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Chapter 53: The Bloodline Limit: Steel Release
Chapter 53: The Bloodline Limit: Steel Release
"Begin the match!"
After making the announcement, Yura stepped back from the arena, unlike before when he stood at the edge.
This was a decision made by the three Kage.
No interference in the final match.
In other words, the examiners were stripped of their authority to intervene.
Fate would decide the outcome.
This proposal was put forth by Onoki.
Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally disagreed, but after persuasion from Shikamaru and Homura, he finally relented.
Of course, Onoki had to offer some incentives, otherwise, the two elders wouldn’t have agreed so easily.
As for it being disadvantageous to Uchiha Dohei?
Please, before saying that, consider his last name.
Uchiha!
Just the name alone is a sin in the eyes of the two elders.
In the past, they refrained from suppressing him out of respect for the Will of Fire, but now, with the village’s benefit in mind, such a decision is quite reasonable.
"Kodo!"
"Uchiha Dohei!"
The two opponents stepped into the arena, their gazes meeting. They knew this was their final confrontation.
This match would determine not only their ranking but also their fate.
Without any examiners present, it was no longer a subtle hint but a clear message.
"I didn’t expect you to be my final opponent, but this makes it more interesting!"
Kodo seemed to regard Dohei as prey, losing his usual calm and composed demeanor.
Something was off!
Dohei’s brow furrowed.
His sharp intuition made his body tense, like a bare-handed civilian encountering a wild beast in the wilderness.
"Is this...?"
He asked instinctively.
The feeling he got from Kodo was completely different from before, as if he were a different person.
Rip!
Kodo tore off his clothes.
This wasn’t for show; his metal-like body had grown several times larger, making the clothes uncomfortable.
"My Steel Release bloodline limit makes my body hard and powerful. Unfortunately, once it awakens, I won’t live long. But before I die, I want the shinobi world to know that the Hidden Rock Village has a genius no less capable than those from the Hidden Leaf!"
Without answering Dohei’s question, Kodo explained his condition.
His tone was calm and resolute, indicating he was prepared to die.
The Hidden Rock Village has no geniuses!
This was a source of shame for the village, and Kodo wanted to wash it away.
Steel Release bloodline limit?
Upon hearing this, not only Dohei but everyone else was bewildered.
This was a bloodline limit no one had ever heard of, but its effects could be deduced from Kodo’s battle capabilities.
Enhanced recovery, boosted Earth Release, and extreme physical strength, among other things.
What was once thought to be his natural talent was, in fact, due to his bloodline limit.
In the shinobi world,
bloodline limits are like cheat codes for shinobi. Compared to ordinary shinobi, those with bloodline limits have a significant advantage.
For example, the Hidden Cloud Village has always coveted the Hyuga clan’s Byakugan.
No one had heard of the Hidden Rock Village’s bloodline limit until now.
However, knowing the bloodline’s flaw explained why such a powerful bloodline had no renown.
Awakening it meant death, so how could it be famous?
It likely awakened during his near-death experience in the Forest of Death.
This allowed him to continue the exam despite his severe injuries and even enhanced his strength.
Now, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Hidden Leaf’s higher-ups understood why Onoki suggested that examiners not interfere in the match.
He intended for Kodo to eliminate Dohei, the Leaf’s genius, before dying.
Though it was regrettable that they couldn’t eliminate Kakashi earlier, taking out one was better than none.
Given the circumstances and Dohei’s Uchiha lineage, the Leaf’s higher-ups did not intervene.
In the arena,
Hai-Boo-Yo...
Dohei quickly formed the hand seals.
In less than two seconds, he completed them.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
He slammed his right palm onto the ground.
As long as he had Taichi, no bloodline would matter.
With a powerful summoning beast at his command, confidence was inevitable.
Bang!
A thick cloud of white mist rose up.
Swish!
The dense white mist was torn apart by a pair of massive black wings glowing with golden light.
"Huge..."
"It's a summoning beast!"
"Is that size even normal?"
...
Taichi's appearance instantly ignited the crowd's enthusiasm. They hadn't seen him during the battle in the Forest of Death, so this was their first glimpse of his massive summoning beast. It was no wonder they were excited.
What Taichi didn't anticipate, however...
Swish!
Kotsubo unrolled a scroll and quickly formed hand seals.
"Oh no!"
Taichi realized something immediately. Having a summoning beast like Taichi was no secret, and given the shinobi style, Uchiha Yae would definitely try to exploit it.
"Earth Style: Giant Rock Seal!"
As Kotsubo completed his hand seals, he activated the sealing technique. When dealing with large targets, simple taijutsu or ninjutsu wouldn't be effective. Illusions or sealing techniques were generally used instead. Hence, the Iwa shinobi had prepared this sealing technique in advance.
Boom!
The ground around Taichi suddenly sank, and massive rocks spread out from the pit, completely covering it and Taichi beneath.
Taichi wasn't worried about his summoning beast's safety. The sealing technique would only hold for a short time, not indefinitely.
"Now, it's our turn!"
Kotsubo said, swallowing a soldier pill.
Taichi wasn't trying to interrupt the sealing of his summoning beast. The problem was that the sealing area was right between them. If he had charged forward, he might have been sealed as well. Fortunately, he retreated in time, allowing Kotsubo to complete the seal.
As for using shuriken or senbon for ranged attacks?
Sorry, but Kotsubo's steel-like, robust body, as demonstrated in his battle with Kakashi, was practically invulnerable to physical attacks. It was as if he had the defensive ninjutsu "Earth Spear" active throughout the entire fight.
Under these circumstances, Taichi could do little more than throw a shuriken to test the waters. The result was clear: Kotsubo's body was impervious to physical attacks. It was more like a steel fortress than flesh and blood.
Kotsubo!
The name was fitting. Even jonin would find such a target troublesome, let alone a chuunin.
"Fire Style: Flame Cloak!"
Taichi wasted no time, quickly casting the Flame Cloak. With the Enhanced Flame Fist, this ninjutsu could be boosted to an A-rank level, making it a legitimate threat.
Kotsubo had a bloodline limit, but Taichi had his "pay-to-win" advantage. He wasn't without a fighting chance.
What bothered Taichi was that he couldn't resolve the fight with long-range ninjutsu. Kotsubo's bloodline limit boosted his defenses to the max. Even if Taichi exhausted his chakra with long-range attacks, he wouldn't be able to defeat him.
Before Taichi, enhanced by the Flame Cloak, could reach Kotsubo, Kotsubo had already made his move.
"Earth Style: Gravity Rock Technique!"
A technique only jonin could master, he used it with speed and precision. This B-rank ninjutsu had multiple effects. It could create rocks to suppress the target, envelop an area with gravity to hinder the opponent's speed, and even enhance the user's impact.
Truly a B-rank ninjutsu!
Typically, a jonin's finishing move would be a B-rank technique, with only a few elite jonin capable of A-rank techniques. Thus, Kotsubo's ability to use a B-rank Earth Style technique indicated that his strength was on par with a jonin.
The power of a bloodline limit was undeniable. Before and after awakening, the difference in strength was vast. And Taichi was about to engage in a life-or-death battle with such an opponent.
(End of Chapter)
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