Instantly, a cone shimmering with dazzling lightning formed on Meikyō's entire palm.
Meikyō felt that this move was somewhat similar to Chidori.
This is because they all involve gathering a large amount of Lightning Style Chakra in the hand area and combining it with the Lightning Style Chakra Nature Transformation with its piercing properties, giving the Ninjutsu a powerful penetrating ability.
However, the Four-Finger Fist lacks the drawbacks of being limited to a straight-line high-speed dash like the Chidori, and lacking the powerful dynamic vision of the Sharingan, making it difficult to use effectively.
Or rather, it's not very obvious in this respect, because the Lightning Release Chakra Mode strengthens the body in all aspects. It can not only stimulate ordinary cells to enhance their defense and explosive power, but also stimulate nerve cells to accelerate reaction speed.
"What an amazing talent!"
Looking at the "pseudo- Four-Finger Fist" formed in Meikyō's hand, Orochimaru couldn't help but admire it.
The Raikage lineage's painstakingly developed techniques over many years were so easily countered by Uchiha Meikyō.
"Next, Meikyō- kun can try retracting his fingers one by one, upgrading the Four-Finger Fist to the Three-Finger Fist, which will multiply his attack power, and even the Two-Finger Fist. As for the One-Finger Nukite, that is a unique technique that only the Third Raikage could use, even among all the Raikage in history."
Following Orochimaru's prompting, Meikyō silently retracted his right little finger, and instantly, the lightning in his hand intensified!
Meikyō could also feel that as a large amount of Lightning Style Chakra poured in, the pressure on his index, middle, and ring fingers increased dramatically.
Under Orochimaru's burning gaze, Meikyō slowly withdrew his ring finger from his palm.
However, when he received half of it, the electric light on Meikyō's hand faded away with a few crackling sounds of electricity.
"Why did you stop?"
Orochimaru asked the Meikyō.
"Without mastering the correct Lightning Release Chakra Mode and reducing the pressure of the electric current on my body, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to continue using it like the Third Raikage."
Meikyō opened his palm and showed it to Orochimaru.
The index and middle fingers, having absorbed a massive amount of Lightning Style Chakra, were now cracked, revealing wounds from the intense heat of the Lightning Style.
Meikyō could only use her other hand to perform the Mystical Palm Technique to heal the injury on her finger.
"It's a real shame. It seems that even with my knowledge and Meikyō- kun's talent combined, we can only replicate a portion of the power of Lightning Style Chakra."
Orochimaru's face showed a hint of regret.
Mastering all Ninjutsu and pursuing his dream—this was Orochimaru's ninja way in his youth, and it didn't change much even later on. He simply hoped to use immortality to give himself an indelible life, allowing him enough time to grasp all the truths and become the ultimate individual.
Right now is an opportunity to explore the secrets of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Ninjutsu that is almost the culmination of Lightning Style techniques, but it is just one step away and it is blocked at the door.
Meikyō also felt it was a bit of a pity.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode is an extremely powerful body-strengthening technique. If one can master it or integrate its essence into one's Inner Breathing Technique, it can greatly accelerate the speed of physical enhancement.
Suddenly, Uchiha Meikyō and Orochimaru, these two audacious individuals, exchanged a glance and simultaneously had the same thought in their minds.
"Senior Orochimaru, now that the Third Raikage is dead, and the Fourth Raikage and Dodai have been severely injured by you and me, the Kumogakure must be at its weakest point in history, right?"
"Hehe, I think what Meikyō -kun said makes a lot of sense. As the highest-ranking members of Konoha on the Cloud Village Front, it is necessary for us to infiltrate Kumogakure at this time and deliver a fatal blow to them."
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes gleamed with excitement as he licked his lips with his long tongue.
"Great minds think alike. It seems that Senior Orochimaru and I are thinking the same thing. When the time comes, we can also bring back those secret techniques from Kumogakure to broaden our horizons."
"Then let me take Meikyō- kun to Kumogakure to broaden his horizons. After all, I've been there once before, so I know the way around quite well."
Inside the small command tent, Uchiha Meikyō and Orochimaru began discussing their next plan.
