The "Lariat" just now had clearly been unleashed by Killer Bee!
"Natural as always, Bee!"
Killer Bee, with his peculiar speech pattern, high-fived the Fourth Raikage in midair!
"The battle's only just begun, Bee — you'd better be careful!"
The Fourth Raikage raised both fists and bumped them together in the air, arcs of electricity crackling across his body as he radiated an astonishing aura of fighting spirit.
Even knowing full well that this war would end in Kumogakure's defeat, he was determined to tear a huge chunk of flesh from the Hidden Mist!
"I won't lose!" Killer Bee roared, his own battle intent surging just as fiercely.
This war had barely begun, and already nearly six chunin and one jounin had fallen to these two — a truly terrifying record!
By now, the ninja of Kumogakure and Kirigakure had clashed across the battlefield, their battle cries echoing across the sky!
Meanwhile, the enormous commotion caused by the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee naturally drew plenty of attention.
Terumi Mei, who had been watching for the Fourth Raikage's movements, received the report and immediately rushed toward the scene at full speed.
But before she arrived, a figure had already stepped into the path of the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee.
"You two, that's enough!"
Chojuro gripped his Twin Blades — Hiramekarei and let out a fierce roar, glaring at the two.
Seeing Chojuro appear, the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee both lit up at the same time.
"One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen — Chojuro. Now that's a decent opponent!"
The Fourth Raikage's face broke into an excited grin, his battle intent growing even stronger.
But no sooner had the words left his mouth than Killer Bee had already charged forward.
"Lariat!"
Killer Bee surged forward at staggering speed, leaving a trail of shockwaves in his wake.
Incredibly fast!
Chojuro's pupils contracted sharply. He swiftly drew the Twin Blades — Hiramekarei from his back and let out a low shout:
"Hiramekarei — Release!"
The circular vents on Hiramekarei expelled chakra, and the entire blade began to glow, forming a concentrated mass of chakra that blasted toward Killer Bee with tremendous destructive force!
Mid-charge, Killer Bee saw the devastating chakra cannon hurtling toward him and somehow twisted his body with incredible agility, dodging the blast in mid-stride. In just a few breaths, he appeared right in front of Chojuro.
Seeing his attack miss, Chojuro quickly raised the Twin Blades — Hiramekarei to shield himself.
Killer Bee's powerful impact slammed into the Twin Blades — Hiramekarei, and Chojuro felt an overwhelming force surge through the blades into his arms, sending his body flying backward.
Chojuro crashed into a nearby boulder, shattering it, and tumbled twice across the ground before forcing himself to stop.
He flipped back to his feet, shook out his numb arms, and eyed Killer Bee warily from a distance.
Fortunately, Hiramekarei had absorbed most of the force — otherwise, that charge from Killer Bee would have caused serious injury!
"Sure is a tough opponent, yeah, yo!!"
Seeing that Chojuro hadn't taken much damage, Killer Bee showed no sign of disappointment — instead, he let out an excited whoop in his strange cadence and charged again.
"I won't let you get cocky!"
Chojuro's expression remained calm, but his tone brimmed with fighting spirit and killing intent.
He stomped hard on the ground and charged toward Killer Bee, swinging the Twin Blades — Hiramekarei in a sweeping slash as he closed in.
"Hiramekarei — Blood Mist Sword Technique — Bone Extractor!"
Dozens of energy spikes formed from chakra shot from the Twin Blades — Hiramekarei, engulfing the charging Killer Bee!
"Supersonic Vibrating Lightning Blade!"
Killer Bee didn't slow down. He drew two blades from his back and injected lightning chakra into them, sharpening the edges while triggering high-frequency vibrations that multiplied their cutting power!
With rapid slashes, Killer Bee shattered every one of Chojuro's energy spikes midair!
Chojuro and Killer Bee clashed at close range, the whistling of their blades enveloping them both!
"Bee beat me to it — guess I'll have to find another opponent!"
Seeing the two already locked in fierce combat, the Fourth Raikage gave up on Chojuro and looked for a new target.
Across the chaotic battlefield, war cries and explosions rang out from every direction.
The Fourth Raikage scanned the field and quickly spotted his next target. He was about to move.
Suddenly, a sharp feminine shout rang out, followed by a massive water column surging toward him from the distance!
The Fourth Raikage skidded to a halt and immediately dodged to the side!
With a thunderous boom, the spot where he'd been standing was blown into a huge crater by the water column!
The Fourth Raikage looked up, his gaze cold, toward the direction of the attack. A tall, graceful figure emerged from the dust!
"Where do you think you're going, Lord Raikage?" Terumi Mei wore a smile as she faced the Fourth Raikage, excitement gleaming in her emerald eyes.
"Terumi Mei!"
The Fourth Raikage's body tensed instantly, blue lightning crackling across his skin as he cautiously scanned the surroundings.
What made the Fourth Raikage uneasy wasn't Terumi Mei herself — it was Yuto!
If Terumi Mei was here, then Yuto couldn't be far from this battlefield. The very thought of Yuto's terrifying power was enough to put him on edge!
"Relax, Lord Raikage. Yuto isn't here."
"To be precise, destroying Kumogakure isn't even worth Yuto's personal attention."
Seeing the Fourth Raikage frantically scanning his surroundings with his attention nowhere on her, Terumi Mei's expression turned distinctly displeased.
He's not coming?
He really doesn't think Kumogakure is worth his time!
Hearing Terumi Mei's words, the Fourth Raikage felt a strange mix of relief and bitter amusement.
"In that case, this war still has some fighting left in it!"
The Fourth Raikage cracked his neck and addressed Terumi Mei in a low voice.
The moment the word "fighting" left his lips—
The Fourth Raikage transformed into a bolt of blue lightning and surged toward Terumi Mei. In less than a single breath, he appeared directly in front of her!
