Lin Yu, with an "accidental" stumble, had his ankle caught by Wen Tai and was flung into the air. On the ground below, Turoda and his two companions wore grim, triumphant expressions, as if Lin Yu had already been defeated.
"There's no time to lose," Turoda shouted at Is and Wen Tai. "While he's in the air with no way to brace himself, unleash your ninjutsu and finish him!"
Is and Wen Tai nodded simultaneously. The three exchanged glances and spoke in unison:
"Raiton: Raidō Raijin!"
Three arcs of crackling lightning shot upward from their bodies, forming a semi-circular electric sphere. Directly below it was Lin Yu.
"Raiton: Raidō Raijin? Doesn't that require four people?" Lin Yu knew a bit about this Raiton ninjutsu. After all, it had nearly destroyed Konoha, and its power was said to be immense.
Turoda heard Lin Yu's murmur. With Lin Yu as good as dead, he saw no harm in explaining. "The complete version of Raidō Raijin certainly needs four people, and it's not something us Jonin can even perform. The chakra required is at least Kage-level."
"This is our Cloud ninja's modified version of Raidō Raijin. The number of users is not restricted; the power is determined by the amount of chakra. Although it can't compare to the true Raidō Raijin, with the minimal chakra we three have expended, even a Kage-level expert would be worn down and killed by us!"
"Hahaha, brat, don't blame me when you get to hell. I'll at least leave you a grave," Is cackled.
Wen Tai remained silent, not out of unwillingness, but because he was enduring the aftereffects of his self-created taijutsu.
"So it's a simplified version. Are you sure this ninjutsu can kill me?" Lin Yu feigned understanding, then asked with doubt.
"Heh, you'll find out soon enough," Turoda said, his caution gone. Lin Yu had already entered the range of the lightning attack and couldn't escape.
Lin Yu looked up at the surrounding lightning. Instantly, a powerful current surged into his body, ravaging him. The sheer destructive force caused Lin Yu discomfort, and this was merely the current from the stray arcs. If he were enveloped by the full force of the lightning, he felt he would be incinerated.
The lightning gradually enveloped Lin Yu. After a series of intense crackling sounds, a pained cry echoed from within:
"Ah! Stop! I'm about to be fried alive!"
"Please, sirs, have mercy on this humble one."
"Hahaha, begging for mercy now? Too late!" Is grew more excited with each cry from Lin Yu.
"Ah! Damn it! I didn't think I would..." Lin Yu's voice was slowly drowned out by the thunder, as if he had been reduced to ashes.
"Phew, finally dealt with that kid. Boss, when do we stop? My chakra is almost depleted," Is said, his excitement laced with exhaustion.
"Wait a bit longer." Turoda, seeing Lin Yu's voice disappear, subconsciously let out a sigh of relief. However, to be absolutely sure, he decided to hold on a little longer.
Wen Tai stared at the lightning-shrouded area, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. Recalling Lin Yu's earlier words, it hadn't sounded like genuine fear, but rather like... taunting?
"Bad!"
Wen Tai's pupils contracted. "Boss," he warned Turoda, "He's not dead yet! Quickly! Increase the chakra output!"
"Oh? You noticed? Then I won't play with you any longer."
A golden light instantly tore through the lightning. The chakra arcs transmitted by the three were severed.
*Boom!*
The golden light landed on the ground and slowly coalesced into a skeletal semi-body, with Lin Yu's figure perfectly encased within the skull, not even a thread of his clothing damaged.
It was obvious he had been faking.
The ultimate dojutsu of the Mangekyo Sharingan, the defensive power of Susanoo, could it be broken by such a half-baked Raidō Raijin? The skeletal Susanoo, even in its second form, couldn't penetrate it. Lin Yu couldn't be bothered to manifest the armored samurai form; he wouldn't waste his dojutsu.
"What... what is this? It can resist the attack of Raidō Raijin!"
Turoda knelt on the ground, his chakra severely depleted. But his entire focus was on the golden skeleton. He had never seen such a ninjutsu, it was unbelievable.
The same disbelief filled Wen Tai's eyes. He lowered his head and sighed. He already knew the outcome of his own life and death.
Only Is's eyes were filled with malice and disbelief. "Impossible! This is all an illusion! How could this brat break through our ninjutsu! Boss, Wen Tai, this is all an illusion, wake up!"
Lin Yu raised his hand slightly. The golden skeletal Susanoo mirrored the gesture, its arm reaching out and plucking Is from the ground like a chick, bringing him before Lin Yu.
Lin Yu sneered at Is. "Now, do you still think it's an illusion?"
"No! Impossible, how can you be so powerful? I don't believe it, I don't believe it!" Is roared madly, his sanity shattered.
"Tsk, a clown!" Lin Yu controlled Susanoo to flick its wrist. Is was sent flying, crashing into the ground, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Kill us or torture us as you please! Just don't insult us!" Turoda said indignantly. He couldn't accept that the three of them, Jonin, were defeated by a ten-year-old boy.
"Insult you? Weren't you the ones who came to Konoha as thieves? How is it that I, the victim, am the bad guy? Do you think I'll respect you as a man? Oh no, I just find people like you disgusting!" Lin Yu stated calmly.
"Aren't you afraid that our Cloud Village will go to war with your Konoha?" Turoda gritted his teeth. He didn't want to die and still tried to struggle.
"Afraid! Of course, I'm afraid. But that has nothing to do with me. You should say that to the Third Hokage. What does a ten-year-old brat like me understand? Although, it seems you won't be seeing the Third Hokage anymore," Lin Yu said mockingly.
"No, you can't do this! I want to see your Hokage! You have no right to judge us Cloud ninja!" Turoda, as if clutching a life raft, yelled at Lin Yu like a rabid dog.
"Why haven't Konoha's pursuers arrived yet! I want to see the Hokage! I can provide intelligence on the Cloud Village!" Turoda shouted into the surrounding trees, but there wasn't even a bird's chirp.
Lin Yu's Kagura Shingan was active, and everything within a ten-kilometer radius was under his control. How could he give the Cloud ninja any opportunity?
Anyone who had seen his Susanoo had to die! At least until he mastered Eternal Mangekyo, they would either become his people or be sent to the afterlife!
Clearly, the three before him were the latter. A cold glint flashed in Lin Yu's eyes. His golden Susanoo extended a large hand and whispered, "Die!"
...
On another battlefield, Konoha pursuers, drawn by the Nine-Tails' chakra, arrived just in time, but there was no room for them to play their part. Oh, well, they could at least act as movers.
Orochimaru stood in a desolate, ravaged open space. Surrounding him were Sand ninja with eyes glowing red. Though exhausted, they still snarled, wanting to grab shuriken and attack.
Kushina stood behind Orochimaru like a good child, subtly counting on her fingers, as if to say it was all their own doing and had nothing to do with her!