"Then, Mr. Meikyō, I'll take my leave now to make the necessary arrangements for this operation."
The two talked until the sun rose in the morning, at which point Orochimaru bid farewell to Meikyō and left the camp.
Sensing that Orochimaru had left his sensory range, Meikyō stood up and extended one of his hands.
A dazzling bolt of lightning, accompanied by a black metallic sheen, coiled around Meikyō's palm.
Fake Four-Finger Fist!
Meikyō quickly retracted her little finger into her palm, followed by her ring finger.
The Two-Finger Fist that was difficult to do before can now be easily accomplished with the help of Armament Haki.
Then, Meikyō slowly but firmly withdrew her middle finger, leaving only her index finger.
At that moment, the flash of Inazuma illuminated the entire interior of the tent.
In this state, Meikyō could clearly see a slender cone-shaped object formed by Lightning Style Chakra condensing at the tip of his index finger.
"I wonder how my pirated One-Finger Nukite compares to the Third Raikage. It's a pity he died a few days ago, so no one can let me see the most authentic One-Finger Nukite again."
A faint smile appeared on Meikyō's face.
No rush.
Once I and Orochimaru obtain the training method for Lightning Release Chakra Mode, I should be able to replicate it.
With Dodai's help, the Fourth Raikage managed to stabilize the situation ahead, successfully delaying Konoha's advance by abandoning most of the difficult-to-defend lines.
Three days later, the Kumogakure was bustling with people.
This is a ninja village standing atop a high mountain.
The Cloud Kumogakure wore solemn expressions as they tied black cloth strips around their shoulders to commemorate the Third Raikage who had died in battle.
After leading a group of Kumogakure in mourning for the Third Raikage, the Fourth Raikage, wearing a white robe that revealed his muscular chest, walked step by step to the front of the stage.
Today, he will take over the position of the Fourth Raikage and revitalize the morale of the Kumogakure.
In a corner of the crowd, two dark-skinned ninjas quietly left.
These were Uchiha Meikyō and Orochimaru.
They are currently being disguised by Orochimaru's Vanishing Facial Copy Technique.
This is a Ninjutsu that peels off the skin of another person and takes their appearance as one's own. Combined with techniques such as bone shrinking, internal height enhancement, and stuffing items into clothing, it is almost flawless and far more effective than Transformation Jutsu.
"The Raikage's succession ceremony has begun, and now most of the population of Kumogakure has gathered together, which is the time when defenses are at their weakest."
Meikyō, who had sensed the situation in the distance using Observation Haki, whispered to Orochimaru beside him.
"Very good, come with me, Mr. Meikyō."
Orochimaru resisted his habit of licking his lips, watched a small white snake slithering from a distance, and put it back into his sleeve, saying to the Meikyō.
Meikyō followed Orochimaru, heading in the same direction the small white snake had traveled.
As the two strongest Ninja World, they naturally possessed profound abilities to infiltrate.
With the defenses of the Kumogakure weak, it only took them a short time to infiltrate their destination.
Raikage Building.
This is a building constructed by hollowing out the interior of a mountain peak, and it even has a lightning rod on top.
"Meikyō- kun, according to my investigation, there is a secret manual inside Kumogakure that is similar to the Scroll of Seals of Konoha, called the Cloud-Lightning Ninjutsu Scroll. It contains many of Kumogakure's secret Ninjutsu, including the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. It is hidden in a secret room on the second basement floor of the Raikage Building. What we need to do is to get in there."
Orochimaru whispered to Meikyō as he pulled out two masks.
After receiving the mask, Meikyō put it on naturally.
These two Kumogakure had already died the day before yesterday.
Not only did Orochimaru strip them of their faces, but Yamanaka Shin also used the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques to steal a portion of their memories. Orochimaru then used a specially made instrument to display these useful memories, which were repeatedly viewed by Meikyō and Orochimaru.
The reason these two were chosen was because they were members of the Hidden Anbu 'Kumogakure. Although they couldn't move freely within the Raikage Building, they could easily travel to most places, bringing convenience to Meikyō.
Following the information recorded in their minds, Orochimaru and Meikyō easily passed through the Raikage Building and arrived at the entrance to the basement.
