Chapter 79-80: Wood Release? Wood Release!
"The Flying Thunder God Technique?"
The Fourth Raikage instantly recognized the jutsu—after all, he had suffered a major loss because of it before!
According to intelligence, Konoha had produced another ninja who mastered this technique, but the identity of that person was still unknown.
He never expected to encounter them so soon.
"And it's just a brat?"
The Raikage furrowed his brows—not because he feared losing, but because he was worried they would escape before he could react.
"I can't afford to be passive. Only that arrogant brat knows the Flying Thunder God… which means—"
His eyes flickered as he gathered his chakra once more. Meanwhile, Tsunade and Shizune were both looking at Haruta in surprise.
A moment ago, they had felt a brief sense of dizziness, and when they came to, they had already been moved a great distance!
"So it really was the Flying Thunder God…"
Tsunade was genuinely surprised. She wasn't well-versed in the current state of Konoha, but this had to be the second person to master her granduncle's technique.
"But this brat is way too bold."
Despite her shock, Tsunade sighed.
"The Flying Thunder God is strong, but reaching my granduncle's or the Fourth Hokage's level takes time.
You should take the others and leave—I'll handle the Fourth Raikage."
"Just leaving now would be such a waste."
Haruta shook his head lightly, keeping his eyes on the Raikage. This was the key to "expanding and enhancing" his mission!
Giving a subtle signal to Shisui and Yuugao, his expression grew serious.
"Besides—"
As he spoke, Haruta suddenly turned. At the same time, the Fourth Raikage launched forward like a bolt of lightning.
"This Raikage isn't about to let us leave!"
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the ground shattered, sending debris flying everywhere.
A powerful shockwave spread rapidly, shaking the nearby buildings. Those closest to the impact showed visible cracks, while even those farther away trembled from the force.
"What's going on?"
"What happened?"
The surrounding residents peeked out, only to see a group of ninjas clashing right in their neighborhood.
Realizing trouble was brewing, they didn't need anyone to tell them—they immediately turned and fled.
"Run! Get out of here!"
"This is bad! Everyone, evacuate!"
Panic spread through the streets, but soon, the chaos settled.
"Damn bastard!"
Tsunade scowled at the fleeing civilians, full of resentment toward the Fourth Raikage. However, she had to admit, it was better this way—at least the people were out of harm's way.
She had kept her eyes on the Raikage, and the moment he attacked, she had grabbed Shizune and one of the kids, retreating in time.
As for the other two—one had the Flying Thunder God, and the other seemed to have anticipated the move—they would be fine.
"But that brat is really reckless. Does he think knowing the Flying Thunder God makes him invincible?"
Looking up, she saw Haruta already engaging in combat with the Fourth Raikage.
She instinctively wanted to step in and assist, but then—
She froze.
That brat… wasn't losing ground at all.
Boom!
Above the battlefield, two figures clashed at lightning speed, their movements so fast they blurred. Each exchange sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
Crash!
The two fighters suddenly landed on the already evacuated ground. The sheer force of their impact cracked the earth, causing deep fissures to spread over ten meters.
Nearby buildings collapsed instantly, unable to withstand the immense force.
"You're just going to dodge?"
The Fourth Raikage roared in frustration. Unlike Tsunade, he wasn't just surprised—he was both shocked and enraged.
The kid was fast!
The Raikage prided himself on his speed, believing few could rival him—even without going all out or activating his Lightning Chakra Mode.
But this brat…
Not only could he keep up, but he also combined it with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The Raikage couldn't find a single opening—he couldn't even land a hit!
"What, you expect me to stand still and get punched?"
Haruta smirked as he effortlessly dodged another attack, his tone laced with mockery.
"You're way older than me. Do you really have the nerve to say that?"
"And aren't you supposed to be the fastest man? Or is that only true in bed?"
"You damn brat!"
Haruta's words made the Fourth Raikage's fists clench tightly. Could someone who spoke like this really be just a kid?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, his fists blurred into countless afterimages.
Though he was alone, it looked as if dozens of people were punching at the same time.
The air filled with the sound of fists slicing through it, the ground shattering, and buildings collapsing.
