chapter 155 part 1
Chapter 155: Crisis in the Hidden Rain Village! The Akatsuki Strikes!
On the deck, everyone was sprawled out, panting heavily.
Ivankov, whose massive head took up half the deck, struggled to get up. The Galaxy Wink he just used had brought him to the brink of collapse several times.
Fortunately, they had escaped the Marines' encirclement. If they had been caught, he wouldn't have had much fighting strength left.
Lightning walked over, pushed Ivankov against a railing to clear a large space, and plopped down.
Ivankov wasn't angered by Lightning's rough actions. He asked curiously, "That... that Doflamingo just now, why did he run away?"
"He didn't... he didn't run away." Ren Arakawa's complexion had already improved significantly. He looked back in the direction they came from, feeling a little unnerved. "My analysis is that he simply despises being a lackey for the Marines. He only became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea for his own purposes. Even sinking our ship wouldn't have taken him much effort."
Lightning had seen the "Thunder Feathers" Ren Arakawa used against Magellan. Back then, the Thunder Feathers had caused Magellan considerable trouble, yet Doflamingo had a way to deal with them.
Lightning swayed, swirling the wine in his glass. "In that case... that was a really close call."
Ren Arakawa didn't think that the three of them—himself, Ivankov, and Lightning—could have gained any advantage against Doflamingo.
His ability to entangle Magellan for so many rounds in Impel Down was purely thanks to the antidotes he had scraped together from the Infinite Hell, the Extreme Cold Hell, and the Blazing Hell.
Doflamingo, who had developed the String-String Devil Fruit to its absolute peak, possessed awakening abilities, and wielded all three types of Haki including the rare Conqueror's Haki, was far more troublesome on the open sea than Magellan.
Of course, without the help of an antidote, Magellan would still be the more difficult opponent.
Ren Arakawa thought for a moment. "Right now, our top priority is to go to the Sabaody Archipelago and get a new ship. This Marine warship is far too conspicuous."
Ivankov got up, and several of his underlings fell out of his afro. He bellowed an order, "Target, Sabaody Archipelago! Full speed ahead!"
———
The forest after the rain was filled with the smell of damp earth, a massive blow to any trackers.
Under the watchful eyes of the members of the makeshift Team Seven, the ninja hound Pakkun sniffed left and right before turning his head, barking twice, and speaking in a human voice, "We're not too far from the location now."
Kakashi tightened his grip on his kunai. "Everyone, be on guard!"
"Yes!" the team answered in unison.
The members of Team Seven leaped nimbly between the tree trunks, moving forward swiftly.
Suddenly, Uchiha Ren, who was covering the rear, detected a hint of abnormality with the aid of his Observation Haki!
His eyes turned cold. Without hesitation, he pulled out a shuriken and threw it at an inconspicuous puddle in the distance.
Kakashi was somewhat surprised by this action, but years of combat experience made him react instantly. He immediately raised his hand, signaling the others to stop.
Everyone's gaze converged on that shuriken.
With a "splash," the shuriken shot into the puddle!
In the blink of an eye, fresh blood seeped out of the puddle.
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately shouted, "We have an enemy! One-three formation!"
The others, excluding Uchiha Ren, quickly nodded in response. "Yes!"
The group scattered.
Kakashi was at the front of the team, with Uchiha Ren at the rear.
Yakumo Kurama and Neji Hyuga, under the protection of Kurama Unchou, watched their surroundings vigilantly.
"There!"
Uchiha Ren suddenly activated his Sharingan. Aided by his Observation Haki, he directly locked onto another puddle!
Immediately after, his hands rapidly formed seals as he shouted, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
In an instant, a giant fireball erupted from his mouth, carrying a rolling heatwave as it rushed toward the ground.
Just as the Great Fireball was about to hit the puddle, a strange ripple spread across its surface. A figure then emerged from the ground like a phantom. This person reacted extremely quickly, leaping backward violently and narrowly dodging the Great Fireball Technique's attack.
Seeing this, Kakashi couldn't help but stare at the ninja who had appeared before them. His gaze fell upon the man's headband, where he saw the symbol of the Hidden Rain Village.
After dodging the attack, the Rain ninja glared viciously at Uchiha Ren. With a face full of doubt and unwillingness, he demanded, "Why could your Sharingan see me inside the puddle? This is impossible!"
Uchiha Ren, however, couldn't be bothered to explain the function of Observation Haki.
With Observation Haki, he could keenly sense the presence of a person under the calm water even with his eyes closed.
Kakashi made a swift decision, instructing Kurama Unchou behind him, "Protect the students in the team." Before his voice faded, his figure flashed forward like lightning, charging at the Rain ninja!
Seeing Kakashi's ferocious approach, the Rain ninja didn't hesitate to strike first.
He quickly drew a specially made oil umbrella from his back, forcefully throwing it above Kakashi while chanting, "Ninja Art: Rain of a Thousand Needles!"
The oil umbrella opened in mid-air, and countless senbon rained down from it, shooting towards Kakashi as densely as raindrops.
These senbon had extremely strong piercing power. When a few scattered needles hit tree trunks, they drilled into the wood as if it were tofu!
Kakashi didn't dare to be careless. He immediately activated his Sharingan, quickly observing the senbons' attack trajectories. Then, his figure flickered, swiftly dodging while simultaneously performing hand seals for "Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall"!
A wall of earth rose from the ground, blocking all the senbon.
The Rain ninja was relentless. He formed hand seals and chanted, "Sordid Clone Technique!"
Several figures identical to the Rain ninja leaped past the earth wall and launched an attack on Kakashi!
Kakashi deliberately revealed an opening, feigning to be drawn in by one of the clones and rushing towards it.
As Kakashi approached the clone, suddenly, several arms shot out from the ground, attempting to grab him.
Kakashi was already prepared. He let out a sharp cry, "Lightning Style: Raikiri!" In an instant, a powerful electric current surged from his hand, shattering the surrounding mud and the clones, successfully breaking the Rain ninja's Sordid Clone Technique.
Seeing his moves being countered, the Rain ninja raised his hands high, rapidly chanting an incantation before shouting, "Water Style: Black Rain Technique!" Instantly, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and black raindrops began to fall.
These raindrops were corrosive. Upon contact with the human body, they would injure both skin and clothing.
Kakashi dared not delay. He quickly formed hand seals and shouted, "Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" A wall of water rapidly formed above his head, blocking the attack of the black raindrops.
However, the area of the black rain grew larger and larger, and cracks gradually began to appear on the Water Formation Wall.
Kakashi formed hand seals with both hands and yelled, "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A giant dragon made of earth erupted from the ground, charging toward the Rain ninja with monumental force!
While the long-haired Rain ninja struggled to block the attack, Kakashi silently circled behind him. Seeing his chance, he activated Raikiri!
In that instant, an insane amount of electricity gathered in his right hand! Kakashi's eyes sharpened as he fiercely stabbed at the long-haired Rain ninja's back, his speed so great it created a whistling wind!
But just as the Raikiri was about to touch the long-haired Rain ninja...