"Kotsui, Arai, shouldn't you be maintaining order during Lord Ai's succession ceremony?"
At the entrance, a Cloud Kumogakure the gate asked Meikyō and Orochimaru, seemingly quite familiar with the owners of these two faces, able to identify them even though they were wearing masks.
"Bokui, Dodai discovered errors in the succession ceremony, so Lord Ai sent us to retrieve the preparation records for the succession ceremony of the Third Hokage-sama, in order to correct the omissions."
Orochimaru spoke to the two Anbu guards at the gate, trying his best to make his tone consistent with his character.
After handing over the Raikage's warrant, which Orochimaru had personally forged, the two Kumogakure Anbu, without suspicion, promptly let them pass.
The first floor of the Raikage Building contains various important files, so people often come to retrieve them.
This hurdle was easily bypassed by Meikyō and Orochimaru.
The second hurdle is the real challenge.
The second underground level, being a truly important location, is not only Jonin by a powerful Anbu squad leader, who is considered strong even among Jonin, but also protected by numerous seals and mechanisms.
"Kotsui, Arai, what are you doing here!"
At the entrance to the second floor, the captain of the Anbu guarding the second floor's secret chamber reprimanded Meikyō and Orochimaru without any politeness.
"This area is forbidden; no one can enter without the Raikage's personal guidance!"
Without wasting any words, Meikyō opened his Mangekyō Sharingan directly at the squad leader of the Anbu.
"Magic Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"
To ensure a successful strike, Meikyō deliberately used a little more of her pupil power.
The captain of the Kumogakure's Anbu collapsed to the ground.
"Is this the Genjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan? It's truly amazing."
Orochimaru withdrew the Genjutsu that concealed the Chakra fluctuations in his hand, and looked at Meikyō's pair of scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan with amazement.
Unbeknownst to him, in another timeline, he had just completed the Reanimation Jutsu and attempted to steal Uchiha Itachi's eyes, only to be instantly killed by that attack.
"I can see through the mechanisms in front, but what about these seals?"
In Meikyō's perception, the road ahead was full of various traps, and the gate was engraved with layers of seals.
"Leave it to me."
Orochimaru Hand Seals and summoned small white snakes that looked no bigger than a finger.
"These snakes have an extremely strong ability to camouflage and hide. Even using infrared and Sensory Ninjutsu, it is difficult to detect their presence. Moreover, their bodies have super flexibility and extensibility, and they can shrink their size to about the size of an earthworm. Although they have no combat ability, they are very suitable for destroying the mechanisms here."
Orochimaru spoke as he walked forward.
Countless tiny white snakes slithered into the passage ahead, just as Orochimaru had predicted, destroying the mechanisms and making the passage unobstructed.
"As for these seals."
Orochimaru calmly looked at the gate in front of him and the seals on the surrounding walls.
"The most powerful thing inside should be the Iron Armor Seal that seals the Eight-Tails. But coincidentally, the seal on the previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was broken by me, which caused the Eight-Tails to go berserk and the Jinchuriki to die."
Orochimaru's tone was full of confidence, and then he formed hand seals and slammed them onto the gate.
"Iron Armor Seal - Release!"
The sealing incantation on the gate began to rotate.
However, it got stuck halfway through the turn, and the door only opened a very small crack. It was pitch black inside, and you couldn't see anything.
Looking at the still-standing metal gate in front of him, and the alarm sounding throughout the entire Raikage Building because the seal had been broken, Orochimaru's face was full of horror.
Meikyō was somewhat speechless.
Is this how the descendants of Ryūchi Cave often behave?
They often suffer a humiliating defeat when they think they have victory in their grasp.
The difference is that this situation is much less likely to occur with Orochimaru than with Sunny Pillar.
Meanwhile, at the Raikage succession ceremony held outside the public.
Just as Ai received the Raikage's hat from Dodai and was about to say a few words, a series of piercing alarm sounds came from the Raikage Building in the distance.
The Fourth Raikage was taken aback.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call him the Fourth Raikage now.
"Fourth Hokage, this is very likely caused by enemy village spy ninjas taking advantage of the crowd gathering here during the succession ceremony to steal information!"