Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

The vast flow of water surged across the lava-covered ground, generating steam while simultaneously cooling the lava and transforming it into porous stone.

Thick, scorching steam filled the area.

Suddenly, a red figure shot out from the mist, soaring upward like a meteor toward Shin.

"Trying to take me out first?"

Shin's Sharingan spun slowly as he leapt back, easily dodging Roshi's attack.

The dynamic visual acuity granted by the Sharingan allowed Shin to detect the subtle disturbance in the steam and anticipate Roshi's move. However, his response was still somewhat inexperienced.

Like a meteor crashing into the rocky cliffside, Roshi's attack shattered the upper part of the stone mountain. Without pause, his chakra tail slammed down, propelling him toward the airborne Shin.

"Not good," Shin thought, panic flashing in his eyes as Roshi closed in with alarming speed. He was at a loss for how to respond.

This was the consequence of his lack of battle experience. Instead of jumping into the air to avoid the attack, he should have descended the mountain, as leaping into the air gave Roshi a perfect opportunity to strike.

As Shin began to fall, Roshi closed the distance, heat radiating toward him. The molten lava coating Roshi's fist neared, and Shin's mind went blank with fear.

But at the last moment, two wooden tendrils shot up from below, snaking around Shin's legs and yanking him down just in time to avoid Roshi's molten fist.

"Whew, just in time," Kotoe exhaled, having pulled Shin to safety using her Wood Release.

"Thanks, Kotoe," Shin said, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He turned to Kotoe and expressed his gratitude sincerely.

A strike that should have hit with perfect accuracy was narrowly avoided.

Roshi stood his ground, glaring at Shin and Kotoe with cold, hostile eyes. "So, there are three of you…"

Screech!

Just then, a faint bird-like screech echoed from behind Roshi.

Somehow, Ye Zi had reappeared behind him after being swept away by the water.

As the sound rang out, the blade of Chijin now crackling with highly concentrated lightning chakra, sliced down, aimed at Roshi's right arm.

There was no warning—it was as swift as a lightning strike.

Even the Four-Tails within Roshi was startled by the sudden attack. After all, if the Jinchūriki died, the beast would suffer as well, but there wasn't enough time for the Four-Tails to warn Roshi.

Slash!

The razor-sharp lightning blade tore through Roshi's tailed beast chakra cloak and sliced through his lava armor. In mere seconds, two layers of defense were pierced, and Roshi's right arm was cleanly severed.

The severed limb fell to the ground, and the blood that spilled from the wound evaporated instantly.

Roshi let out a muffled groan of pain, his expression darkening as he staggered. In a desperate move, his chakra tail lashed out at Ye Zi, but Ye Zi's left hand quickly sprouted thick wooden tendrils that blocked the attack.

Ye Zi stared coldly at the wounded Roshi, feeling the intense heat searing his left arm. He knew that his Wood Release had lost its ability to drain chakra against Roshi's Lava Release. Suppressing Roshi would require an immense amount of chakra, but doing so was unwise—after all, Roshi was a Jinchūriki. Competing in chakra against a tailed beast was a losing game.

Ye Zi swung his sword again, aiming to sever Roshi's remaining arm, but Roshi wasn't about to let that happen. His chakra tail erupted with force.

Boom!

The wooden tendrils that had been restraining Roshi's tail exploded, scattering burning fragments everywhere.

Ye Zi was thrown back by the blast, but he flipped in midair and landed steadily, unharmed. Thanks to his Lightning Prison technique, he was able to mitigate most of the damage.

Having forced Ye Zi back, Roshi showed signs of weariness. He frowned, pressing his left hand to the stump of his right arm. Using the intense heat, he cauterized the wound, stopping the bleeding.

"They're not trying to kill me… They want to capture me alive," Roshi thought, a shadow crossing his face. He could tell from Ye Zi's attacks that his opponent had been holding back. That last ambush from behind could have easily ended his life, but instead, Ye Zi had chosen to sever his arm.

In Roshi's mindscape, the Four-Tails stirred uneasily.

"Hey, old man, are you still holding back?" the Four-Tails growled impatiently.

