Chapter 115: The Woman Who Broke the Lightning Armor!

The sun blazed overhead, marking the arrival of noon.

Under the scorching light, the colossal golden pyramid of gold dust gleamed brilliantly, reflecting dazzling rays visible from several kilometers away. This strange structure naturally drew attention, including that of several Konoha ninjas dispatched to the Land of Rivers for reconnaissance missions.

In a dense forest within the Land of Rivers, Konoha's advance scouting force had set up a temporary camp. A Konoha ninja approached the command tent, saluting before delivering his report.

"Report! A strange golden structure has been spotted 80 kilometers from here.

"The Hyuga clan members have conducted a brief inspection and confirmed that the area is surrounded by a barrier. The golden structure appears to be hollow.

"We suspect it was built by Sand Shinobi."

Hearing the report, Koharu Utatane stepped out of the tent, her expression perplexed. She motioned for the ninja to follow her inside.

Inside the tent, a group of ninjas was already gathered. At the head of the table sat Hatake Sakumo, the appointed commander, with representatives from various Konoha clans seated on either side. The room buzzed with discussions about countering Sand Shinobi strategies.

"Show me the location of the golden structure," Sakumo instructed.

The ninja stepped up to a detailed map of the Land of Rivers pinned to the wall. He marked the location, and Sakumo studied it intently.

"This spot…" Sakumo murmured, a glimmer of realization crossing his mind. He had a growing suspicion that the structure might be connected to Konoha.

"Send Namikaze Minato with a team to investigate immediately," he ordered. "Explain the situation and instruct him to proceed with extreme caution."

Sakumo trusted Minato's abilities implicitly. Among the available personnel, Minato was the ideal choice for such a high-risk mission.

Inside the Gold Dust Pyramid, Raiden had finally gathered enough natural energy. His body surged with power as he successfully entered Sage Mode.

Outside, Rasa directed the newly arrived sealing team, preparing to reinforce the pyramid. Just as they began pasting rune-covered seals onto the pyramid's surface, a lightning sword pierced through, incinerating the seals instantly.

The sudden disturbance sent a wave of alarm through the Sand Shinobi. Rasa immediately raised his hands, summoning a torrent of gold dust to fortify the structure.

"What's happening?" Karura appeared beside Rasa in a flash, her expression tense as she sensed the surge of violent chakra.

"It's Raiden trying to break free," Rasa said grimly. "I thought Elder Chiyo's poison would have incapacitated him by now, but it seems he still has enough chakra to unleash techniques of this caliber."

As he finished speaking, another lightning sword erupted from the pyramid, this time impaling a Sand Shinobi stationed nearby.

"Scatter!" Rasa roared. "Sealing team, finish the reinforcement now!"

The Sand Shinobi scrambled to evade as Rasa barked orders. He was all too familiar with Raiden's immense strength, having faced him before. The Thunder Armor had proven nearly impenetrable, and it was only thanks to Chiyo's poison and Rasa's gold dust that they had managed to trap him. Reinforcing the seal was their last hope.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck from above, targeting Rasa and Karura. A thin barrier materialized over their heads, absorbing the strike. The protective film cracked but held, dissipating the attack.

"He's aiming to break the barrier!" Rasa exclaimed, his expression darkening. He manipulated the gold dust to constrict the pyramid, attempting to crush Raiden within.

But before he could complete the maneuver, another lightning strike shattered the barrier entirely. The sealing team lost control of the enchantment, and panic rippled through the Sand Shinobi ranks.

"Damn it!" Rasa growled, transforming the ground beneath the Sand Shinobi into gold dust to shield them. "This technique seems limited to three strikes—he's already used two. We just need to hold out!"

As if in defiance of Rasa's calculation, a third lightning strike blasted the pyramid, and countless lightning swords shot outward, skewering nearby Sand Shinobi. Lower-ranking ninjas fell instantly, while the survivors huddled together for safety.

"Boom!"

With a deafening explosion, the Gold Dust Pyramid crumbled. Bits of gold dust rained from the sky as Raiden emerged, his laughter echoing across the battlefield.

"Hahaha! Well then, my gratitude to you all for your hospitality!" Raiden taunted. "Next time we meet, I'll return the favor—by taking your heads!"

Releasing a volley of lightning arrows, Raiden turned and bolted toward Konoha. Despite his bravado, his condition was dire. The poison was spreading, his head felt heavy, and he knew he needed treatment soon or risk succumbing to its effects.

"Stop him!" Rasa bellowed, commanding his gold dust to pursue Raiden. Karura, realizing the severity of the situation, bit her thumb and formed seals.

"Summoning Jutsu: Kamaitachi! Wind Release: Slash Dance! Wind Release: Split Air!"

With a low shout, Karura summoned a small weasel wielding a wind scythe. It unleashed a torrent of wind blades, combining with Karura's own Wind Release jutsu to create a devastating storm. The winds swept up sand and debris, hurling it at Raiden with immense force.

Raiden cursed under his breath. "So she's the real threat!"

The combined attack shattered Raiden's Thunder Armor, tearing through his back and drawing blood. Yet, the force of the wind also propelled him forward, accelerating his escape.

In an instant, Raiden vanished from sight.

"Pursue him!" Rasa ordered, his voice sharp. "We cannot allow an enemy of his caliber to return to Konoha alive. Stop him at all costs!"

(End of this chapter)