Heaven-Splitting Thunder Serpent

A month later.

"Rogue ninja from Takigakure?"

Liu Yun studied the slashed forehead protectors worn by the ninja facing him. They bore Takigakure's insignia.

He quietly raised his guard. A faint sense of pressure emanated from their leader, suggesting considerable strength.

After the incident at Uzushio Village, Tsunade seemed to have been shaken by something. She had formed Liu Yun, Minato, and Nawaki into a squad and begun sending them on frequent missions to hone their skills.

This was one such C-rank mission: escorting a merchant to the Land of Grass.

Liu Yun glanced at their client, whose legs were trembling so badly he could barely stand, and knew there was probably something fishy about this mission.

A mere C-rank escort mission shouldn't have involved combat between ninja. Why had it attracted three rogue ninja from Takigakure, one of whom was most likely a jonin?

This was definitely not normal.

He recalled the mission in the original story where Team 7 had escorted Tazuna. It had appeared to be C-rank.

But because Tazuna had concealed crucial information, Naruto's squad had encountered the rogue Kirigakure ninja Zabuza Momochi, turning it into an A-rank mission.

The Takigakure jonin leading the group confirmed their faces and said coldly, "Leave no one alive."

The moment he finished speaking, all three charged.

Fear filled the merchant's eyes, and his voice shook. "I paid you! You have to protect me!"

"Shut up. You've got some nerve lying about the mission's rank." Liu Yun's gaze turned icy. "Minato, you and Nawaki protect him. We haven't settled our accounts yet."

"Right!"

With the coordination they had developed over numerous missions, Minato and Nawaki acted without the slightest hesitation. They decisively took up positions on either side of the merchant, remaining vigilant.

Liu Yun steadied his breathing and focused, keeping all three Takigakure ninja in his sights.

He noticed the jonin charging straight at him, cruelty gleaming in his eyes. The kunai in his hand flashed coldly. Clearly, he intended to finish Liu Yun off quickly.

The other two ninja tried to circle past him and deal with Minato and Nawaki behind him.

Facing the rapidly approaching kunai, Liu Yun neither dodged nor retreated. He raised two fingers. "Lightning Summoning!"

Without warning, a bolt of silver-white lightning descended from the sky and slammed into the Takigakure jonin.

The jonin abruptly froze. Thin strands of electricity danced over him, leaving his body rigid.

White smoke rose from his clothes, and a faint scorched smell filled the air.

His forward momentum carried him on, making him stumble and pitch to the ground.

"That's amazing!" Nawaki murmured in admiration.

Minato silently nodded.

Even though he had seen it several times already, the technique still stunned him.

It was too fast. Without any complicated hand seals, Liu Yun could summon a lightning bolt to strike his enemy, with astonishing results.

He had incapacitated an enemy in a single exchange.

"What?"

The two Takigakure ninja preparing to circle around Liu Yun were horrified by the sight. What kind of ninjutsu was that?

There were no hand seals, and its speed was terrifying. Even a jonin couldn't react in time.

After exchanging a glance, both stopped in their tracks.

"Earth Release: Earth Shore Return!"

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

They swiftly formed hand seals, crouched, and slapped both hands against the ground.

Cracks suddenly spread across the earth, and a massive wall of rock rose up.

At the same time, a cage of water formed where Liu Yun stood.

"What a pity."

Liu Yun darted out of the water prison. Seeing the Takigakure jonin now shielded by the rock wall, he grew more serious.

Their teamwork was far too seamless. These were no ordinary rogue ninja.

A moment later.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The Takigakure jonin who had taken the lightning strike pushed himself to his feet. Shock and fear filled his eyes, and his chest heaved.

"What... was that technique?"

"The technique that'll send you to your grave."

Liu Yun had no intention of explaining it to his enemy.

"...Arrogant brat. How many more times can you use a technique like that?" The Takigakure jonin sneered, then looked at the other two. "Attack together. Kill him first!"

The three spread out, putting more distance between themselves.

Have they figured out I can only summon one bolt at a time?

Liu Yun casually swept his gaze in a certain direction.

Since Tsunade had to stay home to look after the children, Jiraiya was leading them this time.

Jiraiya was currently watching from hiding, ready to come out and assist at any sign of trouble.

Since I need to cement my reputation as a genius, I might as well show a little more of what I can really do.

This is a good chance to test that technique.

With that thought, he charged toward the Takigakure ninja closing in around him.

At the sight, the Takigakure jonin's lips spread into a vicious grin.

With all three attacking at once, even if one took another lightning strike, the other two would surely be able to drive their kunai into the boy's heart.

In other words, the outcome was settled.

In a flash.

Liu Yun casually formed a few seals, slammed his palms together, and shouted, "Lightning Release: Heaven-Splitting Thunder Serpent!"

The next instant, countless arcs of lightning surged out of thin air, blazing so brightly that even the sky seemed to darken.

The electricity gathered around Liu Yun, forming a layer of blue-white lightning armor over his body.

Tiny arcs danced across his skin, crackling sharply.

He stood still as the fierce lightning illuminated the three Takigakure ninja's eyes, revealing their confusion.

The Takigakure jonin gritted his teeth. Another technique he had never even heard of?!

He steeled himself. It was only a layer of lightning armor. Unless it was Kumogakure's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, a kunai would still kill the boy if it struck.

Liu Yun felt the formerly wild lightning turn remarkably docile in his hands, responding as naturally as an extension of his own body.

He looked at the three men still charging toward him and smiled faintly.

Blue-white arcs peeled away from the armor's surface, turning into a dozen or so slender lightning serpents that slithered along the ground.

They moved so fast that they reached the three Takigakure ninja in the blink of an eye.

"Ah!"

Two of the Takigakure ninja cried out as numbness spread through their bodies.

"What the hell are these things?!"

A chill ran through the Takigakure jonin's heart. He swung his kunai, trying to cut through the lightning serpents.

But the kunai passed straight through their bodies without causing any damage.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Fighting through the numbness, the Takigakure jonin formed hand seals and created a thick earthen wall.

Seeing it block the lightning serpents slithering toward him, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew a ninjutsu like this had to consume enormous amounts of chakra. As long as he found a way to deal with the two lightning serpents already on his body, finishing Liu Yun off afterward would be easy.

Most of Liu Yun's attention remained fixed on the Takigakure jonin.

"Think that's the end? There's still a second stage..."

He formed another few seals and pressed his palms together, his gaze changing. "Thunder Sword!"

In an instant, the two lightning serpents coiled around the Takigakure jonin began to transform. Their bodies rapidly straightened, condensing into slender lightning swords.

They gave off a piercing hum.

Under the Takigakure jonin's horrified gaze, the two lightning swords pierced his chest and throat, one after the other.

"You..."