"You dare lose focus while fighting me?"
Just a brief lapse in focus, but it didn't escape the Third Raikage's eyes.
[Lightning Release: Black Panther]
The blue lightning chakra became pitch-black as it shot forward, resembling a black lightning leopard, straight toward ōnoki.
"Damn it."
ōnoki knew he'd been careless. Letting out a low growl, he rapidly ascended.
He'd already been struck by that black lightning once—he knew firsthand how devastating it could be.
That injury had been the worst he'd ever suffered, so the memory remained fresh.
There was no way he was taking that hit head-on now.
"Earth Release: Golem Technique!"
In an instant, ōnoki formed hand seals faster than ever before. Then, spitting large chunks of earth from his mouth, he created a massive rock monster.
The rock monster had barely taken shape when it collided head-on with the black lightning.
The black lightning burst outward in all directions across the rock creature. Seizing the opportunity, ōnoki swiftly pulled back to safety.
"Midget's reflexes aren't half bad."
The Third Raikage missed with his first move and immediately threw out a taunt.
ōnoki didn't respond, though his expression darkened further.
Never mock a man by calling him out on his flaws—ōnoki wanted nothing more than to rip the Third Raikage's foul mouth apart.
"That's the Earth Release technique I've been looking for!"
Nawaki swung Samehada around while dodging attacks from the Fourth Raikage A and B, his peripheral vision catching sight of ōnoki's jutsu and lighting up with excitement.
This was exactly the kind of Earth Release technique suited for him!
"This sword is such a pain."
Grumbling under his breath, the Fourth Raikage shared the same problem as B.
Each direct clash caused their chakra to be absorbed by Samehada. Now both focused on evading rather than attacking.
If this stalemate kept going, they'd eventually lose as their enemy grew stronger.
[Dust Release: Split Detachment of the Primitive World Technique]
Provoked by the Third Raikage's taunts, ōnoki unleashed a vicious Dust Release attack without hesitation.
A semi-transparent conical barrier formed between his palms before he aimed directly at the Third Raikage and launched it.
"Have you gone senile?"
"With my mobility intact, do you really think your Dust Release can even land on me?"
The Third Raikage showed no respect for the Dust Release whatsoever. No matter how powerful it is, an attack's useless if it can't land.
In a flash, the Third Raikage vanished.
True to his words, the speed of his blue lightning far outpaced what the Dust Release could track.
*Bang!*
The Dust Release exploded on the ground, shaking the entire battlefield.
After the explosion, a gaping crater lay before them.
Judging by the crater alone, one could grasp the terrifying power of the Dust Release. No wonder even the Third Raikage refused to take it head-on.
Needless to say, dodging wasn't the Third Raikage's style.
"Whoa~ That technique is amazing."
Nawaki didn't just raise an eyebrow—he looked positively ecstatic.
His brother-in-law had told him about ōnoki's incredible Dust Release, but he hadn't imagined it would be this overwhelming.
Kekkei Tōta lives up to its reputation!!!
Seeing Nawaki space out again, both the Fourth Raikage A and B were nearing their breaking point.
You really think we're beneath you, huh?
[Super Sonic Raijin Blade]
Bee leaned harder on Gyūki's power, completely enveloping himself in the Tailed Beast Chakra.
The blade, covered in Lightning Release chakra mixed with streaks of crimson, vibrated at an intense frequency, giving the sword piercing force greater than any Wind Release technique.
[Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter - Thousand Years of Dance!]
The Fourth Raikage A leaped into the air, concentrating intense currents of Lightning Release chakra into his arm before diving down like a meteor.
"Oh? Looks like you found an opening."
Nawaki gripped the hilt with both hands and parried Kirabi's vicious upward strike.
Samehada yawned open like a bloodthirsty maw, roaring as if in agony. With the Eight-Tails' power enhancing it, Kirabi's attack was indeed extraordinary.
"Relax, a little pain won't kill you."
Nawaki comforted Samehada while Kirabi wisely withdrew immediately. The glow on the blade had already disappeared.
Chakra was absorbed again.
Hardly done deflecting the last attack, Nawaki faced another strike from the Fourth Raikage.
Even large weapons have their downsides too, and at this moment, Nawaki simply couldn't swing Samehada quickly enough.
He had no option but to release Samehada and face the enemy barehanded.
"I'd like to see just how tough you really are."
[Water Release: Water Vortex Blade!]
