Chapter 168 : Deadly Plan!!

Aburame Ryoma carried the dying Fugaku on his back and ran as fast as he could, not daring to stop for a moment. The pressure was immense, almost overwhelming him.

Behind him, the lightning flashed like a relentless hunter, putting him under constant stress. Aburame Ryoma felt like they were prey being pursued by a merciless beast.

"Damn it, the Raikage is still after me!" Ryoma thought, frustrated that he hadn't learned more escape techniques.

His body was nearing exhaustion, and the parasites inside him could only do so much. He was drained physically and mentally, with his chakra and strength almost depleted. Despite his efforts, the Raikage kept getting closer.

"Almost there," Ryoma muttered through gritted teeth, pushing himself to run even faster.

In the distance, the outline of Mount Kikyo began to come into view. Though called a mountain, Mount Kikyo was actually a fortress on the edge of Konoha Village.

"Raikage! Raikage attacks!" Ryoma shouted desperately at the fortress. "Konoha's front-line troops have been completely defeated. The main force of Cloud Ninja has crossed the border, and the Raikage is deep inside Konoha! Report to Lord Danzo immediately!"

His urgent call drew the attention of the ninjas stationed at the fortress. 

Upon hearing that the frontline troops had been wiped out and the Raikage was closing in, the head of the Anbu turned pale and said, "This is serious, we need to act fast!"

"Quickly, report to Lord Danzo!" he ordered, turning to find someone to relay the information.

But at that moment, the Raikage, Ai, who was still some distance from the fortress, had a strange smirk on his lips.

Aburame Ryoma felt a jolt of unease and suddenly realized that something was off.

Why does it seem like the Raikage did this on purpose?

"Now!" 

Raikage Ai growled.

Immediately, a gray-haired woman dashed out from the group of five who had been following.

A man quickly formed hand seals and pressed his hands to the ground: "Heavenly Transfer Technique!"

In an instant, Raikage Ai, enveloped in chakra, vanished.

Swish!

As everyone stood stunned, the disappearing lightning shadow transformed into a streak of light.

In the darkness, he cut through with a dazzling arc at a speed close to light itself. The heavily defended fortress couldn't react in time as he broke through.

The fortress's defences, barriers, and formations seemed to crumble against his assault!

Amidst the lightning, Raikage Ai's powerful figure came into view for the Konoha Anbu.

The extreme speed had caused some damage to Raikage Ai. He had brushed harshly against the air, and his skin had been scorched, turning blackened.

If Ai hadn't inherited the bloodline of the Third Raikage, anyone else would have been reduced to ashes.

"Raikage..."

Sweat broke out on the face of the Anbu leader beneath the mask.

From the Raikage's willingness to hurt himself and use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to enter the fortress as quickly as possible, he vaguely guessed what the Raikage was planning.

"Heh~"

Two streams of air shot out of Raikage Ai's nostrils as he snorted in disdain.

"Run!" 

The leader of the Anbu, no longer hesitating, formed hand seals and shouted, "We have to get the information back, no matter what!"

With that, he lifted his head and exhaled a thick cloud of fog.

"Fire Style: Ash Burn!"

The high-temperature smoke quickly filled the entire fortress, obscuring everything in sight.

"Oh, did you figure it out?"

Raikage Ai, enveloped in the dense ash, sneered. "But unfortunately, you're too late!"

Crack!

The Anbu leader gritted his teeth as sparks flew. In an instant, the sparks ignited the smoke, causing a violent explosion in the cramped room.

Whoosh whoosh!

As the air whistled, Raikage Ai stepped forward.

He moved at full speed, and before the air currents could settle, they were swept away by his powerful presence. An invisible force spread before him, creating gusts of wind wherever it went.

The Anbu leader felt as if he was facing the overwhelming might of an entire army with just one person advancing.

"Wind Release."

Just as the Anbu leader was about to form a seal, his neck was seized.

Raikage Ai, breaking through layers of fire, used his Lightning Release Armor for protection. His fingers, like iron clamps, tightened around the leader's neck with such force that he was suffocated within seconds.

"You're very smart. You figured out my plan." He glanced at the Anbu struggling to breathe in front of him, a sneer playing at the corner of his lips. "But it's too late. No one is getting a message out tonight!"

Yes, that was his plan.

Attack!

Attack!

Attack!

At all costs, break through Konoha's defenses and strike quickly!

Then, cut off their ability to send information until Konoha is completely caught off guard, and deliver the final blow!

The Anbu leader had guessed and understood the plan.

There was a deep fear in his eyes.

But his fear wasn't just about his own death; he foresaw Konoha being engulfed by the flames of war!

The defenseless Konoha, still in slumber, would face the ruthless assault of the Kumo Ninjas!

Crack!

A body with a broken neck fell lifeless to the ground.

Raikage Ai began the pursuit. Despite his exhaustion, he had to press on.

He chased down and killed all the Anbu who had escaped from the fortress, but two still eluded him.

"What?"

Raikage Ai frowned, his face dark with anger. "You mean, they vanished into thin air?!"

Before he attacked the fortress, he had assigned the task of capturing the two to his most trusted guard team. He never expected such a simple mission would fail!

"I want a reasonable explanation!"

The Raikage's voice was low and dangerous, his face stormy, making it clear that he was in a foul mood.

"Lord Raikage, those two really disappeared."

The five people trembled with fear as they spoke nervously. "And they vanished in the same way as Uchiha Sogetsu."

"Uchiha Sogetsu..."

Hearing that forbidden name, Raikage Ai's expression changed drastically. He clenched his teeth and said, "Very well. If he's still alive, we'll settle things once and for all!"

"Lord Raikage, should we keep going?"

The five felt their nerves jangle at the thought of advancing further, as it would bring them to Konoha Village!

"No."

Although Raikage Ai is known for his impulsive nature, he's not foolish.

Rushing ahead would mean facing not just one or two fortresses, but the entire village.

The five people breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely worried that Raikage Ai might go berserk and lead them straight into Konoha Village like Uchiha Sogetsu had done.

"You stay here."

Raikage Ai stared into the distance and said firmly, "Send him over here, let him transform him into a tailed beast, and then teleport him directly to Konoha Village for me!"

He's planning to deliver a devastating blow to Konoha Village!

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