Surrounded on All Sides

"Fourth Kazekage, Fifth Mizukage, this is between Uchiha Mingyou and me. This barrier wasn't meant for you."

The lightning around the Fourth Raikage intensified, as though he had activated his Lightning Chakra cells to the second stage.

In that second-stage state, both his speed and strength would likely increase tremendously compared to before.

"Is that so?" Fourth Kazekage Rasa frowned. Though he wished to recruit Mingyou, judging by the situation before him, he feared he lacked the ability to do so.

Mei Terumi looked between Mingyou and the Raikage, her gaze flickering constantly as she seemed to be struggling fiercely within herself.

If she chose to help Mingyou this time, the Land of Water would inevitably become enemies with the Land of Lightning.

Mingyou was highly capable and had previously offended Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki.

If she truly chose to intervene, the Land of Water could be said to become the target of everyone's wrath.

"Fourth Raikage, you don't mind if I lend a hand, do you? I still haven't settled my grudge with this brat."

Sure enough, Ōnoki's voice suddenly rang out. His short body floated through the air as he arrived near the Fourth Raikage.

"Is that so? Then this works out perfectly. Let this arrogant brat learn just how formidable we Kage are."

The Fourth Raikage smiled dismissively, looking at Mingyou as if he were prey already within his grasp.

If Mingyou were truly captured, he had no doubt that he would suffer inhuman abuse.

Whether he was imprisoned and forced to breed children, or had his sperm extracted to serve as an experimental subject—

Either outcome would be utterly terrifying.

At the same time, the four Kage's guards had also arrived in time, standing beside their respective leaders.

Rows of Land of Lightning ninja had also appeared atop the rooftops, poised and ready as they silently watched Mingyou.

The moment the Raikage gave the order, they would attack Mingyou without hesitation with their strongest strikes.

"Yo~~ Quite the grand show, but you still can't threaten me."

Mingyou frowned deeply. Though the situation appeared perilous, he was not overly anxious.

With so many methods at his disposal, Mingyou had his greatest safeguard.

"Uchiha brat, you're at death's door and still talking tough."

Ōnoki moved closer, floating through the air and narrowing the distance between himself and Mingyou. "Then let this old man use his finest Dust Release Ninjutsu to turn you into dust."

"Wait." Just as Ōnoki formed the hand sign for Dust Release, the Fourth Raikage stopped him.

The Fourth Raikage said in a low voice, "Third Tsuchikage, I think you misunderstood me. Though this brat is hateful, we can't let him die just yet."

"Oh?" A trace of confusion flashed through Ōnoki's eyes, but he soon understood what the Raikage wanted.

Just as Mingyou had said earlier, what the Raikage coveted was Mingyou's Sharingan ability.

"Understood. I'll do my best to cooperate with you." Ōnoki nodded slightly, though he despised the Fourth Raikage's conduct.

But compared to his hatred for Mingyou, none of that mattered.

"Darui, assist me." As soon as the Fourth Raikage finished speaking, his figure vanished.

He became an afterimage and charged straight at Mingyou.

"Guillotine Drop!"

At some point, the Fourth Raikage had already reached the skies above. He brought down a vicious axe kick upon Susanoo's head.

The lightning radiance carried by that kick was even more powerful than before.

From Mingyou's perspective, he could not see where the Raikage was at all. He could only see a mass of lightning crashing straight down from overhead.

With no time to think, Mingyou controlled Susanoo to retreat while swinging the ten-meter blade in its right hand upward.

Mingyou himself possessed lightning abilities. Aside from the sheer force of that kick, the lightning's side effects were nothing to fear.

Rumble—

The Fourth Raikage's kick collided with the broad side of the massive blade, producing a thunderous boom.

Though Susanoo sustained no damage, the force of the Raikage's kick still sent it staggering back several steps.

"Alright, finally found an opening."

At the same time, Darui, who had received the Raikage's command, had somehow quietly climbed onto a rooftop behind them and prepared for a sneak attack.

Darui formed the hand sign for the Shadow Clone Technique. With a flicker of light, an identical Darui appeared at his side.

Just as Susanoo staggered backward after being kicked by the Raikage, the two Daruis rapidly formed identical hand signs.

"Lightning Release: Double Black Panther!"

As the final hand sign was completed, several bolts of black lightning flashed before the two Daruis.

The lightning was as thick as stone pillars and looked terrifyingly powerful. Amid piercing crackles, it shot directly toward Susanoo's head.

You copied an Attribute-less Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Technique.

You copied a Lightning Release Ninjutsu: Lightning Release: Double Black Panther.

You copied leaked Taijutsu energy value. Taijutsu Constitution +39

"Too late to dodge?"

Mingyou naturally noticed Darui's large movements atop the rooftop behind him. But Susanoo was being forced backward by momentum, and its body was too massive to respond in time.

"Tch~~"

Mingyou looked disdainful. It was only Lightning Release—could it possibly break through Susanoo's strongest defense?

He simply gave up trying to evade. Controlling Susanoo's enormous hand, he drove the blade fiercely into the ground to steady himself.

Rumble—

At the same time, the masses of black lightning had already reached him and struck directly at the back of Susanoo's head.

With only a raised arm to block, the lightning struck Susanoo's arm but caused little damage.

"Uchiha brat, take a punch from this old man."

At some point, Ōnoki had also flown behind Mingyou.

"Earth Release: Super Added-Weight Rock Technique!"

His seemingly light punch actually contained boundless force.

If it truly landed, it certainly would not feel good.

"So you're playing the numbers game, huh?"

Mingyou snorted and simply gave up on using Susanoo.

Whoosh—

The massive body over ten meters tall suddenly vanished. Ōnoki's punch headed for Mingyou's face, but he watched in horror as it passed straight through Mingyou's body.

Bang—

Before Ōnoki could regain his balance, Mingyou, who had become solid again, raised a leg and kicked him hard in the lower back.

"Ah~~"

Ōnoki already suffered from back pain. Whether this brat did it deliberately or by chance, he had struck precisely at his old lower back.

He let out a miserable cry. The pain in his lower back made him lose control of his body, and he fell straight toward the ground.