"So, you've figured it out," Mukade sneered, watching Minato rush toward him. "But I'm afraid you lack the strength to stop me now!"
With a mocking grin, Mukade raised his palm, dark purple energy surging as he aimed it at the approaching Minato. In response, Minato's hand formed an azure Rasengan, the chakra swirling intensely as he advanced. The two forces collided with a powerful shockwave, the purple light mingling with the blue as they pushed against each other.
"Not only can you devour the dragon vein's power, but you can control it too?" Minato observed, eyes narrowing as he examined Mukade's altered form. The man's body had twisted and swelled with unnatural power, his strength and speed now surpassing normal human limits.
Mukade's speed alone was almost enough to rival Minato's, something Minato had rarely encountered. But there was something odd—an ordinary human body shouldn't have withstood such an overwhelming amount of chakra. Unless… this man isn't entirely human, Minato mused. Any ordinary body would have been destroyed by now.
Mukade's twisted smile widened as he sensed Minato's hesitation. "Yellow Flash, even your fabled speed can't overwhelm me anymore!" He clenched his fist, purple energy radiating from it as he swung toward Minato.
Recognizing the danger, Minato released the Rasengan and sidestepped, moving with calculated precision to dodge the punch. He withdrew for a moment, his gaze assessing Mukade.
Boom!
The ground trembled beneath them, rippling out as Mukade continued to absorb the dragon vein's power. The entire foundation of Rōran shook as if on the brink of collapse. The dragon vein is the lifeblood of the land; as its energy was drained, Rōran itself began to weaken, like a tree losing its roots.
Farther away, Sara and Naruto, who had been focused on sealing the dragon vein, both felt the tremor ripple through Rōran. Every inhabitant in the town could feel it, their faces filled with fear and uncertainty as the ground shook beneath them.
I can't let him keep doing this, Minato thought, urgency tightening his expression. Mukade's power was growing by the second, and if left unchecked, he could become unstoppable. Worse still, Rōran itself would be destroyed in the process.
Springing into action, Minato darted to the edge of a nearby crack in the ground, then launched himself forward, closing in on Mukade. He struck out with a powerful punch, aiming to disrupt Mukade's connection to the dragon vein.
But Mukade's eyes glowed with a dark purple hue, his senses heightened by the influx of energy. With a guttural roar, he exhaled a thick plume of purple flame toward Minato.
Minato reacted swiftly, using one hand to support himself on the ground as he flipped over the edge of the crack. In mid-air, he flung a three-pronged kunai to the opposite side, a calculated move that seemed strange, even excessive.
As the purple flame surged forward, nearly engulfing him, Minato vanished in a flash, reappearing at the kunai he'd thrown. Landing gracefully, he faced Mukade, who laughed mockingly at his narrow escape.
"Looks like even the Yellow Flash is finding it hard to keep up!" Mukade taunted, savoring the sense of power that coursed through him.
But Minato remained silent, his eyes sharp with focus as he crouched and placed his hands on the ground. He moved his fingers in a series of quick, practiced seals, his expression unreadable.
Realization dawned on Mukade, his eyes widening as he processed Minato's actions. That seemingly unnecessary kunai throw had been intentional, a step in a larger plan. But by the time Mukade recognized the trick, it was too late.
As Mukade continued absorbing the dragon vein's power, he suddenly felt resistance—a disruption in the flow. His heart sank as he realized that Minato's seals were creating a barrier, a containment field around the dragon vein.
Buzz!
With a bright flash, lines of light emanated from either side of the crack, forming a radiant barrier that glowed with a holy intensity.
"Seal!" Minato's voice was calm but resolute as he activated the jutsu. Instantly, his chakra reserves drained, forcing him out of Sage Mode. But the sealing remained active, a transparent crystalline layer forming over the dragon vein's crack, effectively severing Mukade's connection to its power.
Mukade staggered, a look of shock contorting his face. "A… Fuinjutsu?" he muttered, disbelief lacing his words. In all his research on Minato, he had never heard of this kind of sealing technique. It wasn't like the seals of the Uzumaki clan.
Minato, breathing heavily, managed a faint smile. "The Primordial Seal… A technique I developed myself."
The seal was the result of Minato's years of research, blending elements of the Uzumaki clan's Fuinjutsu with his own innovations. The Primordial Seal could contain immense powers, capable of sealing even a tailed beast for a short time. And while it couldn't contain the entirety of the dragon vein, it was enough to sever Mukade's direct link to the source.
With his connection to the dragon vein severed, Mukade's frustration flared into fury. His eyes blazed as he stomped on the crystalline seal, trying to shatter it, but the barrier held firm.
Trapped, he glared at Minato with venomous resentment. "You… You've ruined everything!"
Minato's slight smile faded, his gaze unwavering. He knew that the Primordial Seal was only a temporary solution; if the dragon vein's power accumulated unchecked, it would eventually break free, possibly destroying Rōran in the process. They needed to reach the dragon vein's core and seal it completely.
"Come on, Naruto, Sara…" Minato murmured under his breath, hoping they would reach the dragon vein's source soon. With each passing moment, the town of Rōran hung in greater peril.
But before he could focus on sealing the dragon vein further, Mukade's eyes gleamed with renewed malice, a cold determination settling over his twisted features.
The Primordial Seal had drained nearly all of Minato's chakra, leaving him vulnerable. Sensing an opportunity, Mukade chuckled darkly, his body swelling with twisted power. "The Yellow Flash… exhausted and powerless? This is my perfect chance."
Minato's heart pounded, aware of his weakened state. He hadn't felt this vulnerable in a long time, but he steadied himself, refusing to show any fear. Despite the chakra depletion, his resolve remained unshaken.
Mukade lunged forward, his grotesque, empowered form resembling a beast hungry for destruction. The ground trembled as he charged, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
But as Mukade closed in, Minato's eyes sparked with renewed focus. His supposed exhaustion was just a façade, his mind racing with a backup plan. In a swift movement, he raised his hands, forming a Rasengan, its blue energy swirling and compacting.
"Odama Rasengan!"
With a mighty push, Minato drove the Rasengan forward. Mukade responded, his fists ablaze with purple energy as he threw them at Minato.
Boom!
The impact shook the ground, both men forced back by the force of their colliding energies. Mukade staggered, frustration evident in his gaze. Despite Minato's apparent weakness, he fought with unyielding tenacity.
Mukade's eyes roamed over Minato, his curiosity piqued. "What secrets lie within you, Namikaze Minato?" he growled, his tone tinged with obsession.
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this FANFIC or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
==============================================