Uchiha Flame Formation
In the Cloud Thunder Mountain Range, two streaks of lightning darted back and forth between the steep peaks.
Two streaks of lightning moved at incredible speeds between the peaks and dense forests, their blue arcs leaving trails of afterimages in the air.
Before their afterimages had even faded, their true forms had already solidified again on the next mountain ridge several miles away.
The wild beasts in the mountains didn't even have time to sense the danger before the two bolts of lightning swept over their heads, leaving only a lingering, scorching smell in the air.
The Fourth Raikage, his body wreathed in fierce lightning, relentlessly pursued the even thinner, deeper bolt of lightning in front of him.
His expression, which had been confident and excited at the beginning of the pursuit, had somehow transformed into a deep and solemn one.
During this brief chase, he had come to realize a cruel truth.
This kid's speed is faster than mine!!
The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth.
His bronze face showed not only resentment and shock, but also genuine amazement and admiration.
The last person to surpass him in the realm of speed was the Yellow Flash, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha — Namikaze Minato.
But even that man mainly relied on that Space-Time Ninjutsu called Flying Thunder God to surpass him in speed.
The person who could leave him behind in terms of pure speed—this brat from the Uchiha Clan, no, Uchiha Kuro, was the first!
"Lightning Release: Swift Thunder... Such a high-level technique is still just an unfinished product."
"It was my misjudgment."
Ai murmured to himself, his eyes, now gleaming in the lightning, filled with genuine approval:
"Uchiha Kuro, even without the Uchiha Clan bloodline, you are still a talent that Kumogakure is willing to pay any price to obtain!"
If Uchiha Kuro could join Kumogakure, with the support of the research achievements on Lightning Release Nintaijutsu accumulated by generations of Kumogakure, he would definitely be able to perfect this technique.
By then, with this technique, so perfectly suited to the Kumogakure Village, as the new core of his legacy, coupled with most of the inheritance he had accumulated from the Uchiha Clan, a great clan with a thousand-year history,
And then there are those promising descendants of the Uchiha Clan truly belong to Kumogakure...
With these, the strength of Kumogakure will experience a qualitative leap, and in time it will surely surpass Konoha to become the strongest ninja village in the Ninja World!
Thinking of this, the Fourth Raikage's gaze suddenly became even more solemn.
The already violent lightning on his body expanded dramatically at this moment, and the blue lightning enveloped his entire body in the dazzling lightning armor.
The Fourth Raikage channeled all of his Chakra, pushing his Lightning Release Chakra Mode and body to their limits!
The next instant, the mountain ridge beneath his feet was pulverized into dust the moment he exerted his strength!
He himself had transformed into a pillar of lightning far more violent than any of his previous charges!
The Fourth Raikage raced after the blue arc of light ahead at an unprecedented speed!
"We absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip by..."
Ai stared intently at the approaching bolt of lightning, and said in a resolute voice:
"Kumogakure must obtain him at all costs!"
Ahead, Kou immediately sensed the muscular figure closing in on him at an astonishing speed.
He turned his head slightly, and when his scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan caught sight of the thick bolt of lightning, a deep sense of surprise flashed in his eyes:
"That level of explosive power... how much Chakra did he use?"
"With such intense exertion, even he shouldn't be able to last long, right?"
"Could it be that I provoked Doujin Rai? Is he that sensitive?"
He murmured softly, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.
But in the next instant, he banished all these unnecessary thoughts and regained his composure.
Although he didn't know what this guy was up to, one thing he was absolutely certain of—
The more he expends, the more advantageous it is for him!
After all, no matter what, there's no way that Doujin Rai could possibly keep himself!
Thinking of the backup plan he had already prepared, a confident smile crept onto Kou's lips.
Behind them, with the Fourth Raikage accelerating at a rate that consumed a large amount of Chakra, the distance between the two had become so great that they could be touched with one hand.
Ai looked at the knocker within reach and reached out her hand without hesitation:
"Got it (Morata)!!"
But just before the Fourth Raikage's lightning-wrapped hand was about to touch the target, the slender bolt of lightning suddenly accelerated without warning!
The distance between them returned to a length that Ai could not reach.
The Fourth Raikage watched the figure disappear into the distance once more, but his eyes showed little regret.
In his burning eyes, a sly glint appeared, seemingly out of place with his rugged appearance.
Ai simply continued to activate his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, relentlessly and patiently clinging to Kou's back...
Two bolts of lightning streaked across the entire Cloud Thunder Mountain Range at incredible speed.
Steep ridges, dense primeval forests, rushing river valleys... all the landscapes were blurred into afterimages beside them, then left far behind!
In no time, they had crossed the entire mountain range and were approaching the exit of the Cloud Thunder Mountain Range.
The instant Kou rushed out of the Cloud Thunder Mountain Range, the two people who had been waiting there for a long time attacked at the same time.
"Thunder Illusion - Lightning Pillar!!"
As a deep yet urgent male voice rang out at the exit of the mountain forest, a blinding beam of light shone directly on the blue figure that had just emerged from the Cloud Thunder Mountain Range.
Kou's pupils narrowed sharply the instant he sensed the unusual Chakra:
"This is... a visual Genjutsu!"
He instinctively closed his eyes, relying on his senses to instantly lock onto the figure emitting the bright light.
In an instant, Inazuma in his hand, was drawn, its silver blade crackling with lightning, and he slashed fiercely at the ninja who had cast the Genjutsu!
However, just before Inazuma's blade was about to reach that figure, a lazy voice slowly rang out from beside Koko.
"Oi--Don't even think about hurting my comrades!"
Within the perceptual network that had been spread out, a jet-black thunder leopard broke free from the grasp of a figure in the distance.
The thunder leopard pounced suddenly at Kou's side with incredible speed.
Lightning Release: Black Spotted Blade!!
As Kou sensed the black thunder leopard rushing towards him at breakneck speed, his heart suddenly tightened.
He recognized this technique.
Lightning Release: Black Spot, the right hand of the Fourth Raikage, and the signature Ninjutsu of Kumogakure, an elite Jonin Darui!
This technique not only possesses considerable destructive power, but also has the effect of paralyzing the enemy, rendering them unable to move for a short period of time.
This is a move you absolutely cannot take head-on!
He made a decision in his mind in an instant, then circulated his Chakra again to prepare to avoid the Thunder Leopard's pounce, while at the same time creating distance between himself and the Fourth Raikage who was approaching from behind.
But just as the blue lightning bolt leaped from Kou's body, the ground he was standing on was covered by a huge shadow!
The Fourth Raikage's imposing figure had already arrived during the brief interval between dealing with the Genjutsu and the Raikage's attacks, and appeared directly above him!
His gaze was fixed intently on the person below, and he raised his right leg high, his Lightning Release Chakra surging wildly on that thick thigh!
"Don't even think about running!!"
Ai's voice boomed from mid-air, followed by a powerful downward slam of his right leg, which was wrapped in layers of lightning:
"Liger Bomb!!"
Knock sensed the terrifying attack rapidly approaching from above and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
At such close range, with the Fourth Raikage unleashing a full-force attack from above, the Raikage flanking from the flank, and the Kumogakure, suspected to be named "Xi," poised Jonin strike again at any moment...
In this situation, I no longer have enough time to distance myself from them.
All we can do right now is to directly withstand their offensive!
With his mind focused, he mobilized his Chakra and slammed his free hand onto the ground as quickly as possible.
"Uchiha - Flame Formation!!"