"Dynamic Entry!"
Just as Killer B Bee's Eight-Tails form was still locked in battle with Meikyō, Might Duy a flying kick that successfully shook his massive body, allowing Meikyō to seize the opportunity and sever both of the Eight-Tails' arms with the Totsuka Blade.
The Fourth Raikage seized the opportunity to shatter the side of Susanoo with a punch in the next moment.
"Night Phoenix!"
Might Duy stood with his feet on the air, first using the Geppo technique to briefly hover his body in the air, then quickly kicking out streaks of blue air slashes that bombarded Killer B.
The reaction force from the air slash also allowed Might Duy's body to remain steadily suspended in mid-air.
The countless blue slashes emanating from its body combine to resemble a blue Phoenix spreading its wings when viewed from afar, hence its name.
The Night Phoenix technique is a combination of the Tempest Kick from the Navy Six Styles and the Seventh Gate technique developed by Morning Peacock, thus showcasing some characteristics of both.
Faced with such a ferocious attack, Killer B could only use the tentacles of the Eight-Tails to surround himself and defend himself.
Seeing that Killer B had been stopped by Might Duy who had opened the Seventh Gate, Meikyō wiped away the blood and tears streaming from the corner of his eyes and released Susanoo.
Without activating Susanoo, he would find it difficult to simultaneously face the Fourth Raikage, who possesses incredible speed, and the enormous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
Now that Meikyō only needs to face the Fourth Raikage, it's best to conserve his eye power.
Moreover, it's inconvenient to use the cumbersome three-stage Susanoo to deal with such fast individuals.
"Hmph, so you've finally come out of your Turtle Shell? It seems this kind of Dojutsu is quite a burden on your Mangekyō Sharingan!"
The Fourth Raikage swung his Seven-Star Sword, transforming it into a blue Inazuma as he charged towards the Meikyō.
He had just seen the tears of blood flowing from Meikyō's eyes.
Therefore, he was certain that Meikyō's current condition was not good.
"Snort!"
Meikyō sneered and created more than a dozen clones, which rushed towards the Fourth Raikage.
The Mangekyō Sharingan would put a considerable burden on the body, but with his current physical condition, he could easily withstand it.
And...
With a thought, Meikyō's body crackled with electricity, and a surge of blue Chakra appeared, transforming him into the same state as the Fourth Raikage!
"Damn it!"
The Fourth Raikage was even more enraged upon seeing this, and immediately realized that Meikyō had successfully mastered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode that he had previously taken from them.
"Clang!"
The Seven-Star Sword and the Ama-no-Ohabari collided during the high-speed impact, Mars flying from their friction.
"You despicable bastard!"
The Fourth Raikage spoke fiercely to Meikyō, but dared not look Meikyō in the eye.
He feared that Meikyō would activate his Mangekyō Sharingan at this moment and drag him into Genjutsu.
"It's always been the Kumogakure that steals from others. Now that I'm robbing you guys, there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
Meikyō chuckled softly and passed by the Fourth Raikage.
The two speed-type ninjas darted across the battlefield, transforming into two intertwined streaks of light.
In this state, Meikyō's Mirror Body Flicker Technique can still be used, but its use is relatively limited.
Because the clone's strength is insufficient to withstand the strain on the body caused by the Lightning Style.
However, when facing the Fourth Raikage, Meikyō doesn't need to use Mirror Body Flicker Technique to avoid damage!
"Lightning Battle Ninja Encounter Thrusting Blade!"
"Sun Breathing - Thirteenth Form!"
The two bolts of lightning collided again!
The Fourth Raikage and Meikyō both retreated simultaneously, but it was obvious that the Fourth Raikage retreated a greater distance.
In other words, he was the one who was at a disadvantage in this confrontation.
"Today, even if it costs me my life, I will get rid of you!"
By now, the Fourth Raikage had many wounds on his body, and his white robe had been reduced to tattered strips, showing no trace of his Raikage presence.
But it still resembles a raging lion.
"Do you have the strength to fight me, Uchiha Meikyō?"
Meikyō wore a disdainful expression, but inwardly he was extremely cautious.
This guy's going to risk his life.
Amidst the crackling of Lightning, a large amount of electricity gathered in the arm of the Fourth Raikage. Under the watchful eye of the Meikyō, he extended two fingers and then slowly retracted the middle finger below.
