Heavenly Thunder

"Besides, even if we catch up, can we save Katsuki? We're outmatched; rushing in would just be feeding them. Death isn't scary, but this kind of pointless suicide is really not a good idea."

Although the voice was cold, it didn't carry much of a reprimand.

You can't blame Fugaku for treating people differently; that's just how things are. Nawaki's identity is what it is, like a bright candle in the dark, impossible to ignore. Given Nawaki's identity, Fugaku tried his best to explain patiently, but Uchiha, even gentle words sound cold.

Moreover, to be fair, Fugaku didn't want to hear the bad news about Katsuki either. He didn't care about Mizuki's identity as a member of the Uzumaki Clan, but he couldn't ignore his identity as a disciple of Sakumo. If possible, he also wanted to save Katsuki, as the wrath of Konoha's White Fang was not easy to bear.

Unfortunately, it was too late; the die was cast, and he was powerless to change it. Katsuki could only pray for the best.

Nawaki's passionate spirit was no match for Fugaku's already emerging sharpness, and he was unsurprisingly defeated. After regrouping, Fugaku led the group on their way. However, without Katsuki as their eyes and ears, and relying solely on the Sensory Ninjutsu of the others, the group's progress was greatly slowed down.

In the Yamanaka, Katsuki was unaware that Nawaki had had an emotional outburst because of her, but even if she had known, she wouldn't have had time to care.

Despite her best efforts and using every trick in the book, Katsuki was still beaten badly by Kumasaburo.

"Covered in wounds" is not enough to describe his current miserable state. Those tiny wounds would heal in the blink of an eye, but that's precisely what brought him even greater pain.

After witnessing Katsuki's self-healing ability, Kumasaburo's will became even stronger. He was determined to capture Katsuki. Moreover, because of Katsuki's self-healing ability, he was less hesitant Jonin his attack. Even if he couldn't use all the fighting power that a Jonin should have, he used at least 70-80% of his strength.

Even with only 70-80% of his strength, Katsuki was already complaining bitterly. He once again experienced firsthand how vast the difference was between Jonin and Jonin. The Cloud Jonin Cloud Ninja Araki, who died by his blade, wasn't even worthy of carrying the shoes of this big-headbanded Sand Ninja. They were both Jonin, but the difference between them was like heaven and earth.

Kuma Kumasaburo didn't use any powerful moves; he simply used Taijutsu and Wind Release nature transformation, combining the two to beat Katsuki badly.

The title of Jonin is not simply about being able to unleash powerful Ninjutsu. Mastering high-ranking Ninjutsu is only one key point in the Jonin exam. The Jonin is the ability to make ordinary, simple Ninjutsu look amazing and achieve an effect comparable to using high-ranking Ninjutsu.

Jonin like Kumasaburo, who has mastered Wind Release Technique to its pinnacle, also possess solid and experienced Taijutsu, making him an exceptional and outstanding figure among Jonin.

Aside from figures like White Fang, Kumasaburo is already one of the top ninjas in each of the major ninja villages. After all, there are only a handful of ninjas like White Fang, and only one or two might appear every ten years or so. For example, the future Yellow Flash, who will be able to dominate the Shinobi World on his own after White Fang.

"Little one, don't push yourself. Come with me obediently, or you'll suffer."

Kumasaburo pressed on relentlessly, yet still had time to offer advice, his gaze upon Katsuki as if he were admiring a priceless treasure.

"Ha, what nonsense are you spouting? No one in Konoha surrenders without a fight!!"

"Huh? You still have the energy to talk? Looks like I wasn't putting enough pressure on you!"

The howling wind suddenly gained a sharper edge, deflecting the short sword. The palm strike, which shot out like lightning, pierced Katsuki's left abdomen. A section of intestine flew out from behind, quickly losing heat in the downpour and falling into a puddle.

As Kumasaburo felt the smooth, familiar touch on his fingertips, the smell of fresh blood was still so captivating, and a hearty smile spread across his furry face.

"So, kid, are you going to come with me obediently, or are you prepared to be beaten half to death and carried away by me?"

