The two equally tyrannical auras collided violently in the gorge. The resulting gale sent rubble flying. The Kumogakure ninjas were crushed by this aura, unable to breathe, their faces filled with horror.
"That guy... who is he?" a ninja stared at the man who suddenly appeared, his voice trembling.
The man wore a strange white coat, with two large characters written in black ink on the back that they didn't recognize at all.
Justice? What organization's symbol was that?
"No idea, never seen him!"
"But... so strong! Just standing there makes me feel like I'm suffocating!"
Dodai's expression was extremely grave, his fists clenched tightly. This man who suddenly appeared was definitely a top-tier expert! His strength was probably not beneath Lord Raikage's!
While everyone was in a tense standoff, Garp moved. He completely ignored the gazes of the small fry, his eyes locked firmly on the Third Raikage.
"BWAHAHAHA!" Garp's wild laughter echoed through the gorge.
"What are you dilly-dallying for!"
"Let's get started already!"
He grinned, and then, under everyone's horrified gazes, he stomped his foot hard on the air!
Bang!
The air let out a dull explosion.
Garp's body shot up, as if stepping on invisible stairs, walking step by step towards the Third Raikage at the other end of the gorge!
"What?!"
"He... he's walking in the sky?!"
"What kind of Ninjutsu is that?!"
The Kumogakure ninjas' eyes nearly popped out, their jaws dropping to the floor. They had never seen such an absurd method of movement!
However, something even more absurd was yet to come. Garp's arrogant action completely infuriated the rampaging Eight-Tails Gyūki!
ROAR!!!
A deafening roar exploded. The Eight-Tails' massive body, larger than a mountain, suddenly turned. Its scarlet eyes locked onto the tiny black dot in mid-air. It swung a thick octopus tentacle, the end of which was a giant, clenched fist!
Whoosh!
The giant fist tore through the air with a vicious wind, smashing hard toward Garp! The power of this punch was enough to level a small mountain!
"That idiot!" a Kumogakure ninja couldn't help but blurt out upon seeing this.
"How dare he be so arrogant in front of a rampaging Eight-Tails!"
"Does he really think he's Lord Raikage?!"
"He's dead! He's definitely dead!"
The surrounding ninjas showed expressions of schadenfreude. In their view, this overconfident intruder would be smashed into meat paste by the Eight-Tails in the next second.
However, in mid-air, facing the giant fist that blotted out the sky, the smile on Garp's face grew even brighter.
"BWAHAHAHA!"
"A disobedient big octopus!"
Not only did he not dodge, but he also charged straight at the giant fist! He also raised his own right arm and clenched his fist. That fist, compared to the Eight-Tails' giant fist, was as tiny as a grain of sand. But the moment he clenched his fist, a terrifying aura erupted from his body!
"Get lost!"
Garp roared.
He threw a punch!
The next second. The tiny fist and the giant fist collided brazenly in mid-air!
DOOOM!!!
An extremely dull, yet world-shaking, impact sound exploded! A visible white shockwave centered at the point of impact, erupting and spreading wildly in all directions!
The entire Unrai Gorge trembled violently! On the cliffs on both sides of the gorge, countless huge rocks were shaken loose, rumbling as they smashed into the abyss below!
The Kumogakure ninjas were blown about by the shockwave, their faces filled with terror. When they finally managed to stabilize themselves and looked up at the sky, everyone was stunned. The mocking expressions on their faces froze, turning into the horror of seeing a ghost.
In mid-air. The mountain-sized Eight-Tails Gyūki had actually been knocked back by that tiny fist! Its massive body lost balance in the air, staggering back a dozen meters before crashing heavily to the ground!
BOOM!
The very earth wailed!
"How... How is that possible?!" a Kumogakure ninja trembled, pointing at the figure in mid-air who was still holding his punching pose, and stammered.
"He... he punched... and knocked back the Eight-Tails?"
The whole world fell silent. Only the pained roars of the Eight-Tails and the heavy breathing of the Kumogakure ninjas remained.
Even the Third Raikage, who had been on high alert, his pupils suddenly shrank at this moment. He stared intently at Garp's smoking fist. His gaze, in addition to solemnity, held a fiery battle intent.
This man... is strong! Absurdly strong!
The Third Raikage's pupils shrank to pinpoints. He stared at Garp, the fiery battle intent belonging to a true expert almost boiling over!
This guy...
There's no flow of Chakra.
He didn't use any Ninjutsu.
Just pure physical strength!
Pure, unreasonable physical strength to the extreme!
And he could knock back the rampaging Eight-Tails with one punch!
What kind of terrifying Taijutsu is this!
"BWAHAHAHA!"
Garp landed back on the ground, the earth cracking beneath his feet. He shook his slightly numb fist, the excitement on his face only increasing.
"Not bad! Not bad!"
"This world of yours is a bit interesting!"
He completely ignored the Eight-Tails, which was climbing up again, and stared fixedly at the Third Raikage. This dark-skinned brute was his target!
"Dodai!" The Third Raikage suddenly roared.
"Lord Raikage!" Dodai quickly responded.
"Lead everyone and retreat immediately!"
The Raikage's command was decisive and allowed no argument.
"Barrier team!" He roared again, his voice like rolling thunder.
"Here!"
Several ninjas in special uniforms stepped out from the crowd.
"Activate the highest-level barrier immediately. Seal off... the entire Unrai Gorge!"
"What?!"
As soon as this was said, all the Kumogakure ninjas were stunned.
"Lord Raikage! You mustn't!"
Dodai was the first to rush up, his face full of anxiety.
"If you seal the gorge, then you and the Eight-Tails, and that mysterious man..."
"Shut up!"
The Third Raikage whipped his head around, his gaze as sharp as a drawn blade.
"This is not a battle you can interfere in!"
"If you stay here, you will only die in vain!"
"This is an order!"
His aura was like a mountain, pressing down on Dodai so he couldn't say another word.
The barrier team ninjas looked at each other and no longer hesitated.
"Yes!"
Their hands flew through hand seals.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!"
Voom!
Four purple pillars of energy shot into the sky, rising from the four corners of the gorge. Immediately after, a massive, ominous purple energy wall rose rapidly from all four directions and joined at the top of the gorge.
Boom!
The entire Unrai Gorge was completely turned into a giant, isolated cage!
Outside the cage, the Kumogakure ninjas looked at the purple barrier that cut off everything, their faces filled with worry and fear.
Inside the cage.
The Third Raikage slowly turned around, facing Garp once more. His Lightning Release Armour crackled, the electric light even more ferocious than before.
"Now, no one will come to disturb us."
His voice was deep and powerful, filled with an irrepressible will to fight.
Garp grinned broadly, cracking his knuckles, which popped like beans.
"BWAHAHAHA!"
"Suits me just fine!"
Their gazes collided in mid-air, letting off invisible sparks.
And behind them, the Eight-Tails Gyūki, which had been dazed by the punch, struggled back to its feet. Its scarlet eyes locked onto the two tiny humans, and an angry roar once again echoed through the entire gorge.
ROAR!!!
The stage for a three-way free-for-all was now completely set.