But despite the onslaught, hitting Haruta was no easy feat. With his body having reached Level 10, his speed was absurdly fast!
"Die!"
With a furious roar, the Fourth Raikage's fist, crackling with lightning, shot toward Haruta.
The force compressed the very air around it, the resulting shockwave making Haruta's face sting from the wind pressure.
Yet the moment the fist was about to land, his figure vanished.
"Enough of these cheap tricks!"
The Raikage was beyond furious. How many times had this happened already?
Still, his reaction was swift. With a loud shout, he immediately locked onto Haruta's Flying Thunder God marker and charged forward.
"You really think you're Namikaze Minato? You're nothing like him! He never just ran away like a coward!"
A lightning-infused punch tore through the air toward Haruta.
But this time, Haruta didn't teleport away.
Instead, he sidestepped, dodging at close range, and aimed a powerful kick at the Raikage's stomach.
However, the Raikage swiftly withdrew his left arm, blocking the strike.
At that moment, Haruta's voice rang out.
"I never thought I was the Fourth Hokage. After all, I'll definitely live longer than he did!"
"Oh, really?"
The Raikage's eyes narrowed before a mocking smirk appeared on his face.
"Then let me send you to meet him!"
With a sudden burst of strength, he swung his left arm outward, launching Haruta through the air.
Boom!
The force shattered the nearby walls, sending rubble flying in all directions like a storm of deadly projectiles.
Haruta instinctively blinked.
Buzz.
In that brief moment, the Raikage had already leaped above him!
"Talk is cheap! You may be fast, but speed alone won't help you against me!"
Haruta let out a quiet snort.
Midair, his body flickered and vanished once more.
When he reappeared, he was already at the Raikage's flank, his hands forming a seal.
"Damn annoying little fly!"
The Raikage's punch hit nothing but air again.
This was even more frustrating than fighting Namikaze Minato back then!
But despite his rage, the Raikage forced himself to calm down.
Haruta's abilities were far more refined than he had anticipated.
Initially, he had only wanted to pressure Tsunade into cooperating, forcing her to heal his subordinate.
But now…
He genuinely wanted to kill Haruta.
"This brat's mastery of the Flying Thunder God is sharper than I expected."
Konoha producing another user of this technique was not good news. It meant their power would only increase.
No one wanted to see Konoha rise again—least of all Kumogakure.
Kumo had always aimed to suppress Konoha, striving to claim the title of the strongest ninja village.
Eliminating this kid would be a huge win for the village.
"I underestimated you."
The Raikage took a deep breath, his chakra surging wildly. The sheer force of it made his clothes ripple as if caught in a storm.
"But this is fine. Back then, I hadn't mastered this move completely and lost to Namikaze Minato.
Today, let's see if you can withstand it!"
At that moment, his body was suddenly encased in a brilliant blue chakra armor, the sheer intensity making his hair stand on end.
"That level of Lightning Release Chakra Mode…?"
Tsunade's expression shifted slightly.
She knew about this technique, but very few could push it to this extreme.
Many jutsu weren't too difficult to learn, but true mastery—true power—came with refinement and skill.
Just like Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame—when cast by a fire-style master, it was far deadlier than when used by an average shinobi.
"This is bad. I need to step in soon."
Tsunade quickly assessed the situation.
Haruta's Flying Thunder God let him dodge the Raikage's attacks, but actually counterattacking would be another matter entirely.
And if the Raikage found a single opening, it could spell disaster.
She glanced at Shisui and Yuugao, who had returned to her side, and spoke firmly.
"Stay with Shizune and get as far away as possible. I'm stepping in, and I won't be able to protect you while I fight."
"Lady Tsunade, there's no need to rush."
Shisui shook his head, his voice calm.
"Haruta still hasn't gone all out yet."
"...Huh?"
Tsunade blinked.
What did he mean by that?
And then—
She noticed something.
Shisui's eyes were glowing a deep crimson.
"Sharingan?"
Tsunade frowned but didn't press the issue. Instead, she lowered her voice.
"What do you mean? That brat still has something up his sleeve?"