Knowing evasion wasn't possible—speed had never been his strength—Nawaki braced himself.
A large amount of chakra concentrated in his hand, instantly taking shape as a swirling vortex-shaped water spear in his right palm.
This multi-layered, rapidly spinning water spear collided head-on with the Fourth Raikage's descending hand slash.
"Aaagh!"
With a scream from the Fourth Raikage, he was hurled backward by the massive whirlpool of water.
Once again, the direct clash ended in his defeat.
"Just who is that kid related to Tobirama Senju?"
Third Raikage furrowed his brow slightly, unable to suppress feelings of concern.
He had once been fortunate enough to witness Tobirama Senju's battle skills; these jutsu hadn't appeared within the ninja world for quite some time.
"Tobirama Senju is his grandfather."
Ōnoki wore a proud smile. That kid really was something.
"Hmph... Once I finish you off, I'll go find him myself."
The Third Raikage had to admit there was a clear gap between his son and Nawaki. Perhaps only himself could match up against Nawaki now.
"If you can manage it, bring it on."
Ōnoki could already see the light of victory. If Nawaki managed to take down that AB combo, the tide of battle would surely turn.
Words failed them, and Ōnoki and the Third Raikage clashed once more.
"Hmm?"
Nawaki stopped paying attention to their fight. While he was distracted, Kirabi had stealthily grabbed hold of Samehada.
"Without this blade, let's see how smug you'll stay."
Oh?!
[Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade – Please bookmark us: (m.]
Kirabi quickly widened the distance between them. Before he could even laugh out loud, a sharp pain shot through his palm.
"Shit~"
He threw Samehada down with force. His hand had been pierced deeply by spikes, blood dripping heavily to the earth.
"Kid,"
"Samehada isn't meant for you."
Nawaki rushed forward with a kick, and instantly Kirabi raised both arms to block.
Sliding back several paces, Kirabi looked up again—Samehada had already returned to Nawaki's possession.
Without hesitation, Kirabi pulled away yet again.
He was certain now—one-on-one, he absolutely stood no chance against Nawaki.
"Big bro, what should we do?"
"This damn brat isn't easy to deal with."
Arriving beside the Fourth Raikage, who looked battered and soaked like a drowned rat, Killer B glared at Nawaki as he addressed the Fourth.
"We have to hold our ground, no matter the cost."
"If even we can't hold our ground, how can anyone else?"
The Fourth Raikage's eyes burned with determination. Blood still dripped from his lips; despite being gravely injured, he showed no intention of retreating.
No wonder in the original plot, he didn't even flinch when Amaterasu forced him to sever his own arm.
He was merciless to others, but even more so to himself.
"Understood, Big Bro."
Killer B, still relatively young, lacked that kind of unshakable willpower, yet under the influence of the Fourth Raikage, he no longer wavered either.
At most, it would just be death!
"Brave words. Then allow me to escort you to your final moments."
[Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!]
Nawaki released a massive amount of chakra he had absorbed.
Ironically enough, throughout this entire battle, he hadn't used even a single drop of his own chakra.
In a way, Samehada definitely counted as a divine artifact.
Nawaki quickly formed a series of hand seals. Then, he launched himself upward into the air.
Once the seals were completed, he leaned back slightly and unleashed a massive torrent of water.
The torrent immediately coalesced into a massive elliptical water prison, enclosing both the Fourth Raikage and Killer B inside.
"Lord Nawaki! Please don't harm any innocents!"
An unlucky Konoha ninja caught in the surge barely managed to shout before being engulfed in water.
"Sorry, sorry."
"Just got a little too excited."
Nawaki scratched his head awkwardly, clearly embarrassed—the cool, aloof image he'd been trying to maintain now ruined.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Raikage and Killer B desperately swam toward the edges of the watery prison. Underwater wasn't their domain.
Nawaki dove into the water first and pushed the allied ninjas out one by one.
As for the Cloud Ninjas nearby, he casually slashed them—it was just something convenient to do along the way.
After finishing all that, he noticed the Fourth Raikage and Killer B were nearly escaping with their lives.
"Looks ugly, but I'll go with it today."
Nawaki reluctantly gripped Samehada tightly, though Samehada itself seemed rather excited.
The hilt of Samehada suddenly writhed like a tiny snake, slithering into Nawaki's sleeve.
Then, Samehada began merging into Nawaki's body, radically altering his appearance.
