Chapter 342: 341-Burning Chains
The air crackled with tension as the battlefield lay engulfed in chaos, illuminated by the eerie, pulsating glow of Renjiro's green, flame-imbued adamantine chains. The chains coiled and writhed like serpents of molten jade, their radiant heat distorting the air around them. Renjiro stood at the epicentre of this storm, his Susanoo's skeletal form shimmering and cracking under the weight of relentless combat. Blood trickled from his nose and eyes, a testament to the toll his prolonged Mangekyo Sharingan usage was exacting on him.
Tani, in her Matatabi form, loomed like a fiery nightmare. Her massive, feline figure, cloaked in blue flames, was a stark contrast to the green inferno of Renjiro's chains. Beside her, three identical clones, each an infernal replica of the original, fanned out across the battlefield, their glowing eyes locked onto their shared target. Tani's confidence simmered as she observed Renjiro's strained posture.
'He's strong,' she thought, 'but not invincible. His speed is a bit slower than mine, and his defences, while formidable, can be bypassed. With the four of us, we'll tear him apart… as long as I avoid those chains.'
The chains, burning with an intensity that seemed to defy logic, worried her. But nevertheless, she carried on. She was aware t ahatny hesitation was cost her more than she could afford.
The four Matatabis launched forward, each from a different direction, their movements fluid and coordinated. The ground beneath them trembled as their fiery forms left trails of scorched earth in their wake. Renjiro's Sharingan spun wildly, tracking every movement, his mind calculating and recalibrating despite the strain on his body.
While Renjiro's green flames could burn chakra, his chakra was immune to it and since his adamantine chains were made up of his chakra, he was able to achieve this feat of combining his green flames with his silver adamantine chains.
"Shit," Renjiro muttered, his voice a hoarse whisper.
The weight of his Susanoo, while a powerful shield, was becoming a liability. Its skeletal structure was incomplete, and the burden of its movements fell entirely on him. Every step he took felt like dragging a boulder uphill, but there was no room for hesitation.
The first Matatabi clone lunged at Renjiro with feral intensity, its claws glowing like molten steel, the heat emanating from them palpable even through the layers of chakra and the skeletal Susanoo surrounding him.
Renjiro narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan capturing every flicker of its movement. He then swung his chains in a wide arc, the green flames roaring as they connected with the clone's torso.
"Szzzt!"
The chains struck the first clone square in the torso, and the green flames erupted violently on contact. The fire burned not just flesh but chakra itself, consuming it in a way that defied the natural order.
"Roar!"
The clone let out a guttural scream, a sound so raw and visceral it seemed to echo the very essence of pain. Its massive form flickered, the blue flames of its Matatabi body faltering as it leapt back, clutching its chest with a massive paw.
Before Renjiro could catch his breath, the second clone was upon him. It darted low, its movements fluid and unpredictable, aiming to strike beneath the protection of the Susanoo. Renjiro snapped his wrist, the chains responding like an extension of his own will.
The emerald fire erupted again as the chains met their mark, searing through the second clone's flank.
"Roar!"
This time, the scream was even louder, a howling wail that vibrated in the air like a dirge. The clone staggered back, its body writhing as it desperately tried to shake off the burning agony.
But Renjiro's victory was short-lived. The remaining two figures closed in, their fiery maws wide open, revealing rows of glistening, chakra-fueled teeth. They struck in unison, their jaws clamping down on the Susanoo's skeletal frame.
"Clench!"
Renjiro winced as the impact reverberated through his body. The Susanoo shuddered, cracks spider-webbing across its ribs. The clones' chakra-infused flames began to seep into the Susanoo, attacking it from within.
"Not good," Renjiro muttered, his voice a strained growl. His mind raced as he poured more chakra into the chains augmenting his Susanoo. The green flames flared up, roaring like an enraged beast.
The clones recoiled almost instantly, their yelps of pain cutting through the battlefield. They backed away, their forms flickering as the oppressive heat of the flames forced them to retreat.
Tani watched, her fiery mane crackling as both she and her clones regrouped around her. "I was wary of those chains before," she muttered under her breath, her glowing eyes narrowing. "But now, I really need to avoid them."
The sensation of the green flames still haunted her. Matatabi, a being born of fire, was not supposed to feel pain from flames. Yet, the burn from those chains was unlike anything she'd ever encountered. It was deeper, more invasive, as if it were tearing through the very fabric of her existence.
Renjiro wasn't about to let her recover. With a guttural roar, he crossed his arms, his chains snapping outward with ferocious speed. They coiled like serpents, ensnaring two of Tani's clones mid-leap.
The clones thrashed and writhed, their screams echoing as the green fire consumed them. The flames spiralled around their torsos, eating away at their chakra reserves with an almost sadistic hunger.
The remaining two figures wasted no time. They surged forward, their bodies glowing with an intense blue light as they began forming Tailed Beast Bombs. The energy coalesced rapidly, the sheer pressure of it distorting the air around them.
Renjiro's eyes darted between the glowing orbs and the charging clones. He knew he couldn't afford to let them complete the attack. With a flick of his wrists, he hurled the captured clones toward their companions.
"Crash!"
The collision was catastrophic. The captured clones collided with the attackers, their unstable Tailed Beast Bombs detonating in a violent explosion. The shockwave was deafening, a wall of force that sent debris and dust flying in every direction.
Renjiro staggered but held his ground, his Susanoo absorbing the brunt of the impact. Behind him, the remnants of Miyahira bore the brunt of the explosion, reduced to rubble and ash.
But he wasn't finished. With a sharp inhale, Renjiro summoned a massive chain that combusted into green flames as it lashed out toward Tani and her clones. The fiery chain tore through the air with a deafening roar, aiming to ensnare all four of them in its searing embrace.
Tani, now fully alert to the danger, leapt back with her clones just in time, the chain slamming into the ground where they had stood. The impact left a smouldering crater, the green flames licking hungrily at the edges.
Amid the chaos, Renjiro's body betrayed him. Blood now poured freely from his nose and eyes, staining his face. His vision blurred, and his breath came in shallow, ragged gasps.
"Keep moving," he told himself, his internal voice steady despite his failing body. "Don't stop."
Tani saw her opportunity. She roared, and all four Matatabis charged again, their flames merging into a brilliant inferno as they coordinated their attack. Renjiro's Sharingan spun, tracking their movements, but his body felt heavier than ever.
"Boom!"
A coordinated strike forced Renjiro to leap into the air, his muscles screaming in protest. A sickening crack echoed in his ears as he felt bones in his legs and ribs crack under the strain.
"Damn it," he hissed, his teeth gritted in pain. But sheer willpower kept him standing, even as agony coursed through his body.
With one final surge of determination, Renjiro focused all his remaining strength into his chains. They lashed out, faster and more precise than before, wrapping around Tani and her three clones in a fiery web. The green flames burned brighter, their intensity forcing the Matatabis to scream in pain as they were pinned to the ground.
Tani struggled, her fiery form flickering under the chains' oppressive heat. "This… this can't be…" she growled, her voice filled with frustration and disbelief.
Renjiro staggered, his vision darkening at the edges. He bit his thumb, smearing blood across his hand before slamming it onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
A massive cloud of smoke erupted around him, and he felt the ground shift beneath his feet. The last thing he saw before his vision faded completely was the outline of a giant bird beneath him.
"Get me out of here," he whispered, his voice a breathless plea before he collapsed.
As the smoke cleared, the battlefield fell silent, the green flames flickering out one by one. Renjiro, unconscious but victorious, was carried away, leaving behind a landscape marked by fire and destruction.
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