Naruto: Systematic Shinobi Chapter 326: Hokage Vs Raikage - 1

To my valued readers, a brief update on the publishing schedule. The current story will be on hiatus for a few months as more chapters are written. Updates will resume after the next chapter is posted, though early access and immediate updates are available on my subscribestar. I prefer to upload in batches here to manage the workload.

Furthermore, due to popular demand, I have begun uploading 'Systematic Shinobi: Multiverse Mayhem' on this platform as well. Your early engagement with comments, follows, views, and reviews on new stories is greatly appreciated.

Additionally, 'Jordinio Version' will be actively updated. My intention is to release my main stories sequentially rather than simultaneously, as daily uploads require a significant time commitment.

With that in mind, please enjoy the latest chapter.

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A chilling tableau of horror unfolded before A and Mabui as they witnessed the swift, brutal demise of A’s right-hand man, one of Kumo’s five most formidable shinobi.

"So, that’s how it functions," Daiki mused, processing the torrent of information extracted from the fallen warrior’s mind.

He appeared unfazed by the suddenness of his arrival. With astonishing speed, he materialized behind Mabui, her reaction too slow to intercept him as an arm encircled her throat. Displaying remarkable presence of mind, she drew a kunai, attempting to drive it into his abdomen. However, Daiki swiftly struck a pressure point on her wrist, rendering her arm useless before she could fully execute her attack. "Easy now, no need for theatrics," Daiki chuckled, giving her cheek a derisive pat. "Just remain quiescent, like a well-behaved secretary."

"You...!" A’s voice faltered, his mouth opening and closing, a guttural sound of fury mixed with profound bewilderment escaping him. "How... how did you manage...?" His words trailed off as he gazed upon the lifeless form of his trusted subordinate.

"As I cautioned, you erred in granting me surveillance over Kumo," Daiki taunted. "Anywhere I can perceive, I can traverse with my space-time ninjutsu. You were exceedingly foolish, A, falling directly into my trap. Truly, you are but a simpleton, aren’t you? A mere initial was sufficient to provoke you into stomping your feet, roaring, and beating your chest like a primate. Your predictability is astounding."

Consequently, he now possessed unrestricted access to Kumo, capable of entering and departing at will, with no one able to impede him.

"You... you mean this was your plan all along?!" A bellowed, his lightning chakra mode igniting, causing him to shake his head. "No matter. You, the Hokage, are finished! How dare you inflict such a fate upon Darui! Release Mabui this instant and face me honorably!"

"Perhaps... I shall decline that offer," Daiki retorted with a laugh. "Did I not forewarn you? Retribution would be served. As a preliminary measure, I find Mabui here possesses a rather intriguing bloodline, does she not? I believe I shall keep her. She can serve as recompense for your attempted coercion of the Hyuga Heiress." He then tilted his head, deliberately licking the side of Mabui’s face, causing her to freeze in terror.

"Raikage-sama!" she implored, her voice trembling with fear.

"HOKAGE!" A roared, launching himself forward with superhuman speed, covering the intervening distance in an infinitesimal fraction of a second.

Yet, even this incredible velocity proved insufficient. The very air around Mabui shimmered, and she vanished entirely. Daiki, however, intercepted A's fist. "Now, let us revisit the subject of my superiority and my willingness to confront you directly."

"You will rue this day!" A bellowed, unleashing a powerful upward knee strike aimed at Daiki’s chin.

A concussive wave emanated from Daiki’s palm, repelling A’s devastating blow and momentarily disrupting his balance. Seizing the opportunity, Daiki surged forward.

He executed a swift sweep kick aimed at A’s front ankle. A managed to lift his foot over the attack, but it further compromised his precarious stability.

The widening of A’s eyes confirmed his dawning realization as Daiki, spinning with the momentum of his sliding kick, thrust his palm forward, colliding with A’s abdomen—

—And pushing him backward?

A came to a standstill, a look of bewilderment on his face, as he was certain he should have landed a decisive blow with that opening.

Daiki, however, was far more captivated by the object now dangling from his grasp: the ornate golden belt that had previously encircled A’s waist. "You know, I must commend you; this accessory is quite stylish. I approve," he hummed. "Though the beastly tusked visage adorning it is rather ostentatious. Allow me to make a slight alteration."

A could only watch in stunned disbelief as Daiki pressed his palm against the golden metal, his fingertips glowing with azure chakra as he imprinted the belt with a flat Konoha-shaped seal, altering its appearance.

The emblem now displayed a Konoha seal, starkly contrasting with its previous design.

"...To what lengths will you go to mock me?!" A roared, the lightning crackling around him intensifying, its fierce energy beginning to scorch the surrounding earth.

"A bit more than this, I reckon," Daiki taunted, unzipping his green flak vest to reveal his muscular torso and winding the golden belt around his waist. "For instance, let’s try this out! Hah!" With a shout, he unleashed the information extracted from Darui’s mind.

An aura of green and black lightning erupted around his body.

"Now this... this is potent," Daiki chuckled, feeling the surge of power. "Kumo’s Black Lightning is indeed remarkable. Why did you never attempt this?"

His lightning chakra mode’s potency had tripled with this enhancement!

A stared in utter disbelief. "How... that... that’s my clan’s Lightning Chakra mode! And our Black Lightning!"

"And that was your right-hand man," Daiki gestured to Darui’s corpse, slumped awkwardly against the wall, upside down. He definitely hadn't positioned him like that on purpose. He then pointed to his waist. "And this was your belt."

Spreading his arms wide, a mocking smirk playing on his lips, the black and green lightning crackling silently around him, he taunted, "Now, what are you going to do about it, monkey?"

Once more, A roared—

Then, both vanished in blurs of speed that surpassed light.

Daiki sidestepped A’s fist, weaving away and retaliating with a punch to his side. He hopped back, narrowly avoiding A’s counter-chop aimed at the nape of his neck.

A lunged with a blindingly fast roundhouse kick towards his head, which Daiki blocked with his forearm. He then lunged forward himself, driving an elbow into A’s stomach.

A grunted, but ignored the pain from a strike that would have pulverized the insides of even a Jonin, showing true grit. Grabbing Daiki’s arm, he heaved him into the air—

Only for Daiki’s foot to connect with his chin, forcing him to release his grip and snapping his head back.

"Let’s take this outside," Daiki grinned, mid-air as he spun and grabbed A’s head, before launching him.

A slammed into the opposite wall, crashing straight through it, and the one behind it, and the one further beyond.

He then smashed through to the outside, obliterating a large house and reducing it to rubble.

Daiki landed moments later in front of the destruction. It all happened so fast; the onlookers hadn't even fully processed it as A pulled himself from the ruined structure, barely scathed. "Now we’re right in the middle of Kumo," Daiki bared his teeth in a feral grin. "How many can you save from me?" he goaded, pointing two fingers towards a chunin in a white vest who was just beginning to react.

"Lightning Style: False Darkness," Daiki stated calmly.

A massive bolt of green and black lightning erupted from his fingers, tearing through the chunin in a shower of gore and simultaneously roasting him from the inside out.