"Hmph! I thought you'd be twisted and crushed by the space-time distortion of the Tensō Technique!"
The Fourth Raikage, who appeared almost simultaneously not far away, snorted coldly.
In that instant, dazzling lightning erupted across his skin.
Lightning Release: Chakra Armor.
So he used that to withstand spatial distortion?
The Tensō (Heavenly Transfer Technique) was originally meant only for transporting objects.
If one tried to move a person, the immense pressure of distorted space-time would shred the human body into minced flesh.
In the past, only the Third Raikage — whose body was honed to perfection — had survived it.
In the original tale, even Tsunade had to rely on the Hundred Healings Mark, burning through a massive amount of chakra, just to endure the crushing force of the technique.
"Thanks to this power… If the spatial distortion had been any stronger, I might really have been forced to unleash the Hōgyoku."
Kenya brushed her left hand across the moonlit gem embedded at her chest.
The distortion was so severe it nearly compelled her to act.
"Hmph. Though I'm displeased to meet you here… your death will serve as payment for Darui and the others!"
The Fourth Raikage tore away the hem of his white robe, revealing a body of pure muscle and power.
"Especially when you've deliberately forced me into a one-on-one… I see now — you've grasped a little of Kyōka Suigetsu's abilities."
Kenya lifted her right hand, voice calm.
"Indeed. I should commend that sensory ninja — I can't even recall his name — for managing to reveal the faintest tip of Kyōka Suigetsu's secret. Avoiding group battles is one way to limit its effects."
Her eyes narrowed, shadows darkening her expression.
"But tell me… when did you start assuming Kyōka Suigetsu was my only power?"
The calmness vanished, replaced by a dangerous gloom.
"You talk too much nonsense, brat!!!"
—
In the blink of an eye, the Fourth Raikage, cloaked in Lightning Release Chakra Mode, charged.
Lightning burst explosively, his elbow like a tank's battering ram, smashing toward Kenya's face.
"Not bad. You're fast."
Kenya twisted back, narrowly avoiding the strike as her nose nearly brushed against his arm.
Her left palm lashed out, striking toward the Raikage's exposed abdomen.
"Fiery Lightning Howl!"
Boom!
Violent energy engulfed them both in a roaring blast.
From the battlefield at the border of the Land of Lightning, Terumi Mei and the others could faintly see the faraway sky — beneath the dark clouds, a blinding radiance flared for several seconds.
"That effect… no way it could defeat my big brother! Baka-yaro! Kuso-yaro!"
With a strange chant, the massive tails of the Eight-Tails swept across the battlefield, forcing Terumi Mei and the others to retreat quickly.
Cloud shinobi truly were tough opponents.
If Kenya hadn't killed two of their jinchūriki with his Wooden Golem in the first battle, their situation would be far worse.
Rumble!!!
A thunderous column of lightning, tens of meters high, roared down like Thor's hammer, engulfing the two figures at its center.
Moments later, a body shot out of the thunder pillar, cutting through the air before landing heavily.
It was the Fourth Raikage!
"This guy…"
Raikage's teeth ground together as blood streamed down his face.
The thunder pillar finally dissipated, leaving only crackling sparks in the sky.
Kenya stood calmly at the heart of the lightning's devastation.
"It's impressive. If that had been the Third Hokage, your last move would've killed him."
The Fourth Raikage furrowed his brows.
"I heard you and the Third Hokage once joined forces to repel Orochimaru. But from what you've just said… that doesn't seem to be the truth."
Kenya smiled faintly.
"For someone who once sent subordinates to kidnap Hyūga Hinata and plot against Konoha… does the truth matter to you? Soon enough, you'll be joining Sarutobi Hiruzen anyway."
"Bastard! So everyone's been deceived by you all along!"
With a roar, the Raikage vanished again, reappearing as a blur of blue lightning, his hand raised like a blade.
"Deceived? That's too crude a word. People believe what they want to believe… just as they choose to see only the side of me they prefer."
The sword was drawn. Light flashed along the blade, gleaming like the sun.
Kyōka Suigetsu — unveiled at last.
—
Kenya's wrist twisted, and a sword aura tens of meters tall erupted from the blade.
The pressure spawned hurricanes, the sheer force like a natural disaster crashing down.
Boom!!!
The two powers clashed head-on.
The shockwave leveled the withered grasslands, crushing rocks into dust.
"I've already wounded you. Don't push yourself further. When I take the initiative, your defeat is certain… and mercy was never my plan."
Sword light and Lightning Release clashed violently, their blinding flashes erasing all sight.
But Kenya's Sharingan pierced through it, reading the Raikage's physical state through his chakra flow.
"Don't underestimate a Raikage!!!"
From within the raging storm, the Fourth Raikage burst out once more.
Blood streamed down his left brow, covering half his face.
Though not quite equal to his father, the Third Raikage, he was still one of the rare few in the shinobi world who had pushed their body to its absolute limits.
Kenya had believed his previous strike could fell anyone below Kage-level.
But the Raikage's fist clenched, iron-hard, as he charged again.
"Lightning Straight!!!"
Puff!
His full-powered punch smashed straight into Kenya's face.
Did it work!?
For a heartbeat, the Fourth Raikage's chest surged with elation.
But then—
"The reasoning is sound… but your strategy is flawed."
The body he struck dissolved like rippling water before his eyes.
Kenya's voice echoed coldly from behind.