Lightning Release Nintaijutsu
Inside the enormous crater at the center of an island off Kirigakure's coast.
"Whew—"
Sōji slowly exhaled a stale breath, then withdrew his hands, which still glowed green.
After treatment with the Mystical Palm Technique, the Fourth Raikage had regained consciousness, and the bloody hole in his chest had closed.
Only the newly grown scar tissue remained a little pale, looking out of place against the bronze skin around it.
The Fourth Raikage slowly sat up and leaned against a protruding rock, touching the scar on his chest with lingering unease.
Then he turned to Sōji. There was no anger in his eyes, only an indescribably complicated emotion. "You brat, just how much have you been hiding?"
"A Summoning Technique that powerful... looks like you found quite a haul in the ruins of the Land of Whirlpool! Even my Lightning Release Armor couldn't stop that terrifying giant bull."
Sōji merely smiled at the Fourth Raikage's guess. Whenever Summoning Techniques and Sealing Techniques came up, people inevitably thought of Uzushiogakure, which had once flourished at the height of its power.
"...Still, there's no point saying any more. I lost!"
As he spoke, the Fourth Raikage extended his enormous, fan-sized hand toward Sōji, who smiled and offered his own.
At that moment, their hands clasped together: one bronze, with bulging veins, the other jade-white, with clearly defined knuckles.
The sea breeze passed between the two reefs, sweeping away the dust raised by the battle and exposing blackened volcanic rock, shattered bone fragments, and scorch marks left by electrical arcs.
"I'll have the secret scroll of Lightning Release Nintaijutsu delivered to Kirigakure within three days..."
The Fourth Raikage paused, a sly look suddenly crossing his face. "But Jinchūriki training is one of Hidden Cloud's greatest secrets. It has to take