"The village has been infiltrated by an elite Jōnin! I'm heading to report to the Hokage!"
"No need!"
The words hadn't even settled when a deep, slightly raspy voice echoed through the air.
Clad in a black combat tracksuit and wearing the Hokage's iconic hat, Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared in a puff of smoke from a Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique).
"Hokage-sama!"
The crowd's hearts skipped a beat, their faces lighting up with relief.
With the legendary Third Hokage, known as the strongest, on the scene, it didn't matter if the enemy was just an elite Jōnin from Kumo—even if the Raikage himself showed up, he'd likely meet his end!
"Hokage-sama, the enemy appeared at the eastern training Ground four minutes ago—"
"I know where the enemy is."
Time was tight. Sarutobi waved off Teacher's report and issued orders directly:
"I've already called for medical ninja from Konoha Hospital. They'll be here soon.
Your job is to stay here and keep the kids safe. No one is allowed near Training Ground Zero from now on!"
"Yes, sir!"
Teacher responded in unison, though Iruka's voice carried a hint of hesitation.
Several of his students hadn't escaped the Ground. As their Teacher, how could he just stand by?
"Hokage-sama, I still have five students out there on the training Ground."
"They're all together."
With those words, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Iruka a deep, meaningful look. Without further delay, he strode alone into Training Ground Zero, his face set with determination. He leapt through the treetops, vanishing in a few swift bounds.
The group stared into the shadowy forest, the air growing heavy with silence.
Hyūga Neji crushed the bread in his hand, his expression as grim as still water.
He understood the Hokage's meaning.
"They're all together."
The enemy was likely with them.
This was an elite Jōnin, one of the rarest and most skilled players in any village. Even Hyūga Hiashi, head of the Hyūga clan, was only at that level.
Could Hikari survive this?
Meanwhile, at the heart of Training Ground Zero…
The ground was scarred with deep craters and furrows, as if a giant beast had torn through it.
The fractured moon was shrouded by mist conjured from the power of the Sanbi (Three-Tails), letting only faint light filter through. At the Ground's edge, banyan trees lay toppled, their charred wood, struck by lightning, fueling roaring flames.
The beastly crowd, regaining their senses, was held back by the fire. Yet, driven by hunger, they lingered, circling the crimson chunks of flesh scattered by the battle's shockwaves.
At the center of the flames…
One blue and two red figures stood in a tense standoff.
Seeing the enemy's lightning-charged sword-hand locked onto her, Hikari raised her left arm straight forward, her right palm tucked near her abdomen. Razor-sharp winds gathered at the acupoints in her right palm.
Isshiki Rekkū (One-Style Sky Splitter).
Using the extreme force of the Gōken-ryū (Strong Fist Style), it drove Fūton (Wind Release) chakra into the opponent's acupoints like hammering a nail.
It demanded the overwhelming power of Gōken and the pinpoint precision of Jūkenhō (Gentle Fist). It was like swinging a spiked club with the force of a shot-put throw to perform brain surgery.
The difficulty was insane.
Only someone with both Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse) bloodline limits could master it—a technique at the level of a Kekkei Mōra (Bloodline Encompassing).
"*Mrow!*"
Echizen Naruto crouched, his demon-fox eyes glowing with a ferocity he'd never shown before.
His body was affected, his mind growing hazy.
But Hikari's plan echoed in his heart, engraving itself deeper:
"Remember!
As long as we don't stand in a straight line, the enemy can only attack one of us at a time. No matter who he targets, it'll leave an opening—that's our only shot!"
Yazuki Yū raised his sword-hand, constantly shifting his stance, searching for an angle to strike both at once.
But Hikari and Naruto gave him no chance, moving in sync to stay side by side. No matter who he attacked, the other could provide immediate support.
The three circled each other.
The air around them felt as heavy as a tidal wave.
Crackle!
Electric serpents coiled around Yazuki Yū's arm, gathering at his fingertips. The mounting voltage pierced the air, forming an increasingly terrifying lightning spear. He felt his chakra draining as if poured through a funnel, never stopping.
His stamina was fading fast.
His wounded chest heaved, struggling to draw oxygen from the air.
Why was the Jigoku Tsuki (Hell Stab) suddenly so draining?
The thought hit him, and he quickly realized something was off. He looked at his arm.
Under the dim moonlight, nearly invisible mist clung to the lightning's surface, siphoning his Raiton (Lightning Release) chakra into the ground.
Hikari's lips curled into a cold smirk.
