Chapter 309: The Crippled Version of Itachi and the Bankrupt Version of Kamui, Combined!

Chapter 309: The Crippled Version of Itachi and the Bankrupt Version of Kamui, Combined!

"Madara! That guy's Fire Style ninjutsu is all wrong!"

White Zetsu Tobi's pale, grotesque face was illuminated by the purple glow of the [Blaze Release], making it look psychedelic and terrifying. While desperately trying to maintain the "Wood Locking Wall" defense, he was also screaming his head off.

"I'm about to—I can't hold it anymore!"

Crack... snap...

The moment White Zetsu Tobi's words fell, the sturdy wooden wall, which had just collided with the purple sparks of the [Blaze Release], rapidly carbonized and shattered under the terrifying high temperature of the purple flames, emitting a sharp cracking sound.

Even though Tobi tried to inject more Wood Release chakra through the wooden connections to maintain the defense, the [Blaze Release]'s flames didn't weaken. Instead, they burned even more fiercely.

After completely incinerating the "Wood Locking Wall," the [Blaze Release] flames continued to spread rapidly.

If White Zetsu Tobi hadn't let go in time, severing the connection between the Wood Release and his main body, he would have been ignited into a "human-shaped torch."

White Zetsu Tobi had used the Wood Release ninjutsu to block Nara Keisuke's [Blaze Release] from hitting the Gedo Mazō. Although this strategic objective was achieved—the purple flames of the [Blaze Release] did not reach the Gedo Mazō's main body—the unique and terrifying power of [Blaze Release] left an extremely deep impression on both Old Man Madara and White Zetsu Tobi.

Nara Keisuke, however, was not surprised by the attack's effect.

Ever since he had successfully fused [Blaze Release], Nara Keisuke had drawn comparisons between it and Amaterasu, one of the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyo dōjutsu.

Based on Amaterasu's case, Nara Keisuke suspected that [Blaze Release] might also have a "specialized" effect on "organic functions"—an unseen, intangible ability that was extremely useful.

If "organic functions" was too obscure a term, it could be understood as "life force" or "cell activity."

The reason for this deduction was simple: [Blaze Release] was a special elemental Kekkei Genkai created from Yin Release and Fire Release.

Pure Yin Release chakra was inherently unstable; the Nara Clan's shadow techniques were a prime example. Before Nara Keisuke developed the [Shadow Imitation Technique], the core principle of the basic [Shadow Binding Jutsu] was to use Yin Release chakra to absorb and interfere with Yang Release chakra.

And the most superficial expression of Yang Release chakra was "life force," "cell activity," and so on.

Specifically, [Blaze Release] possessed both the destructive power of Fire Release and the special attraction of Yin Release to Yang Release.

With these two characteristics, [Blaze Release] should theoretically have an extremely powerful destructive effect on "organic functions."

Nara Keisuke had previously struggled to find a good way to test this, until he researched [Wood Release]—an even more special Kekkei Genkai with a strong affinity for Yang Release.

In short, after precise testing, Nara Keisuke confirmed that [Blaze Release], in addition to its triple characteristics of "shape transformation," "auto-tracking," and "super high temperature," also had another terrifying "anti-organism" ability.

In combat, this ability meant:

The flames of [Blaze Release] would not be extinguished until the target was completely burned to ashes!

White Zetsu Tobi was nominally an "artificial human" cultivated by Old Man Madara, but in reality, he was a special "plant-person" mixed from the Gedo Mazō and Hashirama's cells.

To deal with this kind of "plant-person," no ability was more suitable than [Blaze Release].

By the same token, the Gedo Mazō behind them was also excellent "burning material."

Almost at the same instant the [Blaze Release] flames destroyed the "Wood Locking Wall," Nara Keisuke once again aimed at the massive, hideous Gedo Mazō and released a highly condensed purple flame.

[Blaze Release: Searing Migraine]!

A small, deep-purple flame leaped from the shadows, instantly expanding its burning range upon landing, forming a raging sea of fire that surged toward the Gedo Mazō's position.

'Damn brat!'

Old Man Madara's heart was filled with rage.

If his Rinnegan were still here, why would he fear this bizarre purple flame? If the opponent dared to use ninjutsu, he would use the Rinnegan's special ability to absorb it completely!

But his Rinnegan was not on him, and his body was too old to react quickly to the enemy's attacks.

The legendary shinobi was actually helpless in a fight…

How could Old Man Madara, with his immense pride, remain calm?

But no matter how uncalm he was, he could not let that special purple fire burn unchecked. He had just seen its terrifying destructive power against Wood Release. Aside from the color being wrong, this purple flame was almost no different from their Uchiha Clan's Mangekyo dōjutsu, Amaterasu.

