Chapter 29: Hinata’s True Surface Strength — Roar of the Thunder-Flame Dragon!
Right now, Hinata looked like a living torch set ablaze.
Her entire body was wrapped in scorching flames. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfuqoF4LHI
And within those flames, streaks of lightning kept flashing and crackling. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPddoqYZO2F
Yet strangely enough… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSLxRUyUk9
this terrifying combination of fire and thunder didn’t harm her in the slightest.
Not only that—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcnWR4gYzK
even her clothes and hair remained completely untouched.
“Wh-what is this?!”
Everyone who witnessed the scene felt a jolt of astonishment.
Those who understood recognized it as some kind of special ninjutsu. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzcGsjavRQ
Those who didn’t… would definitely think she had been hit by a powerful Fire Release technique.
“Hinata…”
Might Guy started to say something, but Kakashi quickly held up a hand to stop him.
Guy turned his head in confusion. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxfC52xVYh
Kakashi simply shook his head.
“Let’s see how strong she really is first.”
This time, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9feHuxGhc7
neither Kakashi nor Guy had gone all out yet.
After all… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aLV2ud8hp
if the two of them unleashed their full power, the aftereffects would be too severe. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡING7yqR7Tw
Kakashi would run out of chakra, and Guy would enter a short period of extreme physical exhaustion after opening the Gates.
If they went all-in right now, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTpuO5ZPuX
sure, they might take down the enemy—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIBY0MYOu2
but they’d also put themselves in danger.
With powerful foes still lurking everywhere, too many enemies, and too little information… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VcIwdjOW5
rushing to use their full strength right from the start would be incredibly foolish.
Besides, the battle hadn’t been going on for very long yet.
That’s why 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPZsZGoYnp
they had sent the genin away and left only a group of jōnin to surround and suppress Gaara.
“Fair enough.”
Guy nodded, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnCFNnRBpW
already prepared to open the Eight Gates at any moment.
“Kakashi, Guy!”
At that moment, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3tTZjC3cF
the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, came charging over again, clutching the Adamantine Nyoi staff tightly.
“Let’s drive this tailed beast out together!”
“Hokage-sama, hold on a second.”
Kakashi glanced at Hiruzen.
The corners of the Hokage’s mouth were bleeding, his clothes in disarray. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Gesj9yFt
Those aged eyes were bloodshot all over.
Seeing this, Kakashi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
“The Third… really is getting old…”
Unlike the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, who relied on Kekkei Tōta, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImrsN9ggIy
Hiruzen was a knowledge-type shinobi. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3h972PgAX
His strength came from combining various nature transformations, powerful summoning contracts, and his sharp intellect and tactical mind.
Once age caught up, his chakra reserves, reaction speed, and strategic thinking all declined sharply. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNTKK3ai7t
His overall power had dropped significantly.
“Hinata’s strength is impressive. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyeoICCsqe
Let’s watch for now.”
As Kakashi spoke, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHZekwOapq
Hinata had already begun her attack.
Her speed now was clearly faster than when she was in “Lightning Discharge Mode”!
With a single flicker, she appeared right in front of Gaara. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb09d020Sx0
Then she leaped high into the air.
In an instant, all the flames and lightning around her converged into her palm.
She slammed that palm straight into Gaara’s abdomen!
Poof!!
A white shockwave exploded outward from her palm like ripples on water.
BOOM!!
Under that tremendous force, Gaara’s massive body was sent flying backward. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf8nffPg5H
He crashed heavily into the ground.
At the same time, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9egm92SE6E
Hinata was also pushed back by the recoil and sent flying in the opposite direction.
“What incredible power!” 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDxrPzUMrS
Hiruzen exclaimed.
“But… it feels like she doesn’t have much follow-up…”
Before he could finish his evaluation—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbG0ONCEnW
Gaara’s entire body suddenly erupted in flames!
“Hmph~”
Gaara snorted coldly. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2kT4DRB3V
With a violent shake of his body, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BxeO1rPQ1
he scattered the flames.
“Aaahhh!!”
