Retreat

The next day at noon, the Laboratory door at the Root Base finally opened, and a group of ninjas who had been waiting outside peeked inside.

The Third Hokage walked out of the Laboratory and looked no different from yesterday, except that the wrinkles on his face had mostly disappeared, and his originally pale hair had turned grayish-white, making him look about ten years younger.

The only problem was a strange, glowing object on his chest that looked like a mechanical heart.

However, this is not a machine, but Replicated Rinnegan with degraded power!

For Vegapunk, replicating the Rinnegan through gene cloning was not a big problem; the real problem was that he didn't have enough energy to nurture the Rinnegan.

Just like Vegapunk could also create clones of the Otsutsuki Clan, but in reality, it didn't have much effect. The Otsutsuki Clan's strength was based on a massive amount of Chakra. Without enough Chakra energy, the cloned Otsutsuki Clan would be weak and emaciated, with barely any fighting power, and their strength might not even be as good as that of ordinary ninjas.

If Vegapunk really had a lot of Chakra energy, he would have just used it himself or given it to Hancock. Why would he bother cultivating those Otsutsuki the Otsutsuki?

After all, this world values quality more than quantity. The same amount of Chakra energy is much stronger when concentrated and used in a concentrated manner than when dispersed.

The original Rinnegan was unusable by the Third Hokage, who didn't possess a Sage Body. However, the version modified by Vegapunk was different; the requirements for its use were greatly reduced, requiring only seven or eight times the Chakra of Jonin.

Moreover, under Vegapunk's modifications, this degraded version of the Rinnegan even improved the Third Hokage's body to some extent, making his physique closer to that of the Otsutsuki Clan, which is also the reason for his rejuvenation.

As for the source of the Rinnegan gene, it comes from the support of his own body. Vegapunk, who has already cracked the spatial ability, may not be able to use it well in battle due to delays, but in non-combat situations, it is very easy to support his clones with some ordinary raw materials.

The reason for shaping this degraded Rinnegan into such a strange form is twofold: firstly, it better suits his modifications, allowing him to directly fuse the Seven Nature Chakra into abilities through his heart; secondly, he doesn't want the Rinnegan to be exposed.

"Lord Hokage! Did you succeed?"

The ninja wearing sunglasses spoke up, and the Third Hokage, looking somewhat stunned, clenched his fist. "Ah... it worked... I never imagined that the five Chakra natures could be fused in this way..."

As he spoke, the Third Hokage reached out slightly, and a water glass in the distance was drawn to his hand. He then pushed it, and the water glass wobbled back onto the cabinet.

"This is..." Kakashi said in confusion, "Controlling gravity?"

"That's right. All gravity, antigravity, attraction, and repulsion that belong to the gravitational system can be controlled. This is the Kekkei Genkai formed by the fusion of five types of Chakra."

Vegapunk smiled and said, "This can be said to be an ability that is naturally effective against speed-type ninjas. With just a little use of gravity and anti-gravity, speed-type ninjas can be put at a complete disadvantage."

Indeed, although the Fourth Raikage possessed superhuman speed, he still used his own two legs, not Space-Time Ninjutsu. Both gravity and anti-gravity had a great impact on him.

Of course, according to Vegapunk's estimation, if the Fourth Raikage had fully mastered the Current Drive, he could have directly gained the ability to fly using Magnetic Field, and this technique would not have been of much use to him. Unfortunately, without Vegapunk's help, it would take the Fourth Raikage at least one or two years to master the Current Drive technique.

There are even many difficulties involved. Lightning Release Chakra is not the same as lightning in the natural world, and converting Magnetic Field is not so easy. Vegapunk only provided a rough method. If you get stuck for some reason, it is normal to spend more than ten years without mastering it.

Upon hearing Vegapunk's words, the Konoha ninjas immediately showed excitement. The Fourth Raikage had been hunting around the outskirts of Konoha, causing the morale of the entire Konohagakure to decline. Now, this problem could finally be solved.

The ninjas of Konoha weren't without effort. Even though Kakashi Hatake, an elite Jonin who had truly faced the Fourth Raikage, had warned the other ninjas, there were still some who wanted to test the Fourth Raikage's strength. As for the result... they were basically all instantly killed.

