Everyone was speechless at Natsuki's words.
This guy… wasn't he overdoing the cool act?
Did he really think combining chakra natures into a Kekkei Genkai like Ranton (Storm Release) was as easy as eating or drinking? He made it sound effortless!
But none of them could refute it. After all, he had already succeeded. Some people were just geniuses—you had to accept it.
Sasuke and Neji weren't surprised. The Natsuki they knew had always been absurd. No matter how outrageous a technique he displayed, they wouldn't be shocked anymore.
Still, there was no denying it—Ranton was powerful. That "light-speed kick" earlier had been terrifying. The only question was: had Kabuto survived?
From the rubble, Kabuto slowly crawled out. His skin had sprouted scales, his complexion had shifted, his tongue flickered out, and even horns had emerged on his head—he looked every bit like a serpent.
"Damn… he's…" Kakashi and the others instantly sensed trouble.
"Ryūchidō's Sage Mode, huh?" Natsuki muttered, impressed despite himself.
Kabuto glanced down at his side. There, a gaping wound still lingered from Natsuki's light-speed kick—serious damage. If not for entering Sage Mode in time, he might have been killed outright.
"Hehe… as expected of you, Natsuki. Always so unpredictable." Kabuto's smile was cold. "Konoha shinobi really are pests. But you, Natsuki—you're the one I hate most. Back during Orochimaru-sama's Konoha Crush, you ruined us again and again. In the end, you even killed him. You terrify me! But now, no matter how fast you are, you can't kill me. Not unless you've got a way to counter Edo Tensei—or you're ready to sacrifice yourself with Shiki Fūjin (Dead Demon Consuming Seal)! Hahahaha!"
He was smug, convinced of his advantage.
Gengetsu spoke up too. "You're strong, kid, but not enough to beat us. Better call someone stronger. Hurry and take us down."
He clearly hated being forced to act under Kabuto's control. Better to be defeated and sealed away, even if it meant never returning to the Pure Land.
Mū and the Third Raikage shared the same thought.
The Third Raikage barked, "Darui! Tell the Fourth to bring out the Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Pot) again—seal us up quickly!"
Darui groaned. "Don't talk nonsense! We brought it last time and it failed—and nearly got stolen! We can't risk that again."
Clearly, they weren't counting on reinforcements.
Even though Darui recognized Kakashi, and knew the reputation of Konoha's rising "Demon Blade," he wasn't optimistic.
Natsuki chuckled. "Kakashi-senpai, do you know why I brought you? Because you and Sasuke both have Sharingan—you can copy my new sealing technique. Next, I'll use it to seal an Edo Tensei. Watch carefully with your three-tomoe Sharingan and memorize it. Neji, if you can, learn it too—this will be very useful."
He unfurled a scroll, summoning three coffins plastered with sealing tags.
Locking onto Gengetsu, the nearest target, Natsuki thrust his hands forward, chakra surging in his palms.
Kakashi lifted his forehead protector and, with Sasuke, focused their Sharingan on Natsuki's every move.
Kabuto narrowed his eyes, eager to see. He didn't believe Natsuki could seal an Edo Tensei from afar. If it were that easy, the Third Hokage wouldn't have died. The Kohaku no Jōhei only worked if the target responded—and if you stayed silent, it was useless. He was sure nothing could threaten him.
"Fūinjutsu: Mafūba! (Sealing Technique: Evil Containment Wave!)"
Chakra burst from Natsuki's hands, spiraling outward in a vortex laced with sealing power. It struck Gengetsu in an instant.
Gengetsu froze—his body locked by the sealing force. His form twisted under the spiraling chakra, then was yanked helplessly into a coffin.
SLAM! The lid closed.
SLAP SLAP SLAP! Dozens of sealing tags plastered themselves across the seams.
Silence. Absolute silence.
Everyone was stunned. An Edo Tensei, supposedly unkillable and infinitely regenerating, had just been sealed from a distance—without even being weakened first!
Normally, sealing required exhausting or defeating the Edo Tensei host. Yet Natsuki had overturned that reality.
The Mafūba… terrifying.
Natsuki… terrifying.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Kabuto snapped, his composure breaking. "What kind of twisted jutsu seals them so easily—?!"
But then he remembered—it was Natsuki. The same man who had crushed even Orochimaru. Of course he could do something impossible.
Since the Chūnin Exams, Natsuki had been rewriting the shinobi world's limits, one miracle after another. A terrifying man. Not someone you wanted as an enemy.
Darui's jaw dropped. "J-just like that…? Sealed? This is Konoha's Demon Blade?!"
Mū and the Third Raikage were floored too, but quickly smiled. They had underestimated the new generation—truly extraordinary.
Without looking back, Natsuki asked, "Well? Did you copy it?"
Both Sasuke and Kakashi nodded. "Copied. But we need to test it."
"Good. Neji and I will keep them busy. Darui, lend a hand—it's your village asking for help."
Natsuki vanished in a flash, reappearing behind Kabuto. Another blindingly fast Ranton kick smashed Kabuto away before he could react.
The reanimated Mū and Third Raikage, under Kabuto's control, tried to intervene—but Neji and Darui intercepted them.
Meanwhile, Sasuke and Kakashi each targeted a coffin. Channeling chakra, they mimicked Natsuki's technique.
"Fūinjutsu: Mafūba!"
"Fūinjutsu: Mafūba!"
HAAA!!
Their spiraling chakra surged forward, striking Mū and the Third Raikage. Both froze, then were dragged into coffins and sealed away.
They'd succeeded—but Sasuke and Kakashi were drenched in sweat.
The technique demanded immense chakra, and even more mental strain. Mastery would come with practice, but using it right after learning was exhausting.
Still, Natsuki's gamble had paid off. The Mafūba had been passed on.
(End of Chapter)
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