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Chapter 304-Purge of the Wicked
🕑 Added 2024-11-28 23:55:23 +0000 UTCUnder the pale moonlight, Renjiro stood silently atop the floating island, the cool night breeze tousling the loose strands of his red hair. The air was crisp, filled with the faint aroma of wildflowers that grew in the crevices of the rocky terrain.
Shadows of other floating landmasses shifted and danced in the silvery glow of the moon, giving the entire area an ethereal quality. Renjiro took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he allowed himself a moment of calm before the storm he was about to unleash.
No longer confined to his dimly lit basement, Renjiro had chosen this secluded and expansive floating island for his experiment. The landmass hung in the sky like a silent sentinel, surrounded by others that floated lazily in the distance, each connected by natural stone bridges. This particular island, lush and open, had been offered to him by Tenjin, his lightning eagle summon.
“You’ve been seeking space to train,” Tenjin had remarked when they arrived earlier. The eagle’s massive wings shimmered faintly in the moonlight, crackling occasionally with static energy. “It’s only fitting that you claim this island. Use it well.”
Renjiro had silently agreed, standing in awe of the sweeping view. The area was ideal for exploring abilities he wanted to keep hidden from prying eyes in the village—or the Uchiha clan. With the assurance of privacy, he could focus entirely on testing the strange green flames his Mangekyō Sharingan had gifted him.
'Now I have a private island for training' he mused, surveying the terrain. The soft grass beneath his sandals dampened slightly with dew. This space would serve perfectly for a test as dangerous and unpredictable as this one.
In the open field, two of Renjiro’s shadow clones stood at opposite ends, their expressions identical but resolute. Both were ready to spar, each acting as a vessel for one of the two flame types Renjiro intended to test. One clone would wield ordinary flames, while the other would unleash the mysterious green fire. Renjiro reasoned that combat was the best way to explore this ability; after all, fire was a destructive element at its core. Its potential could only truly be measured in the chaos of a fight.
“Ready?” Renjiro’s voice cut through the stillness, firm and commanding. His clones nodded, their eyes sharp with focus.
With a swift chop of his hand, Renjiro gave the signal. The spar began immediately, both clones springing into action. Clone B, the one allowed to use the green flames, moved faster, forming two quick hand signs before taking a deep breath.
"Fwooooosh!"
A torrent of green fire erupted from Clone B’s mouth, roaring to life as it spread across the battlefield like a serpent made of emerald light. The flames licked at the air with a haunting glow, their colour vivid and alien. Clone A, not to be outdone, mirrored the same movement, unleashing a similarly vast wave of traditional red-orange flames.
The two jutsus collided in the centre of the field with a deafening crash, the opposing elements creating a cascading wall of orange and lime-green fire.
It reminded Renjiro of another show he had seen where a prince and princes had a similar fight. The only difference being the blue flames used instead of the current green flames Renjiro's shadow clone was using.
Sparks danced violently in the air as the two techniques vied for dominance, their interplay painting the night sky in vibrant hues. Renjiro stood to the side, his Sharingan active as he analyzed every detail of the spectacle before him. The combined light of the flames illuminated his face, momentarily overpowering the moon’s silvery glow.
For a while, the two streams of fire appeared evenly matched, but slowly, the green flames began to push through, inching closer to Clone A. The red-orange flames faltered as the green inferno advanced relentlessly.
“Is it inherently more powerful, or did I channel more chakra into it?” Renjiro wondered aloud, his voice laced with curiosity. His analytical mind sought answers even as his senses remained captivated by the display.
Before he could conclude, Clone B shifted tactics. It created another shadow clone, which leapt high into the air, flinging star-shaped shurikens with precision.
A moment later, the airborne clone coated the projectiles with green flames using the Phoenix Fire Jutsu, hurling them toward Clone A before dispelling itself.
Clone A reacted quickly, creating a shadow clone of its own to intercept the attack. The substitute moved to shield its originator, taking the brunt of the fiery onslaught. However, as the shurikens struck, the defending clone disintegrated almost instantly, dispelling into smoke.
Renjiro’s eyes narrowed. “Huh? Why did it dispel so quickly?”
He could feel the chakra allocation Clone A had used for the defence—it had been substantial. Yet the green flame-coated projectiles had cut through with alarming ease. The anomaly confused him, further deepening the enigma of this new ability.
Clone A took a step back, visibly wary of Clone B’s relentless aggression. In contrast, Clone B pressed its advantage, summoning another clone to create a diversion. The new clone dashed forward, hurling kunai coated in green flames while the original Clone B circled around, using the cover to prepare a wind-enhanced jutsu. The kunai exploded on impact, showering the battlefield with embers.
“Wind Release: Gale Palm!” Clone B called out, sending a powerful gust that carried embers from the green flames toward Clone A. The embers ignited mid-air, creating a swirling vortex of fiery devastation.
Clone A countered with a desperate “Fireball Jutsu,” but the vortex absorbed the flames, growing in intensity. Renjiro’s Sharingan flickered as he analyzed the interaction.
“It’s feeding on the flames...” Renjiro muttered, his fascination deepening.
The fight entered a new phase as Clone A attempted to regain ground. It combined Fire and Wind Jutsus in a rapid sequence, creating a spiraling inferno aimed directly at Clone B. For a moment, it seemed like Clone A had turned the tide—until Clone B unleashed its trump card.
“Green Flame Wall!” Clone B roared, slamming its hands into the ground. A towering barrier of green fire erupted, absorbing and nullifying Clone A’s spiralling inferno with ease. The wall shimmered ominously, its surface rippling like liquid emerald.
Clone A hesitated, its resolve faltering. Clone B seized the opportunity, dashing through the remnants of the barrier with a green flame-coated kunai. The blade struck true, piercing Clone A’s defences. With a flash of light and a puff of smoke, Clone A was gone.
Renjiro blinked, the silence of the battlefield deafening. “Is that it?” he asked, disappointment evident in his tone. The fight had been intense but far shorter than he had hoped.
But then, Clone B turned toward him, a smirk playing on its lips. Before Renjiro could react, the clone dispelled itself, flooding his mind with the memories of the battle.
Renjiro sank to the ground, crossing his legs in the lotus position. His eyes closed as he delved into the newly acquired knowledge. The clones’ perspectives revealed everything—their strategies, their reactions, and most importantly, their experiences with the green flames. But there was something more, Renjiro felt like something deep within him was calling out.
Hours passed as Renjiro meditated, his breathing steady. When he finally opened his eyes, a glimmer of realization shone within them.
“So I just had to use the flames for a while to get information about it?” he muttered, his voice soft but resolute. The mysteries of the green flames began to unravel in his mind, their secrets whispered to him through the memories.
What intrigued him most was the name of the ability, imprinted firmly in his consciousness: 邪悪の浄滅, Jaaku no Jōmetsu—Purge of the Wicked.
The words lingered in his mind, their weight both ominous and empowering. The ability was more than just fire; it was a force of judgment, a tool with devastating potential. Renjiro’s lips curled into a faint smile. This was only the beginning.
