Chapter 393: Taijutsu Showdown
Tsunade was certain: during their more intimate exchanges, Li Yao's physical strength had never been at the level he was showing now. There was no way she could have misjudged it.
And yet, now he had repelled a Seven Gates Might Guy with a single punch.
Even an Eight Gates Might Guy could only stand on equal ground with Li Yao in his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
How was that possible?
Tsunade couldn't understand it. Neither could Jiraiya. He racked his brain and still couldn't think of anyone in the shinobi world capable of such a feat.
"Guy-sensei!!"
From the distance, Lee and others saw Might Guy get blasted away. Without hesitation, they changed direction and rushed toward where Guy had landed.
Meanwhile, other shinobi charged directly at Li Yao.
Naruto had been defeated in an instant. Even Might Guy, after opening the Eight Gates, couldn't hold out long.
At this moment, the shinobi of Konoha—under a cloud of despair—found the courage to risk everything.
Even if it meant death, they would die fighting.
"How can this be?"
In one corner of Konoha, Naruto struggled. The moment he sensed that Guy had been struck, he instinctively froze.
Li Yao's strength far exceeded his understanding.
That speed and power… No, he didn't even need to imagine it.
The black ink still binding his body was proof enough: if Li Yao had wanted to kill him, he would already be dead.
"Damn it!"
The cruel truth crushed Naruto with a sense of helplessness. He had no idea how to defeat Li Yao.
Clang!
Clang!
The black ink was as hard as steel. No matter what Konoha's ninja tried—Wind Style, Fire Style, Lightning Style—nothing worked.
Shima, sweating in frustration nearby, turned to one of the ANBU.
"Where's Tsunade? Haven't you found her yet?"
"No," the ANBU replied. "Lady Tsunade's been missing since earlier."
As soon as Li Yao had appeared, the ANBU had gone to search for her—but she was gone. They had combed every corner of the village and still hadn't found her.
"Don't tell me Tsunade's been…" Shima's expression shifted as a dark thought crossed her mind.
Suddenly, Naruto spoke. "Granny Tsunade's probably been taken to that mysterious space. She's okay—for now."
"Mysterious space…" Shima blinked, then said, "You mean that undetectable alternate dimension?"
"Yeah, she told me about it before…" Naruto nodded and repeated the intel Tsunade had shared.
"So what do we do?" Shima was desperate.
The black material binding Naruto resisted all elemental attacks. No one knew what chakra nature it belonged to, let alone how to counter it.
Maybe only Tsunade's monstrous strength could break it—but she was gone.
Who else could tear through the ink?
"Leave it to us!"
Just then, the surviving Akimichi clan members arrived, holding two specially crafted chains.
They wrapped the chains around the ink tendrils restraining Naruto and divided into two teams. Using their clan's Partial Multi-Size Technique, they transformed into giants and pulled with all their strength.
"Please work!"
Naruto strained as well, working with the Akimichi to break free.
No matter what, he had to get out first.
While Naruto fought to escape, the Konoha shinobi charging at Li Yao had closed within a hundred meters.
But before they could strike—
Boom!
A tremendous shockwave exploded in the distance. A red figure shot in like a cannonball.
Boom!
A white shockwave burst from the impact as Li Yao disappeared, transforming into a blue blur that shot toward the incoming Might Guy.
The previous punch hadn't been fatal. Even in the Eight Gates state, Guy's durability was maxed out.
Clang!
Boom!
This time, the two didn't use shockwaves. Their fists collided directly—raw power against raw power. The impact resembled two massive artillery shells crashing mid-air.
A blinding ring of force radiated out, shattering the ground in every direction.
Boom!!
A thirty-meter-wide crater formed instantly.
The pressure from the clash blew outward in every direction like a gale.
"Aaaaah!"
"Move—now!"
The Konoha shinobi who had been running toward the fight were flung away like leaves in the wind.
And that was just from one clash.
Boom boom boom…!
On the ground, the fighters vanished—leaving only flashes of red and blue colliding across the field. Each clash left behind a massive crater.
Shockwaves from their strikes swept the area like tidal waves.
"We can't even get close!"
"This isn't a fight we can interfere with!"
The arriving shinobi knelt on the ground, stunned by the devastation. The very idea of joining this battle was absurd.
They couldn't even approach within a hundred meters of where the two were fighting.
With their terrifying speed, Guy and Li Yao could turn anyone in their path to paste just by moving—not even attacking.
This battle was on a level far beyond what ordinary ninja could comprehend.
"Is… is this really taijutsu?"
Even the taijutsu-focused shinobi of Konoha stared in disbelief. The destruction being unleashed was unthinkable.
Compared to this, their own skills felt like a toddler's slap.
"Why won't that monster die already?!"
The more fierce the battle became, the more hopeless the onlookers felt. Everyone silently wished Li Yao would just drop dead.
Because Guy's power was fueled by his life force—he couldn't hold it for long.
But Li Yao's strength was his own—he paid no such cost.
The longer this dragged on, the closer Li Yao was to victory.
But what could Guy do?
He still had Night Guy, his final move—but once he used it, he'd be unable to stall for Naruto anymore.
And would it even work?
Looking at Li Yao's excited yet composed face, Guy felt zero confidence. Even if he unleashed Night Guy, there was a good chance Li Yao could still withstand it.
He knew his limits.
His power came from burning his life. Li Yao's did not.
That meant even if he gave it his all… Li Yao had not yet done the same.
Night Guy probably wouldn't be enough.
If so, it would be better to keep fighting—to buy time for Naruto, for Konoha.
Boom!
After another exchange, Li Yao suddenly stopped.
Might Guy also came to a halt. They now stood a hundred meters apart, watching each other. Guy looked puzzled. Why had Li Yao stopped?
"Use your strongest move."
Li Yao said calmly. He could clearly sense it—Guy's chakra reserves were nearly drained. He had just enough left to use Night Guy once.
If they kept fighting, Guy wouldn't be able to use it at all.
And that would be no fun.
Li Yao wanted to feel the pressure of Night Guy for himself.
(END CHAPTER)
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