Chapter 200 : Third Raikage?

Witnessing the arrival of figures exuding a formidable aura, the previously tumultuous Konoha ninjas found themselves gripped by horror. Among them, lower-ranked ninjas were already trembling, their bodies drenched in sweat, and the kunai in their hands quivering.

"It's incredibly powerful. Judging by the sheer force, I thought Ai had personally arrived..."

A Konoha Jōnin observed the robust Cloud Ninja with eyes filled with unparalleled gravity. Though there were only a dozen or so Cloud Ninja behind him, he approached nearly a hundred Konoha ninjas with an air of nonchalance, as if no one existed in his realm. The momentum he exuded seemed to suggest that a single individual was enclosing nearly a hundred opponents!

"I didn't anticipate encountering a mere small fry, and the intelligence is not very accurate... Well, I don't have time to waste on you all. Prepare to meet your end!"

The fierce Cloud shinobi casually glanced at the Konoha ninjas before him, as if they were nothing more than a mob. He then roared, his body enveloped in a dazzling lightning chakra mode.

Having engaged in battles with Cloud Ninja for several months, it wasn't the first time Konoha's ninjas had witnessed such ninjutsu. Some Cloud Ninjas had also employed similar techniques.

However, compared to the humanoid ninja beasts standing before them, their thunderbolts were like the difference between fireflies and the sun and moon.

"Prepare to—!"

This Cloud Ninja charged directly at the nearly hundred Konoha ninjas, leaving a deep pit in the rock beneath his feet. The chakra strength he unleashed was undeniably at a level comparable to a Kage, not weaker than Sarutobi Hiruzen!

"Stop... stop him!"

The remaining four Konoha Jōnin exchanged glances and finally summoned their courage. Two of them rushed forward, while the others began forming seals with stern expressions.

"You arrogant fool, you underestimate us!"

Despite their fear of the terrifying aura emanating from this individual, the Konoha Jōnin were resolute. This man was evidently overconfident. 

Even if he single-handedly attacked nearly a hundred people, so many Konoha ninjas could overwhelm him with a C-rank ninjutsu. Engaging in direct physical combat with Sarutobi-sama was an impossibility!

The ten or so Cloud shinobi in the background continued to watch the unfolding spectacle. As long as they could block this man's charge, or better yet, detain him, they could make him pay for his arrogance!

Initially, the Konoha ninjas had set out to fortify their stronghold, but inexplicably found it breached. They were ambushed by Cloud Ninja and chased down by a formidable force.

"Konoha Iron Fist!"

"Wind Release Gale Palm!"

Two ninjas charged toward the Cloud Ninja, while others, including the Chunin, utilized ninjutsu or hurled hidden weapons to obliterate the audacious intruder!

"During the Anbu mission, that Cloud shinobi Tudun displayed the same recklessness. He charged forward alone, protected by Lightning Chakra Armor, and got taken down by instructor Yaksha... Perhaps there's hope this time..."

Orochimaru stood motionless, a silent gathering of natural forces enveloping him. His purple eyeshadow intensified, and two small protrusions emerged on his forehead, only to be concealed by the forehead guard. An eerie and potent energy surged through him, leaving Jiraiya, who stood nearby, with an unexplainable sense of foreboding.

"Hmm? Not running away at the sight of me? Well, I suppose it's understandable; after all, it's the first time Konoha's ninja are laying eyes on me... But it doesn't matter. Every Konoha ninja will know me from now on!"

Cloud shinobi, sprinting forward, observed the eager Konoha ninja. A bloodthirsty smile broke through his typically serious expression, and a tiger tooth at the corner of his mouth gleamed with a chilling light.

"Splut!"

The previously intense thunder light surged once more, Cloud shinobi's radiant energy shattering preconceptions. The violent electric cocoon danced wildly around his Lightning chakra coat, gathering into a substantial form on his right hand, forming a razor-sharp thorn.

"Hell Stab : Four-Finger Nukite!"

Cloud shinobi's speed skyrocketed, ignoring the Jōnin employing Iron Fist and Gale Palm. His right hand extended, four fingers grasping another Jōnin who wielded Iron Fist.

