Chapter 258: Thunder Spear Pierces Armor, A Step into Desperation!
There was once a story:
A weapons merchant sold both shields and spears.
He boasted about his shield, saying, "My shield is absolutely indestructible—nothing can pierce through it."
Then, he praised his spear, claiming, "My spear is incredibly sharp—it can penetrate anything."
So, someone asked him:
"What happens if you use your spear to stab your shield?"
The merchant was left speechless.
But in the ninja world, this question already has a clear answer.
The Third Raikage, who once battled the Eight-Tails for three days and nights, severing all eight of its tails and beating it until it could no longer stand, eventually collapsed from sheer exhaustion. While unconscious, his own Hell Stab – One-Finger Nukite accidentally pierced through the strongest defense of his Lightning Release Armor, leaving a lightning-shaped scar on his left chest.
This was the only weakness of the Third Raikage, A!
With Uchiha Ci's current strength, facing such a powerhouse was still too overwhelming.
The only way he could think of to defeat the Third Raikage was to imitate Naruto's strategy from the Fourth Great Ninja War—using this information to trick the Third Raikage into stabbing himself with Hell Stab – One-Finger Nukite, shattering his Lightning Release Armor and piercing his own heart!
However—
The opponent before him now was alive, possessing a will of steel and superhuman reflexes!
A warrior who had fought countless battles, shedding blood and sweat as he climbed to the peak of Kage-level power, was nothing like the Edo Tensei version controlled by Kabuto—one that could be brute-forced through sheer firepower.
Naruto's method had only worked because he was deceiving a remotely controlled puppet.
But to deceive the real Third Raikage? To make him lower his guard and overlook his weakness?
Uchiha Ci had only one option—betting his life!
Every brutal beating he had endured, every blood-soaked struggle, every ability he unleashed, and every price he paid—
It was all for this moment.
The moment closest to victory, yet the easiest to falter!
---
From the moment he used Earth Resentment, concealing a snake clone underground to ambush the exact spot where the Raikage would attack—
Now—
It struck!
Bursting from the ground, the clone thrust forward, carrying a massive blue Rasengan—
A direct hit to A's outstretched right forearm!
In that instant, A's eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape but utterly silent.
Before him, his own Hell Stab – One-Finger Nukite—
Had pierced through his strongest Lightning Release Armor!
And then—
His fingertip pushed forward.
It punctured.
The muscles in his left chest convulsed violently before being sliced apart by the searing lightning—
Right at his heart!
Splurt!
Blood sprayed into the night sky!
The scorching night wind carried dust through the battlefield.
The white-hot lightning, which had torn through the sea of flames, suddenly halted.
A heavy footstep stirred up a storm of dust.
The rapid turn of events shattered all expectations!
The Konoha shinobi gawked in disbelief at the sight before them—
The Third Raikage, standing motionless, his right arm buried in his own chest, blood dripping from his lips.
They exchanged stunned glances.
Then—
"Well done, Ci!"
The Konoha shinobi clenched their fists, shouting in triumph. Even Uchiha Setsuna, who had been moments away from being struck by the One-Finger Nukite, exhaled deeply, revealing a tired but relieved smile.
Seeing this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke gripped his Flying Swallow tightly.
"Now's our chance!"
At his words, the surrounding shinobi immediately tensed.
"Shinnosuke, Hayama, work with my Fang Wolf Fang! We're finishing this!"
Inuzuka Gaku raised his arms in a cross sign, forming the Ram seal. With a roar, he and his massive yellow dog lunged at the Third Raikage.
In an instant, the man and beast spun into twin drilling fangs, merging mid-air into a two-headed wolf that spun at high speed!
Shirakumo Hayama and Sarutobi Shinnosuke exchanged a glance, nodded, and immediately rushed forward, weaving hand seals.
Their plan was sound.
Among the Konoha shinobi present, the strongest penetrative attacks belonged to them—
Wind Release: True One-Line Slash, Konoha-Style: Vacuum Blade, and the Inuzuka clan's Fang Wolf Fang.
Combining their forces could break through the Lightning Release Armor, allowing the Aburame clan's nano-poison insects to infiltrate and finish the job.
The strategy was feasible.
But—
Nearby, Hyūga Hizashi, who had been carefully observing the battlefield with his Byakugan, suddenly froze in horror.
His eyes widened as if he had seen a nightmare.
"Wait! Don't go! Get back now!"
At the same time—
"Oh, shit!"
Crawling from the burning wreckage, Uchiha Ci saw the same scene and screamed in alarm.
"Get out of here! This isn't a battle you can interfere in!"
Ignoring his pain, he snatched up his Kusanagi Sword and rushed toward the Third Raikage.
Because from the final memories fed back by his exploding clone—
The Third Raikage wasn't dead yet!
"Don't underestimate me! Even a Kage—"
From mid-air, Inuzuka Gaku gritted his teeth, eyes locked onto the Third Raikage.
But the next instant, the fused two-headed wolf froze in terror—
As if struck by a massive blow to the head.
Because—
"HAAAAAH—!!"
The Third Raikage suddenly roared, his eyes blazing.
With a forceful yank, he pulled his own right hand from his chest—
Blood sprayed like a fountain!
Through the gaping hole in his chest, his still-beating heart was faintly visible!
Yet—
His Lightning Release Armor crackled—
And stabilized once more!
And now—
His right hand, slick with blood, no longer formed a One-Finger Nukite—
But a Four-Finger Hand Blade!
At the very moment his One-Finger Nukite pierced his chest,
With inhuman reflexes, he had transformed it into a Four-Finger Nukite,
And just before his heart was impaled,
He had clamped his muscles around his own hand, forcefully stopping the attack!
"Huff… huff…"
Panting like an enraged beast, A lifted his gaze—
And locked onto the incoming two-headed wolf!
The next moment—
He leaped into the air, grabbing one wolf head with his right hand,
And pinching the other head with just his thumb and pinky from his injured hand.
Then—
Rip!
Boom! Boom!
The wolf's body was torn in two—
Its heads crushed instantly!
Inuzuka Gaku—dead.
Before the blood even hit the ground—
Lightning flashed again!
Even though Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Shirakumo Hayama had stopped upon Hizashi's warning,
They were too slow against the pale lightning's speed!
"Heavy Flow Burst!!"
A massive lightning-infused elbow strike swung through the air—
Boom! Boom!
The two were blasted away, disappearing into the forest beyond,
Fates unknown.
Uchiha Ci halted mid-charge, a terrifying sense of danger flooding his mind.
He instinctively dodged—
But—
Lightning surged forward!
A flying kick thundered toward him—
"Lightning Plough Furious Thunder Axe!!"
Sching!
The sound of his leg being pulverized filled the air.
Uchiha Ci clenched his teeth.
His leg regrew instantly.
Yet—
He was at his limit.
The Third Raikage… was too strong.
So strong, it was almost hopeless.
And then—
A cold, murderous voice echoed through the battlefield.
"This ends now."
(Support me and read additional chapters on my Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslation. Thanks for your support! Don't forget to send your Power Stones!)