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Chapter 28: Confronting the Raikage
"The masked man?!"
The Raikage's roar nearly shattered the window glass. 'That bastard... is he really waiting for me in the Land of Fire?! And he dares to come looking for me himself?!'
Absolute rage caused his chakra to completely explode, violent Lightning Release wrapping around his entire body like tangible energy, ionizing the very air with a scorching aura.
"You piece of shit—!!"
He ripped off his white outer robe, revealing his bronze-colored muscular frame. Every inch of skin rippled with destructive lightning, muscles coiled like steel cables.
"C! Darui! Follow me!!"
Without wasting words, the Raikage's form transformed into a blinding streak of lightning, instantly smashing through the Hokage building's wall as he raced toward the explosion's source.
The Third Hokage's expression turned completely grim. 'The masked man... appearing at a time like this?' He whipped around toward the messenger ninja.
"Alert all jounin—enter Level One combat readiness immediately! Evacuate civilians and seal off the incident area!"
"Now!!"
---
Konoha's grand main gate had completely collapsed, shattered wooden beams and stone blocks scattered everywhere. Burning debris sent up billowing black smoke while the acrid smell of charred materials filled the air.
The stationed Konoha shinobi watched like men facing execution, cold sweat beading their foreheads, kunai and shuriken trembling slightly in their grips. They stared fixedly at the figure gradually becoming clear through the smoke and dust, throats unconsciously tightening.
The legendary "masked man"... the monster who single-handedly annihilated the Kumo delegation...
Smoke slowly dispersed, revealing a man in black robes wearing an eerie fox mask walking forward with steady, composed steps. What made the Konoha shinobi shudder was the sight of nine differently-shaped summons behind him.
The Southern and Northern Dipper Sages floated in mid-air, wide sleeves fluttering without wind, hands forming seals while radiating ominous purple light.
Death drifted on the left, its massive scythe gleaming with cold light, ready to harvest lives at any moment. The Celestial Maiden hovered on the right, ribbon-like garments dancing gracefully yet concealing deadly intent.
On the ground, the Golden Serpent coiled with flicking tongue, the Azure Dragon growled while circling, the Vermillion Bird spread its wings ready for flight, the Black Tortoise stood steady as a mountain, and the White Tiger bared its fangs with claws deeply embedded in the earth.
Though they hadn't begun harvesting lives yet, the combined pressure from nine summons created an almost tangible oppressive force that made the air itself feel viscous.
"I advise you not to act rashly." The masked man's voice filtered through his fox disguise—calm and cold. "My target is only that hot-headed Raikage."
"You bastard—!!"
Angry roars suddenly erupted from behind as the Kumo shinobi stationed outside the village finally arrived. Their eyes were bloodshot, kunai crackling with lightning chakra, clearly enraged beyond measure.
"We absolutely won't let you near Raikage-sama!!"
The lead Kumo jounin bellowed, his blade wreathed in Lightning Release chakra as he charged toward the masked man at incredible speed. The remaining ninja followed close behind, dozens of figures streaking forward like lightning bolts.
However—the masked man didn't even turn his head.
"Minor pawns shouldn't interfere." As his words fell, the Azure Dragon on the ground suddenly lashed its tail, its massive form sweeping outward.
BANG—!!
The Kumo jounin in the lead didn't even have a chance to react before being sent flying, crashing heavily into distant buildings amid rising clouds of dust.
Simultaneously, the Southern and Northern Dipper Sages in the air formed seals together, purple formations instantly expanding beneath the Kumo shinobi's feet.
Bind!
In an instant, all charging Kumo ninja froze mid-stride, unable to move. Their expressions shifted from rage to terror as they struggled to break free, yet couldn't even lift a single finger.
Can't move?! What kind of technique is this...?!*
Death's scythe rose high, wreathed in ominous purple light, slashing down toward the Kumo shinobi to begin harvesting chakra.
"Suiton: Suijinheki!"
Just as the scythe was about to reap its harvest, a surging torrent suddenly crashed in from the side! Darui spat forth a rushing stream from his mouth, precisely striking Death's scythe and forcibly deflecting its trajectory.
"Not finished yet—Raiton: Kangekiha!"
Darui's hand seals continued without pause. Bringing his palms together, the originally surging water instantly became wreathed in blinding lightning! High-voltage current rampaged along the water wall, temporarily forcing Death's figure back.
"ROAR—!!"
The White Tiger's claws and Azure Dragon's massive tail swept forward! Both summons attacked ferociously, the ground cracking under their trampling while stone fragments flew. Darui immediately withdrew and retreated, simultaneously drawing the rectangular blade from his back, lightning crackling along its edge as he prepared to meet this assault head-on.
"Raigen Raikouchuu!"
At that moment, C's technique activated. Blinding light suddenly erupted, instantly swallowing all vision in pure white. This wasn't mere flash—it was a genjutsu prelude. In the instant enemies were blinded by intense light, the technique's seeds would silently plant themselves in their consciousness, inducing paralysis.
But—"What?! It's not working?!"
Cold sweat beaded C's forehead. The Azure Dragon and White Tiger showed no hesitation whatsoever, still pouncing forward in savage fury!
'Genjutsu has no effect on them?!'
His heart sank, but his body instinctively leaped upward, barely avoiding the Azure Dragon's tail strike. On the other side, Darui's blade violently collided with the White Tiger's claws.
CLANG—!!
Amid the explosive sound of clashing metal, lightning and chakra violently opposed each other. Darui's feet carved two deep furrows in the ground, his grip numbed from the shock. He growled through gritted teeth. "What the hell are these monsters?!"
"Hey, look over here."
An ice-cold voice materialized without warning behind Darui, so close it seemed to brush his ear. Every hair on Darui's body stood on end—'when did the masked man circle behind me?!'
He didn't even have time to turn around, only feeling suffocating pressure from behind as the masked man's fist, wreathed in pitch-black chakra, compressed the air itself with its approach.
'I'm going to get hit—!'
"Brat! Look over here!"
A thunderous shout exploded as the Raikage appeared behind the masked man in an instant! His right arm wrapped in violent Lightning Release chakra, blue-white arcs crackling as his limb slashed down toward Menma's back!
"Raigyaku Suihei!"
This strike held nothing back—the Raikage's monstrous strength perfectly fused with Lightning Release's penetrating power. The air erupted in deafening explosions while beneath his fist, crushed stone melted into red-hot lava-like material under extreme temperatures.
BOOM—!!!
In the thunderous roar, shockwaves expanded in rings, instantly collapsing the ground within a ten-meter radius. Smoke and dust obscured everyone's vision.
Darui used the opportunity to create distance with a Body Flicker, cold sweat beading his temples.
The smoke gradually cleared, but... the original spot was empty.
The masked man—or rather Menma's form—had vanished like a phantom.
"Tsk, so it really is space-time ninjutsu..."
The Raikage's gaze swept sideways—Menma stood quietly on the ground twenty meters away, black robes fluttering in the air currents while his expression remained hidden behind the mask.
"Brat, just who the hell are you?"
***
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