Chapter 641: , The Game of Dragon Quest

Lao Zi struggled to crawl up from the ground, checking the extent of his own injuries.

Fortunately, the Lava Cloak formed by the secret technique, Lava Release Chakra Mode, had absorbed half the damage for Lao Zi; otherwise, under the force of that terrifying kick, Lao Zi would likely have been kicked into a pulp on the spot.

Even so, Lao Zi was in no way comfortable right now, and he had sustained significant injuries.

However, due to certain reasons, injuries that would be considered grave for an ordinary person were still manageable for Lao Zi.

The defensive power provided by Lao Zi's Lava Release Chakra Mode was, after all, limited. This technique was not actually a purely defensive one; its greatest significance lay in the ability to counterattack with burns by utilizing the properties of lava while "defending."

It was also because of this that, after activating the Lava Release Chakra Mode, Lao Zi was a major counter to ninjas who excelled in close-quarters combat.

The general principle was similar to the battle between the Fourth Raikage and Uchiha Sasuke in the original work; although the Raikage could wound Sasuke every time, every time he attacked Sasuke, he would be contaminated and burned by Amaterasu.

Ninjas fighting Lao Zi would face the same situation; to attack Lao Zi, they had to first make contact with the Lava Cloak on his body.

Therefore, based on the properties of Lava Release, the direction of Lao Zi's own ability development was actually more biased toward close-quarters combat.

Most of his ninjutsu could only unleash their maximum effect at close range.

Although Lao Zi also had long-range attack ninjutsu like Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique, generally speaking, Lao Zi was still a ninja who excelled in close-quarters combat.

Consequently, to complement the execution of Lava Release, Lao Zi had honed a set of quite accomplished taijutsu.

Lava Release + excellent taijutsu was enough to allow Lao Zi to suppress 99.9% of ninjas in the Ninja World during close-quarters combat.

But unfortunately, Mizunuki Ryosuke was clearly among that 0.01% that Lao Zi could not handle.

And because of their abilities, Lao Zi's estimation of his own win rate was constantly dropping at this moment.

Ice and lava.

These two abilities were actually not superior or inferior to one another; or rather, the reason why they were distinguished as such was not because of the abilities themselves, but because of the people using them.

The most direct way to judge the strength of a ninja was to look at a ninja's application of "jutsu."

The three abilities of a ninja are ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. There was a reason why ninjutsu was ranked first.

The same Fire Release, in the hands of a Jonin of the Uchiha clan, could possess a terrifying high temperature of several thousand degrees Celsius.

Yet in the hands of a Genin, it could likely only barely reach a temperature of two or three hundred degrees.

This was the most fundamental gap in strength; this kind of gap was a difference in "quality," far from what quantity could compensate for.

And in this current contest between ice and lava, what the two were competing over was who was more "pure."

This purity was also the most basic constituent unit of strength, which was the competition of "quality."

Clearly, the temperature of Lao Zi's lava could not compare to the cold air of Mizunuki Ryosuke's Ice Release.

Lao Zi lowered his head and looked at his abdomen, which had been kicked by the Painful Sky Foot and the Ice Armor; a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

The moment he was kicked just now, the Ice Armor and the Lava Cloak had made brief contact, and because of this, Lao Zi's Lava Cloak had instantly solidified due to the low temperature of the Ice Armor.

In that brief moment of confrontation, Lao Zi already understood in his heart that his lava was far from being able to compare to Mizunuki Ryosuke's ice.

Before the fight began, Lao Zi had been filled with passion, believing that with his strength, he could lead Iwagakure out of its predicament, but reality quickly poured a basin of cold water over his head.

In terms of "quality," Mizunuki Ryosuke's ice had already formed an absolute crushing force.

Not only that, the most fatal thing was that Mizunuki Ryosuke also had the augmentation of Yang Release: Strength of a Hundred Technique.

With these two combined, it could be said that it was truly going to cost Lao Zi his life.

Originally, with Lava Release being countered, Lao Zi could still maneuver using taijutsu.

But there is a saying: "One force overcomes ten techniques." In the face of absolute strength, even if Mizunuki Ryosuke's taijutsu technique was not as excellent as Lao Zi's.

Relying on the absolute strength suppression brought by Yang Release, Lao Zi's taijutsu seemed like a joke in Mizunuki Ryosuke's eyes.

Unless Lao Zi had practiced Konoha's Eight Inner Gates, dreaming of defeating the Strength of a Hundred Technique with taijutsu was simply impossible.

What to do?

Before Lao Zi could even catch his breath and think about a battle strategy, an attack like a violent storm descended once again.

"ROAR!!!!"

Two terrifying and hideous giant ice creatures swooped down toward Lao Zi from the left and right without mercy.

Looking at the fangs and claws revealed by the two Ice Dragon Kings simultaneously, Lao Zi knew that his ordeal had only just begun.

But at this point, even knowing it wouldn't work, he had to go for it.

Thinking of this, a sky-piercing red light erupted from Lao Zi's body once again.

Instantly, Lao Zi's body, trailing a red tail flame, headed to meet the two Ice Dragon Kings.

Behind the two Ice Dragon Kings, Mizunuki Ryosuke stood with his arms crossed, manipulating the two Ice Dragon Kings to tangle with Lao Zi with great interest.

The game of "hero" fighting "dragon" was destined to only become a drama for the "Demon King" to pass the time.

Seeing Mizunuki Ryosuke and the Iwa ninja Lao Zi start fighting, everyone naturally immediately began to transfer with the "severely wounded."

"The patient's condition is very serious; surgery must be performed immediately."

"I need you to take me to a place where no one will disturb us immediately."

Mao Zhizhu said to Bi and Troy at his side; seeing this, Bi nodded immediately.

With the life of the Third Raikage at stake, Bi naturally dared not take it lightly.

"Okay!"

Instantly, Bi and Troy lifted the Third Raikage on a stretcher and were about to rush out of the battlefield.

"Wait!"

Mao Zhizhu hurriedly called out to stop the two.

"There is still one more here."

Mao Zhizhu pointed his paw at the half-dead Third Tsuchikage Onoki lying on the ground.

Seeing this, Bi and Troy frowned.

In their view, Tsuchikage Onoki was an enemy, and at this time, they naturally had to prioritize saving the Third Raikage.

As for Onoki...

What did the life or death of an enemy have to do with them?

Mao Zhizhu seemed to see through the thoughts of the two and immediately said seriously and solemnly.

"I am a doctor; in a doctor's eyes, there are only patients!"

"I will not allow any patient to die before my eyes."

A look of righteous indignation flashed across Mao Zhizhu's cat face.

But in reality, while he was saying this, he couldn't stop complaining in his heart: "What kind of damn human, what does it have to do with me if he dies or not? If it weren't for Lord Mizukage's order, I wouldn't bother with this old man on the ground."

That's right, the reason why Mao Zhizhu had suddenly "recovered his medical ethics" was entirely because the rescue order issued by Mizunuki Ryosuke also included the Third Tsuchikage Onoki.

Seeing this, Bi and Troy looked at each other, and a hint of solemnity and admiration flashed in their eyes.

They were clearly unaware of Mao Zhizhu's inner thoughts, and instead secretly admired Mao Zhizhu's "medical ethics."

"We understand."

Bi and Troy nodded simultaneously and took the Third Tsuchikage Onoki along with them.

And so, two people and one cat, plus two severely wounded, immediately rushed toward a place outside the battlefield. ===== CHAPTER 643 =====