BOOM!
CRACK!
Thunder roared as Raiga Kurosuki crossed his twin blades, unleashing a relentless storm of lightning. The dazzling arcs twisted through the air, their terrifying might enough to shake the soul.
Yet, standing firm against the onslaught was a radiant crimson barrier, unwavering even under the barrage. Each strike caused only a brief ripple before the shield stabilized again—unbreakable, like an indomitable mountain.
"It… it's not even scratching her!"
Ranmaru's violet hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat. His face was pale, his voice trembling. The oppressive aura of fear was gnawing at his mind, making it impossible to stay calm. His usual composure was crumbling.
"Stay focused, Ranmaru!"
Raiga, usually the most erratic of the two, was now eerily composed in battle. He kept up a relentless assault, bombarding the strange red polyhedron with lightning strikes.
This was his specialty—using the Lightning Release: Fang of Lightning technique, an unsealed jutsu that allowed him to flood the battlefield with electricity. A single hit would paralyze the enemy, leaving them helpless against the storm that followed.
"I'm sorry!"
Ranmaru knew his panic was a liability. He took deep breaths, steadying himself, his red eyes locking onto the dull gray pupils of his opponent—trying to disrupt their sensory perception.
WHOOSH!
A transparent shockwave slipped through the lightning, aiming for Raiga. But the swordsman didn't even flinch. He kept firing, trusting Ranmaru's interference.
The vacuum blade grazed Raiga's hair, slicing off a few strands before vanishing into the distant sea.
"Nice work!"
Raiga grinned, his shark-like teeth glinting. Behind him, Ranmaru nodded silently.
The enemy's sensory ability was being disrupted—they couldn't lock onto Raiga's position. If they could just break through that damn barrier, victory was theirs!
At least, that's how it should have been.
But Ranmaru's dread only grew stronger. His heart pounded in sync with the flickering red barrier, as if warning him—
Something was wrong.
---
Meanwhile, on the plaza, most of the Black Ops had already been taken down by Naruto and Sasuke. Only one remained—a towering rogue-nin from Kirigakure, a veteran who had fought alongside Raiga for years.
"Hahaha! Raiga-sama is invincible! Your friend's already been turned to dust!"
Dodging Sasuke's lightning-wreathed blade, the man laughed, gesturing toward the storm of thunder in the distance.
"You have no idea how terrifying she really is. And do you really think I'd fall for that?"
Sasuke smirked, his Sharingan locking onto the steel needles hidden between the enemy's fingers.
The Black Ops member's grin faded, his expression turning cold. The act was over—now, it was pure killing intent.
"Your comrades are done for too."
Sasuke's smirk widened as he glanced behind the man—where an army of Naruto clones had swarmed the last remaining enemies.
"Tch."
The rogue-nin scoffed, spreading his steel claws in defiance.
Then—
"LEAF WHIRLWIND!"
A blur of green slammed into the man's side, sending him flying like a ragdoll. He crashed into the ruined execution platform, buried under the rubble.
Sasuke sheathed his blade, watching the fading chakra signal.
Turning, he saw Naruto—the real one—grinning, thumb raised.
"Show-off."
"Hmph!"
The two exchanged their usual bickering before heading toward Tazuna and his family, now freed from captivity.
---
"D-Dad…!"
Inari sobbed, clinging to Kaiza's arm. Tsunami wept with relief, holding the other.
Kaiza, once bound by ropes, now found himself bound by love—his family's embrace far stronger than any restraint.
Tazuna stood frozen, staring at Naruto and Sasuke with guilt, regret, and gratitude tangled in his chest.
These were the same ninja he had dismissed, even driven away—yet here they were, saving his family and country.
"Naruto, I—"
"Tazuna, you okay?!"
Naruto cut him off with a grin, acting as if nothing had happened. His sunny demeanor melted the old man's shame.
"Y-Yeah… thanks to you."
Kaiza and the self-defense force quickly organized, rounding up the defeated Black Ops and stuffing them into coffins—fitting, given Raiga's morbid tastes.
But the real battle was still raging in the distance.
---
BOOM!
Another pillar of lightning struck the crimson barrier, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
Tazuna and the villagers watched in horror and hope, some even praying silently.
"They won't lose, right…?"
"No way! Hikari's unstoppable!"
Naruto, now a full-blown fanboy, had zero doubts. Five years ago, she'd killed an elite Jonin with ease. Now? She was barely even trying.
Sasuke said nothing, his gaze locked on Raiga's twin blades—thunder crackling along their edges.
That's the source of the lightning…
He craved those swords.
But for now, the battlefield was beyond their level.
---
Inside the crimson barrier, Hikari observed the lightning strikes with detached interest.
"So this really is a modified Barrier: Invisibility Door technique…"
Kakashi, watching from behind, felt his jaw drop.
The jutsu filtered chakra signatures, allowing only pre-approved energy to pass. But Hikari's version was faster, more precise—her wind blades sliced through the barrier without hesitation.
A defensive fortress that could freely attack outward? If this spread, long-range specialists would become unstoppable artillery.
"Enough testing."
Hikari's white eyes gleamed as the seal markings on her body lit up like circuitry.
For five years, she had refined her Perfect Combat Body.
Now, it was time to unleash its true power.
---
Raiga, sensing weakness, gathered his chakra—
A sphere of crackling plasma formed between his blades, liquid electricity swirling at its core.
"DIE!"
He hurled it forward, the air itself burning black in its wake.
Kakashi's Sharingan tracked the attack.
"That'll level the plaza…!"
His hands flew into seals—
"CHIDORI!"
But before he could move—
"Don't interfere."
Hikari's voice was icy calm.
Three water-blue projectiles materialized beside her, wind chakra compressed to a lethal edge.
No sound. No flashy buildup.
Just pure, controlled annihilation.
Kakashi froze.
This wasn't just nature transformation—it was perfection.
"Floating Water Cannon."
Hikari's finger pointed.
"Fire."
---
PSSHHH—!!!
No explosion. No quake.
Just three beams of pressurized death.
The plasma ball, Raiga's sneering face, Ranmaru's wide red eyes—
And the endless ocean behind them—
All were pierced clean through.