Chapter 159

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"Kyomu truly deserves his reputation as a formidable ninja capable of subduing the Sand Shinobi alone."

In the Third Raikage's words, Kyomu has become a formidable force.

"Moreover, the news of Uchiha Fugaku unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan has been tightly sealed. And the Perfect Susanoo, it's really strong!"

Along with Fugaku, the Third Raikage genuinely admires the strength.

"But as strong as they are, the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan carries the risk of blindness. Fugaku cannot maintain the Perfect Susanoo indefinitely.

Moreover, according to intelligence gathered on the battlefield, the spatial abilities greatly drain Kyomu."

While the Third Raikage praises his opponent, his fighting spirit remains undiminished, even robust.

"Kyomu and Fugaku's intentions couldn't be clearer; they are exerting their utmost power and strategies to protect the newly graduated Leaf Genin."

The Third Raikage shakes his head, a proud expression on his face, "But such power isn't sustainable. With such intensity, Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan won't last long, and continuously pushing Kyomu without rest will wear him down within a week."

Dodai nods, largely agreeing with the Third Raikage's assessment and strategy.

But soon, he shakes his head, "Third, the Sand Shinobi also tried to wear down Kyomu, but to little effect. I'm worried…"

"Hah!" The Third Raikage scoffs, "Dodai, no need to remind me what the Sand Shinobi are capable of, and their efforts to wear down Kyomu were childish at best. Ultimately, they lacked top-tier power.

But we are different. With me, you, A, Killer Bee, and others, how long can Kyomu and Fugaku last against our top-tier forces?"

The Third Raikage gestures broadly, "Others, rest here, and stay on guard against any surprise attacks from Kyomu, while I, Dodai, Darui, and Samui will challenge them tonight."

Turning to his son, "A, tomorrow you and Killer Bee, Yugito, Atsui, and others will take over."

Snap.

The Third Raikage claps his right fist into his left palm, "Two rounds, four rounds, six rounds, or even more—how will Aragami Kyomu and Uchiha Fugaku cope then?"

After setting the tactics, the Third Raikage also warns, "After cross-verifying various intelligence reports, it's clear that Kyomu has a high chakra capacity and some unknown means of replenishing it.

Moreover, his spatial ability allows him to teleport up to 15 meters, attacking anywhere within that range.

It seems unbeatable, being nearly invincible within 15 meters, but no technique or ability is perfect.

Kyomu's spatial ability can avoid any attack while moving, but it's costly. With the chakra he has, he can only use it about fifty times in a battle.

If mixed with other types of attacks, that number would be even less, making it unsustainable for long-term use, which is a weakness.

And during the brief moment Kyomu ends a teleport and launches an attack, you have 0.04 seconds to react. With the help of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, you can completely respond in time and evade.

Of course, Darui, Samui, Atsui, and others aren't yet at that level of strength, so we need to look out for each other.

What you need to do is alternate among yourselves, continuously, with high bursts of speed, forcing Kyomu to use his spatial ability repeatedly.

If he engages you directly, that's best; mutual support will drain him further. If he uses spatial abilities to evade and attempts a sneak attack, automatically evade, still draining him.

Keep in mind, our greatest advantage is our numbers. Maybe we can't overcome Kyomu on our own, and might even get killed, but with many of us, there's utility!

However, what I'm most worried about is that Kyomu has other killer moves... or say, special techniques."

Here, the Third Raikage's eyes harden, "I will personally force Kyomu to reveal his hand, and once we have that intelligence, his tricks, once analyzed, won't be so daunting.

Alright, everyone go prepare. Share this intelligence with all allies, gather ideas, and try to find more countermeasures."

As his voice falls, the tent empties within ten seconds, leaving only the Third Raikage and Dodai.

The Third Raikage's thorough analysis and well-planned countermeasures earn Dodai's enthusiastic thumbs up.

"Hey, you're still you!"

"Just years of experience," the Third Raikage sits down, "but I'm still worried, Kyomu's special technique is too powerful, hard to find a countermeasure."

"Space ability, indeed a tough challenge." Dodai nods, "But haven't you already…"

"This is the least bad solution." The Third Raikage shakes his head, "Just one Kyomu requires the village's most elites, if he has ample forces at his disposal, we are undoubtedly doomed."

"It's a bit frightening, just half a year without seeing, and Kyomu has become..."

"Yes!" The Third Raikage sighs, "If it was Minato, we wouldn't need to be so troubled."

After a moment of silence, the Third Raikage and Dodai look at each other again, "I see my fate in Kyomu."

"Hey, don't talk like that, Kyomu isn't that frightening!"

"I know Kyomu has more powerful special techniques, and I know I can't dodge them." The Third Raikage is calm, "Admitting you're inferior isn't shameful, but being unable to break, match, or surpass, that's what I can't accept."

"Then leave it to me!" Dodai stands up.

"No, leave it to me." The Third Raikage shakes his head, "I want to see what the peak of speed, violence, and explosive power is really like!"

At this moment, the Third Raikage, like a seeker of peaks, declares, "Space ability... such a thrilling power, I want to break it!" His gaze is resolute, "Our Lightning Release Chakra Mode can achieve speeds that break the limits of space, I've always believed it!"

Standing up, the Third Raikage's muscular body tenses, "The limits of ninja physique are far from reached, I must personally undertake this battle, succeed or fail."

"Hey, but if you fail..."

"Ai will inherit my name, becoming the new 'A,' the new Raikage, he will carry on everything I've done."

The Third Raikage's gaze is resolute, "Some things, someone must venture, explore, and no one in Kumogakure is more suited than me."

"Then I'll join you, to record everything." Dodai smiles, extending his fist.

Bang.

The Third Raikage's fist meets Dodai's, "Years ago, we were the village's best AB combo!"

"Ha, together again, victory will surely be ours!"

"Victory!"

"Surpass!"

"The will of lightning, forever enduring!"

The two old men rediscover the unstoppable spirit of their youth, shout their slogans, and leave the tent, heading towards the Leaf village camp under the cover of night.

—

With one hand, Fugaku prevents himself from standing up.

Kyomu stands up, "Leave it to me."

Fugaku still stubbornly stands up, his silent demeanor clearly showing his anger.

"Must be almost 400 degrees of nearsightedness, right?" Kyomu suddenly turns back to face Fugaku, "The Perfect Susanoo isn't so easy to activate. Given your previous performances, Fugaku, three more uses, and you'll be blind."

"Just one more use, and I can wipe out the Cloud elite!"

"People aren't wooden stakes; they won't just stand there and let you hit them. And they came here with the intention to wear us down; if you rush forward and activate the Susanoo, they can simply retreat and come back tomorrow."

Kyomu's words render Fugaku silent.

The full-powered Uchiha, once they awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, naturally activate the Perfect Susanoo as an instinct.

But what's consumed is the Mangekyō Sharingan's vision and ocular power, not to be used unless absolutely necessary, best kept for critical moments.

Using the second and third stages is sufficient to handle most situations, offering a much better cost-effectiveness ratio compared to the Perfect Susanoo.

The limit of potential blindness still doesn't allow the Uchiha to act recklessly.

Unless in a desperate situation, they wouldn't be so careless.

"I can use the second and third stages of the Susanoo."

"Think of your clan members behind you; in recent years, you're the only one who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. If you go blind, how will you deter outsiders or protect your clan?"

Kyomu shakes his head, patting Fugaku's shoulder with an air of maturity, "Fugaku, showing off the peak power of the Mangekyō Sharingan once is enough to tell others you possess it. But if used frequently, the deterrent effect is much diminished."

"I don't need your reminder!" Fugaku answers coldly, "Clarify your position, Kyomu!"

"I'm concerned about you, Fugaku." Kyomu turns and walks away, waving his hand behind him, "No thanks needed, just remember it. When it's time for you to repay, I'll let you know."

"Who would remember..." Fugaku's expression is odd, his voice no longer as cold, "Repay? Who would repay you? I certainly won't."

Sitting back down, Fugaku can't help but worry, standing up and sitting down again, repeating the action twice before quietly following.

The Uchiha do not need favors; we settle them on the spot, owing nothing to anyone.

Yep, that's how it is.

Unaware of the far trailing Fugaku, Kyomu's smile never fades.

Those proud Uchiha, are beyond saving, but that make them lovable.

Earlier in the day, before a small basin, Kyomu watches the lead Third Raikage from afar.

"Raikage, this isn't your Cloud style, using these tactics?"

"To deal with the strong, we must use all our strength."

"Should I thank you for your recognition then?"

"Do you, Kyomu, need someone else's recognition?"

"Right." Kyomu nods, "Actually, you, brute, shouldn't die here. If you lead your troops to retreat and surrender, I'd save a lot of effort."

"Kyomu, don't waste your effort, we both know what's on each other's minds." The Third Raikage jumps into the center of the basin, "I've figured out all your strength, come fight!"

"Heh." Kyomu chuckles coldly as he jumps down, facing the Third Raikage from a distance, "Have you seen my prime?"

The Third Raikage is speechless, followed by a stunned Fugaku.

Really arrogant!

But it suits Fugaku's taste; he'd like to say the same.

The Third Raikage doesn't waste any more words, his body covered in Lightning Release Armor, the thunderlight illuminating a small area of darkness.

Swish.

Kyomu takes a step forward, but instead appears behind the Third Raikage, swinging a blade of light as he turns.

Blue Flame · Skyline!

At the same moment, the Third Raikage reacts, turning to block, as Kyomu vanishes again, simultaneously appearing at the Third Raikage's side, extending Yoei forward, while his left fist vanishes, suddenly appearing on the Third Raikage's forehead.

This is a combination of attacks achieved through spatial abilities.

A blade flash in front, Yoei thrust from the side, and an explosive punch from above, all nearly instantaneous.

The Third Raikage has little time to consider his options.

Lightning Release Chakra Mode, full power burst!

The Third Raikage's speed soars, taking advantage of the mere 0.04 second attack interval, dodging the shadowy thrust and the overhead punch, and completing his counterattack.

"The pinnacle of ninja physical speed, indeed well-deserved!"

Kyomu inwardly admires, effortlessly dodging the Third Raikage's punch, again blinking synchronously to a new position to extend another blade forward.

And after two rounds of exchange, the shooting blue-purple blade light barely reaches the Third Raikage.

So fast it dazzles the eyes!

Watching Fugaku, even with the Mangekyō Sharingan activated, nearly has his eyeballs thrown out of their sockets, and can only vaguely see the movements.

"So fast, one can only rely on instinct and prediction, otherwise it's impossible to keep up!"

The Mangekyō Sharingan's exceptional dynamic vision is seemingly insufficient, otherwise, the future Sasuke wouldn't be nearly blown apart by Killer Bee's Lariat.

Boom!

Then, the Third Raikage withstands the blade light swung by Kyomu with his body, although the Lightning Release Armor shatters, it doesn't harm him.

And the shattered Lightning Release Armor instantly repairs itself.

Quite resilient.

Spurt.

But Yoei breaks through all chakra defenses.

However, the Third Raikage doesn't care about Yoei's blade passing through his chest, instead grabbing the spine of Yoei with his hand.

Very strong, and very firm.

Simultaneously, his right fist clenches, carrying a flickering thunderlight, and smashes towards Kyomu's face.

In a flash of lightning, Kyomu reacts, activating his space Bloodline Limit, teleporting away.

But then, the Third Raikage smiles even wider.

Yoei is in my hand; you can't pull it away for a moment, even with spatial abilities letting you dodge this punch. But your hand that was holding Yoei blade's handle is still there!

So will you let go, or not let go, or maybe a counter-attack?

Battle intelligence, the Third Raikage is not inferior, and Dodai, his long-time partner, also synchronizes perfectly.

Fugaku, does not make a move.

Although he hates to admit it, neither Dodai nor the Third Raikage's speed is something he can keep up with, even if opening the second stage of the Susanoo could defend for a moment, but what about after that?

No doubt, just a punching bag.

Just like his son Sasuke, who was beaten up by the Fourth Raikage.

Could Kyomu be facing a critical situation?

No, the real show has just begun.

(End of chapter)