Cloud Village's Fangs - The Raikage's Son's Gaze

The lingering rays of the setting sun dyed Taoyuan Village a warm gold. Wisps of smoke curled upwards, mingling with the fresh scent of newly turned earth and medicinal herbs. Duanmu Ci stood on the nascent observation deck, looking down: white tents were neatly arranged in the medical area, the wooden houses in the living quarters had their frames erected, and in the training grounds, a few older children were diligently practicing chakra control under Shizune's guidance. The warmth of peace flowed between every brick and every new leaf.

Suddenly, an extremely sharp chakra sensing, like a cold steel needle, fiercely pierced his Rinnegan's passively opened sensing network!

Direction: Northwest border!

"Lady Tsunade!" Duanmu Ci's voice, transmitted through simple communication vines grown by Wood Style, instantly reached Tsunade, who was guiding Nonō in the herb garden. His voice, steady yet carrying a hint of imperceptible coldness, said, "We have 'guests.' Not many, but... very strong. Their chakra smells like it's from the Land of Lightning's Cloud Village."

Tsunade abruptly looked up, her blonde hair slicing a sharp arc in the sunset. Her eyes instantly became as sharp as knives. "Cloud Village brats? Finally can't hold back?" She punched a nearby wooden post with a booming sound, sending wood chips flying. "Notify the guards, Level One alert! Non-combatants, immediately enter the underground shelter! Shizune, take Hinata and Sakura over there!"

The entire Taoyuan Village, like a precision gear, was instantly set in motion. The peace, just moments ago filled with the scent of daily life, was replaced by a chilling solemnity. Guard members rushed out from the training grounds and sentry posts, and under Shizune's command, they quickly guided the slightly panicked residents and children towards the sturdy shelters carved into the mountainside.

"Lord Duanmu..." Young Hinata, pulled by Shizune, kept looking back, her pure Byakugan filled with worry.

"Don't be afraid, Hinata," Duanmu Ci's voice came gently through the vines, carrying a strange, calming power. "It will be over soon. Take Sakura to see our new 'safe house,' and tell me if it was fun when you get back." His voice seemed to possess a magical quality, dispelling the gloom in Hinata's heart. Sakura, meanwhile, clenched her small fists tightly, her big eyes flashing with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. "Go, Lord Duanmu! Beat the bad guys!"

On the observation deck, Duanmu Ci's robes fluttered in the rising evening breeze. His gaze penetrated space, the far-reaching vision granted by his Rinnegan locking onto the scene beyond the border.

Two figures, like lightning tearing through the night, were advancing at a terrifying speed! The one in front was as imposing as a mountain, his bronze skin covered in bulging muscles, his dark short hair standing on end. Violent blue Lightning Release Chakra Mode chakra, like tangible armor, enveloped his entire body. With every step he took, the ground left behind scorched, cracked fissures. It was the Fourth Raikage, Ay! Following closely behind him was Killer B, equally tall, with wild brown hair, but his eyes held a hint of barely perceptible madness and suppression. A heart-palpitating, beastly dark red chakra swirled around him – the power of the Eight-Tails, Gyuki, restlessly stirring.

"Is that the 'paradise' that Wood Style kid created?" Raikage Ay's voice boomed like a bell, carrying undisguised contempt. His gaze swept over the nascent architectural complex in the distance. "Hmph, all show! I heard this place has gathered quite a few special bloodlines and medical resources? Perfect, I'm short on suitable test subjects!" He clenched his fist, and violent lightning crackled. "Killer B! Speed up! Crush it!"

Killer B let out a low growl, the dark red Tailed Beast chakra flaring like flames for a moment, his speed increasing again, bloodshot veins spreading in his eyes. The two terrifying auras, like the prelude to a storm, pressed down fiercely on Taoyuan Village.

"'Test subjects'?" A cold arc curved on Duanmu Ci's lips, and deep within his eyes, the six tomoe-like patterns of the Rinnegan flickered faintly. "It seems I need to give this Raikage a lesson first, to let him understand... who the real prey is." He stepped off the observation deck, his figure transforming into a faint green stream of light. Sage Chakra circulated silently, and he met the two violent bolts of lightning, crashing into them head-on!

BOOM—!

At the edge of the forest on the border of the Land of Fire, it was as if a meteorite had struck! The two figures collided fiercely!

The deafening roar of clashing metal and gold was ear-splitting! The shockwave generated by the collision of pure, untamed strength exploded in a ring, instantly clearing dozens of meters of forest. The ground cracked, and debris shot out like bullets!

