Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

"Earth Style: Rock Iron Cannon!"

Several rock iron projectiles grew larger as they flew, trying to block Hyūga Ran, who was pursuing Gari. But under the insight of the Byakugan, Hyūga Ran dodged each projectile with a graceful agility, as if performing acrobatics at the very last moment.

"Reinforcements have arrived?"

Though the clash between the two was intense, not much time had actually passed since the battle began.

The six ninja left behind by the Explosion Corps, including Gari, spread out in a semi-circular formation, subtly surrounding Hyūga Ran.

"This is going to be troublesome!"

The Explosion Corps was one of Iwagakure's elite assault squads. Only those with exceptional abilities or Kekkei Genkai, or ninja strong enough to hold their own in any battle, could join.

The six before him were at least Jonin-level ninjas from Iwagakure, and they formed a cohesive team with excellent coordination.

Unless one had overwhelming strength, facing such opponents often meant being worn down once they figured out your techniques.

Jonin from the great ninja villages were leagues above the so-called Jonin of smaller villages.

Should he activate the Hōgyoku mode?

Hyūga Ran hesitated.

Without the Hōgyoku's transformation and enhancement, his strength would at best match that of an average Konoha Jonin. Even this was due to the advantage of his Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.

In a one-on-one fight, he wouldn't fear a Kekkei Genkai ninja like Gari. However, facing six Jonin from Iwagakure at once was undeniably pressuring him.

"Earth Style: Yellow Spring Swamp!"

"Earth Style: Rock Lodge Collapse!"

The ground beneath Hyūga Ran's feet suddenly turned into a swamp. Instantly, he released chakra from his feet, propelling himself out of the mire. But the next moment, a large amount of rubble flipped up from the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling!"

There was no time to catch his breath. As Hyūga Ran leaped among the rubble, using the rocks as footholds and deflecting incoming stones while trying to escape the encirclement, a massive oval-shaped boulder was hurled toward him by one of the Iwagakure Jonin.

The stone was so large that even those massive summoning beasts would stagger and get injured if they were hit by it. 

The opponent had clearly timed it well, and with Hyuga Ran in midair, unless he had spatial ninjutsu, there was no way for him to escape the massive stone's attack.

Boom!

Hyuga Ran's small body was directly covered and suppressed by the stone, causing a deep crater to form on the ground with a loud crash.

"Is it over?"

Looking at the spot where the stone had fallen, the six members of the explosive team exchanged glances and silently communicated the same message.

"One of your companions is dead!"

From a distance, Kitsuchi, who was fiercely fighting the giantized Akimichi Chodai, looked at the scene and tried to use words to shake Akimichi Chodai's resolve.

"Don't underestimate Ran! Super meatball needle war machine!"

Akimichi Chodai's giantized body once again curled into a ball, his hair growing rapidly and hardening to cover his whole body. He rolled forward with a powerful crash, heading straight for the clay giant controlled by Kitsuchi.

With Kitsuchi's steady personality, he couldn't help but feel a hint of helplessness deep within him at that moment. But there was no time to think further.

The clay giant's massive size gave it unmatched strength and powerful defense, but in terms of agility, it was no match for Akimichi Chodai.

Facing Akimichi Chodai's meatball needle war machine, the only thing Kitsuchi could do was increase the chakra output. He controlled the clay giant's hind legs to stretch slightly and opened its hands to brace for impact.

The rolling Akimichi Chodai collided with the clay giant's defensive posture, causing another earth-shaking impact. As Akimichi Chodai spun, the clay giant's arms were shredded, and only when four newly grown arms of the giant managed to restrain Akimichi Chodai did the movement gradually come to a halt.

Two arms weren't enough? Then use more arms.

If two legs couldn't stand firm, create more support points.

By giving the clay giant more form changes, Kitsuchi had nearly pushed his "Earth Style: Super Beast" technique to its limits. Even if the Tsuchikage, Onoki, were here, he could only reach this level.

Boom!

The place where Hyūga Ran was covered by a massive stone suddenly exploded, with the stones flying out in pieces.

A figure surrounded by white light, with an invisible wind howling around him, reappeared before everyone.

"Is this the power? It can even enhance my Byakugan!"

Hyūga Ran felt the massive change in his body and thought that he had been reborn. His whole body was filled with power, his vision extended further, his insight grew stronger, and he even vaguely sensed a strange power. Everything about this new state felt wonderful to him.

He was intoxicated by the feeling!

The only flaw he felt was the immense pressure this mode put on him. He couldn't perfectly control this power, meaning he couldn't fully utilize this state.

Two minutes!

That might be the maximum time he could maintain this state. If he wanted to maintain it perfectly for a high-intensity, fierce battle, the duration would probably be even shorter.

"His eyes have changed!"

Gari was surprised as he looked at Hyūga Ran, whose whole body glowed with white light and was surrounded by air currents. The pair of eyes with a hint of blue in his sockets made him narrow his eyes.

The evolved form of Byakugan?

This information was never mentioned before! Also, could this guy, who had changed so much, not be from the Hyūga Branch, but from the Main House?

The Iwagakure ninja did not hesitate and launched the next attack at Hyūga Ran.

However, just before they attacked, they were horrified to find that Hyūga Ran's body had vanished from their sight.

"I can see everything! Your every move! Not just your bodies, but even your thoughts!" Hyūga Ran's figure appeared behind an Iwagakure Jonin. 

With a gentle strike of his Gentle Fist, he hit the Jonin's back. The Jonin had almost no resistance and was hit, flying lifelessly into the air.

Meanwhile, Hyūga Ran calmly dodged the attacks of several other Iwagakure Jonin, effortlessly avoiding them as if he had already predicted their movements. It felt like all their thoughts were seen through by his eyes, and he could foresee them.

Gentle Fist Technique: Wind Serpent!

A snake made of transparent wind shot out from Hyūga Ran's palm. It was as agile as a living creature and, under Hyūga Ran's control, struck two other Iwagakure Jonin who had come too close.

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