Intact... completely intact!
This kid, this Taki Chiba, was actually...
Completely unscathed!
In midair, amid the crackling sounds, the Third Raikage, who had already steadied himself, slightly loosened his clenched teeth before biting down tightly again. His eyes remained fixed on the boy emerging from the steam.
Yet not a single wound could be found on the boy known as a monster. Even his skin was like that of a newborn infant, fair with a rosy glow. Let alone scars, there was not even a speck of dirt. Taki Chiba's body looked as though he had just taken a bath and somehow grown younger.
Especially beneath the clothes on his chest, where a large hole had been torn open, his snowy-white skin was practically flawless—pure and unblemished. Even his clothes seemed to have been washed. Though somewhat tattered, they appeared much brighter and more vivid.
That billowing steam had not only taken away his fatal wounds; it had even washed his clothes! Amid this rather battered landscape, Taki Chiba seemed to possess a cleanliness that did not belong in this place.
Moreover, he could clearly sense that this Taki Chiba was utterly different from before. Though the Lightning Release Chakra Cloak had blocked that punch and he had felt neither pain nor the impact of its force, judging from how badly the cloak had cracked, the power contained in that sudden, soundless punch was enough to shatter his Lightning Release Chakra Cloak.
In other words, Taki Chiba's strength could now threaten him.
His absolute defense was no longer absolute against Taki Chiba!
This battle was no longer one where he looked down upon Taki Chiba from above. They now stood on equal footing!
As he thought this, the Third Raikage could not help glancing at the fine spiderweb cracks on