Chapter 168

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Although he had anticipated the possibility, when Shikaku finally received the news, his expression turned grim.

It wasn't that the scenario hadn't crossed his mind—Raikage launching a solo attack on the Konoha camp to create chaos and provide cover for the rescue of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. In fact, he had even prepared for this by deploying an elite Ino-Shika-Cho team, replacing Toshiro.

"The enemy is... the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!"

The Shinobi delivering the report, named Nara Shikao, couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed on the spot.

"...Medical team!"

Before Shikaku could react, Choza, standing beside him, swiftly called for the medics.

"What the Fuck is the Eight Tails Jinchuriki doing here!!!"

After the medical team had taken their injured comrade away, Shikaku remained standing in place, his expression tense as he processed the news. Finally, he spoke in a somber tone to his companion.

"According to intelligence, hasn't the AB duo been disbanded since the Fourth Raikage took power? The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was reportedly still in Unraikyo Mountain. So, why has he reappeared alongside Raikage now?"

His worst fears had come true.

When Raikage initially appeared, Shikaku had considered this possibility. But ultimately, the issue boiled down to their side's lack of high-end combat power.

"Heavy blow!"

With his elbow poised like a spear, Raikage transformed into a lightning-charged missile, hurtling toward Toshiro with unstoppable force.

The speed was beyond what the naked eye could track. Even the Sharingan, known for its exceptional ability to predict movements, could only barely capture Raikage's blurred afterimage.

"It's useless!"

Watching the Raikage close in once more, relying on sheer speed, Toshiro showed no trace of fear. He clenched his fists tightly and let out a fierce battle cry:

"Haah!"

Boom!

As Toshiro's punch cut through the air, it caused a shockwave, exploding with such force that it left a visible trail, like an airburst, lingering in the sky.

In his chakra vision, he could see a highly concentrated mass of energy that, with a single punch, shot toward the empty space in front of him.

This technique was something he had developed, inspired by the immense strength of the Tsunade's punch and the Hyuga Clan's Air Palm. Its power was remarkable, but it had a significant drawback: once the chakra moved beyond his ten-meter range, its strength diminished rapidly. Beyond twenty meters, it posed little to no threat.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion erupted, sending visible shockwaves rippling through the air, leaving only a faint blue silhouette in its wake.

"You bastard, I'll kill you!"

Looking at the enraged Raikage, Toshiro could only sigh in resignation.

When he came up with the technique, his mind was conjuring up the image of Saitama's mock punch to Genoz, which blew up a mountain in One Punch Man.

Originally, he had planned to find a chance to spar with Tsunade and get her opinion on this new move.

Yet here he was, using it for the first time against the brutish Raikage.

"How unpleasant," he thought to himself.

"It's not clear who's going to take down whom!" he shot back defiantly.

Tearing off his already tattered shirt, Toshiro felt a strange sense of liberation, as if stripping away the fabric brought him closer to nature itself.

As he shed the restraints on his body, Toshiro felt a surge of exhilaration, though the current scenery was... somewhat unconventional.

Under the cold moonlight, the sight was almost comical: both Raikage and Toshiro, two imposing men, stood shirtless, glaring fiercely at each other.

If it weren't for the sheer devastation surrounding them—the shattered land and splintered trees—one might mistakenly think this was the setup for some farcical, awkward drama.

"I must admit," Toshiro said with a smirk, "fighting against you, A, is the most intense and exhilarating battle of my life!"

This time, Toshiro refrained from using any form of senjutsu, genjutsu. He didn't even rely on ninjutsu, mangekyo powers, or any of his usual melee tactics.

He cast aside the elegant and intricate combat style typical of the Uchiha, opting instead for big, powerful moves, using only his raw strength and fastest speed to engage his opponent.

It made him realize that in his past life, amidst the concrete jungle of a materialistic city, he could never have experienced such a visceral thrill and sense of pure exhilaration.

"I have to admit, Konoha is truly blessed," said the Raikage. "First you had the genius of Minato, and now they have someone like you."

