Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 551 Astounding Strength (Part 2)

"Boom!" With a deafening roar, the Third Raikage, like a bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, hurtled toward Hyuga Neji at an astonishing speed. His powerful body left a trail of dazzling lightning in the air, while the three fingers on his hand crackled with violent electricity, as if to tear apart any obstacle in his path.

This sudden thrust was like a whirlwind, carrying an overwhelming and unstoppable momentum, reaching Hyuga Neji in the blink of an eye. Faced with such a fierce and swift attack, Hyuga Neji remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. He narrowed his eyes slightly, instantly gathering the energy within his body into his palm.

Just as the Third Raikage's three fingers, crackling with violent lightning, were about to pierce his chest, Hyuga Neji raised his arm without hesitation, his movement as swift as lightning. His clenched fist precisely grabbed the Third Raikage's three fingers, like an iron clamp clamping its prey, refusing to let go.

Upon seeing this, the Third Raikage was startled, but his strength only increased. He frantically channeled the surging lightning chakra within him, attempting to break free from Hyuga Neji's grasp. However, Hyuga Neji's hand was like an impregnable fortress, and no matter how hard the Third Raikage exerted himself, he could not budge it an inch.

At this moment, two powerful forces clashed fiercely at their point of contact. The Third Raikage's raging lightning-style chakra collided with the energy Hyuga Neji had gathered in his palm, producing a series of ear-piercing roars. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and the enormous impact between the two forces created a powerful shockwave that swept outwards in all directions.

Not far away, a group of Allied Shinobi Forces were watching this breathtaking battle with bated breath. Among them was an older ninja from Kumogakure, whose weathered face now wore an expression of indescribable shock. His mouth was slightly agape as he involuntarily muttered to himself, his voice low but filled with disbelief: "How...how is this possible? That was our Third Raikage's strongest spear! That someone could actually withstand it so openly and directly! This is simply unbelievable!"

This old ninja knew very well that he had personally witnessed the glorious era of the Third Raikage. He was intimately familiar with the power of the Third Raikage's "Lightning Release: Hell Thrust," a formidable ninjutsu. Back then, even when facing the raging Eight-Tails, the Third Raikage showed no fear, resolutely unleashing this technique. In an instant, lightning flashed, and the Third Raikage charged straight at the Eight-Tails with overwhelming force, his lightning spear instantly severing all of the Eight-Tails' tails. Accompanied by the Eight-Tails' agonizing roar, it was finally subdued by the Third Raikage.

However, now, a ninja who could face the Third Raikage's strongest spear unscathed has appeared before him. How could this old Cloud Ninja not be extremely shocked?

In that instant, a scene that left him speechless and incredulous unfolded before him! With lightning speed, Hyuga Neji firmly grasped the Third Raikage's powerfully attacking hand. However, this was only the beginning; the truly astonishing part was yet to come!

Almost simultaneously, Hyuga Neji's other hand swiftly formed a sharp sword-finger shape, then, like lightning, it thrust straight towards the Third Raikage's chest! In an instant, a muffled "thud" was heard, and the Third Raikage's seemingly indestructible Lightning Release armor was easily pierced! Moreover, this terrifying power showed no signs of weakening, penetrating straight through the Third Raikage's chest!

Then, something even more astonishing happened—with an extremely violent burst of power, the Third Raikage's right chest was instantly blasted to pieces! He was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing heavily to the ground. The immense impact caused the ground to tremble violently, carving a deep, bottomless trench into the earth!

It's important to understand that the Third Raikage of Kumogakure was a figure of immense power and prestige, renowned throughout the ninja world! His greatest strength lay in his unparalleled abilities, known as the "Strongest Spear" and the "Strongest Shield." The "Strongest Spear" was none other than the astonishing "Lightning Release: Hell Thrust" he had just unleashed; as for the "Strongest Shield," it was the indestructible body forged by his Lightning Release Armor. In the past, this body had withstood the devastating impact of a Tailed Beast Ball capable of destroying the heavens and earth! Its defensive power was simply beyond imagination! Yet now, it was so easily defeated by Hyuga Neji's attack…

Just as Hyuga Neji was fully focused, preparing to launch a fierce offensive, something unexpected happened! The Second Mizukage, who had been hidden in the shadows, appeared like a ghost in Hyuga Neji's path. Before Hyuga Neji could react, the Second Mizukage launched his attack without hesitation. In an instant, with a "whoosh," two thick and swift jets of water shot out from his fingertips like lightning. These jets of water were powerful and incredibly fast, seemingly capable of tearing everything in their path apart.

