The darkness surged forward with terrifying speed, threatening to engulf everything in its path.
Once ensnared by the darkness, the battle would be over.
Though the Cloud ninja didn't fully understand the technique, he instinctively retreated. His reflexes were sharp, and lightning flickered across his body as he swiftly moved backward. The darkness pursued him but couldn't match his speed.
By then, he had already completed his hand seals.
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap Frenzied Beast!"
A deafening roar of thunder erupted as a massive beast of lightning charged forward, plunging headfirst into the darkness. The mindless jutsu remained unaffected by the darkness, barreling straight toward Kin.
Kin activated the Shunpo technique to evade, but the lightning beast gave chase relentlessly. Everywhere it passed, the ground was scorched black—trees and rocks alike shattered under its rampage.
Kin soon noticed the beast's tail remained connected to the Cloud ninja's hands. He was controlling its movements.
"Dark Release: Dark Boundary Wall!"
Solid darkness swiftly formed a massive shield in front of Kin.
"Boom!"
The shield shattered under the impact, and the lightning beast dissolved into a storm of crackling electricity that spread across the battlefield.
"Lightning Body Flicker Technique!"
The Cloud ninja reappeared behind Kin, a longsword in one hand and the other still forming seals. Lightning danced along the blade as he swung—
—bisecting Kin's body in a single strike.
But the severed halves dissolved into tangible darkness, coiling around the Cloud ninja like living tendrils.
Yet his free hand had already finished another set of seals.
"Lightning Release: Phantom Light Thunder!"
The figure ensnared by the darkness transformed into a burst of white lightning, while the real Cloud ninja reappeared in front of Kin, blade raised for another strike.
In the blink of an eye, his form flickered and vanished like lightning.
He reappeared once more.
This technique was essentially a genjutsu—its victim would inadvertently reveal their location.
The Cloud ninja spun midair, electricity gathering along his blade.
"Lightning Release: Heavenly Thunder Slash!"
This time, it was real.
The blade descended like a bolt from the heavens, its speed and power undeniable.
But as Kin raised his head, the Cloud ninja caught a glimpse of those unmistakable crimson eyes—
—with Tomoe spinning within.
"Damn it!"
The blade struck with devastating force.
"BOOM!!"
The slash obliterated everything in its path, reducing all to charred rubble. Even the ground bore a deep, jagged scar from the sheer force of the attack.
Yet the Cloud ninja's expression remained grim. He immediately formed another seal.
"Genjutsu Release!"
The illusion shattered.
He was still mid-swing, but Kin had sidestepped just enough—his own cracked blade now arcing toward the Cloud ninja's neck. If this continued, his attack would miss, and Kin's strike would decapitate him.
Gritting his teeth, he twisted his body midair, forcing his blade up to block.
But no clash came. His sword passed harmlessly through Kin's fractured blade as if it were an illusion, while Kin's weapon remained unwavering.
The Cloud ninja surged his electrical current, accelerating his reflexes.
The two figures flashed past each other.
Kin flicked his cursed blade, blood sliding off its edge.
A deep, bone-exposing gash now marred the Cloud ninja's shoulder.
"A genius, huh?"
The Cloud ninja turned to face Kin. In just a few exchanges, he'd already been pushed into a disadvantage.
The sudden twist and lightning boost hadn't been without cost—internal injuries were mounting, though he refused to let them slow him down.
"Seems I'll have to go all out."
He bit his thumb.
"I'll be waiting."
Kin rolled up his sleeves.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive gray bull materialized beneath the Cloud ninja, while Little White appeared at Kin's feet.
Some ninjas relied on their summons for their true strength.
Kin knew this opponent was formidable alone—with a summon, he'd be even deadlier.
"Charge!"
The Cloud ninja steadied himself atop the bull as arcs of electricity crackled along its horns. His hands flew through another set of seals.
"Lightning Bull Charge Technique!"
A brilliant blue current engulfed both rider and beast, forming a colossal sphere of lightning that shot toward Little White in an instant. Everything in its path was obliterated.
"Little White!"
Kin clasped his hands together.
"Dragon Transformation Art: Serpent Form!"
Little White's body rapidly expanded, stretching nearly twenty meters in length.
The Dragon Transformation Art was a Yang-natured shape-shifting ability, allowing the user to alter their physical form. This technique was built upon that foundation.
The enlarged serpent lunged, attempting to swallow the lightning bull whole—
—only to collide head-on with the blazing sphere.
A surge of electricity coursed through Little White's body.
Kin leaped back just in time.
Little White's eyes swirled dizzily as its massive form was sent flying, fangs scattering across the ground, its body still crackling with residual lightning.
"Poof!"
It vanished in a cloud of smoke.
"I really shouldn't have expected much from it."
Kin sighed.
Aside from size manipulation, Little White's only notable trait was rapid regeneration. While it lacked speed, its strength and reflexes should've surpassed summons of comparable size.
Yet it went down after one shock?
"Pathetic."
He'd have to upgrade Little White later.
The blue sphere was already hurtling toward him again.
Kin raised his cursed blade—its form shattered and expanded into a colossal greatsword—and swung at the incoming attack.
But the moment steel met lightning—
—his blade was deflected.
Kin Shunpo'd away, but the sphere gave chase without hesitation.
"As expected of an elite jonin. Underestimating you would be fatal."
His hands moved in a blur.
"Dark Release: Dark Pillar Wall!"
A dome of solidified darkness encased him—
—only to be torn apart instantly by the bull's charge.
Kin was already gone.
The Cloud ninja didn't pause, weaving through tendrils of erupting darkness with practiced ease.
Kin could only watch helplessly as his opponent evaded every counter.
The lightning cloak was both shield and spear—its speed made it untouchable, and its momentum carried unstoppable force.
"A damned porcupine."
How had someone like this died namelessly in the Second War?
His gaze dropped to the ground.
"Fine. If I can't hit you, I'll take away your footing."
"Earth Release: Hiding in Swamp Technique!"
The earth liquefied into a vast bog.
The moment the lightning bull touched the mire, its momentum died.
"Just as I thought—Earth Release counters your technique."
...
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(End of Chapter)