Chapter 96: Mask of the Raikage
No longer bothering to consider keeping or destroying the Sand Ninja, Dodai began to withdraw the Cloud Ninja troops while also sending people to explore and support the Third Raikage.
Ōnoki floated through the air and returned to Iwagakure's elite team that served as shadow guards.
"Lord Tsuchikage, the Sand Ninjas have begun to retreat. Do you want to leave them behind?" The Rock Ninja's Jonin Toushi asked Ōnoki who had landed on the ground.
"Let them go." Oonoki hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head.
"Wouldn't it be better to leave them here?" Dong Siren was a little surprised. He didn't expect that his own Tsuchikage would be willing to let the defeated Sand Ninja leave with him.
"The latest information is that the old puppet woman from the Sand Ninja has arrived with the One-Tailed Jinchuriki." Ohnoki said softly.
Dong Siren immediately understood what he meant.
Bringing the One-Tail here and deliberately leaking information about the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki was obviously done to intimidate them.
The fish died and the net was broken?
Dong Si Ren didn't think that a single One-Tail Jinchuriki could resist the current Iwagakure, even with the addition of the Kumogakure ninjas.
But if the Sand Ninja and the Cloud Ninja are forced to join forces, it will indeed be a big trouble for the Iwagakure!
The Tsuchikage, who prefers to play it safe, obviously doesn't want any complications at this critical juncture, or any unexpected events that might cause complications.
Just retreat.
The Sand Village, which has been so devastated that it can only defend the village and is unable to actively participate in the war, is already half out of the game in this Ninja World War.
Next, as long as the Kumogakure here are eliminated, the Kumogakure will have to retreat and lick their wounds. The Rockgakure will invade the Land of Fire in one go and start the final war with Konoha.
……
"Rui, take Bi and the Cloud Ninja troops back to the village." The Third Raikage returned to the camp and gave orders to his son and subordinates.
"Dad!" Rui opened his eyes wide, and the uneasiness in his heart spread to the maximum in an instant.
"I will stay here to help you block Ohnoki and his main force." The Third Raikage said in a calm tone.
"Lord Raikage..."
"Hurry up, as long as you are still here, the Cloud Ninja will not be eliminated in this war and will still be one of the five major ninja villages!
The Rock Ninjas have surrounded the battlefield, but with me distracting their attention, it won't be hard for you to break through the siege. I will block as many pursuers as possible for you." The Third Raikage interrupted Tsuchidai and said decisively.
"Rui, from now on, you are the Fourth Raikage!" The Third Raikage looked at Rui and said to him.
"Finally, please leave me the mask codenamed One."
……
"Have the troops been divided? Where is the Third Raikage?" Ohnoki also received information from the Iwagakure ninja in front that the Cloud Ninja had divided their troops to break out. He was not surprised by this and his attention was on the Third Raikage.
As long as the Third Raikage can be eliminated, even if some of the Cloud Ninjas can successfully break out, they will not be able to escape the subsequent pursuit of the Iwagakure.
"The Raikage is leading his men towards us."
The Iwagakure who reported this information was also somewhat surprised by the Third Raikage's choice.
"To die?" Ohnoki instantly saw through the Third Raikage's thoughts. Ohnoki was also somewhat touched by the Raikage's choice.
The second generation Hokage of Konoha did the same thing.
"The Raikage is a qualified Kage!"
Ohnoki exclaimed in admiration, but then he began to issue targeted orders to the Iwagakure without hesitation.
After you have mutual respect and even exchanged identities, Ohnoki might make the same choice, but that won't stop him from destroying you and the Cloud Ninjas you want to protect.
The Raikage led a team of Cloud Ninjas and rushed towards the vicinity of the Iwagakure Ninjas. Under the swarm of Iwagakure Ninjas, the Cloud Ninjas that followed him disappeared one after another after being attacked, and in the end only a sturdy figure flashing like lightning was left on the battlefield.
The surging ninjutsu could not catch up with the figure flashing and rushing on the battlefield. Even if the ninjutsu with a wide range was bombarded, after it was released, the lightning-fast figure could be seen rushing out of the ninjutsu and rushing into the group of ninjas releasing the ninjutsu, causing casualties to the Rock Ninja.
For a moment, at that almost flashing speed, the entire battlefield seemed to be filled with the afterimages of the Third Raikage, and it brought horrific casualties to the Iwagakure ninjas in the front row.
