Bang!!
The instant the words left his mouth, the Fourth Raikage's fist clenched, letting out a loud burst!
As his voice faded, a phantom image abruptly materialized behind him.
It was a colossal, blue-and-white, half-bodied giant, composed entirely of lightning. Its four translucent arms were thickly muscled, lightning-cloud scarves draped over its shoulders, and four Shimenawa drums were bound to its back.
The giant's eyes flashed with electric light, its form towering and immense, emanating a savage aura!
The next moment, the Fourth Raikage unleashed his remaining arm.
The giant mirrored him, its eyes glaring in fury, as it violently smashed one of its gigantic, lightning-composed fists toward the descending dark-red Cero!
Zzzzzz!!!
The giant's punch unleashed a torrential stream of blue-and-white lightning, condensed to the extreme. Wherever it passed, the air warped, and deafening sonic booms erupted!
The dark-red Cero and the blue-and-white lightning crashed solidly into one another!
The point of impact was first met with extreme stillness.
Immediately after, an all-consuming, brilliant white light violently exploded, as if a small sun had been ignited in the canyon.
Boom Rumble Rumble!!
The terrifying, ear-shattering explosion caused the very ground to tremble. The sound waves formed visible, circular shockwaves that spread madly in all directions.
The scattering electric arcs and energy turbulence interwove into a storm. Layers of earth were ripped up, and the air was thick with a pungent smell of ozone and a burnt, foul odor!
The towering rock walls on both sides of the canyon cracked and collapsed over large areas under the terrifying impact. Countless rocks peeled off the cliff face, raising clouds of dust!
The dense dust was like a heavy curtain obscuring the view, with only residual, blinding electric arcs occasionally flashing in the haze.
Whoosh!!
The Fourth Raikage, his hair standing on end from the electricity, his savage aura not yet fully subsided, detected a fierce gust of wind howling from his back and side, whipping up the dust.
It was an almost complete instinctual reaction. He didn't even fully turn his head. He commanded the colossal lightning giant behind him, whose arm, wrapped in crackling lightning, slammed toward that side.
Bang!
A muffled heavy thud, accompanied by a suppressed groan of pain, as the fist landed squarely on a shadowy figure!
The shadow was sent hurtling backward, instantly vanishing into the dense dust.
The violent blast of air kicked up by the punch instantly blew away large patches of dust, and the visibility suddenly cleared significantly.
The Fourth Raikage's gaze swept toward the direction his fist had struck. His brow furrowed.
He saw that the crater he had previously smashed into the ground nearby was empty. Kakuzu, who should have been lying there severely injured and near death, was gone.
He abruptly looked up at the sky and indeed saw the massive monster flying unsteadily into the distance, with scorched marks and residual electric arcs remaining on its body.
And clutched in its two huge claws were Kakuzu, who looked boneless, and a severed tentacle from an octopus!
"Still trying to run?!"
The Fourth Raikage squeezed out a low growl through clenched teeth. Endless rage surged in his chest; the lightning in his eyes was practically on the verge of erupting!
The lightning giant behind him seemed to sense his killing intent. It slowly raised one arm, preparing to strike one of the Shimenawa drums on its back—
"Raikage-sama!"
Just then, a frantic and familiar cry came from the direction of the Cloud-Lightning Gorge entrance, instantly dousing the rage-filled fire in the Fourth Raikage's brain.
He turned to the source of the voice and saw a large group of Cloud Village ninja, led by Darui and Mabui, rushing toward him.
"Hiss!"
When they rushed into the gorge and saw the scene before them, everyone involuntarily gasped sharply. Their steps instantly froze, their faces filled with shock!
The interior of the gorge was a mess, as if ravaged by some monster. There were cracked boulders everywhere, scorched craters, and a ferocious aura that had yet to completely dissipate.
Killer B-sama was half-kneeling on the ground, strange red sealing patterns covering his body, blood still staining the corner of his mouth—he was clearly injured.
But what stunned them the most, even bringing a hint of fear, was the blue-and-white half-bodied giant behind the Fourth Raikage!
That aura, like a force of nature, made them feel palpitations even from a distance.
What was that?
Just then, the brilliant white lightning in the Fourth Raikage's eyes rapidly receded like a tide, and the fierce, explosive Raiton Chakra around him gradually subsided and calmed down.
The awe-inspiring half-bodied giant behind him slowly faded along with it, finally dissipating into the air like an illusion, leaving only the lingering smell of ozone in the air.
"Raikage-sama!"
Mabui forcibly suppressed the shock in her heart and quickly stepped forward, her gaze sweeping across the battlefield before finally settling on the Fourth Raikage: "The invaders... have they escaped?"
She glanced at the two figures in the sky, which had already become black dots, her brows tightly furrowed.