This is also why the Third Hokage always kept his head down. Although the Third Hokage had the side of a politician, he still had the responsibility of Kage-level Ninja. If he hadn't judged from the Fourth Raikage's speed that he would be instantly killed if he appeared, he wouldn't have been so afraid of battle.

Even if he himself is not afraid of death, if even the Hokage is killed instantly, the morale of Konohagakure will probably collapse to the ground.

On the outskirts of Konoha, the Fourth Raikage lay on the thick trunk of a large tree, resting with his eyes closed.

More than two days have passed since Vegapunk was abducted. The Fourth Raikage first used the Heavenly Transfer Technique, which put immense pressure on his body, and then rushed from the Lightning Country all the way to Konoha. In between, he went through more than a dozen battles, even though these battles were just warm-up. By now, the Fourth Raikage was already a little tired.

Ninjas are generally trained to enter a light sleep when not in combat, allowing them to quickly recover their stamina. The current Fourth Raikage is in this state.

Suddenly, the Fourth Raikage opened his bull-like eyes and looked up in the direction of Konohagakure. He saw a short ninja wearing a hat with the character for Hokage on it and a Hokage cloak on his back walk out of the gate of Konohagakure.

"The Third Hokage!? He actually dares to come out like this?" The Fourth Raikage was surprised for a moment, then immediately became excited.

"Once we take him down, the outcome of this battle will be no longer in doubt!"

Immediately, the Fourth Raikage transformed into a bolt of lightning and charged directly at the Third Hokage. In the blink of an eye, he had already traversed hundreds of meters and arrived within twenty or thirty meters of the Third Hokage.

Then, a sudden force of gravity caused the Fourth Raikage to stumble and fall to the ground, carving a deep trench in the earth.

This gravity is about 3 to 5 times stronger than normal, which isn't too strong, but it is definitely a huge restraint for the Fourth Raikage, who is currently unable to perfectly control his speed.

Having accelerated to its limit, the Fourth Raikage, lacking sufficient control, was unable to maintain his balance when suddenly encountering a change in gravity.

However, the Third Hokage also gasped. He hadn't even seen the Fourth Raikage's shadow yet, and in the blink of an eye, the opponent suddenly appeared nearby. If he hadn't been maintaining the gravity field around his body, that would have been enough to kill him.

Fortunately, the Third Hokage was also a veteran of countless battles. Without saying a word, he reversed the gravity, Fourth Raikage, who had just gotten up, immediately floated up. In the air where there was nowhere to exert force, his super speed could not be used.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Spear Technique!"

After struggling for a moment, the Raikage immediately realized his situation and used his Ninjutsu. Although he was famous for his Nintaijutsu and taijutsu, as the Raikage, his Lightning Release Ninjutsu level was at least above that of an average Jonin.

Of course, compared to the Third Hokage, he is far inferior. In terms of the Five Basic Nature Transformations, the Third Hokage can be considered the number one in the Ninja World. Even if all the ninjas of all generations are included, no one can surpass him in this aspect.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"

Without a word, the Third Hokage retaliated with a Vacuum Bullet, instantly shattering the lightning spear. There was already a difference in the level of their ninjutsu, not to mention that the Third Hokage was using Wind Release, which is effective against Lightning Release.

However, the Wind Release that shattered the lightning spear didn't break through the Fourth Raikage's defenses when it hit him; instead, it forced him back quite a bit.

The Fourth Raikage immediately sensed that the anti-gravity seemed to weaken as he retreated. His eyes lit up, and he Hand Seals again. "Wind Release - Great Breakthrough Technique!"

The Wind Release: Great Breakthrough is arguably the most basic C-Rank Wind Release Ninjutsu. It is basically similar to the Fire Release Great Fireball and the Lightning Release Inspiration Wave Technique. It blows out a strong, non-sharp gale directly at the front, with weak destructive power and at most some interference.

In the hands of the Fourth Raikage, this Wind Release technique might not be as powerful as some Jonin who are proficient in Wind Release. After all, although the Fourth Raikage has the Wind Release, he certainly hasn't practiced Wind Release much.