But the moment the fire was extinguished, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUyvO4WgDS
electricity surged over him again.
Powerful currents coursed through his body, making him scream in agony.
“Not bad… but still not enough…”
Hiruzen raised the Adamantine Nyoi staff, ready to rush in and assist.
But right then—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXlMXoIYKR
Hinata snapped her fingers.
The instant she did, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY97dVCpKh
the sound of thunder rumbled through the sky.
A moment later—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU601iEMsV
a bolt of lightning streaked down at blinding speed 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2WNWHrSsJ
and struck Gaara with brutal force!
His body jerked violently. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DF1y5muFS
Then he began trembling uncontrollably in the midst of the crackling electricity.
Clearly… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqduT2P4qW
he had been completely paralyzed.
And at that moment, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfZ5zYc1tf
Hinata finally landed gracefully.
But she didn’t press the attack immediately.
Instead, she began forming hand seals at high speed.
After completing the seals—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCt2FQlmzW
she took a deep breath, gathering power, condensing chakra furiously.
After a full three seconds of charging—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiD1e4n1q5
she opened her mouth wide 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRUuJo9bG7
and unleashed a terrifying pillar of flame straight at Gaara!
“Blaze Release: Roar of the Thunder-Flame Dragon!!”
The massive fire pillar shot out for two thousand meters, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLTSwZm5br
wrapped in countless arcs of lightning.
The column wasn’t just long—— 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFohCBrLkf
it was thick.
In an instant, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauYEGM7M5G
it completely engulfed the fully transformed One-Tail Gaara!
“Aaaaahhh!!”
Gaara let out an involuntary scream of pain. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB3km1onSP
Then, within that horrifying attack… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymfpP2CcBt
he fell completely silent.
……
“This…”
Every shinobi in the area was stunned by the sheer terror of the technique.
“Is… is this really something a genin can use?!”
……
Outside the competition grounds.
A small white snake paused as it sensed the terrifying aura in the distance. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp9zwmZ7zh
It turned its head to glance behind it… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScB105zTZ9
then fled toward the outskirts of Konoha at an even faster speed.
……
“So… this is Hinata’s true strength…?”
Hiashi stared at the distant pillar of terrifying flames, his Byakugan nearly popping out of his head.
“Too powerful… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqetF6f2qd
She’s probably the most talented shinobi our clan has ever produced, isn’t she? 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iD7Y3FTYc
Could it be… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThN0LyqY4Q
the only reason she couldn’t beat Hanabi was because she was holding back…?”
……
“This kind of attack… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcNNgEACXB
the fusion of lightning and fire. 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmsZ6m3ZiG
A brand-new kekkei genkai…?
Incredible…”
Hiruzen suddenly revealed a relieved, proud smile.
“I never imagined Hinata would reach a level that surpasses most elite jōnin… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47HieYaTuk
Truly impressive… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa8WkZhn7i
But… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIId89n4gkl
how did she become this strong? 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4GLLdeXbR
Could it be… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRBdGTYH2g
all thanks to Byakuya? 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW5bg3HG6U
No way… right?”
……
“This has to be one of Byakuya’s techniques!”
Unlike Hiruzen, 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ957M3aCCkK
Kakashi was absolutely certain.
“That kid’s talent for creating ninjutsu is just insane!”
……
“N-no way… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDb6FxmZeo
A technique this terrifying…”
Kankurō, who had already taken out several Anbu with his deadly poisons, suddenly showed a look of fear.
“Gaara… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZhNxAT9z7
Gaara isn’t going to die, is he…? 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5kVWXe8Si
Konoha is way too scary…”
……
The terrifying fire pillar raged on for a full five seconds before finally dying out.
When the flames finally cleared… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fN1EV66gQ
the enormous form of the One-Tail Gaara had completely vanished.
In its place… 5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU84Q8egqD
lay Gaara in his normal human state!
“Counterattack begins now!”
Hiruzen returned Enma to his original monkey form, then swept his arm forward with a commanding shout.
The forces of Konoha launched their counteroffensive against the invaders!
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