Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
Seeing the three Cloud-nin stripped of their chakra cloaks, Uchiha Yuan unleashed another jutsu. The Great Fireball Technique was a signature of the Uchiha clan — normally it produced a fireball about a meter across. But in Yuan's hands it manifested as a colossal orb some twenty to thirty meters in diameter.
The three Cloud-nin stared at the enormous chakra fluctuations blurring the air; shock showed on their faces, but there was nothing they could do in time.
"Water Release: Super Great Waterfall Technique!"
A hundred-meter torrent surged forth toward the gigantic fireball — a cooperative jutsu thrown up by the other Cloud-nin nearby. Water met fire and a vaporous storm leapt into the sky.
At the same time, led by the three leaders, waves of Cloud-nin roared and charged Uchiha Yuan.
By now the chakra pillar of blazing flame that had once erupted from Yuan had subsided — a sign he had wholly reined in the sudden outpouring of chakra within him. He pushed off the ground and sprang high into the air, hands already forming continuous seals as he spat a series of fiery streaks from his mouth.
Those streaks immediately coalesced into a volley of fireballs that slammed into the Cloud-nin. Explosions ripped the valley; beneath them a sea of flames churned and roared.
Suddenly three figures wrapped in arcs of lightning exploded out of the inferno and lunged at Yuan.
Raging Heavy Fist!
Three brutal, bone-shattering blows struck Yuan almost simultaneously.
Bang!
Yuan's body shattered into smoke — substitution art combined with shadow clones.
"Damn, this brat's fast."
The three Cloud-nin quickly spread out, trying to sense any residual chakra marks to locate the real Yuan. Alarm spiked in their chests; an instinctive chill made them trigger Lightning Release Chakra Mode to guard themselves.
In the next instant their vision blurred — Yuan flashed into view right before them. He swung his hand like a blade; a searing crimson radiance flared as three blood-red blades formed and slashed toward the three Cloud-nin.
Rumble—rumble—rumble!
The crimson blades cut through them; they thudded to the ground and were swallowed by a towering burst of flame.
Those three blades were condensed from pure fire — a technique Yuan had developed called Flame Blades. They carried powerful slashing force and scalding heat.
When the flames died down, the three Cloud-nin lay charred and blackened, smoke rising from their bodies. Clear slash marks ringed their torsos and scorched the earth beneath them.
"You…"
One of them still had breath in his lungs, eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Uchiha Yuan, trying to speak — but the last breath left him as his face twisted in unwilling acceptance.
"Kabase, Widek, and Isa are dead."
Word of the three leaders' deaths spread, and a cry rose from the Cloud-nin ranks. Many who had been startled now looked at Yuan with fear; the final blast of the Flame Blades had been truly terrifying.
Then a figure leapt forward and sprinted at Yuan, bellowing, "Kill him! Avenge the three lords!"
"We are the mighty Cloud-nin — how could we be stopped by a mere brat?"
At that shout the Cloud-nin's fear hardened into ferocity. Their eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"Kill!"
A deafening roar filled the sky. Hundreds of Cloud-nin, bristling with wrath, poured their killing intent onto Yuan and charged.
Surrounded by the murderous focus of hundreds, Uchiha Yuan's face remained calm, untroubled. He murmured to himself, "In the face of absolute power, numbers are nothing but cannon fodder."
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Transformation."
Yuan formed seals and spoke softly. A surging tide of chakra exploded from him. A colossal dragon of flame — over a hundred meters long — rose up and thundered toward the Cloud-nin like a living beast.
The Cloud-nin immediately felt the dragon's oppressive might and tried to stop it with combined jutsu:
Earth Release: Earth-Flow City Walls.
Water Release: Super Great Waterfall.
Water Release: Water Array Wall.
None of it held. The fire dragon barreled through their defenses and into their midst. In an instant, hundreds of Cloud-nin were swallowed by the dragon. Their screams turned into human-shaped torches as they were ignited and burned.
Moments later the battlefield still radiated scorched heat; the ground was littered with charred Cloud-nin corpses.
A Cloud-nin swooped down before the Fourth Raikage and reported, "Lord Raikage — we've finished the count. All 324 members of the Seventh Squad are here."
The Fourth Raikage and the arriving Cloud forces had only just reached the scene; he stood staring at the scattered remains with fury. Several Cloud shinobi carried over three bodies bearing the same type of slash wound. "Lord Raikage, these are the remains of the three lords Kabase, Widek, and Isa."
The Fourth Raikage's hands clenched so tight his knuckles cracked. He drew back his gaze and slammed a fist into the earth with such rage that he punched a deep crater.
"Damn it. I never imagined the three… Kabase and the others would perish here."
After venting, the Raikage scrutinized the slash marks on the bodies. The wounds made his brow tighten.
"These slashes are strange — they remind me of the swords used by the Iron Country's samurai, but the cuts are also marked by intense Fire Release burns. Bring these bodies back and have them studied thoroughly."
A female Cloud-nin stepped up. "Lord Raikage, according to the reconnaissance team's analysis, the Seventh Squad was killed by a single strike. Its power may have been comparable to a tailed beast's attack."
The Fourth Raikage's eyes flickered. "An attack of that magnitude… could the killer be that Konoha 'Fierce Tiger'?"
"Immediately send scouts to investigate all Konoha movements. Check whether they have received any new reinforcements. As for that Uchiha brat — next time, I'll personally twist his head off!"
The Fourth Raikage had originally brought troops as support. When he learned that Uchiha Yuan would lead an assault team to raid them, the Raikage had resolved to eliminate him on the spot. He therefore sent Kabase and the two others — all elite ANBU of the previous Raikage's direct command. Their strength was formidable. Yet the Raikage had not expected Yuan to survive while the Seventh Squad was annihilated.
Elsewhere, Uchiha Yuan's figure flickered through a stand of trees as he ran and leaped. Suddenly two figures sprang out ahead. Seeing the familiar blue vests, Yuan's guard eased slightly.
"Who goes there?"
They were two Konoha shinobi, kunai ready. One called out, "Uchiha Yuan — leader of Second Squad, Fourth Battalion?"
Yuan nodded. "I was ordered to lead an assault team, but the Cloud-nin were prepared — the mission failed. You should've seen the retreating assault team."
The two Konoha shinobi made way for him. "This is the First Battalion's Fifth Squad defensive line. The assault team is resting at our camp."
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