Chapter 413: The Strongest Fire Release Ninja in the Ninja World
Everyone present was watching Mugetsu.
The Rain ninja led by Lord Hanzo hoped Mugetsu would obediently take his own life, saving them a great deal of effort.
Mugetsu's Shinobi Sect, meanwhile, prayed he would not do it, no matter what the reason might be.
Kitsuchi and the Iwagakure shinobi had no strong preference. They were simply curious which choice Mugetsu would make.
As for Danzo, he did not care either way. He only wanted blood to flow, preferably with both the Shinobi Sect and the Hidden Rain suffering heavy losses. A Land of Rain that was too strong was never in Konoha's interest.
"Lord Hanzo, do not play tricks at a time like this. It only lowers how people see you," Mugetsu said. He snatched the kunai Lord Hanzo had thrown from Yahiko's hand and infused it with Fire Release chakra.
Fierce flames crawled over the blade, drying it despite the rain.
Whoosh.
Mugetsu aimed ahead of Lord Hanzo and hurled the flaming kunai.
His answer was clear. Suicide was wishful thinking.
If Shisui or Obito had been standing here instead of Nagato, Mugetsu might have considered playing dead for a moment, just to force them into awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan and surging in power.
Nagato was different. He already possessed the Rinnegan. He did not need to awaken it, only to dig deeper into its strength. Extreme stimulation could speed that process up, but it was not a necessity in the way the Mangekyo was.
"Sosuke, you have made a mistake," Lord Hanzo said, eyes cold.
Boom!
He gathered chakra and threw a kunai of his own, intercepting Mugetsu's flaming kunai. The collision exploded midair.
The valley tightened instantly, as if an invisible smoke had seeped into every breath.
Kitsuchi's spirits rose. The real fight was beginning.
He wanted to see a true one on one battle between Lord Hanzo and Mugetsu, but he did not believe Lord Hanzo would abandon the advantage of numbers.
"Attack," Lord Hanzo commanded, not moving yet. He ordered the hundred elite Rain ninja to strike first.
At once, the elite Rain ninja poured chakra into their hands and launched their kunai.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Black blades rained down from every direction, forming a net that tried to swallow Mugetsu and the others whole.
This was exactly why Lord Hanzo chose this location. With Rain ninja perched above, they could unleash dense attacks from high ground, making evasion nearly impossible.
Lord Hanzo watched the group in the valley with calm eyes. He held terrain and timing. What could Mugetsu use to fight him?
Nagato's mind raced. He searched for a technique that could defend against attacks from all directions while protecting everyone.
"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm."
Mugetsu gathered chakra, converted it into Wind Release, then released it the instant his hands clapped.
Whoosh!
A violent gale burst outward from the group, blowing the incoming kunai away in every direction. Rainwater splashed everywhere, and the trees along the cliffs rustled and bent.
Violent Wind Palm was only a common C rank Wind Release technique, but Mugetsu's mastery of Wind Release chakra transformation was far beyond ordinary. In his hands, it carried enough force to scatter this kind of barrage with ease.
Nagato stared at his own hands, then looked back at Mugetsu.
He knew the technique too, but if he used it, he could never achieve this effect.
He remembered the Water Formation Wall Mugetsu had used earlier. That wall had also been different from normal, defending without blind spots.
"Keep attacking," Lord Hanzo ordered, expression unchanged.
He expected Mugetsu could defend, but he did not expect Mugetsu to stop a large scale volley with a single C rank technique.
Still, Lord Hanzo remained as steady as stone. Chakra was not infinite. The more Mugetsu spent protecting others, the less he would have for the real battle.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Another wave of kunai cut through the rain, forming a black net that closed in again.
Mugetsu continued using Violent Wind Palm, repeatedly deflecting them.
"Sosuke, do you have any backup plan?" Kakuzu spoke with a tone of mockery, but the warning underneath was obvious. "Do not tell me you truly did not expect this, or I will have to reconsider your abilities."
