Accompanied by a thunderous bang, the sand dunes in the distance exploded with lightning flashes. The sand dunes disappeared in an instant, with dust swirling in the air.
"Don't be afraid, she's only one!"
A brave voice amongst the Suna ninjas echoed, attempting to rally courage and dispel the fear in their hearts.
A large number of Suna ninja corpses lay on the sand, many injured from the lightning explosion. Blood continued to flow from their foreheads, and their eyes were blood red.
Fire, lightning, wind, chakra-infused shurikens, and explosive kunai were all unleashed towards the Susanoo.
Facing the combined attack of hundreds or even more Suna ninjas, Ruri also felt a bit of resistance.
The Susanoo, revealing only half of its colossal form, struggled forward, wielding the giant sword. It swung, creating sword lights that countered the Suna ninjas onslaught.
Despite Ruri's initial attack resulting in numerous casualties, the Suna ninja, reacting swiftly, restoring the fighting spirit which ninjas of the five major ninja villages should have. The ninjas gathered here were all elite. Not only were they combat-effective, but their willpower remained strong, even in the face of a powerful enemy.
The stronger the enemy, the more ferocious fighting spirit they could muster.
In the gradually dissipating smoke, Ruri and thr Susanoo stood almost unscathed.
The Suna ninjas didn't feel discouraged; they already knew how powerful the opponent's move was. However, regardless of the type of ninjutsu, weaknesses existed, and maintaining such a huge chakra giant must consume a considerable amount of chakra.
Even if it they could only hold her off, it could still be a strategy to exhaust all the enemy's chakra and then secure victory. This was their common thought. In the absence of a direct confrontation, a strategic detour became their preferred approach.
"Even bugs can be troublesome if they're densely packed." Ruri remarked, seeming to observe the containment tactics of the Suna ninjas without losing her composure.
She didn't take the Suna ninjs for granted even though they were a group of brainless fools. Though individually weaker than her, their sheer numbers could pose a significant threat, especially with the persistent tactics aimed at exhausting her chakra. Her chakra reserves couldn't afford to be squandered.
"Konoha Whirlwind!!"
Two voices sounded simultaneously; Ruri turned her head slightly.
Two roundabout kicks hit the Susanoo's back simultaneously. Duy and Guy both activated the eight inner gates. Both were using the fourth gate.
In this mode, the two powerful roundabout kicks caused the Susanoo to tremble slightly, before it regained stability.
Both Duy and Guy wore serious expressions. The stability and firmness of the Susanoo was beyond their imagination.
Ruri glanced at them, she turned around, with the Susanoo followed suit, raising its sword, it mercilessly slashed down.
"Honoikazuchi (Fire Lightning)!"
The bursting lightning, even though the two retreated in time, swept them, and they were restrained by the lightning, letting out painful moans. However, they soon used the continuous burst of chakra in their bodies to neutralize the current.
"Kuroikazuchi (Black Lightning)."
Duy and Guy's eyes widened as the huge Susanoo in front of them disappeared into the ground.
A chill ran down their spines.
Boom!
An attack came from behind, lightning strafed, and Guy vomited blood, rolling out, the green steam on his body about to extinguish.
"You're still lacking, Guy."
"No matter how long we've known each other, you're still so powerful, Ruri-sensei..."
Guy struggled to get up, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, he managed to show a weak smile.
"Unfortunately, this is different from training exercises in the past. This is a real battlefield..Even if you were my student, I won't be showing any mercy!" Ruri's eyes gleamed with a cold light, and the giant sword swept out again, engulfing dense lightning.
Boom!
Golden sand flew in front of Guy's eyes.
"Don't lose your concentration, Konoha ninja. Don't worry, I'll be fighting by your side from now on."
The Kazekage Rasa's voice came from behind Guy. He folded his hands on his chest, spread out the gold dust with awe-inspiring momentum, as he observed the Susanoo.
A large number of Suna ninjas surrounded them, ready for action.
Duy jumped to Guy's side, and other Konoha ninjas rushed to Guy, one of them using medical ninjutsu to heal his wounds.
Rasa advanced, addressing Ruri in a deep voice: "Uchiha Ruri, you have nowhere to escape. While you're on trial, there's still a chance for salvation. Don't count on your subordinates to rescue you. They've been intercepted by our other forces and won't come again."
Rasa's voice resonated with confidence. One of the Five Kages, along with more than two thousand ninjas and numerous elite jōnin from Konoha. With such a formidable lineup, escape from them was impossible.
