Chapter 123: Jiraiya Returns to the Village
"Brother Shisui, have you fought against all the Kage before?" Naruto asked with sparkling eyes. Sasuke and Karin leaned in too, visibly curious.
Shisui chuckled. "Not quite. I’ve only crossed paths with the Raikage and the Kazekage in combat. The Tsuchikage and the Mizukage—I’ve never fought them directly. The Mizukage has always remained secluded, and Ōnoki... well, he’s more of a stubborn old rock that doesn’t move unless necessary."
"Then how do you know how strong they are?" Naruto tilted his head, his curiosity not fading.
Shisui smiled faintly. "The Uchiha clan archives hold a lot of information. Ōnoki, for instance, is well-known for mastering one of the most dangerous techniques in the world: Dust Release. He’s considered the most talented among a rather unimpressive batch of Tsuchikage bodyguards."
"Dust Release?" Karin asked, puzzled. "What exactly does that mean?"
Shisui plucked a leaf from a nearby tree and balanced it in his palm. "Let me explain. Chakra comes in different natures—wind, fire, earth, water, and lightning. Mastering the nature of a chakra element is one of the steps to becoming a capable jonin. For example, wind chakra has cutting properties."
He focused his chakra, and the leaf sliced cleanly in half. "Fire chakra, on the other hand, has high heat and burning properties. When you combine two chakra natures, it creates a Kekkei Genkai—a bloodline limit. Ice Release, for example, comes from combining wind and water. Lava Release comes from earth and fire."
"But what about Dust Release?" Sasuke asked.
"That’s when three chakra natures are fused. Dust Release is a combination of wind, earth, and fire. It’s devastating. It doesn’t just destroy—it disintegrates. Anything caught in its blast is reduced to atoms. No pain. Just... gone."
Naruto blinked. "So who’s stronger—you or the Tsuchikage?"
Shisui laughed. "If I could land a sneak attack, maybe I’d have a chance. But in a head-on battle? Ōnoki’s Dust Release is too dangerous. I’m fast, though—faster than him. He can fly, but he can’t catch me. Still, I wouldn’t want to face him directly."
He then clapped his hands together. "Anyway, now that Naruto’s awake, we’re heading back to the village. Tazuna’s situation is resolved, and you three need to train harder. You’re still way too green."