Time rewound to moments earlier!
Within the dense mist where no one could see clearly, facing the Third Raikage charging in like a force of nature, a strange bronze metallic sheen instantly flashed across Isshin's entire body.
So from the very beginning, the "Higashino Shinichi" wielding the Adamantine Staff and taking the lead in the assault had actually been the clone "Isshin" in disguise.
As for Shinichi's real body, he had quietly transformed into another shadow clone holding the Kusanagi sword "Flowing Cloud Blade," waiting silently for the perfect moment.
Clang!
The Third Raikage's Two-Finger Nukite stabbed straight into Isshin's body, erupting with an earth-shaking metallic collision.
Isshin's body shook violently. The bronze glow covering his skin flickered intensely before exploding apart, and his entire body was blasted away as though struck head-on by a high-speed train traveling at full velocity.
This was the first time since obtaining the ability [Adamant Guard] that he had failed to completely withstand an opponent's attack—and had even been directly shattered by it.
Yet the Third Raikage was not unharmed either. A fierce and tyrannical recoil force exploded from his fingertips, surging backward through the bones of his arm and instantly numbing half his body with searing pain.
The Lightning Release Armor that had originally been dense and dazzling suddenly spread with countless spiderweb-like cracks, the lightning flickering chaotically.
Even the unstoppable momentum of his thunderous charge came to an abrupt halt, exposing a fleeting yet fatal opening.
And precisely at that split second of paralysis—faster than lightning itself!
A resolve that charged forward without hesitation, even against ten thousand enemies!
A killing intent that treated armies and hordes as nothing before a drawn blade!
Locked onto him instantly!
Orochinagi!
A sword-like gleam flashed through Shinichi's eyes. His index and middle fingers aligned into a sword gesture as the Fire Release chakra within his body fused explosively with the fighting spirit in his heart, now climbing to its absolute peak.
In that instant, a crystalline crimson radiance burst from Shinichi's body, and a cone-shaped scarlet sword aura abruptly manifested at his fingertips.
The sword light was magnificent and dazzling.
The crimson aura savage and devouring.
He shot forward violently toward the Third Raikage, whose body had fallen into momentary stagnation, becoming one with the sword aura itself—a peerless divine blade streaking across the battlefield.
With absolute resolve, he thrust straight toward the Third Raikage's left chest—the vital point temporarily exposed after the recoil cracked his Lightning Armor!
Even before the sword aura arrived, the extreme sharpness and scorching heat already caused the Raikage's skin to sting.
The already fractured Lightning Release Armor let out a miserable shriek under the pressure of this fire-forged sword-style nintaijutsu, instantly collapsing as the sword aura pierced through it!
Danger!
At the critical moment, the Third Raikage's battle instincts saved his life.
Enduring the numbness, lightning erupted from his left fist as he forcefully smashed it toward Shinichi's incoming right arm with only a hair's breadth to spare.
Crack!
A crisp sound of bones breaking rang out as Shinichi's right arm snapped instantly.
Yet the scarlet sword aura that carried all of his power and will was only knocked slightly off course. It still violently pierced into the Third Raikage's right chest!
Puchi!
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed out.
The berserk Fire Release sword aura blasted completely through his body, exploding into a spray of blood mist from his back.
The Third Raikage's mountain-like body was sent flying by that strike carrying extreme penetrating force, shooting out of the mist like a ragged sack before crashing heavily onto the ground.
A horrifying blood hole gaped in his chest as blood poured out endlessly.
"Third-sama!"
"Raikage-sama!"
The Kumogakure group was horrified and immediately rushed forward to check his condition.
Among them, Troy—the strongest present—arrived first. He stepped in front of the Third Raikage, both hands gathering countless white laser beams as he vigilantly scanned the surroundings.
Meanwhile, after seeing the Third Raikage blasted away, the Konoha side reacted instantly as well, rushing toward Shinichi.
With a single Body Flicker, Namikaze Minato appeared beside Shinichi. Seeing the twisted and broken state of his right arm along with his pale complexion, a grave look flashed through his eyes.
"Shinichi, you—"
"Minato-senpai, I'm fine." Shinichi shook his head and refused his support.
He stepped forward, his gaze passing over the battlefield's smoke and wreckage before locking directly onto the Kumogakure forces in the distance.
The first thing that entered his sight was the dense mass of white laser beams gathered in Troy's hands.
Storm Release!
So this guy really is the same as Pakura!
Shinichi narrowed his eyes slightly as the thought crossed his mind.
Troy, just like Pakura, had originally possessed Storm Release in the old lore before being revised into Magnet Release in the official canon.
And now he was displaying the same kind of composite ability as Pakura.
So the remaining two from Iwagakure and Kirigakure were probably the same as well.
The thought flashed through his mind briefly before Shinichi focused his gaze once more on the Third Raikage.
"Cough… cough…"
The Third Raikage pressed a hand over the gruesome blood hole in his chest. Blood still flowed continuously through the gaps between his fingers, yet he remained standing perfectly straight, as though the piercing wound that would have killed an ordinary person instantly was nothing more than a scratch.
At the same time, lightning flickered faintly around the edges of the wound, seemingly using the terrifying vitality of his body and Lightning Release chakra to forcibly suppress the injury and seal the ruptured blood vessels.
