"Chikusho's impressive."
Kazuku faced Chikusho on the ground.
He not only dodged the attack but found a way to counter the Eight Gates.
Using his Magnet Release bloodline limit, Chikusho surrounded himself with three layers of shurikens, like a barrier.
With Chikusho at the center, the Magnet Release barrier spanned at least eight meters.
Even if Kazuku's speed breached the first layer, the second would trap him.
One touch, and he'd be magnetized instantly.
Then, Chikusho could throw a square shuriken.
The tools would attract Kazuku.
Airborne, with no leverage, dodging would be near impossible.
"Worthy of a bloodline limit jonin."
Kazuku sighed.
Chikusho, too, marveled at Kazuku's terror. "For Kumogakure's future, I must end you here!"
He understood the stakes.
A genius like Kazuku was one-of-a-kind!
If he grew, he'd be another Hashirama Senju.
Chikusho pushed his Magnet Release to the limit, hundreds of shurikens raining toward Kazuku.
"Crap." Sarutobi's eyes widened. Kazuku's taijutsu was a poor match for Chikusho.
If those shurikens touched Kazuku, he'd be magnetized.
Then, he'd be at Chikusho's mercy!
But…
To keep Sarutobi from interfering, Chikusho had used a Lightning Clone.
Seeing Sarutobi form signs, the clone charged, slashing with a square shuriken.
Sakumo and Yuna could only watch the shurikens assail Kazuku!
Their strength couldn't intervene in this level of fight!
"Die, Konoha brat!"
Chikusho growled, as if seeing Kazuku's demise.
Indeed, Kazuku was cornered.
"True, against Magnet Release, taijutsu's advantage shrinks, but…"
"My limit isn't the Gate of Limit!"
Kazuku clenched his fists, channeling chakra to break the sixth restriction.
Gate of View, open!
As Kazuku opened the Gate of View, his body entered a semi-buffered state, the airflow repelling the first shurikens.
Then…
He stomped, leaping into the air, fists poised.
The ninja watching were stunned.
"What's Kazuku doing?"
Sarutobi's pupils dilated, baffled.
Against Chikusho's bloodline limit, the shurikens were like limbs, chasing with a thought.
The smart move was using the Eight Gates' speed to escape Magnet Release, then counter.
Jumping meant abandoning speed!
Kazuku was now Chikusho's sitting duck!
"Why isn't he using ninjutsu?!" Ashina exclaimed.
From his experience, long-range ninjutsu was safest against Chikusho.
Why was Kazuku fixated on taijutsu?
But then…
Ashina realized.
"Does Kazuku only know taijutsu?"
"Exactly." Sarutobi kicked away Chikusho's clone, forming signs to push Kazuku with Water Dragon Bullet, explaining to Ashina.
"Kazuku returned to the village half a month ago, training taijutsu with Might Batsu. He hasn't learned ninjutsu."
"It's not that he lacks the strategy—he can't use ninjutsu!"
As Sarutobi neared the final sign, the clone chased, disrupting his Water Release.
Sakumo and Yuna stared at Kazuku in disbelief.
Not refusing ninjutsu…
He didn't know it!
"No wonder this brat hasn't used ninjutsu." Chikusho smirked, brimming with confidence.
"Such a shame. So much chakra, yet no ninjutsu."
"It's over!"
Chikusho declared victory.
But…
Cornered in the air, Kazuku was unfazed.
"Is that so?"
He smiled, fists brimming with power.
In Gate of Limit, he couldn't touch Chikusho.
He indeed knew no ninjutsu.
Or genjutsu.
But…
With Gate of View, he wasn't without ranged attacks!
Kazuku hovered, eyes locked on the shurikens.
Then…
He swung a fist.
Morning Peacock!
Though no one had developed Morning Peacock yet, Kazuku was a transmigrator!
Its principle was brain-dead simple!
High-speed strikes could ignite air into fireballs!
"Ora ora ora ora!"
Kazuku roared, hyping his move, fists swinging relentlessly, boosting speed!
It hurt…
Soon, he gritted his teeth. Gate of View's damage was worse than expected.
But this wasn't training!
Either he took Chikusho down, or they'd be wiped out.
No matter the damage, Kazuku had to finish Morning Peacock!
"Fire… Fire Release?" Chikusho's smugness froze. He never dreamed Kazuku could produce flames!
"No, this isn't Fire Release…" Sarutobi gaped. Kazuku didn't form signs, and no chakra was in the flames.
Unbelievable, but…
Kazuku seemed to generate fire by punching, igniting the air!
"Is that possible?" Sakumo, Ashina, and Yuna said in unison.
Yet the truth was before them.
Kazuku did it!
His Morning Peacock scattered the shurikens, charging Chikusho.
The shuriken barrier, meant to block Kazuku's taijutsu, became his cage!
Chikusho had nowhere to run.
BOOM!
With roaring blasts, Chikusho was engulfed by fire, instantly defeated!
(End of Chapter)