In an instant, this already shattered battlefield was torn apart once again by several bursts of rampaging chakra, forming several dangerous vortices that swallowed everything.
The fated showdown erupted with a bang; the Five Kage and the cold members of the Akatsuki finally stopped testing each other and collided with all their might!
As the Kazekage, Gaara's gaze locked onto his target like a hawk.
He ultimately gave up on Deidara, who had once captured him, and chose Hidan, who exuded an ominous aura.
This was not forgetting hatred, but a rational decision.
Previous intelligence exchanges revealed that Hidan's "Death Controlling Blood" sorcery was extremely bizarre, practically a forbidden technique.
During battle, if the opponent obtained even a single drop of blood, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Under assessment, Gaara, who controlled the Sand of Absolute Defense and could isolate almost all physical contact, was undoubtedly the best combatant to counter Hidan and the least likely to have his blood taken.
"Sand Burial!"
As his will directed, Gaara floated coldly in mid-air.
The silent frozen earth beneath his feet instantly turned into a roaring sea of sand. Countless sand waves, seemingly alive, rolled and rose, following precise trajectories like a massive swarm of golden pythons, crashing toward the fanatic of Jashin who was brandishing a bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe.
"Ha! Kazekage brat, this sand of yours isn't fast enough!"
Facing the surging sea of sand, Hidan showed no fear; instead, he let out a spine-chilling, "hearty" laugh.
The heavy Triple-Bladed Scythe in his hand sliced through the cold air, tearing through the atmosphere with a sharp, ear-piercing whistle, easily carving a large opening in the thick sand wall that lunged before him, splashing a golden rain of sand everywhere.
He clamored, attempting to use brute force and speed to forcibly break through the layers of sand screens and close in on Gaara's body.
However, Gaara remained motionless.
His sand was like an extension of his limbs, controlled effortlessly by his will.
Endless sand hands emerged from all directions, sometimes capturing and slapping like giant palms, sometimes constructing indestructible defensive ramparts.
Hidan was like one trapped in a golden purgatory of quicksand, firmly confined within a cage of sand.
Every dodge was accompanied by the pursuit of sand currents, and every swing of the scythe was wrapped by even more sand.
Gaara was continuously exhausting Hidan's stamina while using micro-manipulation to precisely control every flying grain of sand, never allowing a single drop of his blood a chance to touch that scythe.
"Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
The moment finally arrived!
Hidan's overly simple and straightforward attack pattern was eventually caught by Gaara, revealing a fatal opening.
The sand currents suddenly constricted like living creatures, instantly swallowing that wild figure completely and wrapping him into a massive sand sphere.
A terrifying pressure field erupted inside the sphere, as sand grains as hard as iron ground down frantically, accompanied by the immediate sound of teeth-aching bone fractures.
Dark red blood immediately seeped out from the gaps in the sand sphere, staining the surrounding ground red.
But Gaara, suspended in the air, did not relax his gaze at all; instead, he became more solemn.
The intelligence clearly told him that relying solely on such an attack could not kill this life cursed by Jashin.
"It hurts! It hurts so much! You bastard!!"
Sure enough, from inside the sand sphere that was enough to grind an ordinary person into powder, a voice filled with pain yet exceptionally clear—even containing a certain morbid excitement—penetrated the sand layer and rang sharply across the battlefield.
Gaara's pupils constricted sharply.
The follower of Jashin... indeed lives up to his reputation!
On the other side, a clap of thunder exploded!
Fourth Raikage Ay erupted with blinding, dazzling azure lightning across his entire body.
Rampaging Lightning Nature chakra, like a materialized suit of armor, tightly wrapped around his knotted muscles, emitting a scalp-numbing "crackling" sound.
The hard mountain rock beneath his feet shattered and caved in, and his entire body turned into a blue comet tearing through the air, carrying a terrifying aura of total destruction.
At a speed exceeding the limits of the naked eye, he boldly charged toward the figure wearing a bizarre mask on the opposite side—the bounty hunter, Kakuzu!
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
The Raikage's roar made the surrounding air tremble.
Before he even arrived, the wind pressure triggered by that pure strength had already forced its way through, making Kakuzu's robes flutter wildly.
Kakuzu's exposed eyes instantly narrowed!
Experience told him that this was absolutely not an ordinary attack that could be taken head-on.
He reacted almost at the same moment the Raikage started his move.
The monster core composed of countless black tentacles hidden under the mask instantly separated!