He was still astonished by the late Minato Namikaze, but even more so that the Fourth Hokage had perished during the Nine-Tails incident. Yet, not long after, Konoha produced another prodigy—Uchiha Toshiro. Thankfully, their own Cloud Village wasn't lacking in talent either.

"Any last words? If not, I'm ending this now."

Raikage's expression grew slightly complicated as he stared at Toshiro. How fortunate it would have been if someone like him had been a Cloud Ninja. His power and fighting style perfectly matched Raikage's own ideals.

Fighting Uchiha Toshiro felt completely different from battling Minato Namikaze. Minato's techniques were so refined, so elusive, that often Raikage felt unsure where to even begin. Every punch thrown at him felt like striking air, leaving him frustrated and disoriented.

But with Toshiro, it was a different story. There was no hesitation, no finesse clouding the fight—just raw, unrestrained power. Every punch he landed was met with an even fiercer counter. It was the kind of battle that made him sweat freely, a rare and exhilarating exchange that couldn't be replicated in training.

Crack! Crack!

Raikage twisted his neck, ready to continue the fight.

"Hmm... is that a retreat signal?"

Toshiro squinted at the distant light, surprised to see it illuminate several kilometers of the surrounding area. From the direction of the Konoha camp, two red beams and one green ray shot into the night sky.

"Now's my chance! Liger Bomb!"

Noticing Toshiro's brief moment of distraction, the Fourth Raikage didn't hesitate. With his right hand clenched into a fist and arm raised, he vanished in an instant, reappearing less than five meters in front of Toshiro, charging forward with unstoppable momentum.

Simultaneously, behind Toshiro, another figure mirrored the Raikage's technique, poised for a coordinated sneak attack.

Unsurprisingly, it was Killer Bee who arrived to assist after rescuing Yugito.

'What a shame!

Such a near-perfect opponent, yet he met his end by my hands. But... it's his fault for not having a brother!'

With Killer Bee by his side, the two combined their power to execute the Double Lariat, and Raikage's confidence surged. His speed, already formidable, had now reached new heights.

Their synergy not only enhanced their individual speed but also created a binding magnetic field between them, leaving their enemy with no chance of evasion. Whether the opponent attempted to flee or cast ninjutsu, it was already too late.

Raikage was confident that no one in the ninja world, apart from Minato Namikaze with his space-time ninjutsu, could escape this technique.

"Die!"

As Raikage charged towards Toshiro, he noticed the calm expression on his opponent's face. Mistakenly assuming that Toshiro hadn't realized the danger, Raikage swung his right arm, believing it was an honor for Toshiro to fall under the combined force of himself and Killer Bee.

However, just as Raikage and Killer Bee were about to strike, a red-and-blue chakra sphere, three meters in radius, suddenly materialized in front of Toshiro.

"Fire Ninjutsu?"

Even now, the opponent still had a defensive move? Though unexpected, Raikage had no intention of stopping.

Crackling! Crackling! Crackling!

Boom! Rumble!

As Raikage and Killer Bee collided with the rapidly spinning ball of light, a storm of crackling electricity, high-speed wind blades slicing through the air, and the roar of raging flames erupted in unison.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Moments later, a sharp crack sounded, as if something was slowly breaking apart.

Crash!

With the sharp sound of shattering porcelain, Toshiro's seemingly invincible Fire Wheels technique finally crumbled under the overwhelming force of Raikage and Killer Bee's Doublw Lariat. The technique disintegrated, revealing Toshiro's figure within.

Thud!

A faint, muffled sound followed—like the unsettling thud of a head hitting the ground.

However, Raikage and Killer Bee did not celebrate their apparent victory. Instead, their expressions grew more serious as they focused on a large tree nearby.

Bang!

As expected, a puff of smoke dispersed, revealing nothing but a broken wooden log in its place. The Fire Wheel defense had merely bought Toshiro enough time to execute a substitution technique.

"What kind of jutsu was that?"

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