Sage Mode: Activate!
Naruto's pupils turned golden, dark red eyeshadow appeared at the corners of his eyes, and two marks swelled on either side of his cheeks.
"This Natural Energy... and the Chakra fluctuations..."
Hiruko narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, and his fingertips involuntarily clenched.
As someone who had been classmates with the Konoha Sannin and served in the Konoha Anbu as an Elite Jonin, he had long heard rumors about Sage Mode. He had even seen relevant records in the Anbu archives.
Sage Mode? Is he Jiraiya's disciple? He actually mastered this power?
His apprehension vanished in an instant, replaced by a more intense greed and excitement.
He licked his chapped lips, a scar twisting into a ferocious arc on his face. "Interesting. Mangekyo Sharingan plus Sage Mode. If I can claim both of your powers for myself, let alone Shun, no one in the entire Ninja World will be able to stop me."
Hiruko's figure flickered, Swift Release activated to its maximum, turning him into a black afterimage. He dodged Naruto's charge and simultaneously swung his palm towards Sasuke.
He still hadn't given up the idea of taking the Mangekyo. A weakened Sasuke was still the easiest prey for him. Only by dealing with Sasuke could he fully concentrate on Naruto.
"Don't even think about hurting Sasuke!"
Naruto roared, his perception in Sage Mode heightened to its extreme, instantly locking onto Hiruko's trajectory.
He knew that the duration of Sage Mode was limited and he had to finish the fight quickly. He quickly formed hand signs, and a pale blue Chakra condensed in his palm.
Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan!
A giant Rasengan formed with a whistling sound, forcefully blocking Hiruko's path.
"Hmph, just as the archives said, Sage Mode not only enhances perception, but its reaction speed and attack power are ridiculously strong."
Hiruko was forced to stop, his figure reappearing. He looked at the wind wall in front of him, his face grim.
He had glimpsed a corner of Jiraiya's Sage Mode from afar, and the power Naruto was displaying now was even more threatening than what was recorded in the archives.
Sasuke took the opportunity to retreat several steps, leaning against a charred broken tree, gasping for breath. The intense pain in his eyes finally eased slightly under the nourishment of Yin Kurama's Chakra.
His crimson Mangekyo Sharingan remained locked on Hiruko, constantly wary of his movements, while silently accumulating Chakra, ready to support Naruto at any moment.
"Since you're so in the way, I'll deal with you first." A ruthless glint flashed in Hiruko's eyes.
He formed hand signs, and the Chakra on his body suddenly changed, a layer of dark gray metallic luster appearing on his skin.
Steel Release!
He knew very well that the physical attacks of Sage Mode were extremely powerful, and ordinary defenses could not withstand them. Only Steel Release could barely cope.
His body's durability instantly increased to its maximum, like a hard alloy, as he charged towards Naruto.
His fist, with a sound of slicing apart wind, smashed towards Naruto's face. The punch was fierce, enough to shatter rocks.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. His body's reaction in Sage Mode was extremely fast. He dodged the punch sideways, and at the same time, raised his hand to strike Hiruko's chest.
Frog Kata!
Pale green Chakra enveloped his fist, delivering a blow with both hard and soft power, smashing heavily against Hiruko's steel body.
Clang!
Naruto felt his palm go numb, but Hiruko's body remained motionless. Instead, he used the recoil to kick Naruto in the abdomen.
Bang!
Naruto's body flew backward, tumbling several times in the air before he regained his balance, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his lips.
He wiped the blood, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "What a hard body. Is this Steel Release?"
"Not just that." Hiruko sneered, forming hand signs again.
His Chakra became cold and eerie, and a faint black mist appeared around him.
Dark Release: Inhaling Maw!
He remembered that Sage Mode's Senjutsu Chakra originated from Natural Energy. Although pure, it was consumed quickly. This Dark Release technique could counter Naruto, constantly eroding his Chakra.
The black mist spread towards Naruto, and wherever it passed, the dust on the ground became dull and lifeless.
Naruto could feel the Chakra in his body being slowly absorbed by the mist. His face changed, and he quickly retreated, forming hand signs at the same time.
Sage Art: Fire Release: Great Flame Arrow!
Blazing flames spewed from Naruto's mouth, forming a huge pillar of fire that burned towards the black mist. The flames collided with the mist, making a "hissing" sound. The black mist was constantly dissipating as it was scorched by the flames, but Hiruko's figure suddenly disappeared into the mist.
"Be careful! It's Swift Release!" Sasuke's voice sounded in time.
His Mangekyo Sharingan captured a black afterimage, which was attacking Naruto from behind.
Naruto reacted extremely quickly, turning around and raising his hand, pale green Chakra condensed into a Rasengan.
Sage Art: Rasengan!
The Rasengan collided with Hiruko's fist, erupting in a huge energy shock.
Naruto was knocked back several steps, but Hiruko used the force of the impact to activate Swift Release again, his figure weaving back and forth across the battlefield, leaving several afterimages, making it impossible to distinguish his true position.
He knew very well that although Sage Mode's perception range was wide, there were still blind spots for extremely fast-moving targets, and this was his opportunity.
Storm Release: Lightning Storm!
A blue lightning beam suddenly shot out from an afterimage, with a sharp whistling sound, heading towards Sasuke. The lightning was extremely fast, almost impossible to avoid.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called out.
"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted coldly, forming hand signs.
His remaining Chakra condensed into a blue lightning barrier.
Lightning Release: Lightning Wall!
The lightning barrier blocked the Storm Release attack, and blue currents exploded in the air, forming an electric net.
At the same time, Naruto seized Hiruko's brief stiffness after activating Storm Release and formed hand signs.
It suddenly became muddy, forming a huge swamp. Hiruko's figure landed right in the center of the swamp, his feet trapped in the mud, and his speed instantly slowed down.
"Now!"
A gleam of light flashed in Naruto's eyes. His body turned into a green afterimage, charging towards Hiruko, two giant Rasenshurikens forming in his hands.
Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!
The giant Rasenshuriken, carrying violent wind blades, attacked Hiruko from both sides.
Hiruko's face changed drastically. Trapped in the swamp, Swift Release could not be used. He could only activate Steel Release again, and at the same time, formed hand signs.
Dark Release: Inhaling Maw!
A black shield appeared in front of him, blocking one Rasenshuriken, but the other Rasenshuriken bypassed the shield and fiercely struck his steel body.
The wind blade cut through the Steel Release defense, leaving a deep wound on Hiruko's body, and blood gushed out.
***
[New Book]
JJK: Favorability System
Transmigrating to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yahiko awakened the Favorability System.
By interacting with female characters in the story and increasing their Favorability level, he can obtain rewards.
On top of that, the system also issues missions every now and then through which he can acquire rewards.
Killing cursed spirits? That's just a side job.
Dating is the real business.
[Ding! Successfully captured Zenin Maki, Reward: Heavenly Restriction!]