Lord Hanzo's strategy was clear. Preserve his own strength while grinding down Mugetsu's stamina and chakra.
Before Kakuzu could continue, Mugetsu's palm struck Kakuzu's chest with frightening speed, releasing the seal on Kakuzu's body.
Mugetsu did not fully trust Kakuzu. Kakuzu only had one heart left, which greatly reduced his danger, and Mugetsu had already placed a Flying Thunder God mark on him. If Kakuzu showed any hostile intent, Mugetsu could remove him instantly.
Still, based on Kakuzu's consistent behavior, Mugetsu judged that Kakuzu was unlikely to betray him at this critical moment. At worst, Kakuzu would run.
If Kakuzu helped hold the Shinobi Sect side together, it would relieve enormous pressure.
Even weakened, Kakuzu was still Kakuzu. One heart was more than enough to overwhelm ordinary shinobi.
Kakuzu felt the freedom return to his body and froze for a heartbeat. He had been about to ask for the seal to be undone, but Mugetsu had already done it.
"You released it that easily," Kakuzu said, clenching his fists. "Are you not worried I will drag your corpse off and cash you in?"
"Your bounty should have doubled by now. Maybe it is thirty million ryo."
Nagato immediately went on guard. If Kakuzu moved, he would strike.
Mugetsu only smiled faintly. "If you still have thoughts like that, then I made a mistake."
"And I will personally correct the mistake."
Mugetsu never relied on luck, and he never placed his hope in someone else's character. He relied on strength.
Kakuzu could not do anything to him. Lord Hanzo could not either. The worst case was Mugetsu taking everyone and leaving.
"Tch. That look on your face, like everything is under control, makes me want to punch you," Kakuzu muttered as he began gathering chakra to recover.
He had no intention of betraying Mugetsu.
Only a fool would choose that path. Lord Hanzo would not care whether Kakuzu was truly part of the Shinobi Sect. To Hanzo, everyone here was the same target.
So Kakuzu would not stab Mugetsu in the back. He would help, as long as he could protect himself.
"Each of you guard a direction. Protect yourselves," Mugetsu said.
After deflecting the fourth wave, Mugetsu finally moved to attack.
He gathered chakra under his feet, his figure flashing through the rain as he rapidly closed the distance to Lord Hanzo's position.
Mugetsu's chakra reserves were already slightly lower than Hanzo's. If he kept burning chakra on defense, the upcoming battle would only worsen.
The Rain ninja tried to block his advance with ninjutsu, but every attempt was easily neutralized by Mugetsu.
Lord Hanzo watched him approach, calm and unmoving. He did not attack to stop him, and he did not retreat.
There was no special reason. He simply did not believe Mugetsu could defeat him in direct combat.
Everything Hanzo had done so far was not because he lacked confidence. It was because he wanted victory to be easy and secure.
If Mugetsu thought these methods meant Hanzo feared him, then Hanzo intended to show him what the pinnacle of a shinobi truly looked like.
"You disappoint me," Lord Hanzo said coldly as Mugetsu drew near. "Perhaps I should have ended you that day."
"But you could not," Mugetsu replied evenly.
The most troublesome part of Hanzo was his poison, but poison alone was not enough to defeat Mugetsu.
They did not clash immediately. For a brief moment, they spoke like old acquaintances meeting again after years.
Then Lord Hanzo suddenly jumped back, forming hand signs.
"Fire Release: Exploding Flame Array."
Explosive tags burst from the ground beneath Mugetsu's feet, surging upward in a wave that wrapped around his legs.
This was why Hanzo had held his ground. It was not for the view. It was because he had buried the trap here.
Boom!
A massive explosion shook the valley. A fierce blaze swallowed Mugetsu, and the ground shattered under the chained detonations.
"No wonder they call him the pinnacle of a shinobi," Kitsuchi thought, a trace of admiration rising.
