Chapter 149: A Duel Amidst an Army
Kagenori's declaration hung in the air, a direct challenge thrown not just at Kitsuchi, but at the entire chaotic battlefield. Joining this fray promised a significant bounty of Witness Points, but his true goal was far more personal: to test his blade against the legend himself.
After declaring his intent, he ignored Kitsuchi, his focus shifting entirely to the blue-white storm of lightning that was the Third Raikage, carving a path through the Iwa ranks.
"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"
A burst of lightning chakra enveloped him, and he became a streak of light, his path marked by the fallen bodies of Rock-nin who happened to be in his way.
The Third Raikage took notice of this new, fast-approaching threat. "Lightning Release: Chop!"
He concentrated chakra into his hand, forming a blade of solid lightning, and swung it to meet Kagenori's charge.
CLANG!
Steel met hardened lightning. The impact was tremendous, and Kagenori was forced back several steps by the raw physical power behind the blow. The Raikage's hand was completely unharmed.
Kagenori steadied himself, a spark of genuine excitement in his eyes. "Incredible. To block my blade with your bare hand… you are as strong as they say, Raikage."
The Third Raikage stared him down, his gaze briefly flicking to the Konoha insignia on Kagenori's headband.
Noting the look, Kagenori calmly untied the headband and tucked it into his weapons pouch. "I am not fighting you as a Konoha shinobi today," he stated. "I fight in my own name. Consider this my personal farewell to a legend."
A fierce, approving grin split the Raikage's face. "Arrogant brat! Don't get yourself killed by these Rock-nin before I'm done with you! That would be embarrassing!"
The lightning around Kagenori intensified, crackling wildly. "You should worry about your own old bones, Raikage! Don't throw your back out and get finished off by a stray kunai. I intend to take your head myself!"
"Fumetsuzan!"
His right Mangekyō Sharingan swirled, beginning its recording of the Raikage's formidable techniques. He then weaved through a series of hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
He drew a deep breath and exhaled a massive orb of roaring flame that crashed into the densely packed Iwa formations, incinerating a score of ninja and clearing a temporary space in the chaos.
The Rock-nin responded instantly. The ground beneath Kagenori and the Raikage trembled as earth-style ninjutsu was activated.
Both men moved before the technique could take hold. Whether by unspoken agreement or shared instinct, they didn't charge directly at each other. Instead, they took a wide, circular path, their high-speed movements carrying them through the flanks of the Iwa army, each claiming a few more lives on their way to their real opponent.
They closed the final distance in a heartbeat.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!" The Raikage focused chakra into his elbow and swung it in a devastating, sweeping blow.
"Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit!"
Kagenori became the epicenter of a storm of lightning-fast slashes, releasing a flurry of cuts in every direction. The attacks glanced harmlessly off the Raikage's lightning armor, not even slowing his assault.
Kagenori jerked his head back at the last possible second, the Raikage's elbow whistling past his chin. He immediately used a Body Flicker to create distance, his heart pounding. He touched his chin; the air pressure from the near-miss alone had stung the skin. A direct hit would have shattered his jaw.
The defensive power of the Lightning Chakra Mode was even greater than he'd calculated. And this was far from its maximum strength.
The Raikage looked more invigorated than ever. "Your speed is commendable, boy! But your attacks are like mosquito bites! You'll never take my head like that!"
Kagenori leveled his ninjato. "The overture is over. You'll find out soon enough if I can or not."
"Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"
A slash of superheated, lightning-charged energy shot toward the Raikage.
The Third Raikage responded in kind, his hands flying through seals. "Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
A bestial shape of crackling black lightning launched from his body, colliding with Kagenori's attack in a deafening explosion of opposing energies. The residual black electricity arced outwards, zapping a group of nearby Rock-nin and leaving them twitching on the ground.
This time, the Raikage took the initiative. "Lightning Release: Thunder Plow Hot Knife!" He crossed his arms and charged, a bulldozer of pure force.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
Kagenori erected a series of solid earth barriers in quick succession.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Raikage smashed through them one after another, his momentum barely checked. As he broke through the final wall, a cluster of explosive tags Kagenori had planted on the backside detonated right in his face.
In the split second the smoke and dust provided, Kagenori completed another set of seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Singing Projectile!"
Four roaring fire dragons shot into the cloud of debris, their explosive impacts sucking the air from the area.
"Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite!"
The Raikage burst through the smoke and flame, his four-fingered spear aimed directly at Kagenori's heart.
Kagenori had never believed such tricks would work. He was ready. As the Raikage closed in, he countered.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
His speed, for that instant, surpassed the Raikage's charge. He sidestepped the lethal thrust with a hair's breadth to spare and, using his own momentum, brought his ninjato around in a full-powered slash aimed at the Raikage's exposed neck.
The Raikage didn't even try to dodge.
The blade connected with a sickening thud. Kagenori's eyes widened. His full-strength slash, enhanced by his breathing style, had not even broken the skin. The defense was monstrous, unnatural. This was the man who could trade blows with the Eight-Tails and live.
A searing pain erupted under his arm. The Raikage, unfazed, had followed through with a lightning-chop to his ribs.
Kagenori flickered away, reappearing a dozen meters back. He pressed a hand to his side. The ribs weren't broken, but they were definitely fractured.
Overwhelming defense. Immense speed. Devastating attack. There's no obvious weakness.
The Third Raikage raised his hand again, this time extending three fingers.
Kagenori bit his thumb, weaving through hand seals before slamming his palm onto the ground.
"Hell Stab: Three-Finger Nukite!" The Raikage became a blur, his speed ascending to another tier as he charged.
"Summoning Jutsu: Double Rashomon!"
With a tremendous crash, two immense, demonic-faced gates erupted from the earth, standing defiantly between Kagenori and the oncoming spear of lightning. He had learned this from Orochimaru, a fragment of the First Hokage's legendary defense. These gates, summoned from the depths of the spirit world, were a mocking barrier, designed to absorb any impact and mock the futility of the attacker's efforts.
💫 Liked the chapter?You can read 100+ extra chapters on Patreon, including the current
Patreon Chapter 250:A Phantom Victory
👉 Patreon.com/KudosNey
Your support helps me write more and update faster 💖And don't forget to drop a Power Stone ⭐ — it really motivates me!
Special thanks to All our patreon members : DCor,Joe Mamma,C99mnt,RobbieRay,BuddySchlym,aroachinmyroomsslut 😎
Thank you for reading and supporting! 🙌✨