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Chapter 75: Dead? How Could She Be Dead!
Before the Kirin fell, the solid paper ball had been nearly two hundred meters in diameter. Now, only a mere three meters remained. The massive amount of white paper on the outside had been completely annihilated in the thunder. The remaining paper had also been unable to withstand the continuous bombardment of the lightning domain and was entirely carbonized. It was currently emitting wisps of black smoke.
"Lady Konan!!"
Honoka, dragging Karin, ran toward the giant crater at top speed, her expression frantic. She prayed incessantly in her heart that Lady Konan would be alright.
Karin, being dragged behind, made cynical comments: "Running so fast to her funeral? In the face of such a lightning attack, without an absolute defense, who could withstand it? The woman inside that black ball has probably already been roasted to charcoal."
"Shut up!" Honoka turned her head and scolded, her face full of anger. This kinsman's mouth was really annoying. "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all!"
Swoosh! The golden chain wrapped around Karin's body slithered upward, directly sealing her chattering mouth. Karin immediately started making "Mmph, mmph" sounds, unable to speak.
At the edge of the giant crater, Sasuke's face was a little pale, and residual arcs of electricity still danced on his body. He looked down coldly at the black ball at the bottom of the pit. "She should be dead..."
Using such a terrifyingly powerful Lightning Release jutsu, even though his own lightning resistance had been trained to be very high, it was inevitable that he would suffer some backlash. His body felt numb. Fortunately, it wasn't serious and would disappear soon. This was the second time he had used Lightning Release: Kirin. The first time, Itachi had used the absolute defense of Susanoo's Yata Mirror to block it. It was understandable that it didn't succeed. This time, the White Tiger didn't have a divine weapon like the Yata Mirror. What could she use to block it? Just that flimsy paper? Paper is paper. No matter how much you gather, it's still just fragile paper!
Sasuke took a deep breath. The numbness in his body gradually faded. Crack! Just then, a strange sound came from the bottom of the pit. The surface of the carbonized black ball began to show dense cracks. Then, with a hiss, it disintegrated into a cloud of black powder, mixed within it were quite a few white particles. "What is that?" The black powder was carbonized paper. But what about the white powder?
Sasuke immediately activated his three-tomoe Sharingan. Before he could get a clear look, he was drawn by the sound of coughing. The sound was very familiar.
"Impossible!!" He said in disbelief. "You can't still be alive!!"
The last layer of wrinkled, scorched paper fell away, revealing a half-kneeling figure inside. It was Konan!!
She had survived the terrifying Lightning Release: Kirin. But her current state was not good. White steam was rising from her entire body. Her Akatsuki robe was in tatters. Through the holes in her clothes, her scorched black skin could be seen. Clearly, the power of the Kirin had not been completely blocked. Even though she survived, she was severely injured. Not only was her skin severely burned and covered in black, charred patches, but her insides had also been invaded by a large amount of lightning, and she was heavily wounded. Her entire body was numb, and she couldn't even maintain her posture.
But... at this moment, Konan's injuries were recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye. Underneath the scorched black skin, perfect, snow-white skin was growing back. Her internal injuries were also healing. The numbness and weakness in her body were all fading.
Alex, in her chest, was using Dark Medical Ninjutsu at full power to heal Konan's injuries. It was just a serious injury. Even if her head... okay, that might be a bit difficult... but even if her internal organs had been destroyed by the lightning, he could still bring her back.
Feeling her condition rapidly recovering, Alex sighed in relief. That had been a real shock. The moment the Lightning Release: Kirin fell, the paper, which had been over a hundred meters thick, had completely evaporated. The subsequent paper was rapidly destroyed in the dense sea of lightning. The speed of replenishment simply couldn't keep up with the rate of destruction. If not for the fact that, at the critical moment, he had used Shikotsumyaku to condense a shell of bone at its highest density, it had slowed the lightning's destructive power for a moment, allowing the paper replenishment to barely keep up. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened to them...
"Lady Konan!!"
Honoka ran to the edge of the giant crater, calling out in concern. Seeing that Lady Konan was still alive, her heart, which had leaped into her throat, finally settled back into her stomach.
Karin, beside her, also saw the situation at the bottom of the pit. Her eyes widened, and she let out disbelieving "Mmph, mmph" sounds. Honoka didn't need to guess what she was trying to say. Lady Konan had survived that terrifying Lightning Release. Karin must have found it hard to believe, wanting to call it impossible. But the facts were right in front of her. She had to believe it. Lady Konan was the strongest! Victory would belong to Lady Konan!!
Also in disbelief was Sasuke. He couldn't understand, couldn't believe what he was seeing. Why?! On what grounds!! Itachi had withstood Kirin, fine. But you, White Tiger, on what grounds did you withstand it and survive!!
"So what if you're alive! In your heavily injured state, you're just delaying your death!!"
The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Sasuke felt he could go on. The astonishment on Sasuke's face flashed by, and his eyes turned fierce as he immediately launched an attack.
He touched the seal on his right arm. Poof! A giant shuriken appeared in his hand: Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creation!
Sasuke powerfully threw the giant shuriken. Spinning rapidly, it let out an intense cutting sound as it howled toward Konan at the bottom of the pit.
Konan snapped her head up. Water droplets flew from her purple hair. Her body's injuries, under Alex's Dark Medical Ninjutsu, were already mostly healed. She leaped up forcefully, successfully dodging the attack. The giant shuriken grazed past her cheek. Its sharp edge brought a slight stinging sensation to her skin.
Konan was in mid-air when a poof sound suddenly came from behind her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the giant shuriken had transformed into Sasuke's form. His pupils glowed red, and a pillar of lightning shot from his hand.
"Chidori Sharp Spear!!"
Puncture! The lightning spear pierced through Konan's right shoulder. Lightning leaped, and the violent lightning chakra entered her body, instantly paralyzing her and making her unable to move.
Sasuke sneered. "Die! Chidori Current!!"
Dense lightning erupted from his body, instantly enveloping Konan's. "This time, you'll be fried!!"
A look of pain appeared on Konan's face. She struggled to control the wings on her back, managing to flap them once. She didn't flee. Instead, she moved backward, rapidly closing the distance with the Sasuke behind her. Her body suddenly erupted with sparks and black smoke, and it was filled with dense cracks. Under the peeling skin was nothing but a stack of Exploding Tags.
Sasuke's cold sneer froze. Konan was already right upon him. The black smoke choked him, making it hard to breathe. The firelight assaulted him, and his skin felt a burning pain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the next instant, "Konan" self-destructed at point-blank range. The firelight of the explosion completely enveloped Sasuke.