"It's over... You're finished!"

Faced with this overwhelming power, the captured Jōnin lost his composure, retracting his fist and shielding his chest with his arms.

"This is going to be quite the spectacle!"

As Orochimaru successfully entered immortal mode, he witnessed Cloud shinobi's jutsu, and a reluctant smile played on his lips.

A bead of cold sweat dripped from Orochimaru's pale cheek. "It's really him... Tsunade, Jiraiya, don't hesitate. Let's retreat."

This man was the one who could single-handedly defeat ten thousand enemies—the future third Raikage.

"Boom!"

As if no obstacle stood in his way, the future Raikage penetrated Konoha's defenses, leaving behind a trail of lightning that exploded like a brilliant firework.

"What... what is this?!"

The Wind Release user shook his head in disbelief. His attack had struck the Cloud Ninja, but it was effortlessly repelled.

Didn't they say Wind Release countered Lightning Release? Why is it ineffective? If I were the target just now, my fate would likely be no different!

"Boom-boom-boom!"

The ground seemed to be swept by a multitude of energy storms simultaneously—fire escape, water escape, wind escape—ninjutsu of various attributes mixed with kunai containing detonating tags erupted in a massive explosion. A colossal mushroom cloud rose into the sky.

Though everyone was stunned by the recent events, they continued hurling attacks without hesitation.

"That guy's finished!"

A Jōnin gasped, about to comment, when a lightning bolt shot through the smoke and struck him.

"Hell Stab Three-Finger Nukite!"

In the distant, Ai remained unscathed, his radiance untouched by lightning's might, and he had harnessed the formidable force of Hell's thrust, enhancing both his sprinting speed and attacking prowess to terrifying levels.

"Haha." A brutal smile played on his lips as he sprinted towards a densely packed group of Konoha ninjas, leaving them in stunned silence.

"Stop him! His speed is too fast. Don't even think about escaping. If he hadn't perished, we'd all be dead!"

The only two surviving Jounin roared hoarsely, unleashing their Chakra without reservation. The majority of Konoha ninjas, except for a handful of Jounin, lay defeated on the ground. The rest gritted their teeth, employing their most potent Ninjutsu to vanquish this demonic force.

"Fire Release, Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"

"WaterRelease ·Water Bomb!"

"Earth Release..."

One after another, Ninjutsu was unleashed upon the cloud ninja. The Taijutsu specialists discreetly retreated, taking up the responsibility of protecting their comrades. No one dared to approach this monstrous adversary.

Fortunately, though his attack and defense were unparalleled, his speed wasn't vastly superior to other Taijutsu users. The collective onslaught of covering-style Ninjutsu inundated him once again.

"Haha, these Konoha guys still won't give up!"

A dozen or so cloud ninjas at the rear observed the spectacle, treating it as a performance. Occasionally, they would dispatch a few Jounin attempting to escape.

The rest watched playfully, except for two whose expressions remained cold as they observed the situation intently.

"As expected, there's a problem. This is becoming troublesome."

Moments ago, Orochimaru had employed a long-distance Ninjutsu to test the third-generation Ai, who had been engulfed in flames. The attack seemed to vanish without a trace, raising suspicions.

While everyone's attention was fixated on the future Raikage, Orochimaru discreetly identified a few suspicious figures among the Cloud shinobi's "Leading Party."

"Various techniques, yet all vulnerable. Isn't there a more formidable foe?!"

Lightning crackled as a formidable figure stood like a demon in a pothole, surrounded by countless severed limbs and broken bodies. Despite the carnage, he remained unscathed, impervious to any assault. Konoha ninjas around him retreated in panic. Cloud shinobi's right hand, raised threateningly, maintained the strength of three fingers, an unstoppable force. Unsatisfied, Cloud shinobi seemed to possess power beyond the need for the current situation.

Indestructible defense, an unstoppable assault, boundless chakra—these were attributes traditionally associated with tailed beasts. In this moment, the four characters of a human-shaped tailed beast seemed etched on his forehead. No Konoha Ninja dared to challenge him.

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