Every major ninja village has a group of shinobi who specialize in a particular chakra nature. For example, most shinobi in Sunagakure specialize in Wind Release, while Iwagakure's shinobi primarily use Earth Release. However, not every ninja in a village is limited to a single chakra nature, rather the majority of the shinobi tend to specialize in one.
Kumogakure, for instance, is a village where most shinobi specialize in Lightning Release. Among the 8,000 Kumogakure shinobi present, at least 6,000 were preparing to use Lightning Release techniques, while the remaining 2,000 were mostly preparing Wind Release and Water Release techniques.
Lightning Release combined with Water Release forms a strong synergy, while Wind Release is effective against Lightning Release.
As soon as A's voice fell, all 8,000 shinobi around them completed their hand seals within two seconds. However, moving even faster than them were approximately 2,000 Kumogakure shinobi who first launched a barrage of thrown weapons at the Third Raikage and Ye Zi.
Shuriken spinning at high speeds, kunai with explosive tags attached, and slender senbon needles. All kinds of projectiles came together like a swarm of locusts, blotting out the sky as they rained down on the two.
Faced with this overwhelming barrage of weapons, Ye Zi and the Third Raikage remained completely unfazed.
The moment the countless projectiles landed on them, the only result was a chorus of crisp metallic clangs. The immense number of weapons was repelled by the lightning aura surrounding their bodies, bouncing away into the water below. The scene was so spectacular that it looked as if it were raining weapons.
The lightning flowing over their bodies formed a protective shield, mercilessly blocking all incoming attacks. Even kunai with explosive tags attached failed to deal any damage when they detonated nearby.
Seeing this, the Kumogakure shinobi who had thrown the weapons were all shocked.
They had expected that such an attack wouldn't harm the Third Raikage, but they hadn't anticipated that it would have the same negligible effect on Ye Zi.
Over 2,000 thrown weapons had been utterly ineffective. They had merely ricocheted off the two figures and plunged into the water, creating splashes before vanishing.
Since the weapons had fallen into the water, retrieving them would be difficult, giving the impression that they had simply been wasted. After all, ninja tools were quite valuable.
With the failure of the projectile attack, the next phase was an all-out ninjutsu assault from the 8,000 Kumogakure shinobi. As they gathered their chakra, the sheer concentration of energy became terrifying.
In an instant, the combined might of Lightning, Wind, and Water Release formed a terrifying and awe-inspiring spectacle. Even in the midst of war, such a sight was rarely witnessed, never before had so many shinobi unleashed this many techniques against a single target.
In the battle at The Valley of Clouds and Lightning, Ye Zi had been granted such an "honor" for the first time.
Among the countless ninjutsu, roughly one-fifth were B-rank techniques, three-fifths were C-rank, and another one-fifth were D-rank. There were even a small number of A-rank techniques.
The most visually striking aspect of the attack was the massive number of elemental dragons formed by chakra transformation, at least several hundred of them, soaring toward the same target.
Aside from this scene of "dragons in chaos," the combination of Water Release and the vast majority of Lightning Release techniques produced a raging tsunami crackling with lightning, surging forward with immense power.
Among all the elemental techniques, Wind Release was the least common, consisting mostly of wind blades of various sizes. These were the first to reach Ye Zi and the Third Raikage.
Wind blades, which are effective against Lightning Release, seemed to vanish upon contact with the lightning surrounding their bodies, as if being swallowed whole. They inflicted no damage whatsoever.
Since wind blades have a relatively small area of effect, many of them simply landed in the water, slicing up towering waves.
Yet neither Ye Zi nor the Third Raikage were affected in the slightest. Both continued maintaining their high-intensity chakra output, which was the reason their lightning auras had such formidable defensive power.
The Third Raikage relied entirely on his physical resilience to sustain this level of Lightning Release chakra output. Ye Zi, on the other hand, not only depended on his bodily endurance but also on the regenerative power granted by Hashirama's cells.
Not everyone could achieve what they had, such individuals were exceedingly rare.
The two continued their high-speed battle within the storm of wind blades. Despite moving at extreme speeds, they gave off an illusion of being "as motionless as a mountain."
It was a paradox, one part reality and one part illusion. This stark contrast was what left the Kumogakure shinobi in shock.
