Raimon Denki, who had remained calm through the violent bursts of chakra on the field, finally revealed a hint of surprise.
Even so, this level of intensity couldn't shake him. After all, he regularly trained under Orochimaru and went through mechanized combat regimens. What he had faced there was far more terrifying than anything now.
"It seems I'll have to use my second trump card.
Second Combat Mode—activate!"
A sharp light flickered across Denki's lenses, streams of code flashing rapidly across his glasses.
The second stage was originally prepared for his planned challenge against Boruto. The third stage—his final and desperate state—was an enhanced Cursed Seal mode refined repeatedly by Orochimaru.
Fortunately, Orochimaru hadn't implanted anything strange inside, like soul fragments.
Orochimaru had long since created suitable vessels for himself. His true body remained his most compatible anchor.
Through clones, he could now pursue eternal life with greater efficiency.
"Space-Cutting Technique!"
A simple name, but a deadly jutsu.
For the first time in this match, Denki rapidly formed hand seals himself. Simultaneously, several scientific ninja tools materialized around him.
By using these tools to interfere with localized space—and combining that with his own beginner-level spatial research—he created a lethal spatial formation that encompassed the entire battlefield.
Though Denki's understanding of space was still elementary and required support from analytical tools, scientific catalysts, and his own sensory perception…
…he completed the spatial killing field in an instant.
Uchiha Naiko's expression shifted as she sensed the razor-sharp distortion in the air.
Even Boruto and the others showed subtle changes in their faces.
"Is this guy really trying to kill Uchiha Naiko?" Sarada muttered, displeased.
On the field, Uchiha Naiko's pupils narrowed. Her Three-Tomoe Sharingan revealed the structure of the space around her—there was no way to dodge.
She could only confront it head-on.
"Earth Release: Iron Flow Wall!"
Black-steel walls rose layer by layer, encapsulating her. It was an improved variant of Earth Flow Wall, giving it defense on par with forged steel.
But as soon as the wall touched the spatial distortion, Naiko's expression tightened.
The Iron Flow Wall bent and warped immediately—under the pressure of space itself. Unless one possessed overwhelming force, they would be shredded cleanly.
"Damn it—!
I surrender!"
As soon as she conceded, the spatial contraction halted, then gradually dissipated.
Denki's jutsu delineated a closed boundary, induced spatial distortion, and finally tore the target apart. Much like Kakashi's Kamui, though far weaker. Kakashi needed only a glance to warp space.
Denki's version required ninjutsu, preparation, scientific tools, and several conditions. Its power didn't match Kamui, but its potential was undeniable.
It would all depend on how far Raimon Denki could go in the future.
"This guy… if I ever get a match with him, I'll make him regret it," Sarada muttered, clenching her fists in Naiko's defense.
"Boruto, could you block that?" Hyūga Hatsune asked curiously.
Boruto rubbed his chin, thoughtful.
"Spatial techniques are troublesome, yeah. But there are many ways to break them. That definitely isn't Denki's full power.
To counter that formation, you just need to locate the spatial node—destroy it, and the whole thing collapses."
"Or just overwhelm the spatial restraint with sheer force."
"Denki's spatial affinity isn't that strong. Honestly, it's closer to Barrier Ninjutsu."
He looked over at Hatsune.
"You could break it too, right?"
Hyūga Hatsune sighed.
"It'd be really difficult. Not everyone is a monster like you."
To resist Denki's attack, he'd have to use the secret trump card his father taught him. And Denki still had hidden cards—predicting the match would be impossible.
The referee's voice boomed across the arena:
"Next, let us welcome our next thrilling showdown! Please direct your attention to the big screen—proudly sponsored by the Seven Colors Chamber of Commerce!"
Accompanied by short commercial interludes, the digital screens quickly displayed the competitors' profiles.
This wasn't unusual—this kind of tech existed even during Naruto's youth, though back then, at least, there were no commercials cutting in.
The names lit up:
Metal Lee VS Yotsuki Fū!
Metal Lee, the son of Rock Lee, wore the same iconic green jumpsuit, complete with the classic bowl cut and thick eyebrows. Compared to Rock Lee, Metal looked slightly more refined, yet his transformation from a goofy kid into a straightforward, earnest young man didn't change the fact that—paired with that infamous jumpsuit—he still looked awkward no matter how you viewed him.
Opposite him stood Yotsuki Fū, a young shinobi of the Yotsuki Clan—the Raikage's own clan.
Dark-skinned, sharp-eyed, and physically imposing, Fū radiated a natural arrogance.
As the Raikage's son and a high-ranking member of the Uzumaki Empire, his strength was unquestionable. Not only was his martial arts foundation solid, but he had also mastered his clan's perfected Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Under elite cultivation and vast resources, he had already surpassed the Fourth Raikage's level at the same age.
Metal Lee, meanwhile, walked a path closer to his father's—giving up on Ninjutsu and focusing purely on taijutsu and conditioning. His smaller stature compared to Fū didn't hide the perfectly honed muscles that defined his frame.
"Hahaha! Brat! Our last fight isn't over yet. This time, I'm sending you crashing down!"
Fū's voice carried arrogant confidence.
"Youth will never falter! Future Imperial General—Azure Beast—reporting for duty!"
Metal responded with complete sincerity, fully inheriting Rock Lee and Might Guy's fiery spirit.
As the referee signaled the start, both stepped onto the stage simultaneously.
Threats began immediately—unsurprising, since both knew each other's strength, techniques, and habits intimately from their past clashes.
Yotsuki Fū hadn't trained in Kumogakure.
The Raikage deliberately sent him to study in Konoha, now the center of the Uzumaki Empire and long known as a cradle of genius shinobi. It was a strategic choice—exposure to the brightest talents, access to the best training facilities, and the pressure necessary to temper him to perfection.
Reckless though the Raikage might seem, he was far from a fool.
As the two young powerhouses faced off, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Both were specialists in taijutsu, and nothing stirred the audience's blood more than pure, close-quarters combat.
"Hahaha! He's Rock Lee-sama's son! You can't underestimate that martial arts lineage!"
"What are you talking about? Our Raikage's son is the strongest! Lightning Release Chakra Mode has evolved—his speed and power are unmatched!"
"Outdated thinking! Your hybrid ninjutsu-taijutsu doesn't compare. Everyone knows pure martial arts is the strongest form of taijutsu!"
"Hmph! Narrow-minded! Naruto-sama said it himself—the strongest isn't a technique, but the person using it! A move only reaches its true potential in the hands of someone truly powerful!"
Even though the world was unified under the Empire, online debates were still fiery.
Regional pride remained strong, and people loved cheering for their own prodigies.
(End of Chapter)
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