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"Quick! Quick!"
"Don't waste time! It's right ahead!"
"Sealing Squad, how much more for the barrier?"
"Special forces, advance immediately!"
Amidst the lush dense forest, several squads of Cloud Ninja leaped through the giant trees at top speed, their ears filled with chaotic shouts and commands, and the ground subtly trembled.
The Cloud Ninja at the very front watched the violent explosive waves constantly reverberating in the distance, and the firelight entwined at its very center, his mind trembling imperceptibly.
"Rumble—!"
Another explosion sounded, causing even the ground nearly five kilometers away to suddenly shake, the trees violently swaying, shedding large swaths of fallen leaves.
More and more people noticed the commotion over there. Even ordinary Cloud Ninja without sensing Ninjutsu could clearly feel the strong Chakra fluctuations emanating from the violent explosions, sweeping over their bodies like a scorching storm, making their hair stand on end.
Several of the younger Cloud Ninja even showed expressions of fear.
"What level of battle is that, exactly?"
"It's just like a Tailed Beast."
'Dee', who served as the vanguard and captain of this Black Lightning unit, was the overall commander of this current joint formation. He was an excellent Kumogakure Jonin and also one of Kumogakure's high-ranking officials designated by letters.
At this moment, he quietly watched the distance, and the command center members around him also stood still, gazing from afar as waves of air spread out from the distance, gently brushing against their bodies, making them feel as if a fine layer of goosebumps rose all over them.
Even with his many years of combat experience, he had never seen such a terrifying scene as this.
To deal with that enemy, the Third Raikage, whom they considered to be as strong as a monster, had no choice but to personally become the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and on top of that, they had set up their unit for peripheral containment as support.
Before this battle began, almost everyone thought that their appearance was set up to deal with the Third Hokage, who was rumored to possess some kind of soul secret technique.
Many even believed that Lord Third, who had already become the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, was already invincible in the Ninja World.
It was not until this moment that they finally understood.
How heavy the pressure Lord Third Raikage had been bearing in his heart for such a long time.
Perhaps even the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, who was rumored to have founded the Ninja Village system, was only at this level, right?
"Konoha's monster..."
Thinking of this, he seemed to suddenly awaken, realizing that the people around him, without realizing it, were also staring blankly at the battle over there, just like him.
Dee immediately shouted, "What are you standing around for! Go support Lord Third immediately!"
"Yes! Yes!"
The piercing roar of lightning, mixed with the violent Tailed Beast Chakra cloak, erupted with dazzling light in the air, piercing straight through dozens of meters, leaving a deep gully on the ground, finally hammering heavily on the surface of the air barrier, and along the edge of that invisible defense, large swathes of dust, like mist, burst forth.
Sawara Kiri reached out to block this attack, and a conical ripple suddenly swept out from under his feet, carrying the violent inertia unleashed by compressed space, fiercely stabbing into the opponent's calf, emitting a 'crack' of bone fracture, yet it quickly healed as if burning under the vigorous vitality of the Tailed Beast Chakra, but also lost its balance for a moment.
The Third Raikage, over two meters tall, leaned forward, and following him was an upward palm strike, heavily smashing into his chin, making him float backward.
Sawara Kiri stared with his azure eyes, his body suddenly rushed forward, a highly impactful full-body charge into the opponent's embrace.
The Third Raikage, spitting blood, instead grinned, and the massive tail blooming behind him suddenly closed like a flower, firmly securing himself to him, while simultaneously pushing his knees forward.
"Boom—!!"
Explosive power, under the combined effect of space and Tailed Beast Chakra, burst outwards in all directions, forming dense rings of airflow. The violent impact, visible to the naked eye, even scraped away the last layer of fine vegetation on this sunken ground, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to subtly sink another layer.
Following the force of this impact, the Third Raikage's body spun several circles in mid-air. The wounds on his body from multiple heavy blows seemed to have completely failed to curb his fighting spirit. He landed with a fierce stomp, and then, like an arrow released from a bow, shot towards Sawara Kiri.
At the same time, he suddenly opened his mouth.
Biju Bomb Barrage!