"Lady Tsunade, we never got the chance to explain why we were sent to find you."
Shisui's gaze remained locked on the battlefield, ready to intervene at any moment.
He hadn't stepped in yet because Haruta had given them a signal—he wanted to handle the main assault while the others provided backup.
Neither Shisui nor Yuugao liked the idea.
But they trusted Haruta.
"This mission isn't just about finding you.
Konoha is facing a problem involving the Senju Clan—and Wood Release."
"...The Senju Clan? Wood Release?"
Tsunade's expression darkened.
Her first thought—
Was the village experimenting again?
She knew about Konoha's secret projects.
Even if she never got involved, she was aware of them—after all, her granduncle, Tobirama Senju, had been the one to start them.
But if Konoha had conducted new experiments, would they really need her?
After all, they already had plenty of data on Wood Release…
"We encountered an enemy using Wood Release—a formidable one."
Shisui's eyes narrowed.
"And more importantly—"
He turned his gaze to Haruta.
"We may have also found a descendant of the Senju Clan.
Someone who inherited and awakened Wood Release naturally."
At that moment—
The Fourth Raikage launched another attack!
But this time—
Haruta, instead of dodging, slammed his hand onto the ground.
A strange power erupted from his body, his eyeshadow darkening as an eerie energy surged through him.
Simultaneously, he activated both Cursed Seal and Yin Release.
The earth trembled violently.
Tsunade's eyes widened.
The chakra he was emitting—
It was both familiar… and completely foreign.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
Rumble!
The ground split open as a massive wooden dragon roared to life, lunging straight at the Fourth Raikage!
The Raikage's face twisted in shock.
But there was no time to dodge—
He clenched his fist and punched the dragon head-on.
BOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.
Yet—
Instead of breaking through, the Raikage was blown backward!
"Wood Release…?"
Midair, his mind reeled.
When he crashed into the ground, demolishing several buildings, he finally steadied himself.
"...This brat is from the Senju Clan?"
A terrifying thought took root in his mind.
And with it—
His killing intent grew even stronger.
"Wood Release…?"
Ignoring the shockwaves sweeping toward her, Tsunade stared blankly at the massive wooden dragon.
She had never expected to witness Wood Release again—especially one radiating such pure life energy.
"Damn it… I cannot let anything happen to him!"
The wind from the impact stung her face, snapping her out of her daze.
No matter who this brat really was, anyone with Wood Release had to be protected.
At the very least, she needed to figure out his exact situation!
"Shizune, take them and get out of here—that's an order!"
Without giving her a chance to argue, Tsunade charged straight into battle.
"Yuugao, go with Lady Shizune—I'm moving in!"
Shisui didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, his Sharingan spinning rapidly.
Tsunade frowned.
"Brat, are you ignoring my orders?"
"Lady Tsunade, Haruta is my comrade. And I trust my own abilities."
Shisui's tone was calm, but his eyes glowed ominously as his Sharingan spun faster.
"If I weren't capable enough, Lord Hokage wouldn't have sent me on this mission.
Please—trust me."
"Tch, you brats… always stirring up trouble."
Tsunade scoffed, but she didn't argue further.
At that moment—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The wooden dragon rampaged, sending shockwaves and debris flying in all directions.
Each swipe of its tail shattered the earth, kicking up thick clouds of dust and sending rubble scattering like deadly projectiles.
Buildings crumbled.
Even distant townsfolk fled in panic.
Meanwhile, a towering figure, cloaked in lightning, dodged and weaved through the onslaught, leaping to high ground, looking for an opening.
For onlookers watching from afar—
They had no idea what kind of battle they were witnessing.
At the center of it all—
The Fourth Raikage's face was grim.
This fight…
It was turning into something far more intense than he had anticipated.
And Wood Release—
It was stronger than he had expected.
"You really thought I was just talking when I said I'd take you back to Konoha?"
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang in his ears. He instinctively twisted his body, narrowly dodging the sharp wooden spikes from the Wood Release: Piercing Insertion Technique that had just grazed past him!
"Die!"