No one could be his match. The charging Third Raikage was like the god of death. Anyone he hit died and anyone he touched was injured.
Many Rock Ninjas didn't even see his figure. They only heard a loud thunderous sound and a dazzling figure, and then their bodies were knocked away and torn into several pieces in mid-air, and they died.
Ordinary ninjutsu was simply unable to restrict the Raikage's figure, and the opponent took the initiative to rush into the Rock Ninja unit. This seemingly suicidal behavior became a nightmare for the Rock Ninja due to the opponent's extremely powerful defense and unparalleled sprint speed.
In just a few hours, the Iwagakure suffered hundreds of casualties.
And that dazzling figure wrapped in lightning was still tirelessly moving among the Rock Ninjas, bringing death.
Wherever the lightning flashes, there will be chaos and death among the Iwagakure.
Amid the roaring thunder, the screams of the Rock Ninjas rang out one after another.
"Lord Tsuchikage?" Dong Siren looked at the Third Raikage who was surrounded by the Rock Ninjas, and looked tentatively at his own Kage who had a calm face.
"Wait a little longer! Consume more of his chakra!" Ohnoki said calmly. Although this was cruel to the Iwagakure in front, that was how war was.
It is not difficult for a ninja who is powerful enough to be named one of the Five Kage to defeat a thousand enemies alone.
Since he wanted to leave a Kage behind, Ōnoki was naturally prepared to bear the corresponding losses. Now was not the time to send in the elite Iwagakure.
At least until the Raikage's chakra is exhausted, it will be the time for the elite Rock Ninjas to reap the rewards.
The Raikage obviously realized this, and although he had plenty of physical strength and chakra, the Iwagakure had obviously found a way to restrict him and curb his speed.
The area where he was moving had been covered by large areas of quicksand and quagmire. Although his speed still seemed as fast as lightning to the Rock Ninjas, he was very clear that his sprinting speed had been affected.
If this continued, he would become a target for ninjutsu, and it would be even more difficult to cause a large amount of damage to the Rock Ninja.
This method of limiting his speed and killing power was very familiar to the Raikage, and it made him feel as if he was still fighting with the Sand Ninja Rasa. The difference between the two was that Rasa's bloodline limit and restraint on him were greater than those of the Rock Ninja. The Rock Ninja obviously wanted to use this method to consume his chakra, at least to limit his speed, and only in this way could Ōnoki's Dust Release pose a threat to him.
The worst thing was that half of his arm was wiped off by Dust Release, which seriously affected the release and performance of his ninjutsu.
It is difficult for Lightning Release Armor and Hell Stab to have the range and long-range of other Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
……
"It's been a whole day and a whole night, and you can still hold on? This kind of belief!"
Looking at the Third Raikage who was still sprinting tirelessly in the encirclement and building a line of defense with his own strength to resist the Iwagakure, Ohnoki's face showed some emotion.
The Iwagakure ninjas outside the encirclement couldn't help but feel a little fear in their hearts when facing the silent shadow who was blocking them.
The opponent's extremely powerful body and lightning armor were able to withstand the concentrated fire of their ninjutsu without suffering any obvious injuries, and once he got close to them, they would inevitably face death.
"His speed has slowed down." Dong Siren stood on the high platform, looking down at the Third Raikage in the distance, whose speed was restricted by the terrain changed by many earth-style ninjutsu, and said calmly.
The threat of the Third Raikage was still great, but the damage he caused was rapidly decreasing. The Third Raikage lost an arm, and the impact on his strength was clearly evident at this moment.
The opponent simply couldn't use other ninjutsu to break the situation or counterattack. They only needed to maintain the current situation, and the Third Raikage would inevitably fall under their human wave tactics.
In fact, the fact that the Third Raikage could hold on for a whole day and a night was beyond the cognition of all the Iwagakure ninjas, who regarded him as a monster like the tailed beast.
Boiling Escape·Unparalleled Strange Power!
An Iwagakure ninja wearing red armor and with steam erupting from his body, collided with the charging Third Raikage with a loud bang and unparalleled momentum.
At the moment of collision, the man raised his chakra to boiling point, and all the strength in his body burst out in an instant.
The armor on his body also spewed out a large amount of white steam at this moment, and the mist like a fountain instantly spread around.
The loud sound of steam and the harsh sound of thunder intertwined together.
boom!
The shockwaves generated by the collision of the two powerful monsters scraped off a layer of the ground beneath their feet. The mud, quicksand, and earth mounds used to restrain the Third Raikage were also instantly cleared away by the shockwaves.
Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han!
An Iwagakure ninja who has mastered the Boiling Release, has an extremely strong body, and is good at using Boiling Release as an attack.
A Jinchūriki who is able to master the power of a certain tailed beast will have his fighting style somewhat related to the tailed beast in his body.
Just like the Five-Tailed Fox, once it charges, the horns on its head can cause devastating damage to the enemy.
As the Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails, he also inherited the attack methods of the tailed beasts. In terms of strength alone, he is one of the most powerful in the entire ninja world.
After a moment of stalemate, the two monsters flew backwards.
"Han is actually injured." Dong Si Ren said in surprise as he watched Han tumbling to the ground, his body flying off the ground several times like a water float, and finally stopped by the eruption of a large amount of steam behind him.
As a fellow Jonin of the Iwagakure Village, Dong Si Ren certainly knew how abnormal Han's body was, and how powerful he was with the blessing of Boiling Release and the Five-Tails!
Once the opponent charges forward with the help of the steam created by the boiling escape technique, almost no one can stop him on the battlefield! Even if a Jinchūriki wearing a tailed beast coat is in front of him, he will be brutally crushed and his body will be broken.
The Third Raikage was indeed powerful, but he had been fighting non-stop for a whole day and night, and it could be said that he was not in his peak condition.
And what about Han?
As the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, he had conserved his strength, but after the fight, he still fell into a disadvantage in terms of his best fighting style.
Han steadied his body and a whistling sound came from his whole body. A tail accompanied by a layer of tailed beast coat appeared on his body.
boom!
The loud whistle made Han rumble like a speeding train, dragging out a white dragon-like steam phantom, rushing towards the Third Raikage again.
However, facing Han's provocation, the Third Raikage's eyes flashed, but he used his speed to quickly dodge and avoided a collision with Han.
In the previous collision, he did have the upper hand and even hurt Han, but his sprinting speed was also forcibly stopped by Han.
In a one-on-one fight, the Third Raikage is not afraid of his opponent, even if the opponent is completely transformed into a tailed beast. As someone who once suppressed the Eight-Tails single-handedly, he is confident that he can defeat the opponent.
But now he is surrounded by the Iwagakure ninjas, and as the rear guard, he must delay the main force of the Iwagakure ninjas and buy more time for the retreat of the Cloud ninjas.
The life force of a Jinchūriki is very tenacious, and fighting a Jinchūriki who can transform into a tailed beast is an activity that consumes time and physical strength.
Once he is restrained, the Rock Ninja can safely dispatch a large number of manpower to break through his blockade, to pursue and delay the retreat of the Cloud Ninja troops.
Therefore, after experiencing Han's power, the Third Raikage decisively distanced himself from him. Anyway, with the blessing of the Lightning Release Armor, what gave the Rock Ninja the most headache was not his extreme defense, but his lightning-fast speed.
This gives him great battlefield autonomy.
If the Iwagakure ninjas had not used human wave tactics to surround him, he would not have wanted to leave for the sake of the Cloud ninjas. Without Ohnoki and the others taking action, there was no way to stop him from leaving.
But now that the Five-Tails Jinchuriki has appeared, it means that Ohnoki has begun to push elite combat forces to the battlefield.
Soon, another powerful ninja appeared, proving the Third Raikage's guess.
The scorching heat accompanied by rocks wrapped in magma fell from the sky, hitting the Third Raikage like meteorites.
A man with a big beard and a serious face, his body wrapped in high-temperature lava, burning the air around him like ripples on water, wearing purple clothes and a breastplate, with ripples like water, is starting to hunt down the Third Raikage together with Han.
The three of them chased each other and launched a fierce battle in the encirclement.
Faced with two jinchūriki with strong defenses and extremely fast recovery speeds under the chakra of the tailed beasts, even the Third Raikage felt the pressure.
Especially Ohnoki, who was floating in the air and condensing a ball of white light in his hands at all times, forced the Third Raikage to divert part of his attention to pay attention to his movements.
After all, Ōnoki in the sky possesses the only Dust Release that can cause him fatal damage!
Night gradually appeared.
The Third Raikage felt a rare emptiness and fatigue in his body, and suddenly exploded, colliding with the two jinchūriki who were entangled with him. He took advantage of the situation to create some distance, and then, under the gaze of everyone, he dissipated his own lightning armor and put a pale bone mask on his face.
(End of this chapter)