Kill

Lightning crackled all around him, completely boosting his power. His attacks became stronger, his defenses tougher, and he reacted much faster.

"Hahahaha…"

Kurosuki Raiga roared with laughter, feeling the surge of power.

Suddenly, he could almost keep up with Sarutobi Ryo's lightning-fast movements.

But Raiga was wrong. This was only the start.

Sarutobi Ryo lifted his right hand high, then slammed it down hard.

Boom!

Even though he was some distance away, the force of the blow was like a physical impact, creating a huge explosion of air.

To Raiga, it felt like the sky was falling and the earth was collapsing. He was overwhelmed by a wave of icy power and a deadly intent.

He was shocked. He never expected Sarutobi Ryo to have such a powerful long-range attack using only his body.

For a moment, he thought it was the Hyuga Clan's famous Eight Trigrams Empty Palm.

But this was far stronger. It felt more like their Eight Trigrams Mountain Crusher technique.

After unleashing the palm strike, Sarutobi Ryo's arm throbbed from the electricity of Raiga's Lightning Release.

Raiga, on the other hand, was thrown backward. The Lightning Armor that had been protecting him flickered and shattered into nothing.

"Hmm?!"

Raiga dug his heels into the ground, trying to stop himself. He barely managed to avoid crashing. His eyes widened in disbelief.

In just a few blinks of an eye, they had exchanged several powerful blows.

The other Blood Mist Ninjas could only stand and watch, stunned into silence.

The battle was so intense and fast that they couldn't even react.

It wasn't until they saw Sarutobi Ryo's hand trembling slightly that they wondered if they should help Raiga.

But then, a thought crept into their minds.

What if Raiga were to die?

Dark desires began to stir within them.

The brutal traditions of the Blood Mist, where internal conflict was common, made the twenty or so Ninjas hesitate.

Like bloodthirsty sharks, they had already devoured Ringo Ameyuri and were now ready to turn on Raiga as well.

Sarutobi Ryo clenched his fist.

His palm strike had landed almost directly on Raiga's Lightning Armor.

Being so close meant he had absorbed some of the electrical energy.

But to cause the most damage with the Crushing Palm Strike, it was a risk he had to take.

"Not bad..."

The Steel Release Barrier flowed under his skin, protecting him from most of the harmful effects of the Lightning Release.

So…

"Now's my chance!"

Without hesitating, Sarutobi Ryo used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Raiga.

He was determined to beat him down.

He thrust his palm out, creating a gust of wind that made Raiga's clothes flutter.

Raiga didn't have time to think. He swung his twin blades, deciding to meet Sarutobi Ryo's attack head-on.

Boom!

Crackle!

The sounds of their attacks clashed in the air.

Lightning arced from Raiga's blades, striking Sarutobi Ryo from a distance.

At the same time, Sarutobi Ryo's Crushing Palm Strike slammed into Raiga.

"Puh~!"

Raiga coughed up blood. He was thrown backward, hitting the ground hard.

Sarutobi Ryo staggered back as well, his body trembling. But thanks to the Steel Release Barrier, he only took a few steps before regaining his balance.

"Argh~!"

Raiga was furious.

He had never been in such a desperate situation.

Almost instantly, he flipped to his feet and retreated quickly.

This guy is too strong with his Body Art. I need to create some distance!

Despite his anger, he was thinking clearly.

"Young Master has the upper hand!" Yamanaka Hui exclaimed, excited. She felt it was time to launch a counterattack.

At the same time, several Root Ninjas emerged from the forest.

They were worried about Nonou's safety and had come to check on her.

"You're just in time..."

Nonou adjusted her glasses.

Sarutobi Ryo's performance had given her a boost of confidence.

This mission was possible.

"Let's go!"

As Yamanaka Hui and the others prepared to move and Raiga continued to retreat, Sarutobi Ryo's eyes flashed. He saw his chance.

As the saying goes, when you meet on a narrow road, the brave win.

Raiga's decision to create distance had sealed his fate.

Shh!

Sarutobi Ryo's sleeve fluttered as he pulled out a Kunai.

Sharp Wind Release Chakra flowed around the blade.

In a blur, he threw it.

