Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 294 Let me introduce myself. My name is Kohinata Mukai (4.5k words)

Bang! !

The moment the words left his mouth, the Fourth Raikage clenched his fist, which exploded with a loud bang!
As soon as he finished speaking, a phantom image suddenly appeared behind him.

It was a blue-white half-body colossus made entirely of lightning, with four semi-transparent, muscular arms, thundercloud shawls wrapped around its shoulders, and four rope drums behind it.

The colossus's eyes flashed with electricity, its body was massive and enormous, and it exuded a ferocious aura!
The next moment, the Fourth Raikage blasted out his only remaining arm.

The colossus moved in sync with it, its eyes wide with rage, and fiercely slammed one of its giant fists, made of lightning, toward the dark red Cero that was descending from the sky!
Zhila! !
The colossus unleashed a torrent of blue-white lightning, condensed to the extreme. Wherever it passed, it created distorted ripples and emitted deafening explosions!

The crimson Cero and the blue-white lightning collided head-on at that moment!
At the center of the collision, there was first utter silence.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of all-consuming, blazing white light suddenly erupted, as if a miniature sun had been ignited in the canyon.

Boom! !

The terrifying roar, powerful enough to shatter eardrums, made the earth tremble. The sound waves formed a visible circular impact, spreading wildly in all directions.

The escaping electric arcs and turbulent energy flow intertwined to form a storm, lifting the ground layer by layer, and filling the air with a strong, pungent smell of ozone and a burnt odor!

The towering rock walls on both sides of the canyon cracked and collapsed extensively under this terrifying impact, with countless rocks peeling off the mountain and kicking up clouds of dust!
Vast plumes of smoke and dust obscured the view like a thick curtain, with only lingering, blinding arcs of electricity flickering intermittently within the dust and mist.

call! !

The Fourth Raikage, whose hair stood on end and whose violent aura had not yet completely subsided, sensed a gust of evil wind howling from his side and rear, stirring up dust.

Almost entirely by instinct, he didn't even turn around completely. The towering lightning behemoth behind him was driven by it, its arms wrapped in explosive lightning, blasting out to that side.

boom!
A dull thud, accompanied by a suppressed groan of pain, and the fist slammed solidly into a dark figure!

The dark figure was sent flying backward by the impact, instantly disappearing into the thick smoke and dust.

The violent shockwave from that punch instantly dispersed the surrounding dust and smoke, making the field of vision much clearer.

The Fourth Raikage's gaze swept towards the direction where the fist had struck, and his brows furrowed.

Not far away, the crater he had created was now empty, and Kakuzu, who should have been lying there, severely injured and on the verge of death, was nowhere to be seen.

He suddenly looked up at the sky and sure enough, he saw the huge monster flying away unsteadily, its body bearing charred marks and wisps of electricity.

In its two enormous claws, it held Kakuzu, who seemed to have lost his bones, and a broken octopus tentacle!

"Trying to escape?!"

The Fourth Raikage growled through clenched teeth, endless rage surging in his chest, and lightning in his eyes almost bursting forth!

The giant lightning statue behind him seemed to sense his killing intent, slowly raising an arm as if to strike one of the rope drums behind him...

"Lord Raikage!"

Just then, a hurried and familiar shout came from the direction of the entrance to Yunlei Gorge, instantly extinguishing the Fourth Raikage's mind, which was filled with rage.

He turned to look in the direction from which the sound came, and a large group of Cloud Village ninjas, led by Darui and Mabui, rushed over.

"hiss!"

When they rushed into the canyon and saw the scene before them, everyone involuntarily gasped, their steps halting instantly, their faces filled with shock!

The canyon was in complete disarray, as if it had been ravaged by some monster, with broken boulders, charred pits, and a lingering aura of violence everywhere.

Lord Killer Bee knelt on the ground, his body covered in strange red seal patterns, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that he was injured.

What shocked them the most, and even filled them with a sense of fear, was the blue and white half-body giant statue behind the Fourth Raikage!

That aura, seemingly emanating from the heavens, made one's heart tremble even from a distance.

what is that?
Just then, the blazing white lightning in the Fourth Raikage's eyes receded rapidly like a tide, and the violently exploding lightning chakra around his body gradually subsided and calmed down.

The awe-inspiring half-body colossus behind them gradually faded away, eventually disappearing into the air like a phantom, leaving only the lingering smell of ozone.

"Lord Raikage!"

Suppressing his shock, Mabui quickly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield before finally settling on the Fourth Raikage: "Intruder, did you escape?"

Her gaze fell on the two figures in the air that had turned into black dots, and her brows furrowed.

