Chapter 199: No Need to Stop the Moon's Eye Plan's Advancement
Ash and water mist intertwined, constructing an exceptionally turbid color.
The Telescope Technique became completely ineffective at this moment. Though it could still locate Hyuga Ritsu's chakra fluctuations, the image couldn't be displayed at all. All one could see was this endless murky hue.
Hyuga Ritsu faintly sensed that voyeuristic feeling as well.
Then—
He shifted his attention slightly and immediately saw the scene of Minato holding the crystal ball with Uchiha Fugaku and Kakashi gathered beside him.
He also took a moment to check on Hiruko-sensei. His condition looked fairly good. He was lying together with Uchiha Shisui, currently receiving treatment from Sand ninja Yashamaru.
"Telescope Technique?"
Hyuga Ritsu withdrew his attention, casting this matter aside. He concentrated on replica Uchiha Madara, who was moving rapidly through the mist, attempting to circle around and ambush him from behind.
This was the flaw of lacking self-awareness, possessing only instinct.
Instinct couldn't allow the replica to accurately judge what characteristics the enemy before him possessed, what fighting style would prove more efficient. Battle instinct could only let him make a rough judgment, then adopt common tactics for probing attacks. Only after encountering setbacks would he make changes based on the situation.
Put more simply, the replica driven by instinct mostly reacted passively based on what had already occurred.
This was why replica Uchiha Madara tried to use the mist's cover to circle around and ambush Hyuga Ritsu from behind—completely treating the Hyuga clan's Byakugan as blind eyes.
If the real Uchiha Madara saw this scene, he'd definitely seize his replica and viciously slap him several times across the face for doing something so foolish while wearing the same face.
Hyuga Ritsu pondered for an instant.
He didn't use Wind Release Chakra Mode.
Though this technique could significantly increase his speed and enhance his defensive capability to a certain degree, it truly possessed this weakness of being vulnerable to fire.
It also had the drawback of being very loud.
So—
Hyuga Ritsu silently turned his body, facing replica Uchiha Madara, who was approaching cautiously. He mobilized the refined chakra within his body, preparing to strike—
Replica Uchiha Madara's Sharingan differed from the Byakugan. It couldn't completely see through this mist obscuring vision.
But this thin mist, consumed by Ash Pile Burning, also couldn't completely block the Sharingan's vision. He could roughly see Hyuga Ritsu's magnificent, vigorous chakra fluctuations. However, for him, confirming the position was sufficient.
The effective attack distance of ordinary techniques was roughly in the range of seven to twelve meters. Depending on the caster and the technique, the specific attack distance fluctuated up and down within this range.
But common ninja sense couldn't be applied to replica Uchiha Madara. For a replica capable of deploying techniques with the same power as Uchiha Madara, his technique attack range was exceptionally far!
Twenty-six meters away.
Replica Uchiha Madara suddenly stopped, formed hand seals, and began mobilizing the chakra within his body to release a technique.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation.
Still his most skilled Fire Release technique.
Though his Wood Release was also formidable, Wood Release's direct killing power wasn't as fierce as Fire Release. Especially since Hyuga Ritsu had displayed Wood Release no weaker than his own in the previous battle.
Instinctive judgment made him abandon the idea of using Wood Release, instead using his most skilled Fire Release to attack.
However—
Hyuga Ritsu saw every move of replica Uchiha Madara. The Byakugan could even see through the chakra flow within the replica's body, using this to predict what technique replica Uchiha Madara planned to use.
Fire Release?
This thought flashed through Hyuga Ritsu's mind.
At the same time—
Before replica Uchiha Madara could act, he struck first.
Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation.
Refined chakra gushed forth from all over his body. The azure chakra materialized, forming a hemisphere and rapidly expanding barrier. The rock beneath his feet was ground away layer after layer. The mist permeating the surroundings was also pushed outward in all directions.
The flames replica Uchiha Madara exhaled hadn't had time to expand into a sea of fire before colliding with this rapidly expanding chakra barrier.
The scorching flames were torn apart and shattered by this absolute defense technique passed down through generations of the Hyuga clan. The ultra-high-speed rotating barrier displaced the spreading sea of fire to the barren area on the right.
Though called a defensive technique, depending on different users and situations, it could equally be used for attack.
At this moment, Hyuga Ritsu used this technique to launch a defensive counterattack toward replica Uchiha Madara. After defeating Great Fire Annihilation, it continued expanding outward.
