Naruto: Zanka No Tachi

Chapter 235: NZNT: Chapter 235

Kensei Muguruma was incredibly fast, using Shunpo to instantly appear beside Yusuke Uchiha, lowering his body and using a reverse grip on hi

Kensei Muguruma was incredibly fast, using Shunpo to instantly appear beside Yusuke Uchiha, lowering his body and using a reverse grip on his Zanpakutō to strike at Yusuke Uchiha’s lower ribs. His attack clearly demonstrated his expertise in close-quarters combat.

Yusuke Uchiha easily blocked Kensei Muguruma’s attack with the katana at his hip—not Ryūjin Jakka. Gathering his spiritual pressure, he used a powerful swing of his katana to repel Kensei Muguruma.

After being pushed back several steps, Kensei Muguruma swiftly resumed his assault, relentlessly pressing his offensive against Yusuke Uchiha.

Yusuke Uchiha, relying on his superior agility, skillfully evaded Kensei Muguruma’s attacks while occasionally countering with his katana.

Kensei Muguruma’s spiritual pressure, while respectable, was not particularly strong, ranking among the lower tier of captain-level Shinigami.

Were Yusuke Uchiha to engage in earnest combat, the outcome would have been decided within a single exchange.

However, during this examination, Yusuke Uchiha had no intention of showcasing the full extent of his power, opting instead to control his spiritual pressure and engage in a prolonged sparring match with Kensei Muguruma.

Although Kensei Muguruma appeared to hold the initiative, numerous seasoned experts within the Gotei 13 present at the scene were able to discern that Yusuke Uchiha was not fighting with his full potential.

Their assessment was that Yusuke Uchiha, being a newcomer, was likely exercising restraint in order to avoid causing offense to the established captains, thereby demonstrating his tact and discretion.

”This Shinigami is a master,” Kisuke Urahara remarked, his gaze fixed upon Yusuke Uchiha as he deftly evaded Kensei Muguruma’s relentless assault, his eyes seemingly unfocused. He was seated in a secluded corner of the spectator stands.

Seated beside him was Yoruichi Shihōin, his confidante, the former head of the Onmitsukidō, the inaugural leader of the clandestine organization, and the current head of the Shihōin family.

”You’re being far too cautious,” Yoruichi Shihōin responded with a smile. ”His spiritual pressure is carefully suppressed. Were he to unleash his full potential, he could likely subdue Kensei Muguruma with a single decisive strike.”

Both Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin were undeniably among the most formidable captains within the Gotei 13. During the climactic Thousand-Year Blood War, Kisuke Urahara was even singled out by Yhwach as one of the five individuals possessing exceptional combat prowess, the other four being Ichigo Kurosaki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Hyōsube Ichibei, and Sōsuke Aizen.

This clearly demonstrated the depth of skill and strategic acumen concealed beneath the seemingly flippant and playful demeanor of Kisuke Urahara.

A shadow of concern momentarily clouded Kisuke Urahara’s countenance. ”For reasons that remain unclear to me,” he mused, ”I harbor a persistent suspicion that this man’s presence here is motivated by some undisclosed and perhaps nefarious purpose.”

”Would you require my assistance in mobilizing the Onmitsukidō to aid in the surveillance of this individual?” Yoruichi Shihōin inquired, her voice laced with a hint of concern.

Kisuke Urahara shook his head in response. ”Such measures are not yet necessary,” he replied.

As Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin engaged in their hushed conversation, Kensei Muguruma, too, had perceived that his opponent was merely toying with him, far from engaging in earnest combat.

”So, it seems I have been underestimated,” Kensei Muguruma declared, his voice ringing with a newfound determination. ”Then let us elevate this contest to a higher plane, and engage in combat utilizing our Shikai. Blow it Away: Tachikaze!”

With this declaration, a swirling vortex of spiritual pressure, resembling a miniature whirlwind, enveloped Kensei Muguruma’s Zanpakutō, imbuing the blade with an ethereal green luminescence that caused the eyes of those present to involuntarily water.

Kensei Muguruma’s Zanpakutō, Tachikaze, was a wind-type Zanpakutō, capable of generating exceptionally sharp wind blades, thin as threads, with each swing of the blade.

Upon impact with an opponent, these wind blades would effortlessly slice through their flesh, and depending on the precision of Kensei Muguruma’s control over his spiritual pressure, they could also trigger violent explosions at the points of incision.

From a purely functional perspective, Kensei Muguruma’s Zanpakutō was undeniably a formidable offensive weapon.

Upon witnessing his opponent’s activation of his Shikai, Yusuke Uchiha, in a gesture of reciprocal courtesy, feigned the activation of his own power.

”Unleash your power! Susanoo!”

In keeping with the spirit of this theatrical display, Yusuke Uchiha, having uttered a fabricated release incantation, summoned forth a colossal skeletal figure, a majestic Susanoo, that materialized behind him.

”So, this is your Shikai,” Kensei Muguruma remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. ”It is indeed a remarkably formidable manifestation!”

Within the realm of Soul Society, the ability to materialize one’s Zanpakutō into a powerful, tangible entity was a rare yet not entirely unprecedented phenomenon.

