Crackle! Electric currents surged, with blue-white light continuously weaving across the night sky.
Saitama and Shisui remained locked in fierce combat, clashing midair and producing piercing sounds.
Elsewhere, lying on the ground, Rasa felt dreadful. An intense heat roiled deep within his soul, constantly scorching him.
He never expected that the young ninja whose name he previously only heard would possess such powerful Ninjutsu.
Though he'd been famous for many years and was a veteran Kage-level expert, against this former Konoha ninja named Saitama, he had not gained any advantage.
Both that giant creature and the recent flames were versions completely new to him.
Moreover, the enemy seemed thoroughly familiar with his Ninjutsu, countering them skillfully from every angle.
Just now, if he hadn't concentrated a layer of gold dust at the last moment, covering his body's surface, that black flame definitely would have consumed him completely.
Even so, despite the gold dust protection, the flame's extreme heat still inflicted massive damage.
Most seriously, his left hand had caught fire from Saitama's flames before getting covered in time.
At that moment, Rasa quickly realized this wasn't ordinary fire, immediately making a ruthless decision to sever his own left arm while rolling away.
He originally thought he might die today, but unexpectedly another Konoha ninja appeared, blocking Saitama for him.
Struggling to open his eyes, Rasa saw someone crouched beside him, apparently checking his injuries.
He barely moved his lips, his throat bobbing slightly before he finally spoke.
"Kazekage, you're awake..." The Konoha ninja who knew some medical Ninjutsu crossed his hands, pressing them onto Rasa's severed left arm.
Rasa's arm was cleanly severed just above the elbow, the wound smooth and even.
Rasa narrowed his eyes, feeling somewhat revitalized, then glanced sideways and spotted Shisui fighting Saitama.
"Konoha keeps churning out these outrageously gifted individuals!"
That was the first thought entering his mind.
A bitter smile formed on Rasa's face. Even at a time like this, his focus remained peculiarly odd.
"Had... enough trouble..."
His throat bobbed slightly as he managed to speak.
"No problem!" The Konoha ninja shook his head and resumed focusing on his task.
"Sakan, do you know this person?" One of the two ninja guarding Rasa started conversing with the other.
"From the captain's reaction, he probably knows him, but I don't remember seeing him before!"
As Sakan watched the battling figures, all he could see were blurry afterimages left by their speed.
"I just heard Captain Shisui call him Saitama... Somehow it feels familiar, yet I can't recall who he is."
Another Konoha ninja, Huo, continued speaking, wearing a black hood with tightly fastened goggles over his eyes.
"Saitama Uchiha... I think I finally figure out who he is."
Frowning, Sakan stared at those afterimages, gradually uncovering memories buried deep in his heart.
It took him four years to graduate from the Ninja Academy. He wasn't the kind of ninja with natural talent.
He had only joined Anbu a few years ago. The name Saitama Uchiha stirred memories of old rumors he'd heard while still training for graduation.
Back then, Captain Shisui hadn't yet risen to prominence. There was a genius within the Uchiha Clan who already dominated the battlefield.
Didn't he go by the name Saitama Uchiha? But as far as Sakata remembered, Saitama Uchiha had fallen in battle at Iwagakure—five or six years ago now.
"Captain's relationship with this ninja named Saitama seems... strange?"
Sakata murmured to himself. Earlier, he'd overheard part of their conversation. Though not openly hostile, it felt more like an encounter between old friends.
...
"Shisui, you won't stop me! You're not strong enough—not anymore!"
Saitama panted lightly, feigning ease, though his coat was torn in dozens of places—as though caught in a storm of Gust Blades.
A few meters away, Shisui also gasped for breath, sweat slowly gathering on his forehead.
On Shisui's left arm was a charred wound running from shoulder to elbow, streaked with coagulated blood.
"Heh!" Shisui inhaled deeply, his crimson eyes locking onto Saitama's face, his brows knitting tightly together—a clear sign of caution toward Saitama.
In Saitama's perception, other chakra signatures were approaching. Obviously, Suna reinforcements heading toward Rasa had begun moving in their direction.
Their fight was a beacon, calling every backup squad within reach—like a lighthouse in a stormy sea.
Saitama glanced at his fingers. The ring on his ring finger trembled slightly, sending threads of chakra coursing outward.
This was a signal from Pain—the Akatsuki leader—indicating Sasori had already reached the designated position.
Understanding flashed deep in Saitama's eyes. He knew he needed to speed things up and break free from this encirclement.
Whoosh! Thinking thus, Saitama moved first. He had to deal with Shisui before he could leave quickly—Suna reinforcements were nearing.
Within one minute, he would finish off Shisui, then proceed to rendezvous with Sasori and the others.
He wondered whether Kakuzu and Hidan had succeeded on their side. Saitama wouldn't let himself fall behind.
[A Blue-White Surge of Electric Shock crackled down the blade.] As he swung it forward, his body leaned forward too, advancing toward Shisui.
Boom! Their swords clashed. Shisui grunted coldly, planting his right foot behind him to halt his backward slide, veins bulging on his arms.
Clutching tightly with his left hand, Saitama threw a punch straight toward Shisui.
Crash! Caught off guard by this angle, Shisui barely managed a last-second defense—his Three-Tomoe Sharingan granting him final protection.
Still, he countered with his left hand, blocking Saitama.
The moment they made contact, a tremendous force surged against Shisui. His face paled in realization—he knew he'd been careless, but of course Saitama wouldn't give him a second to recover.
Saitama pressed harder with his right arm, pinning down Shisui's figure to prevent escape.
Simultaneously, Saitama changed his fist into an open palm, grabbing Shisui's arm and pulling him closer.
Saitama's power was beyond what Shisui could resist. The difference in their strength had grown beyond simple explanation.
[Hashirama's Cells] not only granted Saitama powerful vitality and regeneration but also made his body monstrous.
If Saitama wanted to, he could casually throw a punch with strength matching even Tsunade's monstrous hits.
Shisui felt Saitama's power and inwardly sensed danger. Immediately alarmed, he erupted with chakra, attempting to compensate for his overwhelming disadvantage.
Crack! Saitama snapped his knee upward, sending arcs of [Electric Shock] crackling through the air where it would soon strike.
His knee smashed into Shisui's abdomen. Saitama felt the give of soft muscle beneath the impact.
Then, he amplified the [Electric Shock] surging from that point, intensifying its power.
*Phut!* Instantly, Shisui's body rocketed backward like hit by a freight train, trailing a sonic boom.
Still in midair, Shisui spat out a mouthful of blood. His body froze for a moment, limbs rigid, before being flung violently backward.
*Captain!* Sakan watched in shock as Shisui was blasted away by Saitama's knee strike. His expression twisted instantly, and he started rushing forward to help.
Shisui abruptly halted his backward slide, slamming his blade into the sandy ground.
He glanced toward his teammates, signaling them not to come forward. Then, he looked back at Saitama.
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