Hanzo was powerful, yet terrifyingly steady. He lured the enemy into a trap, used subordinates to drain chakra, then baited Mugetsu forward and detonated a prepared killing move.
"At this distance, unless he has extreme Earth Release hardening, he cannot block it," Kitsuchi thought, shaking his head with regret. Even an Earth Release shinobi at his level would be injured by that many tags at point blank range.
"This technique is excellent," Danzo thought, pleased. Hanzo and he were alike in one respect, both willing to use any method to defeat an enemy.
After that explosion, Mugetsu should be dead or crippled, unable to continue fighting.
"Uncle Sosuke," Yahiko's face tightened with panic.
He had not expected Hanzo to be this despicable. Hanzo already had numbers, yet he still relied on traps.
Nagato stared at the flames and smoke, his thoughts turning heavy.
From doubt, to acceptance, to trust, memories of meeting Mugetsu played in his mind like an unbroken scroll.
"He cannot lose this carelessly," Kakuzu frowned.
If Kakuzu had used Earth Spear in time, he might have endured it but still taken damage. Damage like that would not matter much to him, but Mugetsu did not have Kakuzu's unnatural vitality.
"Is it over?" Lord Hanzo narrowed his eyes, staring into the thick smoke.
He did not have the Sharingan or Byakugan. He could not see Mugetsu's condition clearly through the fog.
But this was Hanzo's proud technique. Even if someone defended in time, injuries should be unavoidable.
The wind and heavy rain scattered the smoke quickly.
Mugetsu stood there, completely unharmed.
At the instant of the explosion, he had used perfect grade Armament Haki to defend. Even if Hanzo had buried twice as many tags, Mugetsu could have blocked them.
Lord Hanzo's expression finally shifted into surprise.
If Mugetsu had used a clone, Hanzo would not have been shocked. But Mugetsu had withstood Exploding Flame Array directly, without any visible defensive ninjutsu around him.
Hanzo could not understand it.
"Could it be extreme Earth Release hardening?" the thought surfaced.
Each chakra nature had its traits. Fire burned and exploded. Lightning energized cells. Earth hardened the body. Simple techniques existed, like basic hardening, and advanced ones like Earth Spear.
Even though his killing move was blocked, Lord Hanzo stayed calm. He still had many methods, some of which even the strongest hardening could not endure.
Nagato's memories halted. His expression shifted into shock.
"He held back when fighting me," Kakuzu thought. He also assumed Mugetsu possessed absurd Earth Release hardening.
The Shinobi Sect side relaxed slightly upon seeing Mugetsu uninjured.
"As long as we hold, we still have a chance," Ikechou said, staring up at the elite Rain ninja on the cliffs. "Ninja Master Sosuke is not weaker than Lord Hanzo."
If someone had told Ikechou in the past that his future would include following a man who could truly fight Lord Hanzo, he would have laughed.
He only used that slogan to ride Hanzo's fame. He never expected it to be real.
Kitsuchi looked stunned.
Among Iwagakure, which specialized in Earth Release, he had never seen hardening at this level. If this was truly Earth Release, then Mugetsu might be the strongest in that field as well.
Whoosh.
Mugetsu took advantage of Hanzo's moment of surprise. He erupted with chakra and drove in, throwing a punch.
Lord Hanzo trusted his taijutsu too. He could defeat samurai of the Land of Iron without ninjutsu. Confident, he did not retreat.
He had trained his body most of his life. Could it truly be inferior to a man not yet thirty?
Bang!
A dull impact thundered.
The instant their fists met, Lord Hanzo was launched backward like a kite with its string snapped, slamming hard into the ground.
Mugetsu was not surprised at all.
Hanzo had overestimated himself.
Mugetsu had not only used Rock Breathing Full Concentration to enter the Transparent World, he also had the initiative. For Hanzo to meet that head on was reckless.
"Lord Hanzo," a Rain ninja cried out in disbelief.
To the Hidden Rain, Hanzo was absolute. They claimed Sosuke could rival him, but few truly believed it.
