Kizaru's Gift (Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

As Kizaru launched his assault on Kumogakure, the village elders had already dispatched subordinates to notify the Third Raikage, who was away from the village.

Much like Konoha used ninja hawks to relay messages, Kumogakure possessed its own species of flying ninja beasts.

About ten minutes after Kizaru initiated his attack, the Third Raikage received word that his village was under siege.

Upon receiving the news, the Third Raikage knew he had been played, yet he did not feel overly concerned for the village.

The village was teeming with numerous ninja, including the rising talent Dodai and an elder presiding over affairs.

In the Raikage's estimation, even if the enemy possessed Kage-level strength, they could not cause significant destruction when faced with the village's many experts.

However, despite his confidence in the village's strength, the Raikage did not waste time; he immediately turned back toward the village the moment he received the report.

Just as the Third Raikage was rushing back, Kizaru stood atop the ruins, pointing his glowing index finger at the Kumogakure ninja below, successfully and reasonably forcing them into silence.

"You Kumogakure lot tried to assassinate me twice just because I'm a genius from Konoha, and then you put my good friend's younger brother on an assassination list."

"Now, in response, I kill your genius, take out a few hundred ninja, and destroy some buildings along the way—that's perfectly reasonable, right?"

Kizaru desperately wanted to say these words to the people below, but remembering Sarutobi Shinnosuke's warnings, he held his tongue to avoid giving them any ammunition.

But to be fair, looking across the entire Shinobi World, no one besides Kizaru could use ninjutsu that fired lasers.

Concealing his identity held little meaning for Kizaru.

Unless he intended to never step onto a battlefield or take on another mission again.

Mentally estimating the time, the Third Raikage should be returning soon.

Coupled with the fact that his Observation Haki sensed a massive army of Kumogakure ninja converging and surrounding him from afar, Kizaru made the decision to retreat.

Possessing the ability to fly at high speeds, Kizaru had no intention of acting like some reckless brute, fighting thousands of ninja for three days and three nights until he collapsed from exhaustion.

"How terrifying!"

With those words, he transformed into a streak of golden light and shot into the sky. Hovering above, Kizaru looked down at the ninja gathering below and bid them farewell.

"Thanks for the hospitality, I'm very satisfied. I'll come again next time!"

Without waiting for a reaction from Kumogakure, Kizaru flew off into the distance.

Watching Kizaru fly away, the leaders of the converging ninja army turned in unison toward the elder in charge.

"Do not pursue. Clean up the battlefield and tend to the wounded."

"Elder!" one Jonin, dissatisfied with the decision, raised an objection. "Are we just going to watch the enemy leave?"

"Then you go!" The elder spoke with great authority, looking like an enraged lion.

"I..." Clearly aware of the gap in strength between himself and the enemy, the Jonin obediently shut his mouth and hung his head in frustration.

"Damn it, I'm so frustrated!" someone muttered, their eyes turning bloodshot with grief and anger.

"If only Lord Raikage were here," another said, sounding deeply resentful.

"Exactly! Once Lord Raikage returns, he won't let that bastard get away with this!"

This sentiment was echoed by many, all claiming that if Lord Raikage had been present, he never would have allowed the enemy to be so rampant.

Listening to the chatter around him and looking at these village ninja, the elder silently closed his eyes.

Pathetic! Shameful! Hateful!

The mere thought of Dodai's sacrifice made the elder's heart ache as if it were being sliced by knives!

The death of such a brilliant talent was the heaviest blow the village could suffer.

"Quiet!" He opened his eyes, let out a powerful roar, and scanned the surrounding ninja.

"Clean up the battlefield! Tend to the wounded!" The elder spoke with a stern expression, emphasizing every word.

Hearing the orders again, the surrounding ninja dared not utter another word; they scattered to clear the debris and assist the injured.

Having left Kumogakure, Kizaru landed on the same mountain peak he had used to monitor the Raikage earlier.

Using a stealth technique to hide his presence, Kizaru sat cross-legged, recovering his stamina while waiting for the returning Third Raikage.

Kizaru did not intend to engage in a life-or-death battle with the Third Raikage; he simply wanted to leave a parting gift for the man who had sent assassins after him twice.

After waiting for about five minutes, Kizaru, who had been resting, spotted the Third Raikage rushing toward him.

Standing back up, Kizaru watched as the Raikage approached the mountain peak, a smile spreading across his face.

With a flash, Kizaru appeared directly in front of the rushing Third Raikage.

Faced with the high-intensity flash emanating from Kizaru's body, the Third Raikage suffered the same fate as every opponent Kizaru had faced before: his eyes were overwhelmed, leaving him temporarily blinded.

Against an expert like the Third Raikage, Kizaru didn't waste words; he struck with full force, his right leg enveloped in golden light as he delivered a vicious kick.

Caught off guard, the Third Raikage couldn't react in time; even his Lightning Release Chakra Mode failed to fully activate, covering only parts of his body.

The Third Raikage stood 205 centimeters tall, and Kizaru's side kick struck him squarely in the waist, sending him flying.

Without pausing his assault, Kizaru fired a thick laser from his right foot, which struck the airborne Third Raikage with pinpoint accuracy.

However, by this time, the Third Raikage, still flying through the air, had managed to activate his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, forming his ultimate defense—the Lightning Armor—to withstand the laser's pursuit.

Forcing his body to adjust, the injured Third Raikage landed on his feet, facing Kizaru.

With a severe wound to his waist and abdomen and his internal organs damaged, the Third Raikage coughed up blood, his expression grave as he stared at his opponent.

"Who exactly are you people?" Beneath his lightning armor, the Third Raikage's hair stood completely on end as he glared at Kizaru and demanded an answer in a stern voice.

Seeing that the Third Raikage could still maintain his combat strength after taking his strongest opening combo, Kizaru couldn't help but marvel at the man's exceptional physical constitution.

"What a monster!"

Hearing Kizaru's exclamation, the Third Raikage stopped wasting words and charged directly at him.

Facing the sudden assault, Kizaru did not stand his ground to dodge via elementalization; instead, he transformed into a streak of golden light to reposition himself.

After evading the Raikage's first attack, Kizaru remarked, "That was close!"

Seeing Kizaru's high-speed movement, the Third Raikage's expression turned solemn.

Forming his right hand into a blade with his thumb tucked against his palm, the Third Raikage, unaware of the situation back in the village, prepared to end the fight quickly and defeat his enemy as soon as possible.

Unleashing his ultimate technique, Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite, the Third Raikage turned into a blur and struck straight toward Kizaru.

Faced with this move, Kizaru did not retreat but advanced, offering up a gift of his own.

Raising his right hand with Armament Haki concentrated on his index finger, Kizaru turned into golden light and surged forward to meet the Third Raikage head-on.

Combining the Six Powers' Finger Pistol with Armament Haki and the abilities of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Kizaru unleashed an otherworldly version of the Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite.

Having turned into light, Kizaru moved faster despite starting later, arriving right in front of the Third Raikage as both men thrust their right hands toward each other's bodies.

As he drove his right hand fiercely toward Kizaru's left side, the Third Raikage was shocked to discover that half of the man's body had turned into light.

With his index finger pierced into the Third Raikage's chest, Kizaru smiled and said, "What a pity!"

With that, Kizaru's entire body turned into light and vanished instantly from before the Third Raikage.

Looking down at the bloody hole in his chest, a mere half-inch from his heart, the Third Raikage instantly understood the meaning behind Kizaru's words.