Thunder Duck Neck!

Kitsuchi stared intently at the man before him, memories of the past flashing through his mind.

Back then, he had only been in his teens.

Yet with his exceptional talent and the tutelage of his father, the Third Tsuchikage, he had already become the strongest of Hidden Stone's younger generation, even highly likely to become the future Fourth Tsuchikage!

But during one mission, he encountered Yotsuki Sora, who had come to Hidden Stone to grind monsters and train.

It was a clash between the most outstanding geniuses of two great ninja villages, yet the outcome left everyone stunned.

The anticipated pinnacle showdown of thunder against fire never happened. It could not even be called a "duel"—"one-sided crushing" was a far more fitting description.

His body was frail, and his ninjutsu weak.

Before Yotsuki Sora, everything Kitsuchi had been proud of was utterly worthless. His Earth Release ninjutsu was as flimsy as paper!

Had the other Hidden Stone ninja not rescued him in time, Kitsuchi would have died at Yotsuki Sora's hands back then.

The emergence of such a terrifying genius in Hidden Cloud caused a huge stir within Hidden Stone at the time.

They had tried to gather intelligence on Yotsuki Sora, even preparing to assassinate him and eliminate the threat in its cradle.

The son of the Third Raikage had already given them enough headaches, and now another Yotsuki Sora had appeared. No matter what, they could not allow someone like him to continue growing!

But just as they were preparing to make their move, Sora vanished.

Some intelligence claimed that Hidden Cloud's tailed beast had gone berserk and that he had died in the chaos caused by the tailed beast.

There were also rumors that Yotsuki Sora's strength had threatened the Fourth Raikage's position as the Third Raikage's son, leading to his secret execution.

But now, it seemed

that Hidden Cloud had clearly hidden this guy away, allowing him to train in secret all this time!

"Having sensed the danger, not only has the Raikage personally stepped onto the battlefield, but you even deployed a hidden 'weapon' like yourself?"

Kitsuchi took a deep breath. A bloodthirsty grin unexpectedly appeared on his seemingly resolute face.

"But I'll tell you, all of this is futile."

"We've got the main force in the bag. Whether it's the Raikage or you, Blood Wrist, no one can hold us back. That's what I say!"

"And since you've delivered yourself right to our doorstep, we'll gladly accept this grand gift as well!"

Faced with the powerful enemy who had once defeated him, Kitsuchi did not choose some idiotic one-on-one solo fight.

Having perfectly inherited the bloodline of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, he possessed a reason and will as steadfast as stone!

As soon as his words fell, the Hidden Stone ninja around him acted in unison, rapidly forming hand seals. The earth began to quake.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

"Earth Release: Stone Spear!"

"Earth Release: Explosive Flying Bullet Assault!"

"Fire Release: Explosive Fireball!"

"..."

Countless Earth Release techniques formed and came crashing down upon Sora like a flood blotting out the sky.

"Th-This!"

Samui, sneaking through the shadows, covered her mouth in horror.

When ordinary ninja carried out missions, it was usually one-on-one, at most one person against a small squad.

If they encountered a large number of enemies, the most they could do was gather intelligence in secret or pull a few tricks. And once discovered, they were practically guaranteed to die.

Because under large-scale ninjutsu bombardment, ordinary people could neither dodge, hide, nor resist!

The feat of one person becoming an army was far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

The trembling earth mirrored her agitated heart, yet Sora, the target of the concentrated barrage, showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Boom!"

Even more deafening than the sound of Earth Release techniques shattering.

The ground beneath the distant figure suddenly collapsed, and his body shot forward like a cannonball.

"You're courting death!"

Wen Ya, standing beside Kitsuchi, sneered.

Ordinary Earth Release techniques were naturally not very effective against Lightning Release experts.

But this time, the barrage contained not only earth and rock, but also Fire Release, explosive techniques, and more.

The power of combined ninjutsu was not as simple as one plus one equaling two.

Did he think he was a tailed beast, trying to withstand that explosive barrage of ninjutsu with his bare body?

Yet in less than an instant, the smiles on the Hidden Stone ninja's faces froze.

That figure charged savagely toward the formation of ninjutsu, his towering body resembling a crazed beast.

Boom!!

Scarlet lightning coiled around his body. The stimulation of Blood Lightning made his black hair stand on end, while his muscles bulged and swelled with blood.

Whether it was earth, Fire Release, or even explosive tag detonations—

The ninjutsu striking his body were like fireworks adding color and grandeur to his presence, unable to hinder him in the slightest.

In an instant, he tore through the massed ninjutsu and rushed right up to them.

"This..."

The utterly shocking sight left many Hidden Stone ninja rooted to the spot.

The Hidden Stone jonin named Wen Ya stepped forward, his body like a massive boulder as he blocked Sora's path.

His fists, already as large as sandbags, became like giant stones under the enhancement of earth. Muscles throughout his body suddenly bulged as a terrifying rock fist swung fiercely toward the charging Sora.

"I won't let you keep running wild like this!"

"Earth Style: Rock..."

Before his resolute words could finish, everyone saw a flash of red. Sora's figure instantly appeared before him.

"What?!"

"So fast!"

One large hand blocked the rock fist, while the other seized Wen Ya by the head.

Terrifying chakra comparable to that of a Tailed Beast erupted. Grabbing Wen Ya's sturdy body, Sora leaped into the air. Surging scarlet currents and horrifying brute strength crashed down from above like heavenly lightning delivering judgment.

Thunder Duck Neck!!

Boom!!

The earth let out a pained groan, splitting open with a massive crack.

The shockwave sent more than a dozen Hidden Stone ninja flying. Kitsuchi gathered chakra beneath his feet and withstood the blast.

But the sight before him made his eyes nearly split open.

Under that irresistible force, Wen Ya's muscular body no longer resembled a human being.

A filthy mass of bloody flesh splattered across the ground, charred black by the intense heat produced moments ago. The air was filled with the smell of scorched protein.

"Wen Ya!!"

Yotsuki Sora tossed the shattered skull in his hand to the ground, his blood-red eyes brimming with savagery as they fixed upon the enraged Kitsuchi before him.

His handsome face was filled with untamed wildness. The bloodlust and feral aura spilling from him made it seem as though this place was his hunting ground alone!

"I can feel your anger."

"I just wonder whether it is the wail of the powerless, or a flame that can truly ignite me!"

"You... you damned bastard!!"

The fury burning in Kitsuchi's eyes would not have been satisfied even if he killed Sora ten thousand times over.

Beneath his bulging veins, chakra was being driven to its absolute limit.

The entire earth began to tremble. Countless rocks and soil rose from the ground, layering over Kitsuchi's body again and again.

A giant of earth and rock several meters tall took shape in an instant, radiating a suffocatingly terrifying presence.

Rock Golem Technique!