Within a few breaths, a half-human, half-shark monster emerged within the water prison, gills opening and closing rhythmically along its arms.
"No way—you've gotta be kidding! That thing looks disgusting!"
Lifting his clawed hands, now connected by webbing, Nawaki could only stare in disbelief.
"What kind of monster is that?!"
The Fourth Raikage turned around in shock.
Where did Senju Nawaki go? Who was that thing?
Before he could finish his whirlwind of thoughts, Nawaki's voice clearly reached his ears through the water.
[Water Prison: Shark Dance!]
"You won't escape."
The moment the words left his lips, Nawaki, transformed into a shark-like beast, surged forward at an astonishing speed.
"Quick!"
The Fourth Raikage slapped Killer B beside him. Both held their breath, their faces reddening from effort, still pushing forward with all their might.
However, the more they swam, the stranger things felt. The view of the outside world they'd previously seen through the water had completely vanished.
All they could see now was an endless expanse of water.
"Get ready to fight with everything we've got."
"This Water Prison moves with him at its core—we won't be able to break free."
In the end, it was Hachibi who first sensed something wrong, and Killer B quickly relayed this to the Fourth Raikage A.
Regardless of whatever state Hachibi's current relationship with Killer B was in, it certainly didn't want to die here.
A massive surge of chakra erupted from within Killer B's body as he instantly entered his half-Tailed Beast form.
Probably because Hachibi had transferred an especially large amount of chakra this time, bones began to protrude from Killer B's elbows.
Against his crimson body, the white bones stood out starkly.
At the same time, the Fourth Raikage A also stopped moving, once again enveloping his entire body in lightning chakra.
Accompanied by crackling thunder, the surrounding water crackled with surging electricity.
"Preparing for a last stand, huh?"
A sinister grin surfaced on Nawaki's face, perfectly matching his terrifying form right now.
"Let's go."
The Fourth Raikage A was the first to charge toward Nawaki, with Killer B closely following behind.
On land, neither could match Nawaki—let alone underwater.
Nawaki, in his half-shark form, darted around the two at incredible speed, striking from unexpected angles with devastating force.
The Fourth Raikage A and Killer B came charging aggressively, but unfortunately, they couldn't land a single counterattack.
The longer they stayed submerged, the slower their movements became.
Their oxygen reserves were nearly gone!
Crack!
Killer B's elbow shattered on impact, and Nawaki seized the opportunity to grab hold of him.
Killer B, still in his half-beast transformation, reverted visibly back to his human form before closing his eyes and losing consciousness.
Ohhh...!
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"Bi!"
The Fourth Raikage A roared loudly, his eyes turning bloodshot in an instant.
Killer B wasn't just his battle partner—he was also his beloved younger brother.
"If you want to save him, defeat me first."
Nawaki waved mockingly at the Fourth Raikage A, perfectly exuding his villainous aura.
"Ahhh!"
With a loud cry, the Raikage's lightning radiance grew even brighter.
He was pushing his body far beyond limits, causing blood to unconsciously drip from the corner of his mouth.
Right now, his eyes saw only Nawaki; he had no thought left for his own state.
Though the water created immense resistance, the Raikage, with sheer willpower, managed to barely keep up with Nawaki's speed through raw power.
They clashed head-on, punch after punch, while shockwaves from their clashing chakra rippled through the water prison.
"You've reached your limit."
Through repeated exchanges, Nawaki's chakra surged even as the Raikage weakened.
The webbed claw tightened around the Raikage's throat. With just a little extra pressure, Nawaki could end the Raikage's life instantly.
"Bi…"
Looking at Killer B sinking deeper toward the bottom of the water, the Fourth Raikage A's gaze grew increasingly hazy.
Even at this moment, his thoughts remained fixed on his younger brother.
"What truly touching brotherly love."
"He is indeed fortunate."
"And joyfully, I have such a brother too."
Nawaki grinned, the image of that sun-drenched figure flashing in his mind.
"What are you waiting for? Finish him off already."
Ōnoki watched Nawaki's flippant behavior, his blood boiling instantly.
If Nawaki were one of Ōnoki's subordinates, he would've smashed the guy's head flat without hesitation.
Wouldn't it have been better if he took out the enemy first and came to help?
Why did he, an old man, have to fight this hulking brute hand-to-hand? Didn't Nawaki have any conscience?
"Damn it!!!"
Third Raikage A watched the scene within the water prison, eyes ablaze with fury. That was the future of the Cloud Ninjas in there!
