So scared, so scared-taking on the Raikage again!~
In the 47th year of Konoha's reign, the Third Shinobi World War, which lasted for four years, officially ended after the Kumogakure and Iwagakure launched a failed surprise attack while Konoha was holding the Chunin Ninja Exams.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure simultaneously submitted their surrender documents and pledged to send delegations to Konoha afterward to sign a peace treaty.
Tanzaku Town, the war seemed to have had no effect on its prosperity.
Tōka wandered aimlessly along the commercial street, looking around like a curious child, seemingly searching for something fun.
If it weren't for the fact that some places prohibit minors from entering, he probably would have already sneaked in.
"Where did Scorpion go?" Standing in front of an inn, Tōka pondered, stroking his chin.
Tanzaku Town isn't very big, and given Sasori's personality—he dislikes waiting for others and dislikes being waited for—it's quite small.
Although it might be very impatient, you should still wait at the agreed location.
Furthermore, Scorpion doesn't seem to have any penchant for gambling or womanizing...
Etc!
Tōka's expression changed slightly; something was off about the calm in Tanzaku Town!
This is only the second day since the end of the most devastating Third Shinobi World War!
People walked by with smiles on their faces, in twos and threes, either families or friends, chatting and laughing.
Many children, dressed in pretty clothes and carrying candy, walked by happily playing and laughing.
All of this would be perfectly normal in Tanzaku Town, but for someone living through a war that had just ended...
Strange, extremely strange!
"Release!" Tōka's eyes turned cold, and the chakra within his body suddenly surged, completely disrupting its flow.
Really!
The surrounding illusion suddenly changed, revealing the true face of Tanzaku Town.
"This is..." Tōka gritted his teeth, his face instantly darkening. He never imagined that he would fall into Genjutsu Trap!
In Tanzaku Town, half of the walls were blown away by a powerful Ninjutsu.
Broken Cliff were everywhere, residents were fleeing, screaming, and a powerful aura lingered in the empty streets.
"Scorpion..."
Tōka activated his Chakra Sensing Technique and realized that the Battlefield had not ended, but had moved to the Forest north of Tanzaku Town.
Should we go?
Even a scorpion can't easily deal with this guy, yet he's caused such a commotion.
After a slight hesitation, a determined look flashed in Tōka's eyes. He took a step and ran wildly in one direction of Tanzaku Town.
North of Tanzaku Town, there is a Small Woods, beyond Small Woods lies a Plain covered in green grass. A dozen or so dark figures stand on a Small Mountain hillside.
The guy who changed back into his Red Cloud Black Cloak at the bottom of the Small Mountain was Hiruko, and Scorpion was inside Hiruko!
"Raikage, Tsuchikage." Sasori's low, hoarse voice rang out, his seemingly calm tone actually carrying a hint of solemnity.
Two Kage-level, and two squads of Elite Ninja.
They are all at least Elite Jonin!
"Hiruko, is that it? Today I'm going to kill you, to avenge the fallen Cloud Ninja!" the Raikage roared.
As his chakra surged, lightning crackled across his body, as if he were wearing a Lightning armor.
The Tsuchikage floated in mid-air, and although it did not speak, the killing intent in its eyes was undisguised.
Not only Cloud Ninja, but Sasori also killed many Stone Ninja on the main Battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War!
"Kill me? Ha... can you even do that?" A contemptuous sneer rang out, Hiruko's tail twitched like a shoe.
Dark Green venom covered the scorpion's tail, and even from dozens of steps away, one could feel the extremely venomous tail, which exuded a strong aura of danger.
Tōka stood in the Small Woods, hiding in the shade of the trees, and witnessed the standoff between the two sides.
The atmosphere was oppressive, making everyone's nerves tense.
The confrontation between the three Kage-level was so intense that the mere aura emanating from them was enough to increase the pressure on anyone. Weaker ninjas would struggle to even stand, let alone fight.
The air was squeezed and compressed by an invisible hand.
"Raikage and Tsuchikage? Two Shadow Guard? That's quite a lineup!" Tōka murmured to himself, analyzing the strength of both sides.
Sasori is Human Puppet of Hanzo, the Third Kazekage, and the Third Raikage.
There are four Kage-level in total, but Sasori alone is needed to control all three of them.
Even for the genius Puppet Master Scorpion, his concentration waned as the number of puppets he controlled increased.
In particular, the more powerful the Human Puppet, the more energy it takes to control it.
On the other hand, the Raikage's speed and the Tsuchikage's Dust Release pose a tremendous threat to Sasori, who is not good at moving.
"Tsk, this seems to be a dead end!" Tōka glanced at the Cloud Ninja Team and the Stone Ninja Team, and what he saw shocked him!
Two elite squads, all eight members of which are Elite Jonin!
