Chapter 28: Unable to Dance
Cursed energy originates from the practitioner's negative emotions such as fear, anger, and sorrow, and is a form of spiritual energy that can be manipulated in specific ways.
Chakra, on the other hand, derives from the Divine Tree, though not all chakra belongs to it. The Divine Tree is merely the seed. Chakra is a result of perfectly harmonized energies within the body, akin to "Qi." This energy enables almost anything—manifesting creation from nothingness and granting life itself, as evidenced by entities like the Tailed Beasts.
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The Black Flash is a phenomenon of unparalleled impact, akin to a critical hit. It is not merely luck but a testament to one's profound understanding of their own energy.
In the shinobi world, there exists a similar method to enhance chakra potency: Sage Mode.
Sage Mode not only heightens sensory awareness and amplifies long-range combat capabilities but also integrates the surrounding natural energy into the practitioner's body for attacks. Techniques like Naruto's Rasenshuriken were impossible before mastering Sage Mode.
However, compared to Sage Mode's all-encompassing enhancements, Kagami's mastery of Black Flash was highly specialized.
Both techniques share one commonality—they harness the energy present in nature. Kagami concentrated all of it into a single, devastating attack.
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As his fist fell, the black-red lightning tore through space itself.
This was destruction at the spatial level.
BOOM!!!!
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Under the scorching sun, the eruption of black-red lightning dyed even the daylight with a sinister hue.
The power ripped through all obstructions, reducing them to nothing but debris.
BOOM!!!!
The deafening shockwave forced everyone nearby to cover their ears in pain. Even the residual blast carried the force of a large-scale Wind-Style jutsu.
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When the smoke cleared, what remained was nothing short of apocalyptic.
A massive, bottomless crater, over ten meters in diameter, scarred the earth. It was hard to believe this devastation came from a human fist.
The edges of the crater still crackled with faint black-red lightning.
As for the Iwagakure jōnin who had been Kagami's target—there was no trace of him. Not even ashes remained.
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Silence.
Utter silence.
For some, the scene before them was not unfamiliar.
They had witnessed something similar before: a Tailed Beast Bomb.
While the Black Flash's range was smaller, its deadly aura was on par with that catastrophic force.
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"Cursed energy alone could never achieve such power..." Sukuna's deep voice resonated within Kagami's mind, its tone unreadable. "I must admit, chakra is a higher form of energy than cursed energy."
"Kagami Uchiha, you possess a rare talent—the insatiable hunger for power, willing to risk everything to attain it."
"In my thousand years of existence, I've seldom encountered one like you."
"If you abandon your pointless devotion to your clan, you will reach unimaginable heights."
"True freedom, like mine!"
For the first time, Sukuna addressed Kagami by name.
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Kagami glanced at his own arm, scorched and cracked. His body reeked of burnt flesh, and his left side had gone completely numb.
His body wasn't strong enough to sustain such a technique.
"What is true freedom?" Kagami muttered, posing the question to Sukuna before answering himself.
"Someone like you—claiming to embody freedom, yet obsessed with demanding respect and indulging in meaningless slaughter in pursuit of joy."
"I'm not here to preach righteousness to you, Sukuna."
"It's just... your endless, pointless carnage bores me."
"True freedom isn't doing whatever you want—it's having the ability to choose not to do something."
"My clan isn't my weakness. It's my motivation to grow stronger."
"Uchiha is destined to be the strongest!"
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"And you, Sukuna—you, bound in chains—what right do you have to lecture me on freedom?" Kagami's voice grew colder.
"A being that can't even dance anymore… how pitiful."
With that, Kagami sealed Sukuna back into his mental cage before the ancient entity could retort.
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Whoosh!
As Kagami plummeted, weakened, from the sky, he expected the giant hawk to catch him. Instead, someone else reached him first.
"You're reckless, Kagami," Minato sighed as he caught him mid-air, landing safely on the ground.
Looking down at Kagami, he shook his head in a mix of disappointment and concern. "You didn't need to use that technique. You could've won without it."
"My goal wasn't just to defeat her," Kagami replied, his voice steady despite his injuries.
"This was worth it."
He had succeeded in performing Black Flash—a technique akin to a formula. Once achieved for the first time, mastering it was inevitable.
Minato sighed again, his expression softening into a small smile. "Alright, but let's get you treated first. Shibi and the others can handle the rest."
Kagami nodded but suddenly added, "Put me down. I can walk on my own."
As practical as Minato's gesture was, Kagami found the physical closeness uncomfortable.
With Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, Kagami had no fear of being left vulnerable on the battlefield. This was the perfect opportunity to utilize Minato's abilities and gain more experience himself.
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Minutes later, Fugaku and the others regrouped after finishing off the remaining Iwagakure shinobi.
"That's one hell of a technique…" Akimichi Chōza murmured in awe.
"I've seen many Uchiha before, but Kagami… he's something else entirely," Shibi added, his tone heavy with admiration.
"He's a monster," Fugaku muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
As the leader of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku had always prided himself on his strength. Yet, watching Kagami perform a feat on par with a Tailed Beast Bomb, he couldn't help but feel overshadowed.
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"Do you have a name for that technique?" Minato asked as they prepared to leave.
"Black Flash," Kagami replied simply.
"That's it?" Minato quipped, a grin tugging at his lips. "I thought you'd come up with something grander!"
"Minato-sensei," Kagami deadpanned, "you don't have to act quirky just to maintain your image."
Minato chuckled, brushing off the remark. "Alright, let's get you patched up. Akimichi-san, bring the bodies for interrogation."
Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique activated.
A golden flash illuminated the battlefield.
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