Chapter 43: Kazekage vs Raikage (Part 2)

Against the Third Raikage, the Iron Sand Technique was utterly useless.

Unable to catch up, pierce through, or trap him, Jinghang decisively chose to abandon it.

The only option now was to match speed with him and enter Sage Mode as quickly as possible. Otherwise, he would certainly be outpaced and pierced by the "One-Finger Nukite."

Currently, Jinghang could enter Sage Mode in two minutes. He only needed to endure the first two minutes to stand a chance in this battle.

"Shall we... begin?" Third Raikage smiled.

"Sure," Jinghang also smiled brightly.

The green light flashed, and both figures disappeared from the arena simultaneously.

"Boom!"

A cloud of dust rose in the center of the arena.

With a single strike, Jinghang flew backward seven or eight meters before stabilizing himself, while Third Raikage remained unmoved.

"As expected, formidable!"

The collision was merely a test of the Third Raikage's strength by Jinghang, who felt as if he had crashed into a wall of iron and bronze, his arm throbbing with pain.

"Not bad," Third Raikage nodded to himself. It was rare for a young man to possess such strength, comparable to Kōichi, truly a remarkable youth.

Jinghang did not retreat but instead created over a dozen shadow clones, launching attacks on Third Raikage from different directions. Since escape was impossible, he decided to attack instead of defend, aiming to buy time.

"Five-Finger Nukite!"

Third Raikage was unfazed, his hand slicing through the air like lightning, each strike dispelling a clone with a "poof," white smoke billowing everywhere.

"Hmm?"

Third Raikage suddenly found his "hand blade" blocked by Jinghang's hand, unable to move despite his efforts! This kid was hiding his true strength, possessing power no less than his own.

Looking up, he was shocked to see Jinghang's face had changed, resembling a jester, his "Lightning Armor" now a blue-gold color, shining as brightly as his own.

"Wow, what is this technique from Kazekage-sama? It looks so powerful!"

"This is the power of a Kage!"

"Truly exhilarating!"

The audience gasped in amazement.

...

"Is this Kazekage-sama's Sage Mode?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed in surprise. He knew Jinghang was skilled, but he hadn't expected such formidable power.

"Yes, it's incredibly powerful and lasts a long time. When I fought him on the Rooster Crow Plain, we battled for half a day, and even the chakra of Son Goku, the Four-Tails, was nearly depleted, yet Kazekage-sama remained calm and composed. I'm no match for him," Fourth Tsuchikage Zetsu said admiringly. He didn't know that Jinghang's chakra was nearly depleted at that time, and he only remained composed because he had taken some medicine.

Back on the battlefield, Third Raikage and Jinghang were now evenly matched in speed. To the audience, they appeared as a blue light and a blue-gold light colliding and separating repeatedly in the arena. Despite being flesh and blood, their clashes sounded like metal striking metal, thrilling the spectators.

"Three-Finger Nukite!"

Third Raikage, excited by the fight, folded his thumb and pinky, making his attacks sharper and faster.

Jinghang responded by increasing the flow of his Sage Chakra, holding a rapidly spinning Rasengan in his hand to confront the "Three-Finger Nukite."

Wind Release naturally countered Lightning Release, but the Third Raikage's Lightning Armor provided formidable resistance. Even the wind's natural advantage struggled to penetrate.

However, Jinghang's Rasengan, infused with high-density Sage Chakra, managed to match the Third Raikage's "Three-Finger Nukite" evenly. The arena was filled with the sound of air bursting and lightning roaring, and despite the soundproof barriers, the audience's eardrums were severely strained.

"Everyone, cover your ears and open your mouths!" Hiruzen Sarutobi loudly reminded through the chakra microphone.

"One-Finger Nukite!"

Third Raikage raised a single index finger, reaching the pinnacle of speed and destructive power. His Lightning Armor burst with dazzling light, his speed beyond the eye's ability to follow.

"Not good!" The three Kage saw the danger and instantly moved to the arena, but it was too late!

Are you crazy! It's just a spar, and you're going for the kill! Well, don't blame me then.

In a split second, Jinghang felt a murderous intent.

He pushed the flow of his Sage Chakra to the limit, moving at speeds that seemed to tear through space.

At this life-and-death moment, Jinghang recalled something Huang Daxian had said: if the speed of the Xuan Yuan Tomb Sage Technique's flow reached an extreme, it might even break through spatial limits. At this critical moment, Jinghang seemed to touch the "threshold."

In the high-speed perspective of the two fighters, each other appeared in "slow motion," Third Raikage's "One-Finger Nukite" advancing step by step, while Jinghang's Rasengan approached step by step.

As the two forces were about to collide, Third Raikage suddenly showed a look of regret. What a fool I am, going crazy over a sparring match. Why am I going for the kill? This thrust would pierce through even the toughest steel, and there's no stopping it now. What to do?

Jinghang saw the change in Third Raikage and decided to spare him, seeing his remorse.

The rapidly spinning Rasengan struck Third Raikage's wrist at a tricky angle, causing his thick arm to fly past him.

"Swish!"

The "One-Finger Nukite" missed, passing between Third Raikage's shoulder and neck.

In mid-air, Jinghang slightly twisted to avoid Third Raikage's oncoming body.

"Damn, I messed up!"

In an instant, Third Raikage's shoulder brushed against Jinghang's ribs.

"Crack!"

The sound of bones breaking.

Like being hit by a high-speed train, Jinghang flew backward like a broken kite.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in Hiruzen Sarutobi's arms.

"Ai, are you crazy!" Hiruzen Sarutobi scolded angrily.

Third Raikage, supported by Kushina and Zetsu, got up. His right arm was dislocated from the Rasengan's attack. His face full of guilt, he hurried to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jinghang, speaking emotionally.

"Are... you okay, Kazekage-sama?"

"Heh, I'm fine," Jinghang struggled to get up, feeling intense pain from his left ribs, unable to rise.

"Hiss, probably a broken rib."

Third Raikage breathed a sigh of relief, glad it was just a graze. If it had been a solid hit, his organs would have been crushed.

"Who... won?"

"Who won?"

...

The audience was confused.

Who won?

Third Raikage and Jinghang knew the answer, as did the other Kage. If that finger had been five inches lower, Tsukuyomi could have taken over early.

At this moment, Third Raikage resolutely grabbed Jinghang's right hand with his left, shouting loudly.

"The winner! Third Kazekage Jinghang!"

You're doing this on purpose! Being grabbed at the wound, Jinghang grimaced in pain.

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