Chapter 138
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The majority of Chiyo's hatred towards the Village Hidden in the Leaves originated from Sakumo.
After Sakumo's death, this resentment naturally transferred to both Kyomu and Kakashi. Among them, due to Kyomu's numerous accolades, his status as a nemesis in Chiyo's heart skyrocketed.
Given a choice, she would prefer to eliminate Kyomu first. Now, Chiyo has actively chosen to target Kyomu.
From Kyomu's perspective, he harbored little animosity towards Chiyo, simply considering it an opportunity to deal with her as he did with Ebizo previously, aiming to sever the Sand's right arm once again.
With their respective intentions, the clash between them was fierce from the very start.
Lightning Release: Eight Gates Armor, the Gate of Awe open!
Boom.
Kyomu was enveloped in blue electrical arcs, lifting him into the air amidst a surge of air that rippled around him, significantly increasing his speed.
Swift.
Chiyo, seasoned in countless battles, barely had time to react, using one of the ten puppets from the Chikamatsu Collection to shield herself.
Almost immediately, Kyomu appeared behind her, thrusting Yoei forward.
Ting.
Sparks flew as the puppet managed to block the attack, but even its supposedly indestructible body was marred by a scratch.
Chiyo, preoccupied with her puppet's defense, was unprepared for Kyomu's swift movements.
Despite her status as a puppetry grandmaster, her abilities were waning, and she couldn't match Kyomu's speed, leaving her at his mercy.
Indeed, while Kyomu's attacks couldn't yet penetrate the defenses of the Chikamatsu Collection's puppets to cause significant damage to Chiyo, the other Sand ninjas weren't as fortunate.
At one moment, Kyomu dashed towards Chiyo, but he left a trail of crimson blade energy that shot in the opposite direction, rescuing several Leaf ninjas in peril. The attack claimed the lives of at least seven Sand ninjas.
"You're dead!" Chiyo exclaimed through gritted teeth, though Kyomu ignored her.
With a flick of his wrist, Yoei effortlessly severed Chiyo's chakra threads, momentarily disrupting the control over her puppet.
Chiyo was aghast. The chakra threads, crucial for puppet manipulation, required considerable resilience. Severing them was a feat more challenging than damaging the puppets themselves.
Realizing Yoei's unique properties, Chiyo's frustration grew. How could Kyomu possess so many remarkable abilities?
She tried to recover quickly. Yet, Kyomu's speed surpassed her calculations, allowing him to unleash three more blade waves in different directions, inflicting casualties on another group of Sand ninjas.
In a brief respite, Kyomu exploited the moment Chiyo lost control of a puppet to close in on her once more.
Close combat was a nightmare for Sand puppeteers.
However, Chiyo was no ordinary puppeteer. With the formidable ten puppets of the Chikamatsu Collection at her disposal, she wasn't easily overcome.
Ting.
Once again, Kyomu's strike was blocked, but then Chiyo's expression changed dramatically.
Boom.
A massive shockwave sent the blocking puppet flying back towards Chiyo, forcing her to retreat.
An opening!
Kyomu pressed his advantage, his wind blades slicing towards Chiyo from all directions.
White Secret Technique: Trio of Torment.
Three puppets formed a defensive formation, absorbing and neutralizing the onslaught, even affecting Kyomu's subsequent moves.
Swiftly.
With his speed at its peak, Kyomu evaded further attacks, slicing through two more chakra threads and launching another set of blade waves towards the outskirts of the battlefield.
"Lord Kyomu is invincible!"
Leaf ninjas who were saved shouted in admiration, rallying once again against the Sand ninjas who had narrowly escaped death.
"Aragami Kyomu!" Chiyo screamed in impotent rage, "You will pay for your distractions!"
"Clown."
Muttering under his breath, Kyomu once again engaged Chiyo, using his speed, strength, and explosive force to keep her pinned.
Meanwhile, a bright green figure darted across the battlefield, shining brilliantly amidst the chaos.
This was Might Guy, whose youth was just beginning to bloom.
