Northwestern border of the Land of Lightning.
The cold wind was like a knife, whipping sand and gravel against one's face with painful force.
The Kumogakure elite forces, who should have withdrawn to Cloud-Thunder Gorge for recovery, were now like a pack of cornered beasts, staring fixedly ahead.
At the end of their line of sight, the mountains and plains were covered in earthy-brown figures.
Ten thousand Iwagakure Ninjas.
They were like silent locusts, covering every inch of the wasteland, completely blocking Kumogakure's path home.
The killing intent condensed into substance, pressing down until bones creaked.
At the front of the Iwa formation, a tall Iwagakure commander stepped out slowly.
Mo Yan.
Iwagakure Jonin!
Looking at the surrounded Kumogakure remnants, he said expressionlessly, "Third Raikage, this path is closed."
From the Kumogakure ranks, a figure as towering as an iron pagoda emerged.
The Third Raikage was bare-chested, the black "Lightning" tattoo on his chest looking particularly fierce in the cold wind.
"Is this that old geezer Ōnoki's idea?" The Third Raikage's voice wasn't loud, but it rolled across the plains like muffled thunder.
"We're allies; we just teamed up to backstab Konoha, and now you're turning on us already?"
Mo Yan sneered and tossed out a scroll.
"Allies?"
"One moment you're forming an alliance with us on the Front Lines, and the next you're sending a surprise attack force through the heart of the Land of Earth to burn three of our granaries and hijack two shipments of supplies."
"You call that being allies?"
"The Tsuchikage said that not only must Kumogakure spit out all the supplies, but you must also leave your lives behind to pay for our losses."
This was the Ninja World.
There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests.
Kumogakure tried to have it both ways, only to end up with shattered teeth.
The Third Raikage didn't argue.
He glanced back behind him.
Those young Kumogakure Ninjas were all injured, their Chakra severely depleted.
If they forced a breakthrough, the future of this generation of Kumogakure would end here.
"Since we've been caught red-handed, there's no helping it."
The Third Raikage cracked his neck with a series of sharp pops.
He raised an arm thicker than an average person's thigh and pointed to the narrow path behind him.
"Go."
"Withdraw to Cloud-Thunder Gorge. Without my order, I'll kill anyone who looks back."
Behind him, several Kumogakure Jonin looked on with eyes nearly bursting.
"Lord Raikage! We're not leaving!"
"Let's fight it out with these Iwagakure scum!"
"We can die, but you can't..."
Bang!
The Jonin shouting the loudest was slapped away, half his face swelling up instantly.
The Third Raikage withdrew his hand, his gaze as indifferent as if he were looking at a pile of trash.
"Fight?"
"With the little Chakra you have left, what else can you do besides get in my way?"
"Or do you think my back isn't broad enough to block these mere rabble?"
The Ninjas were speechless, their eyes filled with humiliation and grief.
They knew the Raikage was protecting them.
In the way that hurt their pride the most.
"Get out!"
The Third Raikage roared, and the Lightning Release Chakra on his body exploded outward.
The violent airwaves directly pushed several nearby Kumogakure Ninjas back over ten meters.
"Go!!"
The leading Jonin gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered, swallowing his tears mixed with blood as he waved the order to retreat.
The Kumogakure remnants fled like stray dogs into the narrow mountain pass.
Mo Yan didn't order a pursuit.
Because that man was standing in the way.
The Third Raikage stood alone before the ten-thousand-strong Iwagakure army.
He pushed his Lightning Release Armor to the limit, the blue electric light illuminating the dim night sky like broad daylight.
His hair danced wildly, making him look like a demon god.
"Come."
The Third Raikage extended a finger and beckoned them forward.
"If you want to pass, you'll have to see if my fists agree first."
Mo Yan took a deep breath and lowered his arm.
"Kill!"
"Show no mercy!"
"Roar—!!"
Ten thousand people roared in unison, the sound waves shattering the dark clouds in the sky.
The earthy-brown tide instantly submerged that single speck of blue light.
Boom—!!!
The next second.
A pillar of lightning that pierced the heavens and earth exploded from the center of the crowd.
Before the screams of countless Iwagakure Ninjas could even leave their mouths, they were completely swallowed by the violent thunder.
"Since you're here, don't even think about leaving!"
One against ten thousand—it was an unequal massacre.
But the ones being massacred were the ten-thousand-strong army with the numerical advantage.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
Hundreds of Iwagakure Ninjas formed hand signs together.
The earth trembled as countless sharp rock spears sprouted like bamboo shoots, densely packed and sealing off all space to dodge.
There was no fancy clashing of Ninjutsu.
The Third Raikage didn't dodge or evade, charging straight through the forest of stone spears.
Bang bang bang bang bang!
The hard rocks struck his bronze skin like eggs hitting a stone, instantly exploding into powder.
That layer of flowing Lightning Release Chakra Armor was tougher than the hardest steel in the world.
"Monster... this guy is a monster!"
An Iwagakure Chunin watched in terror as the lightning-clad figure smashed through the rocks and charged toward him, his Kunai thrown feebly.
Clang.
Sparks flew.
The Kunai didn't even leave a white mark.
Puff!
With a casual swing of the Third Raikage's arm, the Chunin and the two people behind him were instantly reduced to a mist of blood.
"Don't be afraid! Overwhelm him with numbers!"
"His Chakra isn't infinite!"
Mo Yan roared commands from the far rear.
The Iwagakure Ninjas, eyes bloodshot, lunged forward wave after wave.
"Earth Release: Multi-Earth Style Wall!"
Boom boom boom!
Dozens of stone walls several meters thick rose up, attempting to stop the runaway human tank.
The Third Raikage didn't stop his advance.
He raised his right hand, four fingers pressed together, with heart-palpitating black lightning condensing at the tips.
"Hell Stab: Four-Fingered Nukite!"
Rippp—
It was like a hot knife through butter.
The dozens of earth walls, strong enough to withstand explosions from Explosive Tags, were as fragile as paper before this strike.
Along with the dozen or so Iwagakure Jonin hiding behind the walls, they were instantly pierced through...---
The book testing results are out. The best title is "Hyuga Quincy in Naruto: Over-the-Horizon Strike."
Later, I'll see if I can find a cover that combines Quincy elements with the Byakugan for a final test.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"