Ch 182: Two S-Rank Lightning Jutsu against each other

Dozens of kunai were fired from blind spots by Tatsumi toward the guarding ninja.

"Water Release: Water Screen Curtain!" One of them quickly formed hand seals, and as the kunai flew over, a curtain of water rose up, blocking Tatsumi's attack.

Boom!

A flash of fire appeared on the kunai, and the attached explosive tags detonated violently.

This explosion was only the beginning. More than ten kunai exploded in rapid succession, throwing the guarding ninja's formation into chaos.

One of the ninja jumped up, trying to escape the explosion's range, but before he could steady himself, Tatsumi appeared behind him and punched him in the chest.

The ninja's face was frozen in terror. He didn't even have time to scream before being launched into the distance by the force of the blow.

In the next moment, more than ten shuriken came flying toward Tatsumi.

But his body was nothing more than an afterimage—the shuriken passed through and instead struck another unfortunate ninja, who staggered and collapsed, lifeless.

"Be careful, he's incredibly fast!" Ryoma shouted in alarm.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, Tatsumi disappeared again, reappearing next to the ninja on the far left.

Surprisingly, this ninja spun around and slashed at him with a kunai the moment Tatsumi appeared.

Clang! A burst of sparks flew as Tatsumi raised his own kunai to block the attack. "I see, you're a sensory-type. No wonder you could predict my position."

Before his opponent could respond, Tatsumi vanished once more.

Hit and run—that was the key in group battles. Otherwise, you'd be overwhelmed by coordinated attacks.

Sure enough, just as he disappeared, a wind blade shot across from a distance. It crashed with a loud roar, sending dust billowing into the air.

"Water Release: Syrup Capture Field!"

Reacting to Tatsumi's speed, one of the ninja quickly formed hand seals and spat a thick, sticky syrup onto the ground, trying to hinder his movement.

Seeing this, Tatsumi placed his hands on the ground.

"Chidori Current: Style Two."

A surge of lightning flooded into the earth, racing along the ground toward the enemy. Before the ninja could realize what was happening, he was struck and collapsed instantly.

Tatsumi darted forward once again, appearing before another ninja and slashing at his throat with a gleaming blade.

The opponent blocked with a kunai and used the force of the clash to quickly retreat.

As he did, two of his companions stabbed toward Tatsumi from either side, forming a triangular formation to cut off his pursuit.

"Heavenly Foot of Pain."

Releasing his genjutsu, Tatsumi slammed his right leg down with overwhelming strength. The impact sent the two attackers flying, smashing through several large trees before they barely managed to stabilize themselves on distant branches.

Tatsumi didn't give them a chance to recover. His figure shot forward like a meteor, slashing his kunai in a wide arc.

The two leaped back in haste; the branches they'd stood on were instantly severed by Tatsumi's blade.

"Fire Release: Garuda!"

One of the ninja shouted while forming hand seals. Chakra surged to his chest, and a fire dragon roared out, streaking toward Tatsumi.

At the same time, his companion used Wind Release: "Great Breakthrough!" A whirlwind swept into the flames, amplifying them dramatically.

The combined jutsu exploded with more than twice the original force.

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Wall!"

Tatsumi quickly formed hand seals, raising several thick walls of earth before him. The fire and wind struck, erupting in a deafening explosion. Trees were vaporized, and razor-sharp wind blades shredded the area. Tatsumi had no choice but to retreat.

"I've been waiting for you!"

A ninja appeared in his retreat path. Boom! Tatsumi collided with him, and a longsword slashed toward Tatsumi's chest.

But the sword abruptly stopped inches away.

"I'll borrow your hands for a moment," Tatsumi whispered in the man's ear.

Grabbing the ninja's left hand with his own right, Tatsumi swiftly formed hand seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball burst from his mouth, blazing with amplified chakra, hurtling toward the pursuing enemy ninjas.

At the same time, Tatsumi took the longsword from the stunned opponent's right hand and calmly stabbed it into his chest—straight into the heart. The ninja, caught in genjutsu, collapsed with wide eyes. Rain drummed against the blade—bang, bang—a grim rhythm.

Tatsumi's overwhelming versatility—shuriken, genjutsu, taijutsu, Body Flicker, Lightning Release, Fire Release—left the remaining ninja stunned. He seemed to have no weaknesses at all.

Of the twelve Guardian Ninja, only three remained standing.

Did this brat start training in the womb? Ryoma cursed inwardly.

"Withdraw!"

Ryoma shouted and turned to flee. The other two followed. He had no choice. If they stayed, they'd die before their final technique could be completed.

As Tatsumi prepared to give chase, Minato, who had been observing silently, shouted, "Tatsumi! Be careful of traps!"

Of the original twelve, three had escaped, and five lay dead. It didn't take a genius to guess the remaining four were lying in wait.

Minato was impressed—slaughtering Jōnin like cattle—but he didn't want Tatsumi taking unnecessary risks. No matter how powerful someone is, the shinobi world is full of hidden dangers.

