“Lightning Style: False Darkness!”
Seeing Hawking charging at him, Kakuzu immediately had his Lightning Mask unleash a high-level lightning technique.
“Your physical skills are strong, and you’re fast, but can you be faster than lightning?”
A bolt of lightning, much thicker than a thigh, shot out from the Lightning Mask’s mouth like a spear, aimed directly at Hawking.
“Interesting, but I don’t need to be faster than lightning.”
Hawking stopped, pointed a finger, and said:
“Protective Shield!”
Instantly, a transparent magical shield appeared in front of him, blocking the thick lightning bolt.
It was a high-level protective spell commonly used by wizards: the Shield Charm.
With the added power from the Grim Reaper’s soul, his magical strength had greatly increased, and the Shield Charm’s protective effect was significantly enhanced.
“Perhaps… I can use you two for practice.”
After blocking Kakuzu’s lightning technique, Hawking’s eyes shifted as a new idea formed.
Initially, he planned to quickly take down Hidan and Kakuzu in close combat.
But now, considering that even if he defeated them swiftly, Naruto and the others wouldn’t be able to return to Konoha within an hour, and he wouldn’t be able to start learning sealing techniques.
So, he decided to use Hidan and Kakuzu to test the effects and power of his current spells, to gauge his capabilities.
Since acquiring the Grim Reaper template, he had conducted many magical experiments, but mostly on everyday magic.
He hadn’t had a chance to try more powerful spells due to the lack of suitable test subjects.
Hidan and Kakuzu, the immortal duo, were perfect as human punching bags.
“Hidan, engage him in close combat!”
Seeing Hawking block his high-level lightning technique with an unknown jutsu, Kakuzu extended his tendrils, grabbed Hidan’s scythe from the ground, and tossed it to him.
Though he found Hidan annoying, he had to admit that they were perfect combat partners.
Hidan’s immortal body allowed him to engage enemies recklessly in close combat, preventing them from forming effective defenses.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu could unleash powerful jutsus from the back without worrying about hitting Hidan.
If the enemy focused on defending against his jutsus and underestimated Hidan, once Hidan got a drop of their blood, they were as good as dead.
“Hahaha, I’m going to repay you for that kick and make you experience the mercy of Jashin!”
Hidan grabbed his scythe and charged excitedly at Hawking.
Hawking stood still, smiling as he watched the human punching bag approach.
When Hidan was close enough and his scythe was about to slice his neck, Hawking raised his hand again:
“Expelliarmus!”
A blue light shot out, hitting Hidan. The scythe flew out of Hidan’s hand, and he was knocked to the ground.
The Disarming Charm not only forcibly removed the opponent’s weapon but also had a repelling effect.
“What a strange jutsu.”
Kakuzu, seeing Hidan being knocked away, frowned and immediately unleashed his prepared second jutsu:
“Wind Style: Pressure Damage!”
A high-pressure wind ball from the Wind Mask’s mouth quickly turned into a massive storm, sweeping towards Hawking.
As the second jutsu was unleashed, he began preparing a third one.
“A storm, huh? I can do that too!”
Facing the approaching storm that threatened to lift the ground, Hawking chanted:
“Tornado Spell!”
A whirlwind flew from Hawking’s hand, forming a storm that met Kakuzu’s.
This was why he suddenly lost interest in many elemental jutsus.
Instead of spending time learning various elemental jutsus, he could enhance his magic, which had similar effects without the need for separate training.
Jutsus consumed chakra, a combination of spiritual and physical energy. Overuse led to weakness and could even endanger life. Chakra also took time to recover.
Magic, however, drew energy from a wizard’s bloodline, transforming external energy into limitless magical power. Prolonged use might cause some mental fatigue but never led to depletion.
So, while elemental jutsus were effective, magic offered better value.
He decided to reserve chakra for jutsus like Shadow Clone, sealing techniques, and Flying Thunder God that couldn’t be replaced by magic.
“Ahhhh!”
Hidan, who had just been disarmed, was caught in Kakuzu’s storm. His skin was torn apart, and he excitedly charged at Hawking, intending to grapple him and endure the storm’s damage together.
To his dismay, Hawking countered with a similar storm, trapping Hidan between the two.
Hidan was repeatedly torn apart and healed, his screams of agony echoing continuously.
“I didn’t expect Hawking to be not only skilled in physical combat but also proficient in wind jutsus!”
Watching from the back, Sakura couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Perhaps it’s not a jutsu. It might be the magic he mentioned.”
Kakashi calmly analyzed.
During Hawking’s time in Konoha, all his actions and words had been documented. Kakashi had reviewed these reports at Tsunade’s.
One entry mentioned that in another world, Hawking used a power called magic that didn’t require hand signs and produced various effects.
For example, enlarging and shrinking objects, changing the appearance of clothes, and flying.
Kakashi noticed that Hawking didn’t use hand signs when creating the storm, pointing instead like when casting spells. So, he concluded it was magic, not a wind jutsu.
“I didn’t know magic was so powerful. It’s a pity it’s innate and can’t be learned.”
Naruto’s tone was regretful. Hawking had explained that learning magic required the right bloodline, like a kekkei genkai, and couldn’t be acquired later.
“But that’s okay. Once I master wind nature transformation, I can do the same!”
“Fire Style: Head Mincing Pain!”
As the storm ended, Kakuzu unleashed a sea of flames towards Hawking.
Hawking smiled and chanted:
“Fiendfyre!”
A massive wave of fire, no less intense than Kakuzu’s, surged forward.
Hidan, who had just gotten up, was once again caught in the flames, his newly healed skin turning to blackened charcoal.
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