White Zetsu Tobi's Wood Release alone couldn't stop those highly flexible purple flames…

'Must I continue to drain the Gedo Mazō's chakra…'

A hint of hesitation flashed in Old Man Madara's single eye, but it eventually hardened into resolve.

'I must eliminate this external threat!'

The purple sea of fire from [Blaze Release: Searing Migraine] was almost upon him. Old Man Madara no longer hesitated, using the special wooden tubes in his back to control the Gedo Mazō behind him.

"Roar—"

The Gedo Mazō, which had been dormant like a statue, suddenly opened its giant mouth under Madara's control and let out a deafening roar, creating a literal gale.

The violent sonic boom ricocheted off the graveyard walls, loud enough to burst a normal person's eardrums.

The surging [Blaze Release: Searing Migraine] was hit by the Gedo Mazō's "sonic attack" and showed signs of being temporarily suppressed.

But [Blaze Release] was no ordinary fire jutsu. Under Nara Keisuke's remote control, the purple sea of fire quickly rallied, about to surge onto the Gedo Mazō's body.

But just then.

A faint purple, skeletal energy shield appeared over the Gedo Mazō's blood-red mouth, followed by a long, winding purple Chakra Dragon that spewed forth, meeting the sea of fire without any sign of weakness.

The Chakra Dragon!

Seeing the purple dragon emerge from the Gedo Mazō's mouth, Nara Keisuke's pupils contracted.

The initial-stage Susanoo was one thing.

Old Man Madara could also control and use a jutsu on the level of the Chakra Dragon?

Targeting the Gedo Mazō first was absolutely the right choice!

The purple Chakra Dragon swam through the purple sea of fire of the [Blaze Release: Searing Migraine], looking almost comfortable.

The [Blaze Release] flames, which had just effortlessly destroyed Tobi's "Wood Locking Wall," now couldn't even affect the Chakra Dragon. Instead, they seemed to be flocking around it.

As the Chakra Dragon swam, the [Blaze Release: Searing Migraine]'s burning range shrank, its multi-faceted [Blaze Release] chakra being devoured bit by bit by the Chakra Dragon.

The Rinnegan has the special ability to absorb chakra. But the Gedo Mazō's ability to devour chakra is in no way inferior to the Rinnegan!

This faint purple Chakra Dragon would instantly devour the chakra of any normal shinobi it touched. It was almost certain death.

After devouring the sea of fire, Old Man Madara manipulated the Chakra Dragon, sending it crashing majestically into the shadows of the graveyard, determined to force out the enemy who still hadn't shown himself.

[Flying Thunder God: Shadow Flow Blade]!

Using the [Shadow Flow Blade] mark he had placed in the graveyard earlier, Nara Keisuke silently changed locations, dodging the dragon's sweep and arriving at another shadowy area of the graveyard.

'I thought I had sufficiently overestimated Old Man Madara's strength before coming, but I still underestimated him!'

Nara Keisuke looked at Old Man Madara, who was still protected within the skeletal Susanoo.

'This isn't Old Man Madara! This is a crippled version of Itachi combined with a bankrupt version of Kamui!'

Looking at the Chakra Dragon still rampaging, Nara Keisuke silently changed his battle plan.

'It might be a bit dishonorable, but when fighting an old man, there's no need to be too honorable…'

Using the Shadow Invisibility Technique's cover, Nara Keisuke hid in the shadows, resonated with the chakra in his [Chakra Crystal], and converted it to Water Release chakra.

While Old Man Madara was concentrating on clearing the shadows in front of him, Nara Keisuke, from his new position, silently fired a high-pressure water gun.

[Water Style: Water Severing Wave]!

A thin beam of high-pressure water shot out from another shadow, streaking across the graveyard's interior like a silvery-white ribbon, its sound terrifying.

Old Man Madara and White Zetsu Tobi were focused on the Chakra Dragon's movements and didn't have the mental capacity to guard against an attack from another direction. And relying on the Susanoo's defense, Madara's vigilance had indeed dropped.

By the time the sharp whistle of the [Water Style: Water Severing Wave] hit his eardrums, Old Man Madara slowly turned to look, just in time to see the high-pressure water gun slice open his "IV tubes."

Tssch—

The [Water Style: Water Severing Wave], representing the pinnacle of Water Release shape transformation, easily severed the wooden connection pipes between Old Man Madara and the Gedo Mazō. It was too fast to react.

The instant the connection was broken, the menacing Chakra Dragon instantly vanished, as if it had never been.

And without the chakra supply from the Gedo Mazō, the Susanoo on Madara's body couldn't even maintain its skeletal form and also dissipated.

"Ugh... urgh—"

Old Man Madara's lips moved, but only a death rattle came from his throat.

One second? Or two?

A notification suddenly popped up on Nara Keisuke's panel.

[You have killed the A-Rank Ninja Battle Mission target one time!]

[You have obtained one A-Rank Secret Ninja Scroll!]