Seemingly tiny, concentrated Chakra cores shot out like bullets, sweeping across various parts of Sawara Kiri's body, attempting to attack multiple locations simultaneously, hoping to break through his invincible defense.
However, Sawara Kiri did not comply with his wishes at all. His body distorted rapidly like a nimble snake, sliding several meters along the ground, completely avoiding the series of small Tailed Beast Balls.
Then, he charged towards the Third Raikage's oncoming figure.
"Boom!"
The atmosphere vibrated, another heavy hammer blow.
Within several hundred meters around the two of them, there was almost no vegetation layer left standing on the ground. Even this originally lush forest had been swept into yellow earth. Countless atmospheric roars continuously spread out in succession under movements too fast for the naked eye to capture, making this entire area seem to be in a continuous state of small earthquakes.
"Whew—"
Until they separated again, Sawara Kiri looked at the tall humanoid Tailed Beast opposite him with his azure eyes, a never-before-seen excitement in them.
This heavy sense of oppression, movements that could completely keep up with his speed, an almost beast-like strong combat instinct, and continuous pressure tests on his Limitless...
All of this was something he had not felt since acquiring this technique.
If before, the Third Raikage's behavior was more like that of a 'beast', then now, he was more like a 'person' who had mastered the power of a beast.
His methods of movement, tactical strategies, and attack instincts... all reached a considerably high level.
If it weren't for the 'Mind's Eye (Fake)' supporting his combat awareness, he would probably have fallen into a disadvantage in the close-quarters combat just now, being in a state of one-sided attack.
Although his Limitless would still be impenetrable, it wouldn't have been as exhilarating as it was now.
"This is truly good."
Sawara Kiri looked at him, slowly revealing a smile: "Have you also become a perfect Jinchuriki, Lord Raikage?"
"To be able to achieve this level is truly beyond my imagination."
"It should be this old man who is surprised."
The Third Raikage had now completely regained his rationality, showing no signs of having transformed into a beast as before, but his voice was instead incredibly heavy: "Even though this old man has exhausted every possibility and overestimated the danger level of you, brat, I still didn't expect you to be able to reach such a level."
"If I let you continue to grow, I'm afraid the level of the God of Shinobi would only be the starting point of your peak?"
"What a pity..."
A fierce smile suddenly spread across his face, and he roared, "For Kumogakure, you must die here!"
In the battle just now, he had already discovered it.
Sawara Kiri's Limitless, which initially maintained a defensive space of three inches or more from his body's surface, gradually contracted to maintain a defensive distance of only 'one inch' or so in close-quarters combat, as it did just now.
At the same time, he could also clearly feel that the opponent's stamina and Chakra were also constantly being depleted, just like his own.
This indicates that the Chakra required to maintain the Limitless is constantly changing with the intensity of the battle.
His technique is not invincible.
Just as a player seeing a health bar feels like they can defeat even a god.
At this moment, the Third Raikage had complete confidence in killing him!
Moreover, he still had a sufficiently strong fallback plan.
Almost at the instant this thought came to him, he suddenly completed a hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Immediately following, several figures suddenly emerged from beside him, their bodies also wrapped in a large amount of Tailed Beast Chakra.
Sawara Kiri's gaze paused slightly.
The next moment, the three figures, moving almost synchronously at a speed so fast it blurred, shot towards him, streaking like dark red meteors.
The three figures encircled him, running swiftly in circles around him.
The azure Six Eyes captured the opponent's movements completely with a perspective unimaginable to ordinary people, but a hint of doubt arose in his heart.
The booming sound waves enveloped these three figures, while the entwined Lightning Release and Tailed Beast Chakra had already pushed his speed to the extreme.
Until a certain moment, one of the figures suddenly pounced from behind Sawara Kiri, his blazing giant claw aiming for his head.
Sawara Kiri's figure remained fixed in place, his body leaning to the side, his entire torso tracing an arc on the spot with the immense momentum, his hand forming a blade with his fingers, striking straight towards the figure's chest and abdomen, intending to cleave him in half immediately.
But the next instant, the figure that had just been rushing forward at a speed exceeding sound suddenly spread its tail in mid-air, and its entire body transformed into a winding snake shape, immediately coiling around his arm. The Tailed Beast Chakra on its body's surface continuously formed large hands, one after another, attempting to tear apart the defensive circle on his body.
