Chapter 12: The Raikage’s Rage—This Is No Ordinary Anbu!

Flames erupted!

The kunai, each equipped with explosive tags, detonated in a violent chain reaction.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Combined with the force of the Great Fireball, the explosion created a towering inferno, dozens of meters high, lighting up the forest and turning the air scorching hot.

Swish!

The Raikage's body flickered as he used his speed to retreat a hundred meters in an instant.

"This Anbu…" The Raikage growled through gritted teeth.

This hidden Leaf Anbu was not only relentless but seemed intent on taking him down.

And their power was overwhelming!

Kage-level.

Across all the Great Nations, there wasn't a second Kage-level Anbu to be found. Such powerful ninja wouldn't usually resign themselves to the shadows.

"Jiraiya… and now this mysterious elite Anbu?"

The Raikage's mind raced.

Was Konoha planning to go all out to eliminate him within the borders of the Land of Fire?

Boom!

Suddenly, a powerful force slammed down from above.

"So fast!"

The Raikage's instincts flared, and he quickly sidestepped.

Kaboom!

Kazuya's figure crashed down where the Raikage had been, using a Leaf Whirlwind kick to snap the trunk of a massive tree clean in half.

Crack, crash!

The towering tree, over ten meters tall, collapsed to the ground.

"A Taijutsu specialist?" The Raikage's eyes narrowed. This Anbu's speed and raw power made him far from an ordinary opponent.

"Interesting!"

"It's not every day I meet a speedster. I'll play along with you!"

The Fourth Raikage's spirits lifted, and the glow of his Lightning Release Armor intensified as he charged forward at blinding speed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged blows multiple times. Each strike of Kazuya's kunai came within a hair's breadth of the Raikage's throat but failed to land a decisive hit.

On the other hand, after several exchanges, Kazuya could feel his wrist going numb.

"What insane strength!"

"No wonder in the original story, he dared to take on a Susanoo with his bare hands!"

Kazuya quickly realized the gap between them. Having just reached Kage level, his foundation was still unsteady, making it challenging to face a seasoned warrior like the Fourth Raikage. Plus, the Raikage's speed was extraordinary. If not for Kazuya's recent gains in physical prowess and his heightened reflexes, the fight would have been far more one-sided.

But Kazuya wasn't too worried. A few years down the line, after capitalizing on opportunities like the Uchiha Massacre, a brawler like the Raikage wouldn't even pose a challenge—he'd be able to take on ten of them single-handedly.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Their movements became a blur as the two pushed their speeds to the limit. The battlefield turned into a haze of afterimages, with the Raikage holding a slight edge. Yet, Kazuya was far from being overwhelmed.

It was astonishing!

At this moment, it wasn't just Konoha's forces who were in shock—elite Jonin from both the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist watched in disbelief.

What the…?! When did Konoha's Anbu produce a monster like this?!

"The situation is getting worse!"

Mei Terumi, watching the mysterious Konoha Anbu warrior from a distance, grew increasingly tense. The power of this Anbu was far beyond expectations. If he decided to focus on her, she might not even make it back to the Land of Water alive.

"No, this is dangerous."

"If we allow him to grow… he might become another Minato Namikaze for Konoha!"

The Fourth Raikage, too, now held a deadly resolve in his eyes. The Anbu facing him was fast, strong, and experienced in battle, surpassing the standards of elite Jonin and even rivaling mid-tier Kage-level fighters. His ninjutsu skills likely matched his physical prowess, making him a dangerous adversary.

"Time to finish this!"

The Raikage's decision was swift. With newfound determination, his attacks grew even more ferocious.

"Is he getting serious?"

Kazuya's eyes narrowed. If the Raikage intended to go all-out, there was no need for him to stay in the line of fire—others in Konoha could handle a rampaging Raikage.

Body Flicker Technique!

Sensing the surge in the Raikage's murderous intent, Kazuya instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to create distance.

"You don't have the Flying Thunder God Technique!"

"You can't escape me!"

A savage grin crossed the Raikage's face as he locked onto Kazuya's new location and charged after him with relentless speed.

Bang!

At that moment, another burst of white smoke erupted.

A smoke bomb!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Kazuya swiftly weaved seals, unleashing another massive fireball.

"You again?!"

The Raikage's frustration boiled over.

This infuriating Anbu was pulling the same trick twice—did he really think he could make a fool of the Raikage of the Hidden Cloud?!

Swish!

This time, the Raikage had no intention of confronting the fireball head-on. With a blur of motion, he used his speed to sidestep the fireball and appeared directly behind Kazuya.

"Wait, this isn't right…"

"Watch out!"

Jiraiya's shout echoed from not far away.

He had been observing the fight, intending to step in if Kazuya faltered. But the Raikage's speed was too great, and now, he was launching a deadly strike. It was too late for Jiraiya to intervene.

"Die!"

"You arrogant Anbu!"

In an instant, the Raikage seized Kazuya and hurled him violently towards the ground.

"Take this!"

"Liger Bomb!!!"

"Raaaargh!"

Roar!

An immense wave of chakra erupted, shaking the air around them.

The Raikage, with murderous intent, sought to obliterate the Konoha Anbu.

"Perish!!!"

He bellowed, and the ground shattered beneath the force of his attack.

Liger Bomb!

The Raikage's signature move—grabbing an opponent, smashing them into the ground with earth-shattering force, all while amplifying the impact with explosive lightning chakra. No one had ever survived this brutal technique before!

"No!"

"Kazuya!"

"Captain!"

The Konoha shinobi who witnessed the scene turned pale with fear. Even Yūhi Kurenai looked ready to faint from the shock.

Could it be? Was Kazuya going to meet his end at the Raikage's hands?!

Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 30 at patreon.com/MythicForge11