Chapter 20: This Is... the Power of a God!
"Then let me have some fun now!"
As his voice fell, the Azure Dragon behind Menma moved.
Speed like a phantom, form like a specter, it instantly rushed towards the AB duo.
"Here it comes."
Lightning flared around A. He lifted his head, face grave, watching the serpentine summoned beast.
Rumble!!
The Azure Dragon's massive tail slammed down towards the two from above.
The trees in this part of the forest were instantly pulverized by the blow, the terrifying force making the ground tremble.
And the spot where the AB duo had been was already a deep pit, two flashes of lightning (likely remnants of high-speed movement or clones) slowly dissipating and shattering.
Crackle!!
A had already leaped into the air, concentrating high-intensity Lightning Release chakra into his hand, using the momentum to dive towards Menma.
"Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop!"
This was the heirloom knife-hand strike, honed through bone-shattering training to a sharpness like a flash of light!
A had once used this move to sever the Eight-Tails' left horn with one hand.
Meanwhile, Killer Bee was now on all fours, no longer looking human, condensing Yin and Yang chakra in a 2:8 ratio into a sphere in his mouth.
A miniature Tailed Beast Bomb used in partial Tailed Beast form.
The two possessed extremely rich combat experience.
Just before the Azure Dragon struck, they had used Lightning Body Replacement (implied) to narrowly evade.
Their subsequent moves were finishing blows, with no wasted words.
But A, high in the air, still wore a grave expression.
He had seen it just now.
Nine circles with different characters appeared behind the masked man, and this snake-like summoned beast was only one of them.
"Could there be eight more summoned beasts just as powerful?!"
Just as the Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop was about to hit, Menma abruptly looked up.
Although the mask covered his face, A had a distinct feeling at that moment.
"This guy... he's actually smiling!"
A had assumed the masked man would dodge as before and had already prepared a follow-up move.
But it wasn't until he felt the solid impact in his hand that he realized.
The blow actually connected!!
But...
Boom!!
Menma looked down at the Fourth Raikage beneath him, tilting his head with a smile: "Huh? I haven't even made my move, how did you fall already?"
The Fourth Raikage violently coughed up a mouthful of blood, looking dazedly at his right hand.
The bones in his right palm were completely shattered, and who knows how many other bones in his body were broken...
"Am I... under genjutsu?"
The impact felt real just now, but how could someone take a direct hit from the Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop and remain completely unharmed?
No!
A's pupils abruptly dilated.
That feeling of impact just now, and the repulsive force that followed!
Seeing this, Menma smiled: "Oh? Figured it out?"
The inspiration for this move came from the Hyūga clan's [Kaiten]. It's an ability similar to Shinra Tensei.
However, instead of repelling, it tears apart.
The principle is like Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's Byakugan: Pressure. The Hyūga clan's Kaiten requires high-speed rotation, whereas Pressure only needs to convert a massive amount of chakra into blade-like chakra currents.
"This move is effective, alright, just a bit chakra-intensive," Menma complained inwardly, feeling half the chakra in this clone body depleted.
Just then.
"Bee!!"
The Fourth Raikage let out a low shout, both hands gripping Menma's legs firmly, forcibly pinning Menma in place.
Simultaneously, a violent surge of chakra erupted instantly, and Killer Bee fired the miniature Tailed Beast Bomb from his mouth without hesitation.
Trying to force a trade?
Menma couldn't help but feel slightly surprised by this.
Looks like one really shouldn't underestimate the 'Kage' of a major ninja village.
Such resolve isn't something ordinary people possess.
Unfortunately...
"Is this all you've got?"
A cold glint flashed in Menma's eyes. His five fingers spread, grabbing A's arm and slamming it violently into the ground!
Crack...
The distinct sound of bones shattering echoed, blood slowly seeping from the ground!
Cough!!
Both of A's arms were broken, his expression contorted in agony.
The next moment.
"Wh... What is that?!"
Under the Fourth Raikage's horrified gaze, Menma made a grasping motion with his right hand. A small, entirely pitch-black sphere, surrounded by a halo-like ring resembling planetary rings, condensed in his palm.
A vast amount of chakra surged and roared madly, rapidly converging with exaggerated momentum, emitting vibrations that made one tremble.
Immense pressure rapidly climbed, the escalating force terrifying the soul.
"I've had enough fun."
Menma spoke calmly, with a hint of amusement: "If you can't block this move, then so be it if you die."
The Tailed Beast Bomb rushed towards him, while Menma threw the small black sphere in his hand as if bowling.
...
Meanwhile.
A Cloud ninja unit of a hundred had also arrived within ten kilometers of the battlefield.
They were the forces stationed at the border line.
Although the battle between Menma and the AB duo was fierce, it lasted less than half an hour in total.
After reconnaissance ninja detected the anomaly, the Cloud forces immediately rushed over.
"Just received word, Lord A and Lord Bee have personally rushed to the front line. The battle happening now should be them..." A Cloud ninja who looked like a captain was saying.
But before he could finish,
Another Cloud ninja casually looked up, his impatient expression instantly turning stunned.
"Wh... What is that?!"
The Cloud captain frowned, turned, and looked up.
The next moment.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!
A clearly visible Tailed Beast Bomb collided with a barely perceptible small black sphere.
All obstacles ahead, whether trees or mountains, were forcefully penetrated by the two.
Like a small meteorite hitting the Earth.
But the instant they collided, intense light surged madly, like another dazzling sun, instantly illuminating the entire area.
The light faded, and a white, cloud-like plume of smoke rose, spreading out under the intense impact, obscuring all vision.
The roaring sound nearly shattered the eardrums of the assembled Cloud ninja.
After the violent roar, the small sphere actually began to slowly reverse the terrifying might of the Tailed Beast Bomb. A horrifying shockwave ravaged everything.
Wherever it passed, the ground shattered, countless fragments shot out, and the massive explosive aftermath instantly swept through the entire valley.
In this fierce storm, countless trees were uprooted, and rocks disintegrated into countless fragments the moment they contacted the storm.
Whether it was Cloud Elite Jōnin or ordinary Cloud Genin,
Facing this terrifying heatwave aftermath, the moisture in their bodies felt like it was about to evaporate, feeling as if they were about to burn. Fear painted every face.
Death death death death death!!!
Personally experiencing the explosion before them, an intense premonition of death screamed madly in their minds. Despair and fear suppressed all other thoughts.
They even completely lost the urge to flee.
"This is... the power of a god...?"
Before this mighty power, everyone seemed like rootless duckweed, like insignificant ants.