Rotation's expansion was too fast.
So fast that replica Uchiha Madara instantly made the judgment—Body Flicker Technique's movement range couldn't dodge it. He could only endure head-on.
Earth Release: Earth Spear.
In haste—
Without time or space for him to deploy other defensive techniques, he could only once again employ this advanced earth hardening technique, dyeing his entire body pitch-black like iron, curling his body as much as possible, crossing his arms in front of him.
Bang!
A dull impact sound echoed through the mountain ridges.
Replica Uchiha Madara's arms braced before him shattered instantly from this massive impact force. Even his entire body was penetrated by the powerful impact force at various points.
The tremendous centrifugal force brought by Rotation simultaneously pulled replica Uchiha Madara's body, flinging him toward his right front—directly into that burning sea of fire.
Immediately after—
The howling sound of violent wind once again resounded through the mountain ridges. Ending Rotation, Hyuga Ritsu immediately activated Wind Release Chakra Mode, rushing at maximum speed toward replica Uchiha Madara, who'd fallen into the sea of fire.
If an ordinary person took a full-force Rotation attack from him, they'd naturally die without question.
But—
Replica Uchiha Madara wasn't a normal living person.
Arms shattered, impact force penetrating his entire body, body falling into fire and being burned... these attacks that could kill a human several times over hadn't managed to eliminate him.
Aside from the sea of fire's burning, which might completely incinerate and destroy replica Uchiha Madara, the other damage meant absolutely nothing to a replica that didn't even possess internal organs.
But this sea of fire that replica Uchiha Madara exhaled was rootless fire to begin with, existing entirely through Uchiha Madara's chakra support. It had already been severely damaged by Hyuga Ritsu's Rotation, significantly shortening its duration.
This rapidly dissipating sea of fire wasn't sufficient to burn and destroy the caster, replica Uchiha Madara.
So—
He still needed to press the advantage, beat the drowning dog.
Seize this hard-won opportunity to finish off replica Uchiha Madara in one breath.
The sea of fire dissipated.
Wind-wreathed Hyuga Ritsu also rushed to replica Uchiha Madara's side.
Replica Uchiha Madara's appearance at this moment was quite wretched. His broken, twisted arms hadn't completed regeneration yet. Multiple areas all over his body bore scorched black marks from flame burns.
Gentle Fist Style: Whirlwind Iron-Cutting Fist.
Hyuga Ritsu didn't hold back even slightly.
Replica Uchiha Madara was effortlessly cut into pieces by the wind blades coiled around Hyuga Ritsu's palms. This wasn't because replica Uchiha Madara's strength was too weak, but because Hyuga Ritsu was sufficiently powerful and deeply understood the principle of pressing advantages without mercy, not giving replica Uchiha Madara any chance to catch his breath.
Even though Uchiha Tatsuhata was supplying chakra regardless of cost, replica regeneration and recovery still required time. It couldn't instantly restore to original condition.
Finally—
After cutting replica Uchiha Madara into extremely fine fragments—
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
Hyuga Ritsu launched this fatal finishing blow at the fragmented replica Uchiha Madara, bringing Wind Release's cutting power to its extreme. The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, capable of cutting at the cellular level, pulverized all fragments of replica Uchiha Madara.
Only a large crater blasted out by Wind Release: Rasenshuriken remained in place.
Hyuga Ritsu stood at the crater's edge.
His Byakugan searched the ground beneath his feet over and over.
Five or six seconds later—
Minato appeared beside Hyuga Ritsu, speaking up to ask, "Hyuga Clan Head, is it resolved?"
The Telescope Technique had been obscured by ash and mist. When the dust and mist were dispersed and the image in the crystal ball became clear again, what he saw was the scene of Hyuga Ritsu using Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to strike replica Uchiha Madara.
Hyuga Ritsu dispersed the violent wind coiled around his body and answered, "It should be resolved. I didn't see any residue escape the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken's attack."
Hearing this answer—
Minato's face immediately showed joy.
He maintained deep trust in the Byakugan's insight. Especially since Hyuga Ritsu's Byakugan was indisputably the strongest in the Hyuga clan. Since even Hyuga Ritsu couldn't see any residue escaping, that suspected Uchiha Madara replica should have been completely eliminated.
"Finally resolved."
Minato released a long breath, a smile on his face. "Ritsu-kun, I didn't expect you to learn Wind Release: Rasenshuriken after seeing me use it just once. Your talent and aptitude in Wind Release is frighteningly strong!"
