"Bang!"
Shihouin Naraku kicked Hatake Kakashi into the air, and then his body seemed to jump through space and appeared next to Naraku. He struck him hard in the abdomen with his elbow, sending him crashing to the ground again.
Hatake Kakashi's body hit the ground and rolled several times, leaving a long trench in the earth. He finally collided with a huge boulder and stopped. Without time to recover from the severe pain throughout his body, he rolled to the side desperately.
"Boom!"
"Crack!"
Naraku's fist seemed to tear through space itself as it landed on the boulder. Cracks spread across the rock's surface before it completely collapsed a second later.
Seizing the moment, Shihouin Naraku quickly pursued Kakashi, unleashing a merciless barrage of powerful punches and kicks. With his Sharingan spinning rapidly, Hatake Kakashi analyzed Naraku's movements and observed the flow of his Chakra, searching for any opportunity to counterattack.
"Bang!"
Shihouin Naraku delivered a powerful kick to Hatake Kakashi, whose eyes widened in pain before he suddenly turned into smoke and disappeared with a loud pop.
"A Shadow Clone! Was it created when I destroyed the boulder?"
"BOOM!!!!"
"Lightning Style: Chidori!!!"
The shrill sound of a thousand birds filled the air as lightning-bright Chakra gathered in Hatake Kakashi's palm.
Kakashi held his lightning-infused right hand with his left, feeling the cells in his body being stimulated by the Lightning Style Chakra and beginning to activate!
"Sizzle—"
Faster! Even faster!
At that moment, Hatake Kakashi's speed increased dramatically. He transformed into what looked like a bolt of lightning, striking directly toward Shihouin Naraku!
"Swish! Swish!"
Suddenly, dozens of ninja tools pierced the air, forming a nearly impenetrable net that surrounded Shihouin Naraku, blocking all possible escape routes.
If he tried to dodge the ninja tools, he wouldn't be able to avoid Hatake Kakashi's Chidori!
If he focused on evading the Chidori, the countless weapons would surely pierce his body from all directions.
Shihouin Naraku stood his ground, his eyes shifting slightly as his Observation Haki instantly expanded. Everything around him appeared clearly in his mind.
"Swish! Swish!"
Without changing his expression, Shihouin Naraku tilted his head to the left, retracted his shoulders, turned his head to the right, bent his left arm, and lowered his right arm. The ninja tools passed through all the gaps around his body, not a single one touching him.
How was this possible?!
Everyone watching the fight was dumbfounded. The ninja tools thrown by Hatake Kakashi had come from different directions—there was even one that attacked Shihouin Naraku from behind—yet he dodged them all as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
"This, this, this..."
Uchiha Sasuke stared in disbelief and frustration. If someone could dodge projectiles coming from all directions like that, didn't it make many shinobi's weapon-throwing skills essentially useless?!
The Uchiha clan was especially renowned for their shuriken jutsu. Sasuke himself could attack enemies from incredible angles by making projectiles collide mid-air to change their trajectory, but none of that would work against Shihouin Naraku.
"No, there must be some trick to it!"
"So this is the power of a Jōnin!"
Uchiha Sasuke straightened up, his eyes fixed on the lightning flashing in Hatake Kakashi's palm.
Uzumaki Naruto stared at the battle, completely captivated by what he was witnessing!
Hyuga Neji had already activated his Byakugan and was intently observing the Jōnin in the training ground.
If he could attain such strength, perhaps he could break free from the shackles imposed on him by the Hyuga clan and become a truly free person!
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen had lost track of where he had placed his pipe. He stared at the battle scene, which appeared in the crystal ball.
"When did Naraku become this strong?"
"Kakashi's skills have certainly diminished recently, but he shouldn't be overwhelmed like this."
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the battle unfold, hardly believing what he was seeing.
...
Hatake Kakashi, charging forward at full speed, saw that his ninja tools had failed, but he didn't abandon his attack. Instead, he pushed his physical limits, increased his speed once more, and rushed straight toward Shihouin Naraku.
Chidori?
This seemed like fate!
Shihouin Naraku extended his palms, and flames gathered there like dancing sprites, instantly forming a rapidly rotating orange-red fireball.
"Come and try my special version of the Rasengan!"
"Fire Style: Rasengan!"
The sight of the orange-red ball of fire in Shihouin Naraku's palm was so familiar that Hatake Kakashi blinked in surprise.
Shimura Danzo, who was hiding nearby and observing, widened his visible eye and muttered in disbelief, "When did Shihouin Naraku learn the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan?"
"Sir, it appears to be Shihouin Naraku's own creation. It looks similar, but it has Fire Style properties!"
"Don't state the obvious. I can see that!"
"Yes, sir!"
Inside the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen was coughing uncontrollably.
Shihouin Naraku's unexpected technique had startled him again.
"Ahem... When did he even master the Rasengan?"
Outside the training ground, Uzumaki Naruto stared at the spinning ball of fire in Shihouin Naraku's hand. He was suddenly entranced and unconsciously clenched his palms, as if imitating Naraku's movements.
...
Chidori and Rasengan!
As if destined, they collided with a tremendous impact.
"Sizzle..."
"Crack!"
A harsh, uncomfortable sound exploded through the air as Hatake Kakashi thrust his Chidori forward with all his might while Shihouin Naraku steadily pushed the flaming Rasengan in his palm.
The explosive lightning and dancing flames engulfed the space around them, releasing boundless power that showed no signs of stopping.
Collision, fusion, contradiction, explosion!
"BOOM..."
Dazzling lightning and flames erupted upward. A blinding white light filled everyone's vision, accompanied by a deafening roar.
Powerful shock waves rippled outward in successive bursts, overturning everything in their path. All the spectators outside the field were blown away by the sudden hurricane-force winds.
The lightning and thunder that exploded in the air released energy wildly, while the rising flames consumed anything in their way.
A terrifying heat wave shot skyward, scorching the air and turning the sky red.
The rising smoke, accompanied by lightning and flames, formed a gigantic pillar reaching toward the heavens!
The massive Training Ground No. 19 was instantly reduced to ruins by the terrifying energy explosion!
The earth shook violently, tearing open into seemingly bottomless cracks!
"Guy!!!"
"Here I come!"
"Eight Inner Gates: First Gate, Gate of Opening, OPEN!"
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing, OPEN!"
"Third Gate: Gate of Life, OPEN!"
"Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain, OPEN!"
"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, OPEN!"
The roar echoed through the sky as Uzumaki Naruto and the others, hiding behind large trees and boulders, looked in horror at Might Guy, whose appearance had drastically changed!
Might Guy's skin flushed red as green energy erupted from his body. His short black hair stood on end, and violent waves of air radiated outward, blowing Uzumaki Naruto and the others away as they screamed and tumbled.
"BOOM!!!"
The ground beneath his feet exploded as Might Guy burst forward at incredible speed, rushing directly into the terrifying explosion.
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