Chapter 112: Art of Earth and Stone
At this moment, Kitsuchi was filled with both shock and frustration.
It had only been a short time since they last met, yet Uchiha Kei had become almost unrecognizable — as if he were a completely different person.
Not only was his speed drastically faster, but unlike before, Kei could now actually break through Kitsuchi's defenses.
If not for Kitsuchi's deep foundation in physical strength and his relentless offensive tactics to keep Kei pressured, he might already have been lying dead on the ground.
He had to admit — the personal prowess of the Uchiha clan was truly exceptional.
It was no wonder this kid was able to later kill Gari and even wipe out Ishimizu Hiiragi squad.
But even so, this wasn't the limit of Kitsuchi's abilities.
He wasn't just strong in taijutsu — his earth-style ninjutsu was honed to an extraordinary, almost divine level.
Seeing arcs of lightning dancing across Uchiha Kei's hand, Kitsuchi coldly snorted.
He wasn't Might Guy — he couldn't perfectly avoid eye contact and counter Kei's genjutsu with pure instinct.
However, at his level of experience, he could at least manage to some extent.
Even if it came at the cost of sustaining injuries, it was still manageable.
Kitsuchi took a step back and rapidly formed hand seals.
In an instant, his hands clapped together, completing the jutsu, and a massive earth wall erupted from the ground between them.
Uchiha Kei immediately thrust his left hand into the wall, his arm piercing clean through the thick earth.
Yet the wall showed no sign of crumbling.
Instead, under Kitsuchi's chakra control, it rapidly solidified once again.
Kei's scarlet eyes scanned the earth wall — with his enhanced vision, he could even faintly see Kitsuchi's figure on the other side.
Tilting his head slightly, Kei let the Chidori in his left hand surge outward, spreading into a massive web of electricity that wrapped around the entire wall.
Kitsuchi, sensing the danger, quickly retreated — after all, lightning release was a natural counter to earth techniques.
Sizzle—
A crisp sound echoed in Kitsuchi's ears.
It wasn't the thunderous explosion he had anticipated, but rather the faint hiss you might hear when tossing a burning cigarette into water.
The earth wall remained completely intact.
That seemingly overwhelming web of lightning hadn't even left a scratch!
Uchiha Kei's attack had little real power behind it.
Slowly withdrawing his hand from the wall, Kei casually flicked the dust from his fingers.
He didn't actually know how to use Chidori Stream yet — he was still waiting for Kakashi to develop it!
"Hmph!"
Kitsuchi grunted coldly, seething inside.
He couldn't believe that despite his expertise in earth release, he had been tricked so easily by a mere kid, and at his most proficient field no less!
It was undeniable — Uchiha Kei's oppressive pressure had thrown him off balance.
After suffering so many setbacks, he no longer dared to act carelessly — and in doing so, he had missed a perfect opportunity to strike.
Moreover, Kei's sudden burst of speed was still vivid in his mind — caution was the only rational choice.
Taking a deep breath, Kitsuchi gripped a kunai tightly and lunged at Uchiha Kei, his body moving like a cannonball.
In a flash, he shattered the very earth wall he had just created!
Boom!
Fragments of stone and dust exploded outward.
Sharp pieces of debris shot toward Uchiha Kei like a rain of shrapnel.
Even the trees surrounding them were torn apart by the sheer force of Kitsuchi's strike!
Seeing the explosion of debris, Uchiha Kei immediately retreated, his crimson Sharingan locked onto Kitsuchi as he rapidly formed hand seals.
In less than a second, his Fire Release technique was completed.
'Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!'
Under Kei's precise control, a massive burst of flames erupted from the ground, perfectly blocking Kitsuchi's incoming punch just before it could connect!
At the same time, Kei unsheathed his ninja blade once more, blue chakra surging along its edge as he slashed at Kitsuchi's fist!
Unfortunately, this time Kitsuchi's fist had already transformed into solid rock — its terrifying hardness easily withstood Kei's slash without taking any visible damage.
However, Kei only smiled slightly.
Of course he recognized the 'Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique.'
While it enhanced both attack and defense by turning the hand into stone, did that really mean a chakra-imbued blade couldn't harm it?
"Raikiri!"
Suddenly, Kei's blade erupted with a surge of terrifying lightning chakra.
Already scorched by the earlier flames, Kitsuchi's stone fist was now assaulted by lightning, and he could no longer maintain its hardened form.
Failing to land his punch, Kitsuchi quickly retreated.
His right hand reverted to normal, though a fresh gash now marred his skin.
Scarlet blood trickled down, resembling Kei's own blood-red Sharingan.
Yet, Kitsuchi showed no sign of pain or hesitation.
Even as he withdrew, he launched another earth-style technique to intercept Kei's pursuit.
"What a turtle," Kei muttered under his breath.
He had to admit — the defensive capabilities of the Iwagakure shinobi were truly despair-inducing.
Kei had fought on the battlefield for seven years:
He had clashed with Sand shinobi in the Land of Rivers, battled Cloud ninja in the Land of Hot Springs, and was later transferred to the Land of Grass to fight against Stone shinobi.
Aside from not having faced the Hidden Mist or Whirlpools directly, Kei had essentially fought shinobi from every major village.
And among them all, the Iwagakure ninja were undoubtedly the hardest to bring down.
Their earth techniques, while somewhat lacking offensively, gave them terrifying defensive power — enough to withstand most other ninjutsu.
Still, Kei remained calm.
He had a trump card prepared — a special "gift" he intended to present to Kitsuchi.
Leaping lightly into the air, Kei easily evaded Kitsuchi's 'Earth Release: Great Ground Core' technique.
Meanwhile, he pondered how to finish this fight quickly.
Who knew how things were going for Kakashi right now?
And there was always the risk of White Zetsu spying under Madara's orders.
But Kei wasn't overly concerned.
He doubted that Uchiha Madara would come looking for trouble — not after securing Obito and confirming the "goodness" still lingering in Obito's heart.
"Hm?"
While deep in thought, Kei suddenly noticed something odd:
Kitsuchi's hand seal speed had slowed slightly.
Sensing danger, Kei didn't hesitate.
He swiftly pulled out several kunai and hurled them toward Kitsuchi, noticing that Kitsuchi's chakra was boiling violently within his body.
However, Kitsuchi seemed well-prepared.
Even when Kei's kunai shifted trajectory midair, aiming for his blind spots, they ultimately failed to inflict any injury.
The moment Kei landed back on the ground, his expression darkened —
The earth beneath his feet had turned into a swamp!
'Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!'
The name of the technique flashed across Kei's mind instantly.
Even worse, he saw that the scattered rubble around him had fused into two massive, hemispherical boulders, now hurtling toward him under Kitsuchi's chakra control!
"No one can escape! You will be crushed between the mountains and slumber forever!"
Kitsuchi sneered, still careful not to meet Kei's eyes.
"You should feel honored to witness this technique. I'm still perfecting it, but it's already more than enough."
"Added Weight Earth Technique, huh?" Kei muttered, glancing at the two converging boulders.
He sighed softly:
"Impressive. With chakra levels like that and such a technique, maybe someday you'll even be able to trap a Tailed Beast."
"Have you accepted your fate, Uchiha brat? Your name is Uchiha Kei, right?"
"That's right. Uchiha Kei." Kei's voice remained calm.
"But... why are you so certain you're going to win?"
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