Notable examples of this type of ability included Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s ”Ashisogi Jizō” and Komamura Sajin’s ”Tenken”.

However, such abilities were typically associated with the advanced Bankai state, making the manifestation of a tangible entity through the activation of one’s Shikai an exceptionally rare occurrence. At least, Kensei Muguruma himself had never before encountered such a phenomenon.

Yusuke Uchiha responded with a subtle smile. ”It is merely a trifling skill,” he stated modestly.

The Shinigami assembled in the spectator stands, upon witnessing the emergence of the initial form of the Susanoo, radiating an aura of immense spiritual pressure, erupted into a chorus of excited murmurs.

In their estimation, Yusuke Uchiha, who possessed the audacity to undergo the captaincy examination, clearly possessed exceptional skill, and the prospect of witnessing a clash between two captains employing their Shikai filled them with anticipation.

Following the activation of his Shikai, Yusuke Uchiha took the initiative, launching a series of attacks. Having engaged in a prolonged period of sparring with Kensei Muguruma, he felt he had sufficiently demonstrated respect for his opponent, and thus, defeating him at this juncture would not appear excessive or ostentatious.

With the swift deployment of Shunpo, Yusuke Uchiha and his Susanoo simultaneously launched their assault upon Kensei Muguruma, approaching him from two distinct directions.

The Susanoo, wielding its colossal katana, charged directly towards Kensei Muguruma from the front, while Yusuke Uchiha executed a flanking maneuver, aiming to strike Kensei Muguruma from the side.

Upon perceiving the coordinated assault, Kensei Muguruma immediately responded by wielding his Tachikaze, unleashing two exceptionally fine wind blades that hurtled towards Yusuke Uchiha and the Susanoo.

Yusuke Uchiha, with a slight movement of his body, effortlessly evaded the wind blades through a simple display of agility.

The Susanoo, however, relying on its formidable defensive capabilities, absorbed the impact of the wind blades directly.

Remarkably, the exceedingly thin wind blades not only failed to penetrate the Susanoo’s formidable defenses, but the concussive force generated by their subsequent explosion also proved insufficient to inflict any damage upon the colossal entity.

”What?!” Kensei Muguruma exclaimed, his expression one of utter astonishment, clearly taken aback by the unexpected ineffectiveness of his wind blades.

At this precise juncture, Yusuke Uchiha, moving with breathtaking speed, had already closed the distance to Kensei Muguruma’s side, while the Susanoo, owing to its immense size, had advanced within striking distance of Kensei Muguruma with only a couple of strides. For a brief moment, Kensei Muguruma found himself trapped in a pincer movement.

With a resounding boom, the Susanoo’s massive katana crashed into the arena floor, creating a sizable crater and sending a cloud of dust and debris billowing into the air.

The spectators positioned at the edge of the arena were unable to discern the events unfolding within the dust cloud, but they could clearly hear the rhythmic clang of clashing blades emanating from within. Suddenly, a figure, identifiable by his silver hair and captain’s haori, was propelled backward with considerable force.

The individual who had been flung back was, of course, Kensei Muguruma, his Zanpakutō held defensively before his chest.

During the brief but intense exchange of swordsmanship within the dust cloud, Kensei Muguruma had found himself at a distinct disadvantage, only managing to extricate himself through the utilization of the recoil generated by the clash of his Zanpakutō against his opponent’s blade.

”This individual’s swordsmanship is truly extraordinary,” Kensei Muguruma mused to himself, a note of awe in his voice. ”No, that is not quite accurate. It is his spiritual pressure that is truly exceptional. In terms of both speed and power, he completely surpasses me!”

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Kensei Muguruma suddenly found himself enveloped in a looming shadow, a colossal figure materializing before him.

”This is bad!”

Recognizing the imminent peril, Kensei Muguruma instinctively reacted, whirling around and raising his Zanpakutō to deflect the massive katana that the Susanoo was bringing down upon him in a vertical strike.

With another deafening clang, the immensely powerful Susanoo cleaved the ground, sending Kensei Muguruma hurtling downwards, his head and arms, along with his Zanpakutō, being the only parts of his body still visible above the surface.

Although the earth was unable to restrain Kensei Muguruma’s movements, extricating himself from this predicament would require a significant expenditure of time and effort—a window of opportunity that would be more than sufficient for Yusuke Uchiha to deliver a fatal blow.

By this point, Yusuke Uchiha had closed the distance to Kensei Muguruma’s side and, with a serene smile, extended his right hand towards Kensei Muguruma, offering assistance in extracting him from the earth.

The outcome of the battle was now beyond any reasonable doubt.

Gazing upon Yusuke Uchiha’s composed countenance, Kensei Muguruma let out a wry chuckle, shaking his head in acceptance of defeat, before firmly grasping the hand that Yusuke Uchiha had extended towards him.

With a gentle exertion of strength, Yusuke Uchiha effortlessly lifted Kensei Muguruma from the earth, and both combatants simultaneously deactivated their Shikai. For Yusuke Uchiha, this simply involved the dismissal of his Susanoo.

____________________

For more advance Chapters visit my patreon

patreon.com/kane45

Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter

20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter

40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter

Update: ”Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day”

”Saturday and Sunday - Off”