The Third Raikage—the man hailed as the Strongest Shield, the man who had fought countless battles throughout his life yet had never once been wounded.
And yet today, Shinichi had shattered that so-called strongest shield and drawn his blood.
Seeing this, Shinichi inwardly felt some regret that he had failed to strike the man's heart.
He knew just how terrifying the Third Raikage's physique was, even without factoring in the Lightning Release Armor.
After all, in the original timeline, even in his Edo Tensei state and without Lightning Release Armor protecting him, he had only suffered superficial damage after tanking Temari's Wind Release attack while she wielded the Three-Star Fan and had the support of two jōnin.
A body like that, even without the Lightning Armor, was no less monstrous than the Monkey King Enma's.
But even so, if Shinichi had managed to hit his heart back then, the Third Raikage still would have died.
"I'm fine!"
The Third Raikage violently shook off the hands of the subordinates trying to support him and forcefully stepped forward despite his injuries.
Lightning flickered faintly around his body once more as those beast-like eyes pierced across the battlefield, locking firmly onto the distant boy.
"Third Raikage!"
"The world reveres you as the Strongest Spear! The Strongest Shield!"
The boy's voice was cool and calm, yet it spread clearly across the entire battlefield. He slowly raised his uninjured left hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together before pointing toward the Raikage from afar.
"Your so-called strongest shield has already been shattered today!"
"The next time we meet, I will break your spear and take your life!"
The moment those words fell, the battlefield abruptly fell silent.
Only the mournful howl of the wind remained, carrying with it the scent of blood and scorched earth.
This boy who had shattered the so-called "Strongest Shield" and severely wounded the Third Raikage spoke with the same calm tone as before, yet his words sounded less like a declaration and more like a verdict.
"Good! Good! GOOD!"
The Third Raikage laughed in fury, his chest heaving violently and tugging at the wound, sending sharp pain coursing through his body.
At this moment, he had no desire whatsoever to think about what strange method the other party had used earlier to block his fatal Two-Finger Nukite.
Nor did he wish to dwell on how someone who had clearly been blasted away and gravely wounded by him could suddenly launch an even deadlier counterattack in a completely unharmed state.
All those questions had already been burned away by the boiling humiliation and killing intent raging inside his chest.
Right now, he only had a single thought—
To charge over there and personally twist off that brat's head!
Crackle!
Violent lightning erupted around his body once more. The Third Raikage's muscles bulged as the ground beneath his feet shattered inch by inch, and he looked ready to launch himself forward again at any moment.
"Raikage-sama!"
A figure suddenly stepped in front of him.
It was Troy.
His expression grave, he stopped him immediately.
"Your injuries are severe. You can't continue fighting!"
"Move aside, Troy!" the Third Raikage growled.
Troy shook his head again and looked toward another direction.
"Raikage-sama, Blue B-sama's side is about to lose control. We should withdraw first."
The Third Raikage followed his gaze.
There, the Eight-Tails' chakra was erupting like an enraged volcano. Eight berserk octopus tentacles swept through everything in sight, forcing Orochimaru and the Konoha shinobi around him into constant evasive maneuvers, leaving them looking extremely battered.
But the Third Raikage, who knew Blue B well, understood immediately—
This was the precursor to Blue B losing control.
The Third Raikage fell silent for a moment.
Then, after taking one final deep look at the distant boy, he ultimately nodded.
"Fine. We retreat."
Once the order was given, although some among Kumogakure were unwilling, they still obeyed without hesitation.
Led by Troy and several elite jōnin, they quickly protected the wounded Third Raikage and withdrew toward the main formation in alternating cover formations like a receding tide.
For the first time ever, the back of the invincible Third Raikage appeared somewhat stiff and heavy on the battlefield.
Kumogakure's sudden retreat plunged Konoha's side into brief silence.
Everyone—
From Namikaze Minato, to Aburame Shibi and Haruno Kizashi and the members of Shinichi's unit, to Uchiha Fugaku and his subordinates farther away who had witnessed part of the battle—
Even Orochimaru, who was still dealing with the Eight-Tails while already keenly sensing the shift in the situation—
All of them turned their eyes toward the boy standing alone at the center of the battlefield.
He stood there with a face as pale as paper, his right arm twisted and broken, his figure even seeming somewhat unsteady in the wind.
And yet this boy, who looked as though he might collapse at any moment, had forced back—or rather, gravely wounded—the overwhelmingly dominant Third Raikage!
He had shattered the so-called absolute defense of the "Strongest Shield"!
Such an achievement.
Such courage.
Such a miracle of overcoming the strong while weak and reversing the tide of battle!
"Shinichi!"
No one knew who was the first to cry out in a voice trembling from both restraint and excitement.
"Shinichi!!"
Then came the second voice, the third, and countless more.
"HIGASHINO SHINICHI!!!"
At first the cries were scattered.
Then they merged together.
Finally, they transformed into a fanatical roar that swept across the entire Konoha battle line like a tidal wave.
Everyone understood—
After this battle, the name "Higashino Shinichi" was destined to resound throughout the entire shinobi world.
From this moment onward, in the eyes of everyone, he would no longer merely be an exceptionally talented junior or a dazzling rising star.
He had become a true powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world!
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