"Whew..."
Shihōin Naraku let out a long breath, steadying his rapid breathing.
The three-way exchange just now had left even him a little breathless.
But this clash had truly let him fight to his heart's content.
Looking at Kakashi Hatake, who still had not gotten up in the distance, Shihōin Naraku knew he was nearing his limit!
The collision between Chidori and Flame Rasengan earlier had indeed been far too powerful.
The main issue was that although Shihōin Naraku had completed the Rasengan using his control over flames, he had underestimated his own strength.
Only when Chidori and Rasengan collided did he sense something was wrong. He hurriedly pulled back some of his power, enduring the backlash of chakra against his chakra pathways.
Even so, the explosion from the collision between Flame Rasengan and Chidori had exceeded his imagination.
Fortunately, when Might Guy heard Shihōin Naraku's shout, he had activated the Eight Gates Formation without hesitation and charged into the explosion, pulling Kakashi Hatake out in the nick of time.
Otherwise, with Kakashi Hatake's physical constitution, he would have long since been burned to powder and scattered through the air.
Now, Shihōin Naraku finally had an accurate understanding of his own strength!
If this had only been a battle between Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake, it could have ended at that point. There was no need to continue.
But the arrival of a fired-up Might Guy had set the battle going again.
Shihōin Naraku had not had his fill either, so he immediately took up the challenge and began fighting Might Guy.
Partway through, Kakashi Hatake, who had finally managed to catch his breath, was dragged into it as well, and a three-way melee began!
Flames coiled around Shihōin Naraku's entire body, with sparks flickering here and there.
Green energy erupted all over Might Guy, his skin flushed crimson with blood.
Arcs of electricity burst and snaked across Kakashi Hatake's clothes, which were torn in multiple places.
Of the three, Shihōin Naraku and Might Guy were in the best condition. Kakashi Hatake had expended far too much. Though he still had chakra left, his stamina was nearly gone.
So the battle now centered on Shihōin Naraku and Might Guy, with Kakashi Hatake joining in occasionally, relying mainly on his talent to fight.
Unfortunately, this was not a one-on-one battle, or Kakashi Hatake could have put his ability to fight anyone to a draw to use.
Perhaps, even with Shihōin Naraku's Kage-level strength, Kakashi could have brought him down to the same level to fight.
"Hah!"
With a roar, Might Guy charged at Shihōin Naraku, a wild aura enveloping his entire body.
"Whew!"
Sun Breathing...
Shihōin Naraku felt his heart and lung function strengthen as he drew in a massive amount of oxygen in an instant, feeling every aspect of his physical abilities rise.
Watching Might Guy come straight at him, Shihōin Naraku charged forward as his flames flared violently.
Bang!
The next second, Shihōin Naraku flew backward even faster, smashing through several large trees before tumbling into a deep crater in the ground.
Crack!
Shihōin Naraku pulled his arm out of the crater and steadied his breathing.
"Troublesome. I can't keep up with Guy's speed."
With the temporary boost from Sun Breathing and his Observation Haki, Shihōin Naraku could track Might Guy's attacks.
The problem was that even if he could see how his opponent attacked, Shihōin Naraku could not react in time at such tremendous speeds.
"Gate of Opening, open!"
Electricity flashing all over him, Kakashi Hatake opened the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation, boosting his attack power and speed.
But this also meant Kakashi Hatake would not last more than a few seconds. The strain would drain his physical energy in a short time.
"Gate of Opening, open!"
Shihōin Naraku no longer hesitated and immediately opened the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation.
Then, watching Might Guy and Kakashi draw closer as they fought, he placed a hand at his waist, where an exquisitely crafted straight sword slowly materialized!
Kurikara!
Sun Breathing!
The first gate of the Eight Gates Formation, the Gate of Opening!
With all three combined, Shihōin Naraku felt his physical abilities rise explosively.
Click!
Shihōin Naraku pushed Kurikara free of its sheath with his thumb. A cold gleam flashed as he took a step forward.
The instant his foot landed, Shihōin Naraku appeared beside the battling Kakashi and Might Guy as though he had teleported.
With Kurikara in hand, he traced a perfect arc through the air with its pitch-black blade.
"Hinokami Kagura: Dance!"
The slash, wreathed in crimson flames, drew an exquisitely beautiful circle!
Searing heat rushed at them, surging tongues of flame licked out, and an aura of destruction descended in an instant.
Boom!
Clang!
As Kakashi Hatake threw his shuriken, he leaned backward, dodging the slash with a reaction pushed to its absolute limit.
Might Guy did not retreat a single step. He punched fiercely into the flames, and the shock wave formed by the struck air extinguished them outright.
Shihōin Naraku had not expected to drive both of them back with one move. Holding Kurikara, he thrust its pitch-black blade through the flames at an uncanny angle toward Might Guy, who was within arm's reach.
The thrust was so swift and fierce that even Might Guy, with his extraordinary speed, had no time to dodge.
Clang!
Sparks flew as a pair of superalloy steel nunchaku suddenly appeared and struck Kurikara's tip, knocking the blade off course.
"Hell Viewing Technique!"
Kakashi Hatake suddenly appeared before Shihōin Naraku, meeting his eyes with his Sharingan and instantly unleashing a genjutsu.
But Shihōin Naraku's mind was exceptionally strong, giving him extremely high resistance to genjutsu, so he instantly broke this low-level illusion that could conjure visions of the fears in one's heart.
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
The instant he broke the genjutsu, Might Guy unleashed a reverse spinning kick with astonishing speed and strength, kicking Shihōin Naraku.
Whoosh!
An afterimage. Might Guy had kicked Shihōin Naraku's afterimage.
Might Guy's body tipped uncontrollably, but he swiftly launched a Konoha Whirlwind behind him.
Bang!
Shihōin Naraku suddenly appeared and raised an arm to block Might Guy's kick. His other hand gripped Kurikara tightly and brought it slashing down hard from above!
Clang!
Kunai in hand, Kakashi Hatake blocked Kurikara's blade.
"Hm?"
Shihōin Naraku suddenly exerted force with his arm. A burst of monstrous strength traveled along Kurikara's pitch-black blade and crushed the kunai outright, and the light-devouring blade sliced down toward Kakashi.
Fortunately, Might Guy swung his nunchaku at that moment, striking Kurikara's blade, while Kakashi rolled out of the way.
But Shihōin Naraku stamped down hard and appeared before Kakashi, who had yet to stand up, bringing Kurikara down once more.
Just my luck!
Kakashi Hatake groaned inwardly. He had already opened the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation, so why could he still not keep up with these two?
"Konoha Rock-Breaking Rise!"
A sudden burst of speed from his feet tore up the ground as Might Guy slammed a vicious elbow into Shihōin Naraku, sending him flying.
"Lightning Blade!"
Kakashi Hatake gritted his teeth. His remaining chakra surged, and electricity flashed once again.
It was supposed to be a three-way melee, but it had now turned into him and Might Guy fighting Shihōin Naraku together. Since he could no longer hold out, he might as well settle it in one move.
Turning into a streak of lightning, Kakashi Hatake charged at Shihōin Naraku in midair!
At the same time, Might Guy roared and shot forward at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
Before you continue