Chapter 112: Hyūga Forbidden Grounds Robbed
"Lightning Style: Ten Thousand Thunders!!"
In the span of just two breaths, countless dark clouds continuously expanded in the sky, converging above everyone's heads.
Within the vast expanse of dark clouds, countless terrifying, rolling thunderbolts were contained. The deafening roar of the thunderstorm made the faces of the ANBU ninja change drastically.
"What kind of technique is this?! Don't tell me this is Lightning Release!!"
The layman watches the excitement, the expert sees the skill.
Most ANBU ninja only saw the power of this move, but Kakashi, who was most skilled in Lightning Release, saw through the principle of this technique.
He tilted his head up, looking at Menma standing in the sky, lightning coiling around him like a deity.
A look of horror flashed in Kakashi's eyes as he murmured: "This ninjutsu is simply too terrifying..."
"No, it's that masked man who is too terrifying!"
Guiding natural lightning, combining the shape and nature transformation of Lightning Release – this is simply the pinnacle of Lightning Release ninjutsu!!
It seems to require the assistance of natural weather, and also a clear understanding of the lightning's speed and flow, to avoid being struck oneself when using it.
Only then can one utilize Lightning Release ninjutsu to guide the lightning to attack the enemy.
"The difficulty of this technique should be S-rank. But the difficulty lies in how to control the lightning's flow and speed; improper control will affect oneself."
Amidst his horror, Kakashi couldn't help but ponder: "Perhaps, I can also try to develop a similar ninjutsu?"
Although he couldn't achieve the same level of effortless control as the masked man, he could still develop an S-rank ninjutsu with a wider killing range than Raikiri.
"Humans can actually utilize the might of heaven?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had also seen the truth, forcefully suppressed the horror in his heart and loudly commanded: "Don't panic! Use defensive ninjutsu!!"
Snapping back to reality, several ninja proficient in Earth Release stepped forward, beginning to perform their most skilled Earth Release ninjutsu, attempting to block these thunderbolts.
"Earth Style: Earth Formation Wall!"
"Earth Style: Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothingness!"
"Earth Style: Multiple Earth Flow Walls!"
Earth walls spanning tens of meters rose from the ground, enveloping all the ANBU ninja within, blocking the continuously pouring thunder from the sky.
CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE!!!
Ferocious lightning struck the stone walls, lightning bolts spreading throughout the entire area.
Listening to the sharp, piercing roars outside, the ANBU ninja within the stone walls felt their scalps tingle, the atmosphere becoming even more oppressive.
"We have to hold on!!"
The ANBU ninja began to pray in their hearts.
Unfortunately, things went contrary to their wishes.
BOOM!!
The combined ninjutsu performed by over a dozen ANBU ninja only held for a few short seconds before being shattered by the successive thunderbolts.
Immediately after, under the horrified gazes of everyone,
Terrifying lightning roared down from the sky. Accompanied by a thunderous boom, the stone walls exploded with flashes of electricity.
"AH!!!"
Instantly, cries of pain rose one after another.
Countless thunderbolts covered the earth, turning it into an ocean ravaged by electric serpents.
The ANBU ninja within the attack range were all sent flying. Azure lightning flashed continuously, paralyzing their bodies.
When the lightning gradually dissipated, the appearance of the area within a hundred-meter radius was revealed.
The originally dense and tall forest had been blasted into charred black charcoal, emitting thick smoke as it burned. Sand, dust, and ashes drifted all around.
The originally flat ground had also turned into a stretch of scorched earth.
The ANBU ninja lay on the ground, their exteriors charred black, their life status completely unknown.
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen and a few ANBU ninja skilled in defensive ninjutsu remained standing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked gravely at the still-undispersed dark clouds overhead: "Is it still not over? This guy..."
But just then.
Splurt!
Suddenly, a splash of crimson blood shot out, splattering on the charred black ground, appearing so vivid.
"I..."
Feeling the sharp pain in his abdomen, Sarutobi Hiruzen's body stiffened.
Like a robot, he slowly looked down.
A stone blade had pierced through the ground at some unknown time, directly impaling his abdomen.
This was a potentially fatal blow.
"Cough! Cough!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed up blood, the scene before his eyes gradually blurring.
But before he collapsed, his gaze happened to meet a pair of deep blue eyes.
In the lightning-filled night sky, Menma's figure looked incomparably small, yet his aura could only make those below look up in awe.
"Lord Third really is in a sorry state. I forgot to tell you..."
Looking down at Sarutobi Hiruzen below, the corners of Menma's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a mocking smile, yet his eyes held no trace of amusement.
