"Pfft!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Ahhh!"
The barrage of shuriken descended like a storm.
The three Kumogakure shinobi caught within the attack had no time to evade.
Several shuriken pierced through their bodies and limbs, causing blood to spray everywhere.
One of the Kumogakure ninja died instantly.
The remaining two barely survived, but they were gravely wounded and collapsed to the ground amidst a pool of blood.
"Damn it!"
Darui's expression became incredibly ugly.
He knew very well that, even if he managed to escape today, every elite shinobi he had brought with him would perish here.
This was far beyond anything he had anticipated before beginning this mission.
Such losses would be enough to make even Kumogakure bleed.
After all, these were not ordinary shinobi.
They were either jōnin or elite chūnin with exceptional talents.
Even a village as powerful as Kumogakure could not afford to lose such elite forces repeatedly.
There were only so many talented shinobi in a generation.
This was entirely different from losing ordinary genin or older chūnin who had already reached the limits of their potential.
And it was obvious
Menma had no intention of sparing anyone.
After killing one Kumogakure ninja and gravely injuring two others, he no longer paid attention to them.
He left them to his summoned beast.
"Whoosh!"
With a burst of speed, Menma twisted his body in midair and charged directly toward Darui.
Kumogakure was destined to become an enemy sooner or later.
As the most talented young shinobi of his generation within Kumogakure and the future Fifth Raikage, Darui represented a tremendous threat.
If he could eliminate him here
It would greatly weaken Kumogakure's future strength.
Menma would never let such an opportunity slip away.
The Nine-Tails' chakra surged once more.
A terrifying pressure descended.
"…!"
Darui's expression became solemn.
Without holding anything back, he unleashed every last bit of chakra remaining in his body.
Crack!
Lightning erupted around him.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode!
"Boom!"
The two figures collided head-on.
"Bang!"
Fist met fist.
The instant their blows connected, Darui's expression changed dramatically.
What monstrous strength…?!
Disbelief filled his eyes.
"Heh."
Menma merely smiled coldly.
While using the Nine-Tails' chakra, he had deliberately learned from Tsunade's method of concentrating chakra into explosive bursts of strength.
Naturally, he could not compare to Tsunade's terrifying monstrous power.
But against the current Darui
It was more than enough.
An irresistible force surged forward.
"Bang!"
Menma violently knocked aside Darui's arms.
Then he twisted his body and delivered a devastating kick.
"Boom!"
His foot struck directly into Darui's chest.
"Urgh!"
Unable to resist the tremendous force, Darui was sent flying backward.
"Bang!"
He slammed heavily into the ground and bounced twice.
The impact caused his abdomen to distort slightly.
A heart-wrenching pain spread throughout his body.
"Blegh!"
Darui coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
His expression became ferocious.
He was far from his peak condition.
And Menma's strength had exceeded all expectations.
This was merely the power of someone who had only begun to draw upon a tailed beast's chakra?
Why was he this strong?
At this moment, Menma's physical capabilities were almost comparable to Darui's own prime.
"Whoosh!"
Seeing Menma rushing toward him again, Darui's expression turned even uglier.
Storm Release: Laser Circus!
Without hesitation, he clapped his hands together and rapidly molded chakra.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
A dazzling display of light erupted.
Several laser beams shot toward Menma at terrifying speed.
This was no ordinary ninjutsu.
Even most elite shinobi would find it difficult to react to the speed of a Kekkei Genkai attack like this.
A cold light flashed through Menma's eyes.
"Haaah!"
With a deep shout, the Nine-Tails' chakra exploded once again.
"Boom!"
Four crimson tails burst forth behind him.
The terrifying aura surrounding him intensified dramatically.
The wildly dancing fox tails swept forward.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The four tails collided directly with the incoming laser beams.
The violent explosions shook the surroundings.
Yet the residual force failed to affect Menma in the slightest.
"What?!"
Darui's pupils shrank.
His proud technique had been blocked so easily.
By the time he attempted to form another seal
It was already too late.
Menma was too close.
Darui could only rely upon instinct and attempt to retreat.
Unfortunately
Menma had already arrived.
A dark-colored sphere of spiraling chakra appeared in his palm.
Rasengan!
He aimed directly at Darui's chest.
"Boom!"
The Rasengan slammed into its target.
The violent rotation and destructive force erupted instantly.
"Ughhh!"
It felt as though his entire body had been torn apart.
Under the terrible impact, Darui was launched backward like a cannonball.
"Bang!"
"Crack!"
"Crash!"
Several large trees snapped in succession.
Finally
"Boom!"
Darui crashed heavily into the ground.
A long trench was carved across the earth by his body.
His abdomen had visibly caved inward.
"Blegh!"
Large amounts of blood poured from his mouth.
The chakra within him weakened rapidly.
His breathing became ragged and disordered.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
At this moment
Darui could clearly feel his life force slipping away.
A single strike had determined the outcome.
In the original timeline, even Kabuto, an elite medical ninja, had acknowledged the terrifying destructive power of the Rasengan.
Now, Darui had taken one of Menma's Rasengan attacks directly.
His life force had almost been shattered.
Menma slowly walked toward the place where Darui had fallen.
At nearly the same time
The giant lizard, Qītu, had already finished dealing with the remaining Kumogakure ninja.
The three injured shinobi had been unable to mount any meaningful resistance.
Two of them had already been critically wounded.
Facing the giant summon, they had no chance whatsoever.
Within only a few minutes
The entire battle had been decided.
Not far away
Utakata's pupils suddenly contracted.
He stared at Menma's back with unprecedented solemnity.
He had greatly underestimated this Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
This young man
Was far more terrifying than the rumors suggested.