Chapter 354: The Peerless Blade of Wind and Lightning
"Whoosh!"
A figure blurred through the forest. In Kakashi's line of sight, the enemy rushing forward was now clearly visible.
Simultaneously, the man sensed Kakashi's sharp, exposed aura. He let out a low, guttural laugh. Waiting until Kakashi was close, he spoke slowly, "Finally, a decent opponent."
"I hope you're still in the mood to joke in a moment." Kakashi unsheathed the White Light Chakra Sabre. With a flicker of movement, he slashed toward the man's neck.
The current Kakashi's swordsmanship was far superior to his past self. The killing intent carried by a single swing was enough to chill the heart of anyone facing him before the blade even connected. Even the man before him, possessing the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), felt a shiver.
"Clang!"
Almost overwhelmed by the enemy's spirit, the man raised his arm at the critical moment. Bones spurred from his joints, piercing through his skin to block the White Fang blade. Only then did he let out a breath of relief.
"Heh, your skill is quite good. State your name, Konoha ninja." The man swung his arm, knocking Kakashi back. He stood his ground, acting composed to mask his momentary lapse. He asked for Kakashi's name as if he were an elder appreciating a junior's talent.
"Hatake Kakashi." Kakashi channeled chakra into his legs and kicked off the ground. He appeared instantly above the enemy, bringing his short sword down with the force of a thousand pounds.
"A good name." Offering a hypocritical compliment, the man looked up at the descending Kakashi. "My name is Ito. Kaguya Ito. Remember it well..."
"Because that is the name of the man who will kill you!"
"Shikotsumyaku: Teshi Sendan (Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets)!"
Ten finger bones suddenly shot from Kaguya Ito's raised hands. Flying with rapid speed, they assaulted Kakashi like a volley of bullets.
"Hoo..."
Kakashi steadied his breath. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes. Immediately, the White Fang blade shone brightly. Two shrieking wind-elemental slashes cut through the air, severing the bone bullets before striking the enemy instantly.
"White Fang Style: Twin Fangs of the Divine Wind!"
The slash was simply too fast. Before Kaguya Ito could manifest bone armor for defense, deep gashes were carved into his chest, exposing the bone beneath. If not for his Kekkei Genkai reinforcing his skeleton, that single strike would have bisected him.
"Cough, cough." Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, Kaguya Ito finally got serious. After that exchange, he recognized Kakashi as an equal. There would be no more nonsense.
He plunged his hand into his own back, piercing the skin. As Kakashi's eyes widened in shock, Kaguya Ito ripped out his entire spinal column, wielding it like a whip.
Snap!
With a light flick, the spine cracked through the air like a thunderclap. Kaguya Ito's right hand moved ceaselessly, establishing an impenetrable defensive circle around himself.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Wind and Flower Circle!"
Watching a falling leaf get shredded to dust the moment it entered the defensive circle, Kakashi tightened his grip on his sword. Suddenly, a dazzling streak of Purple Electricity (Shiden) raced across his hand.
This was a jutsu Kakashi had successfully developed based on the Raikiri (Lightning Cutter). Its power far exceeded the original Raikiri several times over. More importantly, while possessing terrifying destructive power, Purple Electricity also had a certain degree of fluidity, making it perfectly suited for his White Fang swordsmanship.
Concentrating all the purple lightning onto his blade, Kakashi moved. He transformed into a blur, diving straight into the deadly defensive circle created by the bone whip.
"White Fang Style Secret Technique: Purple Lightning Flash!"
Boosted by the Purple Electricity, Kakashi's speed reached an unprecedented peak. From a distance, it looked as if he had become a streak of purple light, plunging headfirst into the storm of attacks.
The two figures crossed paths.
Blood sprayed violently from Kakashi's shoulder and chest. He swayed slightly before managing to steady himself. Despite his heavy injuries, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Uh... how... how is this possible..."
Behind Kakashi, Kaguya Ito muttered in disbelief. An instant later, a jet of blood erupted from his neck. Judging by the volume, his carotid artery had been severed by Kakashi's blade.
Sheathing the White Fang, Kakashi turned to look at the enemy who still couldn't accept reality.
"You have slept for too long. You have likely forgotten what a true life-and-death battle is... This ninja world is no longer the one you knew."
"Go to your eternal rest, along with your regrets."
With a heavy thud, Kaguya Ito's body collapsed to the ground. Kakashi's figure vanished from the spot.
Several kilometers away, unaware of her companion's death, Minazuki Reika continued to command the Mist ninja in their assault.
After years of war, the ninja world's combat methods had evolved far beyond her era. The clear division of labor, the specialized squads, and the clash of the main forces... it all felt alien to her.
The sky filled with an endless rain of kunai and shuriken, the offensive and defensive maneuvers, the legion-scale ninjutsu utilizing elemental advantages—it all seemed incredible to her.
"...Perhaps we really shouldn't have come out," Reika thought, a strange notion rising in her heart.
She was different from her companions who had been thoroughly brainwashed by the Ninshu ideology. By nature, she preferred peace. She had only joined them back then because the ninja world was in endless chaos and the Ninshu offered aid.
But she had quickly regretted it. In her eyes, the Ninshu's methods were too extreme. Especially this time—strictly speaking, there was no need to escalate things to this extent.
Unfortunately, her voice carried little weight. She couldn't speak up in front of Tōrira. And because of the Ninshu Decree, she had to go against her own will and obey the order to wage war on Konoha.
However, Reika was not indecisive. She knew that since things had come to this, dragging it out was pointless. It was better to destroy Konoha completely. She believed that the various factions, having benefited from the victory, would settle down for a long time, bringing a precious peace to the ninja world.
"Phew..." Calming her chaotic thoughts, Reika waved her hand grandly. "All forces, press forward at all costs! Today, we will conquer the enemy before us!"
"YES!"
"It's time for me to take the field. I wonder how Kaguya Ito's assault is progressing." Reika leaped forward, covering great distances with each bound, and arrived at the forefront of the battlefield.
There, standing before her, the figure of Hyuga Saori slowly emerged.