Magneto Rasa, Pakura with her Scorch Release, and Genjutsu specialist Karura formed a formidable trio. While their composition could not rival the time Konoha had besieged the Third Kazekage, their combined strength was not to be underestimated. Battles in the ninja world were full of moments where the weak resisted the strong; otherwise, how could the Third Kazekage have been captured alive?
To avoid failure and protect his reputation, Hayashi decided to activate his ultimate power—Sage Mode. This technique was extremely potent, but the challenges of mastering it were immense. A ninja had to possess an enormous chakra pool, remain perfectly still to gather natural energy, and concentrate that energy before use. Only when a practitioner's skill and chakra reached extreme levels could Sage Mode be activated almost instantaneously, as the First Hokage had done.
Even then, the mode's duration was limited. Natural energy needed constant replenishment, and without it, the Sage Chakra would quickly dissipate. Naruto, for instance, could maintain it for only about five minutes at a time.
Hayashi, unlike Minato, could not rely on body-fluid replenishment, but he had devised other methods. During his time at the Ninja Academy, he and Minato experimented with sealing scrolls capable of storing chakra. Ordinary chakra was one thing, but Sage Chakra was volatile and unstable. Early attempts had caused multiple backfiring explosions, injuring him repeatedly. After months of refinement, he finally succeeded. Though the stored chakra was limited and the scrolls costly, Hayashi could now activate Sage Mode instantly.
Opening two scrolls in succession, mystical markings appeared around his eyes, and the distinctive white horns of Snake Sage Mode emerged on his forehead.
"Ah… found you," Hayashi murmured. The greatest advantage of this mode was heightened sensory perception. While Dabai could not detect hidden enemies underground, Hayashi could, making him nearly impossible to ambush.
Lightning gathered into his hand, forming a spear, but he did not throw it. Instead, he thrust it into the sand beneath his feet. The Chidori Sharp Spear struck with thunderous momentum, sending a shockwave through the surrounding area. Hayashi stepped back lightly, keeping his distance.
Rasa, hiding underground in preparation for a sneak attack, had barely avoided being struck. Gold Dust shimmered around him, but the electrical surge left his hair standing on end, and his body momentarily paralyzed.
Hayashi advanced calmly, each step precise, his target still alive but trapped by circumstances. Emotionally, he did not wish Rasa harm; after all, what would happen to Gaara? Still, there was no room for mercy on the battlefield. As a ninja, holding back against the enemy was a luxury he could not afford.
Just as Hayashi prepared to finish off the future Fourth Kazekage, a sudden surge of danger forced him to pause. Scorch Release: Great Incinerating River erupted, flames and heat cracking the sandy ground around him. Lava-like fire surged toward him, and slender iron wires from a puppet controlled by Karura rescued Rasa from the deadly blaze.
The heat was unbearable. Surrounding ninjas scrambled for safety, the air shimmering with extreme temperatures. Hayashi had retreated earlier, aware of Scorch Release's deadly potential; being caught in it could instantly reduce a ninja to ash. Seconds later, he widened the distance, readying his next strike.
Sage Art: Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
Using his left foot as a pivot, Hayashi twisted his body, releasing a high-pressure jet of water from his mouth. This technique, enhanced by Sage Chakra, rivaled the Second Hokage's S-rank Water Release. Compressed into a jet as thick as a Water Dragon Bullet, it carved through the air with immense force, cutting through the firestorm and the scorched sand below.
The Water Severing Wave surged across the battlefield, neutralizing Pakura's Scorch Release. After completing a full turn, the ground within a hundred-meter radius was transformed into a massive circular platform. Observers were left stunned; even seasoned Konoha ninjas could hardly comprehend the destructive potential of Hayashi's enhanced Sage Art.
"Is this… humanly possible?" whispered someone nearby.
"It has to be," another replied, astonished.
Orochimaru watched from a distance, speechless. He had anticipated Hayashi's growth during his six months in Ryūchi Cave, but this level of mastery of Sage Mode exceeded even his expectations. Excitement burned in his chest; a new subject had emerged for his research.
"As expected… the sea of ninjutsu is limitless," Orochimaru murmured.
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