Facing the Raikage

"Masked Man?!"

The Raikage's roar nearly shattered the window glass. That bastard... he was really waiting for me in the Land of Fire?! And he even dared to come looking for me?!

Extreme rage sent his Chakra completely berserk. Violent Lightning Release coiled around his body almost tangibly, ionizing the air with a scorched scent.

"Bastard—!!"

He tore off his white outer robe in one motion, fully exposing his bronze, powerful body. His muscles bulged like steel, and destructive lightning leapt across every inch of his skin.

"Shii! Darui! Keep up!!"

Without another word, the Raikage turned into a blinding bolt of lightning, smashing through the wall of the Hokage Building and racing toward the explosion.

The Third Hokage's expression darkened completely. Masked Man... appearing at a time like this? He abruptly turned toward the ninja who had delivered the report.

"Notify all Jonin to immediately enter highest alert! Evacuate the civilians and seal off the area!"

"Move!!"

Konoha's grand main gate had completely collapsed. Broken wooden beams and stones lay scattered across the ground, while burning wreckage spewed thick black smoke. A pungent scorched smell filled the air.

The Konoha ninja stationed there faced a formidable enemy, cold sweat beading on their foreheads as the kunai and shuriken in their hands trembled faintly. They stared fixedly at the figure gradually emerging from the smoke and dust, their throats tightening involuntarily.

That rumored "Masked Man"... the monster who had wiped out the Hidden Cloud delegation all by himself...

As the smoke slowly dispersed, a man in a black robe and a bizarre Fox Mask stepped forward. His pace was steady and unhurried, but what made the Konoha ninja tremble were the nine Summoning Beasts of varying forms behind him.

The Southern Dipper Sage and Northern Dipper Sage floated in midair, their wide sleeves fluttering without wind. Their hands formed seals, radiating ominous purple light.

The Grim Reaper drifted on the left, its enormous scythe glinting coldly, ready to reap lives at any moment. The Heavenly Maiden floated on the right, her ribbon-like garments swaying gently while concealing deadly intent.

On the ground, the Golden Snake coiled and flicked its tongue. The Azure Dragon growled as it circled overhead, the Vermilion Bird spread its wings to take flight, the Black Tortoise stood as steady as a mountain, while the White Tiger bared its fangs, its claws buried deep in the ground.

Though they had not yet begun taking lives, the pressure of the nine Summoning Beasts intertwined into an almost tangible oppression, making even the air feel thick.

"I advise you not to act on your own." The Masked Man's voice came through the Fox Mask, calm and cold. "My only target is that brute, the Raikage."

"Bastard—!!"

A furious roar suddenly came from behind. The Hidden Cloud ninja stationed outside the village had finally arrived. Their eyes were bloodshot, and the kunai in their hands flickered with lightning. They had clearly been driven beyond rage.

"We absolutely won't let you get near Lord Raikage!!"

The leading Hidden Cloud Jonin roared, his ninja blade wrapped in Lightning Release Chakra as he charged at the Masked Man with astonishing speed. The other ninja followed close behind, dozens of figures striking like lightning.

However—the Masked Man did not even turn his head.

"Small fry, stop getting in my way." As his words fell, the Azure Dragon on the ground suddenly swept its tail, its enormous body lashing out sideways.

"Bang—!!"

The leading Hidden Cloud Jonin did not even have a chance to react before he was sent flying, crashing heavily into a distant building and kicking up clouds of dust.

At the same time, the Southern Dipper Sage and Northern Dipper Sage in the air formed seals together. Purple formations instantly spread beneath the Hidden Cloud ninja's feet.

In an instant, every charging Hidden Cloud ninja froze, unable to move. Their expressions shifted from fury to terror as they struggled to break free, yet they could not even lift a finger.

I can't move?! What kind of jutsu is this...?!

The Grim Reaper raised its scythe high, wrapped in ominous purple light, and swung it down toward the Hidden Cloud ninja, beginning to reap their Chakra.

"Water Release: Water Wall Jutsu!"

Just as the scythe was about to strike, a surging torrent suddenly blasted in from the side! Darui spewed a powerful stream of water from his mouth, striking the Grim Reaper's scythe with precision. The scythe's path was forcibly deflected.

"Not done yet—Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave!"

Darui did not stop forming seals. He brought his hands together, and the raging water instantly became wrapped in blinding lightning! High-voltage currents raged along the water wall, temporarily forcing the Grim Reaper back.

"Roar—!!"

The White Tiger's claws and the Azure Dragon's massive tail swept toward him! The two Summoning Beasts attacked fiercely, shattering the ground beneath their steps and sending rocks flying. Darui immediately withdrew, drawing the rectangular ninja blade from his back. Lightning flickered over its edge as he prepared to take the attack head-on.

"Lightning Illusion Flash Pillar!"

At that moment, Shii activated his jutsu. Blinding light erupted, and pure white instantly swallowed his vision. This was not merely a flash of light, but the prelude to a genjutsu. In the instant an enemy was blinded by the intense light, the seed of illusion would silently implant itself in their consciousness, paralyzing them.

However—"What?! It didn't work?!"

A trace of cold sweat appeared on Shii's forehead. The Azure Dragon and White Tiger did not slow down in the slightest, continuing their savage assault!

"Genjutsu doesn't work on them?!"

His heart sank, but his body had already leaped on instinct, barely avoiding the Azure Dragon's tail. On the other side, Darui's ninja blade collided violently with the White Tiger's claws.

"Clang—!!"

Amid the explosive clash of metal, lightning and Chakra collided fiercely. Darui's feet plowed two deep trenches through the ground, and his palms went numb from the impact. He gritted his teeth and growled. "What kind of monsters are these guys?!"

"Hey, look over here."

A cold voice came from behind Darui without warning, so close it was nearly against his ear. Darui's hairs stood on end—when had the Masked Man gotten behind him?!

He did not even have time to turn around before an suffocating pressure bore down on him from behind. The Masked Man's fist was wrapped in pitch-black Chakra; before the fist even arrived, the air had already been compressed into a shriek.

I'm going to get hit—!

"Kid! Look over here!"

A thunderous shout exploded. In an instant, the Raikage flashed behind the Masked Man! His right arm was wrapped in violent Lightning Release Chakra, blue-white arcs crackling as he viciously chopped down toward Menma's back!

"Lariat!!"

This strike held nothing back. The Raikage's Monster Strength and Lightning Release's piercing force fused perfectly, making the air erupt with a deafening boom. Beneath his fist, shattered stones melted into glowing red, lava-like matter from the intense heat.

"Boom—!!!"

Amid the deafening explosion, a shockwave spread outward in a ring, instantly collapsing the ground within ten meters. Smoke and dust obscured everyone's vision.

Darui used the opportunity to pull away with a Body Flicker Technique, a trace of cold sweat appearing at his temple.

The smoke slowly dispersed, but... there was no one there.

The Masked Man—or rather, Menma—had vanished like a phantom.

"Tch, so it really was Space-Time Ninjutsu..."

The Raikage's gaze swept to the side—Menma stood quietly on the ground twenty meters away. His black robe fluttered wildly in the blast winds, and no one could see the expression beneath his mask.

"Kid, who exactly are you?"