Chakra natures.
This was one of the most fundamental attributes assigned to every shinobi at birth. Although it was possible to later cultivate additional chakra natures through training and learning, there was always a clear difference between innate affinity and acquired mastery.
A shinobi without the corresponding chakra nature could still perform techniques of that element, but there were obvious limitations.
First, the chakra consumption would be far higher than normal.
Second, even if the technique was successfully executed, its power would often be noticeably weaker than when used by a shinobi with natural affinity.
Because of this, the vast majority of shinobi focused primarily on ninjutsu aligned with their innate chakra natures. Not only because learning multiple nature transformations required immense talent and time, but also because few shinobi could afford to waste chakra recklessly.
Menma, however, was an exception.
Through chakra paper testing conducted with Orochimaru, Menma had confirmed that his natural affinities were Fire Release and Wind Release. But aside from the chakra of the Nine-Tails sealed within him, Menma's own chakra reserves alone were already far beyond those of ordinary jōnin.
At least for ninjutsu below S-rank, chakra consumption was not something he needed to overly concern himself with.
Even if he used techniques outside his innate affinities, a slight reduction in power was irrelevant.
If the output was insufficient, he could simply pour more chakra into it.
The enormous lightning dragon before him both in scale and destructive force was already comparable to a Thunder Release technique unleashed by an elite jōnin with deep mastery.
Under Menma's control
The thunder dragon roared forward.
In an instant, between flashes of lightning and rolling thunder, it slammed directly into the massive black castle.
"ZZZZZZZZ!"
Brilliant lightning exploded across the surface as thunder shook the mountains.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
The castle trembled violently before releasing a shrill, ear-piercing scream.
The next moment
The black fortress collapsed inward.
A thick mist spread outward as debris scattered.
"BOOM!"
A colossal dark-green lizard emerged from within.
Its body stretched well over a hundred meters in length, standing more than ten meters tall. Deep crimson pupils burned with hostility, while its scales reflected the fading sunlight with an eerie sheen.
At the same time, a terrifying chakra pressure flooded the surroundings.
A sense of danger permeated the air.
"!?"
Menma's pupils contracted slightly then immediately lit up with excitement.
This aura alone was enough to confirm it.
The Shōzaki Lizard was powerful.
Powerful enough to justify everything Menma had risked to come here.
Powerful enough to be worth conquering.
"Humans… invading humans must be eliminated."
The Shōzaki Lizard's gaze locked directly onto Menma the instant it revealed its true form.
Boom
Its chakra surged violently, rising sky-high.
With a shockwave tearing through the air, the massive body lunged forward at a speed that completely contradicted its size.
For the Shōzaki Lizard, which had remained sealed within this place for decades, there was only one obsession
The final command of its previous master.
Destroy all intruders who dared invade Shōzaki Castle.
And at this moment
Menma was that intruder.
"Good."
Menma remained expressionless, yet a hint of exhilaration flashed in his eyes.
The stronger the Shōzaki Lizard was, the more satisfied he felt.
And the more it proved that this journey had been worth it.
"Snap!"
His palms came together.
Chakra surged once more.
Boom
A violent wave of pressure swept outward.
Just as the Shōzaki Lizard's massive body crashed down
Menma's figure flickered.
Boom!
He narrowly avoided the impact, twisting mid-air and leaping upward at an astonishing angle.
"Ninjutsu—Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
The shuriken hurled from his hand spun violently.
With the activation of chakra
The single projectile multiplied instantly.
Across the sky, countless shuriken materialized, forming a rainstorm far denser than the original technique was ever meant to produce.
"Whoosh"
"Whoosh"
"Whoosh"
Guided with precise control, they descended toward the Shōzaki Lizard below.
"ROAR!"
Instead of retreating, the Shōzaki Lizard advanced.
Boom
Its massive forelimb slammed into the ground.
The earth shook violently.
Huge slabs of rock were torn free and hurled upward.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
"Boom!"
"Crack!"
Explosions erupted as the shuriken barrage collided with the stone barrier.
The rock shattered under the sustained assault, debris raining down in all directions.
Although it didn't fully block the attack, it created enough space for the Shōzaki Lizard to maneuver.
Its massive body moved with terrifying agility, dodging the majority of the shuriken rain.
The next instant
"WHOOSH!"
The Shōzaki Lizard's tail whipped violently through the air, sweeping toward Menma's airborne position with lightning-fast speed.
The crushing pressure hit him head-on.
There was no time to dodge.
Menma's breathing stalled.
"BANG!"
He braced himself
And the tail struck his body squarely.
His figure was blasted away like a cannonball.
"Menma!?"
Karin cried out in shock.
Boom!
Menma slammed into the ground, carving out a deep crater as dust and debris exploded upward.
For a brief moment
Silence.
Then
"SWOOSH!"
Menma burst out of the dust cloud, reappearing in mid-air.
Aside from torn clothing and a slightly disheveled appearance, there were no visible serious injuries.
Only then did Karin finally exhale in relief.
"…Still a bit forced," Menma muttered softly, watching the raging Shōzaki Lizard ahead.
Since graduating, through countless battles, repeated life-and-death clashes, and continuous mastery of new techniques
Menma had grown far stronger than his former self.
With all his abilities combined, he could already contend with most jōnin in the shinobi world.
But
Facing a high-level summoning beast like the Shōzaki Lizard, this level of strength was still insufficient.
Boom!
The decision was made in less than a second.
Another surge of chakra erupted
But this time, it was different.
A chilling pressure spread outward.
Crimson chakra surged violently around Menma's body.
The aura alone caused the Shōzaki Lizard's movements to falter.
An instinctive sense of danger rose within it.
This
Was the chakra of the Nine-Tails.
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