Chapter 86: A Clash of Speed
Deep in the Forest
On a large boulder, a Kumogakure ninja whispered a warning to the hulking man beside him. "A, that's the 'Yellow Flash'."
Looking at the blond man with the Konoha forehead protector in the distance, the Fourth Raikage-elect, A, felt his battle spirit ignite. The chakra around his body began to churn. "Your speed is legendary," A called out to Minato, his voice a low rumble. "Care to put it to the test?"
Before Minato could even respond, A roared, "Lightning Release: Lightning Armor!"
Bang! A crackle of thunder erupted. A layer of dense, crackling lightning cloaked A's massive frame. The deafening buzz of electricity filled the air, the sheer force of it shearing the grass around his feet.
Seeing this, Minato's expression grew slightly more serious. He raised a hand in a casual gesture.
In a flash of lightning, A appeared right in front of Minato, his fist already a blur aimed at the Konoha ninja's face.
"You are the Raikage-designate of Kumogakure, A. Your speed is indeed as they say."
Minato observed the fist inches from his nose, then calmly tossed a Three-Pronged Kunai past A's head.
"You lose."
A sneered, confident in his judgment. His Lightning Armor was the pinnacle of his Lightning Release mastery, granting him near-extreme velocity. Facing the ninja world's other speed legend, "Yellow Flash," A was eager for a direct contest.
But now… he felt a pang of disappointment. Minato hadn't even reacted to his attack.
Just as A thought he'd secured a victory…
Whoosh!
The image of Minato before him flickered and vanished. The sound of tearing air followed. A turned to see his brother, Killer B, already using one of the Eight-Tails' tentacles to shield the space behind him.
"Oh, it's you." Minato glanced at the tentacle blocking his kunai, his gaze thoughtful as it settled on Killer B. With a light hop, a string of subtle markings was silently imprinted on the octopus limb.
"You are strong!" A's expression turned gravely serious, his earlier disappointment gone. "But next time, I won't hold back—"
"Naturally." Minato produced a handful of his special kunai from his pouch, readying himself.
As A charged again, Minato hurled the kunai in a wide arc.
"Hmph! Your movement technique must be a space-time ninjutsu linked to these special kunai!" A declared, his mind instantly mapping the trajectories and landing points of every flying blade. He believed he could predict Minato's next appearance.
But…
In the blink of an eye, Minato materialized behind Killer B, a kunai poised at the Jinchūriki's head.
Yet a closer look would reveal Killer B, who seemed nonchalant, held a short sword in his right hand, its tip aimed precisely at Minato's abdomen.
"A mutually assured stalemate! Yo!" Killer B rapped.
"Yo, yo, check the beat, this rap is fresh and neat! Yo!"
Killer B: "..." "Dope flow!" He immediately pulled out a notepad and began scribbling.
While B was distracted, A and the others turned toward the source of the new voice. They saw Liumu, a look of performative concentration on his face, emerging from the trees.
"Liumu?" Minato was puzzled. According to their plan, Liumu should be protecting Team 7 several kilometers away. Why was he here?
"Yo, yo, look at this noodle, it's long and wide, just like this bowl, it's big and round~"
A: "..."
Minato: "..."
Kumo-nin: "..."
"Liumu?!" Recognition dawned on A as he took in the older, taller figure. This was the same bald kid from the Chunin Exams who had single-handedly drawn the attention of every major village. Though the exam had ended in a… peculiar manner, his power was undeniable.
And now… A glanced at Killer B, completely absorbed in jotting down lyrics, and felt a headache coming on.
"A speed contest, right?" Liumu sauntered over to A with a grin. "Watched your little showdown. I happen to know a thing or two about speed myself. How about you and me have a go?"
"You?" A frowned, unable to fathom Liumu's angle.
The Lightning Armor around him flared brighter. With a whoosh, he shot toward Liumu, fist aimed squarely at his face.
"Hmm, not bad. Pretty fast. But…" Liumu smirked. His palm, now wreathed in strange, flickering flames, came up calmly and caught A's punch mid-air.
Thud.
"???"
A, unable to land his blow, instantly leaped back. But Liumu seemed glued to him, matching his retreat step for step, remaining inches away.
"My speed seems to be… just a tad faster."
As he spoke, an Eight-Tails tentacle shot toward them again. Before A could react, Liumu's free hand shot out and grabbed the thick tentacle.
With a powerful yank, Killer B was hauled through the air toward them.
Liumu raised his right leg, aiming at B's back. "You're the one who's always meddling! Or should I say, your tentacles are!"
Boom!
His foot connected solidly with Killer B's back. The immense force sent the Jinchūriki flying like a cannonball.
Crash! Crunch! Smash!
A series of sounds echoed as B plowed through dozens of trees before finally skidding to a halt, protected by the Eight-Tails' chakra. Liumu's kick wasn't meant to be fatal—he had future plans involving the tailed beasts. Killing the Eight-Tails' perfect host now would be inconvenient.
"B!" A roared, seeing his brother struck, and charged forward in a rage.
But then he realized… the Lightning Armor covering his body had completely dissipated at some point. Moreover, a profound weariness washed over him, and the chakra within him felt inexplicably drained.
Liumu extinguished the flame on his palm and stood beside A, his voice dropping to a cold, even tone. "Did you kill a Konoha shinobi?"
Though his smile seemed friendly, A saw a glacial, murderous intent in Liumu's eyes.
Startled, A frowned and answered firmly, "No. He," he jerked his head toward Minato, "is the first Konoha ninja we've encountered since arriving."
"The first?" Liumu's brow furrowed slightly. He'd come here because Uchiha Izumi had reported Kumo-nin in the area. If that was true…
Before he could think further, A added, "We were pursuing Kirigakure ninja. He intercepted us. Whoever you're talking about, it wasn't us."
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