Now reality slapped them in the face. Their strongest had been knocked away.
The Rain ninja immediately attacked to prevent Mugetsu from pursuing.
Danzo's expression darkened.
From his perspective, Hanzo had prepared thoroughly, yet still could not gain advantage over Sosuke. Mugetsu's strength far exceeded what Danzo had estimated.
In theory, either outcome still benefited Danzo, because his true goal was weakening the Land of Rain.
But he preferred Hanzo to win. If Hanzo survived, Danzo could continue using him. And Mugetsu and Nagato held too much potential. They were a bigger long term threat to Konoha.
The Shinobi Sect side, however, was full of rising excitement. The stronger Mugetsu appeared, the more their chances grew.
Lord Hanzo did not even stand. He formed a hand seal with one hand and used a Water Release Body Flicker, creating distance instantly.
Mugetsu's taijutsu was far beyond what Hanzo imagined. Strong enough that Hanzo began doubting whether Mugetsu's face truly matched his age.
In the fight with Kakuzu, Mugetsu had displayed terrifying Fire Release. Now he had shown absurd defense against Exploding Flame Array. And his taijutsu had just crushed Hanzo.
Hanzo felt no one, no matter how gifted, should be able to reach this level across so many fields so young.
He decided immediately. He would not trade blows in taijutsu again. He would fight smarter.
After Mugetsu avoided the Rain ninja's attacks, he launched his next strike on Hanzo without hesitation.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Dance."
Mugetsu switched his Breathing Technique to Flame Breathing and pushed it to the limit, entering Flame Breathing Chakra Mode to amplify both Fire Release and his body.
Even in heavy rain, even against a Water Release master, Mugetsu chose Fire Release anyway.
The reason was simple.
His Fire Release was strong enough.
To this day, Fire Release remained Mugetsu's strongest offensive method.
With perfect level Fire Release chakra transformation and a vast library of mastered Fire Release techniques, Mugetsu surpassed every shinobi in the current era in Fire Release, except Uchiha Madara.
As for Madara, Mugetsu had not used Appraisal on his status panel, so he could not confirm whether Madara's Fire Release chakra transformation had reached perfect level.
Still, Mugetsu believed that with enough chakra, his Fire Release would be no weaker, and might even be stronger. He also had proficient Flame Breathing, letting him enter Flame Breathing Chakra Mode to further amplify his Fire Release.
Chakra gathered in Mugetsu's throat, converting instantly into Fire Release.
With only a brief feint of hand seals, he exhaled a scorching sea of flame.
The moment the flames appeared, the rain soaked ground around him hissed and steamed, turning from wet to dry.
A faint smile appeared on Lord Hanzo's face.
Mugetsu was stronger than expected in taijutsu, but using Fire Release against him in a downpour was courting death. The shinobi world recognized Hanzo as the strongest Water Release user alive.
Hanzo believed that only a revived Madara might be able to suppress his Water Release with Fire Release in this weather, and even then, it would only be a possibility.
"Water Release: Super Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
Hanzo formed hand seals with extreme seriousness, gathering massive chakra within his body. He spewed torrents of water from his mouth while also drawing on the surrounding water.
Under the pressure of his chakra, an enormous water dragon formed, thick and imposing. Even its horns rose as tall as Hanzo himself.
The dragon circled him, absorbing more water, growing denser and heavier by the second.
Hanzo's water dragon carried an overwhelming presence.
Mugetsu's sea of fire was no less terrifying.
Even shinobi standing farther away could feel the heat rolling over them. They had never seen Fire Release like this. The temperature alone was frightening.
"Lord Hanzo will definitely win," the Rain ninja muttered among themselves.
Even if Mugetsu's Fire Release looked abnormal, everyone knew the rule.
Water Release counters Fire Release. It was shinobi common sense. Stronger fire still could not defeat water.