Moreover, there was only one person on the opposing side..The outcome had already been decided.
Ruri controlled Susanoo and nearly lowered the giant sword in his hand. Her momentum suddenly restrained, and she regained her composure.
"Are you considering giving up?"
Rasa narrowed his eyes. Although the opponent showed this intention, he had to remain on guard until the last moment to prevent the opponent from escaping.
"Give up? Well discuss that after you've woken up from your dream. Now.. with everyone here, I don't need to hold back anymore. We'll be ending the warm-up here."
"What!?"
Warm-up? Was the previous fight just a warm-up? Rasa didn't understand Ruri's words for a while. Was it a bluff, or.. The next moment, his breath caught. His face was covered by a shadow that darkened the sky. Not only him, but the many Suna ninja faces were also engulfed in massive shadows, and their entire bodies were swallowed up by the shadow of the warrior rising from the ground.
The original half-length dark-red Susanoo revealed its legs almost instantly, standing upright in the desert. A thick chakra armor draped over its body, and a mask dropped from the helmet, covering the face of the enormous Susanoo like a samurai from the Land of Iron, leaving only the eyes and forehead exposed.
The movement of lightning enveloped its body. It slowly raised its left hand, and a dark red giant sword, identical to his right hand, materialized from the void and was held on tightly.
Ruri herself stood between the eyebrows of the giant, surrounded by Susanoo's chakra armor, forming a protective layer like a copper wall. She overlooked the desert from a high position.
"This- what the hell this?"
Rasa stared at the gigantic samurai, beyond common sense, with a horrified expression. It was already comparable in size to a tailed beast as massive as a hill.
In front of such a colossal monster, the body of a ninja seemed like a slightly larger bug.
Gazing at this immense body, Rasa felt overwhelmed and uncertain where to begin. He had no inkling that Ruri was hiding such tricks. Could it be that the previous two fights were really just the so-called... warm-up?
Rasa found it challenging to accept such a cruel fact. Looking at a colossal samurai, the size of a tailed beast. Was this truly a realm achievable by a ninja?
"Where exactly are you from?" Rasa asked with some difficulty.
Ruri glanced at him lightly, as if speaking to the Konoha ninjas around her: "A ninja inheriting the name of Uchiha, that's all."
Uchiha.
Once, the name of this clan held a position similar to the Senju Clan, home to the god of ninja, Senju Hashirama..However, following a recent incident, many believed that the Uchiha clan, which once dominated the ninja world, had disappeared completely.
Being exterminated by a thirteen-year-old child, the Uchiha clan had become the laughingstock of the top ninja villages in the ninja world.
Only witnessing the power displayed by Ruri now did Rasa grasp the superficial nature of his understanding of the Uchiha clan's strength. He was willing to believe this was an genjutsu created by Ruri. However, the lingering, oppressive pressure solidifying in the air clarified that this was no genjutsu at all.
It was brutal and harsh reality.
"Really? But unfortunately, I am Kazekage!"
Rasa's eyes became determined; the enemy's strength was powerful, that's for sure. However, with the power of all people gathered by Suna, if he admitted defeat, then Sunagakure would be completely reduced to a laughingstock in world.
The so-called victory or defeat could only be determined after the battle.
"Don't be afraid; advance with me!"
Rasa took a deep breath, and Chakra surged throughout his body. In the desert, where there was no wind, dust rolled and bit toward Ruri.
The same applied to the Suna ninjas. Even in the face of such power, merely witnessing it induced fear. However, understanding certain truths, they had to stand up and fight. There were no refunds; the die had been cast.
"Fight!"
Encouraging the fighting spirit within them, the Suna ninjas shouted in unison.
The Suna ninjas on the front line and those in charge of the main attack charged forward without the fear of death. Those in charge of restraint released ninjutsu from behind to feign and restrain. Projecting an appearance of planning for a protracted battle, their strategy aimed to exhaust the opponent.
This was the strategy they had deployed, and it remained unchanged from before. However, this strategy inevitably came with numerous sacrifices.
Ruri watched as the countless Suna ninjas charged towards her, releasing numerous ninjutsu and explosive tags. She watched all of this leisurely, then overlapped the two swords from Susanoo's hands and swung them violently.
The deterrent sword power formed a potent storm without any ninjutsu, deflecting all weak attacks. The swords slashed out, sending Suna ninja flying into the air. But more Suna ninjas rushed up, not giving up.
Ruri looked at these fearless Suna ninjas indifferently, her Mangekyou Sharingan dancing with lightning.
