Although the Third Hokage concealed his involvement in supporting the front lines, upon careful consideration, this is actually understandable. Regardless of his reasons, the presence of the Third Hokage on the battlefield undoubtedly bolsters the morale of the Konoha shinobi. At the very least, the Leaf ninjas won't feel as timid when facing the Fourth Raikage.
Moreover, Chao Yanqian never harbored ambitions of becoming Hokage. He simply wished to establish himself within Konoha and leverage its vast resources to enact his own plans.
No matter how powerful the title of Hokage may be, it would only restrict Chao Yanqian's growth and corrode his strength.
As he approached the battlefield and looked up, he saw shinobi clashing everywhere. In such a chaotic situation, it was clearly unwise to unleash large-scale ninjutsu. Casting a glance toward the center, the battle between the Third Hokage and the Fourth Raikage had already entered a fierce stage. The outcome of this duel would directly influence the direction of the entire war.
Without any hesitation, Chao Yanqian dashed straight into the heart of the battlefield.
Although Chao Yanqian may have had some ideological conflict with the Third Hokage, he didn't wish to see the old man die here. Konoha had already lost Be Feng Shuimen. If they were to lose the Third Hokage as well, the other major shinobi villages might begin eyeing Konoha greedily.
A destabilized Konoha did not suit Chao Yanqian's plans nor did the idea of Shimura Danzo growing more arrogant.
Puff!
With a flick of his wrist, Chao Yanqian slashed open a Cloud ninja's throat with a kunai. His speed was blinding, like a phantom.
Another Kumogakure ninja appeared beside him, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Chao Yanqian head.
[Yin Seal: Release]
Snake-like chakra surged from his body and entangled the attacker. With a flick of his kunai, Chao Yanqian opened a fresh wound on the man's neck blood poured instantly.
Chao Yanqian continued pushing toward the center of the battlefield. Every Kumogakure shinobi who crossed his path was dispatched without hesitation.
With repeated use of the Chakra Enhanced Strength, craters formed where his fists struck the earth. Numerous unfortunate Cloud shinobi were left shattered in those pits. Even those who barely survived lost the ability to move and were swiftly eliminated by fellow Konoha shinobi.
The resounding noise quickly drew the attention of everyone nearby.
A white unicorn marking, purple eye shadow, and serpentine chakra wrapping around his figure his unmistakable presence made the Konoha shinobi realize: the Asakusa had arrived!
At the start of the war, many Konoha shinobi had wondered where had Chao Yanqian gone? However, with the Third Hokage taking the field, Konoha's morale had surged. To fight alongside the Hokage that was the dream of a lifetime for many shinobi.
Now, with Chao Yanqian joining the fray, morale rose even higher.
During the years of the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha's shinobi had watched Chao Yanqian grow steadily. From the boy who once hid behind others to the man now capable of influencing the tide of war, his development was undeniable.
After the events of the past few days, his strength had become widely acknowledged among Konoha's ranks.
As more Konoha shinobi spotted the Asakusa, a deafening cheer erupted across the battlefield. With both the Third Hokage and Chao Yanqian present, they were certain Konoha would defeat the forces of Kumogakure.
Chao Yanqian paused, sweeping his gaze over the battlefield. Countless Konoha shinobi were staring at him, eyes filled with awe, while Kumogakure shinobi hesitated. Clearly, they were weighing whether they had any chance against this formidable enemy or whether they would be struck down in the blink of an eye.
"Everyone! You must be wondering where I was all this time!" Chao Yanqian shouted.
There was a moment of hesitation among the troops. What did Chao Yanqian want to say? Had he been on a secret mission during his absence?
Their questions were quickly answered.
"I went to Kumogakure. It now lies in ruins. After today's battle, it may become nothing but a memory!" he declared boldly. The stunned crowd could barely process this shocking news Chao Yanqian had broken through Kumogakure's defenses and returned in time to fight among the Kage.
[Lightning Release: Furious Thunder Axe of One-Tailed Lightning]
The Fourth Raikage roared as he leaped into the air, gathering a massive surge of Lightning Release chakra into his legs and driving a thunderous kick toward the Third Hokage.
Boom!
Comparable in force to the Chakra Enhanced Strength, the attack seemed to tear the Hokage apart and gouged a crater into the earth.
But as the smoke cleared, it was revealed that the Third Hokage's body had turned to mud and seeped into the ground a clever Earth Style clone.
The real Third Hokage reappeared nearby, swiftly forming hand seals.
[Combined Style Ninjutsu: Flame Bomb]
Combining Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb and Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet, the technique produced flaming mud projectiles that exploded violently, leaving massive craters in their wake.
Even the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee had to dodge,if struck directly, not even their reinforced bodies could escape unscathed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Chao Yanqian hurled six Flying Thunder God kunai around the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee, activating the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Impossible is that Be Feng Shuimen?!" the Fourth Raikage exclaimed upon seeing the specialized kunai. The memory of being outpaced by Be feng Shuimen, the Yellow Flash, resurfaced vividly.
Though their clash had been brief, Be Feng Shuimen had left an unforgettable impression. After news of Be Feng Shuime's death spread, the Fourth Raikage had mourned the loss of such a worthy rival.
Now, seeing the kunai again, he briefly wondered could Be Feng Shuimen still be alive?
But he quickly corrected himself. That Konoha shinobi was called Chao Yanqian, a young upstart who had inherited Be Feng Shuime's signature jutsu.
Glaring at the kunai, the Raikage wondered: Where will he appear?
Whoosh!
Chao Yanqian teleported beside the Fourth Raikage and launched a devastating punch to his chest using [Guilty Fist].
Though he aimed for the Raikage's face, their height difference made him settle for the chest. After all, Chao Yanqian was only sixteen, while the Fourth Raikage stood nearly two meters tall.
[Liger Bomb: Raging Thunder Current]
With a roar and a trace of contempt, the Raikage gathered lightning chakra into his elbow and smashed into Chao Yanqian.
"Come on!!!"
Unflinching, Chao Yanqian did not use the Flying Thunder God Technique to retreat. Instead, he poured more chakra into his body and met the Raikage's strike head-on.
Boom!
The colossal force of their clash shook the entire battlefield. The resulting explosion shattered the ground beneath them.
The explosion's roar echoed like the sky had been split open. A violent shockwave swept out in all directions.
The Third Hokage and Killer Bee had to anchor themselves with chakra and shield their faces from the debris. Even ANBU operatives more than fifty meters away were affected by the blast.
When the dust settled, a massive crater over ten meters wide marked the center of the battlefield. Both Chao Yanqian and the Fourth Raikage were blown away by the force, spinning in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.
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