"Ichigo," the Rain jonin beside Mugetsu's shadow clone said, unable to hold back, "if we win this, you will earn a lot of credit. This man actually dares to use Fire Release against Lord Hanzo."
Mugetsu's shadow clone only smiled, saying nothing.
Of course he had credit.
Just not for Hanzo.
He had already tampered with the initial explosive tag trap, shifting its placement so Mugetsu's group only suffered the edge of the blast.
Danzo smiled too.
Even Hiruzen, famous for Fire Release, would never challenge Hanzo with Fire Release under a downpour.
Danzo believed the scales of victory were tipping toward Hanzo.
"They have no idea how terrifying that Fire Release truly is," Kakuzu thought, lingering fear surfacing as he watched Fire Dragon Dance again.
It was the strongest Fire Release technique Kakuzu had ever witnessed. It had crushed his own combined Wind and Fire technique with ease.
Kakuzu had fought powerful enemies before, but a single ninjutsu that erased four of his lives in one strike was a first.
Of course, that was partly because he had not yet trained Earth Grudge Fear when he faced Hashirama long ago.
Any other shinobi using Fire Release against Hanzo in heavy rain would be insane.
But Kakuzu genuinely believed Mugetsu might be able to do it.
"Uncle Sosuke," Yahiko cheered silently while fending off incoming attacks. "Hold on."
Hanzo's image in Yahiko's heart had shattered completely. Now Yahiko's hope for the Land of Rain rested on Mugetsu and Nagato.
Mugetsu's advancing sea of fire split into six fire dragons, each twisting through the rain to block every path the water dragon could take.
They were smaller than Hanzo's water dragon, but together they were dazzling, especially beneath the gloomy sky.
Boom!
Water and fire collided.
The energy detonated, tearing the ground and scorching it black. Trees toppled from the shockwave, and the wind turned the falling rain chaotic, flinging droplets in every direction.
All eyes locked on the center of the clash. As leaders of their respective sides, their battle would decide the flow of everything.
Danzo's expression shifted.
This was not what he expected. Hanzo's Water Release should have extinguished Mugetsu's Fire Release overwhelmingly.
"How is this possible?" Danzo thought, doubt flooding him. "Is his Fire Release even stronger than Hiruzen's?"
Danzo did not respect Hiruzen's temperament as Hokage, but he acknowledged Hiruzen's strength.
"This is absurd," Kitsuchi thought, stunned.
If word of this battle spread, the shinobi world would gain an undisputed strongest Fire Release user.
To suppress the strongest Water Release user with Fire Release, in heavy rain, the value of that ability was immeasurable.
Kakuzu simply nodded. He was not surprised. This was the Fire Release that killed him four times in one strike. It should be this powerful.
Sizzle, sizzle.
The water dragon's thick body began turning into vapor, dissolving under the fire dragons' scorching heat.
The fire dragons were also worn down by the water, shrinking.
But they shrank far more slowly.
In this clash, fire began to overwhelm water.
Even as the fire dragon diminished in size, it became more dazzling in the eyes of everyone watching.
Lord Hanzo's expression shifted again, from calm to strained, then finally to shock.
He could no longer maintain composure.
The meaning behind this clash was too terrifying.
A shinobi at Hanzo's level understood chakra nature transformation intimately.
In heavy rain, for Fire Release to suppress Water Release, there was only one explanation.
The Fire Release user's level was far above the Water Release user's level.
Such things happened normally when a genius suppressed an ordinary shinobi.
But Hanzo was not ordinary. He was recognized as the strongest Water Release user alive.
He never imagined he would be suppressed by Fire Release.
"Is this some inheritance of sage arts?" Hanzo thought grimly. The strength was abnormal, almost inhuman.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave."
Rain ninja closer to Hanzo rushed to assist, using Water Release to interfere and block.
But Mugetsu's full power Fire Release was not something they could casually stop.
Under his control, the six fire dragons, having spent much of their strength, merged into a single larger fire dragon. It tore through the remaining resistance and surged straight toward Hanzo.
