Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 547 The Sudden Outbreak of Battle

On the vast, desolate desert, a gentle breeze quietly swept across the land, as if an invisible hand was gently caressing this long-silent land. However, this seemingly gentle breeze instantly stirred up a whirlwind of sand, like a group of disturbed dragons roaring and surging upwards.

Looking out, one could see countless Allied Shinobi Forces soldiers standing in the desert, ready for battle. Their expressions were solemn, their hands gripping their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed on the four former Kage resurrected through Edo Tensei not far ahead. A tense atmosphere permeated the air, like a taut string that would snap at the slightest touch, triggering an earth-shattering battle.

At the forefront of the Allied Shinobi Forces, the short but resolute Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and the young and promising Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, stood side by side. Each had chosen their opponent and faced them from a distance. Onoki's weathered eyes revealed unwavering determination and courage; he narrowed them slightly, gazing intently at the once-powerful former Kage before him. Gaara stood quietly, his golden robes billowing in the wind; his usually stern face now appeared remarkably composed, as if he had long been prepared for this fierce battle.

At this moment, both sides were locked in a brief stalemate, but everyone knew that this calm was merely the calm before the storm. Once someone broke the deadlock, the pent-up power would erupt like a volcano, instantly igniting the entire battlefield.

Hyuga Neji stood there quietly, facing the Third Raikage and the Second Mizukage. His handsome face remained expressionless, as if the two peerless powerhouses before him were merely ordinary people. His eyes were clear and deep, like a still pool of water, revealing not a trace of emotion.

Looking at the Third Raikage and the Second Mizukage, both of them had expressions of anger on their faces. The Third Raikage's thick arms trembled slightly with rage, his muscles taut like steel; the Second Mizukage gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared intently at the arrogant young man before him.

However, Hyuga Neji remained oblivious to their anger. His actions and every word he had spoken were carefully considered. He knew that only by thoroughly enraging these two Kage-level shinobi who had once dominated the ninja world could he force them to unleash their full power.

Neji Hyuga knew very well that his choice to challenge these two deceased legends was not out of arrogance or ignorance. On the contrary, he had a clear goal—to unleash his long-dormant potential, break through his current bottleneck, and thus elevate his strength to a higher level by engaging in a thrilling battle with opponents whose strength far exceeded his expectations.

The Third Raikage and the Second Mizukage were truly enraged! They never imagined that these two once-powerful figures, standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world and renowned throughout the land, would be provoked by such a young member of the Hyuga clan—Hyuga Neji. Back then, as renowned Kage-level figures among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, they were revered and supreme beings! Even now, though they are gone, the pride and self-respect deep within their hearts have not faded in the slightest.

Originally, they were reluctant to kill the innocent members of the Allied Shinobi Forces, considering them innocent victims and thus aiding and abetting evil. However, how could they tolerate Hyuga Neji's contemptuous and provocative attitude? After all, top-tier warriors like them possessed an inviolable dignity and honor, regardless of life or death!

Hyuga Neji's sharp, eagle-like gaze was fixed on the two people in front of him, who were now completely enraged. His handsome face remained expressionless, as if the raging anger around him had no effect on him at all.

He slightly raised his chin, a faint smile curving his lips, carrying a hint of contempt and provocation. He spoke slowly and deliberately, in a calm and unhurried tone: "Heh, I've come here today to see just how much strength you two, once renowned Kage of the ninja world, still possess. Don't disappoint me!"

The two Kage, resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation technique, were now consumed by a raging fire, their anger rising like a volcano about to erupt. Although they didn't want to kill the Allied Shinobi Forces, their patience had reached its limit in the face of such blatant provocation! How could these two once-powerful figures tolerate such arrogance from a mere brat?

In an instant, two furious roars resounded through the sky, seemingly shattering the heavens and earth. Their auras suddenly erupted, like two monstrous waves, sweeping towards Hyuga Neji with overwhelming force. For a moment, the wind howled, sand and stones flew, and the entire battlefield was shrouded in this terrifying aura.

One of the shadows formed hand seals and chanted incantations. Suddenly, the ground in front of him became wet, and countless massive streams of water converged, crashing towards Hyuga Neji with immense force. Meanwhile, the other shadow flashed, transforming into a bolt of lightning, charging straight towards Neji. His hand transformed into an incomparably sharp longsword, crackling with lightning power, its chilling aura sending shivers down one's spine.

Despite the overwhelming attack, Hyuga Neji showed no fear. He took a deep breath, quickly regained his composure, and his Byakugan eyes were fixed on his enemy's every move. Just as the water was about to hit him, Neji leaped up, skillfully dodging the attack. However, before he could land, the sword-wielding figure was already upon him. Seeing no way to avoid it, Neji slightly shifted his body, dodging the lightning-infused hand. He then swiftly counterattacked, striking directly at the approaching Third Raikage.

The three figures moved like ghosts, transforming into three jet-black shadows in the blink of an eye. They clashed and intersected with lightning speed, a spectacle too fast for the eyes to follow. Each clash unleashed a deafening roar, as if tearing the heavens and earth apart. As their battle raged on, the surrounding air churned and surged, whipping up clouds of dust. This dust swirled and danced in the air, forming a massive yellow tornado that blotted out the sun, obscuring the view of the battle. Amidst this sandstorm, only the crisp clash of weapons and the occasional roars and shouts of the three warriors could be heard, an incessant cacophony.

The battle erupted suddenly, without warning! A surging, overwhelming force, like a tidal wave, swept towards the Allied Shinobi Forces not far away, seemingly intent on engulfing them completely. Within this massive army, a ninja dressed in Kirigakure attire stared wide-eyed, his face filled with astonishment and shock. Finally, unable to contain his fear and amazement, he exclaimed, "My God! In this arid, scorching desert, where water is scarce, to unleash such a powerful and massive Water Release attack in an instant! Who else but the renowned Second Mizukage could possess such miraculous skill? He is truly terrifyingly powerful!"

Before he could finish speaking, another ninja dressed in Kumogakure attire chimed in. His body trembled slightly, and his voice carried a palpable fear as he said, “Yes! Look over there, the Third Raikage, transformed into a thunderbolt, moves with lightning speed! I tried my best to catch a glimpse of him, but I could only barely detect a faint streak of lightning across the sky. Faced with such almost imperceptible speed, what effective way can we possibly evade him?”

As the two ninjas broke the silence, the others around them snapped out of their daze and began whispering amongst themselves. Some wore expressions of despair, muttering to themselves, "Could this be the true power of the legendary previous Kage? Such terrifying power, how can we, the younger generation, possibly contend with it? The outcome of this battle seems to have been predetermined from the very beginning..." Others bit their lips, their hands unconsciously gripping their weapons. Although their hearts were filled with fear of the enemy's overwhelming strength, their eyes still revealed an unwavering fighting spirit, secretly vowing to fight to the very end, even if it meant their last breath.

On this vast battlefield, the Allied Shinobi Forces ninjas stood solemnly, their eyes fixed on the fierce battle about to unfold. At this moment, all eyes were unanimously drawn to the young Hyuga Neji. However, facing the formidable opponents—the two renowned former Kage, veterans of countless battles—almost no one believed this young ninja could achieve victory.

Despite this, the Allied Shinobi Forces' ninjas showed no sign of backing down. They were acutely aware of the importance and daunting nature of this battle, yet they gripped their weapons firmly, silently adjusting their breathing and mental state, fully prepared for the brutal fighting. An indomitable fighting spirit burned within each of them; regardless of the final outcome, they would give their all to defend the glory and dignity of the Allied Shinobi Forces and maintain peace in the ninja world.

Onoki and Gaara couldn't help but exchange a glance. They hadn't expected the battle to start first. Although they wanted to support Hyuga Neji, seeing the two figures facing off against them, they could only suppress their thoughts.