A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

150. The Current State of Affairs on the Battlefront (3)

Meanwhile, on the other side, Hiashi's battle with Shirokai was a dynamic clash of contrasting styles.

Shirokai, known across Sunagakure for his mastery of Wind Release, was determined to keep his distance.

He employed his signature jutsu, Wind Release: Sky Ride, which allowed him to manipulate air currents to move objects—or himself—creating a versatile form of mobility that kept him out of Hiashi's short-range reach as a last resort if needed, and he was caught off guard.

To maintain distance and maneuverability, Shirokai also always utilized the Wind Body Flicker technique to move around.

Quick bursts of wind enhanced his agility and propelled him sideways or backward, effectively dodging Hisashi's aggressive assaults.

Defensively, Shirokai also crafted miniature wind barriers in real-time, countering Hiashi's Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

These barriers, though small, were robust enough to disrupt the flow of Hiashi's chakra-infused strikes, cushioning the impact of the Hyuga's powerful blows.

The battle was a strategic dance—Shirokai weaving through the air with his wind techniques, trying to exploit the range, while Hiashi pursued relentlessly, adapting his tactics to close the gap and land decisive hits.

However, throughout their confrontation, Shirokai didn't just rely on defensive maneuvers; he aggressively used his Wind Release: Wind Whip technique.

This jutsu shaped the air into a long, invisible whip that extended from his hands. Its chakra-infused form allowed it to move with the unpredictable, sinuous motions of a real whip, making it a formidable weapon due to its invisibility and flexibility.

The whip, potent and expansive, could inflict damage with even the lightest touch—its wind chakra capable of lacerating skin as effortlessly as a physical lash.

This forced Hiashi also into a defensive stance a few times, continually on the move to evade the relentless strikes.

To counter the lethal whip, Hiashi employed his Twin Lions Fist technique. Each time the Wind Whip approached, he charged his fists with chakra, clashing directly with the whip to dissipate its force and briefly weaken its structure, creating openings for quick dodges or counterattacks.

The battle between the two was a high-stakes game of attack and parry, each trying to outmaneuver and outlast the other in a display of skill and tactical prowess.

"Are you feeling the pressure yet? You're getting more intense. It seems you're starting to realize that you're losing ground in this battle...", Hiashi commented casually, his gaze sweeping across the chaotic battlefield enabled by his extensive Byakugan vision.

Despite Hikari's absence, the tide appeared to be turning in favor of Konoha. Hiashi's voice remained calm and measured, reflecting neither worry nor doubt about Hikari.

He trusted in the young prodigy's capabilities and resilience, confident that Hikari could handle any adversity he faced.

Shirokai, pausing momentarily from manipulating his Wind Whip, glared at Hiashi through the swirling dust and debris their combat had kicked up. His usual stoic demeanor now showed a hint of irritation,

"Desperate? Hardly...", He replied, his voice firm against the backdrop of roaring winds, "I'm simply adapting my tactics after I figured you out,

"Also, Sunagakure does not give in so easily...", He added, reinforcing his resolve with a sharp gesture that intensified the surrounding air currents.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, despite his composed exterior, Shirokai was indeed beginning to feel the strain.

The absence of Pakura and the unclear circumstances around it unnerved him, especially as he witnessed the Sunagakure forces gradually losing ground.

Determined to take control of the situation, Shirokai knew he needed to quickly defeat Hiashi and then move to stabilize the ranks of his Sunagakure comrades.

As one of the most senior and trusted shinobi on the battlefield, especially with the most respected Pakura missing, it fell to him to rally his troops and uncover what had happened to her.

He planned to swiftly resolve his current duel and then redirect his efforts toward managing the broader conflict, hoping to reverse the trend of increasing opposition to Sunagakure.

He knew all of that information, despite having no Byakugan like Hiashi, due to his unique jutsu, Wind Release: Thoughtless Airspace.

This technique allowed him to extend his chakra into the surrounding air, giving him an omnidirectional sense of perception.

Through this, he could "see" and sense the positions and movements across the battlefield through the traveling wind currents, feeling the shifts in momentum and the increasing pressure on his fellow Sunagakure shinobi.

