Chapter 172: The Fourth Raikage and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Enter the Battle!
The Cloud ninja began retreating under Dodai's command. Though the Cloud ninja's combat readiness was exceptional and Dodai's command quite experienced and steady, the offensive launched by Hyuga Ritsu's Wood Human was truly unstoppable. The Cloud ninja jonin left behind to provide rearguard simply couldn't effectively delay the Wood Human's advance.
Most techniques in the shinobi world were developed for the purpose of killing people more efficiently. Only an extremely small number of techniques were developed to target colossal beings like Tailed Beasts.
But obviously, not only were these latter techniques few in number, those who mastered such techniques were even rarer. For most ninja, the enemies they needed to face were simply fellow humans. Besides, techniques targeting colossal creatures like Tailed Beasts weren't something one could easily learn just by wanting to.
The Cloud ninja now faced exactly this predicament.
The jonin providing rearguard were fearless and their fighting spirit high. Though all the techniques they mastered weren't well-suited for dealing with the Wood Human, the destructive power they could unleash by freely expending chakra was still quite impressive.
The problem was that after seizing another Otsutsuki bloodline, Hyuga Ritsu's strength had grown even more powerful. Though he hadn't yet had time to adjust and refine the techniques he'd mastered, the qualitative transformation of his chakra was already sufficient to further enhance the power of many of his original techniques.
His Wood Human Technique had therefore become even stronger, already possessing several traces of the First Hokage's Wood Human Technique's magnificence.
Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!
Lightning Release: Great Serpent Lightning!
Two jonin joined forces to execute a compound technique. One expelled a blazing fire line like a long dragon, the other released lightning like a python. The two intertwined and fused, precisely striking the Wood Human's right knee, cracking it and causing the figure to sway slightly, stumbling.
But before the Cloud ninja could let out cheers, they saw trees and vines growing wildly on the Wood Human's right leg, rapidly filling the cracked gap in the knee. Thick vines wrapped around the Wood Human's knee like bandages.
The stabilized Wood Human didn't tangle with these jonin, but under Ritsu's control continued pursuing and eliminating the Cloud ninja chunin and genin. Though these jonin had no good methods against his Wood Human, it wasn't easy for Ritsu to eliminate these jonin effortlessly either. With fewer numbers it would be manageable—he could handle them with full effort.
But the problem was these nearly twenty Cloud ninja jonin coordinating with each other, providing mutual support. Completely eliminating them would inevitably take considerable effort. So rather than waste time tangling with them, striking at the chunin and genin was easier and faster, and could also inflict greater damage on the Cloud ninja.
Don't underestimate these chunin and genin.
The reason the Five Great Shinobi Villages could dominate the shinobi world's peak was precisely because of their large numbers. Chunin and genin were the village's soil and foundation. With sufficient chunin and genin, numerous jonin could emerge from among them. So the Shinobi World War was never just a stage for the great ninja villages' top experts—chunin and genin also played an irreplaceable and important role on this cruel, bloody stage.
A batch of jonin dying wasn't a major problem. As long as too many didn't die, as long as it didn't affect the village's security, given time new jonin would emerge from the vast numbers of chunin and genin. But if chunin and genin suffered heavy losses, it would not only delay the replenishment of new jonin but also shake the village's foundation.
If this weren't the case, Dodai wouldn't have ordered the jonin to provide rearguard while covering the chunin and genin's retreat.
At this moment, watching the Wood Human's charge prove difficult to stop, the Cloud ninja jonin grew increasingly anxious.
"Attacking the Wood Human is meaningless. We need to deal with the technique's user."
"Who doesn't understand that logic? The problem is how to deal with him? The user is standing on the Wood Human's head. Unless we defeat the Wood Human, there's no way to approach that White Yaksha."
"Damn it, if only our jinchuriki were here."
The jonin's complaints boiled over.
Though Ritsu's Wood Human wasn't a Tailed Beast, it was actually quite similar to Tailed Beasts as tactical weapons—both relied on massive size and enormous destructive power to forcibly determine a war's outcome. If both sides had similar means, there could still be a fight.
But if only one side possessed such tactical weapons, the battle would most likely result in a one-sided outcome.
The current reality exemplified this principle perfectly.
Dodai's face was pale as he watched all this.
