Hiruzen Sarutobi ensured that everything was in order before stepping out of the small room and returning to his seat. His mind was elsewhere as he absentmindedly watched the battle unfolding below.
Three minutes into the match, Asuma Sarutobi and Mukumo had been testing each other's abilities.
Three shuriken, along with another hidden in their shadows, passed through Mukumo's body without any effect.
Only a few small holes appeared on his form, which healed in the blink of an eye.
"A Kekkei Genkai... Shadow Shuriken Jutsu is useless against him."
Seeing Mukumo's ethereal, mist-like form, Asuma found the situation troublesome.
"As expected, physical attacks won't work."
"Cloud Release: Mist Concealment Technique."
Mukumo's figure gradually dissipated, merging into the cloud mist and disappearing from view.
He can't be allowed to turn this into a battlefield that suits him.
Glancing at the thick white mist spreading before him, Asuma tossed his trench knives into the air and quickly formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust erupted from his mouth, sweeping through the field and dispersing the lingering mist.
Catching his trench knives, Asuma cautiously observed the white-haired boy in front of him. The mist around Mukumo was significantly thinner due to the wind blast.
A thought flashed through Asuma's mind. His eyes narrowed as he silently tested his hypothesis.
Infusing his trench knives with Wind Release chakra, he dashed forward at high speed.
Mukumo swiftly retreated.
Asuma sliced through the fire-imbued cloud bullets blocking his path, a confident smirk forming on his prematurely mature face.
"Your weakness is Wind Release."
Mukumo didn't respond but instead completed a series of hand seals.
"Cloud Release: Cloud Form Transformation—Sand."
A rustling sound filled the air as fine grains of sand swirled into the mist, making the clouded form denser and more opaque.
By blending Earth Release chakra into Cloud Release, the sand increased the cloud's weight, reducing the impact of Wind Release attacks.
This was the countermeasure against Wind Release.
The mist around Mukumo quickly reformed, now carrying a heavier concentration of sand particles.
Asuma's trench knives shimmered as he coated them in Wind chakra, forming razor-sharp edges. Lowering his stance, he charged forward.
"Cloud Release: Flaming Cloud Bullets!"
Dozens of fiery cloud bullets surged toward Asuma in a dense barrage. He ducked and weaved, dodging where he could and slicing through those he couldn't avoid.
So, this Asuma, a Konoha genin, specializes in Wind Release?
Mukumo thought to himself, realizing the situation was turning unfavorable.
Breaking through the fiery barrage, Asuma closed the distance in an instant, slashing his trench knives in a crossing motion!
Mukumo's body couldn't keep up with Asuma's speed. The sharp wind blades easily cut through the air and mist—
Fwoosh!
Mukumo's entire form was sliced into three separate pieces!
His body split apart and drifted away.
Since it was a clean cut rather than a typical Wind Release impact, the added sand weight didn't provide any resistance.
Reassembling the scattered mist to reform his body and heal the wounds would take considerable chakra—and time.
Asuma noticed that Mukumo's restoration process was significantly slower than other mist-based jutsu.
That confirmed his theory.
...
On the Kirigakure Spectator Platform
Ringo Ameyuri bit her lip, grinding her sharpened teeth in frustration.
"Konoha figured out his weakness so quickly."
"The Cloud Mist Jutsu backfired," Yagura noted.
He leaned against the railing—or rather, draped over it—his feet barely touching the ground.
"Forcing Asuma to use Wind Release to clear the mist only helped him pinpoint Mukumo's weakness."
Using the Hidden Mist Technique was standard practice for Mist shinobi.
Since leaving the village, they had only encountered Wind Release once—against a Suna ninja in the Forest of Death.
But Asuma was stronger than that Suna genin. His attacks were faster and incorporated taijutsu.
"In the end, this Kekkei Genkai is more suited for reconnaissance."
Like the Hōzuki Clan's Hydrification Technique, it was immune to physical and Water Release attacks, but it had one clear weakness—Wind Release.
"Wind Release…"
Yagura recalled his fight with Akaiwa a few days prior, where he had used Water Clones hidden within Water Dragon Bullets, layering them with Lightning Release for a continuous attack.
That technique was inspired by the Third Kazekage's use of Wind Release combined with Magnet Release.
However, unlike the Third Kazekage, who could wield Wind Release and Magnet Release simultaneously, Yagura had to rely on clones for assistance.
He looked down in thought. His Wind Release was undeveloped and lacked direction.
The Third Kazekage's Wind Release far outclassed Asuma's.
If it were him, Mukumo wouldn't even leave behind ashes.
That said, with enough chakra, Yagura could replicate a similar level of destruction using Wind Release.
But why would he, when he could simply use Water Release instead?
The Third Kazekage's Wind Release wasn't just powerful—it was lethal because of the iron sand mixed into the wind.
Could Asuma's Wind Release be worth learning?
Using Wind chakra to extend the blade length of his trench knives…
A basic yet effective technique for Wind users, commonly seen in anime and games—sharp, slicing wind blades.
Wait… Wind blades?
A realization struck Yagura like lightning.
His entire posture straightened in excitement.
That's it! How could I forget that classmate of mine?!
His long-standing dilemma had just been solved!
Dangling from the railing, his small feet kicked in excitement.
Then, as his gaze drifted to his legs, his breath hitched for a fraction of a second.
Before anyone could notice, Ringo Ameyuri respectfully averted her eyes, chanting internally,
Forgive me.
Your teammate is in a fight with a Konoha ninja! Focus, Ringo Ameyuri!
...
Dueling Arena
Once again, the mist was sliced apart by Asuma's wind-coated trench knives!
"Another clone."
Mukumo used his two cloud clones as decoys to evade Asuma's pursuit, slipping into the mist to hide once more.
Moments later, a hand made of cloud emerged from the fog, grabbing at Asuma.
He swiftly severed it with a swing of his blade, the resulting wind scattering the mist further.
The back-and-forth attacks continued, depleting both fighters. As the mist thickened once more, obscuring vision, Asuma expanded his chakra outward, trying to disperse the encroaching fog and locate the real Mukumo.
But within the dense mist, hidden eyes watched his every move, tracking his position.
"If wide-area attacks won't work…"
Mukumo had analyzed Asuma's Wind Release style.
Unlike the broad, sweeping Wind Release techniques, Asuma specialized in Wind-infused taijutsu.
That made him more dangerous.
This might be his chance to win.
"Cloud Release...."
Fwoosh!
Hearing the sharp whistle of an incoming attack, Asuma sidestepped just in time to avoid a fire-infused cloud bullet from behind.
Planting his foot firmly, he turned and charged into the mist. "So you're in that direction?!"
Rushing into the fog, he unleashed another gust of Wind chakra—only to find that Mukumo had disappeared.
High above, Mukumo floated, having dissolved his sand form and taken to the air.
With a final hand seal, small crimson clouds drifted down.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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