The wind blades, the fastest among the attacks, had failed to make any impact. Following closely behind, the airborne dragon formations and the lightning-infused tsunami surged in from all directions, enveloping them like a monstrous flower blooming in reverse, with its petals closing in.
At this moment, both Ye Zi and the Third Raikage showed the slightest change in expression. However, seeing that neither intended to retreat from their clash, they instead pushed their chakra output to the limit, determined to continue their battle even amidst the overwhelming attack.
The lightning-infused tsunami crashed down, casting a vast shadow over them. The rampaging lightning dragons and water dragons followed closely behind.
Boom!
The tsunami struck with a deafening roar. As an enormous mass of water hit the surface, it rebounded instantly, transforming into massive water columns shooting into the sky. Hundreds of lightning and water dragons surged into these columns, amplifying the power of both the lightning and the water's impact.
The towering water columns then collapsed downward at an incredible speed, generating an even stronger shockwave as they crashed into the water's surface.
Another massive explosion!
The water plummeted back down, spreading outward in waves over a meter high.
The area where the Water and Lightning Release techniques had converged remained turbulent, with residual lightning flickering across the disturbed surface.
The Kumogakure shinobi who had launched the attack withdrew some distance, observing the spectacle they had collectively created with rapt attention.
In their minds, even a tailed beast wouldn't be able to withstand such an overwhelming barrage, it would surely be taken down.
But what of the Third Raikage and Ye Zi?
"What's the sensory report?"
On the turbulent surface of the water, the figures of the Third Raikage and Ye Zi were nowhere to be seen.
The sensory unit immediately activated their abilities, attempting to determine the result as quickly as possible.
Logically speaking, no one should have been able to survive a direct hit from an attack coordinated by 8,000 shinobi.
However, when the sensory unit finished their scan and reported the results, shock filled their expressions.
"They're… they're both still there."
The report was delivered—both Ye Zi and the Third Raikage had survived, and their chakra levels remained strong.
Upon hearing this, the Kumogakure shinobi who had retreated earlier immediately moved forward again, tightening their encirclement.
Yet, despite their swift response, they couldn't shake the shock that lingered in their hearts.
The fact that the Third Raikage had survived was something they could accept, but why had Ye Zi also survived?
A's expression grew solemn. If even such an attack couldn't harm Ye Zi, then he had to start considering Ye Zi as being on the same level as his father.
If that were the case, then his father could no longer fight alone. The only viable strategy now was to fully utilize the abilities of everyone present.
Just as the water surface was beginning to settle, two figures suddenly burst forth. The Third Raikage and Ye Zi descended from mid-air, landing steadily on the water's surface.
As the sensory unit had reported, both of them were completely unharmed.
Upon landing, the Third Raikage was slightly out of breath, while Ye Zi's breathing remained calm and steady. From this alone, it seemed that Ye Zi had the upper hand.
To withstand such a massive barrage of ninjutsu, both had pushed their chakra output to the absolute limit in an instant, strengthening their lightning defenses to the utmost degree. This was how they had managed to endure such a devastating collective attack.
However, the price of doing so was an immense chakra expenditure. Even the Third Raikage, whose chakra reserves were astonishing, had been somewhat drained.
As chakra was consumed, physical stamina also diminished hence, the reason for the Third Raikage's labored breathing.
Yet, despite consuming a similar amount of chakra, Ye Zi appeared to be in perfect condition, showing no signs of exhaustion. His chakra reserves were evidently still abundant.
This contrast left the watching Kumogakure shinobi in silence.
Their unwavering belief, their faith in the invincibility of the Third Raikage, had been shaken. And to make matters worse, it was Ye Zi, the very person they had been looking down on, who had forced this realization upon them.
Ye Zi quickly scanned his surroundings. Although his chakra remained plentiful thanks to the support of Shokui, facing nearly ten thousand Kumogakure shinobi meant that attrition was inevitable. And capturing the Eight-Tails under such circumstances would be no easy task.
"Let's deal with this nuisance first. I'll have to 'waste' a little chakra."
Ye Zi pressed his fingers against his right eye, a cold smile spreading across his face. At the same time, he sent a mental signal to Shokui in advance.
But what Ye Zi considered to be "a little" chakra, was actually an enormous amount.
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Currently on Chapter 561 - Konan's Despair