Under the influence of the Sixth Gate, the Gate of View, Guy's speed was unmatched by ordinary Sand ninjas, who couldn't keep up or react in time.
The thrill of physical combat made Guy's eyes sparkle even more.
Straight punch.
Boom. The punch sent a shockwave through the air, knocking three Sand ninjas off their feet.
Leaf Strong Whirlwind!
Bang, bang, bang.~
Approaching Sand ninjas were kicked away one by one, with Guy smiling mid-air.
"This is what youth looks like!"
Leaf Strong Kick.
Raising his right leg high above his head and then bringing it down forcefully...
Crack, crack, crack.
Similar to Tsunade's Heavenly Foot of Pain, the ground collapsed beneath the force of the kick, creating a trench that stretched forward, tearing open the earth.
Wind Release: Great...
A Sand ninja attempted a jutsu, but Guy vanished from the spot, reappearing behind him.
Clenching his fists under his arms, Guy launched a kick that struck the ninja's back, breaking his spine. The ninja was dead before he hit the ground.
Swift.
Guy's movements were a blur, dodging incoming kunai with ease, his concealed fists striking with the ferocity of a unleashed tiger.
Leaf Iron Fist!
The shockwave sent a sneaky Sand ninja flying, his blood a testament to Guy's blooming youth.
Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!
After suffering losses, the Sand ninjas finally organized an effective ninjutsu assault against Guy.
But it was futile. Guy's speed was simply too great; he could even change direction mid-air, rendering him an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
A punch, a kick, an elbow - every part of Guy was a weapon. Any Sand ninja unfortunate enough to be hit by him had no chance of survival.
"Spiky head, your opponent is me!" An elite Sand ninja confronted Guy.
"Youth shines brightest when faced with strong adversaries. That's when its true value and significance are realized."
Roar!
Guy's power surged anew, launching his strongest technique without hesitation.
Morning Peacock!
A barrage of fiery red punches, dense and powerful, descended upon the Sand ninja.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall.
A defensive barrier rose, but under the relentless assault of punches, it quickly crumbled. Guy, engulfed in green energy, burst through the smoke.
Thud, thud, thud.
In close combat, Guy's punches and kicks were like hammers, mercilessly beating the Sand ninja until his bones nearly shattered.
Ninjutsu?
There was no chance to use it. The Sand ninja couldn't even draw his hands to perform seals.
As the battle intensified, Guy's spirit soared, his eyes gleaming brighter with every move. Who said taijutsu users have no place on the battlefield? At this moment, he was dominating an elite ninja with sheer physical prowess.
Bring it on! Fight!
Guy's fighting spirit was infectious, igniting a similar fervor among the Leaf ninjas, especially those in the First Ninja Squad, each demonstrating remarkable strength and ferocity.
Meanwhile, Obito and Kakashi found themselves in a precarious situation. However, as long as they could hold Rasa at bay, they considered their mission accomplished.
Magnet Release: Gold Dust Barrier Technique!
Rasa summoned sharp, spire-like structures of gold dust from the ground, instantly propelling them upwards in a crisscross pattern to ensnare Kakashi and Obito.
Lightning Cutter: Flow!
Kakashi's right hand was swiftly enveloped in a dense, silent layer of lightning chakra, which spread along the blade of his Kunai, extending its reach.
Stretch, Yukihime!
Whoosh.
The blade elongated to ten meters, and Kakashi, using his hips for momentum, spun around, wielding the extended blade in a wide arc.
Swoosh.
The imminent sharp gold dust structures were cleanly sliced through, and before Kakashi could fully retract his weapon, Obito's counterattack was already in motion.
The screeching, chaotic noise indicated the activation of Chidori. Although Obito hadn't had the opportunity to enhance Chidori further, it was more than sufficient for their teamwork.
The right hand, aglow with lightning and emitting a piercing screech, reached towards Kakashi. In tandem, Kakashi's left hand also shone with the Lightning Cutter, their chakra drawing towards each other and eventually connecting, forming a zigzag line of electricity.
Lightning Release: Lightning Transmission!