The Fourth Raikage forcibly suppressed the urge to pursue and looked in Killer B's direction.
He saw that several medical ninja had already gathered around, examining the strange red sealing patterns on Killer B and attempting to treat him. Only then did his tightly wound nerves relax slightly.
"Hmph, I let those two bastards get away."
His voice was low, carrying suppressed anger, like distant thunder rolling in the clouds. He said coldly, "I will settle this debt with interest sooner or later!"
With that, he lowered his head, his gaze falling upon the gauntlet covering his left arm, which still faintly radiated high heat and tiny electric arcs.
His fist clenched tightly again, letting out a heavy, muffled burst.
This gauntlet was one of the spoils of war obtained from the "Underground Palace" in the Land of Hot Water.
He knew this ninja tool was mysterious and powerful, but he had only ever been able to utilize its basic amplification effect, never breaking through that qualitative threshold.
He had not expected that this time, his misfortune would turn into a blessing. It was only through his rage that he truly unleashed such immense power.
At this moment, the Fourth Raikage could still faintly feel an even more savage power lurking deep within the gauntlet, a power that could be fully released simply by having the giant strike the drum...
"Hoo!"
The Fourth Raikage took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to test it.
Right now, Killer B's safety was the top priority. A reckless pursuit could easily lead him into a greater trap.
"Mabui."
With that thought, he lifted his head, his gaze restored to calmness. He spoke solemnly, "Immediately contact Konoha, Stone, Sand, Mist, and Waterfall Villages to inquire about the situation in their villages."
Upon hearing this, Mabui immediately realized something, and her expression suddenly changed: "Raikage-sama, are you suggesting..."
"Yes." The Fourth Raikage nodded. "At the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Ogres, we initially reached an agreement to advance and retreat together."
"That Hyūga Kawa of Konoha inherited some of the Miko's premonition ability. He gave an advance warning that powerful enemies were targeting the Tailed Beasts."
"It was because of that intelligence that I was able to rush back to the village in time."
He paused, then surveyed the ravaged gorge and the faint smoke visible in the distance. A cold look appeared in his eyes.
"If that kid's prophecy is correct, and if the enemy's goal is all Tailed Beasts, then the other ninja villages have probably suffered attacks of varying degrees."
Mabui took a sharp breath and immediately answered, "Yes! I understand. I will personally take care of it right away!"
She turned and quickly departed, her steps hurried, clearly realizing the gravity of the situation.
The Fourth Raikage stood alone, raising his head to look at the blood-red sunset staining the sky. He muttered to himself, "The Akatsuki organization?"
The disaster brought by one 'Holllow Realm' had not yet subsided, and now another 'Akatsuki' organization, whose target was the Tailed Beasts, had emerged.
It seemed that a true unification of the Five Great Nations to deal with the crisis was an inevitable trend.
However...
The Fourth Raikage's gaze involuntarily returned to his gauntlet. Looking at its cold surface, covered with mysterious patterns, a deep thought flashed in his eyes.
"Unity is one thing, but strength, in the end, is most reliable when held in one's own hands."
He thought to himself, "How many more things like this are hidden in that 'Underground Palace'?"
Perhaps, while dealing with the current crisis, a deeper exploration of that relic site should also be put on the agenda.
After all, in the impending storm, every extra bit of strength means an extra chip for survival and victory.
As twilight fell, the Tanzaku Town in the Land of Fire welcomed its most bustling moment of the day.
This famous entertainment district, located in the southwest of the Land of Fire, was like a drunken dreamland isolated from the chaos of the world.
On both sides of the street, the flashing signs and lanterns of the casinos intertwined to create a dizzying play of light and shadow.
The shouts of patrons being lured in, the crisp sound of dice hitting the cup, and the bursts of revelry and laughter echoing from the taverns blended into a single, intoxicating wave of noise.
The air was thick with the scent of perfume, alcohol, and the tempting aroma of various snacks.
Elegantly dressed courtesans and pleasure-seeking guests crisscrossed the streets, forming a scene reminiscent of a ukiyo-e painting.
This place was undoubtedly one that easily tempted ninjas to violate the "Three Taboos," but it also became a haven for many seeking a moment of numbness.
Tucked away in a relatively inconspicuous corner of the street was an izakaya named "Hyakuyaku" (A Hundred Medicines), its name derived from the common saying, "Sake is the best of all medicines."
Lifting the curtain, the interior was a different sight.
Under the warm yellow lighting, wooden tables and chairs were placed somewhat snugly. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted foods and the mellow fragrance of sake.
Patrons sat in small groups, clinking cups and chatting loudly, their faces flushed.
"Boss! Another pot of warm sake!" a flushed middle-aged man shouted, slapping the table with a loud voice.