On the index finger, the skin was immediately torn open, and the white bone was faintly visible.
This is the burden caused by insufficient physical strength when forcing the use of One-Finger Nukite.
Upon seeing this, Meikyō immediately made the same move, while also wrapping a layer of Armament Haki around his hands to counteract the burden of a large amount of Chakra on his fingers.
"Hell Stab - One-Finger Nukite!" x2
Two blue Inazuma collided with each other, like needles clashing against wheat awns.
At this moment, both Meikyō and the Fourth Raikage were locked in a stalemate.
Wisps of blue steam rose from the two of them.
This is somewhat similar to the situation when Might Duy the Seventh Gate, but the difference is that this was caused by the large amount of sweat produced by the exploding physical strength of the Meikyō and the Fourth Hokage in a short period of time being evaporated by Lightning Style Chakra.
"Right now, you're probably just as afraid to let go and retreat as I am, otherwise either of us could be pierced through the heart by the other in the next moment. No, you're the one who can't move, while I can still use Mirror Body Flicker Technique to leave this place."
Meikyō opened his Mangekyō Sharingan, looked at the Fourth Raikage, and said with a wicked smile on his face.
"What do you mean?"
"That's exactly what I mean!"
A line of bloody tears flowed from one of Meikyō's Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Fourth Raikage was startled.
"Amaterasu!"
A ball of black flame suddenly ignited in the void. Just as it was about to make contact with the Fourth Raikage, the latter raised his other hand to shield his chest, avoiding having his head burned.
Even so, the Fourth Raikage knew that his arm was going to be useless.
Without external intervention, as the Amaterasu flames continued to burn, he would inevitably die, his entire body burned to ashes.
"Lord Raikage!"
On the other side, Dodai was sent flying to the ground by Orochimaru's attack. He turned his head and saw this scene, and he was extremely anxious.
"Big brother!"
Killer B was equally anxious, but was firmly stopped by Might Duy at the Seventh Gate.
"You dare to be distracted while fighting me? But it doesn't matter. With Meikyō- kun's strength, he might be able to kill the Fourth Raikage soon. When that happens, I'll send you down with him."
Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and licked his lips, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"If anyone in Kumogakure is to die today, it will be me!"
Dodai struggled to his feet, half-kneeling on the ground, a resolute expression on his face.
"Lava Release: Super - Protector of Purgatory!"
Endless hot rubber liquid, burning with flames, sprayed out from the air above the Dodai, flying into the sky and turning into a rain of meteors that fell from the heavens.
Seeing this, Orochimaru dared not advance easily. Instead, he stopped and quickly Hand Seals. He first released a Water Style: Water Shockwave that rotated around himself to protect himself, and then added Wind Style: Wind Slash Technique, turning it into a tall Suiryu.
Seeing that Orochimaru had been forced back, Dodai continued to spew out rubber, connecting it to the Gold Dust Rope, and threw it out to wrap around the Meikyō.
He could see clearly that in this state, neither Meikyō nor the Fourth Raikage could easily move. When facing the Gold Dust Rope, Uchiha Meikyō would either be entangled and eventually have his words of power severed by the Seven-Star Sword and sealed into the Crimson Gourd, or he could only use his special Body Flicker Technique to teleport himself to the location of his clone.
In this way, the Fourth Raikage can be freed.
As Dodai predicted, Meikyō used Mirror Body Flicker Technique to switch positions, leaving behind a clone that was easily destroyed by the Fourth Raikage's One-Finger Nukite.
Without the obstruction of the Meikyō, the Fourth Raikage's figure could not be stopped from moving forward, and the aftershocks of the Inazuma in his hand left a deep and long chasm on the ground.
As a price, almost all the flesh on the front half of his finger was ripped off, revealing the stark white finger bone.
"Fortunately, injuries of this level can be healed with a skilled Medical Ninja. However, Fourth Hokage, I'm afraid your hand will have to remain!"
Under the watchful eye of the Fourth Raikage, Dodai removed the Seven-Star Sword from his back.
"Let's get started, Dodai."
The Fourth Raikage nodded to the Dodai and spoke.
With a flash of sword light, Dodai cleanly and decisively severed the Fourth Raikage's arm, which had been set ablaze by Amaterasu.
"What do we do now? Your Purgatory is about to end. After using it once, you won't have much Chakra left. I've also lost an arm, so my strength is probably only 70% of what it was before."
