Chapter 261: Lightning Release: Kirin!
The distance to charge toward Killer Bee—
At a ninja's speed, it would take just a breath, or even less.
But between them stood the Third Raikage, A.
Like an insurmountable wall of thunder, he nearly sealed off all of Uchiha Ci's paths forward.
Yet at this moment,
Uchiha Ci had no time to think.
Could he break through the Third Raikage's obstruction with all his might?
Would he still have the strength to stop Killer Bee from releasing the Tailed Beast Bomb even if he succeeded?
What would be the consequences of failure?
All the chaotic thoughts straightened into a single line—without any hesitation.
A long, condensed breath was drawn into his chest, then exhaled like a roaring dragon.
Dragging the Kusanagi sword, radiating four colors of brilliance, Uchiha Ci charged toward his goal!
At the same time, his left hand swept toward his waist, pulling out a kunai and stabbing it directly into his own throat.
The sharp edge pierced his larynx and vocal cords, then slashed downward, severing the trachea connecting to his lungs!
The human vocal system consists of the lungs, diaphragm, trachea, vocal cords, oral cavity, nasal cavity, and pharyngeal cavity.
By cutting off airflow, temporarily disabling his vocal organs, refusing to heal his ruptured eardrums, and keeping his eyes tightly shut—
At this moment,
Uchiha Ci became blind, deaf, and mute!
By not seeing, his vision would not be deceived by speeds beyond his perception!
By not hearing, he would not be distracted by the Third Raikage's shouts!
By not speaking, he would not fall victim to the Amber Purifying Pot's sealing technique!
And the Amber Purifying Pot, which required massive chakra to activate, would instead become a burden to the Third Raikage!
After a brief but intense battle, Uchiha Ci had already grasped a clear understanding of the opponent's speed.
Now, the Third Raikage was not going to get any faster.
And within this silent, abyss-like darkness, Uchiha Ci began to recall!
He forced himself to recall, nonstop, with everything he had!
With his heart destroyed and unable to burn it like a sacrificial dog,
he had to remember—
The past month and a half of special training, where, as an Uchiha, his foundations were honed to perfection!
The timing of attacks, the counterplay of jutsu, the integration of intelligence—
And the swordsmanship he tirelessly practiced day and night!
Thus—
Within this deep, lightless, soundless darkness, Uchiha Ci suddenly grasped—
A power that transcended ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu.
Something intrinsic to humanity, hidden within the very essence of his blood—something far more fundamental!
As the saying goes: "What is lost in the east, is gained in the west."
The dazzling, powerful techniques he had once relied on, the countless combinations of ninjutsu, the endless pursuit of strength—
All of these had instead obscured the brilliance of his own natural talent!
But after discarding everything—
At this moment—
A line of text quietly emerged before his eyes:
[Talent: Battle Instinct (S+) development has advanced. You can now perceive the world more clearly and use your senses more proficiently.]
[Current rank: Battle Instinct (SS), Mastered.]
[Talent: Battle Instinct has gained a new trait—Master of All Martial Arts.]
[Master of All Martial Arts: All your abilities immediately increase by one proficiency level upon acquisition (including talents).]
[Affected by this talent, your skill Uchiha Style: Solar Halo Dance (S) has advanced. Current rank: Mastery 0/1000. The skill has gained a new trait—Foresight.]
[Foresight: The foundation of Uchiha swordsmanship lies in generations of predecessors using the Sharingan to copy the sword and taijutsu styles of all major factions in the ninja world. Within this domain, you can predict your opponent's movements solely through swordsmanship.]
This elevation of power was as subtle as silent rainfall.
There was no sensation like the Zero-Tails eruption, where his body overflowed with endless energy.
Yet, Uchiha Ci instinctively felt that his current self could effortlessly defeat ten of his past selves.
With his evolved Battle Instinct now paired with Heartsteel—
At last, its true, domineering power was revealed!
Master of All Martial Arts—
No prerequisites, no restrictions—it unconditionally elevated all his abilities by one level of proficiency.
This included his very bloodline talent—the Sharingan!
In the next instant,
Uchiha Ci abruptly opened his eyes!
Two tomoe spun wildly around his sharp, pitch-black vertical pupils!
The serpent-like Sharingan, modified by natural energy, already possessed perception rivaling a three-tomoe Sharingan.
Now, as if piercing through a barrier—
Though still a two-tomoe Sharingan, the world before him seemed to slow to 0.5x, 0.25x, 0.125x speed.
Everything became crystal clear!
The charging Raikage, his two raised fingers, the motion of his steps as he prepared to unleash the Hell Stab: Two-Finger Nukite—
The slight tremors of his muscles, each standing hair, the furious glare in his eyes, his open mouth shouting something unknown—
Even the crackling trajectories of lightning coiling around his body.
Uchiha Ci saw everything with absolute clarity!
"So this is the insight of the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"Perfect!"
Uchiha Ci's lips curled into a grin, his powerful dynamic vision locking onto the Raikage's every movement.
His eyes widened as he declared:
"If I can see through all your actions—"
"Then..."
His expression hardened, gripping the trailing Kusanagi sword tightly—he bared his teeth and roared:
"Raikage!"
"With this strike—I shall defeat you!"
Everything happened in an instant—
The ferocious figure wreathed in blinding lightning, and Uchiha Ci, wielding his four-colored sword—
Clashed!
"Hell Stab: Two-Finger Nukite!"
Two fingers thrust forward—
But just like before, foreseeing the danger, Uchiha Ci stomped the ground and spun, leaping high!
The lightning shot past beneath him, the Raikage's gaze sharpening as he turned—
"The same evasion won't fool me twice!"
Thunder roared, his heart pounded like a war drum!
The Raikage slammed his foot down, halting his charge with a violent crack!
The ground shattered, webbed with fractures before collapsing!
Forcing his momentum to stop, he bent his knees and snapped his head up—
Eyes locking onto Uchiha Ci, suspended midair with nowhere to escape!
His elbow pressed against the Amber Purifying Pot on his back,
His voice boomed with fury:
"Uchiha Ci!!"
"Now, let me hear your screams!"
Boom!
Lightning erupted!
The Raikage lunged once more, swinging a knife-hand straight for Uchiha Ci's temple!
But—
"I see it!"
Uchiha Ci's eyes widened in focus!
"The Third Raikage's taijutsu shares the same lineage as Cloud-Style Kenjutsu!"
"And this knife-hand strike originates from Shadow Lightning Thrust!"
"Then—"
He twisted his body midair, countering without hesitation!
With both hands gripping the Kusanagi sword, he slashed toward the incoming knife-hand!
Would he gamble on cutting off the Raikage's arm?
But the moment their attacks connected—
The Raikage's expression twisted in shock.
The blade, instead of clashing directly, curved away at the last second—
Slipping past his arm!
Uchiha Ci twisted midair, slipping behind him!
But instead of striking,
He landed, rolling forward—
Ignoring the dust, ignoring the Raikage's possible pursuit—
He sprinted toward Killer Bee!
Racing toward the Eight-Tails!
Then—
His crimson Sharingan locked onto the nearly complete Tailed Beast Bomb—
He withdrew chakra from the Kusanagi sword and—
With both hands forming seals—
He pointed to the stormy sky—
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A surge of flames erupted!
Not to burn the Eight-Tails—
But to ignite the storm above!
To unleash heaven's wrath upon this battlefield!
And in the silence after the shattered eardrums—
As everyone stared in confusion—
Uchiha Ci raised his hand toward the sky, eyes bloodshot—
And in the instant the heavens answered—
He roared, hoarse yet triumphant:
"Lightning Release: Kirin!"
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