"Space is being blocked? No, this feeling... it's like I simply can't reach him."
"Or rather, I can't touch him at all."
"Chōmei, the chakra pushed me back!"
It was a sense of distance he couldn't overcome, leaving Gekko Chizan completely on the defensive.
He was analyzing the situation, trying to figure out why his attacks weren't working. To buy time, he passed the problem to Chōmei, asking for his help.
"Boom!"
A surge of chakra erupted from beneath Gekko Chizan's feet, shattering the ground below. Using the recoil, he leapt backward.
Just in time to dodge Uchiha Makito's attack.
"Hmph, annoying like a fly, yet sharp as ever."
"But in the end, it's pointless. You can't touch me."
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A stream of fierce flames shot out before Uchiha Makito, and under the influence of his dōjutsu, it darted straight for Gekko Chizan's chest.
The flames came too fast. Gekko Chizan had no choice but to rely on Flying Thunder God to evade.
He dodged again, but this time, he chose a farther position, avoiding exposing himself.
He was thinking about the enemy's dōjutsu.
From his understanding, it was some sort of invisible power—capable of instantly bringing attacks to his side while rendering his own attacks ineffective.
Space-time ninjutsu? But it didn't seem the same as the space-warping techniques he knew.
"Chōmei, what do you think?"
Chōmei stayed silent for a moment before speaking.
"Hard to say. But I don't think it's space-time ninjutsu. I've come to understand your Flying Thunder God a bit by now—it's a space-jumping technique."
"If it were space-time ninjutsu, there should be spatial fluctuations when he uses it. But just now, when you closed in with that Thousand Years of Death, I didn't sense any spatial ripples. So I don't think it's space-time ninjutsu."
"But there was one detail—when he turned around and saw you, that's when your attack was interrupted."
"My suggestion: use clones to harass him."
Gekko Chizan nodded. He was planning on that anyway. Dōjutsu usually required visual contact; if you couldn't see the target, you couldn't use it.
Like Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, even Kamui—they all required a focal point. He needed to figure out exactly what technique this was.
"And we need to help Yahiko and the others."
"Wonder how they're holding up."
"Tch, the rhythm's been disrupted."
"Can't waste time. Let's begin. Shadow Clone Technique."
Gekko Chizan didn't dare delay. As white smoke rose, that wasn't the end of it.
"Crystal Release: Crystal Shadow Clone Technique!"
Both shadow clones and crystal shadow clones appeared simultaneously.
Counting the real body, there were fifteen Gekko Chizans in total.
Five immediately rushed toward Yahiko's direction.
The rest charged straight at Uchiha Makito.
"Shadow clones, huh..."
"Fire Style: Lotus Technique."
Facing Gekko Chizan's assault, Uchiha Makito showed no fear.
Blue flames erupted once again.
Gekko Chizan wasn't one to stay on the defensive.
He wouldn't allow himself to keep taking hits passively.
Crystal senbon shot forward, surging toward Uchiha Makito.
The other clones also unleashed attacks one after another.
In an instant, fire, wind, and a storm of senbon blasted toward him together.
"Pointless. Under the gaze of my eyes, your attacks will have no effect."
The same scene played out again.
All attacks froze in midair, unable to advance a single step.
"Is that so..."
"But what about behind you...?"
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A cold voice rang out behind Uchiha Makito.
The next moment, a roaring sea of flames erupted, so fierce it set the entire forest ablaze.
For the first time, Uchiha Makito's face showed seriousness.
He was now under attack from all directions.
"Boom!"
The barrier blocking attacks vanished, and Gekko Chizan and his clones' assaults landed together, triggering a massive explosion in the forest.
The deafening blast was loud enough for even Yahiko's group to hear.
"What's going on?"
"Huh? Is that Chizan? A clone?"
"He found that strange enemy?"
"Hahaha! Chizan, you're my friendr indeed!"
"Kill!"
Seeing reinforcements arrive, Yahiko's blood boiled.
Even with only a single kunai, he charged the enemy again.
When the explosion faded, an open clearing appeared in the forest, scorch marks everywhere.
Gekko Chizan's clones vanished. His eyes locked on a distant treetop.
Because his enemy stood there, the edge of his robe still smoldering.
Clearly, the attack had worked—forcing him to dodge.
"Chōmei, as I thought. His technique can block attacks he sees, but unseen attacks slip through."
"Mm. Seems that way. But how exactly is he blocking them?"
Staring at his opponent's charred clothes, Gekko Chizan's mind spun rapidly.
If this dōjutsu was like Obito's Kamui, then that attack would've burned him before he could phase into another dimension.
But it hadn't—it only singed his clothes.
This situation brought one term to Gekko Chizan's mind:
"Shrinking the Earth into Inches."
A movement art crossing thousands of miles in a single step.
A technique centered on distance and speed.
If he could instantly move to any point he could see, that would make sense.
Suddenly, a spark flashed in his mind.
Distance? The untouchable distance?
At that moment, Gekko Chizan seemed to grasp the key.
"Chōmei, I want to try something. If I'm right, then I know what his ability is."
Chōmei was shocked. He figured it out already?
This kid Chizan… impressive...
"You bastard!"
Uchiha Makito's heart burned with rage—but also a trace of surprise.
Rage because of his own embarrassment.
Surprise because Gekko Chizan could unleash such a powerful Fire Style.
The Uchiha clan's mastery of Fire Style was unmatched in the shinobi world, yet that Majestic Destroyer Flame had shocked even him.
Finally, he understood why Uchiha Madara had marked Gekko Chizan for death.
This level of power was troublesome indeed. He needed to finish this quickly.
Murderous intent condensed within Uchiha Makito's heart.
He was ready to kill.