Sawara Kiri's movement seemed to slow for an instant, and another figure immediately seized this fleeting opportunity, pouncing onto his body and joining the other side to form a solid lock.
Finally, a figure whose chest and abdomen swelled like a frog rushed in front of Sawara Kiri.
He suddenly opened his mouth at him, under the gaze of his wide, deep blue Six Eyes.
Biju Bomb!
The sudden roar of the explosion seemed to swallow Sawara Kiri's figure in an instant, completely engulfing him in this boundless current of light, turning him into dust with its most fundamental high temperature and impact.
It was just a pity that the Third Raikage did not notice the smile he revealed in that instant before he was swallowed.
"Bang."
The figure standing in place turned into a tree stump, completely engulfed by the Biju Bomb sprayed at close range.
The next moment, before the Third Raikage could land, his single foot was suddenly grabbed tightly by an arm extending from underground, and he was violently slammed onto the ground, creating a series of rippling, circular depressions.
The Third Raikage 'Ough—' coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
Sawara Kiri, who had rolled out from underground, immediately lunged forward, still gripping his ankle. A purplish-red glow shimmered at his fingertips, aiming directly at his opponent.
However, before his Ninjutsu could be completed, a massive tentacle abruptly thrust out from behind him, knocking the Third Raikage's body, which had been slammed to the ground, off balance, sending him tumbling far away from his original spot.
"Thanks, Gyuki."
The Third Raikage, who had narrowly escaped danger, his heart still pounding, whispered to the monster hidden inside his body.
"That kid is indeed a monster we have no choice but to deal with together."
"Helping you is helping me."
Gyuki, with his rather simple-minded nature, didn't take this small matter to heart at all.
Compared to that, he now fully believed what the Third Raikage had said earlier: that this kid would definitely become a monster surpassing Senju Hashirama.
In this battle, which had lasted for over half an hour, they hadn't even touched him once.
Up until now, Sawara Kiri's body was still spotless, as if he had just come out of a restaurant. Only the faint, fine beads of sweat visible on his forehead could prove that his stamina was also being depleted.
Just realizing this alone brought Gyuki to a state of almost fearful psychological pressure.
If this human kid were allowed to continue growing, to what extent would he grow?
Senju Hashirama? Uchiha Madara?
Or That Person who created them...
The Sage of Six Paths?
This absurd reality made Gyuki feel as if his thousand years of life had been lived in vain.
Humans could actually reach such a level.
"Huff huff."
The Third Raikage was also breathing heavily.
In this extreme situation, the two parties, who had originally fought countless battles and bore the blood feud of numerous experimental Jinchuriki, surprisingly achieved perfect cooperation.
If Sawara Kiri knew, he probably wouldn't care at all, would he?
Just as the Third Raikage and Gyuki were conversing for this short period, Sawara Kiri's steps suddenly halted. He looked further into the forest with his deep blue Six Eyes.
He seemed to have seen something.
"Damn it, he found them!" The Third Raikage's heart tightened instantly.
What kind of terrifying sensory ability was this?
Moreover, those he had set up on the periphery were his trump cards for victory, and they absolutely could not be destroyed by Sawara Kiri at a time like this!
Almost the moment this thought arose, the Third Raikage once again rushed towards Sawara Kiri.
Sawara Kiri, however, suddenly turned his head and showed him a cruel smile.
His figure suddenly shot off in a direction even further away.
At this moment, the Third Raikage had no time to think, immediately forming hand signs.
"Heavenly Transfer Jutsu!"
The next moment, spatial fluctuations, carrying an extremely strong airflow, were violently applied to his bear-like powerful body.
"Boom!"
He slammed heavily in front of the Black Lightning Squad's vanguard, moving faster than Sawara Kiri.
The moment they sensed the distant battle suddenly stop and spatial ripples appear around them, the entire Black Lightning Squad, including Darui, tensed up, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
However, upon seeing that familiar back, they suddenly relaxed.
Only the Third Raikage was even more solemn than before, gazing at the figure in the distance that seemed to have covered several kilometers in an instant. His heartbeat was so fast that even those around him could hear the "thump-thump-thump" like a pounding drum.