They dashed forward in unison, the glaring line of lightning chakra slicing through any obstacle in its path, demonstrating the futility of the Sand ninjas' defenses against such speed and precision.
"Where do all these geniuses come from?" Rasa frowned, bewildered. "Isn't one Kyomu enough?"
Magnet Release: Gold Dust Cushion.
A cloud-like mass of gold dust lifted Rasa off the ground, avoiding the joint assault from Kakashi and Obito. He then spread his hands wide, preparing for his next move.
Magnet Release: Gold Dust Drizzle!
In an instant, the sky filled with dense clusters of gold dust, which then sharpened into fine, penetrating spears.
With a flick of his wrist, Rasa commanded the deadly rain to descend, a formidable attack that could penetrate any defense, threatening to impale anyone unable to evade in time.
The next moment, two figures—one enveloped in electrical arcs, the other in a green energy whirlwind—rushed to intervene, closely followed by Chiyo and several elite Sand ninjas.
A Thousand Flames Roar!
In the blink of an eye, a dense flurry of blade energy soared into the sky, targeting the descending spears.
Morning Peacock!
Similarly, a burst of fiery punches ascended, further decimating the already thinned spears.
White Secret Technique: Assault!
White Secret Technique: Rapid Fire!
White Secret Technique: Slash!
Chiyo's eyes blazed with fury as she launched a relentless assault on Kyomu, Kakashi, Obito, and Guy, who had managed to not only devastate the surrounding Sand ninjas but also find time to rescue their comrades.
"Think I'm made of mud, do you?"
Simultaneously, the elite Sand ninjas pursuing Guy expressed similar frustration. Guy's relentless close-quarters combat prevented them from using their jutsu effectively.
Wind Release: Great Scythe Weasel!
Wind Release: Continuous Vacuum Spheres!
Chiyo and the two elite Sand ninjas unleashed a torrent of attacks, cornering their Leaf adversaries.
"You may not understand what surpassing your speeds in every aspect truly means."
Kyomu scoffed internally at the incoming attacks from all sides, swiftly evading the Chikamatsu Collection puppets and Wind Release techniques with Kakashi in tow.
Guy, also evading with Obito, set them down safely before both heroes darted off in opposite directions, focusing their efforts on the regular Sand forces.
"How dare you!"
Chiyo was livid, her attacks strong and defenses solid. Yet, she was steadily outmaneuvered by Kyomu, who insulted her by attacking other Sand ninjas or aiding allies, highlighting her inability to keep up due to her speed disadvantage.
Blinking, Kyomu once again culled a swath of Sand ninjas, earning another round of admiration from the Leaf forces for his leadership on the battlefield.
"Lord Kyomu, invincible!"
The battle was far from over, but the Leaf ninjas began their victory chants, akin to popping champagne mid-game.
"Invincible?"
Chiyo ceased her pursuit, her scornful laughter echoing, "After your dream of invincibility shatters, what despair will your faces show?"
Looking towards the horizon, she mused with greater amusement, "Bunpuku, it's time to move, isn't it?"
As Chiyo predicted, Bunpuku was indeed in motion, albeit not as smoothly as planned.
The Hyuga's Byakugan might have a maximum observation range of eight kilometers, but to ensure the battlefield's rear security, Hyuga ninjas didn't stay stationary; they expanded their coverage progressively.
Bunpuku, attempting to circumvent and approach the Leaf's rear from about ten kilometers away, was detected by the Hyuga well in advance.
Upon discovery, Bunpuku no longer concealed his presence, opting for full tailed beast transformation.
And with Shukaku's massive size in full transformation, his approach was alarmingly swift. Even with the attack time extended from ten to nearly twenty seconds, the preparation window left for Aragami Kyomu was critically short.
Moreover, Shukaku chose an aerial detonation for the Tailed Beast Ball, making it even harder to counter.
Kyomu, lacking the ability to fly, looked up at the Tailed Beast Ball soaring through the air, bit his finger, slammed his hand on the ground, and turned to shout.
"Brothers, help me!"
(End of Chapter)