'Dust Release: Detachment of The Primitive World'
The Tsuchikage formed a cylinder of light between his hands and, in an instant, a massive beam of white light rained down on the Uzumaki Elders still on the earthen wall.
'Adamantine Sealing Chains: Barrier'
A simple, unpretentious name for a simple, unpretentious jutsu.
Golden chains weaved together manifesting an ephemeral shield of energy.
The light of Dust Release crashed upon the thin, barely noticeable barrier and the world went white.
All battles stopped for an instant as the entire battlefield went blind for a few seconds.
Onoki could only stare in utter disbelief.
Shinobi had survived his Dust Release, dodging through pure speed or using clever tactics so as to not get hit.
However, since the time of his master, the creator of Dust Release, one thing remained an immutable truth in the Third Tsuchikage's heart . . .
Nothing can withstand a direct hit of Detachment of The Primitive World.
Sure, something like a Tailed Beast might put up such dense chakra between it and the jutsu, burning through its energy before it actually impacts their bodies.
In the end though, that is not withstanding it in the truest sense but merely giving it chakra and material to destroy until the Dust Release user cannot keep up the jutsu.
This time though, nothing of the sort happened.
A thin, oh so transient looking barrier had completely blocked his "unblockable" Detachment of The Primitive World jutsu without suffering a single sign of damage.
Onoki, stubborn as a rock, simply could not accept it.
'Dust Release: Detachment of The Primitive World'
There was not a shred of hesitation as he unleashed his signature jutsu, twice as much chakra loaded into it.
It was not a beam anymore, a pillar of light descended from the sky to annihilate the earth.
And yet . . .
The world went white with blinding light once again and, just as before, when visibility returned, a perfectly unharmed barrier was all that was seen.
Not only had the Fifth Elder blocked Onoki's Detachment of The Primitive World, he had expanded his barrier to prevent even the large surrounding area from suffering any damage.
The Uzumaki did not even look winded, just calmly looking at the Tsuchikage, waiting to block any other oncoming attack.
To Onoki however, the calm gaze felt as if looking at a fool, mocking him for being unaware of his own capabilities.
A brief stalemate was created.
It however, did not last.
With tacit understanding, the Second and Third Elders launched themselves at the Iwa forces that stopped their charge.
The Tsuchikage turned to stop them but the Adamantine Sealing Chain rushed from below, forcing him to climb further into the sky to dodge.
With rapid mid air maneuvers, Onoki took full advantage of his small stature to skillfully weave through the Six Elder's attacks.
But the goal of the attack, stopping him from linking back with his own forces, or at least delaying him, had been achieved.
Kumo's forces, under Dodai's command, had moved to chase after the retreating Uzumaki regular forces under the Fourth Elder's command.
The Third Raikage was locked in a duel with the First Elder.
Iwa's forces with Han, the Five Tailed Jinchuriki, as their strongest combatant were about to engage the Second and Third Elders.
Onoki was being delayed by the Sixth Elder.
But what about Kiri?
After the initial strike and long range ninjutsu support, they seemed to have gone silent.
The reason for that was exceedingly simple.
They had their own problems to deal with, problems that they were struggling to face on their own.
*
Things were going swimmingly for the Third Mizukage in this second clash with Uzushio's forces.
Well, the first clash had been Shiki alone messing with them but calling it a clash with the Uzumaki made the Kages and their subordinates feel slightly less bad about it.
In the second battle though, they not only opened the battle with an effective first strike, they would also be the last of the three villages to charge in.
Sure, this might result in lower spoils but their combat strength would be preserved.
If Uzushio managed to whittle down Iwa and Kumo's forces sufficiently, the shares of the loot could always be "renegotiated" at the end of the battle.
When the thorn on his side, Hozuki Shingetsu targeted the insufferable brat from before, likely in a vain attempt to prove his superiority, the Mizukage could only be pleased.
After all, that troublesome brat might not be that individually strong but he gave off the feeling of being nearly impossible to kill.
Being humiliated by that brat would take the arrogant fool down a notch and help the stability of the Mizukage's rule.
If Shingetsu was actually killed, even better!
Alas!
Hopes and dreams are beautiful but reality just loves to disappoint.
It all started with the water beneath their feet starting to get a bit rowdier.
Kiri's forces, now jonin all ever since the injured had been sent back, were unworried, their balance not even being disturbed by the turbulence which they took to be normal.
But normal, it was not.
The small whirlpools around the Islands of the Land of Uzu suddenly began to expand with the thundering sound of large masses of water collapsing on itself.
This time, Kiri's shinobi could no longer be casual.
Rapid currents swept even Jonin off their feet and threatened to drag them into the lightless depths of the sea.
'Is this the brat again!?' Was the Mizikage's first instinct.
One shared by many of his subordinates.
Immediately after though, he realized it wasn't.
'No it is not him. This trap is nowhere near as filthy as the previous one. There is no way that that insidious brat would employ such a clean and straightforward trap.' The Mizukage immediately concluded.
Shiki's less than honorable reputation, it seemed, was already starting to spread.
For many in the World however, being dishonorable was the true honor in shinobi combat.
"Jump into one of the whirlpools and unleash the Three Tails once you go under." The Mizukage callously ordered the Jinchuriki to his death.
"Now!? This is too early!" Hozuki Shingetsu interjected from the side.
The Kiri shinobi were not surprised but were irritated.
The bickering and contradicting of orders was fine in normal times but when every second counted, the one harming them by wasting time became the target of their ire.
Shingetsu immediately noticed his mistake and wanted to walk back but the Mizukage did not give him the opportunity.
"An enemy is controlling the water through a fuinjutsu array, likely an Uzumaki Elder or a group of Elites. They just need to mount an attack while not letting us control the water and were done.
The Three Tails will destroy or at least disrupt the fuinjutsu formation allowing us to fight back against whoever comes. Understand?"
The tone, the voice, the expression . . .
Everything about the Mizukage screamed disdain and mockery, as if he was explaining the obvious to an ignorant child.
It infuriated his supposed political rival to no end but now was not the time to blow.
The order was executed but Kiri did not know, they were sending the Three Tails right towards the man responsible for suppressing it in case it was unleashed . . .
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -