Chapter 217: Colt vs. The Five Kages!

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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"Colt!"

Naruto was stunned, thinking that Tetsu who had warned him earlier would meet his end at the hands of the Third Raikage.

But, to everyone's surprise, Colt appeared at that crucial moment.

"Right on time," Colt said calmly, nodding at Naruto.

He effortlessly tossed the Third Raikage away, sending him crashing through several boulders.

His gaze swept over the chaotic battlefield.

Konan was engaged in an intense battle with the Second Mizukage, both unleashing powerful explosive techniques.

The area was void of other ninjas, but the continuous sound of blasts echoed through the desert.

The Second Tsuchikage was in a dust-release battle with Onoki, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya had summoned two more large toads and had the Third Hokage surrounded by all three, leaving him little room to escape.

The least threatening of them, the Fourth Kazekage, had already been sealed by Gaara and Temari.

Together with Sasori, they were now focusing their efforts on subduing the Third Kazekage.

It seemed the battlefield was finally under control.

Colt's sudden arrival also captured the attention of Orochimaru, who was far away, seated atop the half-shrunken Gedo Statue.

A twisted smile crept across Orochimaru's face.

The rivalry between him and Colt had been simmering since the Forest of Death back then.

Orochimaru had always been confident in his abilities, yet this kid had constantly bested him, feeding a deep resentment.

"Let's see how far you've come, Colt," Orochimaru whispered, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Kabuto, it's time. Let's personally greet this prodigy of Konoha."

Kabuto, who had been playing with a chess piece, stood up immediately upon hearing Orochimaru's command.

"But Orochimaru-sama, if we get too close, I may lose control over the Kages!"

"I don't care. With Naruto and the Nine-Tails on their way, nothing will stand in my way once I obtain that power."

Orochimaru's gaze darkened as he turned his attention back to the battle.

On the battlefield, the Third Hokage quickly formed hand seals, releasing a massive swamp to momentarily trap the giant toads, giving him a chance to escape.

The other resurrected Kages abandoned their current opponents and regrouped around him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, momentarily regaining control over his body, looked at Colt with a hint of relief in his eyes.

"Colt, how is Konoha?"

Colt smiled reassuringly.

"It's doing fine. Shortly after you passed away, Danzo was taken care of. And Sasuke recently sent the two remaining elders to join you in the Pure Land."

Sarutobi Hiruzen blinked in surprise but nodded, understanding what that meant.

"I see..." He muttered, though part of him had expected such outcomes.

"How is Sasuke?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

The thought of why Uchiha Sasuke would go to such lengths troubled him.

Colt shrugged.

"Who knows? Maybe that masked man whispered something in his ear."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent, pondering.

He had known about the existence of the masked man but had never managed to unravel his true identity.

Colt glanced at the group of resurrected Kages gathering before him.

"Alright, sensei. Time to see what this prodigy of yours can do."

"Orochimaru, stop this!" Hiruzen's voice rang out, a mix of his and Orochimaru's voice escaping from his lips.

Once again, the resurrected Kages moved, their bodies no longer under their own control.

The Second Tsuchikage took to the sky, while the Third Kazekage gathered a large amount of iron sand, and the Second Mizukage summoned a massive clam to conceal himself.

The Third Raikage, already preparing for his Hell Stab, had an open field to build up the momentum for his charge.

"Colt, be careful! The Third Raikage's spear is deadly! I'll help with the others!" Jiraiya called out, leaping beside him, eyes locked on the other Kage who were preparing their techniques.

Onoki also ascended into the air, face stern.

"We can't take them lightly."

But Colt waved them back, an amused smile playing on his lips.

"No need. I'll handle them all."

At that moment, the Third Raikage charged, his immense speed tearing a path through the desert, his thrust aimed directly at Colt.

Above, the Second Tsuchikage completed the seals for the Dust Release, locking onto Colt's position.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

"Magnet Style: Iron Sand World Method!"

Countless sharp iron sand spikes, superheated by the Third Hokage's Fire Style, rained down towards Colt. The battlefield had become a deadly convergence of powerful attacks.

Colt looked back at the Allied Shinobi Forces, ensuring they were out of range of the coming destruction.

As the Third Raikage closed in, the sound of crackling lightning filled the air.

At the last moment, Colt sidestepped, dodging the Raikage's attack by mere inches, and created a Rasengan imbued with lava in his right hand.

"Lava Style: Massive Rasengan!"

The molten Rasengan collided with the Raikage, and in an instant, half of the resurrected body was incinerated, reduced to molten ash.

But before the attack could even settle, the Second Tsuchikage's Dust Release was unleashed.

A blinding cylindrical beam shot toward Colt, locking onto his position.

Simultaneously, the burning red iron sand closed in, ready to impale him from all directions.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!" the Second Tsuchikage cried out.

Without missing a beat, Colt formed a hand sign of his own, creating a square frame with his hands.

In the blink of an eye, a massive Dust Release barrier materialized around Colt, far more expansive than the Tsuchikage's.

The colossal cubic barrier expanded, cutting through the battlefield with terrifying force, dwarfing the Tsuchikage's attack, which now looked insignificant in comparison.

Orochimaru watched through his summons with wide eyes, a gleeful expression spreading across his face.

"So, this is the power of Konoha's genius."

The clash of the Dust Releases illuminated the battlefield, but it was clear which was superior.

Colt's overwhelming strength had sent shockwaves through both his enemies and allies alike.