Strictly speaking, the strongest recovery abilities in the ninja world belonged to those at the Six Paths level.
Setting those exceptions aside, in a normal state, the most absurd regenerative power came from Hashirama Senju and Tsunade Senju when she activated the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
The Third Raikage was not known for regeneration.
Instead, he relied on something far more extreme, Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
That defense system made him the strongest shield of Kumogakure.
Because of that, even Hayashi's full power Sage Mode strike was impressive, but still not enough to end things in a single decisive blow.
For someone like the Third Raikage, it was not even enough to break through his defense.
However, even if the strike could not decide the battle, its force still sent the Raikage's massive body flying through the air in several heavy arcs.
When his feet finally touched the ground, he skidded backward for seven or eight meters, carving deep furrows into the Gobi Desert soil.
When the dust settled, Hayashi stood exactly where the Raikage had originally landed.
The positions had completely reversed.
The Third Raikage slowly straightened up.
After that exchange, his movements became far more cautious.
He now understood Hayashi's speed and strength more clearly.
After the Second Hokage died, the Third Raikage had always believed he was the fastest shinobi in the world. In his mind, only his son had any chance of surpassing him.
But after facing Konoha's Lightning Flash today, he realized that belief was nothing more than arrogance.
The Third Raikage studied Hayashi properly for the first time.
Blue lightning flowed across Hayashi's body like a living current. A strange horn-like formation protruded from his forehead, and dark markings lined his face.
The most dangerous part, however, were his eyes.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Third Raikage deliberately avoided looking into them. Genjutsu from those eyes was not something to underestimate.
So this is Konoha's Lightning Flash, Uchiha Hayashi.
The Raikage stood tall, arms hanging loosely at his sides.
He understood something important now.
In his previous state, he could not win.
Then the atmosphere shifted.
Seven or eight thick strands of black lightning erupted around his body like living serpents.
Black Lightning.
A unique form of Lightning Release mastered only by him.
This technique was different from normal lightning chakra. Its destructive power was several times greater.
More importantly, when combined with Lightning Release Chakra Mode, it further boosted his already monstrous speed.
The Third Raikage could still accelerate again.
But this technique consumed enormous chakra. Even he could not maintain it for long.
Still, against someone like Hayashi, there was no room for hesitation.
Speed had to be overwhelming from the start.
He glanced around the battlefield, silently memorizing the position of every Flying Thunder God kunai embedded in the ground.
Space time ninjutsu was dangerous, but not invincible.
In a confined battlefield, prediction could still create openings.
If he could read the movement, he could land a hit.
Hayashi frowned slightly when he saw the black lightning.
So he can use Black Lightning as well.
He had not remembered the Edo Tensei version of the Third Raikage using this form.
At that moment, Hayashi's clothes fluttered violently.
The ground behind him suddenly split open as a ten meter fissure stretched outward.
The Third Raikage had moved.
Lightning Release concentrated into his leg, forming a brutal downward kick.
Lightning Straight.
Hayashi slid backward like rolling thunder across flat ground.
But the Raikage did not fall behind.
In fact, his speed matched Hayashi perfectly.
One advancing, one retreating, both moving side by side at terrifying speed.
This was the first time Hayashi had encountered someone who could fully keep up with his Sage Mode speed.
While running in parallel, the Third Raikage suddenly reached out.
He aimed for Hayashi's neck, attempting to seize him for a Lariat.
Hayashi reacted instantly.
Lightning chakra surged around his arm as he raised it to block the grab.
The two forces collided briefly, then separated immediately, maintaining a one meter gap while continuing forward at full speed.
The Raikage planted his foot and twisted his body, stopping first.
In that same instant, Hayashi disappeared.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
He reappeared a hundred meters away.
The Third Raikage did not hesitate.
He inhaled deeply, and invisible chakra rippled outward from his body.
The ground beneath him shook violently before cracking into a spiderweb pattern.
Then he jumped.
His massive body shot into the air as he closed the distance instantly.
One arm raised high.
One finger extended.
Hell Stab.
Finger Piercing.
The ultimate spear.
A piercing roar tore through the air as his fingertip split the atmosphere, detonating bursts of compressed air along its path.
Hayashi did not dodge.
Instead, he moved forward.
Sage Art, Rasengan.
Blue chakra condensed violently in his palm.
He intended to do exactly what the legend described.
Break the strongest spear with the strongest shield.
The distance collapsed in an instant.
Even before contact, Hayashi could feel sharp pain across his skin from the pressure alone.
Ten centimeters.
Five centimeters.
The moment the fingertip closed in, Hayashi's body erupted with green energy.
Eight Gates, Third Gate, Gate of Life, open.
His speed doubled instantly.
He dropped his shoulder, lowered his center of gravity, and thrust forward.
The Rasengan slammed into the Raikage's arm joint just as the Hell Stab descended.
For a split second, Hayashi redirected the force, attempting to push the attack into the Raikage's chest.
But the Third Raikage had already read it.
His left hand snapped into position against his chest, fingers locked together.
Lightning Release, Horizontal Shock Defense.
The redirected force hit the Raikage's defense instead.
Boom.
The Rasengan exploded outward, but it failed to break through.
The Third Raikage did not move.
Hayashi's eyes narrowed.
So even this is not enough.
He immediately kicked off the ground, attempting to retreat mid air.
But the Raikage was already moving.
Both arms swung forward.
Lariat.
A crushing double arm collision aimed to trap him completely.
Hayashi twisted his body midair.
Flying Thunder God activated instantly.
He vanished at the last possible moment, reappearing far away on the battlefield.
He landed lightly, eyes still fixed on the Raikage.
His expression tightened slightly.
It actually failed.
This is not normal.
Even in the original records, the Raikage had once been struck and still been affected by Rasengan impact.
But this version was different.
Then Hayashi understood.
That version of the Third Raikage had been operating on pure instinct, already pushed beyond reason.
But the man in front of him now was different.
This was a Kage who had survived three great wars.
A man who fought with full awareness, full experience, and zero openings.
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