Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 315: Battle of the Kages

As the First Raikage A and the First Tsuchikage Ishikawa collided, a high-density wind current surged toward Hagoromo Gengetsu as the First Kazekage Retō clapped his hands, releasing the technique, Wind Release: Pressure Damage.

Accompanying the wind, a massive amount of sand and gravel was lifted from the ground, turning into a barrage of deadly projectiles aimed at Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Observing the attack, Hagoromo Gengetsu clapped his hands as well and executed the same technique, Wind Release: Pressure Damage.

A powerful wind current formed from his hands, clashing with Retō's technique in mid-air. Within moments, Retō's technique was dispersed, and the sand and gravel, now redirected, shot back at Retō with a swift whistling sound.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Hagoromo Gengetsu split open, revealing multiple vines that surged forth, attempting to entangle his legs.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, seeing the situation, avoided using more wind techniques and instead flashed away from his original position.

The Fourth Raikage A mirrored his movement, flashing behind Hagoromo Gengetsu and raising his thick arm to strike. At the same time, the First Raikage A, now recovered and once again enveloped in his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, also raised his arm.

With a thunderous explosion, the two Raikages, moving at lightning speed, rushed at Hagoromo Gengetsu from both sides, executing the secret technique Lightning Release: Double Lariat.

Created by the Second Raikage, this technique had been mastered by the reanimated First Raikage A in a short amount of time. When combined with the Fourth Raikage, the resulting power far surpassed the legendary AB combination.

It wasn't just the two Raikages who were attacking. On both sides of Hagoromo Gengetsu, countless trees shot up from the ground, blocking any lateral escape routes. Simultaneously, the previously solid ground beneath his feet turned into a quagmire, causing him to momentarily lose his footing.

Without needing to speak, the experienced Kages coordinated their attacks with precision.

As the two Raikages closed in, Hagoromo Gengetsu's Rinnegan narrowed slightly. He refrained from using Shinra Tensei to repel everything around him.

Both the First Tsuchikage Ishikawa and the Second Kazekage Shamon were lurking underground, waiting for the right moment to strike. Meanwhile, Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze seemed to be making their moves.

And let's not forget Hashirama Senju, who had already entered Sage Mode with his hands clapped together.

"Are they waiting for me to use Shinra Tensei before making their move?" Hagoromo Gengetsu pondered, his eyes sharpening.

As the two Raikages were about to reach him, four basketball-sized orbs of Scorch Release suddenly materialized, targeting the heads and arms of the approaching Kages with precision.

Both Raikages' expressions changed. While they were not afraid of death, they knew that if their heads or arms were hit by the Scorch Release, their assault would be interrupted.

In an instant, the Raikages exploded with more Lightning Release Chakra, quickly dodging the Scorch Release orbs. They then aimed their muscular arms at Hagoromo Gengetsu's neck, intending to continue their attack.

Snap! Snap!

The Raikages suddenly found themselves immobilized. Turning to look, they saw their outstretched arms each gripped by a pale, slender hand.

In the brief moment they had dodged the Scorch Release, Hagoromo Gengetsu, with his faster reaction speed, had already intercepted their attack.

Without giving them a chance to react, Hagoromo Gengetsu twisted his waist and forcefully flung both Raikages to the sides like cannonballs.

Having dealt with the Raikages, Hagoromo Gengetsu immediately crouched and slammed his hands into the ground.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

A bone-chilling cold spread out in all directions. The ground beneath Hagoromo Gengetsu's feet quickly turned into a field of ice crystals.

The ten-odd offensive puppets of the Second Kazekage Shamon, which had just emerged, were instantly frozen solid.

But it didn't end there. The freezing cold spread rapidly underground, freezing both the soil and Shamon's hidden puppet army, as well as Shamon himself. Only the First Tsuchikage, who was more adept at Earth Release and faster, managed to escape the icy grasp.

Just as Hagoromo Gengetsu was about to press the attack, the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi opened her lips and quickly unleashed her technique:

Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!

A dense mist, formed from chakra, poured from Mei Terumi's mouth, enveloping Hagoromo Gengetsu in a sea of fog in the blink of an eye.

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced around with his Rinnegan, but found that he could not see through the thick mist.

"The Five Kage of this era still have their unique strengths," Hagoromo Gengetsu remarked calmly.

If it were any other ninja, their Hiding in Mist Technique would never have achieved the same effect as the Fifth Mizukage's.

Just as Hagoromo Gengetsu was about to summon a strong wind to disperse the fog, he suddenly frowned and stepped back. A thick vine burst from the ground where he had just been standing.

This was only the beginning. No matter where Hagoromo Gengetsu moved, the large-scale Wood Release, enhanced by Sage Chakra from Hashirama Senju, continued to follow him, giving him no time to catch his breath.

Outside the mist, Mei Terumi, not hesitating to expend her chakra, kept reinforcing the Hiding in Mist Technique.

Beside her, Hashirama Senju, with the assistance of the Hyūga clan's Byakugan, continued to track Hagoromo Gengetsu's movements, using his hands to summon more Wood Release techniques.

Numerous Hyūga clan members were also present, helping Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze to pinpoint Hagoromo Gengetsu's location within the mist. The two exchanged a glance, and in a flash, they disappeared.

Inside the fog, Hagoromo Gengetsu continued to leap around, dodging the dragon-like vines that pursued him. Suddenly, a ripple in space-time appeared behind him.

A familiar blue Rasengan was spinning rapidly, aimed straight at Hagoromo Gengetsu's back.

Without turning around, Hagoromo Gengetsu allowed the Rasengan to hit him, only for it to rapidly shrink and disappear upon contact.

Minato Namikaze, observing this, remained calm, his hand continuing its motion forward, intending to leave a Flying Thunder God mark on Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu's right hand flipped back, and a black rod shot out, piercing Minato's head with a thud.

With a pop, Minato Namikaze disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"A shadow clone, huh," Hagoromo Gengetsu muttered, realizing what had happened. He then exhaled a cloud of Boil Release mist, instantly evaporating the incoming Wood Release. The mist spread around him, ensuring that no more reanimated enemies could continue probing him with their shadow clones.