Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 43: The Artful Ninja Remains Unscathed

Tension on the battlefield thickened. The three shinobi, locked in a tense standoff, began to emit waves of killing intent. Words had failed to resolve anything; the truth would have to come out through their techniques.

"Earth Style: Earth Splitting Palm!"

Hayama's hand signs blurred, his speed among the best of Konoha's shinobi. In a heartbeat, he slammed his hand onto the ground. This Earth Style jutsu wasn't meant to cause damage—it was to force the two Mist shinobi back, away from the barrier. Only with some distance could Hayama fully commit to battle.

The Mist ninjas saw through his intent. However, rather than stubbornly holding their position, they quickly retreated to gain more room, a move that suggested they had full confidence in their ability to swiftly take down Hayama and turn their attention back to breaking the barrier.

Their retreat worked perfectly to Hayama's advantage. Without hesitation, he hardened his body and gave chase. As a shinobi of Konoha, showing hesitation in such a crucial moment would tarnish his reputation—and his ability to continue enjoying the village's resources.

The three moved to a more secluded area. Hayama scanned the surroundings with caution, wary of any potential traps set by the Mist ninja. He was no stranger to such tactics; he'd employed them often enough in his own missions.

"Byakumo Hayama, you're a jonin, right?" Suigetsu Ku asked, eyeing Hayama's dark green flak jacket.

Hayama didn't know what the Mist ninja was trying to get at, so he remained silent, lowering his body into a battle-ready stance.

When his question received no answer, Suigetsu Ku's delicate features turned cold, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. He swiftly formed hand signs. Hayama watched closely, noting the peculiar sequence: first Water, then Wind, and finally both hands clapped together. From the ground ahead of him, a surge of freezing air rose, solidifying into a massive rectangular column of ice that hurtled toward him.

Hayama tightened his lips. He knew this ice attack was a feint. The real threat would come from Kaguya Shouichi, the other Mist ninja. After all, this two-pronged strategy was one Hayama himself had often used when paired with Yamaoka Tatsuya.

Sure enough, as Hayama shattered the ice column with a powerful punch, Kaguya Shouichi appeared like a phantom at his side. His hands crossed over his chest before snapping forward, launching his finger bones as projectiles.

"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"

Hayama's heart skipped a beat at the sight of the unusual attack. Those bone projectiles were like bullets, carrying enough penetration force to pierce solid rock. Instinctively, he pushed off the ground, dodging just in time.

Kaguya Shouichi's finger bullets hit a nearby stone with a sickening crunch, leaving several small holes. Hayama narrowed his eyes. This Mist ninja's throwing strength was terrifying, more potent than many standard offensive jutsu. He guessed that Kaguya Shouichi was likely a taijutsu specialist, while Suigetsu Ku seemed to rely on ninjutsu.

With that assessment in mind, Hayama knew his strategy. He released his hardening jutsu and formed a new sequence of hand signs.

"Secret Lightning Technique: Flash Thunder Strike!"

Arcs of electricity began to flicker around Hayama's body. The crackling energy intensified until he was fully cloaked in lightning. He felt a surge of power coursing through him, and oddly enough, it seemed as though the earlier lightning strike from the Mist swordsman had increased his resistance to pain. There was no time to dwell on this now—he'd figure it out later.

With a flash of lightning, Hayama vanished from the Mist shinobi's view. Suigetsu Ku's face fell as he sensed something was wrong. He immediately began to form hand signs, but before he could finish the third, he felt the air behind him shift violently. A chill ran down his spine as he threw himself into a desperate roll.

Hayama wasn't about to let him get away. Seeing Suigetsu Ku's vulnerable position, he surged forward again, his body a blur of lightning.

The specter of death loomed over Suigetsu Ku once more. Without even looking, he knew the Konoha shinobi was right behind him. Overcome with terror, he bent low, trying to protect his vital points.