Under Xi and others' protection, he'd already retreated a considerable distance. Not that he didn't dare remain to fight Ritsu, but he now bore the commander's responsibility and couldn't rashly advance into reckless combat. Moreover, they'd already lost two top elites in Troy and C. If even he fell here, it would absolutely be a tremendous blow to the village.
"Why hasn't it arrived yet?"
Watching the rampaging Wood Human, Xi couldn't help muttering, anxiously clenching his fists.
The moment Ritsu had attacked, after confirming the assailant was White Yaksha Hyuga Ritsu, they'd already sent news of Konoha's attack back to the village through the most urgent channels, requesting support.
Though they didn't possess unreasonable space-time techniques like Konoha's Yellow Flash, the Hidden Cloud Village had other foundations. Their village inherited a secret technique called "Heavenly Transfer Technique" that could instantly transport matter from a thousand miles away.
Of course, this technique couldn't transport living beings like space-time techniques. The secret technique's essence was speed approaching light itself. During the transfer process, it generated terrifyingly extreme friction. If the transported object wasn't sufficiently durable, it would be torn to shreds.
So this secret technique was mainly used to transport the village's several ninja tools said to have been used by the Sage of Six Paths.
Right now Xi was waiting for one of those ninja tools to be sent over. He needed to borrow the power of the Sage of Six Paths' inherited ninja tools to counter White Yaksha's Wood Human Technique. As someone designated by the Fourth Raikage as a future right-hand man, he'd had access to and learned how to control the Sage of Six Paths' ninja tools—though in fact, the methods for controlling the five ninja tools left by the Sage of Six Paths weren't complicated.
Hearing Xi's muttering, Dodai glanced sideways, pondering what to say, but at that moment, a brilliant flash of light descended from the sky, landing exactly on the main keep that had become ruins.
Xi's expression changed as he cried out in shock, "What's happening? That landing point is way too far off!"
But Dodai remained composed. "Don't panic. What was sent isn't the Six Paths ninja tools, it's... the Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki." His cry carried thick joy.
Transported to the battlefield by that intense light were two figures. One was a man with an imposing physique, robust muscles, dark skin, wearing a championship belt at his waist. Blood flowed from his mouth and nose—the price paid for being transported by the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
The other figure looked more miserable—tall with dark skin, seven ninja blades on his back, his body torn and bleeding in multiple places. His physique was obviously not as strong as the other man's, so being forcibly transported by the Heavenly Transfer Technique exacted a greater price. The one wearing the championship belt was the Fourth Raikage A. After landing, within a few breaths he'd assessed the situation. Konoha ninja had attacked, but not completely—at minimum, the main forces of both sides hadn't fallen into full-scale combat. Only White Yaksha Hyuga Ritsu alone had charged single-handedly into their Cloud ninja position.
This made him breathe a sigh of relief internally.
Good. At least they hadn't arrived too late.
Upon receiving the most urgent intelligence from the frontline, he'd immediately convened the village's upper echelon for a brief meeting to discuss support plans for the front.
But the meeting hadn't concluded, they still hadn't determined the support plan, when the second emergency report arrived—Konoha's White Yaksha Hyuga Ritsu had already broken through their frontline camp, requesting immediate support.
A was both shocked and furious.
However, he didn't follow what Dodai and Xi's letter suggested—merely transferring two of the Sage of Six Paths' ninja tools, the Bashosen and Benihisago, to the frontline. After consulting with the village's upper echelon, he judged that even transferring these two ninja tools might not work, and even risked their loss.
Because the Sage of Six Paths' ninja tools consumed far too much chakra to use. If C were still here, with C's vast, unfathomable chakra reserves, controlling the Sage of Six Paths' ninja tools would be no problem.
But unfortunately, C had been attacked and gone missing—very likely already dead.
Relying solely on Dodai, Xi, and numerous jonin would make freely wielding the Sage of Six Paths' ninja tools quite difficult.
So A made a bold decision that extremely suited the Cloud ninja's preferences. He chose to have subordinates who mastered the Heavenly Transfer Technique send him and Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer B to the Frost Country frontline battlefield.
Because A's clan was naturally physically robust, and A had trained for years using Lightning Release taijutsu. Though he couldn't match his father the Third Raikage's physical prowess that earned the title "Strongest Shield," he could barely withstand the Heavenly Transfer Technique's transmission damage.
