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Chapter 156: Run Away!
🕑 Added 2025-01-23 13:22:18 +0000 UTCThe massive Thunder Dragon emerged from the dark clouds, illuminating the entire sky with its terrifying brilliance.
Even the Konoha ninjas stationed far away in their stronghold could feel the immense power radiating from the distant battlefield. Witnessing the scene, Hatake Sakumo didn't hesitate. He leapt off the city wall and sprinted toward the battlefield at full speed.
"Organize the troops for support—quickly!"
Even as he issued the order, the White Fang had already covered a distance of more than ten meters, disappearing into the night.
On the battlefield, Roshi raised his head toward the sky. The dark clouds above had thickened, and from them, a dragon's head emerged, followed by a colossal body descending with the terrifying power of nature.
"How is this possible?!"
"This level of ninjutsu…"
"BOOM!!!"
The lightning struck, and the Thunder Dragon swooped down. The battlefield was instantly engulfed in an explosion of light and sound. A violent hurricane of chakra erupted from Roshi's position, spreading outward with immense force. The glowing lightning rapidly expanded, consuming everything in its path.
"That's…"
"Captain!"
The distant Iwa shinobi watched in disbelief as the Thunder Dragon's attack obliterated the area. The dazzling light blinded them, and the violent chakra disrupted their sensory techniques, making it impossible to discern what was happening on the battlefield.
Moments later, a hurricane swept across the area, forcing the Iwa ninjas to huddle together to withstand the gale. The ground trembled violently, and cracks began to appear in the cavern restraining Kokuō. Several rock pillars, crucial to holding the Tailed Beast in place, snapped under the strain.
"Roar!"
Sensing its opportunity, Kokuō roared and surged with chakra, shattering the remaining restraints.
"The Tailed Beast is escaping!"
A panicked voice rang out among the Iwa forces. Some shinobi, unable to handle the pressure, began to flee. As the first few fled, the collapse of morale became inevitable. No amount of shouting from their leaders could stop the wave of retreating soldiers.
Inside the cavern, Kokuō's struggles reached a peak. With a tremendous leap, the five-tailed beast broke free and emerged before the terrified Iwa ninjas.
"Retreat!!!"
The commanding Iwa shinobi knew the situation was beyond recovery. Their chakra reserves had been depleted after suppressing Kokuō for so long. Re-sealing the Tailed Beast was now impossible, and with their commander, Roshi, seemingly defeated, retreat was the only option.
As Kokuō rampaged, scattering the remaining Iwa ninjas, a small group of elite shinobi made their way toward the battlefield where Roshi and Raiden had clashed. They hoped to confirm Roshi's condition.
As the light of the Thunder Dragon faded, a large crater appeared in the scorched ground. At the bottom lay Roshi, his body charred black and barely breathing.
Raiden, half-kneeling on a jagged rock above the molten terrain, panted heavily. His lightning armor had dissipated, and the chakra chains of the Kongō Fūsa had vanished. Even his grip on the Sakegari no Tachi trembled with exhaustion.
"Boo… hah… hah…"
Suddenly, the sound of kunai slicing through the air reached Raiden. Three kunai flew toward him in a triangular formation. Despite his effort to rise, Raiden staggered and fell to one knee again.
"Clang, clang, clang."
Summoning the last of his chakra, Raiden created three invisible currents of electricity, deflecting the kunai mid-flight. He lifted his gaze to the crater where Roshi lay.
Four Iwa ninjas had appeared, forming a protective perimeter around Roshi. Their wary eyes never left Raiden.
"Captain, he's barely standing! Let's finish him!" one of them suggested, his tone dripping with bloodlust.
Their leader, however, shook his head after a moment of observation.
"Take the commander and retreat. That man isn't panicking, even with us here. He's still capable of fighting back."
"Our priority is the commander's safety. Han is already gone; we can't lose Roshi too."
The cautious leader ordered the retreat, and with one last wary glance at Raiden, the group prepared to leave.
"Smart move, Iwa ninja," Raiden muttered, leaning heavily on the Sakegari no Tachi. "But I'm not letting Roshi leave that easily."
He formed a single-handed seal, and a massive surge of chakra erupted from the diamond-shaped mark on his forehead. Purple patterns began to spread across his body as the stored energy of his Yin Seal was released.
"You're surrounded. Surrender now."
Raiden exhaled deeply as chakra flooded his body. The faint stirrings of the Nine-Tails subsided, pacified by the influx of energy.
"What is this monster?!" one of the Iwa shinobi gasped. "How does he still have this much chakra after using a technique like that?"
Their leader wasted no time. "Get the commander out of here, now!"
The other three quickly formed seals, creating an earth wall around Raiden to stall his advance.
"Boom!"
The earth wall shattered as Raiden burst through, debris scattering in all directions. Ignoring the three shinobi, he swept past them in pursuit of the fleeing group carrying Roshi.
Raiden closed the gap with incredible speed, reaching out to grab Roshi. At that moment, Roshi's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with primal fury. A red chakra tail emerged from his tailbone and lashed out, striking Raiden.
"What?!"
Caught off guard, Raiden barely managed to block with his blade, but the force sent him flying backward. The Iwa shinobi used the opportunity to hasten their retreat, quickly vanishing from Raiden's sight.
The three remaining Iwa ninjas launched a coordinated counterattack.
"Earth Style: Mudslide!"
The ground surged with magma-laden mud, rushing toward Raiden. At the same time, dozens of shuriken rained down from above.
"Troublesome," Raiden muttered, activating his lightning armor again. This time, the aura was a pale blue. He leapt to avoid the mudslide, and the shuriken bounced harmlessly off his armor.
Ignoring the three shinobi, Raiden continued his pursuit of Roshi and the fleeing group. The remaining Iwa ninjas followed cautiously, determined to stop him from killing their captain.
Meanwhile, Kokuō, now free, had left the battlefield. The five-tailed beast would not linger in the area, seeking safety elsewhere.
When Hatake Sakumo and the Konoha troops arrived, they found only a desolate battlefield littered with the bodies of fallen Iwa ninjas. The terrain had been drastically altered, and there was no trace of Raiden or the enemy.
"Captain Sakumo, this way!"
Hizashi Hyuga pointed north, his Byakugan detecting Raiden's chakra.
"Move quickly!" Hatake Sakumo commanded, leading the troops in pursuit.
(End of Chapter)