He couldn't just stand there watching his son and B die.
Ōnoki clearly saw what Third Raikage A was thinking.
"I'm still here—you won't get past me."
Ōnoki blocked Third Raikage A's path, his small frame standing like a mountain.
"Get out of my way!"
Third Raikage A had no time for Ōnoki anymore. His body blurred as he tried to dash past.
But Ōnoki wouldn't let him slip through now.
[Earth Release: Altering Terrain Technique]
As Ōnoki slammed one hand onto the ground, the terrain around Third Raikage A instantly collapsed into a square-shaped deep crater.
As long as he could hold Third Raikage back, victory would go to the Iwagakure ninja.
[Hell Stab—Two-Finger Nukite]
Faced with a crater too deep to leap out of, Third Raikage A immediately unleashed his ultimate series of Raitaijutsu techniques without hesitation.
Lightning surged through his two fingers in massive arcs, piercing through the hard earth like soft tofu.
Ōnoki's plan failed. When the power of Two-Finger Nukite fully dissipated, a clear path lay open before Third Raikage A.
[Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite—Ultimate]
Even while still outside the water prison, Third Raikage A had already started accelerating, entering the watery prison at a speed undetectable to the human eye.
Although movement underwater slightly slowed him down, he was still as fast as lightning.
"How come you didn't stop him?"
Nawaki's furious shout echoed across the battlefield—everyone knew who he was shouting at.
Besides, he wasn't even Ōnoki's subordinate. In such a fit of rage, nobody dared to say anything against his outburst.
Letting out a roar without hesitation, Nawaki casually threw Fourth Raikage aside and quickly retreated.
He'd heard from Kawaki just how devastating the One-Finger Nukite could be.
If Kawaki could survive it, maybe he could too—but why risk his life just to find out?
Plus, he'd been thinking about how to throw the fight anyway. No need to sacrifice himself just to test its destructive power.
As Nawaki retreated, the wide-area water prison collapsed instantly, briefly covering the entire battlefield in a shallow layer of water.
Returning to his normal form, Nawaki leaned heavily on Samehada, panting heavily, as if he'd exerted himself greatly.
"Retreat."
With no intention of lingering, Third Raikage A swiftly grabbed both Fourth Raikage and B under one arm like chicks and fled.
"Don't pursue them."
Ōnoki issued orders to the Iwa ninjas as he watched the Cloud ninjas retreat.
At this moment, he regretted everything bitterly.
If only he had pushed a bit harder—could he have stopped Third Raikage A?
"Are you alright?"
Approaching Nawaki, Ōnoki suppressed his emotions and spoke gently, showing the manner of a seasoned elder.
"Hehe~ My secret jutsu isn't perfected yet."
"I'll be fine after a short rest."
Nawaki lied effortlessly—who was going to call him out on being tired?
"Glad to hear it. Thanks."
Ōnoki had intended to pat Nawaki on the shoulder, but since he was standing up straight, he couldn't reach. He awkwardly pulled his hand back.
"It was my duty."
"Too bad those two were rescued by the Third Raikage."
Nawaki slammed Samehada heavily onto the ground, drawing an irritated groan from the weapon itself.
"You've done well enough already. Next time we'll definitely kill them."
Ōnoki swallowed his displeasure and offered a word of encouragement.
If it weren't for you messing around and treating this like some kind of game, you would've already had a double kill, you know?
"Yeah, let's go."
Nawaki nodded and stood tall, waiting for Ōnoki to take the first step.
"Alright."
Without saying more, Ōnoki led his subordinates back to camp.
With Konoha ninja joining this time, Nawaki gave AB Combo a brutal beating. At last, Iwagakure achieved their first small victory.
On the way back to the city, one could clearly see the morale of the Iwa ninja gradually rising.
Even the wounded Iwa ninja spoke with powerful voices.
Once they returned to the camp, they settled the Konoha injured before Nawaki bid Ōnoki farewell and walked toward his own tent.
This small chapter isn't over yet—more exciting parts ahead!
Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade, please bookmark us: (m.
Before long, Ginji and the other younglings surrounded him.
After this battle, the strength of Konoha's newest generation was fully displayed.
The Iwa ninja no longer looked upon these kids with contempt; now they looked at them with genuine respect for real strength.
"I originally thought sending these kids here was just a joke."
"Never expected them to be so damn strong."
