Naruto: Power in Play

Chapter 35

Shinno's fist struck like a meteor, and the world reeled from the impact. The ground beneath them warped, shrieking as it twisted, the shockwave rippling outward in a violent pulse. Dust and debris erupted into the air, a suffocating storm of shattered metal and stone.

Jiraiya barely had time to register the devastation before a dark red blur cut through the chaos. Shinno was already upon him.

A fist hurtled toward his face—he barely tilted his head in time, feeling the air crackle as the punch grazed past. Jiraiya countered, twisting his hips and launching a knee into Shinno's ribs. The blow landed, but instead of staggering back, Shinno grinned.

He barely felt it.

Shinno struck back with terrifying speed, a rapid succession of jabs aimed at Jiraiya's torso. The Sannin deflected them as best he could, blocking one, dodging another, but a third connected, slamming into his shoulder. A sickening crunch rang out, and Jiraiya was sent skidding backward.

Hiruzen, though wounded, jumped back into the fight.

His staff elongated in an instant, whistling through the air as it arced toward Shinno's temple. The Sky Ninja pivoted, catching the staff mid-swing with one hand. His grip tightened, bending the unbreakable weapon as his eyes locked onto the Hokage.

A smirk flickered across Shinno's face. He yanked the staff forward with brutal force, aiming to rip Hiruzen off balance. But the Hokage vanished.

In his place, a solid boulder shattered under the force of Shinno's attack. Permutation Jutsu. Shinno's eyes widened in realization before a rush of air came from his blind spot.

CRACK!

Hiruzen's staff slammed into his back with punishing force, the impact ringing out like a war drum. Shinno staggered forward, his muscles seizing for an instant, the shock traveling up his spine.

And Jiraiya burst forward.

A cloud of smoke heralded the arrival of two clones, materializing mid-air as they launched a synchronized assault. They came from three directions, a flurry of limbs and chakra-enhanced strikes. The first struck high, the second low, the third came straight down, aiming for the skull.

Shinno twisted. Too fast.

His arms lashed out, deflecting the first blow, then the second. The third came too close, but he still managed to counter with a vicious elbow to the gut. The clone exploded into smoke.

The remaining two Jiraiyas pressed forward, undeterred. One launched into a spinning kick, the force behind it enough to dent steel. The other shot forward, palm outstretched, chakra gathering at his fingertips.

A Rasengan flared to life, whirling with violent energy. Positioned behind Shinno, Hiruzen was not idle either. His staff pulsed with lightning chakra, ready to batter the hulking giant.

But Shinno's reaction time was just too short. Depriving his opponent of the small window of weakness that would have normally appeared. His arms shot out like viper strikes. He caught Jiraiya's leg mid-spin, twisted sharply, and threw him straight into Hiruzen's oncoming strike, sending the two tumbling down into the ground.

Shinno then rolled with his movement, spinning and catching the clone with the back of his fists, destroying it in one fluid motion.

The master of the Ancor Vantian exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he surveyed his battered foes.

"This is your strength?" he scoffed; his voice barely winded. "You Konoha fools rely so much on jutsu, on tricks, on raw chakra. Pitiful. Let me show you just how outclassed you are."