Chapter 141: Earth and Lightning 8
The fierce battle continued. Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui rotated their attacks, complemented by the constant harassment from the Third Tsuchikage, and the steady stream of ninja continuously reinforcing and replacing those in the underground pits.
There were also earth spikes constantly attacking the Raikage.
The entire scene was chaotic and bloody. Every few seconds, innocent Iwagakure shinobi could die from the Raikage's indiscriminate AoE attacks, and even Jonin could not escape their grim fate.
This fighting style, as if one man were fighting an entire nation, was something only the Raikage could currently achieve.
This robust old man, during the moments when Kakashi and Shisui's attacks slowed, as he dodged and waited for his chakra to recover, actually had the leisure to recall his life story.
Without any surprises, he would likely meet his end here today.
These Iwagakure rats were indeed cunning, but this was also a strategy; ninja duels did not adhere to fairness. He also understood that this war was probably aimed at him—it was a trap.
Thus, the Third Raikage issued himself a death notice. Dying on the battlefield was also his dream; since childhood, he had imagined what posture he would take when leaving this cruel world.
He vaguely remembered being a genius of Kumogakure. His peers' growth speed wasn't half as fast as his, and he was also the most diligent ninja in the village, and the first to dare challenge divine might in his youth.
Now, perhaps the young man named Hatake Kakashi across from him could be added to that list.
The Second Raikage passed the position to him upon his departure, and he had not failed his expectations. He excellently inherited the name A and also found his partner, though his partner has now retired.
It wasn't bad; Kumogakure, under his leadership, had forged a path of continuous progress.
Until the outbreak of the Second Great Ninja War and the rampage of the Eight-Tails.
He single-handedly suppressed the Eight-Tails' rampage, using his "Strongest Spear," Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite, to break all eight of the Eight-Tails' tails. Due to the intensity of the battle, both he and the Eight-Tails collapsed before their final attacks could be released, leaving a lightning-shaped scar on his chest. Because it was a self-inflicted injury, the Third Raikage regarded it as a lifelong disgrace and never wished to speak of it again.
This was considered a myth by the villagers.
That was also his peak period. During that same era, the only one who could overshadow him was that fellow from Amegakure named Hanzo of the Salamander.
"The Demigod"
The reason was that he alone withstood the invasion of multiple nations.
This was merely a good record, but it didn't mean he could defeat him, the Third Raikage thought.
Ohnoki, who was randomly firing, grazed the Third Raikage's right arm with Dust Release, and the entire arm rapidly atomized and dissipated into the air. Through the opening created by the Dust Release, the Third Raikage, A, looked up at the Third Tsuchikage flying in the sky.
"You old geezer."
Losing an arm certainly impacted his combat power, but it wasn't so great as to render him unable to fight.
His fundamental strength lay in his cast-iron will to fight and his comprehensively strong physical prowess.
As long as his Lightning Release Armor wasn't broken, he wouldn't die.
"Consider this arm a gift to you."
Old Man Ohnoki certainly couldn't hear that remark, because the gap created had already been repaired and filled by Earth Release ninja.
Kakashi, having recovered his chakra with a scroll, continued to fight the Third Raikage. Uchiha Shisui continued to assist from the side, while also chewing several Military Rations Pills, racing against time to recover his chakra.
Shisui's chakra was even lower than Kakashi's. He was also a ninja who specialized in swift kills. This was his first time in a prolonged battle, and such a long one at that.
This was also a first for the silver-haired young man, and his pressure was much greater than Shisui's, because Nin-Taijutsu combat consumed not only chakra but also physical and mental fatigue.
The Third Raikage adapted to the rhythm of single-handed combat. He again thought of his troublesome son, A, who truly resembled the young man before him—their fighting will, their ninjutsu…
"You're distracted."
Kakashi aimed at the weak point: the spot on the Raikage's right arm that had just been struck by Dust Release. The Lightning Release Armor there was noticeably thinner than elsewhere.
"Thwack!"
Blood splattered. This was the second time the Third Raikage had been wounded here, and Kakashi's first time directly breaching his defense.
Lightning Blade proved effective, greatly exciting the silver-haired young man, who immediately channeled all his chakra to attack that spot with full force. But after this, the Raikage's defense became even more substantial, becoming watertight.
The Third Raikage, having shifted from active offense to passive defense, became even harder to deal with than before.
If before he was a fierce leopard clad in iron armor, now he was a large alligator snapping turtle clad in iron armor.
You wouldn't know when he would counterattack and deliver a vicious bite.
A cornered beast fights desperately; the closer to the end, the less one can be careless.
At this point in the battle, both sides were running out of tricks. Everything that could be used had been used, and their trump cards had also been employed several times. It was almost as if they were just short of summoning the future Mizukage to help them fight.
This idea was unrealistic. This was not a suitable place for Water Release or for the future Mei Terumi to fight, although Lava Release could indeed potentially break through Lightning Release's defenses.
Seizing an opportunity, the Third Raikage was struck by Uchiha Shisui's genjutsu once more. Kakashi rushed forward, slashing across the weak point on his chest and the wound on his right shoulder. Blood spurted out, and this time, the Third Raikage's movements were noticeably slower and weaker.
When the besieged Kumogakure army escaped the encirclement, only 1,000 ninja remained. Everyone returned to Kumogakure with heavy hearts, their faces filled with shame.
The Land of Earth had indeed severely crippled Kumogakure this time.
The Third Raikage's son, A, searched frantically for his father's whereabouts among the ninja army.
He grabbed a ninja who had lost their will to fight.
"Where is my father?! Where did Lord Raikage go?!"
"Lord Raikage?!"
That ninja thought for a moment.
"When Iwagakure raided our camp, Lord Raikage single-handedly charged into the Iwagakure ninja army. He told us to leave first."
"Damn it."
"Where's Darui?! Where did Darui go…"
"Lord Darui covered our retreat; he should be on his way back now, right?"
A's veins bulged. A bad thought flashed through his mind, and he grabbed his partner, Killer B.
"Yo, big bro, what's up, big bro!"
"We're going to find Lord Raikage."
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