Chapter 29: Hinata's True Surface Strength — Roar of the Thunder-Flame Dragon!
Right now, Hinata looked like a living torch set ablaze.
Her entire body was wrapped in scorching flames.
And within those flames, streaks of lightning kept flashing and crackling.
Yet strangely enough…
this terrifying combination of fire and thunder didn't harm her in the slightest.
Not only that——
even her clothes and hair remained completely untouched.
"Wh-what is this?!"
Everyone who witnessed the scene felt a jolt of astonishment.
Those who understood recognized it as some kind of special ninjutsu.
Those who didn't… would definitely think she had been hit by a powerful Fire Release technique.
"Hinata…"
Might Guy started to say something, but Kakashi quickly held up a hand to stop him.
Guy turned his head in confusion.
Kakashi simply shook his head.
"Let's see how strong she really is first."
This time,
neither Kakashi nor Guy had gone all out yet.
After all…
if the two of them unleashed their full power, the aftereffects would be too severe.
Kakashi would run out of chakra, and Guy would enter a short period of extreme physical exhaustion after opening the Gates.
If they went all-in right now,
sure, they might take down the enemy——
but they'd also put themselves in danger.
With powerful foes still lurking everywhere, too many enemies, and too little information…
rushing to use their full strength right from the start would be incredibly foolish.
Besides, the battle hadn't been going on for very long yet.
That's why
they had sent the genin away and left only a group of jōnin to surround and suppress Gaara.
"Fair enough."
Guy nodded,
already prepared to open the Eight Gates at any moment.
"Kakashi, Guy!"
At that moment,
the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, came charging over again, clutching the Adamantine Nyoi staff tightly.
"Let's drive this tailed beast out together!"
"Hokage-sama, hold on a second."
Kakashi glanced at Hiruzen.
The corners of the Hokage's mouth were bleeding, his clothes in disarray.
Those aged eyes were bloodshot all over.
Seeing this, Kakashi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"The Third… really is getting old…"
Unlike the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, who relied on Kekkei Tōta,
Hiruzen was a knowledge-type shinobi.
His strength came from combining various nature transformations, powerful summoning contracts, and his sharp intellect and tactical mind.
Once age caught up, his chakra reserves, reaction speed, and strategic thinking all declined sharply.
His overall power had dropped significantly.
"Hinata's strength is impressive.
Let's watch for now."
As Kakashi spoke,
Hinata had already begun her attack.
Her speed now was clearly faster than when she was in "Lightning Discharge Mode"!
With a single flicker, she appeared right in front of Gaara.
Then she leaped high into the air.
In an instant, all the flames and lightning around her converged into her palm.
She slammed that palm straight into Gaara's abdomen!
Poof!!
A white shockwave exploded outward from her palm like ripples on water.
BOOM!!
Under that tremendous force, Gaara's massive body was sent flying backward.
He crashed heavily into the ground.
At the same time,
Hinata was also pushed back by the recoil and sent flying in the opposite direction.
"What incredible power!"
Hiruzen exclaimed.
"But… it feels like she doesn't have much follow-up…"
Before he could finish his evaluation——
Gaara's entire body suddenly erupted in flames!
"Hmph~"
Gaara snorted coldly.
With a violent shake of his body,
he scattered the flames.
"Aaahhh!!"
But the moment the fire was extinguished,
electricity surged over him again.
Powerful currents coursed through his body, making him scream in agony.
"Not bad… but still not enough…"
Hiruzen raised the Adamantine Nyoi staff, ready to rush in and assist.
But right then——
Hinata snapped her fingers.
The instant she did,
the sound of thunder rumbled through the sky.
A moment later——
a bolt of lightning streaked down at blinding speed
and struck Gaara with brutal force!
His body jerked violently.
Then he began trembling uncontrollably in the midst of the crackling electricity.
Clearly…
he had been completely paralyzed.
And at that moment,
Hinata finally landed gracefully.
But she didn't press the attack immediately.
Instead, she began forming hand seals at high speed.
After completing the seals——
she took a deep breath, gathering power, condensing chakra furiously.
After a full three seconds of charging——
she opened her mouth wide
and unleashed a terrifying pillar of flame straight at Gaara!
"Blaze Release: Roar of the Thunder-Flame Dragon!!"
The massive fire pillar shot out for two thousand meters,
wrapped in countless arcs of lightning.
The column wasn't just long——
it was thick.
In an instant,
it completely engulfed the fully transformed One-Tail Gaara!
"Aaaaahhh!!"
Gaara let out an involuntary scream of pain.
Then, within that horrifying attack…
he fell completely silent.
...
"This…"
Every shinobi in the area was stunned by the sheer terror of the technique.
"Is… is this really something a genin can use?!"
...
Outside the competition grounds.
A small white snake paused as it sensed the terrifying aura in the distance.
It turned its head to glance behind it…
then fled toward the outskirts of Konoha at an even faster speed.
...
"So… this is Hinata's true strength…?"
Hiashi stared at the distant pillar of terrifying flames, his Byakugan nearly popping out of his head.
"Too powerful…
She's probably the most talented shinobi our clan has ever produced, isn't she?
Could it be…
the only reason she couldn't beat Hanabi was because she was holding back…?"
...
"This kind of attack…
the fusion of lightning and fire.
A brand-new kekkei genkai…?
Incredible…"
Hiruzen suddenly revealed a relieved, proud smile.
"I never imagined Hinata would reach a level that surpasses most elite jōnin…
Truly impressive…
But…
how did she become this strong?
Could it be…
all thanks to Byakuya?
No way… right?"
...
"This has to be one of Byakuya's techniques!"
Unlike Hiruzen,
Kakashi was absolutely certain.
"That kid's talent for creating ninjutsu is just insane!"
...
"N-no way…
A technique this terrifying…"
Kankurō, who had already taken out several Anbu with his deadly poisons, suddenly showed a look of fear.
"Gaara…
Gaara isn't going to die, is he…?
Konoha is way too scary…"
...
The terrifying fire pillar raged on for a full five seconds before finally dying out.
When the flames finally cleared…
the enormous form of the One-Tail Gaara had completely vanished.
In its place…
lay Gaara in his normal human state!
"Counterattack begins now!"
Hiruzen returned Enma to his original monkey form, then swept his arm forward with a commanding shout.
The forces of Konoha launched their counteroffensive against the invaders!
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