Should we sell them? Tōka calmed down a bit, and such a thought popped into his mind. As the saying goes, when things are going well, you steal kills; when things are going badly, you sell out your teammates.
At times like this, even if he goes out, it won't make much of a difference!
Sudden!
A white beam of light streaked through the air. Tōka, who was contemplating whether to expose himself, sensed an inexplicable sense of danger and subconsciously looked up, only to see a blinding white light before him.
Dust Release: Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!
Buzz!
Ōnoki stretched out his hands, palms flat, pointing directly at Sasori's position, while Tōka stood just outside the line between the two.
The Six Harmonies Divine Technique!
Reversing Yin and Yang, unifying the five senses, transcending the realm of illusion and reality, beyond the celestial realm!
It perfectly transcends the gap between reality and virtuality, dodging ultimate Genjutsu that include all attack Jutsu Formula such as Senjutsu and Kekkei Mōra.
A flash of white light, and the Small Woods was instantly wiped away, as if a divine hand had conjured up that space out of thin air.
Tōka appeared at the other end of the ruins, his eyes narrowed, a murderous aura emanating from them, and his whole being was shrouded in a chilling gloom.
Is this... getting shot while lying down?
Tōka's teeth were grinding together, she was so angry she looked like steam was rising from her head, and her little face was bright red!
Tsuchikage, this is the third time...
"In that case, let's try this trick."
The idea of betraying teammates was instantly forgotten by Tōka. Now, he only had one thought in his mind: don't be a coward, just fight and crush these bastards!
With a snap!
Tōka clasped his hands together, and chakra surged forth wildly.
Six Harmonies Divine Technique: Yin Soul Curse!
As Tōka opened and closed his mouth, the characters he spat out transformed into a series of Demonic Sound, causing everyone to pause slightly in surprise.
Then...
Puff!
The blade sliced through the air, and the Raikage's expression darkened. He Elite Jonin kicked out when attacked, instantly sending an elite Jonin flying.
Click!
A muffled sound rang out!
The Cloud Ninja was flying backwards Jonin, immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. The Blood Mist exploded in the air, like a beautiful but withered flower.
"What's going on?" Raikage stood there, somewhat bewildered.
He had only sensed a sharp blade whistling through the air behind him, and instinctively spun around and unleashed a powerful whip kick. His powerful Lightning Release Taijutsu exploded at close range, enough to shatter rocks!
But why was it his own bodyguard who was seriously injured?
With a whoosh! Without the Raikage's instruction, another Cloud Ninja Raikage guard flashed past and rushed towards the man.
"Boss, he's passed out, but he's out of danger."
"Yes, keep a close eye on him!" Raikage said in a deep voice, his attention shifting back to Sasori as he turned around.
Sudden!!
Another gust of wind whistled through the air.
A cold glint flashed, and lightning exploded.
A large sword imbued with Lightning Release was raised high above his head and brought down towards the Raikage.
This time, however, the Raikage was already on guard.
The Raikage paused, but instead of immediately turning around and kicking out, he used his Lightning Release chakra to fully activate the activity of his body's cells and forcibly shifted to the side.
Bang!
The greatsword fell, and lightning exploded.
The earth was split in two, revealing a huge chasm.
"Takeshita, what are you doing?! Kenichi was just now too!" Raikage, his face dark and his voice barely audible.
The Cloud Ninja Takeshita Jonin stared blankly as he mechanically pulled the large sword embedded in the ground and then raised it high above his head once more.
Waaah~
The greatsword cleaved through the air, unleashing a gust of wind and a howling force as it slashed towards Raikage.
"Damn it!" The experienced Raikage cursed.
He naturally noticed that something was wrong with Jonin Takeshita, and with a burst of speed, he appeared behind Jonin in Takeshita Body Flicker Technique.
At the same time, Raikage dispelled the Lightning on his palm and raised his hand to bring it down heavily.
Bang!
The tendo strike landed Jonin on Takeshita 'Takeshita, Jonin black out and collapse to the ground with a thud.
"Keep an eye on them!" Raikage in a low voice, and immediately flashed into the Forest.
The Tsuchikage and his four Tsuchikage stopped Sasori immediately. Both sides were puzzled but had some guesses.
The moment he saw Raikage transform into a bolt of lightning and rush towards the Forest, he seemed to realize something.
The Tsuchikage immediately stepped in front of Sasori, with his Tsuchikage Guard Team following behind him. However, they didn't rush to attack; he wanted to know who had made the move.
A guy who can silently and instantly Elite Jonin Genjutsu.
Could it be Hiruko's companion? Or someone from Konoha?
Outside the Small Woods, lightning streaked across the sky.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!!
A visible blue arc of electricity enveloped Raikage's body, and he covered the distance of several dozen steps in just one breath.
It reached its maximum speed, leaving a trail of electric arcs in the air.
Lariat!
"Drink it!"
