"What, what is that now?!"
A surviving Special Jonin, seeing the dragon wreathed in steam like a demon god descending, had his spirit completely shattered. He turned around and tried to flee.
But the moment he turned, a blue-green shadow appeared in front of him as if teleporting!
It was Sora! His speed was at its absolute peak!
A massive dragon claw, covered in hard scales and entwined with green steam and electric arcs, swung lightly as if swatting a fly.
Squelch!
That Special Jonin, along with the defensive ninjutsu he hastily formed, was smashed into a bloody mist, instantly dissipating in the sea breeze.
He didn't even have time to scream.
Instant kill! The third Special Jonin, dead!
"Green steam, the sign of bodily functions being overloaded and erupting, this kind of technique... could it be..."
Black Crow's pupils contracted sharply. As one of the captains of the 'Raven' unit in Kumogakure, specializing in intelligence and purges, he was well-read and knew many secrets of the ninja world. He recognized the reason for the changes happening to Sora.
'Eight Inner Gates?! Damn it, it can even be used on this monstrous form?!'
'This kind of power... even the Third Raikage-sama probably... Toroi and the others didn't die unjustly...'
The scene before him completely overturned Black Crow's understanding. The last Jonin and the sole remaining Special Jonin were even paler, their faces as white as paper. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, their fighting spirit utterly shattered.
Even if Sora had transformed into a Tailed Beast, they could have accepted it. But the Sora before them had surpassed what they could comprehend. This was already a myth descending into reality.
The green energy steam surged like an angry tide around Sora's enormous Azure Dragon body. His cold, gold-green vertical pupils locked onto the final three, Black Crow and his companions.
The sole remaining Special Jonin was already broken in spirit. Facing this terrifying existence far beyond his understanding, the instinct for survival overwhelmed everything.
As if forgetting how his fleeing comrade was just quickly slain by Sora, he instantly turned, pouring chakra madly into the soles of his feet, desperately fleeing towards the direction of the Land of Lightning!
"Don't run! Come back!"
Black Crow roared in shock and anger, but he himself knew how feeble this shout was.
Sure enough, Sora did not give them any chance.
Sora, who had activated the 'Azure Dragon Gates', had reached a speed that was unimaginable.
The massive dragon body seemed to ignore air resistance. Its huge figure drew a blurred blue-green afterimage across the sea's surface, instantly catching up to the fleeing Special Jonin.
The Special Jonin only felt a shadow fall over him. Looking up in despair, he saw a massive dragon claw entwined with green steam and electric arcs descending upon his head!
"No--!"
Squelch!
Like a watermelon smashed by a heavy hammer, another Special Jonin was instantly killed!
Only Black Crow and the final Jonin remained on the scene.
The two stood back-to-back on the water, faces pale, eyes filled with despair and madness. They knew that fleeing was meaningless now. Their only path to survival was to fight with all their might!
"Captain! Let's fight!"
That Jonin roared hoarsely, his hands forming seals frantically, erupting with his remaining chakra without reservation!
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
A panther-shaped beast composed of highly concentrated black lightning, exuding a heart-stopping destructive aura, charged forth at high speed, pouncing straight at Sora!
This was the strongest Lightning Release he could master as a Jonin.
Black Crow also knew they were in a desperate situation. A look of resolve flashed in his eyes. The immense chakra unique to an Elite Jonin poured out unreservedly. Electric currents spread around his body like a spider's web as his hands formed seals.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Black Crow shouted, spitting out another, even larger lightning spear from his mouth compared to the last one. With an ear-piercing shriek, like a black bolt of lightning, it tore through the air, stabbing straight at Sora.
This was his signature technique as an Elite Jonin and unit leader, its power far exceeding the ninjutsu of ordinary Jonin.
Facing the full-force strongest Lightning Release attacks from both men, Sora felt no ripples in his heart. One B-rank, one A-rank ninjutsu. Although their power was strong, in his eyes at this moment, they were just that.
Sora, in his Azure Dragon form, let out a low dragon's roar. He chose to respond with the power he was most familiar with and controlled most masterfully.
Dragon Breath!
BOOM--!!!
A thicker, more searing torrent of flames than before surged from the dragon's mouth. Carrying the terrifying might to incinerate all things, it met the black lightning panther and the sharp lightning spear head-on!
A violent collision of fire and thunder!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle--!!!
The searing dragon breath and the violent lightning intertwined madly. The sea surface was blasted into a huge vortex by the clash of these two extreme forces, vast amounts of steam filling the air.
But the deadlock lasted only for an instant.
The power of the dragon breath was clearly superior!
Especially after Sora activated the 'Azure Dragon Gates', the power of all his attacks received a massive increase!
The black lightning panther visibly became illusory, dim within the flames. Finally, it let out a cry of unwillingness before being completely consumed and annihilated by the dragon breath!
The huge lightning spear met the same fate, instantly swallowed by the endless flames!
The flames' momentum diminished slightly, but still charged violently towards that Jonin!
Despair flashed in that Jonin's eyes. He desperately gathered his scant remaining chakra to form a thin layer of Lightning Release barrier!
But it was all futile before the enhanced dragon breath!
Sizzle--!
The Lightning Release barrier instantly vaporized. The violent flames swallowed him in an instant!
"Ahhhh--!"
The wretched scream lasted only half a second before abruptly cutting off. After the flames passed, there was nothing on the sea surface, not even ashes remained.
The final Jonin, dead!
In a flash, the desperate joint assault was easily dismantled, and his comrade was utterly annihilated!
Black Crow's pupils contracted sharply. He hadn't expected his strongest ninjutsu to be dealt with so easily by Sora, who had simultaneously killed his last companion.
But he was, after all, a battle-hardened Elite Jonin. His instinct for survival and the intelligence mission he bore allowed him to suppress the fear that almost overwhelmed him.
Taking advantage of the brief gap after the dragon breath was exhaled, his hands formed seals again at the fastest speed!
"Lightning Release: Lightning Armor!"
Blinding lightning instantly covered his entire body, greatly enhancing his defense and speed.
At the same time, lightning exploded beneath his feet. He jerked backward and to the side in a rapid retreat. A direct confrontation meant certain death. He had to find an opportunity, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance to send the intelligence out!
"Thinking of leaving?"
Sora's massive body moved. Almost at the same moment Black Crow retreated, a huge dragon tail, entwined with green steam and electric arcs, swept over as if crossing space!
Its range was so vast, there was simply nowhere to hide!
"Damn it!"
Black Crow gritted his teeth, pushing the Lightning Armor to its limit. He crossed his arms, firmly protecting them in front of his body, attempting to withstand this mountain-toppling, tsunami-like blow!
THUD!!!
The moment of contact, Black Crow felt as if he had been struck head-on by a high-speed moving mountain!
Crack!
His arms fractured instantly, excruciating pain surging through his entire body! The Lightning Armor around him held for merely a moment before shattering with a crash!
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