Chapter 297: Scorch Release – Crimson Heat Mode
"Too late!"
Hyūga Tongguang's expression changed. He quickly signaled Aburame Shiguro and the others to go all out.
They understood immediately. Or rather, the moment their comrade was killed, they knew—there was no other option but to risk everything.
Otherwise, there was no way they'd hold out until reinforcements arrived.
"Ninja Art – Insect Corpse Transformation!"
In a flash, Shiguro formed hand seals. The gourd on his back cracked open with a creak, and black insects began pouring out. In no time, the entire gourd was devoured, and the insects turned a dark green, clearly laced with deadly poison.
"Go!"
Shiguro slammed both hands onto the ground. The sea of dark green insects dispersed—some burrowed underground, others spread rapidly into the surrounding air.
At the same time, Hyūga Tongguang and the others swallowed black pills.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
All of them, including the Konoha shinobi who were previously fighting the Suna-nin, disengaged and rushed toward Pakura .
Only Nara Shimada stayed behind to support with Shadow Imitation Technique, while Shiguro held back to control his insects. Everyone else charged straight ahead.
Pakura noticed the pale green mist rapidly spreading in the air. Her brows furrowed, and she leapt backward.
"Don't let it touch you!"
Her instincts screamed at her. The mist was extremely dangerous.
"You're not getting away!"
Hyūga Tongguang roared as he charged in, palm extended.
The others encircled Pakura , ignoring the kunai and shuriken Suna-nin hurled at their backs.
"Fools! Who said I was running?!"
Landing, Pakura formed her High-Temperature Compressed Heat Blades, twirling gracefully. Her blades extended mid-spin.
Three Konoha shinobi were sliced in half instantly. Six more were hit by Suna projectiles, leaving only seven to press the attack.
Among the seven, six had already drawn their kunai and daggers.
"Idiots."
Pakura sneered. They thought their sacrifice would buy enough time to stop her from forming hand seals?
"Scorch Release – Thermal Pressure!"
Without forming a single seal, she activated her hidden ace.
A dome of soft crimson heat expanded from her body, enveloping a five-meter radius—instantly trapping Hyūga Tongguang and the others.
In a split second, temperatures reached over 800°C. Their uniforms ignited, and their eyes were scorched, blinding them.
"Ahhh…"
"Ugh…"
No one could suppress the screams of pain. But to Pakura 's surprise—none of them backed off.
Her Thermal Pressure wasn't a proper barrier technique. It was a seal-less technique she had developed, based on her brother-in-law's sword aura barrier. It radiated extreme heat outward, centered on herself.
The temperature wasn't enough to kill instantly—only 800 to 900 degrees.
Those inside would survive if they exited quickly. But blindness ensured most wouldn't live long.
Were they charging in anyway because they knew they'd die regardless?
She wondered briefly, but didn't stop. Her Heat Blade slashed toward Hyūga Tongguang's outstretched palm.
Without sight, and slowed by pain, Tongguang and the others froze just long enough for Pakura to strike.
But the moment her blade cut halfway through Tongguang's palm—
She was frozen in place.
Shadow Imitation Technique.
Pakura was stunned, but not panicked.
"…So that's it!"
She spotted a thin shadow linking her to Tongguang—and behind them, Nara Shimada's shadow stretching out, connecting to his comrades.
The moment their shadows overlapped—she was caught.
"I didn't know the Shadow Imitation Technique could be used like this!"
She was amazed. Konoha's ninja were truly the most troublesome.
In her battles with Kirigakure, she'd never seen such strange but effective tactics. Maybe clever formations, but not this kind of innovative ninjutsu use.
Only Konoha's shinobi pulled out seemingly weak but devastating techniques that were impossible to defend against.
"Shadow Imitation... successful!"
Behind her, Shimada gritted his teeth. His veins bulged from the chakra output as he locked Pakura in place.
No one needed to be told what to do.
Seeing the Heat Blade pause, Hyūga Tongguang bellowed, "Kill her!"
The six remaining Konoha ninja, ignoring the searing pain, lunged forward—trying to pin Pakura down.
Meanwhile, from the ground below, the pale green insect mist surged upward.
Most of the bugs were instantly incinerated, but the swarm was dense enough that those inside survived momentarily and latched onto Pakura 's legs.
Luckily, she wore reinforced heat-resistant shin guards.
But they wouldn't last long.
In just one-third of a second, the bugs would chew through the fabric and start biting.
With Shimada's shadow binding her, and six attackers closing in—if they grabbed her, it was over.
Pakura 's Suna allies? Two were already badly injured. The other eight dared not enter her 15-meter radius, wary of her Scorch Release. They were too far to help now.
"Die!"
Shiguro's eyes burned with hatred. So many comrades had fallen—he wanted to kill Pakura himself.
If his bugs could bite her even once, she'd be doomed.
But just as the swarm sank their fangs—
Pakura 's body turned red.
An overwhelming wave of heat radiated outward.
"Scorch Release – Crimson Heat Mode!"
Pakura 's soft lips parted. She had finally activated the trump card she'd spent a year developing.
A taijutsu-based Scorch Release technique—similar to the Third Raikage's Lightning Chakra Mode—was created by Pakura after learning of Li Yao's Wind Armor.
Her own, original combat mode.
(END CHAPTER)
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