Racing Lightning

Accompanied by lightning, Ai burst through the wall and sped off into the distance.

Only the people on the upper floors remained, staring at each other in bewilderment.

"I'll arrange for reinforcements."

Dodai shook his head and sighed helplessly. Having once assisted the Third Raikage, he was already used to this family's temperament.

On the other side.

The Kazashiro Squad had just killed a Cloud Ninja and was resting in what appeared to be a relatively safe place.

"We've already scouted the area; there are no other living creatures in the entire village besides us."

After searching the village thoroughly without finding any trace, Iruka Umino returned to the house.

"That's good. Although there shouldn't be any civilians lingering in the combat zone, it's hard to guarantee that a very small number of civilians won't take chances."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded and handed the roasted rations to the other person.

"Our commander-in-chief, isn't his name Senju Soujirou? Didn't they say that the Senju Clan has hidden their surnames and no longer gathers together?"

Kazashiro flipped the dry rations over on the fire and asked curiously.

This was the first time he had encountered Senju clansman, and a living Senju clansman at that.

Hearing Kazashiro's question, Kurenai Yuhi's expression remained unchanged, and her tone was also very casual:

"Just as there are radicals in the Uchiha Clan, there are also some members of the Senju Clan who are unwilling to give up their surname and resolutely resist the policies of the First Hokage and Second Hokage."

"Senju Soujirou's parents were among them."

I see.

After hearing Kurenai Yuhi's explanation, Kazashiro understood.

"So, this Sojiro..."

Kazashiro assumed the other party was also a radical, but Kurenai Yuhi instantly refuted his guess.

"Jonin Sojiro was a moderate, and his daughter did not retain the Senju surname."

"I see, hiss, whew."

Kazashiro put the crispy roasted dry food into his mouth, and his breath hitched as it was burned.

"Is this what they call prejudice?"

Iruka Umino, who sports a small mustache, was also hearing about this for the first time, and his tone was somewhat wistful.

"When people mention the Uchiha, their common impression is that they are arrogant, aloof, and extreme; when they mention the Senju Clan, they are gentle, powerful, and full of love."

"But as it turns out, the Uchiha Clan also has approachable and moderate members, while the Senju Clan also has ruthless and radical elements."

"Snort."

Upon hearing this, Kazashiro flung the bamboo skewer used to hold the dry rations out and stuck it into the ground.

The commotion made Iruka Umino immediately shut his mouth, wondering if he had said something wrong that Jonin the young Jonin.

Although the two Jonin Kazashiro, not one of them objected when they learned that their captain was this underage child.

They weren't afraid of the power behind Kazashiro, but simply acknowledged his strength.

"Arrogance? When it comes to arrogance, who can compare to Hyuga?"

Kazashiro, who considered himself not to hold grudges, recalled Ri Shi's Hiashi Byakugan.

What flashed in those Byakugan was a look of utter disgust.

Seeing the disgust on Kazashiro's face, Iruka Umino and Kurenai Yuhi exchanged a glance and wisely remained silent.

It seems that this person has a significant conflict with the Hyuga Clan.

This is not something they can get involved in; it's better for them to remain silent.

"Alright, we've rested enough. It's time to rejoin the main group—"

Kazashiro stood up, stretched, and then slammed his fist on the ground.

"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome Nothingness!"

Along with the ice wall appeared a howling thunder.

The square space where a few people could rest collapsed with a roar, turning to dust along with the ice wall created by Kazashiro.

Kakashi, who was crouching on the roof to keep watch, rolled twice on the ground before finally regaining his balance. He knelt on one knee, his hands trembling slightly.

"Sorry, he was too fast, I didn't have time—"

"It's alright, this is not an opponent you can easily handle."

Kazashiro looked serious, and there were several smudges on his face that he didn't know when he had gotten them, but he didn't dare to reach out and wipe them off.

Kurenai Yuhi and Iruka Umino were even more disheveled. The attack came too suddenly. Even though Kazashiro bought them a moment, they were still affected by the strong shockwave. Fortunately, they did not suffer any serious injuries.

"Shimura Kazashiro, it really was you."

Ai emerged from the ruins, waving her sleeves to sweep away the surrounding dust, revealing her full form.

"The Fourth Generation... Raikage!"

Kurenai Yuhi's pupils contracted, and even though he could remain calm in battle, a slight tremor appeared in his voice.

"Who?! This guy in front of me?!"

Iruka Umino hastily summoned a broad-bladed Ninja Blade and assumed a defensive stance.

Ai did not answer their questions. Right before everyone's eyes, his figure vanished from the spot and reappeared in front of Kazashiro.

That's incredibly fast, even faster than a few years ago.

Kazashiro didn't have time to form hand seals, so he could only try to mobilize his Chakra to create ice crystals that covered his vital points.

A sharp pain shot through my throat, followed by a change in the surrounding scenery.

"Liger Bomb!"

This is bad!

If you were even a fraction of a second slower, your head might be saying goodbye to your neck!

Despite the pain in his throat, Kazashiro, who had been knocked away by Ai's attack, hurriedly opened the ninja tool bag containing the Flying Thunder God Kunai and let the Kunai fall to the ground.

However, to Kakashi and the others, this scene looked like Kazashiro getting his equipment destroyed by the Fourth Raikage.

After rolling around on the ground several times, Kazashiro coughed up a mouthful of blood in a disheveled state.

The ice crystals protecting the neck were completely shattered, and several sharp fragments even injure the caster himself, leaving several scratches on Kazashiro's originally fair neck.

Isobu: What terrifying power.

Within his consciousness space, Isobu sensed Kazashiro's injuries and, before the latter could speak, began channeling his Tailed Beast Chakra to heal him.

Having landed a successful blow, Ai did not relax his movements.

He leaped into the air, covering his feet with Lightning Release Chakra, and used Lightning Release Nintaijutsu.

"Raikage's Lariat!"

The powerful impact created a large crater in the ground.

Cracks also appeared on the ground around the pit.

A cloud of dust rose as yet another house collapsed with a deafening roar.

Fortunately, Kazashiro used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reposition himself just before the attack hit him, otherwise he would have become Kazashiro -chan.

Ai realized that his attack had missed, so he pulled his foot out of the ground, checked Kazashiro's current location and the scattered Flying Thunder God Kunai, and then launched another attack on Kazashiro.

"Damn it, he's so fast! His movements are impossible to catch with the naked eye!"

Kakashi and the others tried to throw ninja tools to hinder A's actions, but he was in Lightning Release Chakra Mode, so their attacks couldn't hit him at all. Even if they were lucky enough to get a Kunai or shuriken that hit him, it would be deflected by the surging blue light emanating from his body.