Chapter 174: Konoha Is Full of Cowards!
The Mizukage building began collapsing rapidly in an instant.
Aside from the floor where the reception hall was located, personnel on the other levels quickly sensed the danger and evacuated immediately.
Amid the deafening rumble rumble sounds, the entire building turned into ruins.
Thick dust and smoke rolled outward as astonishing chakra pressure blanketed a huge area of the village.
"What the hell is going on? That chakra is terrifying—Oborotsuki is fighting someone?"
Kushina Uzumaki—who was currently guarding the Four-Tails and Five-Tails together with Mayumi—immediately sensed the overwhelming chakra signatures of the Fourth Raikage and Oborotsuki.
She looked worriedly toward the direction of the village center.
Mayumi also furrowed her brows deeply: "The enemy's chakra volume is enormous. Looks like a very troublesome opponent."
"Hey, do you know what's happening?"
Kushina noticed several ANBU squads rushing toward their location and quickly asked.
"Lady Kushina, we've been dispatched here for emergency support to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the chaos."
"Lord Oborotsuki and Lady Terumī Mei are currently fighting the Fourth Raikage from Kumogakure!"
The ANBU squad leader answered immediately.
"Kumogakure…"
Kushina's expression turned grave upon hearing this.
They had only just received news that people from Konoha and Sunagakure had come to cause trouble.
These matters weren't something she and Mayumi were responsible for handling. They had assumed that once Oborotsuki and Terumī Mei returned, the crisis would be resolved.
They never expected Kumogakure to show up too!
And to start fighting the moment they arrived.
"So now three ninja villages are ganging up on us?"
"Do we need to go provide support?"
Mayumi looked toward Kushina.
But Kushina lightly shook her head: "This situation doesn't feel right!"
"We'd better stay at our post."
"I'm worried… this might be the enemy's scheme…"
Kushina warned.
Hearing this, Mayumi's heart stirred. She glanced toward the direction of the battle and nodded: "Now that you mention it… it does make sense…"
"Then we'll stay here and protect these two tailed beasts!"
"Sealing team—everyone stay alert! Absolutely do not let any enemy get near this place!"
Mayumi turned and ordered the entire sealing team.
…
In the village, the Divine Flames released by Oborotsuki's attack continued burning the ground.
The blue flames seemed as though they would never extinguish, leaving scorched black scars across the earth and surrounding ruins.
A deep wariness appeared in the Fourth Raikage's eyes.
He had never seen a technique like this before.
In that moment, he gained an even deeper understanding of Oborotsuki's strength.
But now the arrow was already on the bowstring—there was no turning back.
The Fourth Raikage snorted coldly and transformed into a streak of blue lightning as he launched another assault toward Oborotsuki.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Maki—who had been caught completely off guard by the sudden development—both turned grave.
"This confirms it—Kirigakure really does have problems."
"Even the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure has come…"
Kakashi pinched his chin and analyzed.
Hearing this, sharp light flashed through Maki's eyes: "So Kirigakure really did capture the tailed beasts from each village."
"What exactly is their goal in offending so many ninja villages at once?"
Maki muttered to himself, then suddenly turned toward Kakashi: "What's Konoha's stance right now?"
"Kumogakure has already made the first move. Should we join them?"
His question was very clear.
He was asking whether Konoha would follow suit and join the attack on Kirigakure.
Kakashi remained silent.
The current situation was extremely delicate. If Konoha joined the other ninja villages in attacking Kirigakure, it would mean the outbreak of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
He couldn't make this decision alone.
"I need to report this to Lord Third and request his decision…"
Kakashi said, immediately signaling one of his subordinates with a glance.
That ANBU member understood instantly without a word. He performed the Summoning Technique on the spot and called forth a ninja hawk.
After preparing the intelligence scroll, he sent the hawk back to Konoha's main force.
Now everything depended on what decision the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—would make.
Seeing Kakashi's action, Maki showed a trace of disdain on his grim face. He turned his head toward Terumī Mei.
"If Konoha doesn't have the guts, then forget it."
"Sunagakure will never just swallow this loss!"
"Next—we'll start by capturing the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure. Kakashi—if you join me right now, we'll have more than a ninety percent chance of taking that woman alive!"
Maki made as if to attack. At the last moment, he turned back toward Kakashi and reminded him.
But Kakashi paid him no attention.
"Hmph! Looks like Konoha has even less courage than Sunagakure!"
Maki sneered disdainfully once again, said no more, and launched his attack toward Terumī Mei.
The several subordinates behind him also immediately joined in.
At this moment, Kakashi noticed large numbers of Kumogakure ninja pouring in from outside the village and beginning to coordinate with the Fourth Raikage in the assault.
Seeing this scene, Kakashi knew that today—Kirigakure would inevitably face attacks from multiple other villages.
But he still didn't make a move. His gaze subconsciously turned toward Oborotsuki.
This man's strength filled him with immense wariness.
It wasn't something an ordinary person could oppose.
Sure enough, the moment Kakashi's gaze shifted to Oborotsuki, he saw Oborotsuki send the Fourth Raikage flying once again with a single slash.
Immediately afterward, Oborotsuki's figure flashed. His body moved like instant teleportation—crossing hundreds of meters through the sky in a single second—and reappeared right in front of the Fourth Raikage again.
This afterimage-like, ultra-fast long-distance movement made Kakashi's heart jolt slightly:
"Flying Thunder God…"
The first thing that came to Kakashi's mind was his teacher Minato Namikaze's signature technique—the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Body Flicker Technique could never achieve this kind of long-range instant movement… The only thing I know capable of this is the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
"But how could he possibly know Flying Thunder God?"
Before Kakashi could figure out what was going on, high in the sky, the Fourth Raikage had already been struck squarely by Oborotsuki's blade once more and was sent flying again.
This time, Kakashi saw it very clearly.
The Lightning Release Armor on the Fourth Raikage could no longer provide any effective defense.
Oborotsuki's slash had carved a shocking, horrifying wound across his chest. The Fourth Raikage coughed up blood on the spot, flying backward like a kite with its string cut.
Seeing this scene, Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly. His heart was filled with shock.
"No wonder even Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui together couldn't do anything to this guy…"
"He really is too strong!"
Kakashi thought inwardly, deeply shaken.
-------------------------
Support us on Patreon and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
patreon.com/inkroxx