Chapter 420 – An Unexpected Gain.
"Your speed and reaction time really exceed my expectations."
Encased within the black Susanoo, Kei watched the Fourth Raikage with an indifferent gaze.
He watched as the Raikage's body slowly transformed into a mass of lightning chakra.
Lightning Release: Lightning Clone.
Kei was very familiar with this technique—because he could use it himself.
In fact, the Raikage had already begun preparing it right after dodging the first strike. Kei had clearly seen it with his eyes.
The only surprising part was the Raikage's speed.
Without forming any hand seals, he had simply used the chakra already circulating through his body to create the clone, while his real body flashed to the side.
"But such a crude trick…" Kei said calmly, glancing toward a patch of grass nearby.
"Do you really think you can hide it from my eyes?"
"Or… are you preparing something more interesting?"
Suddenly—
The Fourth Raikage burst out from the grass.
The speed and pressure he carried were suffocating.
Purple lightning chakra gathered wildly around his left hand.
Under his control, the lightning condensed into something almost solid.
He extended his left hand, thumb tucked in while four fingers pointed forward.
His entire body shot forward like a spear aimed straight at Kei's chest.
Four-Finger Nukite.
Seeing this, Kei's eyelid twitched slightly.
That technique…
The Fourth Raikage could use it?
This was the signature move of the Third Raikage. Kei knew perfectly well how powerful it was.
But in his memory, the Fourth Raikage had never used this technique.
Then again—
As father and son, it wouldn't be strange if he had inherited it.
Realizing this, Kei suddenly found the situation rather interesting.
His own Lightning Release skills weren't weak.
But most of the time he ended up relying on Chidori.
Not that Chidori was ineffective. Its destructive power was undeniable.
Especially after Kei's earlier suggestions, Kakashi had continued developing the technique even while focusing on sword combat.
But Chidori had now begun evolving along a path completely different from the original timeline.
In fact, its development had become even more extreme than Sasuke's version.
And with their current fame, using Chidori too freely would easily expose their identities.
So while operating under disguises, using powerful yet unfamiliar techniques was extremely useful.
Kei had no interest in learning Lightning Release Chakra Mode, nor did he care about mastering Lightning Armor taijutsu.
But the Hell Stab series…
That genuinely intrigued him.
Perhaps one day, when using his "mysterious organization" persona, this technique could help distinguish between himself and "Uchiha Kei."
"Lightning Release: Hell Stab — Four-Finger Nukite!"
While Kei was thinking all this, the Raikage's attack had already reached his chest.
The condensed lightning chakra pierced straight through his second-stage Susanoo, continuing toward his body.
But at that moment—
Time slowed again.
Kei activated Chrono Drift once more.
He stepped slightly backward.
His Mangekyō locked onto the Raikage's hand.
Extreme lightning-nature transformation…
Sharpness, Kei analyzed silently.
And compression.
The Hell Stab technique was somewhat similar to Chidori or Raikiri.
Both concentrated nature-transformed chakra at a single point to maximize penetration.
But Hell Stab pursued absolute extremity.
It was ruthless not only toward enemies—but also toward the user.
Violent lightning chakra was gathered into the user's fingers and forcibly compressed into a sharp piercing force.
Even the Eight-Tails could be pierced by it.
But the burden on the user's body was enormous.
Kei could clearly see how terrifying the chakra density was.
The user's fingers themselves served as the medium for the attack.
The fewer fingers extended, the stronger the technique—
But also the greater the strain.
Chakra was dangerous.
If mishandled, it could even destroy its own user.
Four fingers can already pierce second-stage Susanoo…
Then what about One-Finger Nukite?
Could it pierce a complete Susanoo?
Kei suddenly smiled.
Even if it could—
What then?
By the time someone used that ultimate form, their body would already be nearly ruined.
Unless they possessed Hashirama's regeneration, this was essentially a forbidden technique.
Still—
Kei had already understood the technique completely.
That alone made him satisfied.
He shifted slightly.
Then grabbed the Raikage's wrist.
At the same time, he mimicked the Raikage's hand posture—thumb tucked, four fingers extended.
Blue lightning chakra condensed around his fingers.
With his foundation in Chidori, learning this similar technique was easy.
Combined with the Mangekyō's perception—and the slowed time—
He could study everything perfectly.
"It's still inferior," Kei murmured quietly.
He pressed the Raikage's arm downward slightly.
"But since you're already moving at high speed, it saves me the trouble of charging in myself."
"And… I'm getting bored."
Indeed, Kei had grown bored.
After witnessing the technique, he had lost interest in continuing this "game."
His lightning-coated fingers shot forward.
They pierced straight into the Raikage's chest.
Time resumed its normal flow.
Shock filled the Raikage's face.
He had lost instantly.
His Lightning Release Chakra Mode hadn't blocked the attack at all.
It had been broken through completely.
And worse—
He had been defeated by his own technique.
"You… you…" the Raikage gasped through the pain spreading across his chest.
"Why can you use Hell Stab — Four-Finger Nukite?"
"Who are you?!"
"You mean the Third Raikage's technique?" Kei replied calmly.
"I thought you didn't know it."
"But to thank your father… who once demonstrated it in front of me, I happened to learn it."
"You've met my father?"
"You fought him?"
"Yes," Kei said lightly.