Faced with such a sudden and powerful attack, Hyuga Neji was startled, but his years of combat experience and agile movements allowed him to react at the last second. He swiftly shifted to the side, narrowly avoiding the Second Mizukage's water spear attack, which was as sharp as a viper's hiss. Although he successfully escaped, the powerful impact still caused a violent ripple in the surrounding air.

The Second Mizukage's figure moved erratically like a ghost, his hands never ceasing their relentless attacks on Hyuga Neji. Thick streams of water shot from his long fingers, like ferocious dragons, hurtling towards Hyuga Neji.

However, facing this dense and rapid water gun attack, Hyuga Neji displayed extraordinary agility. His figure flashed like lightning, each movement perfectly dodging the water guns fired by the Second Mizukage. At the same time, he approached the Second Mizukage at an astonishing speed, arriving in front of him in the blink of an eye.

Immediately afterward, Hyuga Neji launched a surprise attack without hesitation. He used all his strength, striking the Second Mizukage's body with a barrage of punches and palm strikes. But the moment he hit his opponent, an ominous premonition surged into his heart, and his expression suddenly changed.

Almost instinctively, Hyuga Neji jerked backward, trying to get as far away from the Second Mizukage as possible. But his reaction was a step too slow; before he could fully create distance between himself and the Second Mizukage, he saw the latter's body suddenly begin to expand rapidly.

"Not good!" Hyuga Neji thought to himself, realizing the situation was dire. Sure enough, the next moment, a deafening roar resounded, and the Second Mizukage's body exploded. The impact of the explosion was terrifying, seemingly capable of engulfing everything around it. Its power far exceeded the damage caused by the previous bubble explosions.

In that instant, a sudden explosion resounded through the sky, as if tearing the entire space apart. Yet, Neji Hyuga, caught in the blast, displayed extraordinary reaction speed and coping abilities.

He uttered a low shout: "Bagua Palm - Reversal of Heaven!" This roar, like a thunderclap, shook the surrounding air. At the same time, his hands suddenly opened wide, and a powerful energy surged forth from his body like a raging torrent.

Immediately afterwards, his entire body began to spin rapidly at an astonishing speed. As his body spun at high speed, the overflowing energy gradually gathered together, eventually forming a huge spherical shield that completely enveloped his entire body.

At that moment, the violent shockwave from the explosion not far from his body was hurtling towards him with overwhelming force. However, when this terrifying power came into contact with the spherical shield surrounding Hyuga Neji, it was like hitting an indestructible wall, instantly bounced back.

With a deafening roar, the explosion sent plumes of smoke and dust billowing around them, but Hyuga Neji's spinning body did not falter in the slightest. Finally, as the aftershocks of the explosion gradually dissipated, he came to a steady stop, standing proudly upright once more.

At this moment, his eyes were like two cold, sharp glints, fixed on the seemingly empty space in front of him. Despite having just experienced such a close and violent explosion, surprisingly, the terrible explosion not only failed to cause Hyuga Neji the slightest harm, but even the hem of his clothes remained completely undamaged.

Immediately afterward, Hyuga Neji's figure flashed like lightning, instantly heading towards the seemingly empty space. At the same time, his tightly clenched hand shone with a dazzling light, and an incredibly powerful energy surged from his palm, as if about to burst forth. This powerful energy fluctuation caused the surrounding air to vibrate violently, forming visible ripples that spread outwards.

The once empty space suddenly began to tremble violently, as if an invisible force was raging through the area. Immediately afterwards, visible ripples spread rapidly outwards, and wherever they reached, the space itself cracked like shattered glass, revealing countless tiny fissures.