Darui had never seen the Third Raikage look so grave. Even the severe wounds beneath his Tailed Beast Chakra cloak had not healed.
Just by looking at him, he could imagine what a brutal battle this lord had just experienced.
"Lord Third, that guy is still…"
Darui hesitated for a moment, but still instinctively spoke, wanting to ask for more information to ease his mind.
Unfortunately, before he could finish his sentence, he saw the Third Raikage already speaking:
"Watch out! He's coming."
Almost at the very instant these words fell.
Everyone present heard the booming roar.
It struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
"Extremely large Chakra reaction!"
No need for the Ninja of the distant Sensory Squad to warn them, everyone had already glimpsed the massive wave of dust rising from the depths of the dense forest, as it tore through the air and accelerated at several times the speed of sound, charging towards them.
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed their saliva, though it was unclear who.
Darui stared blankly at the rising dust in the distance.
Watching that scene from afar and facing the opponent's impact head-on, the pressure brought by the two was completely different.
The Sensory Ninja beside him continued to shout loudly:
"Barrier preparation countdown!"
"Five."
"Four!"
"Three!!"
"Black Lightning Squad, prepare! Combined Ninjutsu!"
Almost with his last ounce of courage, Darui let out a nearly hoarse shout to the Ninja behind him.
No matter what, they absolutely had to protect this trump card that would lead them to certain victory.
However, even such a roar could not stop the heavy resonance of the surrounding people's hearts, beating in unison.
The figure traversing from the extreme distance ignored all obstacles in its path; merely the aftershock of its charge caused countless century-old trees to collapse in succession. An unprecedented pressure weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. The Third Raikage struggled to spread his arms, activating the Tailed Beast Chakra within his body to its maximum, even causing Gyuki's tentacle tails to materialize from within his body.
It was as if tiny humans were trying every method to stop the collapsing mountain in front of them.
The Third Raikage looked at that figure.
At this moment, he inexplicably seemed to be able to feel it.
The heavy sense of oppression that other ordinary Ninja bore when facing his Hell Stab.
"Combined Lightning Release—!"
"One!!!"
Almost the instant the Sensory Ninja's voice fell.
"Barrier complete!"
"—Black Panther!"
"Rumble—!!!"
Almost at the same instant that sound rang out, a vacuum-conical lightning, whose figure was completely uncatchable, with the brutal posture of a tiger entering a flock of sheep, violently pierced into the giant black lightning leopard jointly cast by dozens of the most elite Cloud Ninja, tearing the entire Black Lightning Ninjutsu apart as easily as a hot knife cutting through butter.
Immediately following, under the terrified and trembling gazes of everyone, he kicked the Third Raikage, who was blocking him with all his might, turning him into an invisible meteor. Carrying the absolute violence brought by countless times the speed of sound, he forcibly exploded the dozen or so Cloud Ninja blocking his path into crimson fragments that were difficult to even recognize as complete forms.
Darui, maintaining his Ninjutsu stance, still stood quietly in place with his hands in a hand sign.
His companion standing beside him, however, had suddenly vanished without a trace.
A drizzling rain of blood fell from the sky, sticking to his hair, cheeks, and shoulders as if it were substantial. The warm sensation seemed to make him lose consciousness for a moment, only staring blankly as he witnessed this scene.
His mind was a blank slate.
Only the Third Raikage, whose body was deeply embedded in the deepest part of the rock, continuously coughed up blood, yet a smile uncontrollably appeared on his dark face.
A low chuckle, a hearty laugh, until it gradually turned into an uncontrollable roar of laughter!
"Hahahahaha—!"
His coarse voice pulled at the wound on his chest and abdomen, where even his internal organs were exposed and his ribs were splayed open, constantly healing under the enhancement of the Tailed Beast Chakra, yet it made him seem to feel no pain at all.
The Third Raikage suddenly opened his eyes.
It's done.
Space Interference and Chakra Absorption Combined Barrier!
That special barrier once used by the Gold and Silver Brothers to kill the Second Hokage!
This is… the Kumogakure's last trump card.
Sawara Kiri! You're dead!
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