Challenge and overturn differed by only one character, but their meanings were worlds apart. Though the Third Raikage had intended to provoke Sarutobi Toru, Toru's words still sent him into a blazing rage.
"Good, good, good! Today, I'll see whether you can really overturn all of Kumogakure by yourself!"
If anyone else had dared to spout such arrogance, the Third Raikage would have charged in alone with a One-Finger Nukite. There would have been no need for his subordinates' help.
Unfortunately, during the last Shinobi World War, Sarutobi Toru had beaten Kumogakure badly. At that time, the Third Raikage had already been at his peak, while Sarutobi Toru had not even reached twenty.
Now, Sarutobi Toru was at the peak of his life at thirty. No matter how slowly his strength had improved, he was still far stronger than he had been at twenty.
Yet over the past decade or so, the Third Raikage had made no progress—indeed, as a ninja who specialized in Nintaijutsu, maintaining his strength without declining at his age was already proof of extraordinary talent.
Thus, he knew perfectly well that if he went up against Toru himself, he would only be throwing away his life.
"You'll see soon enough," Sarutobi Toru said with a smile. Then, he extended one hand toward the Third Raikage.
In an instant, a hair-raising sensation shot up the Third Raikage's spine and into his brain like an electric current.
A terrifying sense of danger crashed over him. Almost instinctively, lightning flared around the Third Raikage's body as he shifted slightly to the side. Then he felt a figure flickering with black lightning flash past him.
A faintly numbing pain spread across his right arm. Looking down, the Third Raikage saw a wound so deep that bone showed on his arm.