A streak of lightning surged forward, taking the form of a massive black panther as it charged directly toward Naruto.
Lightning Release: Black Panther!
The next instant—
Boom!
BOOM!
The two techniques collided, unleashing a devastating explosion that shook the battlefield. The tremendous force blasted the earth apart, leaving behind a gigantic crater.
Darui's Lightning Release: Black Panther was completely torn apart.
At the same time, the remaining power of Naruto's Wind Release: Pressure Damage erupted like a raging storm. The violent shockwave continued forward without losing momentum, bearing down on Darui.
"What?!"
Darui's expression changed dramatically.
He had never expected Black Panther to be destroyed so effortlessly.
Without hesitation, he quickly formed hand seals.
Water Release: Water Wall!
A towering wall of water rose before him, attempting to block the incoming attack.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
The water barrier shattered instantly, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of Naruto's Wind Release. Darui immediately leaped backward, retreating as fast as he could, barely escaping the devastating blast.
The enormous crater stretched into a deep trench that continued all the way toward Darui's position.
The destructive power of Wind Release: Pressure Damage was terrifying.
Cold sweat slowly rolled down Darui's forehead.
"What is wrong with this kid...?"
"His chakra reserves are unbelievably massive, but that's not all."
"How can his Wind Release be this powerful?"
"This isn't simply because he has more chakra. His mastery over ninjutsu has reached an unbelievable level."
Even the Fourth Raikage's expression darkened.
"Impossible..."
Baki narrowed his eyes in admiration.
"Although Wind Release naturally has an advantage over Lightning Release, that wasn't an ordinary Lightning Release technique."
"That was the Dark Lightning Secret Technique created by the Third Raikage himself."
"And yet Naruto completely destroyed it."
"What an incredible young man..."
Tsunade immediately noticed the Raikage's expression and gave him a mocking smile.
The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth in frustration.
Even Ōnoki, who had remained calm and detached until now, couldn't hide his shock.
"How can Uzumaki Naruto possess this level of power at such a young age?"
"Darui is being completely overwhelmed..."
"And Naruto still hasn't revealed his greatest trump card..."
"The Wind Release Chakra Mode he claims to have created himself."
Darui slowly steadied his breathing.
He finally realized just how dangerous his opponent truly was.
If he continued holding back, he would suffer an overwhelming defeat.
His own pride wasn't particularly important.
Losing personally didn't bother him.
But this battle represented the honor of Kumogakure against Konoha.
He absolutely could not lose.
Taking a deep breath, Darui's usual lazy expression disappeared completely.
"Even if this wasn't what I expected..."
"I have my own reasons for winning."
Outside the battlefield, Dodai quietly muttered,
"So... Darui is finally getting serious."
He glanced toward the Fourth Raikage.
The Raikage's face remained unusually grim.
Dodai's heart sank.
Does Lord Raikage really believe that even a serious Darui isn't enough to defeat Uzumaki Naruto?
Everyone turned their attention back to the arena.
As Darui released his full power, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.
His immense chakra surged across the battlefield.
After all, he was the strongest member of Kumogakure's younger generation.
His title was earned through genuine strength.
Naruto immediately sensed the change.
"This pressure..."
"It's almost on the same level as Kakashi-sensei."
"Well... if we don't count Kakashi-sensei's strongest trump card."
In truth, Naruto had grown tremendously.
Without using Kamui, even Kakashi would struggle against him now.
His greatest chance of victory would be his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Kamui.
Without it, even Kakashi wouldn't have complete confidence in defeating the current Naruto.
Of course, if the two truly fought, the outcome would still be uncertain.
A ninja battle isn't decided solely by chakra reserves or techniques.
Kakashi Hatake's true strength also came from his intelligence, battle experience, calm judgment, iron will, and countless years of combat.
Those were areas where Naruto still had room to grow.
Likewise, Naruto had no intention of underestimating Darui.
Feeling the tremendous pressure coming from his opponent, he immediately revealed his own trump card.
Boom!
A violent storm erupted across the battlefield.
An enormous amount of Wind Release chakra burst from Naruto's body, wrapping him in a constantly rotating suit of emerald-green wind armor.
Every one of his body's countless cells was empowered by the flowing chakra.
In an instant, Naruto's terrifying aura spread throughout the entire battlefield.
Everyone present—the Five Kage, their bodyguards, Mifune, and even the samurai of the Land of Iron—felt their hearts tremble.
"What a terrifying aura..."
"Is that really a child?"
"He carries himself like a true master."
Ōnoki frowned.
"So this is the Wind Release Chakra Mode?"
"It truly rivals the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode..."
"Perhaps it's even stronger."
The Fourth Raikage's expression changed once again.
"So the rumors weren't exaggerated."
"That brat has already perfected his Wind Release Chakra Mode..."
"How is that even possible?"
Even Darui became more serious.
"So this is your greatest trump card?"
"A technique modeled after Lord Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode?"
Naruto snorted.
"Modeled after it?"
"This is a brand-new ninjutsu that I created myself."
"I've never even seen the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
Darui nodded calmly.
"Then allow me..."
"...to test just how powerful your Wind Release Chakra Mode really is."
His chakra exploded outward.
Storm Release: Laser Circus!
This was Darui's ultimate technique.
Storm Release was a Kekkei Genkai created by combining Lightning Release and Water Release.
It fused Lightning Release's incredible destructive power with Water Release's flexibility and precise control.
The result was a devastating laser attack that could freely change direction while maintaining overwhelming power.
Simply put...
It was a laser that could curve, twist, and pursue its target with incredible accuracy.
Its destructive power was frightening.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Darui had used this technique to strike enemies while avoiding allies, even attacking opponents from their blind spots.
Now he unleashed that same deadly technique.
Countless curved laser beams burst forward, attacking Naruto from every direction.
Shizune gasped.
"Naruto! Be careful!"
But Naruto remained completely calm.
Hurricane Style: Wings!
The Wind Release chakra surrounding his body instantly transformed into a pair of enormous wings on his back.
With a powerful flap—
Whoosh!
Naruto shot into the sky.
His speed, angle, and timing were flawless.
Every laser missed him completely.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The countless beams crashed into the place where Naruto had been standing only moments earlier.
The ground exploded apart, leaving behind a wasteland filled with shattered rock and smoking craters.
Darui stared upward in disbelief.
"He can... fly?!"
Ōnoki's pupils contracted as he looked at Naruto hovering high above the battlefield.
"The ability to fly..."
One of Ōnoki's greatest advantages had always been aerial combat.
Now Naruto possessed that same freedom.
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists.
"That damned brat..."
Cold sweat formed across his forehead.
Even Dodai grew increasingly worried.
From high above the battlefield, Naruto now held the advantage.
He could effortlessly dodge Darui's attacks while launching his own from above.
Without wasting a second, he counterattacked.
Hurricane Style: Windbreaker Technique!
Dozens of enormous spinning wind blades descended from the sky like bombs falling from a fleet of aircraft.
Darui immediately responded.
Water Release: Water Wall!
Towering walls of water rose to intercept the attack.
But ordinary Water Release techniques were no longer enough against Naruto while he was using Wind Release Chakra Mode.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)