As Shirokai gradually realized all of this and made his decisions, he quickly channeled his chakra, and the air around him coalesced into the formidable shape of a dragon.

This Wind Release: Wind Dragon Bullet was his most devastating offensive attack. It was a swirling mass of wind-shaped like a fierce dragon, its body composed of razor-sharp chakra that could shred through almost any defense. With a forceful gesture, Shirokai sent the dragon hurtling towards Hiashi at breakneck speeds.

Hiashi, recognizing the imminent threat, quickly reacted. Knowing evasion was impossible due to the speed and scale of the attack, he resorted to his most powerful defensive technique. Chakra surged through his body as he initiated his most powerful and longest-lasting Rotation.

The Wind Dragon collided with Hiashi's churning shield, resulting in an explosive clash. The collision sent shockwaves through the nearby terrain, uprooting smaller trees and sending debris flying.

The ground around them was scored with the marks of the dragon's passage, and the air was filled with the sound of howling wind and the echo of chakra clashing.

Despite Shirokai's ferocity of the attack, Hiashi's Rotation held firm. The protective dome of chakra effectively dispersed the force of the wind dragon, causing it to dissipate before it could breach his defenses. 

"Trouble..." However, soon, Hiashi muttered as his Byakugan revealed the full extent of his predicament. His adversary had cleverly used the previous flashy attack as a setup for a more lethal assault from above.

Unexpectedly, Shirokai had harnessed his wind manipulation skills to elevate himself and fly for a short while, gaining a tactical advantage.

Now, Hiashi found himself cornered, staring up from the crater left by his defensive Rotation as a formidable sharp sword of wind chakra bore down upon him, increasing in intensity.

Hiashi realized he was trapped; his initial Rotation had inadvertently created a defensive pit that now served as a tactical disadvantage, making evasion impossible.

Shirokai's strategy was clear and cunning. He capitalized on the crater to restrict Hiashi's movement and enhance the effectiveness of his aerial strike.

The wind sword, fueled by Shirokai's focused chakra, descended rapidly and aimed to exploit Hiashi's forced immobility.

Hiashi understood then that his opponent had orchestrated the situation to turn his own defensive technique against him.

Therefore, channeling a massive surge of chakra next, Hiashi summoned the full might of his Patriarch's Lineage strongest technique.

His hands glowed with intense white energy, the air around him crackling with the power of accumulated Hyuga secrets.

From this formidable chakra concentration, a majestic serpentine dragon emerged. Its body was composed of dense, luminous white chakra, exuding an aura of undeniable authority and precision.

With a decisive motion, Hiashi propelled the dragon forward. It roared through the crater, a brilliant manifestation of Hyuga's prowess clashing against the formidable wind sword.

The impact was cataclysmic; a deafening boom resonated across the field, sending shockwaves that reshaped the terrain.

The collision's force tore through the landscape, uprooting trees and scattering debris like leaves in a storm.

Despite its power, the wind sword eventually faltered under the relentless assault of the chakra dragon. It shredded through the wind constructs, overpowering them with sheer brute force.

As the dust settled, Hiashi used the explosive discharge from his technique to catapult himself out of the crater.

He landed gracefully outside the now-enlarged crater, both combatants returning to an uneasy standoff.

The battlefield, altered permanently by their clash, bore witness to the terrifying powers at their command.

Shirokai also swiftly retreated during the previous moment of impact, using his Wind Release to glide backward with similar grace.

It was a shock to realize that his opponent held such formidable power. Despite his initial underestimation, Hiashi had proven himself more than a worthy adversary.

As he maintained his distance, Shirokai's expression shifted from one of surprise to grudging respect.

"Hiashi Hyuga, right? The son of the Patriarch of the Hyuga clan?", Shirokai called out, his tone mixed with newfound respect and a hint of irony, "You're not as weak as I expected. You indeed possess considerable strength."

Internally, Shirokai grimaced, acknowledging that their abilities were closely matched, both hovering around the Quasi-Kage level.

Therefore, his initial plan to quickly overpower Hiashi and then assist his troops in stabilizing the battlefront was now dashed. This realization forced him to reconsider his strategy, knowing now that overcoming Hiashi would require more than straightforward tactics.