His fist struck straight into Terumi Mei's chest, blasting her to pieces instantly!
But there was no spray of blood!
Terumi Mei's shattered body dissolved into streams of water scattering in every direction, and before the water could even hit the ground, it solidified midair into countless water arrows!
Swish! Swish!
The volley of water arrows shrieked through the air, raining down on the Fourth Raikage from all sides.
"Lightning Release — Strongest Armor!"
The Fourth Raikage roared, pushing the technique to its maximum output. His entire body was enveloped in a thin layer of blue chakra, his hair standing on end.
The countless water arrows struck him simultaneously, but astonishingly, the Lightning Release Armor rendered every single one completely harmless.
"A few splashes like that can't hurt me!"
"If I kill you, the Mizukage, then even if Kumogakure falls, that's a loss I can live with."
The Fourth Raikage's face twisted ferociously, killing intent boiling as he glared at Terumi Mei, who had reappeared in another direction.
"Want to kill me? Then come and try!"
Terumi Mei's smile only grew brighter, and the aura she radiated became correspondingly more dangerous.
The Fourth Raikage moved. In his Lightning Release Armor state, his defense, attack power, and speed were all multiplied several times over.
This was the speed that, in the original timeline, even the Mangekyo Sharingan couldn't track — fast enough to dodge Sasuke's Amaterasu instantaneously.
If at first Terumi Mei could still follow his blue-blurred form despite his speed, now the Fourth Raikage had vanished as if he'd never been there at all!
"Boil Release — Clever Mist Technique!"
Terumi Mei's expression shifted slightly. She formed hand seals rapidly and exhaled a stream of superheated, highly corrosive mist from her mouth, spreading it thickly around her.
A different kind of defense!
This way, no matter how fast the Fourth Raikage moved, he would have to break through this layer of mist to reach her!
Of course, her Lava Release was inherently more powerful, but the Raikage's speed was simply too great — she couldn't land a hit with Lava Release against him!
Just then, the superheated mist to Terumi Mei's right suddenly churned, accompanied by a hissing, corrosive sound!
Relying on the powerful defense of his Lightning Release Armor, the Fourth Raikage charged straight through, scattering much of the corrosive mist!
Terumi Mei's mist could dissolve an ordinary ninja instantly, but the Fourth Raikage could endure it — at least for a short time.
"Heavy Strike!"
The Fourth Raikage concentrated lightning chakra from his hand up to his elbow and let out an explosive shout, charging at Terumi Mei with a devastating elbow strike!
Terumi Mei's pupils contracted. With no time for a jutsu, she snatched a kunai and held it up in a cross-block!
The tremendous impact erupted — the kunai was knocked clean from her grip, and searing pain shot through her arm!
Fortunately, the kunai had absorbed most of the force; otherwise, that blow would have shattered her arm outright.
But Terumi Mei didn't retreat an inch from the pain. Instead, as he knocked her kunai away, she snapped her leg upward and kicked the Fourth Raikage square in the chest!
The collision jolted them both, and Terumi Mei was forced back a step.
Going toe-to-toe with the Fourth Raikage in taijutsu, she was clearly at a disadvantage!
But that was all part of her plan!
In his Lightning Release Armor state, the Fourth Raikage's speed was simply too great — using ninjutsu alone, she couldn't land a hit and would only trap herself in a dangerous position.
Now that he was right in front of her, she had to seize this chance!
Seeing that Terumi Mei had withstood his charge, the Fourth Raikage's eyes flickered with surprise, but his attack didn't slow for an instant.
"That level of skill is far from enough!"
Massive amounts of lightning chakra gathered in the Fourth Raikage's hand. He roared again and slashed downward at Terumi Mei with a lightning-infused hand blade.
Lightning Release — Thunder Level Cut!!
"Looks like someone's underestimating me!"
Terumi Mei, having stepped back, her gaze resolute, let out a sharp cry. Her aching arm had already finished the last hand seal.
Water Style — Water Formation!
A massive sphere of water erupted from Terumi Mei's mouth and crashed into the ground, spreading outward like a tidal wave in every direction!
The Fourth Raikage's speed was momentarily hampered, and he could only raise his hand blade to cleave through the surging water — but even so, the water still made contact with his body!
The blue lightning coursing across the Fourth Raikage's body surged into the water, and the electrified water became another form of attack, striking him in turn.
However, this indirect lightning damage was extremely limited against someone who specialized in lightning chakra like the Fourth Raikage!
But Terumi Mei hadn't used that jutsu merely to slow him down!
"Water Style — Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Terumi Mei's second technique followed immediately. The tidal wave of water, shaped by the jutsu, rapidly condensed into an enormous water dragon dozens of meters long — a massive Water Dragon Bullet!
And woven into the water dragon were the very electrical currents dissipating from the Fourth Raikage's body!
"Go!"
Terumi Mei shouted, driving the electrified water dragon straight at the Fourth Raikage!
"Thunder Rage — Lightning Axe!"
The Fourth Raikage let out a furious roar.
Boom!
The two terrifying chakra energies collided in a massive explosion!
Terumi Mei was sent flying, landing on one knee dozens of meters away as she spat a mouthful of blood!
The Fourth Raikage was also blasted backward by the impact, crashing into the ground and leaving a deep crater.
But he quickly climbed out, apparently not seriously wounded — though the blue lightning that had been crackling around his body was significantly dimmer than before.
"As fellow Kage, you're quite strong — but victory will be mine!"
"Even if Yuto destroys Kumogakure, killing you will be my answer as a pillar of the Cloud!"
The Fourth Raikage bared his teeth, his body radiating a fierce aura as he streaked forward in a blue blur, charging at Terumi Mei once more.
[
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