The fierce wind sliced through the air, aimed directly at Raiga's neck.

If Lightning Release was about speed and piercing power…

Wind Release was about cutting and… range.

The broad nature of Wind gave it the widest area of attack.

A simple C-rank Wind Release: Great Breakthrough could create a massive effect, like a powerful gust of wind sweeping everything away.

When Wind Release was added to a weapon, Chakra Flow could transform it into a deadly, extended blade.

The twenty-centimeter Kunai suddenly grew by half a meter.

The transparent stream of vibrating air sliced across Raiga's neck like a saw.

Shh!

Blood sprayed out.

It was like Asuma using Flying Swallow to cut Hidan's neck.

The concentrated Wind Blade inflicted the deepest wound Raiga had suffered.

"What?!"

He couldn't believe it.

A Jonin's powerful life force kept him from dying instantly.

In that moment, Raiga made his final decision.

"Lightning Release... Lightning Burial!!"

The ultimate move of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the swan song of the Lightning Blade Kiba user.

He would release all of his Chakra, channeling it into the clouds, then strike down with lightning speed, giving himself the most magnificent funeral possible.

This move would also create a massive area-of-effect attack.

And so, in the third second of the battle, Raiga's technique was complete.

His final counterattack, with deafening thunder and blinding light, engulfed the entire forest.

…

"Ugh…"

Nonou finally opened her eyes. She didn't know how much time had passed.

"Young Master~!" Yamanaka Hui cried out.

Ringo Ameyuri, standing nearby, was restless.

But a hand on her lower back stopped her.

If she were at full strength, she could easily take care of that busty Ninja.

But right now, weakened, she could only dream about it.

"Don't worry... I just want to get back Lightning Blade Kiba..." Ringo Ameyuri said with a smile.

The center of the forest, where the lightning had struck, was now smoking.

The center of the impact... Raiga was dead, without a trace.

The radiating thunder had knocked down many trees.

The aftermath alone was enough to kill a Chunin.

This was Raiga's final attack, the Lightning Blade's most powerful killing move.

"Cough cough cough..."

Then, a dark figure crawled out of the dust.

His clothes were torn to shreds, and he was covered in black soot.

He struggled to stand.

But no one doubted his strength.

"Young Master..."

Yamanaka Hui's eyes shone with joy as Sarutobi Ryo, his eyes sharp and bright, emerged from the dust.

His powerful body, combined with the defensive abilities of his Steel Release Kekkei Genkai, had allowed him to withstand the deadly attack.

As the thunder spread through his body, the Steel Release Barrier on his skin distributed the damage, minimizing the impact.

Without the Steel Release Kekkei Genkai, Sarutobi Ryo would have been killed by the Lightning Release technique at such close range.

But Sarutobi Ryo had survived.

However, unnoticed, a subtle change was occurring in the jungle.

Drip.

The water surged.

The running water near Sarutobi Ryo's feet was changing rapidly.

It was as if something was controlling it.

A large pool of water formed, and many water droplets connected.

Then, a clear stream flowed toward Sarutobi Ryo.

Splash!

Like a hand and a head formed from water, they suddenly "grew" out of the puddle and grabbed the two Lightning Blades.

"Hehe... the Lightning Blades are mine..."

"Hmm?!"

Ringo Ameyuri's eyes widened. She recognized him instantly.

"It's that Hozuki Clan kid…!"

Hozuki Mangetsu, about the same age as Kakashi, known as the "Kirigakure Genius Prodigy," had also been part of this mission.

Waiting for the perfect moment, he had seized the opportunity to attack, grab the Ninja Swords, and dart away like flowing water.

Even though Sarutobi Ryo was seriously injured, he didn't even think about stopping the sneak attack.

He just wanted to run away with the Ninja Sword.

Raiga was dead, and the aftermath of his "duel" with Ringo Ameyuri would be a problem for the Kirigakure higher-ups.

With Ringo Ameyuri "colluding with Konoha," whoever picked up the Ninja Sword would become its owner!

Exclamations rang out.

The Kirigakure Ninjas abandoned the fight and chased after Hozuki Mangetsu.

The desire for the Ninja Sword was stronger than their desire to continue the battle.