I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 40 Ino-Shika-Shika-Cho vs. Kakuzu!

"An A-rank ninja battle mission has been triggered!"

"The equivalent of 'King-level' is A-level!"

Nara Rinka quickly glanced at the mission prompt that popped up on the panel, when a shockwave suddenly came from behind him.

A deafening roar erupted from the point where Akimichi Choza landed, and the entire ground trembled slightly from the immense impact, as if a small earthquake had suddenly occurred.

"Don't stop! Get to a safe distance as fast as you can!"

Yamanaka Inoichi's hurried tone reached the ears of Nara Rinka and several other Chunin, but the sound grew fainter and fainter.

"I turned back!"

Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, and Tobitake Tobi, several Chunin, ran ahead.

Nara Rinkazuki, who was "slower," trailed behind and gradually fell behind the Chunin team.

He turned and glanced at the departing figure of Yamanaka Inoichi. With a thought, his consciousness returned to his physical body.

He first instantly removed the [Chakra Crystal] ring from his right hand and threw it to the [Shadow Clone].

Nara Rinka's main body continued to follow in the footsteps of Sarutobi Asuma and the others, retreating backward.

The Shadow Clone, wearing the Chakra Crystal Ring, vanished into thin air, silently making its way to the battlefield.

By the time Yamanaka Inoichi returned, the surrounding environment had undergone an extremely terrifying change.

What was originally a flat ground was blasted into a huge crater with a diameter of nearly ten meters by Akimichi Choza's "Human Bomber Chariot".

The earth cracked and shattered, and dust and smoke rose into the air.

Swah——

Akimichi Choza, now back in his normal form, emerged from the smoke, staring intently at the figure within.

"Uncle Kano, I just felt something was wrong... My Human Bomber Chariot doesn't seem to be working as expected."

"Yes, I've already seen it!"

Nara Kano's expression was very solemn, and he was also looking in the direction of the smoke.

"The opponent should have broken free from the Shadow Binding Technique's control... The amount of Yin Release chakra that the kunai mixed with chakra metal can hold is still too little, not enough to completely control the enemy."

As the dust and smoke cleared, Kakuzu's figure appeared before the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

Compared to when he first appeared, Kakuzu's skin color has become as black and rough as coal.

What is even more noteworthy is his hands, which had somehow come together, with his fingers interlocked in a gear-like manner.

"Siyin!"

Through observation, Nara Kano quickly came to a rough judgment.

"The ability to harden the body through changes in earth-attribute properties!"

"Being able to withstand Choji's attack, it must be an extremely high-level Earth Release ninjutsu!"

"That's right, your analysis is correct."

Kakuzu still retains that special hardened state of skin, which is jet black.

"No physical attack can harm me."

Upon hearing Kakuzu's words, Nara Kano's eyelids twitched slightly.

The other party's claim of "invincible defense" was absolutely just boasting.

According to the "principle of mutual restraint in nature change", there is a clear restraining relationship between different chakra natures.

For example, Earth Release ninjutsu.

The hardness of soil and rocks can withstand water flow, but they can also be penetrated by lightning.

in short.

Earth-attribute chakra is effective against water-attribute chakra, but is countered by lightning-attribute chakra.

To break through Kakuzu's so-called "invincible defense," all you need is a high-level lightning ninjutsu.

But thinking of this, Nara Kano sighed slightly.

Advanced Lightning Release ninjutsu... Isn't this just making things difficult for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio?!

"In the end, we misjudged the opponent's strength."

Nara Kano pursed her lips slightly.

"I never imagined he could withstand Choza's human-bouncing needle chariot... Even among the elite ninjas of Iwagakure, only a very few could do that... Where did this rogue ninja from Takigakure learn such an advanced Earth Release technique?"

"Aren't you going to continue the attack?"

Kakuzu let out a sinister laugh.

"Then it's my turn!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakuzu simply clasped his hands together.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

boom!

A high-pressure wind belt, almost solidified, suddenly erupted from in front of Kakuzu, sweeping forward with unstoppable force, as if trying to destroy all obstacles in its path.

The formation of the high-pressure wind belt brought with it a vortex-like airflow that swept towards the Ino-Deer-Butterfly Squad like a storm.

"retreat!"

Nara Kano, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi instinctively dodged backward to avoid the direct impact of the Wind Release technique.

The three of them also raised their arms to shield themselves from the mud and rock fragments flying from the air.

But even so.

When the three landed on the ground, the violent storm still pushed them back several meters, leaving six deep, sharp friction marks on the ground with their soles.

"What terrifying wind-style power!"

Yamanaka Inoichi was utterly shocked, but before he could finish speaking, a blinding flash of lightning erupted in front of him once again.

"Wait, what's that...?"

Kakuzu would never fight unless absolutely necessary.

But once a battle actually breaks out, he will definitely go all out!

