Sakumo panted slightly, staring at the approaching Kari from within the dust cloud, his gaze growing increasingly solemn.
He had never been a genius Ninja. His dominance on the battlefield stemmed from relentless, day-after-day training, relying on his skilled swordsmanship and exceptional reaction speed.
In reality, he wasn't purely a Taijutsu-type Ninja; he preferred to call his style: Nin-Taijutsu.
His swordsmanship was strong because it was fast, and it was fast because he had created his own Lightning Release Body Flicker Technique.
By releasing Lightning Release Chakra from every cell in his body, creating an electric current in sync with his bioelectricity, he used special methods to stimulate his Physical Body, strengthening his muscles and nerves, thus coordinating with the Body Flicker Technique to unleash a ghost-like speed.
Clearly, compared to the Hidden Cloud Village's successive Raikage's "Lightning Release Chakra Mode," this wasn't much of a Secret Technique, nor did it have its terrifying defensive capabilities and endurance.
All he wanted was a moment's burst, complementing his swordsmanship, to defeat the enemy in one move.
Compared to the "Lightning Release Chakra Mode's" overbearing nature, his Nin-Taijutsu methods were more... focused.
Concentrating all his energy on one point, focusing the timing of his draw to a single instant.
Watching Kari stride forward, Sakumo adjusted his breathing, exhaling a long breath.
Thought arose, blade fell.
He took a step forward, his figure turning into an afterimage as he lunged, his entire being blurred due to the excessive speed, leaving only slightly scattered arcs of electricity in the air.
"White Fang: Throat Severing Slash!"
"Swish!"
The blade cut through the air, slashing diagonally towards Kari's neck, the entire blade transforming into a pure white bolt, the afterimages completely merging, like a slender, sharp fang, flashing past.
With a muffled "Boom," flames flashed and died at Kari's feet, his entire body shifting to the right, barely avoiding the fatal blade.
With a "Tzzt" sound, blood splattered.
Two fingers fell to the ground with a "pat-pat," Sakumo's blade slicing off Kari's fingers, fresh blood flowing along the blade, splattering on his arm.
"It's effective, just one more time..." Sakumo exhaled slowly, a hint of deep fatigue flashing in his eyes, but his gaze remained firm.
Kari grunted, and although the pain twisted his features, a bizarre, strange smile still stretched across his ferocious face.
"Now!" He spread his fingers, clenching them remotely: "Explosion Release: Blood Explosion!"
Sakumo felt a sense of foreboding, the bloodstains on his arm sending a scalding sensation, as if they were about to ignite.
With a "Boom," before he could wipe away the bloodstains, his right hand holding the blade was engulfed in a burst of explosive flames, the powerful impact sending his entire body flying, slamming hard into a tree.
The scorched smoke slowly dissipated, Sakumo leaning against the tree trunk, sitting weakly on the ground, his entire right arm already covered in blood, twitching incessantly.
But even so, he didn't drop the "White Fang" in his hand.
"I must say, you are strong. If you were at your peak, I would have died from that last strike."
Kari approached slowly, a trace of lingering fear flashing in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
"But, unfortunately, this is war!" He laughed, spreading his hands, "Having killed so many of my men, you should be satisfied. Don't worry, I won't go back on my word, White Fang of the Hidden Leaf, I will erect a monument for you!"
He clenched his fist at his waist, a violent aura slowly gathering, "Explosion Release—"
Suddenly, a brief daze flashed across Kari's expression, followed by half of his face twisting together, his face flushed and veins bulging, a muffled shout escaping his mouth:
"Sakumo... hurry... leave..."
Half of his face was panicked and anxious, the other half was filled with uncontrollable rage.
Sakumo instantly realized something, using one hand to support his injured arm, struggling to stand up.
"Hurry... leave—don't even think about it!!!"
In just a moment, Kari regained his mobility, as if he had shivered dramatically, his entire face turning furious.
"Damn ghost, I know where you are now!!"
"Kill him!" He turned around abruptly, leaving a sentence behind, and actually let go of Sakumo Hatake, who was within his grasp, instead activating Explosive Step, accompanied by a muffled explosive sound, heading straight for a certain location.
"No!" Sakumo's face turned pale, his tightly furrowed brows expressing his anxiety, and the Stone Ninja swarmed up, preparing to use Ninjutsu to execute him on the spot.
The heavy rain poured down like a curtain, and in the dense rain, a verdant feather fell with the raindrops, landing on the shoulder of a Stone Ninja.
He was a little puzzled, taking a quick glance, and was shocked to see a blood-red "Explosion" character formula printed on the feather, vividly dripping with color.
It wasn't just him; everyone noticed the verdant long feathers mixed in with the raindrops. These things fell like flower petals, falling to the ground with the rain.
They all looked up in unison, only to see a strange-looking bird circling silently in the night sky, its two long tail feathers dancing in the wind.
Just then, all the feathers began to burn.
"Not good!"
"Retreat quickly!"
All the feathers detonated simultaneously, and the crimson flames exploded with a bang, engulfing most of the Stone Ninja.
"Boom boom boom!!!"
Smoke billowed, and wails echoed everywhere.
"What is that thing!"
"Damn it!!"
"Does Hidden Leaf Village still have reinforcements at this time!!"
Such doubts not only appeared in the minds of the Stone Ninja, but also lingered in Sakumo's mind.
According to the information he had, there were no Ninja in the village who used such methods.
Just then, a black shadow streaked across the earth, and a rapid whistling sound rang out above everyone's heads, sweeping past like a bomber.
The Stone Ninja retreated one after another, and the giant strange bird circled in the sky, diving down like a swooping hawk.
"Boom!"
The ground shattered, and dust and smoke rose everywhere.
Sakumo raised his head, his gaze fixed on the bushes above his head. The second before the giant bird landed, he noticed a figure falling gracefully.
Before he could ask, the person spoke directly, in a relaxed and comfortable tone.
"Sakumo Hatake? I didn't expect you to have such a disheveled day."
A youthful figure landed with a somersault, standing face to face with Sakumo.
He had fair skin, delicate features, and a head of white hair like Sakumo, with white robes fluttering in the wind.
"You are...?" Sakumo frowned slightly, a look of confusion on his face. "Who?"
"Uh..." Hiruko was covered in Black Lines, his enthusiasm instantly extinguished by cold water, standing there like a clay sculpture.
"Let me remind you, I was in the same class as you, and we were both number one in the class." He still held onto the last glimmer of hope, his eyes full of anticipation.
"Same class?" Sakumo was even more puzzled. He was very clear that he didn't recognize the guy in front of him at all, and he didn't see his forehead protector either, so doubts arose in his mind.
Hiruko's eyes completely lost their light.
He originally wanted to strike a blow to this former top student, and then mock him, saying things like "Hahaha, you have this day too," to make himself secretly happy, but who would have thought... the other person didn't recognize him at all.
Even the last bit of mischievous thought was gone.
"I am Hiruko. 10 years ago, I left Hidden Leaf Village at the same time as Uchiha Nen and Orochimaru..." he said without emotion.
"Oh! So it's you!" Sakumo exclaimed.
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