"I know. You guys clean up the battlefield—I'll be back soon." Tatsumi smiled at Minato.

He wasn't the type to leave unfinished business. If the enemy still lived, they could strike back someday. He would eliminate all future threats—he had his own trump cards, after all.

Tatsumi leaped high into the sky and gave chase.

...…

Three minutes later, Tatsumi pulled his kunai from a ninja's chest. With his death, only Ryoma remained.

Tatsumi flicked the blood from his blade and turned to Ryoma. "What's wrong? Not running anymore?"

"Escape? There's no need," Ryoma sneered. "You're the one who'll die here. I don't know who you are, but keeping someone like you alive is far too dangerous…"

"I'll tell the Daimyo that we were ambushed by Sand Ninjas. Even if someone suspects me, the Daimyo will protect me. Konoha won't dare move against me," he laughed.

"So sorry—but die here."

"So confident?" Tatsumi raised an eyebrow.

"It seems the earlier fight wasn't enough to teach you a lesson. I don't want to brag, but… trash like you has no idea what real terror is."

Ryoma only smirked. "You'll see. Enjoy the feast." Then, he burst into water—just a clone.

At that moment, the remaining four Guardian Ninja appeared, surrounding Tatsumi from four directions.

Electric arcs danced around their bodies, rapidly intensifying until they were engulfed in lightning. Then, four arcs shot skyward, converging into a massive lightning sphere.

The sphere compressed, shrinking until it became a one-meter orb pulsing with destructive power.

Tatsumi had to admit—Ryoma's trump card was indeed formidable. This move had taken a long time to prepare. The four had clearly been lying in ambush. The cost had been steep—only five of twelve remained—but they believed it worth it to kill him.

But… would it really be that simple?

Tatsumi had known there was a trap—and he came anyway. Was he really that reckless?

No.

Earlier, Pakura's Phoenix and Nawaki's Water Bullet had filled the air with steam, altering the weather.

Now, thunderclouds loomed. Lightning crackled above.

In this weather, Sand Ninja would warn you: Don't fight Konoha's Lightning Flash—unless you want to be struck by lightning!

Tatsumi crouched low, then launched himself into the sky.

Rain poured down. Wind howled. Darkness thickened.

Tatsumi extended his right arm to the heavens.

Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear.

Lightning pierced the sky.

The low thunder and flickering lightning suddenly stilled.

No… they didn't vanish—they gathered.

The sky lit up like day, and in that moment, silence fell.

From above, a godlike form peeked through the clouds—the proud head of the Kirin.

Ryoma's eyes widened. "This is… a god…"

With a wave of Tatsumi's hand, the lightning beast plunged toward the earth.

"Lightning Release Secret Technique: Lightning Dream Thunder Person!"

The four Guardian Ninjas unleashed their final jutsu, facing the incoming devastation.

Two S-rank lightning techniques collided.

Electricity spread like water on glass—ring-shaped currents pulsing outward.

Then—BOOM!

The blast was deafening. The electrical noise, sharper than a thousand Chidori Streams, filled the air. Lightning lashed out below, tearing open the earth.

Tatsumi, suspended above, vanished—engulfed by the blast.

But no… it was only a cloud of smoke.

A shadow clone.

Yes, the one who cast Kirin wasn't Tatsumi himself. He'd simply altered the lightning's form and used Chidori to guide it. The clone had done the rest.

This was why Tatsumi dared to walk into a known trap—he'd never risk his true self.

...…

Back at the Daimyo's mansion, the explosion's shockwave rattled the floor.

"E-earthquake! Someone protect me!" the Daimyo shrieked, ducking under the table in his silk robes.

"Where are the Guardian Ninjas?! Ryoma! Get your ass back here!"

"Ow! My mahjong—my Grand Four Happiness! Damn earthquake!"

Meanwhile, in Konoha—

Knock knock.

"Come in," said Sarutobi Hiruzen, gazing out the window with a weary sigh.

"Hokage-sama," an Anbu reported, kneeling. "That chakra surge came from the southeast."

"Southeast? Where exactly?"

"Near the Daimyo's residence."

"What?!" Hiruzen almost yanked out his beard.

"Hiruzen," Danzo said darkly from the shadows, "I suspect the Hidden Cloud Village has attacked the Daimyo. That was clearly lightning chakra. Only the Cloud Village wields that kind of power."

"I suggest we declare war on the Land of Lightning immediately. We must strike back."

"Cough… Let's hold off for now," Hiruzen muttered awkwardly.

He suddenly remembered something—Orochimaru had secretly dispatched that kid, Tatsumi, to the Daimyo's residence. He'd forgotten about it until now.

And… hadn't Tatsumi used a massive lightning technique in the Land of Rain?

It had to be him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his pipe and swore silently:

If it really is him, I—Sarutobi Hiruzen—would rather starve to death or jump off Hokage Rock than send that brat on another mission above B-rank. I swear it!

————————————————————

Don't forget to review & vote if you're enjoying the story.

If you spot any errors or mistakes, feel free to tag or comment so they can be fixed.

Stay tuned for more!