Chapter 155: Heavenly Punishment!!

"Boy, as long as I'm here, you won't lay another finger on my comrades!"

"Lava Style: Burning River Spitfire!"

Roshi glared at Raiden from a distance, his hands coming together in a seal. A terrifying surge of chakra flowed into the ground.

Suddenly, the earth began to tremble, cracks forming in every direction as magma burst from beneath the surface. In some of the fissures, table-shaped craters emerged, spewing torrents of molten lava into the air.

Within moments, lava surged across the battlefield, dividing it into two distinct areas. The hundred-meter radius around Raiden was engulfed by the searing lava, leaving precious few places for him to stand. The red-hot lava crept slowly across the ground, casting a crimson glow over the battlefield as the sky reflected its fiery radiance.

"This old guy… he has techniques like this too?!"

Raiden's eyes widened at the sudden transformation of the terrain. As he prepared to move, Roshi emerged from the lava closest to him, spitting a stream of molten rock that forced him back. Immediately, more clones of Roshi began appearing from the lava, completely surrounding Raiden on the rocky outcrop he stood upon.

"Clones? You're not the only one who can do that, boy!"

"Be one with my lava and turn to ash!"

Roshi roared, and his clones unleashed their ninjutsu. An overwhelming barrage of lava fireballs erupted toward Raiden, raining down like a volcanic eruption and enveloping him in flames.

"These clones… are they all real? Shadow clones?"

Faced with the onslaught, Raiden had no choice but to fortify his defenses. Violent chakra erupted from his body, and the color of his lightning armor deepened. The previously dark blue hue turned to purple as golden chains surrounded him protectively.

The next moment, the lava completely engulfed Raiden.

"Let's see if you can survive this!"

Roshi's main body, hidden among his clones, smirked as he observed the scene.

Suddenly, golden chakra chains shot out from the lava, scattering it in every direction. The fiery onslaught dissipated, revealing Raiden's figure, slightly battered but standing firm. His clothes were torn and burned, exposing red, swollen skin beneath.

"You blocked it?!"

"It pierced my defenses?!"

Both combatants were shocked. Roshi couldn't believe Raiden had withstood his attack, while Raiden was stunned that Roshi's lava had penetrated his multiple layers of protection.

"The chakra erosion was blocked, but the heat… I couldn't isolate it completely," Raiden muttered, wincing from the burns. The pain only fueled his resolve, and his eyes gleamed with lethal intent as he glared at Roshi.

"Nine Tails, I'm borrowing your strength. Don't mind!"

Raiden formed the "Boar" seal, drawing chakra from deep within. Red chakra flowed from his abdomen, surrounding him in a menacing aura. A single red tail of chakra manifested behind him.

Roshi's eyes widened at the sight. "This chakra… whose is it?"

Murmuring to himself, Roshi seemed to piece together a realization. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! I see now! So, you're one too!"

"Konoha's Thunder is none other than Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchuriki! If I kill you here, Konoha will lose its Tailed Beast, and Iwagakure will surely win this war!"

Roshi's tone turned wild as he unleashed another wave of lava bombs from all his clones, hurtling them toward Raiden.

"I won't die! You're not strong enough to take my life!"

Raiden's voice cut through the chaos as the red chakra tail lashed out, deflecting the incoming lava bombs with ease. His injuries began healing rapidly, the burns disappearing as the Nine-Tails' chakra restored his body.

"He's only using a fraction of the Tailed Beast's chakra, so his power increase should be limited," Roshi thought to himself, his expression darkening.

At that moment, Raiden's figure vanished from his position atop the rocky outcrop.

"Hah! Do you think you can beat me in my own domain?" Roshi sneered.

"What?!"

Though Roshi's eyes couldn't follow Raiden, his perception still detected him.

A red tail appeared suddenly, sweeping toward Roshi. He countered with his own molten tail, the two attacks colliding in a shockwave that sent ripples of energy across the battlefield. Chakra overflowed from the clash, painting the scene in a violent spectacle of power.

The two warriors engaged in a frenzied exchange, their strikes reverberating through the battlefield as their chakra clashed.

At the Konoha Stronghold

Standing on the city wall, Hatake Sakumo felt the heat waves from the distant battlefield even through the barrier. The sky was completely dyed red, and a massive chakra lingered ominously over the area.

Beside him, Hizashi Hyuga activated his Byakugan, focusing intently on the battle.

"The commander is giving it his all," Hizashi muttered.

Even without the comment, Sakumo could feel the presence of the Nine-Tails' chakra, unmistakable and foreboding. Since meeting Raiden, he had never seen him call upon the Nine-Tails' power. The fact that he was doing so now meant his opponent was exceptionally dangerous.

"Hizashi, notify the troops to prepare for an emergency response," Sakumo ordered.

"Response? But the commander explicitly instructed us not to leave the stronghold," Shibi Aburame interjected.

"It's different now. The Iwagakure forces are closer to the battlefield than we are. If something goes wrong, their reaction will be faster. No matter what, Raiden cannot fall."

Sakumo's tone left no room for argument. Hizashi immediately began relaying orders to the troops.

Back on the battlefield, the situation took a sudden turn. Dark clouds gathered above, and flashes of lightning illuminated the sky. A faint dragon-shaped form roamed within the storm clouds.

"What is that?!" Sakumo's eyes widened in shock as he sensed Raiden's chakra interwoven with the thunderclouds.

"Heavenly Punishment!"

Raiden retreated from his clash with Roshi, raising the Sakegari no Tachi skyward as he whispered the words.

Roshi, battered and covered in scars, glanced upward at Raiden's call. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw a massive, hundred-foot-long thunder dragon forming in the sky.

The dragon let out a deafening roar before diving toward the battlefield.

"Boom!!!!!"

(End of Chapter)