On the other side, Night Owl was also fiercely clashing with Raiga.
Night Owl's movements were like a ghost, weaving and dodging through Raiga's dense barrage of Lightning Release: Senbon attacks, her kunai occasionally stabbing out like a poisonous snake, forcing Raiga to defend.
Although Raiga's speed couldn't compare to Sora with the Four Gates open, it was still extremely fast. Moreover, his attacks carried a lightning paralysis effect, making the fight exceptionally difficult for Night Owl. She could only barely contain him, utterly incapable of providing Sora with any effective support.
"Damn Konoha rats, is hiding all you can do?!"
Frustrated by his prolonged failure to land a hit, Raiga formed hand seals even faster.
"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"
Zzzzzz!
Intense electrical currents instantly channeled into the ground, spreading towards Night Owl like a spiderweb!
Night Owl's face changed, and she hastily leaped to dodge.
But the moment she was airborne with no footing, a ferocious grin spread across Raiga's face. Three specially-made Lightning Release shuriken he had prepared earlier shot out at high speed, sealing off all her possible escape routes!
"It's over!"
Just as Night Owl was about to be hit...
Whoosh!
A smoke bomb suddenly exploded at her feet, dense smoke instantly enveloping the area!
Thump, thump, thump!
The three shuriken shot into the smoke, but seemed to disappear without a trace, making no sound of hitting their target.
"Hmm?" Raiga frowned.
Sora's figure, having momentarily forced Ganko back, had appeared at the edge of the smoke. With a sharp wave of his hand, a whirlwind kicked up, dispersing the smoke to reveal Night Owl inside, completely unharmed. Clearly, Sora had used the smoke bomb and wind at the critical moment to disrupt Raiga's vision and attack.
"Tch, troublesome brat!"
Raiga spat in annoyance, his eyes turning colder.
He hadn't expected Sora to divide his attention while in the thick of battle and use such a trick to save Night Owl.
The four of them fell into a brief standoff again, but the atmosphere was even more tense, filled with the smell of gunpowder.
Sora was breathing slightly heavily. Although opening the Fourth Gate placed less burden on his body compared to ordinary people, the consumption of stamina and chakra was real.
Simultaneously dealing with two well-coordinated Jonin, even with Night Owl providing support from the side, was immensely stressful.
'This absolutely cannot continue!'
Sora's gaze rapidly swept across the entire battlefield, his mind racing as he analyzed the desperate situation before him.
'The captain over there...'
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the fight between Fox and Toroi.
The situation was extremely bad!
Fox's breathing had become heavy, his movements noticeably slower.
The specially-made chakra short sword was now covered in notches. Every time it clashed with Toroi's magnetically infused shield, it sparked violently and trembled even more intensely.
Toroi, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease, even wearing a mocking, cat-and-mouse smile on his face.
His square shuriken appeared unpredictably, constantly launching attacks from bizarre angles, forcing Fox to keep dodging, draining his stamina and focus.
'The captain is just a regular Jonin. Being able to hold out for this long against Toroi, an elite Jonin with Magnet Release, is already pushing his limit.'
Sora's heart sank.
If Fox were defeated and Toroi became free, all of them would die here today.
'Grey Wolf's condition is unknown, Night Owl...'
Sora looked at his teammate beside him. Night Owl had steadied herself, but the hand holding her kunai trembled slightly. Clearly, Raiga's Lightning Release earlier had imposed a significant burden on her. Her chakra was severely depleted, and she probably couldn't hold on for much longer.
'And on my side...'
Sora's gaze returned to the two enemies before him.
The bald Ganko had monstrous defense and terrifying strength, like an immovable iron turtle. The tall, thin Raiga had incredible speed, and his attacks carried lightning paralysis, making his harassment and sneak attacks extremely annoying.
One attacked, one defended. Together, their coordination was seamless.
'Their teamwork must be broken! Focus fire to eliminate one first!'
A flash of determination crossed Sora's eyes. He took a deep breath, chakra surging within him once more, deciding on a risky move!
"Night Owl! Cover me!"
Sora shouted lowly, his hands suddenly forming hand seals!
"Hmm? Still trying to use ninjutsu?"
Raiga sneered. "At this close range, you think I'll give you the chance?"
His hands moved in a flurry, instantly shooting over a dozen Lightning Release Senbon at Sora like a storm, attempting to interrupt his seals.
But at that moment, Night Owl moved!
Gathering her strength, her figure flickered like a ghost. She swung her kunai, accurately knocking away most of the senbon, buying Sora a precious moment!
"Humph! Asking for death!"
Ganko roared, his massive stone fist taking the opportunity to smash towards Night Owl, who was busy blocking, attacking where she must defend!
However, Sora's hand seals were already complete!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
BOOM!!!
An enormous, blazing fireball, far larger than a regular Great Fireball, with a color much deeper and tinged with a hint of bluish-green, erupted fiercely from Sora's mouth!
Carrying a terrifying, incinerating heat, it didn't shoot directly at Ganko or Raiga, but instead slammed into the ground between the two of them!
"What?!"
Both Ganko and Raiga were shocked, not expecting the scale of Sora's Fire Release to be so vast, nor that he would target empty ground.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion erupted! Scorching shockwaves mixed with billowing sand and dust violently spread out in all directions!
This was definitely not the power a C-rank technique should have!
This was the scorching dragon breath belonging to the Azure Dragon!
Ganko and Raiga instinctively retreated, avoiding the impact of the shockwaves. Their originally tight formation was instantly, forcibly torn apart by the sudden explosion and sandstorm!
"Now!"
This was exactly the effect Sora wanted!
'Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, Open!'
After quickly opening the Fifth Gate, Sora used the cover of the explosion. He pushed off powerfully with his feet, his figure charging directly into the dust cloud, his target set squarely on Ganko, who had fallen back half a step!
His fist, covered in fine dragon scales and shimmering with green light, concentrated all his power at this moment, and blasted towards Ganko's chest!
"Don't underestimate me! Earth Release: Earth Mountain Armor!"
Ganko, maintaining his composure in the face of danger, roared. The stone armor on his chest instantly thickened to more than double, shimmering with a heavy, earthen yellow glow!
THUMP!!!
A heavy, dull sound rang out!
Sora's punch, concentrated with the power of the Eight Inner Gates' Fifth Gate, slammed hard into Ganko's chest!
Crack!
The thickened stone armor on Ganko's chest shattered in response, fragments flying everywhere!
His massive body shook violently. A flash of pain crossed his face as his feet stumbled back several steps. A metallic taste rose in his throat, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
But he had actually withstood it! He only suffered some internal vibration, not losing his fighting ability!
'Damn it! This turtle shell is really hard!'
Sora inwardly cursed. This was already the strongest attack he could unleash in his normal state.
However, at that very moment, as his old force was spent and new force had yet to be born...
"Got you, brat!"
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