"Tenth Form: Drilling Slashes, Moon Through Bamboo Leaves!!!"
Akashō yanked the Blade of Living Flesh and twisted his body, sending two spiraling blade winds crashing straight into the Third Raikage's neck.
Amid a grating sound that made one's teeth ache, the Third Raikage still stood firm like an immovable boulder. Only after a few seconds of stalemate did his feet—like roots embedded in the ground—finally slide back a few steps.
Then, under his slightly surprised gaze, his body was suddenly forced upward, sent flying backward dozens of meters before flipping and landing on the ground.
But in the very next second, the Third Raikage stood up again, casually brushing off the spot struck by Akashō's blade wind, and joked,
"You've got quite some strength."
A vein bulged on Akashō's forehead. This old bastard was seriously too arrogant.
Still, credit where it's due—the title of strongest shield of the Lightning Release Armor wasn't for nothing. Even the Tenth Form of Moon Breathing couldn't break through his defense at all.
After a brief moment of admiration, Akashō couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
How the hell was he supposed to fight this? With defense that high, if he couldn't even break through it, how could he possibly talk about killing him?
Meanwhile, the cannon fodder army that had already been considering retreat saw Akashō suddenly clash with the Third Raikage, and they all looked at each other in confusion.
"What's going on? Aren't those two on the same side?"
"Who knows…"
"Hey, does this mean we can just sit back, watch them fight, and reap the benefits?"
"Reap what benefits? These two are monsters! They've been fighting for so long without showing any fatigue at all—it's like they don't get tired. If you don't take this chance to run, once they're done fighting, you're the one who'll die!"
After a round of hushed discussion, the onlooking cannon fodder ninjas reached a consensus and immediately scattered in all directions, turning and fleeing while Akashō and the Third Raikage were locked in battle, leaving behind only a wasteland littered with corpses stretching hundreds of meters.
On the other side, both Akashō and the Third Raikage noticed the retreat of the cannon fodder army, but neither paid it any mind. Their gazes remained locked onto each other.
"Kokushibo, out of respect for you, next I'll let you witness my strongest spear."
Electric arcs crackled around the Third Raikage's body as he stepped toward Akashō. The hand he had always used as a weapon suddenly tucked in the thumb, leaving the other four fingers tightly pressed together.
For a fleeting moment, Akashō felt as if the Third Raikage's arm had transformed into a spear capable of piercing heaven and earth, its sharpness laid bare.
Akashō's body instinctively tensed, cold sweat dripping down.
So it was still too much after all… but at least, using Kokushibo's Demon Body to draw out the Third Raikage's full strength could help prepare for what came next.
Gripping the Blade of Living Flesh tightly with both hands and holding it across his body, Akashō rapidly adjusted his breathing.
"Come!!"
A flash of lightning—and the Third Raikage vanished from Akashō's sight in an instant.
So fast!
Instinctively, Akashō activated the Transparent World, capturing the Third Raikage's position before leaping into the air.
"Moon Breathing, Sixteenth Form: Moonbow, Half Moon!!!"
"Piercing Four Fingered!!!"
Roaring, Akashō swung his longsword. The surrounding air exploded as dozens of blade winds stretched and extended into sword energy, crashing downward.
Facing the massive sword energy descending upon him, a trace of surprise flashed through the Third Raikage's eyes. This kid could actually react?
The Third Raikage's strongest spear collided head-on with Akashō's most powerful sword technique, instantly causing the surrounding air to churn violently.
However, after only a single breath of stalemate, Akashō's sword energy shattered with a loud explosion, while the Third Raikage continued forward without losing any speed, charging straight at Akashō who had just landed.
"Puchi!!!"
The Third Raikage's arm pierced through Akashō's back, drawing out strands of blood. The wound, however, was already scorched black by the lightning crackling over his body.
His strongest attack… was broken in just a single breath!?
Akashō's six eyes widened in shock. Although he had already known he couldn't defeat the Third Raikage, he never imagined the gap would be this enormous.
And that was only Piercing Four Fingered. According to the knowledge scroll Orochimaru had given him, the Third Raikage's strongest spear had four stages.
Piercing Four Fingered was merely the lowest stage. As for the highest—One Fingered Assault—could anyone truly withstand that kind of power?
And in the ninja world, there were still four more monsters on this level…
For a moment, doubt crept into Akashō's heart. Could an S-rank Villain Template really defeat such monsters?
The Third Raikage suddenly pulled his arm out and looked at Akashō, whose eyes were filled with shock and emptiness. Raising a brow, he chose not to continue attacking.
"What's wrong, Kokushibo? After seeing my strength in a one-on-one fight, are you afraid?"
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Do you want me to go easy on you?"
Afraid?
Go easy?
All six of Akashō's eyes trembled at once, the blood vessels nearly bursting out.
"Me, afraid!?"
"And I need you to go easy on me!?"
The gaping hole in Akashō's chest instantly healed, restoring him to perfect condition. He suddenly swung the Blade of Living Flesh and slashed it down onto the Third Raikage's head.
"I'm so damn hyped right now, you old bastard!!"