Facing this group of ninjas, the two swords slashed forward mercilessly.
This was the respect given to warriors. The two sides were fighting for each other's position. There was no justice, no good or evil, only winners and losers.
Even if the enemy was weak, the will of the enemy couldn't be insulted. It was precisely because of it Ruri shows her strength, respecting the fighting spirit of these ninjas to the best of her ability.
Even though such respect cane with countless deaths and sacrifices.
For Ruri, there were many reasons for fighting. But it didn't include any notions of peace and righteousness. She was quite the selfish person.
Family, clan, nothing more.
For the sake of her husband, for the future of her children, for the reputation of the clan, and for the sake of being able to fight against a genuinely powerful enemy...
There was no better reason to fight than these.
Despite being wounded by the giant sword, struck by lightning, and swept away by the storm, as long as there was a breath, Sand Shinobi did not retreat. Fighting was their only belief.
Fighting was their only belief.
A huge gold dust pyramid emerged, falling down from the sky.
Ruri glanced at it, and the Susanoo swung the sword in its right hand.
The pyramid split in half.
The gold dust which was capable of suppressing the One Tails' several times seemed far too weak.
"Naruikazuchi (Rumbling lightning)."
There was a solemn silence between the atmosphere. Invisible fluctuations, centered on Susanoo, spread out in all directions.
The Suna ninjas around Susanoo were stunned, their bodies and expressions stiff. Rasa broke free from such shackles in just an instant, relying on his powerful chakra and willpower. Then, the giant sword fell from the top of his head, making it too late for him to dodge as he commanded the gold dust defense in a hurry.
Boom!
A sword mark extending far away was cut in the sand.
Lightning flickered and danced in the dent made by the sword. Faced with such power, the gold dust collapsed with a touch.
"Kazekage-sama!"
Rasa was covered in blood, too many shouts from the Suna ninjas filling his ears, but he ignored them. Instead, he gritted his teeth in pain and looked at Ruri, who was watching indifferently; his palms were already shaking. He understood that she was powerful. Even as a Kage, he couldn't defeat such a monster head-on.
"She's really as powerful as a monster, Sharingan..."
Perhaps the value of a grand strategy lay in the ability to be overconfident. However, in the face of absolute power, was the so-called strategy genuinely useful? Right from the beginning.. it was a trap. And Suna had jumped in without hesitation. However, the pride of being a Kage couldn't be easily discarded. It was too early to give up now.
Rasa struggled with the pain in his body, he clasped his hands together. Gathering all the gold dust available. Make or break in one fell swoop.
Ruri's eyes narrowed slightly, and she looked down.
Countless gold dust spread up from the ground, like a gushing flood, spreading around, but immediately formed a sense of territory, intending to cover Susanoo's position. Within these gold dust, she felt a stronger binding force than the previous one, with the proportion of chakra was also heavier.
Even 'Kuroikazuchi', which could take Susanoo with her, couldn't be utilized.
"Sealing jutsu?" Ruri murmured.
This should be a move used to suppress the tailed beast..However, the reason why this move coulf be used to suppress the One Tails' was because of the particularity of the gold dust. It was a jutsu specifically developed for the tailed beast.
And such a jutsu would not have a strong restraint effect on the Susanoo. Ruri controlled Susanoo to raise its two swords and was about to slash them down.
"I won't let you succeed!"
A shout rang out, and Ruri stared at the unfolding situation.
"Day Tiger!"
Everyone instinctively covered their ears; the furious beast's roar penetrated their body, viciously drilling into their ear canals, robbing many of them ability to think for a moment.
A massive phantom of a four-legged beast condensed on a figure burning with blue steam. His remarkable leaping ability allowed him to leap over thr Susanoo's head, throwing out a powerful punch.
It was Might Duy.
"Blue steam, already the seventh gate? And, this move..."
The beast-like phantom wasn't a chakra-condensed attack but something akin to an air cannon. It was violent and ferocious, like the sharp teeth of a wild beast, it rushed towards the Susanoo, attempting to devour it.
The Susanoo's body trembled, and a slight crack appeared between its eyebrows, though it wasn't fatal. However, this delay cost Ruri the prime time for a counterattack.
Countless gold dust rushed up, swiftly swallowing all of Susanoo, transforming it into an incredibly magnificent and massive pyramid, suppressing the Susanoo within.
They all stared blankly at this scene, then erupted into enthusiastic cheers.
"Success..."
Duy forced a smile, his face pale, his momentum weakened.
Boom!
