Chapter 117: Wood Release
"This brat's strength has actually increased again!"
A chill ran through the Third Raikage's heart.
To be honest, he had already placed Kei very high in his estimation. After all, for someone so young to possess such terrifying strength was already monstrous enough.
The Flying Thunder God's integration of offense and defense had left an extremely deep impression on him.
After not seeing Kei for two years, he had long expected his strength to improve even further.
But the scene before him was still far too exaggerated.
As the kunai swung, streaks of Wind Release slashes tore across the battlefield like sharp blades. The sensation they gave off was terrifying, enough to make one's scalp go numb.
The ground bulged upward and rose into barriers, trying to block their path, but before those slashes, it was all as fragile as tofu. Everything was shattered with ease.
Bang!
Black lightning flashed across the sky.
The Third Raikage activated his Lightning Release Armor and charged forward in a straight line.
"You brat!"
With fighting spirit blazing across his face, he roared, "Don't look down on me!"
Before his words had even fully fallen, his fist was already smashing downward.
The ground caved in instantly, a huge crater blasted open by the sheer force of his strike.
That terrifying chakra made everyone around feel a wave of dread.
Kei's figure vanished at once, flickering away from the spot in an instant.
Countless shuriken spun through the air, piercing toward the Third Raikage. Every one of them was infused with terrifying Wind Release chakra and carried enough cutting power to easily slice through steel.
The Third Raikage's body tightened. He threw punch after punch, knocking away the incoming ninja tools.
But in the very next moment, Kei appeared right in front of the rebounding shuriken and thrust a hand forward.
Rasengan!
Bang!
The powerful impact exploded on contact, sending the Third Raikage's body flying and slamming heavily into the ground.
Even with the protection of the Lightning Release Armor, the blow still caused him a jolt of pain.
It was within his tolerance, but the moment he noticed the mark that had appeared on his chest, his eyes widened.
"Oh no!"
In the next instant, Kei's figure appeared before him once again.
The kunai slashed forward with brutal force.
Three Fingered Hell Stab!
The strongest spear erupted as the Third Raikage transformed into a streak of black lightning and lunged forward again.
Unfortunately, he still missed.
"He actually used that moment to carve a Flying Thunder God mark onto my chest!"
His expression turned grave. He had finally realized what Kei had done just now.
The Flying Thunder God Technique required a mark as a medium, which made it somewhat inconvenient for use in open combat.
So Kei had simply engraved the mark directly onto the Third Raikage's chest.
As a result, the Third Raikage immediately became cautious.
No matter where he moved, Kei could appear in front of him in an instant.
"In that case, I'll just move at high speed and keep him from reacting."
He made his decision at once.
To deal with a shinobi skilled in Space Time Ninjutsu, one had to use a specialized method.
He raised a hand high and slammed it onto the ground.
Lightning Release: Thunderous Earth Net!
A web of lightning spread out in all directions, blanketing the battlefield.
Terrifying power erupted, centering on the Third Raikage and rapidly sweeping across the surrounding area.
This was the method he had chosen, to use the lightning web to restrict Kei's range of movement.
No matter how powerful the Flying Thunder God was, the moment Kei approached, he would inevitably be caught by the spreading net of lightning.
At that point, not only would his location be exposed, but the Lightning Release would also paralyze him and slow him down.
"So you're trying to track my movements this way?"
Standing in place, Kei looked at the web of lightning before him, his expression calm.
"Not a bad idea."
"But so what?"
In the next moment, his hands formed seals.
Wood Release: Tree Root Explosion Burial!
Tree roots burst violently from the earth, twisting and coiling toward the Third Raikage like living tentacles.
Dense roots and vines instantly covered the battlefield and swallowed the entire area.
The lightning web across the ground collided with the Wood Release and was immediately thrown into disorder.
"What?"
The Third Raikage's expression changed drastically as he looked at the vines erupting from the ground.
"Wood Release!"
Shock filled his face.
Wood Release was the unique Bloodline Limit of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Its power needed no explanation.
Unlike the later generations, the current era was not far removed from the Warring States Period. Many people alive today had personally witnessed the power of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara.
Because of that, they were even more sensitive to the appearance of Wood Release.
Now, seeing it emerge from Kei's hands, the Third Raikage immediately thought of the God of Shinobi from the past.
"No... impossible!"
The Third Raikage forcibly calmed himself.
"The First Hokage is already dead. And this Wood Release is nowhere near the level he once displayed."
"He is not the God of Shinobi from the past. He can still be dealt with."
With that thought in mind, he shifted his body and weaved between the roots and vines spreading across the ground.
Bang!
A massive rumble burst from beneath the earth, as if the land itself had been overturned. The sound was deafening.
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!
A terrifying wooden dragon burst from the ground and surged straight toward the Third Raikage.
Under the pressure of that enormous chakra, no matter how fast he was, he could not completely escape its range.
His body was violently smashed away.
Boom!
A thunderous crash rang out as yet another huge crater was blasted into the ground.
"Good!"
Everyone around them was instantly invigorated.
"So that's the First Hokage's Wood Release?"
Many of the younger shinobi who had never seen Hashirama in battle stood frozen in shock.
"To think it could be this powerful..."
Not far away, Mito stood quietly on the ground, staring blankly at the enormous wooden dragon ahead.
At that moment, it felt as though she were seeing Hashirama from long ago.
Swallowing the First Hokage's cells through the Chimera Technique could indeed allow one to obtain the Wood Release Bloodline Limit. Hiruko had already proven that.
Mito had gone to see it once herself.
But Hiruko's Wood Release and Hashirama's Wood Release were worlds apart. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.
Kei's Wood Release was still somewhat inferior to Hashirama's, but it far surpassed Hiruko's.
"Is it because of the Nine Tails' chakra?"
That thought flashed through Mito's mind as she fell into deep thought.
Regardless of what everyone else was thinking, the moment Kei brought out Wood Release, the situation was completely reversed.
The wooden dragon roared as it surged forward, exuding overwhelming pressure.
Standing atop its head, Kei extended a hand and slammed it downward.
Bang!
A terrifying aura erupted.
The wood dragon let out a furious roar and directly forced down the Third Raikage. Its presence was so overwhelming it seemed capable of crushing everything in its path.
Even with the protection of the Lightning Release Armor, the Third Raikage was smashed into the ground so hard that he nearly failed to remain standing.
.....
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