"Perhaps... you should reselect the ANBU Director."
Reselect... the ANBU Director?
Realizing a certain possibility, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes trembled slightly, his expression becoming exceptionally twisted.
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen's ferocious face, Menma said nonchalantly, full of amusement: "Smashed to pieces, right? Piece him together, maybe you can find a whole corpse."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke...
"AH!!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared deadly intently at Menma with eyes full of venomous hatred, his voice howling like a vengeful spirit: "No matter who you are! I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, swear to kill you!!"
The furious howl echoed through the heavens and earth.
But Menma just smiled, saying: "Crimson Moon, Ame-no-Minakanushi. I'll be waiting for you to kill me."
"I hope you live until then."
If Sarutobi Hiruzen's injuries were treated promptly, he would probably recover mostly in a month or two.
But during his recuperation period, it would be Naruto's turn to take the stage.
So Menma sincerely hoped this old geezer could live a little longer.
With that, Menma's figure vanished from the sky, leaving only a faint, lingering electric glow that also quickly faded.
"Ah! Splurt!!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, seeing this, only felt his vision go black, and overcome by a fit of rage, directly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He couldn't even catch his breath and fainted on the spot.
"Lord Third!"
"Medical ninja! Who knows medical ninjutsu!!"
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen faint, the ANBU ninja instantly fell into a panic.
BOOM!!
Meanwhile, Shisui, fighting in the distance, happened to knock Uchiha Itachi to the ground.
Looking at Itachi, who still had strength remaining, then looking down at his own gradually dissipating body, a trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes.
"Damn it, you escaped this time!!"
Shisui abruptly raised his head, staring deadly intently at the wretched Itachi, saying coldly: "The blood and tears of the Uchiha clan have run dry, but the flames of Uchiha's vengeance will surely ignite again!"
"That will be the day of your death!!"
As his voice fell, the Edo Tensei ninja, including Shisui, gradually turned into white fragments and dissipated on the spot.
The exhausted Uchiha Itachi could only watch helplessly as all this happened.
Thump!
"Damn it!"
Even he, always so calm, was on the verge of losing his reason when faced with this scene, angrily smashing his fist into the ground.
He personally dealt with all his clansmen precisely to avoid internal conflict between the village and the Uchiha, which would lead to heavy losses in the village's combat strength.
But now...
"Huff!"
Itachi glanced at the unconscious Sasuke in the distance, then barely managed to pull himself together.
At least he had secured a peaceful life for Sasuke, and also allowed him to possess the power of the Sharingan.
Itachi took one last look at the Konoha ninja in the distance.
After hesitating for a moment, he too vanished from the spot.
In the end, Konoha was left only in a state of devastation.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Hyūga clan grounds.
Hyūga Hiashi stood in the courtyard, looking towards the distance with a complex expression.
"Looks like it's already over."
From beginning to end, no one informed the Hyūga clan to participate in the battle; there were even people secretly monitoring them.
Although it wasn't like how they treated the Uchiha clan during the Nine-Tails Rampage back then – directly entering the clan grounds to obstruct and monitor.
But it was enough to explain some things.
"Have they also become wary of the Hyūga clan?"
Back then, when the Uchiha clan was ostracized, their Hyūga clan was delighted to see it.
They just didn't expect it to be their turn so soon.
"Sigh, the Hyūga clan has already compromised to this extent. Is it still not enough?"
Hiashi lowered his head and sighed lightly, his face full of melancholy.
But just then.
BOOM!!
Suddenly, the earth trembled.
This tremor wasn't distant; it could be judged to be within the Hyūga clan grounds.
"What's going on?"
Hiashi abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as he looked towards the direction of the tremor: "Someone else has broken into the Hyūga clan grounds?!"
That direction... seems to be...
The Forbidden Grounds?
"Damn it!!"
Realizing this, Hiashi's face instantly darkened. He immediately used Body Flicker and rushed towards the Forbidden Grounds.
...
At this moment, outside the Hyūga Forbidden Grounds.
There was a circular crater several meters in radius on the ground. The surrounding rocks and trees were all shattered and broken. A crimson blood mist permeated the air.
The kunai and shuriken on the ground had all turned into a pile of scrap metal.
It looked as if a bloody storm had just passed through.
The Hyūga ninja originally responsible for guarding the Forbidden Grounds were now lying scattered on the ground.
Only three Hyūga ninja remained, supporting each other, looking towards the dark depths of the forest with terrified eyes.
"Damn it! That guy..."
