BOOM!
Just as Kazama thought he'd smoothly taken care of the Root ninja, something unexpected happened.
The clone he'd pierced with his Suiton (Water Release) suddenly transformed into a surge of lightning energy.
It shot straight toward him, riding the water's flow.
"Hmph! So it's a Raiton Kage Bunshin (Lightning Shadow Clone). Not bad for a Root ninja. If this were anyone else, they'd be half-dead or worse. Too bad for you, in front of me, Sanada Kazama, any ninjutsu will be absorbed and turned to my advantage!"
Ding! Successfully absorbed the Raiton Kage Bunshin. Congratulations, Host, you've obtained the Mokuton: Tajū Bunshin no Jutsu (Wood Release: Multiple Clone Technique)!
Congratulations, Host, you've unlocked the second Otherworldly Flame, the Banjū Reika (Beast Spirit Flame)! From now on, all of your attacks can be infused with Banjū Reika damage and gain the ability to transform ninjutsu forms!
"Mokuton clones? That's the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama's signature secret technique! Even the Sharingan can't see through it!" Kazama exclaimed.
"And this Banjū Reika… not only does it add extra damage to my attacks, but it can also change the form of my ninjutsu? How does that even work?"
Curious, Kazama immediately asked the system for details.
"The Banjū Reika can take the shape of various beasts based on the Host's imagination. Without the Host's command, these forms will never dissipate."
"Whoa, that's freaking awesome!" Kazama blurted out.
Eager to test it, Kazama infused his Suiton and Katon (Fire Release) with the Banjū Reika and unleashed a variety of ferocious beasts.
Tigers, lions, leopards, packs of wolves—you name it, he created it.
Each beast carried the destructive power of its respective ninjutsu element, plus the raw physical strength of the animal itself.
And just as the system said, as long as Kazama didn't release the seal, these beast-shaped ninjutsu would never fade.
Even if an enemy sliced them in half, they'd just reform.
On top of that, Kazama now had an infinite chakra reserve.
He could summon thousands of these beast forms at once, overwhelming his enemies with an endless onslaught.
This was way stronger than any ordinary ninjutsu!
"Sweet! From now on, these will be my Kuchiyose (Summoning Beasts). With Banjū Reikaninjutsu, wiping out an entire nation would be a piece of cake!" Kazama declared, grinning.
As he reveled in his new trump card, a thought struck him, tied to the Naruto manga's timeline.
Right about now, Naruto should be in the forest, beating the snot out of Mizuki with his Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clones).
"If I want to absorb Naruto's Kyūbi (Nine-Tails) power to boost my strength, I might as well start building a good relationship with him now."
Just then, a loud shout echoed from nearby.
"You dare hurt Iruka-sensei? I'll take you down!"
"Naruto, hold up! I'm coming!" Kazama called out.
He sprinted toward Naruto's location.
By the time Kazama arrived, Naruto had already summoned a thousand Kage Bunshin, pummeling Mizuki into a bruised, battered mess sprawled on the ground.
But just when Naruto thought Mizuki was down for the count and turned to check on Iruka's injuries, Mizuki made a desperate last stand, lunging at Naruto again.
At that critical moment, Kazama arrived just in time and unleashed his Mokuton Bunshin (Wood Clone), blocking Mizuki's attack.
"Kazama, get out of the way!" Naruto and Iruka shouted from behind, seeing the danger.
"Damn it! A dead-last like you dares to stand in my way? I'll cut you and Naruto, you idiots, down together!" Mizuki snarled.
Unaware that this was Kazama's clone, Mizuki raised his kunai, aiming to strike Kazama down.