"Unfortunately, he escaped. He actually ignored my genjutsu."
"But as a gesture of gratitude…"
"This time, I won't kill you."
---
Meanwhile—
Killer B's expression was extremely ugly.
For once, his speech lacked its usual rap rhythm.
He was furious.
Especially when he looked at the ground covered in Cloud ninja corpses.
It reminded him of the pursuit months earlier.
And the thousands of Cloud shinobi drowned by the Third Hokage's flood technique.
He would never forget the bodies floating behind him.
Their swollen corpses burned into his memory.
Staring at the masked man before him, Killer B drew a sword.
He was ready to fight.
"Who are you people?"
"Me?" Kenta shrugged.
"I just want you to come with us."
He honestly hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
But while things were smooth on his side—
What about that bastard Uchiha Kei?
He sensed the battlefield briefly.
Then relaxed.
Kei still completely controlled the fight.
In fact, it seemed like he was just playing around.
That suited Kenta fine.
If things went badly here, he could simply drag the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki to Kei's battlefield.
After all, capturing the Eight-Tails was Kei's objective anyway.
For now though…
"I came directly to you," Killer B said darkly.
His chakra began surging violently.
"So why kill them?"
"Why?"
Because I'm a Konoha ninja, Kenta thought silently.
But aloud he answered with the same hoarse voice:
"They blocked my path."
"They wouldn't let me see you."
"I see."
Red chakra erupted around Killer B.
Clearly—
He had no intention of holding back.
He quickly drew several more swords.
Seven blades in total.
In an instant, his speed rivaled even the Fourth Raikage's.
Acrobat Sword Technique — Arakarasu Batta Blade!
Using every part of his body, Killer B manipulated seven blades with unpredictable movements.
The speed and angles of attack were impossible to read.
And now, with Tailed Beast Chakra Mode activated, his agility, control, and strength had all increased.
His blades flashed forward.
But the strike cut only empty air.
In the next moment—
Pain exploded across his back.
A blade had struck him.
Killer B realized a wound had opened behind him.
He frowned.
This speed was abnormal.
Before he could react—
Two more slashes landed almost simultaneously.
Left side.
Right side.
Three wounds in under a second.
Without the protective red chakra cloak—and if the attacker had intended to kill—
He would already be dead.
"Killer B," the Eight-Tails suddenly spoke within him.
"That guy's speed is strange."
"He's not moving through pure speed."
"You mean…"
Killer B leapt high and locked onto Kenta's position.
He slashed again.
Once again—
The strike missed.
But this time Killer B had learned.
He immediately spun his seven blades in a defensive pattern.
Sure enough—
The moment his attack missed, a metallic clash sounded behind him.
"I knew it!" Killer B said with certainty.
"This is space–time ninjutsu."
"Flying Thunder God?!"
"Something similar," the Eight-Tails replied.
"Maintain defense."
"I'll find his markings."
"Got it," Killer B said seriously.
"I'm counting on you."
"Idiot," the Eight-Tails snorted.
"We're partners."
The Eight-Tails didn't say much more.
It understood that Killer B was not in a good mood right now.
B took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
If he couldn't see his enemy—
Then he would rely on instinct.
On feeling.
On the faint sensory perception granted by the Eight-Tails' chakra within him.
Almost instantly, he sensed the faint sound of a blade cutting through the air behind him.
It was subtle and quick—
But it was enough.
A sword behind him shot upward, and the blade wrapped in pale red chakra blocked Imai Kenta's strike.
"Gone."
The moment their blades collided, Killer B immediately realized his opponent had disappeared.
At the same time, the familiar sound of a blade cutting through the air came from another direction.
This time his reaction was slightly slower.
Although his sword was raised, he was still struck.
Another wound appeared on his arm.
But instead of anger—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Perhaps the first genuine smile he had shown in a long time.
I can feel it…
The rhythm of his attacks.
Even though the next strike still left another wound on him—
When he heard the blade slicing through the air again, he reacted almost instantly.
Clang!
Blocked.
Clang!
Another metallic ring.
Blocked again.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of metal clashing grew louder and more frequent.
Occasionally blood still splashed into the air—
But it was happening less and less.
The Cloud shinobi watching the battle witnessed an almost surreal sight.
A masked figure in black flickered in and out of existence like a ghost.
Meanwhile, Killer B, the younger brother of the Fourth Raikage, swung seven swords simultaneously, constantly blocking the attacks.
Both fighters moved like phantoms.
Their speed was so terrifying that the Cloud ninja watching could only swallow nervously.
Are these… even human?
The battle continued like this for nearly three minutes.
Killer B had the protection of the Eight-Tails' chakra.
Not only did it absorb many of Kenta's attacks—
It also continuously healed his wounds.
Suddenly, Killer B paused.
Two of his swords crossed together and caught Kenta's blade.
Just as his third sword was about to strike—
Kenta vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already more than ten meters away.
"Killer B," the Eight-Tails' voice echoed in his mind.
"I've found the location of this guy's markings."
Killer B was just about to pursue when he heard those words.
"Disperse the troops around you immediately," the Eight-Tails continued.
"Then let me come out."
"…Got it."
Killer B froze briefly, then nodded.
He raised his voice.
"All units—retreat!"
"Get as far away from here as possible!"
---