Chapter 256: Hell's Reflection, Despair in All Forms!
Seeing the Third Raikage assume that stance—
On Konoha's side, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's heart skipped a beat. A chill ran up his spine, straight to the top of his head, and he felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his throat.
"That move... that's the Third Raikage's signature technique!"
"The lightning spear that can pierce through everything and send them to hell!"
The ninjas present were no strangers to legendary techniques. The moment they heard Sarutobi Shinnosuke reveal this information, they instantly recognized the jutsu.
"Hiss—"
Cold sweat trickled down their foreheads as they watched the Third Raikage's movements with growing dread.
The Third Raikage's fearsome reputation was built on two things—his supposedly invincible Lightning Release Armor, known as the strongest shield, and the technique now being deployed—the strongest spear.
Possessing both the ultimate spear and the ultimate shield, he ignored all attacks, charging straight into enemy lines, cutting down opponents from a thousand miles away. What made this technique even more terrifying was that its power increased drastically as the number of fingers used decreased.
All of the shinobi world knew about this jutsu. But in the entire shinobi world, only a handful had ever managed to contend with it.
That was the true horror of the Third Raikage!
"Earlier, Hyūga Hizashi mentioned that when he shattered Uchiha Ci's giant sword technique, the Third Raikage only used two fingers."
"But now... he's using just one!"
This—
How are we even supposed to fight this?!
Two fingers had already pierced through a sixty-meter-long giant sword. Now that he was attacking with just one, wouldn't that mean he could skewer everyone here like candied fruit on a stick?
Who among them could possibly block such a technique?
The Konoha ninjas gasped in horror, their faces turning deathly pale. The weaker ones, like Inuzuka Jaw and Hyūga Kenshi, shuddered like frightened birds, nearly jumping at every movement the Third Raikage made.
The only ones who could barely maintain their composure were the more experienced shinobi—Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Hyūga Hizashi, Aburame Ryōma, and Uchiha Setsuna.
"Use whatever trump cards you have."
"Otherwise, we'll all die here—this isn't a joke!"
Aburame Ryōma's face was grim as he assessed the situation. Turning to his cousin, Aburame Shikuro, he said,
"Shikuro, I'll handle defense. Try using your nano-scale venomous insects. Right now, our only chance is—"
His plan was to use his Secret Jutsu: Insect Bog to cover the battlefield, masking their movements. Meanwhile, Aburame Shikuro would unleash the Aburame Clan's most lethal technique, Secret Jutsu: Poison Cloud. Anyone who inhaled it would almost certainly die.
However—
Aburame Shikuro shook his head, his face slightly pale as he interrupted,
"I already tried. The nano-insects were all electrocuted before they even got close."
"The only chance would be to use the opening Uchiha Ci created with his Wind Release attack to try and get the insects inside. But in the battle between him and the Third Raikage, my insects can't even survive long enough to get near."
As one of the team's sensory-type shinobi, he, Aburame Ryōma, and the two Hyūga members had seen more than the others and had tested more strategies.
Unfortunately, the results were disheartening.
Not only did the Third Raikage's Lightning Release Armor instantly kill the nano-insects, but Uchiha Ci's fighting style was also an overwhelming storm of destruction. Wind, fire, lightning, and water jutsus raged across the battlefield, with fiery punches, sonic booms, and flying wind blades wreaking havoc. His insects couldn't even get close.
Besides—
The only one who could cut through the Lightning Release Armor—Uchiha Ci—had already been beaten into "Uchiha Ci-paste."
Even if Aburame Shikuro wanted to cooperate, he simply didn't have the means anymore.
Hearing this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke clenched his teeth. As the squad's strongest Wind Release user, he gripped his chakra-metal blades, the Flying Swallows, and turned to the solemn-faced Hyūga Hizashi.
"Hizashi, if I use Wind Release: True One-Line Strike with my Flying Swallows, can I break through that Lightning Release Armor and create an opening?"
Hyūga Hizashi's expression turned strange. He glanced at Sarutobi Shinnosuke with an odd look before sighing and shaking his head.
Did he really have to ask?
Did he seriously think his Wind Release and taijutsu were stronger than Uchiha Ci's?
Or that his humble chakra-metal blade was sharper than the divine sword, the Kusanagi?
It was true that powerful Wind Release jutsu could have some effect against the Lightning Release Armor.
But only if the Third Raikage stood still and let you strike him.
Even Uchiha Ci had to restrict the Third Raikage's movement before making his attack.
And what made the Third Raikage so impossible to deal with was—
The man could move.
And he moved faster than anyone!
Fast enough to evade nearly all jutsu that posed a real threat to him.
Wind Release: True One-Line Strike required the user to get close with their dual chakra blades and unleash a high-speed slash. In theory, it had a sliver of a chance to break through the Lightning Release Armor.
But if Sarutobi Shinnosuke got anywhere near him, he wouldn't even have time to draw his second blade before getting skewered by a single finger.
After evaluating all their options—
These elite Konoha jōnin, in the face of the Third Raikage, felt utterly powerless.
But that was the cruel reality.
A team of Konoha's finest, including Uchiha elites, had been able to capture an Akatsuki-level ninja like Kakuzu.
Yet against the Third Raikage, they were nothing more than helpless chicks.
It was clear now—not all Kage-level fighters were created equal.
The atmosphere grew heavier, suffocatingly so. Even the air felt hard to breathe.
All eyes were locked on the old man as he took one step forward—
Then another—
And then—
Faster! Faster!
In an instant, he transformed into a blinding streak of lightning, charging forward at impossible speed!
Each heavy step felt like a hammer pounding on their chests, making their hearts race in terror.
Just then—
"Fire Release: Grand Fire Annihilation Arrow!" ×5!
Under Uchiha Setsuna's command, five Uchiha stepped forward, their hands already forming seals.
Rat → Ox → Boar → Horse → Monkey → Boar → Tiger!
They took a deep breath, channeling chakra into their throats, their chests expanding.
Then—
With a flick of their fingers—
Five massive flaming arrows, like bolts from a titanic crossbow, roared forward, engulfed in a violent storm!
Unlike Uchiha Madara's legendary version of the technique, which rained down like a meteor of hellfire, this was the standard Uchiha execution—highly compressed fire in arrow form, enhancing both penetration and speed.
Now, these arrows shot toward the approaching Lightning Spear that could pierce the heavens!
Five flaming arrows streaked through the sky!
Uchiha Setsuna's face was grave, his Sharingan locked onto the Third Raikage.
Unlike commanding others to use a wide-scale AOE fire jutsu, his Mangekyō Sharingan-enhanced vision allowed him to see the Raikage's movements with absolute clarity.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the right moment.
And—
His gaze flicked toward the fast-approaching "Uchiha Ci-paste."
His expression hardened.
"If it's you… there's no way you'd go down this easily!"
"After all, you've defied the impossible before—countless times."
His eyes flickered with emotion, as if seeing a memory from months ago, when he first led that foolish brat out of the village—
A brat who defied all odds, turning defeat into victory.
Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Setsuna's hands formed a seal, his tense face like a stretched bowstring.
Then, with his Sharingan spinning—
"If you're still alive… then show me one more miracle!"
"Uchiha Ci!"
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