Persuasion

That palm strike had landed almost flush against the Lightning Armor.

At such close range, there was bound to be some electrical conduction.

But to maximize the destructive power of Crushing Palm, this had been the best choice.

"Not bad..."

With the "Steel Style" field flowing over his body, it had almost completely offset the side effects of close-range contact with Lightning Release.

So—

"Strike while he's down and finish him!"

Without much hesitation, Akira Sarutobi used the Body Flicker Technique again and charged straight at Raiga Kurosuki.

He clearly intended to beat him to a pulp with brute force!

With one palm thrust, the gale made Raiga Kurosuki's clothes snap violently.

He had no time to think. He swung both blades, intending to trade injuries for injuries.

Boom!

Crackle!

The sounds of taijutsu and Lightning Release exploded through the air at the same time.

The lightning unleashed from the swords struck Akira Sarutobi's body from afar.

Akira Sarutobi's Crushing Palm also struck Raiga Kurosuki from afar.

"Puh—!"

Raiga Kurosuki spat out blood. Akira Sarutobi's blow sent his whole body arching backward before he slammed heavily into the ground.

Akira Sarutobi's body trembled as he staggered back as well. However, thanks to the damage reduction of the Steel Style "force field," he only took a few steps back before steadying himself.

"Argh—!"

Raiga Kurosuki's face twisted with rage.

Since becoming a ninja, when had he ever been reduced to such a miserable state?

Almost instantly, he flipped himself upright and rapidly retreated.

This guy... his taijutsu is too strong. I have to widen the distance...

His anger did not affect his judgment.

"The young master has the upper hand..." Ino Yamanaka's eyes lit up, feeling that it was time for their side to counterattack as well.

At the same time, several Root ninja emerged from the woods.

Worried about Nonō's safety, they had returned after leaving.

"You came at just the right time..."

Nonō adjusted her glasses.

Akira Sarutobi's performance had given her immense confidence.

This mission could succeed.

"Let's move!"

Just as Ino Yamanaka and the others prepared to act, and Raiga Kurosuki withdrew, Akira Sarutobi's eyes flashed as he seized the opening.

When enemies met on a narrow road, the braver one won.

The moment the opponent chose to create distance, the outcome had already been decided.

Swoosh!

His sleeve trembled, and a kunai dropped into his hand.

Sharp Wind Release Chakra flowed over the kunai.

A blur flashed past.

A piercing gust sliced through half a meter of air, sweeping toward Raiga Kurosuki's neck under Akira Sarutobi's control.

If the nature of Lightning Release was piercing power, speed like lightning—

Then...

The defining traits of Wind Release were cutting, and... extension!

Its broad and sweeping nature gave wind the widest attack range.

For example, a C-rank Wind Release: Great Breakthrough could create a large-scale effect like a violent gale sweeping through the area.

When Wind Release was applied to a weapon, Chakra Flow could also turn into an extending blade.

Thus, the twenty-centimeter kunai abruptly extended by half a meter.

A transparent, vibrating current of air swept across Raiga Kurosuki's neck like a steel saw.

Swoosh!

Blood burst forth.

It was like when Asuma had used Flying Swallow to slice through Hidan's neck in the original story.

The condensed wind blade dealt Raiga Kurosuki the deepest wound he had suffered since the battle began.

"What?!"

At the instant he was hit, disbelief filled his eyes.

A Jonin's formidable vitality kept him from dying immediately.

Then, in the next second—

Raiga Kurosuki, having completed his thoughts in a flash, made his final decision before death.

"Lightning Release... Lightning Burial!!!"

The killing move of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and the final song of a Thunder Sword Fang wielder.

By releasing all his Chakra into the clouds and then bringing it down at lightning speed, he would hold the grandest possible funeral for himself.

This technique also produced a wide-area attack.

And so... in the third second of their battle—

Raiga Kurosuki's technique was complete.

His final counterattack before death, accompanied by deafening thunder and blinding white radiance that forced everyone's eyes shut, engulfed the entire forest...

"Ugh..."

No one knew how much time had passed.

Nonō finally regained her vision.

"Young master~!" Ino Yamanaka's cry rang beside her.

Ringo Ameyuri, standing nearby, also looked eager to make a move.

But when a palm pressed against her lower back, her restless movement stopped.

At full strength, she could have dealt with this flat-chested medical kunoichi whenever she wanted.

But now... weakened as she was, she could only think about it.

"Don't get worked up... I just want to take back Thunder Sword Fang..." Ringo Ameyuri smiled and explained.

The center of the forest, where the lightning had struck, was now sending up wisps of smoke.

At the point of impact... Raiga Kurosuki had naturally been blasted beyond recognition.

The outward-spreading lightning had left numerous trees toppled in every direction.

Even the aftershock alone had been enough to kill a Chunin outright.

After all, this had been Raiga Kurosuki's final counterattack, and also the Thunder Sword's strongest killing move.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The next moment—

A charred black figure crawled out of the dust.

His clothes had become strips of cloth, and his entire body was blackened.

Even his stance was somewhat unsteady.

Yet at this moment... no one doubted his strength.

"Young master..."

Amid Ino Yamanaka's joyful gaze and everyone's horrified stares... Akira Sarutobi's eyes were sharp as blades, bright as the blazing sun.

His powerful physique and strength, together with the deflection of the Steel Style: Kekkei Genkai—

Had allowed Akira Sarutobi to withstand an attack that should have killed him.

The instant lightning spread across his body, the Steel Style field on his skin rippled like water, distributing the damage over the entire surface of his body.

Without the Steel Style: Kekkei Genkai, Akira Sarutobi would certainly have been killed by the Lightning Release technique after coming into such close contact with its aftershock.

Yet Akira Sarutobi had forcibly survived through Steel Style.

However, while no one was paying attention...

Another subtle change quietly occurred in the post-rain forest...

Drip.

Ripples spread across the water.

The flowing water by Akira Sarutobi's feet rapidly changed.

It was as though something was controlling it.

As a large pool of water surged rapidly, countless splashes linked together.

Then, a stream of clear water drew close to Akira Sarutobi.

Splash!

A palm and a head that seemed to be a fusion of water and a human body abruptly "grew" from the puddle, then seized the two Thunder Swords.

"Hehehe... the Thunder Swords are mine now..."

"Huh?!"

Ringo Ameyuri's eyes widened abruptly as she immediately recognized him.

"It's that Hozuki Clan brat...!"

Hozuki Mangetsu, around Kakashi's age and known as the "Hidden Mist's Genius Prodigy," had also participated in this mission.

Having waited for the right moment, he struck, grabbed both swords, and shot away like flowing water.

Even though Akira Sarutobi had already been badly injured, he had no intention of ambushing him.

Right now, all he wanted was to take the swords and run.

Raiga Kurosuki was dead. As for the aftermath of his "duel" with Ringo Ameyuri, that was something the higher-ups of the Hidden Mist would have to worry about.

With Ringo Ameyuri currently branded as "colluding with Konoha"... whoever picked up the ninja swords owned them!

Cries of alarm rang out.

Soon, the Hidden Mist ninja left the scene to pursue Hozuki Mangetsu.

Their desire for the swords made them abandon the fight...

Chapter 43: Persuasion

"Damn it...! Cough, cough, cough..."

Just as Ringo Ameyuri was about to chase after him, she broke into a violent coughing fit.