Hayashi faced Yagura's calm and eerily confident stance. In Yagura's hands was a dark staff, slender at one end and thick at the other, with hooked ends and a flower‑like decoration on one tip. Anyone who wielded a staff as a primary weapon had to be extremely skilled in close combat. The Third Hokage had proven that, as had other masters of taijutsu, and now Hayashi could roughly conclude that Yagura was likewise highly proficient in physical combat.
Hayashi was not at full strength, so he chose a defensive technique to lessen the impact of Yagura's assault.
"Earth Release Hardening Technique," Hayashi murmured, causing a golden earthy aura to cover his body as the earth nature infused his skin just before the Coral Staff struck with crushing force.
Yagura's opening blow aimed straight at Hayashi's chest, blood instantly seeping from the impact point. Hayashi brought up a kunai crackling with lightning release to block, but the staff's material did not conduct electricity, so the lightning did nothing. Worse still, he misjudged the force behind the strike, and while blocking, the staff's momentum pinned his arm against his torso. The staff only stopped inches from penetrating further.
Yagura pivoted, gripping the other end of his staff, whipping it toward Hayashi's head with brutal precision. Even with the Earth Release hardening his body, taking that blow would be catastrophic. Hayashi stepped back just in time, avoiding the strike by a hair, and formed seals with his free hand.
"Fire Release Great Fireball Technique," he called out, sending a massive fireball toward Yagura's face.
Yagura had never seen such extravagant hand seal motions, yet he was clearly at a level far beyond an ordinary ninja. With a smooth motion he spun his staff with flat palms, creating a near‑impenetrable block that absorbed the fireball.
Fast moves and tremendous strength, powerful offense aimed precisely, and surprisingly adept staff handling. In the blink of an eye, Hayashi had assessed Yagura's fighting style.
Before Hayashi could recover from the clash, Yagura flicked his staff and swung again. A massive shockwave burst between them, forcing both fighters to skid across the ground. Hayashi left deep grooves in the earth, and Yagura slid back several meters, his face unreadable.
Yagura planted his staff upright, forming hand seals with swift precision. Water arrows shot through the air.
Not to be outdone Hayashi responded with Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, launching multiple bowl‑sized fireballs. The fireballs collided with the water arrows, producing a massive cloud of scalding steam that filled the battlefield.
Through the steam, Yagura kicked his hooked staff into a spinning motion, drawing it horizontally to create a shimmering water mirror. From that mirror stepped another Hayashi.
"Water Mirror Technique," Yagura declared.
The clone that emerged from the swirling mist required no hesitation from Hayashi. He hurled multiple kunai at awkward angles, but the mirror clone mimicked his throws perfectly, deflecting each one with effortless precision.
Hayashi closed in and unleashed a punch powered by powerful chakra augmentation. The clone responded instantly with a strike of equal force. The earth beneath them collapsed in concentric craters under the strain of their power.
They exchanged a flurry of rapid blows before Hayashi executed two backflips to create distance. He realized this was no simple illusion. The mirror clone copied not just his appearance but parts of his style and physical strength. Yet it could not replicate forbidden techniques or the Sharingan's power.
Before he could rest, the clone leapt forward with chakra surging from its feet. Hayashi blocked a kunai with his right hand glowing lightning, but the clone's sweep caught his left arm, launching him through the air.
"Water Release Vortex Water Blade," Yagura announced.
A spinning sphere of water formed on the tip of the staff. It split into three massive disc‑like water blades that shot toward Hayashi mid‑air like large throwing weapons.
Boom.
The three blades converged into one giant torrent centered where Hayashi had been flying. The water blast exploded outward, shattering the earth within a ten‑meter radius.
Yagura slammed his staff into the ground. "Is it over?" he asked blankly.
Just then Hayashi stepped out of the maelstrom of water and mist, soaked but still standing. He spoke quietly to himself.
"I cannot afford to drag this out."
Himeji was still waiting in the valley. He needed to end this quickly. Given his weakened state, he had no choice but to open the Eight Gates. Yagura was not Suikazan Fuguki, whom the Fifth Gate had been enough to handle. Yagura's strength required more.
Hayashi clenched his teeth and summoned chakra to his core.
"This next move will be my final strike," he whispered.
"Eight Gates Sixth Gate Gate of View Open," he said, green steam erupting from his body, chakra flaring with intense heat and energy.
His veins bulged as he prepared for the surge of speed, strength and pain that came with opening the Sixth Gate.
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