Chapter 178 – The Thunder of Reibun! Buy Time
Because Chiriku and his comrades detected the intruders early, they managed to protect the Fire Daimyō just in time.
At the forefront, Chiriku stood with his palms pressed together, his body radiating a deep crimson aura of chakra. As the wave of enemy jutsu crashed toward them, he roared —
"Wrathful Vajra!"
Golden light erupted around him, forming the mighty Thousand-Armed Kannon. Countless chakra arms burst forth, punching through the air in a blur. Each strike shattered the oncoming Ninjutsu, dispersing them before they could reach the Daimyō.
Explosions tore through the courtyard as the walls collapsed and thick smoke billowed skyward.
Boom! Boom!
Within the choking haze, flashes of ninjutsu flared like fireworks.
"Kazuma! Are you alright?!" shouted Nauma, one of the Guardian Twelve.
Although the Twelve Guardian Ninja had long been divided — one faction loyal to the Hokage, the other radical and loyal to the Daimyō — at this critical moment, they had no choice but to fight together. If they didn't, none of them would survive.
Kazuma ignored Nauma's shout. His eyes flickered with calculation as he crouched low, preparing to slip away amidst the chaos.
All the radicals were dead — he was the only one left.
There's no point in dying here.
Kazuma formed a single hand seal and whispered, "Hidden Breath Technique."
In an instant, his chakra signature vanished completely. Even sensor-nin wouldn't be able to detect him. Cloaked by smoke and destruction, he darted toward a side exit, hoping to escape unnoticed.
But he had underestimated one man.
"Byakugan!"
From the opposite rooftop, Hyūga Hiashi's veins bulged around his temples as his all-seeing eyes pierced through walls and smoke alike. Kazuma's every movement, every breath, was laid bare before him.
Hiashi's gaze sharpened. The Fifth Hokage's order echoed in his mind — "The Daimyō must die."
He raised a hand sharply. "There! Don't let him escape!"
At his command, several Konoha jōnin unleashed their strongest techniques in unison.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Gale!"
"Earth Release: Bedrock Coffin!"
Kazuma barely evaded the first blast, but the combined onslaught hurled him backward through the debris, coughing blood. He stumbled to his knees beside Chiriku and the others, his secret technique shattered.
"Damn it!" he spat, fury flashing in his eyes. "How did they find me?!"
The Daimyō cowered under a broken table, trembling. From the corner, Nauma glanced at the entrance — and froze.
"Nauma! They're all dead!" cried Bei, his voice trembling.
Nauma turned, his eyes widening. Every radical Guardian had fallen — only Kazuma still breathed.
Are these really Konoha shinobi? he wondered. Or… impostors?
Until recently, relations between Konoha and the Fire Country's royal family had always been peaceful. Only after Uchiha Fugaku's sudden rise as Fifth Hokage had tension begun — the Daimyō hadn't been notified or consulted, and then delayed Konoha's supply shipments. Could that petty insult truly drive the Hokage to war?
But there was no time to ponder. The enemy's attacks were relentless.
"Chiriku!" Bei shouted over the roar of battle. "Hold them off a little longer — we need time to prepare Lightning Release: Thunder Deity Formation!"
Chiriku nodded solemnly. "Understood. I'll handle it."
"Nauma, Dongma, Nanmu!" Bei barked, signaling the others.
The four took up their positions at the cardinal points — east, south, west, and north — forming hand seals in perfect synchronization.
The Thunder Deity Formation was their most powerful combined technique — a four-man barrier of lightning that could incinerate everything within its perimeter. Normally, it required minutes of preparation and was used only for ambushes. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
They had to buy time, no matter the cost.
Kazuma's eyes darted toward them. Hearing Bei's plan, he bit back his pride and joined Chiriku at the front lines. "Chiriku, I'll cover you!"
"Good!" Chiriku replied curtly. The second wave of enemy ninjutsu was already on its way.
From every direction, chakra flared like a storm.
Chiriku's red aura blazed again. "Wrathful Vajra!"
The Thousand-Armed Kannon reappeared, fists pounding forward like cannon fire, blocking jutsu after jutsu. Beside him, Kazuma unleashed his own full power, weaving signs furiously.
"Earth Release: Summoning – Corpse Puppets!"
He unrolled a scroll, slamming his palm against it. Three coffins burst open in a swirl of dust — each revealing a preserved body radiating ominous chakra.
"These are my trump cards…" Kazuma muttered darkly. "Dance once more, my warriors."
The three corpses — all former jōnin, men he had slain or acquired through the black market — twitched to life. Their eyes glowed faintly blue as their bodies reconstituted with earthen chakra.
They moved instantly, forming seals and unleashing their own jutsu to counter the enemy bombardment.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The air shook with the clash of elemental forces.
The Daimyō, hiding beneath the shattered table, clutched his head and whimpered in terror.
Outside, the entire Daimyō's mansion trembled under the thunderous assault — while inside, the last loyal Guardians fought desperately to buy even a few more seconds of life.
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