Imperceptible mist sprayed from her acupoints, weakening both Yazuki Yū's lightning spear and the oxygen in the air.
The supersonic lightning spear required absolute focus to even react to.
Both she and Naruto had to stay hyper-alert to fend off a surprise attack, and over time, that would exhaust them.
This old guy, holding the initiative, kept his spear charged but didn't attack, constantly shifting directions. He was clearly trying to pressure them into breaking.
If they cracked under the strain and attacked first, he'd exploit any mistake to land a fatal blow.
Seeing through his tactic, Hikari wasn't about to let him have his way.
Using her Byakugan's pupil power, she condensed the mist into threads.
One end wrapped around the lightning spear, the other grounded into the earth.
The gathered Raiton chakra was channeled through the Suiton (Water Release), dissipating into the ground.
Think you can pressure us with a drawn-out attack?
Then you'll just burn out your chakra and die!
Moonlight pierced the mist.
The suffocating fog enveloped Yazuki Yū like a giant net.
Feeling his chakra draining rapidly, Yazuki Yū's gaze toward Hikari betrayed visible frustration.
His psychological pressure tactic had failed—worse, it had been turned against him.
The water threads were invisible and formless.
Yet they clung to his spear like sticky spiderwebs, sapping its strength. He seemed to hold the offensive, but the match's momentum had quietly shifted.
Zzt!
The bursting lightning electrolyzed the water, but more mist closed in.
Hikari instantly condensed the Bijū cloak's energy into two dense masses, turning her head and chest deep crimson, completely blocking his attack paths.
A sense of powerlessness welled up in Yazuki Yū.
In the twilight of his career, he'd met the most infuriating opponent.
She had the raw power to go toe-to-toe but played dirty, teasing him until he couldn't stand it—only to reveal she could both fight and tank.
After finally breaking her defenses with a killer shot, she called in backup, dragging the match into a war of attrition.
Yazuki Yū, who always relished a fight, felt nauseated by a match for the first time.
No matter what, he couldn't let himself be drained to death.
He made up his mind.
His trembling sword-hand dropped another finger.
Zzt! Zzt! Zzt!
Frenzied lightning gathered at his single finger. Yazuki Yū felt as if he were holding up a mountain with it.
The ace move of his youth now felt unbearably heavy just to execute.
Jigoku Tsuki: Ippon Nukite (Hell Stab: One-Finger Pierce)!
The Raiton no Yoroi (Lightning Armor) around his body was reduced to a thin layer, all his Raiton focused at his fingertip, forming a half-meter-long lightning spear that pierced the air.
The terrifying lightning instantly electrolyzed and ignited the water threads.
Blue flames erupted in the air.
Crackle!
The flames fell onto Yazuki Yū's body. His nearly depleted Raiton couldn't block the heat, and disgusting blisters swelled on his dark skin.
His trembling finger aimed at Hikari's chest.
Her head was too small a target, and he no longer had the strength to control the spear's direction.
Hikari's heart sank.
The Ippon Nukite at maximum power—this would be the enemy's final strike. The intense killing intent and the Raiton that seemed to pierce everything were clear even with her Byakugan suppressed.
The Bijū cloak at her chest turned black-red.
Layer upon layer of reinforced bone membrane thickened, her burning life force pushing her into a heightened combat state.
Suddenly, the ground quaked.
Yazuki Yū's figure vanished from her sight.
When she snapped back to focus, his fire-scarred face was less than a meter away, staring her down.
Hikari's eyes widened. His lightning-charged finger touched her subdermal bone membrane. In an instant, the Bijū cloak at her heart was pierced by the spear!
So fast!
The thought barely crossed her mind when a deafening roar hit her ears.
The merciless lightning spear pierced through her chest.
Crackle!
The electrified spear burst out her back. No blood flowed—the wound was cauterized by the lightning.
His arm carrying her, Yazuki Yū plunged into the forest.
Boom!
Crashing through countless trees, the immense force finally began to slow.
Crack!
His hand pierced a tree trunk.
Hikari's feet dangled in the air, her body pinned to the tree by Yazuki Yū's arm.
"*ROAR!! Hikari!!*"
Naruto's cry was barely intelligible, his voice a primal wail. Boosted by the Bijū cloak, he leapt onto Yazuki Yū's back, pounding with one fist after another.
Seeing the girl before him, chest pierced and arms limp, Yazuki Yū's lips curled into a savage grin. His Raiton no Yoroi flared up again.
