Orochimaru reacted too — but he was a fraction too late.
Raiden's eyes narrowed.
Time froze.
He vanished.
A blur crossed the ground as he used the Body Flicker Technique. His hands moved in quick, precise signs.
"Water Style: Water Binding."
A rope of water snapped forward and wrapped around Nawaki's waist, yanking him backward before he could even understand what was happening.
Thud.
Nawaki hit the ground, stunned.
And then—
Boom!
Boom!
The explosives detonated where he had been standing.
Raiden didn't stop. His hands moved again.
"Water Style: Water Wall."
A thick wall of water surged up between the team and the explosion. The shockwave slammed into it, spraying water everywhere, but the barrier held.
The smoke slowly cleared.
Nawaki blinked, still dazed, breathing fast as the realization hit him. The others gathered around him, equally stunned. None of them had clearly seen Raiden move.
Orochimaru's face darkened. He stepped forward and smacked Nawaki on the head.
Nawaki didn't protest. His head hung low, fear still lingering in his eyes.
For a brief moment, Orochimaru himself felt cold sweat. If something had happened to Nawaki… he Don't know how would he face Tsunade and jiraiya,
He glanced at Raiden.
That speed… astonishing. Perhaps only Sakumo or his own teacher could react to it.
"Raiden," Orochimaru said quietly, "thank you for saving him. I should've kept him in line."
Raiden shook his head. "I should've checked the bushes more carefully."
Murata snorted. "Not your fault. Who expects Iwa to sacrifice their own teammate just to bait us?"
The others nodded, offering brief words of agreement.
Orochimaru regained his composure. "Enough. Raiden, distance to the enemy?"
Raiden closed his eyes for a moment. "They're here."
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
A group of Iwa ninja landed in front of them.
Two elite jonin led them, followed by two more jonin, and several chunin. The leaders — Harck and Ulis — were well known on this front.
They recognized Orochimaru immediately, and their expressions turned solemn.
The air tightened.
Without warning, Orochimaru formed hand signs.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball roared forward.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The wind amplified the flames, turning them into a blazing torrent.
The two Iwa jonin reacted quickly.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
A thick stone barrier rose, but the flames slammed into it with explosive force.
Boom!
Cracks spread across the wall.
Then—
Chirp… chirp… chirp…
The sound of thousands of birds.
Harck's eyes widened. "Careful—"
Too late.
Raiden had already moved.
Time stopped again.
Chidori crackled violently in his hand, lightning coating his blade-like fingers. With time frozen, his speed felt even sharper, almost unreal.
He appeared at the cracked section of the wall and thrust forward.
Bang!
His hand pierced straight through the weakened earth wall.
On the other side, a jonin barely had time to register the flash of lightning before Raiden's arm drove through his chest.
The lightning surged.
The jonin's body stiffened — then went limp.
Time resumed.
Both sides froze in shock. It had happened in an instant.
Harck and Ulis' expressions hardened.
They only has information about orochimaru but what the hell with this Silver hair… and that lightning technique… teleport-like speed.
Even Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. That jutsu… he had never seen it before,
For a moment he thought its was thunder god tecniqes but thats need mark base teleportation seal not lighting style,
He wanted ask raiden but its not time for it.
The Iwa ninja quickly retreated behind the broken wall while Konoha reformed their formation. Raiden calmly stepped back beside Orochimaru.
Harck and Ulis slammed their fists into the ground.
"Earth Style: Hardening!"
Rock coated their arms.
Boom!
The ground in front of them shattered, forcing Konoha to step back. Immediately, the Iwa team launched volleys of explosive kunai.
Raiden and the other jonin reacted.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
Multiple water barriers rose, absorbing the explosions. Water splashed everywhere, but the defense held.
Then—
"Ah—!"
Several Iwa ninja screamed.
Snakes coiled around their legs, biting into them. Orochimaru's attack had already slipped into their formation, throwing them into chaos.
Harck and Ulis grimaced and quickly formed signs.
"Earth Style: Earth Armour!"
Their bodies became coated in dense rock, leaving only their eyes visible.
Orochimaru drew his sword.
Raiden did the same.
Their eyes met — no words.
They moved.
Swish.
They appeared in front of the two elite jonin, blades slashing.
Clank!
The armour held, but both Iwa jonin staggered slightly.
They countered with heavy punches, air pressure tearing forward,
Boom! Boom!
Raiden and Orochimaru vanished, reappearing above them, striking again.
Cracks formed — but still not enough.
"Give up," Harck said. You can't break our armour.
Orochimaru's sword began to hum, wind chakra gathering.
Raiden's blade crackled with lightning.
The battlefield quieted for a brief moment.
Both sides knew the next clash would decide the momentum.
Raiden look at orochimaru, afterall their mission was to keep balnce not to fight to death otherwise riaden would have already use his time ability to kill them, so he look at orochimaru to understanding his comand as he should really kill them?
Orochimaru look at the iwa ninjas and spoke coldly.
"Do it."