The Fourth Raikage forcibly suppressed the urge to pursue, turning his gaze towards Killer Bee's direction.

Seeing that several medical ninjas had gathered around and were examining the strange red sealing patterns on Killer Bee's body and trying to save him, his tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

"Yeah, those two bastards got away."

His voice was low and filled with suppressed anger, like muffled thunder rolling in the clouds. He said coldly, "Hmph, I will collect this debt with interest sooner or later!"

After saying that, he lowered his head and looked down at the arm armor covering his left arm, which was still faintly radiating high temperature and tiny arcs of electricity.

His fist clenched again, producing a dull thud.

This arm armor was one of the spoils of war obtained from the "underground palace" of the Land of Hot Springs.

He knew that this ninja tool was mysterious and powerful, but it could only exert its basic amplification effect and he had never been able to break through the hurdle of qualitative change.

Unexpectedly, this misfortune turned into a blessing in disguise, as his anger truly unleashed such powerful strength.

At this moment, the Fourth Raikage could still vaguely sense that an even more violent power was lurking deep within the gauntlet, ready to strike the taiko drum...

"call!"

The Fourth Raikage took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to try.

Right now, Killer Bee's safety is the top priority. A reckless pursuit could very well lead to an even bigger trap.

"Sack clothes."

With this in mind, he raised his head, his gaze regaining its composure, and said in a deep voice, "Immediately contact Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Takigakure to inquire about the situation in their villages."

Upon hearing this, Mabui immediately realized something, and his expression changed drastically: "Lord Raikage, you mean..."

"Yes." The Fourth Raikage nodded. "At the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Demons, we have reached a preliminary agreement on working together."

"The Hyuga Kumokawa of Konoha inherited part of the priestess's precognitive abilities. He gave an early warning that a powerful enemy was eyeing the tailed beasts."

"It was because of this intelligence that I was able to get back to the village in time."

He paused for a moment, surveying the devastated canyon and the faint smoke rising in the distance, a cold glint in his eyes.

"If that kid's prediction is correct, and if the enemy's target is all the tailed beasts, then the other ninja villages have probably also suffered attacks to varying degrees."

The man in linen clothes gasped and immediately replied, "Yes! I understand, I'll take care of it myself right away!"

She turned and left quickly, her steps hurried, clearly aware of the seriousness of the situation.

The Fourth Raikage stood alone, raising his head to gaze at the blood-red sunset that had painted the sky crimson, and muttered to himself, "The Akatsuki?"

The disaster brought about by the 'Virtual Realm' has not yet subsided, and now another 'Akatsuki' has emerged, with its target being the Tailed Beasts.

It seems that the five major powers truly uniting to deal with the crisis is an inevitable trend.

but……

The Fourth Raikage's gaze involuntarily fell back to his arm armor, looking at its cold surface covered with mysterious patterns, a deep thought flashing in his eyes.

"Alliance is one thing, but ultimately, the most reliable power is one that is in one's own hands." He thought to himself, "How many more things like this are hidden inside that 'underground palace'?"

Perhaps, while dealing with the current crisis, it's time to put a deeper exploration of those ruins on the agenda.

After all, in the coming storm, every bit of strength increases the chances of survival and victory.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As dusk falls, Tanabata Street in the Land of Fire welcomes its busiest time of day.

This famous red-light district, located in the southwest of the Land of Fire, is like a dreamlike paradise, isolated from the chaos of the world.

Along the streets, the flickering signs and lanterns at the casino entrances create a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow.

The shouts of people trying to attract customers, the crisp sound of dice hitting the dice cup, and the bursts of noise and laughter coming from inside the tavern blended into a wave of sound that stirred the soul.

The air was filled with the scents of cosmetics, alcohol, and the enticing aromas of various snacks.

Elegantly dressed courtesans and pleasure-seeking guests mingled among them, creating a scene reminiscent of a ukiyo-e painting.

This place is undoubtedly a place where ninjas can easily break the "three prohibitions," but it has also become a haven for many people seeking a moment of numbness.

In a relatively inconspicuous spot on a street corner, there is an izakaya called "Hyakuya," whose name comes from the proverb "sake is the best of all medicines."

Lifting the curtain reveals a completely different scene inside.

Under the warm yellow light, the wooden tables and chairs were arranged a little crowded, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted food and the mellow taste of sake.

The drinkers gathered in small groups, clinking glasses and talking animatedly with flushed faces.

"Boss! Another pot of warm wine!" a middle-aged man with a flushed face shouted, slamming his fist on the table.

"Coming right away!" the busy owner behind the counter replied.

After a few drinks, the conversation naturally turned to the earth-shattering event that had recently shaken the entire Land of Fire.