However, as the village's leader, he still had enough Chakra, and a strong gust of wind rushed directly towards the Third Hokage.

This power certainly wouldn't harm the Third Hokage, but the Fourth Raikage also didn't intend to fight with this move; he was merely using the immense recoil from the Great Breakthrough to blow himself away.

Only...

"Adamantine Staff, extend!"

Amidst the fierce winds, the Third Hokage first formed a hand Hand Seals with one hand to block the Great Breakthrough. Then, the Adamantine Staff in his hand quickly lengthened, and when he arrived next to the Fourth Raikage, he suddenly stretched out a hand and grabbed his ankle.

The Adamantine Staff wielded by the Third Hokage was transformed from the Summoning Jutsu Enma. Compared to the real Sun Wukong's iron cudgel, it was naturally far inferior, but it still possessed some characteristics of the original Adamantine Staff. At least its length could be changed, and because it was Summoning Beasts, it could perform some more flexible movements, such as extending a hand to grab the opponent.

The Fourth Raikage was still in Lightning Release Chakra Mode, essentially having a built-in lightning armor. However, Enma was Summoning Beasts known for its tough body, so he completely ignored this damage.

"Very well, come back, Adamantine Staff!"

The Adamantine Staff instantly retracted, completely nullifying the Fourth Raikage's movement in the zero-gravity area, and pulling him back quite a bit.

Randomly, the Third Hokage also stopped using Ninjutsu —while using the Rinnegan's ability to control gravity, using other Ninjutsu would be extremely taxing on his energy and put a lot of strain on his body.

He simply raised his Adamantine Staff high and then brought it down!

The Adamantine Staff crashed down with a terrifying whistling sound. Although the Fourth Raikage was unable to move due to being airborne, he still crossed his arms above his head, assuming a standard blocking posture.

However, just as he blocked the opponent's attack with both hands, his expression changed drastically. He felt as if the Adamantine Staff opposite him carried the weight of a mountain, and with a cracking sound, he was slammed into the ground!

"Did you use gravity to increase the power of the Adamantine Staff?"

The group of ninjas observing from the walls of Konoha quickly realized the secret. Despite his Hiruzen Sarutobi's taijutsu, especially his staff Taijutsu, was definitely at the Kage level, not much worse than the Five Basic Nature Transformations.

Clearly, after gaining the ability to manipulate gravity, the old man quickly integrated it into his Taijutsu. At least, he was quite adept at using this simple trick of increasing gravity to amplify damage.

However, although it was just a small trick, the power it brought was not small at all. The Fourth Raikage was smashed to the ground like a meteor, and then a huge crater more than ten meters wide was smashed into him with a loud bang. He coughed up a mouthful of blood amidst the cracking sound of his bones breaking.

It was only because of the protection of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode that the Fourth Raikage suffered such minor injuries; otherwise, a normal ninja would have been reduced to minced meat by that attack.

However, this finally allowed the Fourth Raikage's feet to touch the ground. Although he could only stay on the ground for a short moment due to the anti-gravity effect, his innate and keen combat awareness allowed him to endure his injuries and push off with both feet, retreating dozens of meters like a meteor, finally escaping the Anti-Gravity Space.

After escaping the Anti-Gravity Space, the Fourth Raikage coughed up blood again. At this moment, the bones in his arms were broken into several pieces, hanging limply at his waist. Several ribs in his chest were also broken, making it difficult for him to breathe.

After giving the Third Hokage a deep look, the Fourth Raikage didn't say anything harsh or make any further moves. Instead, he turned around and disappeared in front of everyone like a bolt of lightning.

Admittedly, the biggest reason for the defeat in this battle was that the Fourth Raikage had no information whatsoever. As a result, he was tricked by the Third Hokage's gravity and anti-gravity, which led to a result where he was almost powerless to fight back.

However, gravity control was indeed a great counter to the Fourth Raikage's abilities. In addition, he was already seriously injured, so he naturally wouldn't stubbornly continue fighting the Third Hokage. Instead, he retreated immediately when he saw that the situation was not good.