"Coming right up!" the busy boss behind the counter responded.
After a few drinks, the conversation naturally turned to the earth-shattering events that had recently shaken the entire Land of Fire.
"Did you hear? Konoha was almost wiped out a few days ago!"
A tall, thin man lowered his voice, yet could not hide his fear: "And the Capital City was also hit. My God, those flying ninjas were everywhere!"
"I have a friend who was doing business in Konoha at the time. He barely made it out alive!"
Another stout man, still traumatized, took a large gulp of sake and said gravely, "People who escaped said that the battle completely transcended the scope of human beings."
"The entire Konoha was about to be crushed by a gigantic meteor. Even the Hokage was powerless. It was that Kawa-sama who forcibly cleaved the thing in half."
"Yes, yes! Golden light everywhere. I heard many people saw it. If it weren't for him, Konoha would probably be nothing but dust now."
"However..."
The stout man's topic shifted, and his tone became low again: "I heard that Kawa-sama hasn't woken up yet, and even Tsunade-hime is helpless."
"I hope he pulls through," another person sighed, shaking his head. "The world is getting more and more chaotic now. If we lose Konoha's protection, the Land of Fire might also..."
At this point, someone, eyes blurry with drunkenness, caught sight of a wanted poster plastered on the izakaya wall.
The paper showed a white-eyed young man, whose face was still immature but whose eyes were exceptionally cold and stern. Below were several shocking words:
S-Rank Missing-nin: Hyūga Neji.
Crimes: Collusion with foreign enemies, massacre of clan members, attack on Konoha...
"Tch, these ninjas are getting scarier and scarier."
The man looked at the wanted poster and lamented, "Hyūga Neji is about the same age as Uchiha Itachi was back then, and what they did is almost identical. This is truly..."
Hearing this, everyone looked at the wanted poster. Staring at the young yet cold face, they fell silent for a moment, simply picking up their sake cups to hide their expressions.
Just then, a neat young girl, carrying a pot of warmed sake and a few small dishes, walked through the tables and placed the food and drink on the table of the loudly chatting group, bowing slightly.
"Guests, your food and drink are served. Please enjoy."
She then turned and walked toward a secluded corner of the izakaya near the window.
Only one patron was seated there, wearing an unremarkable black cloak, his hood pulled down low, revealing only half of a plain white mask that concealed his face.
He was alone, with only a cup of nearly untouched sake in front of him. He had been staring out the window at the constant flow of people in Tanzaku Town, seemingly completely detached from the surrounding noise.
The girl gently placed a dish of edamame on his table, bowed again, and said softly, "Guest, your appetizer. Please enjoy."
She couldn't help but quietly glance at this strange guest again. Though she was curious, she was mostly cautious.
In this increasingly chaotic world, with rogue ninjas and bandits emerging endlessly, anyone running a business in a place like Tanzaku Town understood one principle.
—Mind your own business to live longer.
She quickly withdrew her gaze and turned to attend to other guests.
Just after the girl left, the black-cloaked person slowly turned his head. A pair of pale blue eyes peered through the eyeholes, scanning the wanted poster on the wall. A complex look flashed in his gaze.
He stared silently for a few seconds, then took out a few copper coins and placed them beside the sake cup, appearing ready to get up and leave.
However, just as he was about to move, a figure sat down in the empty chair across from him.
"Kid, do you mind if I sit here?"
The newcomer was also wearing dark, easy-to-move clothing. He wore a fox mask with a perpetual, subtle smile, revealing only a pair of smiling white eyes.
When the black-cloaked man saw the person's white eyes, his pupils instantly contracted, and his body tensed up instinctively.
"Don't be nervous. I mean you no harm."
The man seemed completely unfazed by his reaction. He rested his chin on one hand, tilting his head, and spoke in a relaxed yet undeniable tone: "There are quite a few people looking for you outside right now."
"If you expose yourself here because you're too nervous, the trouble will be immense."
With that, he lowered his head, his gaze falling on the nearly untouched sake cup in front of Neji. He picked it up and gently swirled it between his fingers.
"Judging by your age, you shouldn't be old enough to drink yet, should you?" the man chuckled. "Consider this cup your treat to me."
He then actually tilted his head back, downed the small amount of sake in the cup, and gently set the empty cup back on the table with a faint clink.
The black-cloaked person, or rather, Hyūga Neji.
Hyūga Neji's eyes narrowed beneath his mask. He asked in a deep voice, "Who exactly are you?"
"And, your eyes..."
"Hm? You noticed?" The man put down the empty cup, and the smile in his eyes seemed to deepen. "Your eyes are indeed different."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kohinata Mugen."
He leaned forward slightly, his white eyes staring at Hyūga Neji through the mask: "As for right now, in a sense...
"I should be your teacher."
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