"Have you heard? Konoha almost perished a few days ago!"

A tall, thin man lowered his voice, but could not hide his lingering fear, and said, "The capital city was also affected. My God, those flying ninjas were everywhere!"

"I have a friend who was doing business in Konoha at the time, and he almost didn't make it back alive!"

Another fat man took a swig of wine, still shaken, and said in a deep voice, "Those who escaped said that the battle was completely beyond the realm of humanity."

"The entire Hidden Leaf Village was about to be crushed by a giant meteorite, and even the Hokage was helpless. It was Lord Yun Chuan who managed to split that thing in two."

"Yes, yes, yes! It was radiant with golden light. I heard that many people saw it. If it weren't for him, Konoha would probably be completely wiped out by now."

"but……"

The fat man changed the subject, his tone turning somber: "I heard that Lord Yun Chuan still hasn't woken up, and even Tsunade is helpless about it."

"I hope he can pull through." Another person shook their head and sighed, "The world is getting more and more chaotic. If the Land of Fire loses Konoha's protection, it might also..."

At that moment, someone, with blurred vision from drunkenness, caught a glimpse of a wanted poster on the wall of the izakaya.

The paper depicts a young boy with a still-childish face but unusually cold eyes, and below him are several startling words.

S-rank rogue ninja, Hyuga Neji.

Charges: The Hyuga clan colluded with external enemies, massacred clan members, and attacked Konoha...

"Tsk, these ninjas are getting more and more terrifying."

Looking at the wanted poster, the man sighed, "Hyuga Neji, about the same age as Uchiha Itachi back then, and even doing similar things, it's really..."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at the wanted poster, and upon seeing the still-childish yet indifferent face, they fell silent for a moment, and could only silently pick up their wine glasses to cover their faces.

At this moment, a pretty young girl carrying a pot of warm wine and several small dishes walked across the table and placed the wine and dishes on the table where the group of people were talking loudly, bowing slightly.

"Guest, your food and drinks are ready. Please enjoy."

Then, she turned and walked to a quiet corner by the window of the izakaya.

There was only one guest sitting there, dressed in an inconspicuous black cloak with the hood pulled low, revealing only half of a plain white mask without any patterns, which concealed his face.

He was alone, with only a nearly untouched cup of sake in front of him, gazing out the window at the endless stream of people in Tanzaku Street, seemingly out of place with the surrounding hustle and bustle.

The girl gently placed a plate of edamame on his table, bowed again, and said softly, "Guest, please enjoy your side dish."

She couldn't help but steal another glance at the strange guest, feeling both curiosity and caution.

The world is getting more and more chaotic these days, with all sorts of traitors and bandits emerging one after another. Anyone who can open a shop in a place like Tanzaku Street understands one thing.

Mind your own business, and you'll live a long life.

She quickly looked away and turned to greet the other guests.

Just after the girl turned to leave, the man in black robes slowly turned his head, his light blue eyes scanning the wanted poster on the wall through his eye sockets, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

He stared at it silently for a few seconds, then took out a few copper coins, placed them next to the wine cup, and seemed to be preparing to get up and leave.

However, just as he was about to make a move, a figure sat down in the empty chair opposite him.

"Kid, you don't mind me sitting here, do you?"

The newcomer was also dressed in dark clothing that allowed for easy movement, and wore a fox mask with a half-smile, revealing only a pair of smiling white eyes.

Upon seeing the man's white eyes, the man in the black robe's pupils contracted instantly, and his body tensed up instinctively.

"Don't be nervous, I mean no harm to you."

The man seemed unsurprised by his reaction. He rested his chin on his hand, tilted his head, and said in a relaxed yet unquestionable tone, "There are quite a few people looking for you outside right now."

"If you're too nervous and give yourself away here, that would be a huge problem."

After saying that, he lowered his head, his gaze falling on the almost untouched cup of sake in front of Neji. He reached out and picked it up, gently swirling it between his fingertips.

"Judging by your age, you're probably not old enough to drink yet, are you?" the man said with a smile. "This drink is on you."

After saying that, he actually tilted his head back and drank the remaining sake in the cup in one gulp, then gently placed the empty cup back on the table with a soft sound.

The man in black robes, or rather, Hyuga Neji.

Neji Hyuga narrowed his eyes beneath the mask and asked in a deep voice, "Who exactly are you?"

"And your eyes..."

"Hmm? Did you notice?" The man put down his empty glass, his smile seeming to deepen. "Your eyes are indeed different."

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Kohinata Mukai."

He leaned forward slightly, his white eyes fixed on Hyuga Neji through the mask: "As for now, in a sense..."

"I should be your teacher."

　and also

　　
　
(End of this chapter)