The Raikage clasped his hands together, unleashing an exaggerated Lightning Release, with terrifying Lightning Release Chakra condensing at his elbows.
Rumble!!
Wherever the Raikage passed, the Big Tree were all snapped in half.
The straight sprint to the end revealed Tōka's location!
"This guy spotted me? Is it the remaining Cloud Ninja? A sensory type?" Tōka's eyes darkened. No wonder he was able to intercept Sasori so easily!
I should have taken care of that blond guy first!
Tōka raised his thumb and put it in his mouth, crunch...
Blood spilled out and flowed into his palm.
Hai-Wu-You-Shen-Wei!
Four hand seals in one second— Tōka's hand Hand Seals speed was at its limit. Then, he flipped his hands and slammed his palms onto the ground.
Bang bang bang!!
Three enormous Mushroom Cloud shot into the sky.
Summoning Technique!
"Triple Rashōmon!"
Rashōmon, symbolizing the gate to death, leads to the Netherworld and separates the living from the dead. Above the gate are the grim faces of the Shinigami.
It was ferocious and terrifying, and a chilling aura spread out, sending shivers down one's spine.
Boom!
A tremendous explosion rang out, accompanied by violent lightning.
The Raikage away a Rashōmon like a human bomb, and then his momentum only increased.
His eyes turned cold, a fierce look flashed across his face, and he stepped on the ground with one foot, crushing a boulder.
Taking advantage of the rebound, the speed increased dramatically once again.
With a burst of speed, Raikage accelerated to the limit within a short distance and charged towards the second Rashōmon once again!
Bang!
The heavily fortified demon-face gate shattered with a crash, and Raikage suddenly appeared before the third Rashōmon.
They felt the massive chakra explosion churning in the air, like towering waves crashing down.
Standing behind the Rashōmon, Tōka knew, even though he couldn't see what was happening in front of him, that the Triple Rashōmon alone wouldn't be enough to stop the Raikage, that muscular guy!
A ruthless glint flashed in Tōka's eyes as well. Since you like to act tough, then I'll be tougher than you!
"All-Killing Ash Bones - Hedgehog Style - Chaotic Dance!"
A putrid stench gushed forth like Fountain!
Crack, crack, crack... One after another, Ash Bones of varying sizes pierced through the flesh, and barbs protruded from all over Tōka's body.
Bang!
The last Rashōmon was shattered, and the Raikage's figure appeared before Tōka's eyes.
It really was that brat!
Raikage's eyes turned cold. The moment he saw Tōka, a chilling killing intent surged within him. However, at the last moment, reason ultimately prevailed over impulse.
With Raikage's speed, one punch could easily defeat Tōka.
However, Raikage didn't know whether Tōka would die after this move, but he knew for sure that he was definitely going to die!
All-Killing Ash Bones, a single, decisive blow!
"Hmph!" Raikage stomped his foot on the ground, shattering the earth within a ten-meter radius, and forcefully injected his power into the ground to stop his rapidly advancing body.
"Oh! You actually stopped?" Tōka grinned contemptuously, his disdain in his eyes undisguised.
"Why are people from Konoha here?" The Raikage didn't want to argue with Tōka; he just wanted to know how many people Konoha had sent.
Although the Third Shinobi World War has ended, it is indeed inappropriate for people of Raikage and Tsuchikage's status to appear within the Land of Fire.
At such a sensitive time, provoking those guys in Konoha would have consequences that neither the Raikage nor the Kumogakure could afford!
"That's a question I should be asking you, Lord Raikage." Tōka stared at Raikage expressionlessly, his stern face bearing a stern rebuke. "This is the Land of Land of Fire!"
"Or does the Raikage want to continue the war?"
Upon hearing this, Raikage's face immediately darkened, turning as black as the bottom of a pot, with only his two eyeballs moving around.
War? With what?
If war were an option, would he still choose to surrender?
Of the 20,000 Cloud Ninja in the allied forces, less than one-tenth survived on the Battlefield, making it impossible for the Kumogakure to mobilize its forces to defend its homeland and continue the war.
For ninjas, especially those on the Battlefield, death was a common occurrence.
But the Raikage couldn't swallow this insult no matter what. There were 20,000 Cloud Ninja and 20,000 Stone Ninja, making a total of 40,000 allied troops.
No fewer than ten thousand people died at the hands of Scorpion alone!
A quarter! This isn't just a simple number; it represents countless precious lives!
On the Battlefield, Sasori's puppets and his wide-range, poisonous Ninjutsu were like a giant meat grinder.
Neither Kumogakure Iwagakure has a Medical Ninja named Tsunade. Once poisoned by Sasori, even if one doesn't die, it's only a matter of time.
That's why we have this scene today, with two Kage-level from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth leading two elite squads to ambush and kill Sasori!
Tōka's appearance, however, made the tense atmosphere in the arena even more eerie...