Meanwhile, Kaguya Shouichi had lost sight of Hayama entirely. But years of teamwork with Suigetsu Ku had honed their synchronization. Without hesitation, Kaguya Shouichi sent another volley of bone bullets toward his comrade's blind spot.

Hayama's short blade was just inches from skewering Suigetsu Ku's heart when he heard the whistle of incoming projectiles. Reluctantly, he abandoned the killing blow and darted away in another burst of lightning.

Suigetsu Ku, narrowly escaping death twice in mere moments, was drenched in cold sweat. Though he wanted to thank Kaguya Shouichi for saving him, he had no time for words. He completed the interrupted sequence of hand signs and activated his defense.

"Ice Release Secret Technique: Hexagonal Mirrors!"

A series of transparent, hexagonal ice mirrors materialized around Suigetsu Ku, shielding him completely. When Hayama reappeared in front of him, blade raised, the mirrors stopped the attack cold.

Suigetsu Ku placed his hands on the ice and smirked. His eyes gleamed with cruelty as he muttered the name of his next technique.

"Ice Release: Needle Swarm!"

The ice mirrors rippled, and hundreds of sharp ice needles shot out, aimed straight at Hayama. Forced to retreat, he narrowly avoided being skewered.

Hayama gazed at Suigetsu Ku's icy barrier with a mix of admiration and frustration. Bloodline limit users were truly formidable. With their innate talents, they could achieve feats that standard ninjutsu couldn't replicate. Whether it was the magnet release or this ice release, such techniques always left him in awe.

From the moment he became a shinobi, Hayama had sought a way to master all-encompassing techniques that combined offense and defense. His fixation on the hardening jutsu stemmed from this goal. While undeniably practical, it still fell short compared to the versatility of bloodline limits. With hardening active, Hayama couldn't use ninjutsu—only taijutsu. But Suigetsu Ku could maintain his defensive mirrors and still launch potent secret techniques, highlighting the gap between them.

As Hayama pondered Suigetsu Ku's prowess, Kaguya Shouichi's actions left him thoroughly unnerved. The Mist ninja removed his shirt, leaned forward, and, with a grotesque motion, pulled his own spine out. He casually swung the hardened bone around, seemingly satisfied with its flexibility, before fixing a predatory gaze on Hayama.

A shiver ran down Hayama's back. He could only think, What on earth is this guy? Bone growth gone haywire, or some kind of genetic quirk? Reflexively, he touched his own spine, trying to shake off the eerie sensation.

The momentum of the battle shifted as Hayama failed to quickly eliminate the ninjutsu specialist. Once the aggressor, he now found himself on the defensive. But Hayama wasn't the type to give up. Tightening his grip on his newly forged short blade, he once again surged forward, lightning crackling around him.

Kaguya Shouichi grinned wickedly. With a flick of his extracted spine, he blocked Hayama's first strike. His other hand twisted unnaturally, ready to fire another volley of bone projectiles.

Metal clashed against bone as Hayama's short blade struck Kaguya Shouichi's makeshift weapon. Hearing the familiar whir of bone bullets, Hayama tried to leap away, only to find his feet frozen in place. White frost crept up from his ankles, threatening to immobilize him completely.

Fighting off both Mist ninja, Hayama had to pour all his chakra into a final burst of lightning to shatter the ice, narrowly escaping what would have been a devastating combination attack.

It was then that Hayama noticed the extent of Suigetsu Ku's jutsu. The surrounding terrain had turned into a frozen expanse. Wherever Hayama moved, Suigetsu Ku could sense it and quickly react, using the icy field to his advantage.

After trading blows for several more exchanges, all three combatants found themselves at an impasse. None could land a decisive strike. Hayama's attacks weren't powerful enough to break Suigetsu Ku's ice or Kaguya Shouichi's bone armor, while the Mist ninja couldn't pin down Hayama's lightning-fast movements.

Perhaps this battle would be remembered not for any victory, but for the fact that neither the turtle-like Hayama nor the cunning Mist ninja could be brought down. They might not be able to finish the fight, but at least no one was getting hurt.