Kumasaburo's right hand was stuck in Katsuki's abdomen, while his left hand gripped Katsuki's right arm. He asked with a sinister grin.

At this point in the battle, the outcome was already clear. It was truly incredible that Katsuki had managed to hold out this long. The Sand Ninja behind him were already dumbfounded. For a mere Chunin to be able to hold out against Kumasaburo for so long was quite an anecdote that could be used to mooch off someone.

But now it's finally over.

Katsuki's left arm was nowhere to be seen, only a bloody, mangled wound at the shoulder. Blood had already soaked his clothes. His self-healing ability wasn't strong enough to regenerate a severed limb in an instant; he needed time. However, time was what he lacked most right now. Now, another hole had been opened in his stomach. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came up in his throat was blood and froth, and his hoarse groan sounded like the mournful cry of a crow.

Blood trickled down from his ears and nose, his breath was extremely weak, and his eyelids slowly closed, as if he could faint at any moment.

"Finally solved, more troublesome than I imagined." Kumasaburo withdrew his hand. Katsuki's body twitched slightly, but his eyelids, which had fallen, seemed to weigh a ton and did not open. A relieved smile appeared on his hairy face. "However... in my hands, even stubborn iron will turn to water."

A sense of pride welled up within him, Kumasaburo burst into laughter.

"Lord Kumasaburo, something's wrong!!!"

The sharp cry was clearly distorted, and Kumasaburo's laughter stopped abruptly. His bull-like eyes widened, and his relaxed nerves tensed instantly.

However, it was still too late.

Katsuki's body suddenly swelled up, like a corpse that had been soaking in water. The bleeding from the broken left shoulder stopped, and the muscle fibers turned pale.

"Go to hell!"

With a thunderous roar, Kumasaburo's outstretched hand was just centimeters away from touching Katsuki's neck, but as Katsuki opened her mouth to curse, a blazing white lightning bolt shot out, heading straight for Kumasaburo's chest.

The near-death counterattack was naturally not that simple. Thunder spewed from its mouth, and pale arcs of lightning rippled around its body. Thick bolts of lightning danced wildly in the rain, and as they were carried by the flowing water, they split mountains and cracked rocks, causing the entire rock to rumble and tremble.

This time, he was truly fighting desperately. His clothes were torn to shreds by lightning in the first instant, and even with his skin charred and cracked, he continued to refine his Chakra to his heart's content, transforming it into dazzling lightning bolts that exploded, even if it meant bringing himself to the brink of death first.

"Crack!"

A thunderclap suddenly exploded, and in an instant, the heavens and earth seemed to collapse. The Sand Ninja watching from behind squinted their eyes and covered their ears. They hadn't expected that the lightning on the ground would attract heavenly Heavenly Thunder. The power of nature was beyond human power to compare with. That terrifying power directly caused half a mountain to collapse.

"Lord Kuma Kumasaburo?"

"Lord Kuma Kumasaburo?"

The Sand Ninja, recovering from the thunder, shouted that they had clearly seen the Heavenly Thunder aimed directly at Kumasaburo and Katsuki.

"Bear······"

"I'm fine!"

The pile of rubble collapsed, and Kumasaburo Sanlang's burly figure emerged.

"My lord, you..."

Looking at Kumasaburo walking over, seeing his limping steps and his body charred black like a piece of charcoal, it was clear that he was not as fine as he claimed.

"Is there still a connection?"

Kumasaburo asked in a deep voice, his face dark.

"Hmm... that's it, that's it, there's no sense of it at all." The sensory ninjas were stunned for a moment before they realized what was happening and hurriedly replied.

Kumasaburo stared at the collapsed half of the mountain and the turbid torrent in the valley with a gloomy face, remaining silent.

A mountain nine ren high can be ruined by a single basket of earth.

Just as his prey was about to be captured, it was gone without a trace, the falling Heavenly Thunder obliterating everything, almost killing him as well.

"Call!"

With a long sigh, Kumasaburo's fierce aura suddenly diminished considerably.

"Let's go back!"