A hideous monster wearing an Earth Release mask screeched as it broke free from his back.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
The muscles in Kakuzu's arms bulged and instantly hardened, the skin color becoming like pitch-black rock, shimmering with a cold, hard luster.
He crossed his arms, placing these two "stone arms" comparable to refined steel across his chest, constructing the sturdiest line of defense.
But this was only the beginning!
Kakuzu did not pin his hopes on simple defense; almost at the same time his arms hardened, two other mask monsters separated from Earth Grudge Fear, one wrapped in scorching air currents and the other enveloped in whistling gales, were already floating on his left and right sides.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Without any hesitation, raging flames as hot as lava and a compressed hurricane capable of tearing apart giant rocks erupted fiercely from the mouths of the two mask monsters!
The fire borrowed the wind's momentum, and the wind aided the fire's power. The two Chakras of different attributes but complementary natures instantly intertwined and expanded, turning into a crimson storm that burned all things and swallowed everything!
This composite Ninjutsu, carrying devastating heat and a terrifying shockwave, roared like a fire tornado toward the charging blue comet, attempting to swallow it completely in its path of impact!
However, in his state of rage, the Raikage's speed had already surpassed common logic!
At the critical moment when the wall of fire and wind, sufficient to melt steel, was about to close, the blue lightning actually forced its way through that imperceptible gap!
With an unstoppable momentum, the Raikage's figure brutally tore through the flames and the gale!
"BOOM!!!"
A dull explosion that shook the soul erupted!
The Raikage's iron fist, wrapped in rampaging Lightning Nature chakra and carrying the weight of ten thousand tons, slammed solidly onto the intersection of Kakuzu's pitch-black, hardened rock arms!
A terrifying shockwave instantly exploded, and a visible airwave spread in a ring, sweeping up all the rubble and dust on the ground!
The solid rock layer under Kakuzu's feet shattered and collapsed inch by inch like a fragile biscuit, as spiderweb-like cracks spread frantically!
Pure, extreme power poured through the hardened arms and into Kakuzu's body; he clearly heard the sound of his own arms fracturing!
In the next moment, his body was sent flying backward completely out of control by this massive force, like a kite with a broken string!
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood couldn't be suppressed and spilled from under Kakuzu's mask, his eyes behind the mask filled with shock.
"Such terrifying power and speed! This guy's strength is simply not human!"
Raikage Ay succeeded in one strike, but the heaven-burning fury in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest!
He didn't even pause for a second; the lightning around him surged again, and the ear-piercing sound of electric current rang out sharply!
His figure suddenly blurred on the spot, leaving only a residual flash of electricity, as he chased after the flying Kakuzu with the momentum of a thunderbolt, tearing through the air!
At this moment, he had only one rampaging thought in his mind.
To completely crush this enemy who dared to harm his brother, Killer Bee!
Kakuzu stabilized his figure while flying backward, and as he watched the humanoid beast bathed in lightning approach again, a trace of absurd frustration flickered through his heart.
If he had known the Raikage would pour all of this heaven-shaking fury onto him alone, Kakuzu would probably have felt even more aggrieved.
In the previous Eight-Tails surprise attack, he had indeed participated, but the true main force and planner was someone else...
Why did this Kumogakure brute have to target him for venting? It truly was a disaster out of the blue!
However, this frustration only flashed for a moment.
Deep in Kakuzu's eyes, which had experienced long years, there was no fear at all; instead, there burned a trace of a hunter's scrutiny and calculation.
The Raikage's power was indeed peerless and enough to make the vast majority of Shinobi lose their courage.
But...
For someone like him who had long ago discarded so-called "physical limitations" and possessed five hearts and the immortal body of Earth Grudge Fear...
Was this kind of pure physical, violent impact really enough to pose a fatal threat? The answer was clearly no.
Moreover, beneath the Raikage's rampaging aura, what was hidden was not an undamaged body.
Under his combined Ninjutsu of Fire Release: Searing Migraine and Wind Release: Pressure Damage just now, the opponent had definitely been injured as well.
It was just that this injury was temporarily buried by the opponent's fury.
Dealing with such an enemy was clearly not difficult!
On the other side, the battle between Mei Terumī and Hoshigaki Kisame.
On the battlefield shrouded in thick mist, Mei Terumī and Hoshigaki Kisame confronted each other from a distance, the murderous atmosphere almost solidifying into substance.
The shark-faced Shinobi grinned, revealing a row of sharp, pointed teeth, and let out a low laugh.