"Look at that silver-haired brat—his lightning release swordsmanship is beyond skillful. Must've killed at least eighteen or twenty Cloud ninjas."
"He's not the only fierce one. That green-skinned brat fights like he's got dynamite in his gut."
"And at such a young age possessing such incredible taijutsu—it's like dealing with a monster child."
"As for that little girl, don't let her cute looks fool you. She uses snakes."
"Tsk tsk~ She bit half the squad dead."
"And that red-eye kid? His speed is insane."
"That white-haired punk ain't too shabby either. Never seen someone use hair as a weapon before."
The Iwa ninja whispered among themselves, while Ginji and the others experienced the feeling of being the center of attention for the first time.
"How does it feel?"
Nawaki sat down on his bed and casually placed Samehada aside.
"Could've been worse. Cloud ninja aren't really that scary."
Ginji wore a cocky smirk, prompting eye-rolls from his companions.
"What about you, senior apprentice-brother? You took it easy out there today."
Aoi Tsukigami leaned close to Nawaki, smirking as he murmured.
"Bull! I was simply wiped."
"Got it? Exhaustion."
Nawaki stuck firmly to his stubbornness. Whatever anyone asked, he would say he gave his all.
Didn't they see how wiped he looked when he came back, leaning on Samehada just to walk?
"Fine, fine. Exhaustion."
As soon as Nawaki finished speaking, Naruto laughed louder than Aoi did.
"Did you guys see my youth flourish out there?"
Kinoto struck a dramatic pose, clearly proud of himself. Today, only Ginji surpassed him in number of kills.
"Awesome."
Everyone humored him, giving him a big thumbs-up.
"Senior Nawaki, isn't it possible for the ninja world to be free of war?"
Shisui's voice was soft, yet his gaze remained steady as he looked up at Nawaki.
Having experienced it firsthand, he now understood just how brutal war could be.
"Don't worry — that day will come eventually."
Nawaki patted Shisui's head, a gesture just like the one his brother-in-law used to give him.
...
They chatted a bit longer before the young ones finally took their leave, eager to brag to the Konoha ninjas they traveled with.
These well-mannered Second Generation members were quite popular among the Leaf ninjas, and today they had even saved many comrades' lives.
"Hehe~"
Watching their backs disappear, Nawaki recalled how Minato and he had looked on their first battlefield.
Time passes swiftly; life flows like a song.
These unforgettable memories are part of the journey called life.
Night fell, morning came again, and early the next day Nawaki was back to being energetic and full of vigor.
Just after finishing breakfast, some Iwagakure ninjas arrived to invite him over.
"Lord Nawaki, Tsuchikage-sama wishes to see you for a meeting."
One of the Rock ninjas bent lower than usual before Nawaki.
This respect was something Nawaki had earned through sheer strength.
"Alright, lead the way."
Nawaki stood, brushed off his pants, waved goodbye to the kids, and followed.
Under the guidance of the Rock ninja, Nawaki reached Ōnoki's tent.
He pushed aside the tent flap and saw only Ōnoki waiting inside.
"Tsuchikage-sama."
Nawaki greeted politely before sitting cross-legged opposite Ōnoki.
"Have some tea."
Ōnoki didn't seem displeased in the least—after all, this man had come to help, not serve under him.
"Thank you."
Nawaki took a small sip but couldn't really tell if the tea was good or not. He had never been interested in such things anyway—the "drinks" Misaki made were much tastier.
"You're an extraordinary talent; your strength truly amazed me."
"Konoha is indeed fortunate."
Ōnoki started showering him with praise immediately.
Although Nawaki suspected Ōnoki might be exaggerating his praise, it still felt good to hear.
"Not exactly. It's because I was born in Konoha that I'm lucky."
Nawaki corrected Ōnoki's statement. He didn't believe he would have developed strength like this if he'd grown up in any other hidden village.
"You've worked hard in this battle too."
"Would you like an assistant next time?"
Ōnoki changed the topic directly without further discussion. This was actually his true purpose.
He believed that with Nawaki's demonstrated combat capability, plus elite Iwa support skilled in restraining jutsu, defeating the AB combo would be a sure thing.
"Assistant? No need. I'm not used to working with others."
"Without proper chemistry, working together doesn't multiply your effectiveness."
"You might not realize it, but I only really work well with Minato."
Nawaki took another sip of tea, declining Ōnoki's suggestion outright.
Adding someone else? How am I supposed to go all out then?
...