Duanmu Ci's fist, enveloped in lustrous, pale green Sage Chakra, steadily blocked Raikage Ay's heavy punch, which was imbued with violent blue Lightning Style and capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks! He didn't budge an inch!

"What?!" Raikage Ay's bell-like eyes widened abruptly, the violent lightning reflecting the disbelief and shock on his face. His punch contained the ultimate speed and power under Lightning Release Chakra Mode, enough to instantly cripple an ordinary Kage-level ninja! This Konoha medical ninja, who didn't appear particularly imposing, had actually met his blow head-on with just his physical body and that strange green chakra, and hadn't moved an inch?

"Is that all the strength you have, Raikage?" Duanmu Ci's voice was calm and unwavering, his eyes sharp as a falcon's. The Rinnegan's superior dynamic vision captured every subtle tremor of the opponent's muscles. "You want to tear down my home? This little knock on the door... isn't enough!" Before he finished speaking, the arm holding the lightning-infused fist suddenly exerted force!

WHOOSH!

An immense, irresistible force erupted! It wasn't a head-on clash anymore, but a skillful pull and push! Raikage Ay felt as if his strength, capable of splitting mountains, had plunged into a viscous deep pool, and was then forcefully pushed back by an even larger, more condensed force! His imposing, mountain-like physique was actually thrown off balance by this force, causing him to stagger uncontrollably to the side for two steps, plowing two deep furrows in the ground!

"Damn it!" Ay instantly became enraged, his Lightning Style chakra erupting like blue flames, emitting a piercing shriek! Humiliation! Unprecedented humiliation! He had actually been at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation of strength!

"Thunder Cruel Water Level Thousand Dances!" In his fury, Ay pushed his speed to the absolute limit, his entire body becoming a blue flash that tore through space. Countless fist shadows, elbow strikes, and whip kicks, imbued with destructive Lightning Style, rained down on Duanmu Ci like a storm! The air was ripped apart, emitting sharp sonic booms. Each strike was capable of pulverizing refined steel!

Facing this storm of rapid attacks that would make any opponent despair, Duanmu Ci's figure flickered like a phantom. The Sage Chakra granted him extraordinary perception and nerve reflexes. Combined with the Rinnegan's terrifying dynamic vision that could discern all trajectories, Ay's lightning-fast attacks appeared to be slowed down several times in his eyes.

Swish! Sidestepping, a whip kick wrapped in lightning grazed the edge of his robe, the resulting gust of wind slicing the ground.

Clang! Bending his elbow to block, he precisely parried a heavy punch aimed at his temple. Lightning and green light exploded, emitting a muffled roar.

Twisting his waist! Spinning! Leaning back! Duanmu Ci weaved and dodged within the impenetrable net of attacks. His footwork was exquisitely precise, each evasion a near miss, yet perfectly timed. He didn't fully block them; instead, he used minimal movements to redirect and dissipate the force, guiding the Raikage's violent power towards the ground beneath his feet or the surrounding air.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The area where the two figures engaged in high-speed combat was repeatedly plowed as if by countless cannonballs! The ground continuously erupted with deep craters, and thick trees were easily torn apart or ignited by stray lightning flashes or fist winds! Dust billowed, and lightning and green light intertwined fiercely, forming a zone of destruction.

Killer B stood at the edge of the battle circle with his arms crossed, the dark red Tailed Beast chakra restlessly surging around his body. His eyes flashed with cruel, bloodthirsty light as he stared intently at the green figure in the center, who remained composed amidst the Raikage's storm. A beast-like growl rumbled from his throat, "Ay! Stop playing! Let me tear him apart!"

"Shut up! Killer B!" Ay roared back amidst his onslaught, but the shock in his heart grew stronger. This Duanmu Ci's taijutsu was incredibly strong, his reaction speed astonishing, and his force-dissipation techniques exquisitely precise, far exceeding the intelligence estimates! Even more terrifying was that the opponent seemed... to still be holding back!

Just then, the tomoe patterns in Duanmu Ci's Rinnegan flickered almost imperceptibly. He instantly captured a tiny opening that Ay revealed due to a slight pause after a super-high-speed directional change!

"Got you," Duanmu Ci whispered to himself. He stopped dodging. His right fist drew back, pale green Sage Chakra condensing and compressing with unprecedented speed!

"Sage Art: Monster Strength!"

BOOMMMMM!!!

The Sage Chakra, condensed to its limit, was like a green comet, tearing through the air. Carrying the terrifying will to crush everything, it accurately slammed into the gap beneath Raikage Ay's ribs, exposed during his high-speed directional change! The timing was perfect!