Roshi's face darkened further at the beast's complaint. He had trained relentlessly to avoid relying on the tailed beast's power, but was he really left with no other choice?

"Looks like I don't have an option."

Kotoe and Shin weren't much of a threat to Roshi, but Ye Zi was different. Not only was his Wood Release formidable, but his Lightning Release had also put immense pressure on Roshi. The fact that Ye Zi was holding back only made him more dangerous.

It was time to stop holding back.

Meanwhile, deep within Ye Zi's consciousness, Shokui's voice rang out with excitement.

"Such a beautiful amount of chakra! Hey, Ye Zi, let me devour him. If I do, not only will my chakra surge, but you'll benefit too!"

Shokui's ability to consume energy would allow him to convert the tailed beast's chakra into his own, which he would then share with Ye Zi—though Shokui would take the larger portion. Faced with the incredible chakra of the Four-Tails, the potential gains were enormous.

In the past, Shokui had even been tempted to devour Kushina, despite not having fully adapted to the chakra systems of this world at the time. Now, Shokui could fully sense the immense chakra reserves within Roshi.

Having adapted to the world's rules and converted his energy into chakra, Shokui could maximize the benefits of consuming a tailed beast.

The sheer, unrestrained hunger radiating from Shokui was impossible to suppress or conceal as it echoed through Ye Zi's mind.

Ye Zi, however, ignored Shokui's blatant desires. The tailed beasts were essential to his plan, and he wasn't about to let Shoku devour one. Moreover, he had to stay vigilant against Shokui trying to overpower him, so he had to limit Shokui's growth—at least until he could find a way to sever their contract.

Though Ye Zi had no immediate solution to this problem, his focus remained on his current plan, keeping Shokui in check while occasionally using his abilities.

At that moment, a powerful surge of chakra emanated from Roshi.

He had entered the second stage of tailed beast transformation.

The chakra surrounding Roshi's body surged dramatically, turning the crimson tailed beast cloak into a deeper, blood-like red. His form began to resemble that of the Four-Tails, taking on a humanoid shape that was nearly beast-like.

Roshi could barely control the second stage of the transformation. Any further, and he risked losing control and going berserk—a worst-case scenario if no external force intervened.

Ye Zi watched Roshi's transformation coolly, maintaining his distance. Even without advanced sensory abilities, the chakra emanating from Roshi was so intense that it distorted the air, creating waves of heat.

"It looks like I can't rely on Shin and Kotoha."

Initially, Ye Zi had hoped Shin's Water Release would be a decisive factor, but he had overestimated Shin's abilities. His lack of combat experience had been a glaring weakness, and Kotoe's combined Wood Release techniques, while not weak, were easily countered by Roshi's Lava Release.

Now that Roshi was going all out, Shin and Kotoe's contributions would be limited.

Realizing this, Ye Zi called out to them, "You two, fall back. Keep your distance and ensure your safety. Shin, use Water Release to assist me. Kotoe, cover Shin."

Shin and Kotoe exchanged a glance and swiftly retreated to a safer distance. They could both feel the immense danger posed by the Four-Tails Jinchūriki.

Even though Kotoe had mastered Wood Release, her abilities were pitifully inadequate in this battle, as Roshi's Lava Release could easily burn through wood, neutralizing one of her key advantages—chakra suppression.

But Roshi wasn't just any opponent; he was a Jinchūriki with a tailed beast inside him.

Whoosh!

Struggling to control the second stage of his transformation, Roshi exhaled a scorching breath that turned into a blast of searing wind. His heat-filled eyes locked onto Ye Zi, brimming with killing intent.

The dense, solidified red chakra cloak surrounding Roshi radiated intense heat. This was the fusion of Lava Release and the tailed beast cloak, making Roshi an even more formidable opponent.

Despite the situation, Ye Zi remained calm, unfazed by the increased difficulty.

Wood Release was indeed countered by Lava Release, but it still retained its ability to suppress tailed beast chakra. As long as he was willing to burn through his chakra reserves, Ye Zi could still use Wood Release to subdue the Jinchūriki in his transformed state.

This was the source of Ye Zi's confidence.

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Currently on Chapter 302 - Mei Terumi