"*AAAH!*"
Naruto unleashed his fury, hammering at Yazuki Yū, but no matter how hard he struck, he couldn't break through the seemingly fragile armor.
As he kept attacking…
"Rai Retsu Tō (Lightning Plow Hot Blade)!"
Yazuki Yū's booming voice dripped with killing intent.
His lightning-charged left hand swung backward at Naruto's neck.
The terrifying hand-blade distorted the Bijū cloak, striking hard at Naruto's neck.
Zzt!
The lightning pierced the cloak, surging into Naruto's body.
"*AAAAH!*"
Amid his screams, Naruto's neck split open, his skin cracking like sun-baked rubber. The lightning tore through, threatening to fry his brain.
Gulp!
The searing lightning was blocked by the Bijū chakra.
"*Naruto!*"
A familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears.
He looked up.
Hikari, heart pierced, suddenly raised her head: "*Cough, cough—Grab him!*"
Ignoring her condition, Naruto followed her command. Despite the lightning battering him, he clutched Yazuki Yū's left arm tightly. His Bijū cloak morphed, blood-red tendrils wrapping around Yazuki Yū layer by layer.
At the same time, two water serpents slithered from the grass, coiling around Yazuki Yū's legs and constricting fiercely.
"You're not dead?"
Staring at the monstrous girl, pierced through the heart yet alive, Yazuki Yū—exhausted and restrained—fired lightning from his right hand.
"You're the one who'll die!"
Blood dripped from Hikari's lips.
Crack! Crack!
Bones in her chest grew wildly, the bloodied hole expanding into a massive cavity.
Thorn-like bone spikes crisscrossed within, locking Yazuki Yū's thick arm in place.
The lightning flickered, striking the bones uselessly.
It couldn't conduct.
Thump!
Thump!
Her heart, relocated to her abdomen, kept pumping, supplying her final reserves of chakra.
Her muscles swelled.
Her palm slammed into Yazuki Yū's Tanchū acupoint at the center of his chest.
Fūton unleashed!
Isshiki Rekkū!
Ping!
A sound like shattering glass came from Yazuki Yū's body. The Raiton no Yoroi covering him cracked like burnt porcelain, fracturing into countless fine lines.
"*AAAAAH!*"
The Fūton erupted inside him, and Yazuki Yū let out a piercing scream, unable to hold back.
Spurt!
Blood sprayed like a fountain, his massive chest muscles torn apart from within, shredded tissues and vessels snapping.
His giant, ox-like heart leapt into the air.
Visible lightning flickered wildly in the heart, the fading body flaring with a final burst of life.
The Raiton no Yoroi surged across his skin.
He was trying to save himself!
"*ROAR!*"
Naruto roared, gripping Yazuki Yū's left arm, letting the lightning tear his body open, exposing raw flesh beneath his peeling skin. The Kyuubi chakra blocked the lightning from reaching his brain, driving him into deeper frenzy.
His demon-fox transformation intensified.
Canine bones and fangs emerged.
Crack!
His fangs sank into Yazuki Yū's flesh.
Naruto bit down hard on the back of Yazuki Yū's neck!
"*AAAH!*"
The pain drove Yazuki Yū beyond reason, his body spewing chakra in a final struggle.
Lightning blasted indiscriminately.
Hikari, chest pierced, took the brunt of it. Bolts surged into her abdomen, charring her organs. Facing a life-or-death crisis, her own ferocity was unleashed.
Her hands plunged into Yazuki Yū's chest, tearing at his muscles.
Her face twisted, cracking open as sharp fangs grew endlessly.
Invisible winds coated her razor-like teeth, splitting her ferocious maw. Hikari climbed along his arm, biting through Yazuki Yū's throat.
Crack!
His throat bone shattered.
The lightning collapsed.
Naruto's roar crushed Yazuki Yū's cervical spine.
Snap!
The water serpents tightened, twisting Yazuki Yū's thick legs into knots, white bone shards piercing his skin.
Blood sprayed from the wounds.
"MROW—"
Yazuki Yū's clouded eyes stared skyward, the memory of a towering, lightning-clad figure still vivid.
Boom!
The world tilted.
His head lolled, held by mere scraps of flesh, his body twitching twice before going still.
Whoosh!
A breeze scattered the mist. The old man's distorted face glared at the moon, eyes wide with fury.
The beastly crowd scattered in fear.
Giant trees toppled, flames roaring.
Across the corpse…
Two battered, monstrous figures, under the moonlight—
Locked in an embrace.