Chapter 245: The Ever-Spinning Rasengan [Part Seven] (Patreon)

Chapter List: Naruto: Sakura Blizzard

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"Fetters?!" Gangshi's eyes filled with disgust as he heard Naruto's words. "Such a boring term!"

"Judging by your reaction, you've probably never experienced it, have you?" Naruto paid no heed to Gangshi's attitude; instead, he smiled. "Someone who's never had companions, how could you understand the feeling of bonds?"

"I don't need so-called companions, and I certainly don't want to experience those so-called bonds!"

Gangshi sneered, his expression twisted. "Since you seem to be so fond of these 'bonds' between comrades, I'll help you sever them completely!"

"Don't joke..."

Naruto held a kunai in his left hand and the Rasengan in his right as he charged towards Gangshi. "I won't let anyone harm my comrades. I won't forgive anyone who tries!"

"You little brat, don't be naive. You can't hurt me..."

Gangshi stood still, not dodging or avoiding, showing confidence in his Steel Release. "I'll make you feel the pain you've never felt before."

"Swish..."

Naruto flung the kunai away and continued charging behind it.

"Do you think you can hurt me with just a kunai?" Gangshi disdainfully knocked the kunai aside with his hand. But just as he raised his hand, Naruto was already in front of him.

"If the kunai can't hurt you, then how about this?"

Naruto pressed the spinning Rasengan against Gangshi's abdomen, tearing his clothes into pieces. "Rasengan..."

"Ugh..."

Gangshi let out a muffled groan, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

"Thud..."

Gangshi's body slammed heavily to the ground, producing a dull sound.

"Did it work?" Naruto didn't dare to be too careless; he knew not to underestimate his enemy until victory was certain. Kakashi had taught them this lesson during their first training session.

"Cough, well, you almost got me hurt..."

However, Gangshi slowly climbed to his feet from the ground. Looking at the tears in his clothes and the blood from the Rasengan wound on his abdomen, it wasn't a severe injury, but it did prove that the Rasengan had penetrated his defenses.

"Do you think you've succeeded?"

Gangshi sneered, and his face twisted into a cruel smile. "That was probably your strongest ninjutsu, right? Even that move had no effect on me. Do you still want to resist?"

"Are you sure it had no effect?"

Naruto pointed to the wound on Gangshi's abdomen with a smile. "A regular Rasengan hurt you. What do you think a more powerful one would do?"

"Youngster, do you think I'll give you a chance?"

Upon hearing Naruto's words, Gangshi burst into laughter. The Rasengan had indeed made him feel danger. His Steel Release had been broken by the Rasengan earlier, and if the Rasengan were even more powerful, he would be in serious trouble. To prevent himself from being outsmarted, Gangshi decided to take action first.

"Earth Release - Light-Weight Rock Technique..."

Gangshi swiftly applied the Light-Weight Rock Technique to himself, reducing his weight. He then moved towards Naruto like the wind.

"Earth Release - Fist Rock Technique..."

A sturdy earth fist guard appeared on Gangshi's right hand. While not as strong as the Third Tsuchikage, it was still formidable.

With the Earth Release-enhanced right fist guard, Gangshi aimed a punch at Naruto. With his strength and the added power of Earth Release, a single punch could severely injure Naruto.

However, Naruto did not attempt to evade the attack. Instead, he stood in place, smiling.

"Thud..."

"What? It's a Shadow Clone?"

In the moment of impact, Naruto's body instantly turned into a cloud of white mist. Seeing this, Gangshi's face turned pale. If this was a Shadow Clone, where was the real Naruto?

"Let's try this..."

Simultaneously, the kunai that had been knocked away by Gangshi earlier erupted into smoke, revealing Naruto holding a blue and cyan-colored Rasengan next to Gangshi.

"You wanted to sever my bonds? Then I'll use my bonds to defeat you personally. Remember, this is the most powerful Taichi Rasengan..."

The blue and cyan-colored Rasengan struck Gangshi. He had not expected Naruto to transform into the kunai and catch him off guard. The Rasengan hit him squarely in the lower back.

"Poof..."

Even though Gangshi had quickly used Steel Release to enhance his defenses, he was still severely injured by Naruto's Taichi Rasengan.

"How is this possible? How could your ninjutsu harm me?"

Gangshi stared in disbelief. The wound on his lower back was excruciating, but the shock he felt inside was even greater. It was the same Rasengan, so why did it manage to hurt him?

"Because it's a ninjutsu fueled by bonds, a Rasengan that keeps spinning..."

Naruto stood straight, and Kakashi and the Third Hokage watched him with tears in their eyes. His silhouette resembled Minato so much.

"Fetters are nothing but boring lies," Gangshi spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes darkened. "So-called comrades can never be relied upon."

Naruto glanced at him, then turned and walked away. However, the look of pity in his eyes only fueled Gangshi's anger.

"Medical team, come and collect the body..."

As someone who had grown up in the Will of Fire, Gekko Hayate held a strong disdain for someone like Gangshi, who had no comrades. His words further infuriated Gangshi, who gave him a fierce glare.

"Tsk, tsk, you're really lucky..."

Haku checked Gangshi's pulse as per protocol, then shook his head. "I won't go into detail about your other injuries, but you can forget about being a ninja in the future. Your spinal column is shattered. You'll either be confined to a hospital bed or a wheelchair from now on."

"What?" White's words hit Gangshi like a thunderbolt. Unable to continue being a ninja? What would be the point of his life then?

"Bandage him, carry him away, use the best medicine, and try to heal him as much as possible. As doctors, we can't stand by and watch a child lose their dreams!"

Haku spoke with great conviction. After Zabuza picked Gangshi up, Haku whispered, "By the way, use the most expensive medicine, and when the time comes, demand more money from the Third Tsuchikage at Hidden Rock Village. Understand?"

"I got it!" Zabuza and White exchanged a knowing look, then quickly carried Gangshi away.

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 246: Submerged in Uncertainty [Part One]