Chapter 253: Intelligence Is Life! Silent Killing Intent!
Gripping the Supersonic Vibration Vacuum Blade in his hand, Uchiha Ci's scarlet eyes flashed. With a swift step forward, he lunged at full speed!
His opponent was the Raikage, a shinobi with immense defensive power.
This time, he did not attempt his usual strategy of using thrown ninja tools to create an opening.
As the Third A had said, such tricks were useless against him.
Whether it was wire threads, ninja tools, or large-scale but dispersed elemental jutsu like the Flowing Flame Greatsword, none of them could penetrate that damnable turtle shell.
In an era where nearly all shinobi were glass cannons, the Raikage's Lightning Release Armor was an anomaly among anomalies.
Thus, past combat experience against other shinobi did not apply here.
To break through this layer of lightning armor—
Uchiha Ci had two methods he could attempt:
First, he could use the Scorching White Longsword, a technique that condensed Fire Release chakra to its absolute limit, creating heat intense enough to melt anything. This method, however, required an enormous amount of chakra.
Second, he could rely on elemental superiority—
Using the Wind-Lightning Composite Ninjutsu in his hand, a technique that maximized both piercing and killing power, to stab through the Lightning Release Armor.
But this wasn't an either-or choice.
So Uchiha Ci decided—
I'll take both!
"Haah!"
As he dashed forward at high speed, the wind roaring past him, everything around him blurred into streaks of light, receding into the distance.
With a furious shout, he bit down, igniting the sparks between his teeth!
Fire Release: Chakra Mode—Activate!
In the next instant—
A blinding white radiance erupted!
Like a rising sun, an inferno surged skyward from the cliffs!
Flames ignited from his burning heart, consuming everything within him—
They condensed, twisted, gathered, and fused, swirling like a waterspout around his left arm and fist!
In a flash—
A fist burning as brightly as the sun was hurled fiercely at the Third A's face!
It was the very technique he had once used to withstand Hōzuki Mangetsu's Hiramekarei—Shattered Blade Flame Fist!
The dazzling white light was so intense that it rivaled the Lightning Illusion: Flash Pillar, forcing the Third A to narrow his eyes, a look of solemnity rising within them.
"Tch, I can't see where this brat is."
"So that's it. His previous techniques and the sword in his hand were just a feint?"
"Once he closes the distance, he disrupts my vision with intense light before attacking to land a decisive blow."
"This must be the legendary Fire Release technique from the reports... the one that requires no hand seals?"
As the realization struck, the Third A couldn't help but smirk.
For the first time, he felt a flicker of battle intent toward this Uchiha brat whom he had previously disregarded as nothing more than an annoyance to be dealt with swiftly.
"In that case..."
His previously relaxed posture shifted slightly, and his eyes turned cold and sharp.
"I'll defeat you as fast as possible!"
Then—
The Third A raised his arms—
His left hand clenched into a fist before his right hand, while his right hand tightened around his thumb, lifting four fingers.
After a moment of thought, he retracted two fingers, leaving only his index and middle fingers extended like a sword.
At this moment—
The Lightning Release Armor covering his body shone even brighter!
Hell Stab: Two-Finger Nukite!
After assuming this stance, the Third A shut his eyes, focusing entirely on his hearing, listening to the wind.
Unlike Uchiha Ci, who relied on instinct to evade, as a master of taijutsu, he possessed immense close-combat experience.
He could determine an opponent's attack position purely from the flow of wind.
Listening intently to the way the air shifted, heated by flames—
In the next instant, he suddenly turned his head to the right!
Immediately, he locked onto the fast-approaching figure, piercing through the mist like a thunderbolt!
"There you are!"
The Third A's eyes snapped open, glaring fiercely—
With perfect coordination between his waist, hips, and legs, he drew his left elbow back, twisted his body, and thrust his right arm forward in a devastating straight spear thrust!
This powerful hand strike seemed to land a moment ahead of time, aligning precisely with the chest of the oncoming Uchiha Ci—
It was as if Ci had thrown himself into the attack!
"!!"
At that moment—
Uchiha Ci, mid-air and locked into his Fire Release: Chakra Mode, was suddenly alarmed.
But there was no room to dodge!
The moment he executed Flame Fist, he lost the ability to use Solar Halo Dance to maneuver midair.
There was no way to avoid this strike!
In an instant—
Lightning pierced forth—
Tearing through his skin, slicing through flesh, shattering ribs!
Then, it aimed directly at his still-burning heart—
And pierced it in a single thrust!
Splurt!!
His heart was crushed.
The Third A's hand thrust through his chest, protruding from his back!
Uchiha Ci's eyes widened in shock, staring at the hand that had impaled him.
The flaming fist he had thrown was now just one centimeter away from the Third A's face!
But the flames wrapped around his arm and fist, once so intense, now flickered and dispersed into the air like rootless wildfire.
The flaw of Fire Release: Chakra Mode was the heart—
It was the core of this explosive power.
Once the heart was destroyed, the flames fueled by its combustion would naturally vanish like a dying wildfire.
At this moment—
The Third A raised his muscular arm, still embedded in Uchiha Ci's chest, lifting him into the air.
"This is the end, brat."
He then looked coldly at Ci's lifelessly hanging left arm and said indifferently:
"A shinobi's intelligence is their life."
"After leaking so much information, instead of staying in the village to train and grow stronger, you actually dared to remain in Hell Valley."
"Honestly, such arrogance is so blind and reckless that it's—"
"Utterly foolish!"
As he finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
He knew from the intelligence reports spread by Sunagakure that simply piercing Uchiha Ci's heart would not kill him.
However—
It would strip him of his attack power, reducing him to nothing more than a helpless prey.
The next moment, the Third A raised his left hand—
Spreading his five fingers, he reached toward Uchiha Ci's head, preparing to twist it off and take it as a trophy!
Yet—
Faced with this life-or-death crisis, Ci, after his brief initial shock, quickly regained his composure.
Though this situation was unexpected—
It did not interfere with his original plan!
With this thought, Ci suddenly lifted his gaze, staring intently at the Third A's chest.
At such close range—
The lightning-shaped scar on his chest was crystal clear!
Everything the Third A had said was correct.
A shinobi's intelligence is their life!
And as luck would have it—
While the Third A knew Ci's weaknesses, Ci also knew his!
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
As the wind from the Third A's grasp lifted his bangs—
Under the Raikage's cold, piercing gaze, Ci suddenly grinned viciously.
Then—
He raised the sword that the Third A had dismissed as a mere feint!
Aimed straight at the lightning-shaped scar on his chest!
In the next instant—
Thunder roared, wind howled!
The Kusanagi Sword gleamed blindingly, unleashing a brilliant golden blade of light!
This concealed, silent killing intent—
Now erupted in full force!
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