"We meet again, Mei Terumī... Oh, no, I should call you Mizukage-sama now."
Mei Terumī's beautiful face was now as cold as frost, her emerald pupils sharp as blades, as her stern questioning pierced through the battlefield.
"Hoshigaki Kisame! As a member of the Hidden Mist, why did you betray the Village? And why did you stand by and watch the Fourth Mizukage-sama be reduced to another's puppet?!"
Her voice contained suppressed anger.
"Oh, as for that question..." Kisame casually shouldered the massive Samehada, his tone carrying a few hints of playful indifference.
"I just... wanted to see the 'New World' that fellow described with my own eyes."
The light answer spoke of the root of his complete deviation.
With things having reached this point, any words were redundant.
The sparks of battle erupted in an instant!
Mei Terumī struck first, her red lips parting slightly as her chakra surged.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"
In an instant, a large amount of dark liquid emitting a pungent smell acted like a bursting dam, carrying a terrifying corrosive power as it overwhelmed Kisame from all directions; even the air sizzled wherever it passed.
"Hmph!"
Kisame grinned savagely, his shark-like teeth flashing with a cold light, as his hands rapidly formed seals.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
With a low shout, as if opening the gates of a reservoir, a massive wave erupted with him as the center. Its scale far exceeded ordinary Water Release, instantly forming a surging lake.
The surging wall of water not only easily diluted and washed away the Lava Release acid but also swept Mei Terumī and the area she stood on into this ocean created by Kisame.
However, how could the Fifth Mizukage be suppressed so easily?
Even within the surging water realm, Mei Terumī's gaze remained sharp and fearless.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
Chakra steamed around her, and a dense, scorching white acid mist instantly spread out.
Although this mist was not as large in range as Kisame's Water Release, it contained deadly high temperatures and strong acid.
Wherever the mist reached, the water surface boiled violently, hissing and emitting billowing pungent smoke, as if even the water itself was being evaporated and corroded.
Facing this pervasive acid mist that wounded upon contact, Kisame also put away his slighting expression.
He violently swung the unique giant blade Samehada in his hand; the blade hummed greedily, frantically absorbing the abundant chakra and water vapor around it.
But this mist was formless and immaterial; even Samehada could not fully absorb or neutralize it.
The dangerous aura of heat and corrosion forced Kisame to cautiously retreat and dodge repeatedly, looking for weak points in the mist.
Under the fierce battle, the solemnity in Mei Terumī's heart was also deepening.
The corner of her eye swept over the guard positions that might restrain the enemy, knowing full well that they were still inexperienced and could hardly provide substantial support in a duel of this level.
More importantly, she was incredibly clear in her heart.
The rogue Shinobi before her, who possessed massive chakra and a bizarre Shinobi blade, had unfathomable strength; in a direct clash, she was not Hoshigaki Kisame's match!
A bead of cold sweat quietly slid down her forehead.
"I can only stall him!"
Her attacks became more flexible and varied, using Lava Release and Boil Release alternately. She didn't seek to kill the enemy in one blow, but only to limit Kisame's movements as much as possible and exhaust his strength, tenaciously maneuvering on this flooded battlefield.
She was waiting—waiting for her companions on other battlefields to finish off their opponents as quickly as possible and come to support her.
Kitsuchi's gaze was fixed firmly on Deidara, who was riding a Giant Clay Bird in the air, his eyes churning with extremely complex emotions.
He knew perfectly well that this former genius Shinobi from his own Village was now an enemy standing completely on the opposite side.
This opposition had long since stemmed from more than just Deidara's defection.
Not long ago, Deidara had actually invaded Iwagakure as a member of the "Akatsuki" organization, participating in the capture of the crucial Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki!
This shame and hatred were branded into the heart of every Iwagakure Shinobi like a mark.
Even if it was perhaps because of the other party that his father Ōnoki was not killed by that Hidan using sorcery, so what? Should he be grateful to Deidara just because of this ridiculous mercy?
What a joke!
This thought exploded in his chest like scorching lava, instantly dispelling all hesitation!
"Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!"
Kitsuchi suddenly let out a deep, powerful roar. His palms, containing majestic Earth Nature chakra, struck the ground with a mountain-splitting force!
Rumble!!
In an instant, the solid ground rose violently like a volcanic eruption. A massive earth and stone platform, carrying rubble and dust, soared into the sky with amazing speed and power, piercing toward the heavens. The target was exactly Deidara, who was circling in the air!