Young Master, Please Become Hokage

That palm strike just now was delivered almost brushing against the Lightning Armor.

The distance was so close that some electrical conductivity was unavoidable.

However, to maximize the destructive power of Crushing Palm, this was the best choice.

"Not bad..."

With the Steel Style's field acting as a barrier on his body, it almost completely negated the side effects of close-range contact with Raiton.

Therefore.

"While he's down, finish him off!"

Without much hesitation, Akira Sarutobi used Body Flicker Technique again, rushing to Kurotsuchi Raiga's front.

He intended to violently smash him to pieces!

He thrust out a palm, the strong wind causing Kurotsuchi Raiga's clothes to flap wildly.

He didn't have time to think. He swung his twin blades, intending to trade blows.

BOOM!

CRACKLE!

The sounds of Taijutsu and Raiton simultaneously exploded in the air.

The lightning generated on the Lightning Blade struck Akira Sarutobi's body from a distance.

Akira Sarutobi's Crushing Palm also struck Kurotsuchi Raiga from a distance.

"Pfft~!"

Kurotsuchi Raiga spat out a mouthful of blood, his entire body sent reeling backward by Akira Sarutobi's blow, before crashing heavily into the ground.

Akira Sarutobi's body trembled, and he also stumbled backward. However, due to the damage reduction from the Steel Style's "field," he only took a few steps back before steadying himself.

"Aaaargh~!"

Kurotsuchi Raiga's face was contorted with fury.

When had he ever been this pathetic since becoming a ninja?

Almost instantly, he flipped over and rapidly retreated.

"This guy... his Taijutsu is too strong, I need to create some distance..."

His anger didn't affect his judgment.

"Young Master has the upper hand..." Ino Yamanaka's eyes lit up, feeling that it was time for their side to counterattack.

At the same time, several Root ninjas emerged from the forest.

They had returned, worried about Nonō's safety.

"You've come at the perfect time..."

Nonō adjusted her glasses.

Akira Sarutobi's performance gave her immense confidence.

This mission could succeed.

"Let's move!"

Just as Ino Yamanaka and the others were preparing to act, and Kurotsuchi Raiga was retreating, Akira Sarutobi's eyes flashed, seizing an opening.

In a narrow path, the brave one wins.

When the opponent chooses to create distance, the outcome is already decided.

SSH!

His sleeve vibrated, and a kunai appeared in his hand.

Sharp Futon chakra flowed around the kunai.

A blur of afterimages flashed.

A piercing wind cut through half a meter of air, directly slicing towards Kurotsuchi Raiga's neck under Akira Sarutobi's control.

If Raiton's nature was piercing, swift like lightning.

Then...

Futon's specialty was cutting, and... extension!

Its broad and powerful nature gave Futon the widest attack range.

For example, a C-Rank Futon: Great Breakthrough could create a wide-area effect like a strong wind passing through.

When Futon was attached to a weapon, the chakra flow could transform into an extended blade.

Thus, the 20-centimeter kunai abruptly extended by half a meter.

A transparent, vibrating airflow, like a steel saw, grazed Kurotsuchi Raiga's neck.

SSH!

Blood splattered.

This scene was just like in the original story where Asuma's Flying Swallow cut through Hidan's neck.

The condensed wind blade inflicted the deepest wound on Kurotsuchi Raiga since the battle began.

"What?!"

The moment he was hit, disbelief was etched in his eyes.

The powerful life force of a Jonin prevented him from dying immediately.

In the next second.

With his thoughts racing like lightning in his mind, Kurotsuchi Raiga made his final decision before death.

"Raiton... Lightning Burial!!!"

The deadly move of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and the swan song of the wielder of the Lightning Blade: Fang.

By releasing all his Chakra, pouring it into the clouds, and then striking down with lightning speed, he performed the grandest funeral for himself.

This technique also had an area-of-effect attack.

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

Kurotsuchi Raiga's Jutsu was complete.

The death throes, accompanied by deafening thunder and blinding white light, engulfed the entire forest...

"Ugh..."

After an unknown amount of time.

Nonō finally regained her sight.

"Young Master~!" Ringo Ameyuri's exclamation echoed in her ears.

Beside her, Ringo Ameyuri also stirred restlessly.

But as a hand pressed against her lower back, her impulsive movement ceased.

If she were at her peak, she could have dealt with this medical ninja with a petite figure anytime.

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

"Don't get excited... I just want to get the Thunder Sword Fang back..." Ringo Ameyuri smiled and explained.

In the center of the forest, where the lightning strike occurred, smoke was now rising.

At the epicenter... Kurotsuchi Raiga was naturally obliterated, leaving no corpse.

The radiating lightning had toppled numerous trees.

Even the residual shockwave was enough to kill a Chunin.

After all, this was Kurotsuchi Raiga's final counterattack and the Lightning Blade's strongest killing move.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The next moment.

A charred figure crawled out of the dust.

His clothes were tattered, and his body was blackened.

His stance was unsteady.

But at this moment... no one doubted his power.

"Young Master..."

In Ino Yamanaka's joyful gaze, and under everyone's horrified eyes... Akira Sarutobi's eyes were sharp as knives, bright as the midday sun.

His powerful physique and strength, along with the deflection from his Steel Style: Kekkei Genkai, allowed Akira Sarutobi to withstand the fatal attack.

The moment the lightning spread to his body, the Steel Style field on his skin, like ripples on water, distributed the damage across his entire body's surface.

Without the Steel Style: Kekkei Genkai, Akira Sarutobi would have certainly been killed by the Raiton Jutsu at such close range to the shockwave.

But Akira Sarutobi, relying on Steel Style, managed to survive.

However, at that moment, when no one noticed...

In the post-rain jungle, another subtle change quietly occurred...

Drip.

Water rippled.

The water at Akira Sarutobi's feet rapidly changed.

It was as if something was controlling it.

As a large pool of water surged rapidly, numerous splashes connected together.

Immediately after, a clear stream approached Akira Sarutobi.

Splash!

Like hands and a head formed from flowing water, they "grew" out of the puddle and finally grasped the two Lightning Blades.

"Hehehe... the Lightning Blades are mine..."

"Huh?!"

Ringo Ameyuri's eyes widened sharply, and she immediately recognized the other person's identity.

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

Hozuki Mangetsu, who was about the same age as Kakashi and was known as the "Hozuki prodigy," had also participated in this mission.

Seizing the moment, he launched his attack, grabbed the two swords, and darted away like flowing water.

Even though Akira Sarutobi was already severely injured, he had no intention of a sneak attack.

At this moment, he just wanted to escape with the swords.

Kurotsuchi Raiga was dead. The aftermath of his "duel" with Ringo Ameyuri would be a problem for the higher-ups of Kirigakure.

With Ringo Ameyuri "colluding with Konoha," whoever got their hands on the ninja swords would own them!

A gasp of surprise rang out.

Soon, the Kirigakure 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..."

Ringo Ameyuri, who was about to chase after him, erupted into a violent coughing fit.