Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 352: Bloody Battle on the Sea Cliff

However, a few minutes later, the results of their reconnaissance were unexpected.

"Lord Raikage, ahead... aside from that one powerful presence, we have not detected any large-scale chakra reactions from other ninja, nor any obvious fluctuations from traps."

"Only one person?"

The Third Raikage frowned deeply. "Move in to take a look!"

He hesitated no longer, taking the lead and charging towards the direction from which the presence emanated.

Soon, the group from Kumogakure arrived at the cliff by the sea.

There, at the edge of the cliff, a figure stood with his back to them, gazing out at the boundless ocean.

He wore simple, tight-fitting black clothes, his posture straight and tall, his white short hair gently stirred by the sea breeze.

As if sensing their arrival, the man slowly turned around.

It was Sora!

His features were more mature and resolute than during the Third War, his gaze calm, as if he had been waiting for a long time. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"No need to waste your energy searching, Third Raikage."

"Here, there is only me."

The Third Raikage's eyes locked onto Sora, and after confirming there were indeed no hidden enemies nearby, a surge of fury at being so slighted welled up within him.

"Brat! You are quite arrogant!"

The Third Raikage's voice boomed like thunder. "Do you really think, with just you alone, you can stand against us?"

Killer B and Yugito Nii stepped forward, one on each side, vaguely forming a pincer attack, as the massive chakra of their tailed beasts began to stir restlessly.

The thirty-six Anbu behind them also instantly fanned out, seizing advantageous terrain, their killing intent locking onto Sora.

Facing this formation, enough to make any Kage-level powerhouse pale, Sora merely smiled lightly.

"Whether I can stand against you or not, why not find out?"

His gaze swept across the Third Raikage, Killer B, and Yugito Nii, before finally settling back on the Third Raikage. His eyes suddenly grew sharp, and a colossal fighting spirit, in no way inferior to his opponent's, erupted skyward!

"It's spacious here, perfect for settling this once and for all!"

"Arrogant brat! Today, I'll teach you the price of provoking Kumogakure!"

The Third Raikage bellowed in rage, his entire body blazing with lightning, instantly entering his strongest state.

"Helm Splitter • Three-Finger Hellstab!"

With no probing attacks, he went straight for a killing move. His three fingers, destructive Lightning Release chakra, shot towards Sora's heart like a bolt of blue lightning!

"Well done!"

A cyan glint flashed in Sora's eyes, and he instantly activated his half-beast form, draconic scales covering his body!

"Eight Gates Released Formation • Sixth Gate, The Gate of View, open!"

"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"

The green steam and blue lightning armor intertwined once more, his speed and power instantly skyrocketing!

Facing the Three-Finger Hellstab, capable of piercing anything, Sora did not dodge or evade. His fist, covered in draconic scales and lightning armor, wrapped in monstrous strength, met it head-on!

"Monstrous Strength • Lightning Dragon Fist!"

Boom——!!!

Fist and fingers clashed once more, erupting with a deafening roar!

A terrifying shockwave swept outwards, shaking loose rocks from the cliff edge into the sea.

This time, unlike the scene when he faced the Third Raikage during the Third War.

Sora's form flickered, the ground beneath his feet exploding, but he did not retreat a single step, while the Third Raikage opposite him was sent flying backwards.

'As I thought, my power already far surpasses the Third Raikage's!'

Watching the Third Raikage fly back, Sora fell into thought. Nearly two years had passed since his last clash with the Third Raikage.

His body had gradually matured. Although his Lightning Release Chakra Mode might not be as refined as the Third Raikage's, cultivated over many years, the gap was not large.

It could be said that from this day forward, the title of "Strongest Spear and Shield" had officially changed hands!

"Lord Raikage, I'll assist you!"

Yugito Nii shouted crisply, surging with intense blue chakra. Two tails formed of chakra materialized behind her!

"Rat Tail Ball Jade!"

She opened her mouth and spat out countless blue chakra orbs, shooting towards Sora like homing missiles!

On the other side, Killer B moved too!

"Yo~! Basilisk tongue~! Octopus tangle~! Tentacle catch~!"

Several octopus tentacles extended from behind him, snaking towards Sora's legs with lightning speed.

Facing the pincer attack, Sora took a deep breath.

Combining the Azure Dragon Fruit's Boro Breath ability with wind, he instantly stirred up a scorching tornado around himself!

Boom!

The blue Rat Tail Ball Jades were drawn into the tornado, detonating prematurely!

At the same time, lightning flashed beneath his feet, his form blurring, narrowly avoiding the entanglement of the octopus tentacles and reappearing on another side.

"A combined wind-fire ninja technique? No, that's his bloodline ability!" Yugito Nii's eyes focused.

"Anbu! Illusion Division!" The Third Raikage roared.

"Yes!"

Three Anbu instantly formed hand signs.

"Demonic Illusion • False Place Technique!"

Invisible illusory fluctuations enveloped Sora, attempting to distort his senses.

However, just as the genjutsu was about to land—

"Roar——!!"

A deep, majestic dragon's roar burst from Sora's throat!

The three Anbu casting the genjutsu felt as if their souls had been brutally smashed by a heavy hammer. What they saw was not a human, but a cyan dragon overlooking all creation from on high!

"Pfft!"

The three simultaneously spat out blood, collapsing to the ground in agony, clutching their heads, their eyes filled with terror.

"Genjutsu won't work... his mental energy... is too strong..." one Anbu reported with difficulty.

Seizing this opportunity, Sora charged directly into the Anbu ranks!

"Stop him!"

The Anbu squad leader shouted in alarm.

"Lightning Release • Lightning Wolf Strike!"

"Lightning Release • Lightning Snake!"

Several Lightning Release techniques flew towards him.

Sora did not dodge or evade. His scale-covered body endured the lightning strikes. Though the scales scorched black and brought pain, they could not inflict fatal wounds.

He struck out with both fists simultaneously, monstrous strength erupting!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Like a tiger among sheep, each fist contained terrifying power. Anbu who were hit either had broken bones or were sent flying backwards, combat ineffective.

In just a few breaths, seven or eight Anbu had fallen!

"Bastard! Your opponent is me!"

The Third Raikage was furiously indescribable. Lightning flared around his body again, his speed peaking, instantly appearing behind Sora!

"Massive Impact Lightning!"

His elbow, wrapped in Lightning Release, slammed towards Sora's back like a warhammer!

Sora's dragon tail lashed out from behind, colliding fiercely with the Third Raikage's elbow!

Thump!

With the sound of impact, Sora used the force to leap forward, breaking away from the encirclement and landing on another reef near the sea, breathing heavily.

The continuous high-intensity combat and maintaining multiple states placed a significant burden on his chakra, now that he no longer had the Dragon Vein.

"Brat, running low on chakra, aren't you?"

The Third Raikage's eyes were sharp, noticing Sora's slight fatigue. He sneered, "What about that troublesome staff from last time? Why aren't you using that 'Thunderclap Eight Trigrams' move of yours?"

Sora shook his slightly numb dragon tail, the corner of his mouth curling up.

Against a fully committed Third Raikage, the power of his half-beast form was indeed somewhat lacking.