And though the Eight-Tails jinchuriki's physical durability was insufficient, as a perfect jinchuriki who completely mastered the Eight-Tails' power, he could mobilize Tailed Beast power to protect and heal himself.
Thus, Fourth Raikage A and Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer B arrived at the frontline battlefield.
After observing the situation in extremely brief time, A immediately roared, "B! Hold off White Yaksha's Wood Human! Send me before White Yaksha!"
"Yes, Big Brother!"
The Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer B, bearing seven ninja blades, answered loudly. The next instant, crimson Tailed Beast chakra surged out like a tide. He skipped the partial transformation stage and directly transformed into the complete Eight-Tails. Its body was as large as a mountain range, with an ox-like head, though one horn had been severed. Its eight tails were all shaped like octopus tentacles. Occupying the earth, it appeared terrifying as a demon god descended from another realm.
However, this terrifying appearance now seemed so intimate and adorable in the Cloud ninja's eyes. They stopped their fleeing footsteps and let out earth-shaking cheers, loudly cursing the Konoha ninja while cheering encouragement for Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer B.
Hyuga Ritsu had long since seen these brothers' arrival.
He wasn't too surprised by this development. He'd considered that the Fourth Raikage would personally rush to the frontline through the Heavenly Transfer Technique. In the original historical trajectory, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Fourth Raikage and Fifth Hokage had rushed to the very front lines through the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
However, he hadn't expected even the Eight-Tails jinchuriki to arrive together. Did they plan to fight an exhilarating counterattack?
Ritsu sensed the Fourth Raikage's determination—either don't fight, or fight to win. In fact, A thought exactly this. This was his first battle after succeeding as Fourth Raikage. If fighting, he had to win as thoroughly as possible, just as his father the Third Raikage had killed the Gold and Silver Brothers, avenging the Second Raikage and firmly securing the Raikage's seat from then on.
So he'd not only come himself but brought Killer B. If the Two-Tails jinchuriki weren't sufficiently mature, he'd even have brought the Two-Tails jinchuriki along.
A stood atop the Eight-Tails' head, shouting loudly, "B, get closer!"
The ox-headed octopus beneath his feet charged explosively, ramming headfirst toward the Wood Human. Eight octopus tentacle-shaped tails stretched out, all lunging toward the Wood Human together.
Ritsu stood atop the Wood Human's head, coldly watching the charging Eight-Tails, smiling slightly. "Perfect chance to test exactly how strong I am now!" He stomped hard, and the Wood Human beneath him also bent forward in a wild sprint, meeting the Eight-Tails head-on, swinging its fist toward the Eight-Tails' head.
The Eight-Tails wasn't to be outdone, similarly swinging its fist to meet the attack.
BOOM!!!
The collision of two colossal beings' fists was terrifying, erupting with destructive power equivalent to dozens of explosive tags detonating simultaneously. The enormous reactive force sent both sides toppling backward. The Wood Human retreated four or five steps consecutively before stabilizing, while the Eight-Tails only retreated two steps before using its eight tails for support to steady itself.
But—
Lightning flashed in Ritsu's Byakugan. Fourth Raikage A's figure was truly fast as lightning. In the instant the Eight-Tails and Wood Human exchanged blows, he'd gone directly from the Eight-Tails' head to the Wood Human's head, charging before Ritsu.
Lightning Release: Liger Bomb!
He cleanly and decisively struck lethally at Ritsu. Under his astonishing speed and powerful arm strength, this strike could easily sever flexible rubber. His thick arm was as sharp as an extremely thin blade!
However, this strike hit empty space. The Byakugan had long seen through A's every movement. Even the chakra flowing within his body couldn't escape the Byakugan's perception. Ritsu predicted A's attack. A simple back bridge dodge evaded A's arm, and simultaneously at the instant they crossed paths, he used Eight Trigrams Palm: Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists to heavily strike A's ribs.
Unfortunately, this palm failed to take effect. The flickering lightning canceled out part of his palm force. Though the residual palm force penetrated those hard muscles to reach deep into A's body, A actually used Lightning Release chakra to forcibly blast through the chakra that had seeped into his body, even though doing so would cause his own body injury.
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