Ruler Breaker's Power Revealed Again!
"Shirō, are your injuries really okay?"
"It's fine. It doesn't affect me much. I'm the most suitable one to handle him. You'd be at too much of a disadvantage. Don't underestimate Peacock Art — Teacher Sakumo once said that this ninjutsu is troublesome and difficult to deal with."
As they traveled, Shirō answered Nakamura's concern while lightly tending to his wounds.
"Still, Peacock Art is pure chakra manipulation. You know my technique — his ninjutsu won't work on me."
"Alright then," Nakamura replied, though his brows furrowed. "But don't push yourself too far."
"Don't worry. We've come this far into the mission. I won't do anything reckless."
Shikamaru cut in, his voice steady. "Everyone, stay sharp. According to Gray Snake's intel, there's a patrol point ahead — Grass shinobi. We'll bypass it carefully. They've got numbers, and we can't afford exposure."
"Understood."
The group slipped into silence, moving with precision through the underbrush.
They weren't afraid of the Grass shinobi — if it came to a fight, their odds of winning were solid. But the limitation was obvious: Shirō couldn't recklessly rely on Projection. For him, Eight Extremities Fist combined with Magecraft Release was already more than most could endure, and Blue Snake's massive frame was a trump card. Still, conserving strength mattered.
By now, Nakamura and the others had mostly recovered their chakra from earlier battles, so their odds in a confrontation were respectable. But wasting time or making noise wasn't worth it.
Their true problem wasn't the Grass ninja at all.
The Five Great Nations and Takigakure were the real enemies.
From what they'd learned so far, Lightning and Earth seemed disinterested in this affair. Wind's position was similar. That narrowed their concerns.
Takigakure was different.
This borderland between Taki and Grass gave them immediate proximity, and Taki's forces weren't weak. Their infamous Hero Water could multiply chakra many times over, and unlike Grass, they possessed a Jinchūriki — the only minor village to wield a Tailed Beast. If Taki decided to unleash that weapon, it would be a disaster.
So Shirō's team aimed to thin out others first, to avoid being forced into a desperate standoff. The longer they stayed hidden, the smoother their exit once the mission objective was secured.
That's why they chose detours, lengthening their route for safety. It bought Shirō more time to recover as well — every extra breath helped.
Eventually, they reached the coordinates Gray Snake had passed along. After a brief signal exchange, they positioned themselves in a dense patch of forest, waiting.
Shirō whispered, "Projection… begin."
A dagger appeared in his hand, its twisted and complex design unmistakable: Ruler Breaker.
Among the Noble Phantasms he could call upon, few were this efficient. It demanded no True Name Release, held longer stability, and — most importantly — he had trained with it extensively during magecraft practice. Projection was draining in his condition, so preparing the weapon beforehand was essential.
He steadied his breath, clutching the dagger, and waited.
Moments later, the silhouette of a shinobi approached, leaping between branches. Shirō's eyes narrowed. The man's attire matched Gray Snake's description perfectly.
His grip tightened. With his free hand, Shirō slipped shuriken from his pouch. At the perfect moment, he let them fly.
He tucked Ruler Breaker against his waist, hands flashing into seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The sudden gale roared forward.
The Star shinobi snorted dismissively, flicking kunai to deflect the shuriken. His own hands blurred into signs.
"Peacock Art!"
Chakra erupted from his body, condensing into protective wings that shielded him from the wind blast. But then his eyes widened — horror etched into his face.
His chakra was surging, yet slipping from his control. It was as though the technique had never been cast at all. But the depletion in his reserves told him otherwise.
"What—?!"
He tried to form signs again, desperate to restore his technique. But Shirō was already upon him.
Ruler Breaker struck true, piercing through his chakra and into his chest — snuffing out both technique and life in the same breath.
The shinobi crumpled.
Nakamura and the others emerged from cover, quickly ensuring the area was clear.
They didn't look surprised. Every shinobi knew: once a specialist's technique was countered, their strength collapsed. A jutsu like Peacock Art — versatile in attack, defense, and even aerial combat — was deadly when functional. But when stripped away, the user was left helpless.
And anyone over-reliant on a single jutsu was vulnerable to exactly this kind of downfall.
That's why the great clans balanced their weaknesses with combinations, like the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, whose teamwork elevated them far beyond their individual jōnin rank.
Even Naruto, that blockhead, never relied on just one move. From Shadow Clones to Rasengan variations, he built flexibility into his style. Without versatility, a shinobi's shelf life was short.
Shirō knew this well. That was why he honed more than Projection. He trained his body through Eight Extremities Fist, learned archery, and carried Kushina's sealing-crafted explosive arrows in his bracers. He ensured fallback plans for every scenario.
Taiyi and the others were the same, if not as obsessively thorough.
It was that preparation — not luck — that allowed Shirō to wield Ruler Breaker so decisively, revealing again its terrifying power.
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