"It's a pity. I heard that the Ino-Shika-Cho clans of Konoha are all clans specializing in secret techniques, so their hearts can't be used by me..."

A hint of regret flashed through Kakuzu's heart. The pitch-black color covering his skin vanished without a trace, replaced by streaks of silvery-white free-floating electricity.

"Die under this move, Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho squad!"

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

Rumbling--

It was like a thunderclap in a clear sky.

With a thunderous roar, a giant, twisted, and radiant lightning spear materialized before Kakuzu, carrying an overwhelming momentum as it shot towards the distant Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"It's lightning release!"

Nara Kano's pupils contracted slightly, and viscous shadows rose up beneath his feet.

"Cheng Zuo, defend now!"

A pitch-black shadow suddenly rose in front of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and then, under Nara Kano's control, transformed into a shadow shield resembling a giant cocoon, firmly protecting the three of them within it.

Shadow Shield Technique!

Behind the Shadow Shield, Akimichi Choza activated his family's secret technique at top speed. His spiky brown hair grew longer and harder, forming a second layer of defense behind the Shadow Shield.

boom! !

In the blink of an eye, the Thunder Spear swept across the battlefield, striking the Shadow Shield with unparalleled precision. The collision and friction between the spear and the shield produced a loud boom, and a rolling shockwave spread outwards.

Lightning Release ninjutsu is inherently extremely destructive and has a very strong penetrating power.

As a B-rank ninjutsu, "Lightning Release: False Darkness" possesses astonishing power capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks.

The Nara clan's "Shadow Shield Technique" belongs to the Yin attribute nature transformation, and its effectiveness in resisting Lightning Release ninjutsu is far inferior to that of Wind Release ninjutsu.

Nara Kano gritted his teeth and released his Yin Release chakra without reservation in order to maintain the effect of "Shadow Shield Technique".

After enduring an extremely difficult period of time, Nara Kano, drenched in cold sweat, finally withdrew the "Shadow Shield Technique".

The Thunder Spear, still brimming with power, continued its forward thrust, striking the hair shield of Akimichi Choza, who was positioned close behind the Shadow Shield.

Having already been weakened by the Shadow Shield Technique, the power of "Lightning Release: False Darkness" has diminished considerably.

At this moment, the Thunder Spear struck Akimichi Choza's sturdy shield, only slightly shaking it.

Several charred marks were left on that brown protective shell.

The Thunder Spear finally lost its last bit of power and dissipated into the air.

The hair cover was retrieved by Choza Akimichi.

The three members of the Mismatched Generations—Ino-Shika-Cho—were all looking in Kakuzu's direction with extremely solemn expressions.

"So strong! This rogue ninja from Takigakure!"

Nara Kano's hands were drenched in cold sweat.

"Earth Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release... He has mastered three different nature transformations simultaneously, and each technique is incredibly powerful... When has a ninja of this caliber ever appeared among bounty hunters?"

To put it bluntly...

In Nara Shikano's eyes, based on just the few abilities he had just displayed, Kakuzu's strength already surpassed that of most Jonin in Konoha.

"This guy... is a monster whose strength is no less than that of the Three Legendary Sannin!"

"Such skillful teamwork is truly worthy of Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho squad."

Kakuzu gazed at the three legendary Sannin of Nara from afar, his hands clasped together once more as he manipulated the chakra within his body.

"You are the first group of ninjas who were not pierced by Lightning Release: False Darkness..."

"You can withstand Lightning Release, but can you withstand the next attack?"

"Fire Release: Head Carving!"

"No way, he can even master Fire Release techniques?!"

The three members of the group, Ino-Shika-Cho, were startled.

A small fire serpent shot out from in front of Kakuzu, and after landing, it instantly expanded into a sea of fire like ocean waves, sweeping towards the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

The scorching flames burned and scorched everything around them, and the air itself became scalding and distorted due to the extremely high temperature.

Faced with such a massive inferno.

Yamanaka Inoichi stopped thinking.

Nara Kano, who had just exhausted his energy, was unable to conjure a shadow shield of sufficient strength at this moment.

Only Akimichi Choji gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"Partial Multiplication Technique!"

Akimichi Choza used his family's secret technique to multiply and expand his hands before pushing them forcefully towards the sea of fire in front of him.

"Super Pusher!"

wow——

The endless sea of fire was actually blasted open by Akimichi Choza's outburst, creating a wide crack, as if it had been split in two.

"sucker Punch!"

Kakuzu sneered, intending to extract wind-attribute chakra and use "Wind Release: Pressure" combined with "Fire Release: Head Carving".

But just then...

A black bullet, seemingly from nowhere, pierced his chest without warning.

Sneaking in stealthily.

A shadow bullet pierces the heart!

[You have defeated the A-rank ninja combat objective once!]

You have obtained an A-rank [Ninja Scroll]!

Thank you so much to "鸿门丶" for the generous donation!!