Hanzo's instinct for survival was legendary. That was why he trained Water Release Body Flicker to an absurd level. He had once dodged countless techniques with it.
Using the Rain ninja's interference as cover, Hanzo narrowly avoided the fire dragon without taking damage.
He licked dry lips, gaze now heavy and grave.
The scorched ground and the heat clinging to his skin made Mugetsu's Fire Release unmistakably clear.
In a one on one fight, even with his speed, Hanzo doubted he could dodge every strike in such conditions.
Mugetsu exhaled deeply and immediately exited Flame Breathing Chakra Mode.
Full power Fire Release was strong, but it devoured chakra.
Before becoming a chakra monster like Nagato, Mugetsu could only use that level of Fire Release as a finishing move, once or twice at most in a battle.
"If Sosuke survives today, the Land of Rain will change," Kitsuchi thought.
This trip had already been worthwhile. Intelligence on Mugetsu's ninjutsu alone was priceless.
If Mugetsu defeated Hanzo and took his place, then Mugetsu would become an opponent Iwagakure could not ignore.
"Summoning Technique."
Seeing that Mugetsu could suppress his Water Release with Fire Release, Hanzo decided to use his final trump card.
Poison.
His summoned beast could spew a deadly toxic mist. Even Tsunade would struggle to cure it.
White smoke burst outward.
A giant salamander appeared beneath Lord Hanzo's feet.
"All Rain shinobi," Hanzo ordered immediately after summoning, "attack the Shinobi Sect shinobi with full force. No matter the cost."
Mugetsu was frightening, but the others were not Mugetsu.
If a hundred elite Rain ninja charged regardless of casualties, the Shinobi Sect members would be injured. That might distract Mugetsu during their battle.
Hanzo had wanted to eliminate the Shinobi Sect at minimal cost.
But Mugetsu's strength was too great.
Now, Hanzo only wanted Mugetsu dead, even if many Rain ninja were killed or crippled.
The Rain ninja stopped throwing tools and casting from afar.
They charged straight toward Nagato's group.
"If you want to live, fight harder," Kakuzu said after a brief thought, understanding Hanzo's intent. "He is targeting our side as the breakthrough."
Hanzo's best weapon was Water Release, and even that could not overwhelm Mugetsu's Fire Release.
It would be difficult for Hanzo to defeat Mugetsu directly.
But Mugetsu was not alone.
If Mugetsu cared about his comrades, then they were the weakness Hanzo could exploit.
Kakuzu had watched Mugetsu long enough to know the truth.
Mugetsu cared deeply about the Shinobi Sect.
If something happened to this side, it would absolutely affect Mugetsu's battle.
Ikechou inhaled, then pulled out several kunai wrapped with explosive tags.
This was his first time in a battle of this scale. Before, he had only fought other rogue ninja at most.
Now his enemies were Lord Hanzo and hundreds of elite Rain ninja.
"I will not let his scheme succeed," Yahiko thought, fists tightening as he prepared to fight with everything he had.
He had admired Hanzo once.
Now he hated him just as fiercely.
Nagato gathered chakra quickly, eyes steady.
He had to protect Yahiko, protect Konan, protect everyone in the Shinobi Sect.
He would not let their side become the reason Mugetsu lost.
Konan drew out special paper shuriken made through Paper Ninjutsu.
Yahiko and Nagato formed hand seals.
"Watch the one with the Rinnegan closely," Danzo said quietly to the Root ninja beside him. "If necessary, move out and seize the Rinnegan immediately."
With a hundred elite Rain ninja charging together, the battlefield was becoming chaotic. Danzo feared the Rinnegan might be damaged in the chaos.
Whether it could be transplanted or not, securing it first was always the correct choice.
"Should we help Lord Hanzo?" an Iwagakure jonin beside Kitsuchi asked.
Kitsuchi shook his head after thinking it over.
"Let us wait and see."
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