure in a difficult spot.
"Yes!"
The four ninjas immediately turned and left.
"The remaining Kirigakure ninjas are spread across other islands. Be vigilant against their counterattacks," Tsunade warned the group.
"Yes!"
The remaining ninjas responded in unison.
Tsunade nodded slightly but frowned when she turned around.
Hanekawa was gone.
After scanning the area, she spotted him near the corpse of Fuguki Suikazan, fiddling with Samehada.
Why does he look like a thief?
Tsunade sighed but didn't stop him.
Hanekawa studied Samehada, recalling its connection to Isobu, the Three-Tails.
However, he knew it wasn't loyal.
In the original story, Samehada had even betrayed Kisame, drawn to the chakra of the Eight-Tails and becoming Killer Bee's blade instead.
In short, it was an unreliable ally.
Unfortunately, Samehada couldn't be reforged like the Kiba Blades. It wasn't a traditional weapon but a unique living entity.
After some thought, Hanekawa decided to seal it away for now.
(1.000 Power Stones, LFG)
_
Patreon.com/rashta
1. 310 adv ch of Talent System In Naruto
2. 560 adv ch of Qian Renxue's Younger Brother
3. 270 adv ch of Uchiha Madara's Cousin
4. 163 adv ch of WDQK: Divorcing Ling Qingzhu (Complete)
5. 470 adv ch of This Danzo Is Weird