"By the way, is your arm truly all right? Don't push yourself."
He looked at Hyuga Ritsu's right arm with some concern.
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama. This minor issue has zero impact on me." Hyuga Ritsu answered with a smile, and even moved his right arm. Everything was normal.
This was only natural.
Setting aside the Level 4 Physical Regeneration superpower, just after successively seizing the bloodlines of the Kaguya clan, Senju clan, and Otsutsuki clan using the Chimera Technique, his physique already possessed extremely astonishing recovery and endurance abilities.
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken's side effects essentially didn't exist for him.
They presented absolutely no hindrance at all.
"That's good."
Minato didn't inquire further about how Hyuga Ritsu could ignore Wind Release: Rasenshuriken's side effects. The pair of horns that had grown on Hyuga Ritsu's head should be the answer.
Hyuga Ritsu shifted his attention from the deep crater at his feet, then concentrated on the mountain peak roughly six kilometers away, shrouded by a barrier.
He spoke up to ask, "Hokage-sama, how is your recovery?"
Minato immediately understood.
Indeed, today's operation hadn't ended yet. Resolving these various chaotic enemies was only a beginning. They still hadn't even seen Missing-nin Anonymous's face yet.
Only by resolving Missing-nin Anonymous could the problem truly be considered solved.
"More or less recovered some strength."
Minato took a deep breath. Looking at Hyuga Ritsu, he said seriously, "However, Hiruko-senpai and Shisui are both still unconscious. I plan to have Uchiha Clan Head and Kakashi guard them. The next operation will have to rely on just the two of us."
"So, Hyuga Clan Head, I'll need you to work hard!"
After speaking, Minato unhesitatingly fed another soldier pill into his mouth, continuing to overdraw and squeeze his body.
"This arrangement is perfect."
Hyuga Ritsu had no objections to Minato's arrangement. He spoke up, "Hiruko-sensei and Shisui do indeed need someone watching over them. Those Sand ninja aren't trustworthy..."
His words weren't finished.
Another change occurred.
In the distance, the mountain peak collapsed. A beast as towering as a mountain appeared. Its form resembled a tanuki, its entire body sand-yellow, covered all over with purple curse seal patterns. Behind it was a tail covered with dense patterns and exceptionally thick!
"GYAAA—!"
The giant beast released an earth-shattering roar.
The clouds in the sky were dispersed by this sound wave. Hyuga Ritsu felt his eardrums vibrating.
"The One-Tail?"
Minato was shocked.
Though he lacked the Byakugan, this giant beast was so massive that he also saw and recognized the beast's true identity at a glance.
One-Tail Shukaku.
One of the nine great Tailed Beasts controlled by Sunagakure. The only Tailed Beast not captured and distributed by the First Hokage. A Tailed Beast controlled by the Sand ninja active in the Land of Wind for hundreds of years.
"Has the One-Tail lost control and gone berserk?"
Minato asked instinctively.
Tailed Beasts' difficulty to control was well known. Moreover, his wife was the current Nine-Tails jinchuriki. He'd personally experienced the Nine-Tails losing control and going berserk years ago.
"It's not losing control and going berserk. Missing-nin Anonymous released the One-Tail to cover their retreat." Hyuga Ritsu said in a deep voice.
"Cover their retreat?"
Minato immediately furrowed his brow tightly. "Hyuga Clan Head, are you saying Missing-nin Anonymous escaped?"
"That's right. The barrier on that mountain peak six kilometers away has already been destroyed, but my eyes haven't seen any trace of anyone. More precisely, aside from the One-Tail, I can't see any chakra fluctuations."
"...So decisively."
Minato clenched his fist, then released it powerlessly.
He looked at Hyuga Ritsu somewhat unwillingly, asking, "Hyuga Clan Head, you truly can't see any trace of Missing-nin Anonymous's escape?"
"I cannot."
Hyuga Ritsu spoke truthfully.
He actually wasn't particularly disappointed by this result. As his own strength continuously grew stronger, his thinking was changing accordingly. If in the past he'd only thought about survival, the current him already had the qualifications to contemplate the future.
And as a descendant of Otsutsuki Kaguya—
Hyuga Ritsu felt his future couldn't avoid Otsutsuki Kaguya, this ancestor sealed in the moon. However, he hadn't yet thought through clearly what exactly he should do in the future.
But—
He faintly felt he had no need to stop the Moon's Eye Plan's advancement.
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