The enormous pyramid began vibrating, interrupting their cheers. They stopped and looked at the pyramid with suspicion.
"Ōikazuchi (Great lightning) ." A cold, crisp voice echoed through the air.
Thunderclouds roared; the sky was shrouded in dark clouds and lightning. Countless lightning snakes consumed the sky, looking down menacingly.
The ninjas were frozen, witnessing the abnormal changes in the sky.
Finally, lightning struck, illuminating their somewhat desperate faces. Even Rasa looked on in awe as the gold dust crumbled under the power.
The colossal warrior, holding the double swords, stood tall between the clouds and lightning. Its eyes were blood red. The lightning condensed on the armor, and the violent power adhered to the blade.
Thunder roared in the sky, lasting for a long time.
"Are you kidding me?"
"How is this possible…"
"The sealing jutsu that Kazekage-sama can even use to suppress the One Tails' suddenly..."
Many of the Suna ninjas found it difficult to accept this harsh reality. They had witnessed this sealing jutsu suppressing the runaway One Tails in the desert multiple times, making the tailed beast helpless. However, the lightning shattered this powerful sealing jutsu in an instant.
"If Raimei was here, it should be able to go further, but this level should be enough..." Feeling the reborn Susanoo, Ruri murmured to herself.
One of the eight lightning was somewhat similar to Raimei's Sage Made. In Raimei's field this ability would be further strengthened, enhancing the Susanoo's offensive and defensive capabilities.
Ruri glanced at Rasa and Duy, fixing her eyes on Duy with a hint of regret.
"Your attack just now was indeed very powerful, but unfortunately, the power was too scattered, so there was no way to break my Susanoo. Even if you took the secret pill of the Akimichi clan, it was only to this extent... I have to say that because of your lack of talent, you have limited the true power of the Eight Inner Gates."
If it were the Byakugan woman, she could have done better.
Duy's 'Day tiger', with concentrated strength, could rival Ayane's Air God strike. However, Duy's control were ordinary, dispersing the power. While it increased the damage range, the threat to her Susanoo was greatly reduced.
Ruri expressed regret, not out of resentment but as a statement of fact.
It was a fact that was extremely cruel. Because of a lack of talent, the move was wasted. In other words, this was the limit of the Konoha ninja named 'Might Duy'.
Even if it was a bit disappointing, he had given his best. Ruri would treat him as an opponent and defeat him with her own hands. Out of respect for such a ninja. She was well aware of the effort and time Duy had put in to learn the forbidden jutsu, the pain and loss he endured, ultimately cultivating a steel body and will.
This was and effort was undeniable, even by Ruri. The more she thought of it, the more she felt even more regretful. If Might Duy's talent could be improved one step further, the blow would have been stronger. But the result was only to that extent; as long as the Susanoo couldn't be broken, it didn't differ much from the attack from a kunai.
However, Ruri failed to notice that her words 'lack of talent' deeply wounded Duy's heart. Her words brought back memories of several unbearable past events.
Observing Ruri scanning her surroundings, Duy's eyes flickered with jealousy and a longing for the brilliance of a 'genius'. Then, he chuckled at his own thoughts. Indeed, how could mere mortals easily tread into the realm of genius?
Duy comprehended this truth inherently; he was but a mortal. Having been a Genin for over 20 years, he was once an obscure ninja in the village, often labeled as an incompetent one.
After showcasing strength beyond that of a Genin, the Hokage admired him. Duy was aware of what had appealed to the Hokage. Even so, what did it matter? It's precisely because he was a mortal that he aspired for true 'Youth'.
Regardless of whether hard work received recognition, blaming others wasn't in his character. If there was anything he wishes to contribute to this battle, it was that even a mortal desired to be like a genius, to bask in the admiration of the stars and revel in the anticipated glory.
Even if... it eventually transforming into a fleeting firework. Yet, as long as he savored the brilliance of that moment, life was sufficient.
It wasn't just about proving his existence's meaning to geniuses but also living up to the village's expectations and keeping Guy alive in this battle. Facing geniuses, mortals seem insurmountable.
The strength of a genius induces a sense of despair in him..It was precisely in the face of this despair that needed be shattered.
Looking at the faces of Suna ninja and Konoha ninjas filled with despair and fear, Duy made a resolute decision in his heart.
Pressing his heart with his thumb, he slowly closed his eyes.
When he reopened them, his entire body was congested and red, with blue steam wavering uncomfortably, threatening to extinguish at any moment.
Chakra surged toward his heart.