Chapter 208: The Seeker of Death, First Mastery of Swordsmanship! Shocking Change!
Under the night sky,
A cerulean divine dragon soared into the air, spiraling mid-flight, proclaiming its colossal form and terrifying might!
This was freedom born of the heart, anger unleashed from within!
Hatred intertwined with release, like a final, unrestrained dance!
A fierce gale suddenly swept over the temporary campsite of the elite Konoha ninja.
"Woof!"
A large yellow dog shivered in fear under this immense aura.
Beside it, Inuzuka Jaw hurriedly stepped forward, stroking its head to calm his companion.
With some dissatisfaction, he looked toward the commotion not far away and complained to their team leader:
"Why is Old Chen teaching people his impossible-to-master taijutsu again?"
Watching the disturbance, Sarutobi Shinnosuke shook his head and sighed, consoling:
"Since we haven't left the Land of Fire yet, let Old Chen do as he wishes.
"He has no family, and his only disciple was cruelly targeted and killed during a mission not long ago. At his age, he shouldn't even need to take on such dangerous missions."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke gazed at the dragon soaring freely in the sky, his eyes tinged with regret.
"This time, Old Chen seems to be fighting with a death wish.
"Perhaps out of unwillingness, wanting to prove something, or maybe he just hopes to pass on his technique to someone before he dies."
Hearing this, the group around the campfire fell into silence.
Inuzuka Jaw sighed as well, muttering,
"I get it, but that kind of taijutsu? Other than Old Chen, who could possibly master it?
"Only his disciple, who couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu and had to rely on taijutsu to become a ninja, would foolishly believe in something like that.
"What mental strength, what free will, what centrifugal force... all wrapped in mystical nonsense.
"In the end, isn't this just a taijutsu that lets you fly in the sky by sheer chance? No one else can learn it!"
---
Elsewhere,
Old Chen slowly descended from the air, letting out a long breath.
Using this move, Konoha Dragon God, seemed to have stirred up some painful memories, making his thin figure appear even more desolate.
At this moment, the scene around him was like a parking lot ravaged by a tornado—utter devastation.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Old Chen lifted his spirits slightly and, seemingly unintentionally, turned to ask Uchiha Ci, who stood in a daze before him:
"So, boy, do you understand what centrifugal force is now?"
"I—"
Old Chen coughed twice, already assuming this foolish boy wouldn't grasp such an advanced technique.
After all, he'd been observing for two days already.
This Uchiha lad had been poring over a swordsmanship scroll from his clan but couldn't make heads or tails of it.
Clearly, his aptitude was as dull as that of Old Chen's late, foolish disciple.
Quickly abandoning the thought, Old Chen brushed aside Uchiha Ci's response and comforted him:
"It's fine if you don't understand. After all, my taijutsu isn't something ordinary people—"
"Chen-sensei, I got it!" Uchiha Ci interrupted suddenly, his eyes lighting up.
"Hm?" Hearing this, Old Chen's brow twitched violently.
His expression shifted immediately, and he stared at Uchiha Ci in disbelief, asking,
"Wait, what did you just say? What did you understand?"
"The technique!" Uchiha Ci nodded excitedly, gesturing with his hands as he explained:
"The taijutsu technique—I've figured it out!
"Using taijutsu paired with chakra bursts, rotating your limbs to create centrifugal force, combined with a sturdy body that can withstand immense pressure, and achieving a speed that surpasses human limits during the process!
"It's similar to this swordsmanship technique I'm studying. The only difference is that you use kicks, while I incorporate my sword into the rotation!"
After carefully observing the Konoha Dragon God in action, a line of text flashed across Uchiha Ci's mind:
[After observing Chen Baojun's Konoha Dragon God, you have gained insight.]
[You have comprehended an advanced taijutsu technique (A-Rank, Beginner).]
This confirmation assured Uchiha Ci that he could replicate the technique.
Hearing Uchiha Ci's detailed explanation, Old Chen froze, stunned.
He got it?
Impossible!
This taijutsu was so complex that even veteran ninja with years of experience in taijutsu could only mimic its form, barely managing to perform the third-stage Konoha Whirlwind.
This boy... was he bluffing?
Old Chen's eyes narrowed behind his dark glasses, his voice hesitant:
"Then... show me."
Uchiha Ci nodded.
He was one step away from mastering Uchiha Style: Dance of the Solar Halo, and this was the missing piece.
It was time to integrate this with the Fire Release Chakra Mode.
The complete Uchiha Style: Dance of the Solar Halo was said to be an S-Rank Forbidden Sword Art secret.
The A-Rank Fire Release Chakra Mode served as its core propulsion technique.
Even so, Uchiha Ci had developed several techniques like Flaming Dragon Dance and Hurricane Whirlpool Sword using this forbidden art.
Yet these were more like sword-shaped ninjutsu relying on the Kusanagi Blade than true swordsmanship.
Now,
He needed a close-combat technique to engage true masters in battle!
Under Old Chen's skeptical gaze,
In the suddenly quiet forest,
Beneath a foreboding sky lit by flickering flames,
Uchiha Ci slowly drew the Kusanagi Blade from his waist,
Closing his eyes briefly,
Recalling Old Chen's transformation from Konoha Whirlwind to Konoha Dragon God,
Clearing his mind.
Sword strikes from the scroll, initially chaotic and disjointed, flowed together seamlessly under this taijutsu insight.
A swordsmanship technique emerged, soaring through the skies and dancing among clouds and sunlight!
In the next moment,
Uchiha Ci's eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of crimson Sharingan with two tomoe spinning!
Within his gaze, a dazzling flame ignited and roared upward!
Just then,
The night wind howled suddenly, as if mourning.
From the border of the boiling hot springs and forests came the sound of calm, measured footsteps.
The clouds parted slightly.
In the moonlight,
A tall figure wearing a Takigakure rogue ninja forehead protector and a black mask, clad in a black cloak, approached.
Without a sound,
Three large, blood-red lines of text appeared before Uchiha Ci:
[Warning! Kakuzu, an S-Rank rogue ninja from Takigakure, seeking your head for a bounty, has entered the battlefield!]
[Warning! Ramui, an elite Jonin from Kumogakure harboring intense killing intent toward you, is en route to the battlefield!]
[Warning! Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki with deep hatred for you, is en route to the battlefield!]
In the next instant—
A burst of blinding white lightning erupted in the distance!
Then—
Boom!
The roar of thunder, flashes of lightning, cries of anguish, and a deafening scream exploded simultaneously!
"Enemy attack!!"