The Fourth Raikage spun around, ready to counterattack, but in the instant he turned his head, the figure had already vanished. Instead, that massive wooden dragon came crashing toward him once again!
Boom!
Smoke and dust filled the air as the ground was smashed into a deep crater. The Fourth Raikage barely managed to evade the attack, but there was no sense of relief on his face.
"Shameless..."
He cursed inwardly. The enemy was using the Flying Thunder God to get close, retreating immediately if the attack missed, and then following up with wide-range assaults using the wooden dragon, giving him no chance to fight back.
What kind of shameless person could come up with such a strategy?
Yet, despite his frustration, there was nothing he could do against this tactic. He had no idea where the Flying Thunder God's mark was placed, and he didn't dare to engage the wooden dragon head-on.
That dragon was far tougher than he had imagined. A reckless assault might even get him injured. But most importantly...
"That damn wooden dragon can absorb my chakra!"
The Fourth Raikage kept moving at high speed, knowing he couldn't afford to stay in one place for too long. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the wooden dragon soaring in the sky and the boy standing atop its head.
Earlier, during his full-force assault, he had noticed his chakra being drained. It wasn't a large amount, but every time he made contact with the wooden dragon, it siphoned away some of his energy!
And even if he managed to shatter the dragon, it wouldn't matter much—it could be repaired. His only option was to defeat the jutsu caster or wait for him to run out of chakra.
"That damn brat, that damn Wood Release, that damn Konoha!"
The Fourth Raikage cursed, but at that moment, he suddenly sensed an anomaly behind him.
"If I capture you, let's see if you can keep talking like that."
The wind whistled past his ears as he swiftly dodged backward. He saw Haruta lunging at him, kunai in hand.
But just as he landed, the wooden dragon's roar echoed from above, sweeping toward him once more.
He had no choice but to leap aside in midair to evade. Yet, before he could stabilize himself, Haruta appeared again!
Buzz—
The kunai, coated in Wind Release chakra, slashed toward him. But in midair, he had no way to maneuver or avoid the attack.
However, he was not the type to retreat. Seeing Haruta attack directly, a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.
"An all-out offense?"
In the next instant, he threw a punch without hesitation, aiming straight at Haruta's kunai!
"Lightning Release: Guillotine Drop!"
A surge of violent lightning enveloped his body, and his right fist radiated terrifying power. Even if he couldn't go all out in midair, he was confident in his strength.
"If I can land just one hit—just one—it's over!"
Roaring in his mind, he closed the gap between himself and the young ninja.
But at the very last moment, he caught a glimpse of the look in the boy's eyes—mockery.
Buzz—
Just as his fist was about to make contact, Haruta's figure vanished once again. In its place, a devastating impact struck him from behind!
Boom!
A massive shockwave erupted. The Fourth Raikage felt his body nearly shatter as he was sent hurtling toward the ground.
Even after impact, his momentum carried him forward, sending him crashing along the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
"You didn't seriously think I'd go head-to-head with you, did you?"
As the dust settled, Haruta's calm voice rang out. The Fourth Raikage knelt in the rubble, a deep trench carved beneath him.
He looked battered, but surprisingly, he wasn't as injured as one might expect. However, his once-impenetrable Lightning Armor was now in tatters.
Lifting his head, he saw the young ninja standing before him again, a violent aura emanating from the massive wooden dragon behind him.
At this moment, he truly began to grasp the fearsome power of Wood Release!
"Alright, I think this battle is just about over."
Seeing the Raikage remain silent, Haruta didn't seem too concerned. He leaped backward, landing atop the wooden dragon, arms crossed, smirking.
"Of course, if you still want to fight, that's fine too. But this time... it won't be just me."
Boom!
As his words fell, a powerful surge of chakra erupted. In the ruined town, a massive Green chakra giant suddenly took form!
At the same time, on the other side, a colossal slug loomed through the lingering dust.
Three towering entities encircled the Fourth Raikage, trapping him completely!
For the first time, the Raikage's expression changed. Facing these monstrous beings, sweat began to trickle down his forehead.
"So this... is Konoha..."
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** From a few chapters more every chapter is 5-6K words long. Currently this fic has upto 127 chapter.
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