One of them wanted to say something.
But before he could finish, a figure, accompanied by a piercing, sharp whistling wind, rushed out from the depths of the forest towards the three.
BOOM!!
Before the three could react, the figure's white robes danced in the air, their body spinning rapidly with it.
"Haitenkenbu!!" (Heavenly Spin Sword Dance!!)
The blue chakra erupting from the figure swept over all three in a hemispherical shape.
Swish swish swish!!
The sound of howling wind tearing through the air was heard. The three Hyūga ninja were sent flying by this extremely sharp chakra vortex, tumbling some distance on the ground before barely stopping.
Their entire bodies were covered in fine cuts, blood soaking them completely, turning them into blood-soaked figures.
The figure slowly walked out.
Its figure was rather petite, wearing an all-white hooded coat, and a three-eyed cat-face mask engraved with blue and white patterns.
One of the less injured Hyūga ninja suddenly scrambled up, assuming a Gentle Fist opening stance and attacking the figure.
"Gentle Fist Art - Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
This Hyūga ninja attempted a surprise attack, but just as his attack was about to hit,
Chakra, surging like a river, suddenly appeared on the white-clothed masked person's body.
BOOM!!
It clashed with the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, instantly causing an explosion.
The white-clothed masked person stood quietly in place, while the Hyūga ninja retreated several meters.
The backlash just now made his arm tremble madly, blood slowly trickling from it.
"Damn it! Who exactly are you?"
The Hyūga ninja looked at the figure with a shocked and angry expression: "How dare you trespass into the Hyūga Forbidden Grounds?!"
This was the Hyūga Forbidden Grounds! Since joining Konoha, no one had ever dared to trespass!
"Oh, Uncle Chōsen."
The white-clothed masked person's voice was hoarse, making it impossible to discern gender or age, but it sounded very familiar to him.
They said calmly: "If you get out of the way now, I can spare your life."
The Hyūga ninja called Uncle Chōsen heard this, his expression turning even more horrified.
A variation of a technique similar to "Rotation", and this familiar tone...
"You! You're also from the Main Family?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, before the figure could say anything, Hyūga Chōsen shook his head in disbelief.
"No, impossible! How could the Main Family use Rotation like this?!"
Rotation could only be learned by the Main Family, but how could the Main Family modify the way Rotation is used?
"Comparing me to you old geezers is truly impolite."
The white-clothed masked person couldn't help but sneer: "You arrogant, foolish, and unprogressive lot, how would you know the true power of the Hyūga clan."
These Hyūga Main Family members who lacked practical combat experience – he could take on ten of them.
Hyūga Chōsen's heart sank upon hearing this.
"Could it really be the Main Family?"
A Main Family ninja actually attempting to betray the Hyūga clan?
And from the sound of it, a very young junior.
Whether it was the Main Family identity, or this person's age and strength, it was all too incredible!
Hyūga Chōsen looked on and said gravely: "No matter who you are, do you think you can escape the pursuit of the clan and the village?"
"No need for Uncle Chōsen to worry."
The white-clothed masked person said calmly: "You all will soon have your own hands full."
With that, they strode forward again towards Hyūga Chōsen.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate me!"
Chōsen suppressed the fear in his heart, once again gathering chakra and rushing towards the white-clothed masked person.
...
By the time Hyūga Hiashi arrived at the Forbidden Grounds,
The intruder's figure was already gone. Only a scene of devastation remained outside the Forbidden Grounds, along with several figures of unknown life status lying on the ground.
Among them was Hyūga Chōsen.
Hiashi's Byakugan could clearly see that although these people weren't dead, their brain nerves had already been destroyed.
Meaning, even if they used the Yamanaka clan's secret technique, they couldn't probe the memories in these people's brains.
"Damn it!"
Hyūga Hiashi looked at the figures with a grim expression, then walked straight into the Forbidden Grounds.
The Forbidden Grounds were of utmost importance and must not be compromised.
Not only were the Hyūga clan's history and secrets stored there, but also backup scrolls for the Caged Bird Seal!
Although there was a very strong seal on it, no one could say for sure if an accident might happen.
If the Caged Bird Cursed Seal scrolls were stolen, then the lives of all branch family members branded with the Caged Bird would be threatened.
However, after entering the Forbidden Grounds, Hyūga Hiashi looked at the secret room storing the Caged Bird scrolls and let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew! It actually wasn't destroyed?"
What was that intruder's purpose?
Could it just be for the Hyūga clan's ninjutsu and secret techniques?
(End of Chapter)
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