Naruto Shadow Mage

Breakthrough on the Battlefield!

Under the pressure of Hozuki Mangetsu, Yoroi broke through his training bottleneck and completed the wind chakra nature transformation!

The chakra now infused in Yoroi's kunai was not just ordinary chakra but the thin, sharp, wind-natured chakra!

Even in the second stage of wind chakra nature transformation training, which involved cutting a waterfall, Yoroi, like Naruto in the original story, could slice through a waterfall with his refined wind chakra!

This was the sign of wind chakra training reaching its peak!

However, despite having comprehended the extreme nature transformation of wind chakra, Yoroi felt there was still a bottleneck above this mastery, waiting for him to break through. Yoroi believed that once he crossed that critical threshold, his application of wind chakra would surpass even his teacher, the Fourth Hokage, making him the foremost wind chakra user.

But in the battle against Hozuki Mangetsu, further breakthroughs were not Yoroi's immediate concern!

His current priority was to defeat Hozuki Mangetsu!

To use his newly acquired strength to overcome the Mist Jonin before him truly!

"With the complete wind chakra nature transformation, my strength is far beyond that of an ordinary Chunin!"

"Not only have I made a leap in mastering wind chakra, but I've also grasped the essence of the Fourth Hokage's secret techniques!"

"So, Hozuki Mangetsu, defeating me now is impossible!"

"Because my breakthrough in wind chakra is enough to take down elite Chunin and even some regular Jonin!"

"Now..."

"The real counterattack begins!"

Indeed!

Just as Yoroi thought, completing the wind chakra nature transformation meant another qualitative leap in his strength!

Why say this?

Because Yoroi's last qualitative leap in strength came from mastering the Fourth Hokage's secret techniques!

Yoroi's teacher, the Fourth Hokage, was a master, or rather, a "grandmaster" of wind chakra.

Initially, even without fully mastering wind chakra, training in the Fourth Hokage's secret techniques allowed Yoroi to gain many insights and improve his strength. Now, having completed the wind chakra nature transformation, his understanding of the Fourth Hokage's secret techniques naturally advanced.

Thus, possessing the essence of the Fourth Hokage's wind chakra techniques, if Yoroi couldn't even defeat a regular Jonin, he would indeed tarnish the Fourth Hokage's name!

Tarnish the reputation of the Fourth Hokage, a Kage-level ninja?

Of course!

Even though Yoroi could defeat a regular Jonin, he still wouldn't be considered a Jonin-level ninja.

After all, Yoroi could only sustain a battle against a Jonin by utilizing wind chakra nature transformation with sufficient chakra. And because this transformation consumed a lot of chakra, Yoroi's ability to fight a Jonin was very limited in duration.

Given Yoroi's chakra reserves, he had at most five minutes to fight with Jonin-level strength.

In those five minutes, he could unleash power comparable to a Jonin.

Thus, Yoroi's strength level was between a Chunin and a Jonin.

In simpler terms, Yoroi was now a half-step Jonin!

Just a half-step away from having the true strength of a Jonin like Kakashi or Hozuki Mangetsu!

Understanding his situation, Yoroi knew that once he had hurt Mangetsu, he needed to finish the battle within five minutes. Otherwise, his chakra would be depleted, leaving him without the strength to stand before Mangetsu, leading to a fatal outcome.

Fortunately for Yoroi, when he injured Mangetsu with his kunai, Mangetsu's attitude indeed changed.

Especially when Mangetsu felt the pain in his arm and saw the faint smile on Yoroi's face, his anger grew, and he bit his lip hard in frustration!

"Damn it, how dare you wound me!"

"You think I'll let you escape like a cooked duck?"

"Water Release!"

"Water Clone Technique!"

"Poof!"

"Poof!"

"Poof!"

Despite his young age, Mangetsu's experience as a Jonin was evident.

Realizing that Yoroi could injure him, particularly with the Hozuki clan's Hydration Technique, Mangetsu pretended to underestimate Yoroi but became more cautious internally.

Thus, preparing for the next round of silent assassination, Mangetsu formed seals and used the Water Clone Technique.

In the thick mist, Mangetsu created several water clones!

Feeling the intense chakra fluctuations, Yoroi, using the Fourth Hokage's sensing method, detected the creation of Mangetsu's water clones.

Yoroi knew these clones weren't Mangetsu's trump cards.

In Yoroi's view, Mangetsu's true power lay in himself, and the clones were merely distractions, like the Hidden Mist Jutsu.

But what Mangetsu couldn't imagine was Yoroi's grin widening when he realized the water clones had been used.

"Whoosh!"

Mangetsu's water clones, using the Silent Killing technique, attacked Yoroi simultaneously!

But as the clones attacked, a mocking smile appeared on Yoroi's face!

"Hozuki Mangetsu, I already told you, I've seen through your tricks!"

"Your Hidden Mist Jutsu? Your Silent Killing technique? They're useless against me!"

"Break!"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

As Mangetsu's water clones attacked, Yoroi's chakra underwent wind nature transformation.

Under Yoroi's control, the transformed chakra enveloped him, forming an invisible barrier!

If the Fourth Hokage were here, he would be astonished to see Yoroi using his secret sensing technique so well. As Yoroi had said, he had truly grasped the essence of the Fourth Hokage's sensing technique, using his wind chakra to blend into the environment.

Any change in the wind direction allowed Yoroi to sense even the slightest movements around him!

Moreover, Yoroi's spiritual energy was already exceptional, and his spiritual sensing alone could surpass an average Chunin!

Thus, the moment Mangetsu's clones appeared, Yoroi saw through their attack routes using both wind and spiritual sensing. Then, bursting with chakra, Yoroi used the Fourth Hokage's secret technique before Mangetsu's eyes!

The technique that made the Fourth Hokage famous!

Wind Style: Instantaneous Movement!