Storm Release

"Cloud Ninja, why are you on the territory of the Land of Fire?"

Hatake Kakashi's eyes were cold as he warily scanned his surroundings. "Kumogakure has already formed an alliance with Konoha, but you still need papers to enter the Land of Fire and Konoha!"

"What you're doing now is no different from an invasion!"

Why would Kumogakure's Ninja do something like this?

Hadn't Konoha and Kumogakure already formed an alliance?

The smell of blood in the air sent a chill down everyone's spine!

"So it's finally happened?"

Uchiha Itachi looked tense, with a hint of unease.

The reason Kumogakure was acting so irrationally was because... Kagami-kun had killed their Ninja!

The Kumogakure Ninja hadn't received a reply, so of course they'd make this reckless, irrational move!

He couldn't help looking at Hyuga Kagami, only to find him calm and composed.

Not the least bit flustered.

He even seemed to have... a faint smile, as if he were watching a show?

That smile seemed to reassure people, and Itachi couldn't help relaxing. His expression returned to normal.

Hyuga Kagami glanced at Uchiha Itachi and smiled. "Kid, you're still too thin-skinned!"

His gaze turned to the Kumogakure Ninja, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Like a player manipulating the pieces on a shogi board!

Darui looked coldly at Hatake Kakashi. "Formed an alliance? We in Kumogakure have never heard of it!"

Their Ninja still hadn't returned!

And Hatake Kakashi had the nerve to say they'd formed an alliance. What a joke!

"Hatake Kakashi, Kumogakure needs an explanation. The Ninja we sent to Konoha haven't returned to this day. If Konoha can't give us a reasonable explanation, then you know what the consequences will be!"

Darui's eyes were icy.

The Kunai in his hand glinted coldly.

Hatake Kakashi's expression darkened. The smell of blood in the air was unsettling.

"What explanation do you need?"

Hyuga Kagami stepped forward, cutting off their exchange. His White Eyes were filled with anger and coldness!

"Before you ask for an explanation, explain the blood on your bodies!"

"You slaughtered civilians in the Land of Fire and challenged Konoha's authority. Is this how Kumogakure treats Konoha?"

Boom!

The air rippled and swirled as a Great Hammer appeared in front of Hyuga Kagami!

He took hold of it and pointed it at the group from afar. "If Kumogakure can't give Konoha an explanation, then wait for the Raikage to come and take you back himself!"

Hatake Kakashi's expression showed his agreement.

Hyuga Kagami had voiced the anger in his heart!

The knot in his chest eased. Ever since his teacher died, Konoha... had been swallowing too many indignities!

Except when dealing with Sunagakure, Konoha had been backing down in front of every other village!

Was this really the same Konoha that had once been the greatest Ninja village?

"Heh, you've noticed already?"

Darui didn't seem to care. His eyes grew colder as he looked Hyuga Kagami up and down. "I never expected someone from the Hyuga Branch Family to have such spirit. That's a rare sight!"

"Kumogakure hereby formally notifies Konoha!"

"Konoha has wantonly killed Kumogakure Ninja and violated the terms of our alliance. Kumogakure... hereby declares war on Konoha!"

Those were the words the Raikage had spoken to him.

Kumogakure wasn't afraid of war!

He had full authority to declare war on Kumogakure's behalf!

Hatake Kakashi's pupils contracted. Darui held such a high position?

He could actually declare war on Kumogakure's behalf?

"Lightning Release: Chakra Mode!"

Boom!

Terrifying lightning burst from his body, arcs of electricity coiling around him as Darui looked like a god of thunder descending upon the world!

"Lightning Release: Chakra Mode?"

Hatake Kakashi was startled. "You're a member of the Yotsuki Clan!"

Only the Yotsuki Clan was qualified to learn Lightning Release: Chakra Mode. It was worth noting that every Raikage throughout history had come from the Yotsuki Clan!

The current Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was the same.

"What a pain. A Ninja with sharp senses and a good grasp of intelligence is a headache."

Darui looked a little impatient.

But his movements were incredibly swift!

Lightning crackled through the air as he shot toward Uchiha Itachi and swung a heavy punch!

"I'll take one of them out first!"

But the next moment, another figure moved through the air, trailing lightning. He easily intercepted Darui's attack with one hand. Looking down at Darui, Hyuga Kagami said, "Darui, the Fourth Raikage's right-hand man."

"A fellow Storm Release user."

"Your strength is on par with Hatake Kakashi's. You're an Elite Jonin."

Darui's pupils contracted. Although he had appeared in the Third Shinobi World War, not many people knew about him because of his age. By all rights... the other man shouldn't have known anything about him.

"How do you know about me?!"

He leaped backward!

The lazy look in his eyes gave way to solemnity!

The owner of those White Eyes... seemed to have the power to see into people's hearts. It was unnerving!

Behind Hyuga Kagami, Uchiha Itachi was drenched in cold sweat. "What incredible speed."

"If Kagami-kun hadn't been here, I... might have been seriously injured!"

His opponent was too fast.

Faster than an ordinary Elite Jonin!

Itachi was only an Elite Chunin now. The gap was enormous, and he wouldn't have had time to react!

"Storm Release?!"

Hatake Kakashi was startled. He suddenly realized something. "Is it the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai, formed by combining the nature transformations of Water Release and Lightning Release?"

"Kumogakure has produced another powerful prodigy!"

Storm Release possessed the terrifying power of lightning.

And Water Release made up for lightning's difficulty to control.

It could unleash far greater power than Lightning Release!

No wonder... his opponent was so fast!

"Storm Release: Laser Circus!"

Darui shouted. Knowing the importance of ending the fight quickly, he struck at once. That was the nature of lightning!

In an instant,

he brought his hands together. More than a dozen powerful lasers burst from them, spinning wildly like meat grinders!

They engulfed all three of them!

There was no way to dodge!

"What terrifying Storm Release!"

Hatake Kakashi's expression darkened. This technique was difficult to evade!

He couldn't help looking at Hyuga Kagami and Uchiha Itachi. He could escape on his own, but if he did, Hyuga Kagami and Uchiha Itachi would die!

The three Kumogakure Ninja, meanwhile, looked completely confident.

"Hahaha! No one can dodge Lord Darui's move!"

"Don't talk nonsense. If they had the Raikage's speed, they might be able to dodge it! Hahaha!"

"Damn Konoha Ninja, die!"

And they weren't the only ones.

Darui also wore a confident expression.

Storm Release was one of the most powerful forces in the entire Shinobi World!

"Heh, you call that anything?"

Hyuga Kagami scoffed. Using Lightning Release in front of Azure Dragon?

What could that be but asking for death?

"Get lost!"

Boom! In an instant!

Terrifying lightning erupted violently from Hyuga Kagami's body!

Lightning raged and churned around him, its might terrifying!

In front of Hyuga Kagami, Darui's lightning... looked like a child's plaything!

Hyuga Kagami gathered every attack in his hand, turning it into a smooth, rounded ball of lightning.

It floated there quietly.