Chapter 13: Two Brutes
Inside the somewhat dim first floor of the tower, the thunderous lightning illuminated everything in a flash of blue and white.
Puchi, puchi...
The sound of a blade cutting through flesh came in succession as one samurai after another was slain by Sasuke. A large group of armored samurai surged in from all directions, surrounding him.
"Uchiha Sasuke is here! Hurry! We need to take him alive!"
A samurai squad leader shouted. Although over a dozen samurai had already fallen to Sasuke's blade, they had to capture him alive—this was the order given by their leader, Mifune.
Mifune's decision was wise. Sasuke had kidnapped the Raikage's younger brother, Killer Bee. With the Raikage currently on the top floor of the tower, the samurai would have gone all out to kill Sasuke if the Raikage weren't present. But now, things were different. If they captured Sasuke alive, they might be able to extract information about Killer Bee from him.
Logically and emotionally, the samurai of the Land of Iron couldn't kill Sasuke now. Capturing him alive was the best choice—this was a political issue.
However, several dozen samurai couldn't restrain Sasuke, and the order to take him alive resulted in heavy casualties.
Sasuke swung the longsword wrapped in Lightning Release chakra, his expression cold, his three-tomoe Sharingan filled only with rage.
Though Sasuke was young and easily manipulated by others, he wasn't stupid. These samurai called him by name, and before he even revealed himself, they had already gathered. He vaguely heard that they were searching for him.
White Zetsu had disappeared earlier. Given the current situation, Sasuke quickly deduced that White Zetsu had betrayed him. Though he didn't know why, the members of the Akatsuki all had twisted minds.
Betrayed, Sasuke was furious. He didn't show his anger on his face but channeled it into his attacks. Every slash he made at the samurai was lethal.
In the past, though Sasuke seemed rebellious, he rarely killed and often left survivors. But after learning the truth about Itachi, the principles he held began to waver. Combined with today's betrayal, Sasuke started a massacre.
With a sharp slash, Sasuke's Kusanagi blade pierced a samurai's throat. At the same time, he sidestepped a swinging katana, coated his elbow in chakra, and slammed it into the back of another samurai's head.
Bang!
The samurai struck by the elbow flew several meters, face-planting into the ground. After twitching a few times, he went still. Though his head was protected by a metal helmet, his neck was broken.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?"
Suigetsu Hozuki, hidden on a high stone platform, narrowed his eyes. Sasuke had repeatedly told him not to kill recklessly, yet now Sasuke himself was slaughtering without restraint.
"I'll help."
Jugo stood up. Bound by a past promise, he was almost fanatically loyal to Sasuke.
Though Jugo's strength didn't reach Kage level, he was far from weak. Orochimaru had once developed a cursed seal technique that temporarily boosted physical stats and chakra reserves. Jugo was the source of this technique—the original bearer of the cursed seal.
In truth, the cursed seal technique was a crude application of natural energy, sometimes called sage power. When Jugo absorbed natural energy, his body underwent drastic changes: his chakra reserves skyrocketed, his body hardened, and he underwent a form of sage transformation.
Jugo's sage transformation was the most basic kind. If he only partially transformed, there was little burden. But if he fully transformed, he couldn't suppress his bloodlust, becoming violent, murderous, and undergoing a complete personality shift.
The right side of Jugo's body turned fiery red, like a heated branding iron. Soon, the red faded, and his right arm became a gray-black claw. His right cheek was covered in gray markings, and his right pupil turned yellow.
After partially transforming, Jugo leaped off the stone platform and charged into the samurai ranks. A thick arm-blade grew from his right arm. Without any visible exertion, samurai struck by the blade were sent flying, blood spraying everywhere.
Jugo quickly blocked in front of Sasuke, who remained silent.
"This thing seems interesting."
Su Xiao sat cross-legged at the highest point of the first floor—a rocky watchtower built against the wall, at least twenty meters above the ground.
"The special constitution of the Tenchi Clan. It's the crudest use of natural energy."
Obito's tone carried a hint of disdain. He had some understanding of natural energy.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang, beside Su Xiao, barked and looked up at the ceiling.
"They're here."
Su Xiao immediately understood Bubu Wang's meaning and also looked up.
Boom!
A dull impact came from the ceiling, shaking the entire tower.
Large chunks of stone and dust fell from above. Amid the debris, three figures could be vaguely seen.
As the dust gradually cleared, three silhouettes appeared in Sasuke and Jugo's line of sight.
The leader was a burly man in a white robe. He tore off the robe, and a faint blue chakra enveloped him—this was Lightning Release chakra. Two energy horns formed on his shoulders.
The newcomer was the Raikage and his guards. When he learned that Sasuke was inside the tower, the Raikage ignored the ongoing Five Kage Summit, stood up, and left, leaving a grim-faced Mifune behind.
The Land of Iron had shown respect to Kumogakure, but Kumogakure trampled that respect underfoot. The Raikage's departure was like spitting on that respect.
This was the Land of Iron's territory. Even if A was the Raikage, he shouldn't be conducting a large-scale search inside the tower. But the Raikage did it anyway, and thoroughly at that.
As the Raikage appeared, the samurai around Sasuke began to retreat. They had received orders: unless the Raikage died in the Land of Iron, they would no longer help him.
This ungrateful attitude was Kumogakure's typical style, as evident from the Raikage calling the Five Kage Summit just to assign blame.
"Kid, let me teach you the terror of the Raikage's wrath!"
The Raikage roared, the Lightning Release Armor on his body becoming more active, arcs of electricity surging around him.
Undoubtedly, the Raikage in this state was terrifying. The Lightning Release Armor radiated outward, sending debris flying.
"A brute."
Su Xiao watched the Raikage. If there was one among the Five Kage who was easiest to deal with, it was the Raikage. Even if his strength ranked in the top three among the Five Kage, his short temper and arrogance made him easy to manipulate. Even when he needed help from others, he still put on a high-and-mighty attitude.
Sasuke held his lightning-wreathed blade, glanced at the Raikage, and charged forward without hesitation, as if the Raikage's guards, Darui and C, were mere decorations.
"Another brute."
As Su Xiao spoke, a large amount of water spread across the first floor.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
"Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave."
Zzzzap~
Lightning spread through the surging water. Before he could reach the Raikage, Sasuke let out a pained grunt, backflipped, and retreated to Jugo's side. Darui had acted, while the Raikage stood still, unmoving.
"This might... be an opportunity."
After a moment of thought, Su Xiao flicked his fingers forward. Amu, beside him, stood up.