Looking at the enormous noise caused by the battle between Might Duy and Killer B in the distance, the Fourth Raikage asked his most trusted and wisest strategist beside him.
"Fourth Hokage Lord, if I may be so bold, we have lost."
Dodai gave the Fourth Raikage a deep look and took off his hat.
"The responsibility for the defeat lies with me. I will stay behind to cover your and Bi's retreat."
"No, Dodai! I've already failed once, I can't fail again!"
The Fourth Raikage's only remaining hand gripped Dodai's arm.
"No, Fourth Hokage, the myth of the Raikage's invincibility has now been shattered by the enemy. What you need to do now is to withdraw with as many main forces as possible, recuperate and strengthen the Kumogakure like the Third Hokage-sama did in his youth!"
Dodai calmly and decisively shook his head, looking at Uchiha Meikyō and Orochimaru who had gathered together in the distance and were rushing towards him. Knowing that time was running out, he waved his Bashōsen and released Wind Style, blowing the unsuspecting Fourth Raikage away in the direction of Killer B. Then he waited for the newcomers in place.
"Boom!"
The Fourth Raikage's body was slammed into the ground, creating a deep crater.
Looking at Might Duy, who was panting heavily and facing the Eight-Tails not far ahead, the Fourth Raikage wanted to finish him off with Killer B. However, the consequence of doing so would undoubtedly be the death of Might Duy. He and Killer B would also waste the time bought by Dodai's sacrifice, and would eventually be surrounded and attacked by Uchiha Meikyō and Orochimaru, ultimately dying in battle.
"Beat them! Let's retreat!"
"But elder brother..."
"Withdraw!"
"You've got guts to choose to stay behind and face the two of us alone..."
Orochimaru felt he had lost face in front of Meikyō because he hadn't dealt with Dodai, so he looked at Dodai with considerable hostility.
"Orochimaru, I'll leave this guy to you. Don't let anything else go wrong. I'm going after the Raikage."
Meikyō patted Orochimaru on the shoulder and was about to rush forward.
However, at this moment, Dodai once again spat out large amounts of rubber liquid onto the ground, forcing back Meikyō and Orochimaru. At the same time, he swung his Bashōsen with all his might, releasing a whirlwind and a sea of fire.
"This guy... he's actually pushing his body to its limits and extracting massive amounts of Chakra even at this stage..."
With the Meikyō Transparent World, one can clearly see the current physical condition of the Dodai.
This guy is basically overdrawing his own life force to extract Chakra.
"Wind Style: Wind Style: Violent Wind Array!"
Orochimaru took a step forward, spread his arms, and unleashed a giant gust of wind, attempting to suppress the gale and sea of fire generated by the Bashōsen Leaf Fan.
Meikyō also formed several hand seals, finally maintaining the Tiger Seal, which is most often seen at the end of Fire Release Ninjutsu, at the corner of his mouth.
Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!
Two gusts of wind, carrying raging flames, collided, the scorching heat even causing the ground around the battlefield to crack.
"Kumogakure is withdrawing its troops. At the speed of the Fourth Raikage, it will be difficult for us to catch up with them."
Orochimaru spread his hands, maintaining a large-scale Wind Style, and spoke to Meikyō beside him.
Meikyō stopped her Fire Style technique.
"In that case, let's finish off this guy as soon as possible, and then lead the army to pursue Kumogakure with full force. Even if we can't capture the Fourth Raikage, we must crush their main force!"
The raging flames climbed up the Ama-no-Ohabari once more. Meikyō's eyes pierced through the sea of fire and saw the Dodai opposite him, covered in sweat and panting heavily, almost unable to stand because it had exhausted its Chakra.
"I understand what you mean, Mr. Meikyō."
Orochimaru smiled faintly and changed the Ninjutsu he was using.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
Huge and solid wind blades were spat out from Orochimaru's mouth, rushing forward towards the sea of fire and splitting it in two.
Meikyō followed closely behind the last giant wind blade, then crossed the sea of fire and slashed at the Dodai with her sword.
"Lava Release: Protective Jade!"
The Dodai sprayed rubber again, turning it into a sphere in an attempt to protect itself, making a final stand.
But now that he's exhausted, he can't extract much Chakra anymore, and the rubber sphere he barely formed has no strength or resilience what it used to have.