Chapter 23
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Hinata came to a stop, her chest rising and falling with every breath. Sweat rolled down her flushed face, instantly freezing into crystals in the harsh wind and snow.
There were people all around, but her eyes—her white, unwavering eyes—only had one person in sight: Naruto.
Naruto's hands trembled ever so slightly as emotion welled in his chest.
How far did you run to get here…?
After all these years, they should've reunited under a warm sky with smiles on their faces. But now, the weight of the past cast a heavy shadow over this long-awaited moment.
In front of him stood the girl he cared deeply for, anxiety burning in her eyes. Behind him loomed Raikage and his escorts, eyes sharp with suspicion.
Please... don't come any closer... Naruto silently pleaded.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata couldn't hold back anymore. Her legs moved of their own accord.
But before she could take more than a step, a shadow stretched out from behind her—right to her feet.
Shadow Possession Jutsu.
High above, a giant bird made of ink circled in the snowy sky. Shikamaru, seated cross-legged on its back, one leg still in a cast from his injuries during the Pain invasion, formed a seal and called down calmly,
"Hinata, I get it. I do. But now isn't the time. Look at the situation. If you run out now, you'll just distract Naruto."
"..." Hinata bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, forcing herself to hold back the storm surging in her heart.
Naruto lowered his gaze for a moment. Shikamaru… thanks.
One of Raikage's guards muttered, "That guy's Konoha too. Judging by the age, probably in the same class as him. Another from the Hyuga clan?"
The Hyuga, always a point of interest for the Cloud due to their long, complicated history.
Darui studied Neji beside Hinata. "Yeah… I remember this one. Met him once during a mission. Hyuga Neji—talented for a branch family member. A shame he's trapped under the cage bird seal."
Raikage cracked his neck, a grim smirk forming on his face. "Sending a bunch of bratty rookies to deal with their rogue ninja... Classic Konoha arrogance. Let me teach this Uzumaki a lesson, break him in half, and drag him to our cells. We'll beat Sasuke's location out of him!"
Boom! Boom!
He didn't wait. Wrapped in a coat of lightning, Raikage exploded forward in a blur.
Not even Konan or Orochimaru had time to react. The next second—Naruto had already been punched away.
Whoosh!!
Naruto landed hard, blocking the blow just in time with a katana, sliding backwards in the snow, sparks flying.
"Tch." Raikage narrowed his eyes. With a crack, the katana snapped clean in half under his enhanced strength.
Naruto dodged, but Raikage was already turning his punch into a sharp hand strike—slashing straight toward Naruto's right shoulder!
Crack!
The impact dislocated the joint. Pain shot through Naruto's body.
But he gritted his teeth, activated his left eye—
Absorption: Hungry Ghost Path!
Sizzle!
The lightning chakra around Raikage's body was torn away, sucked directly into Naruto's palm.
"Huh?!" Raikage's eyes widened in brief shock.
Now!
Whffft!
Konan's paper fluttered through the air, a detonating tag concealed inside, and landed squarely on Raikage's back.
BOOM!!!
An explosion erupted at point-blank range.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Naruto jumped back and grabbed his right shoulder with his left hand.
Click!
He snapped the joint back into place with a grimace.
Close one. If I hadn't absorbed that lightning chakra, it wouldn't have been just a dislocation…
"Boss, are you okay!?" Xi called out anxiously.
Darui was calm. "He lost the lightning armor, but something like that won't be enough to damage the boss."
As expected, Raikage emerged from the smoke, scowling and completely unharmed.
"Hmph… Not bad. You've got a useful pair of eyes. Back at the summit, you dispersed Onoki's Dust Release… Must've been the same eye. But don't get cocky. There's still a delay between activating and absorbing chakra. That delay is enough for me to kill you three times over!"
Crackle!
Even more intense lightning burst around his body, his hair bristling into sharp, crackling spikes.
Darui muttered, "Oh no. The boss is using Lightning Release Chakra Mode—Second Stage. Max output."
Raikage growled, "This technique was forged to kill the Yellow Flash. It's a shame he's already dead—so I'll settle for killing his son instead!"
Naruto's thoughts raced. Second Stage Lightning Chakra Mode—fast, deadly, refined. His speed already outpaces my father's, even if his defense isn't quite as strong. I've learned Flying Raijin, but without Kurama's chakra to boost my reflexes… I can't match him right now…
Darui warned, "Boss! Don't forget we still need Sasuke alive for questioning!"
Raikage snarled, "I don't care! If that bastard Sasuke dares show up again, I'll find him in five minutes anyway!!"
Boom!!!
With a deafening roar, Raikage shot toward Naruto like a thunderbolt. The speed—far too fast for even the Rinnegan to fully keep up.
But…
Sense it... now!
—Shinra Tensei!
BOOM!!!
A wave of repulsion burst outward, slamming everything away.
Raikage skidded to a stop—just inches from Naruto's face. His lightning-clad fist hovered mid-air.
"Bastard…!!" he roared, digging his feet in, trying to push forward another inch. But no matter how much power he used… he couldn't breach the final distance.
For a heartbeat, they were locked in stalemate.
Then—
WHAM!
Raikage was launched backward, skidding across the snow before landing beside Darui and Xi.
Swish! Swish!
Konan and Orochimaru flanked Naruto again.
Konan scattered more paper bombs in the air. Orochimaru summoned several massive serpents.
Naruto panted, one hand covering his eye. "That guy… almost pushed through Shinra Tensei. That's terrifying."
Orochimaru smirked. "His raw power and speed make him uniquely suited to counter you right now. One slip-up, and it's game over."
Konan nodded. "If you had both Rinnegan, you'd see through his movements and respond without delay."
Naruto frowned. My current chakra pool… without Kurama's help, it's just not enough. I relied on him too much. Even my Sage Mode has shorter battery life now. Compared to the First Hokage, the difference is huge. No wonder the Six Paths' power was needed to even fight Madara and Kaguya...
This path—my own path—is going to be long. But I'll find power another way.
Darui advised, "Boss, his eyes and support make this fight drag out too long…"
Raikage scowled and turned to the other Kage. "You guys just gonna sit there and watch!?"
Mifune bowed politely. "This is a matter between shinobi. We samurai won't interfere… especially since I was impersonated earlier."
Onoki rubbed his back and grunted, "Old man like me's got back pain. I'll leave this to you kids."
Kazekage Gaara narrowed his eyes at him. Clearly a silent warning.
Terumi Mei added, "This is neutral ground. Fighting here could be seen as dishonoring our host."
Gaara stated calmly, "As I said before—I trust Naruto. He won't betray the ninja world."
Raikage clenched his fists. "You're all just standing there doing nothing?!"
He turned his fury back toward Naruto. "Uzumaki Naruto!! I know Sasuke Uchiha was just here! Where is he?! Tell me! This is your final chance!!!"
"Sasuke was here?!" Sakura gasped behind Hinata, eyes wide with disbelief.
Naruto, expression calm, said, "Raikage… Why are you so obsessed with Sasuke?"
Raikage roared, "Because that bastard killed my brother!!!"
Naruto shook his head. "Your brother, Killer Bee… He's still alive. But he's being targeted by Akatsuki. If you move quickly, you can still save him—"
Raikage froze. "What… did you just say?!"
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