Chapter 879 : Lightning Chakra Mode!

[A/N: Sorry, was locked in. Fighting chapters need me to be completely focused and require several rewrites. So, I didn't check my phone until I was done 😅. Anyway, no double today. I'll write tomorrow instead :)]

Under the cover of Darui and C's attacks, Samui launched 4 tanto infused with lightning chakra and spinning at high speeds at Akuro. Akuro's first instinct was to use the vortex to attract the tanto and nullify the threat.

However, the idea was wiped from his mind as quickly as it appeared. The vortex shot four lightning rays that intercepted the tanto and diverted them away from Akuro, who thought, ‘Those blades are covered in an obscene amount of explosive seals… There are also a high number of other seals, though I'll have to inspect them properly to identify them… Not bad. I should meet the Grandmaster who inscribed those seals later. For now, I wonder how you'll defend against this. Will you continue using Yugito as a meatshield, or do you have something up your sleeves?’

The fighting so far had surprised Fujin. The tactics used by Darui and company were much more refined as compared to their previous four encounters. The vortex spun in the opposite direction at a high speed and Darui's massive Lightning jutsu was launched back at the Kumo ninjas in the form of a lightning flood!

Just before the lightning exited the vortex, four more tanto appeared. Instead of targeting Akuro, they hit the four tanto he diverted earlier, changing their directions again. All eight tanto pierced into the ground, surrounding him on all sides. At the very moment they hit the ground, Samui completed a complicated set of hand seals.
‘Lightning Release: Eight Pillars of Thunder Barrier’

Eight 10-meter-high lightning pillars rose, one from each tanto. In the blink of an eye, Lightning moved between the neighboring lightning pillars, forming an eight-sided, 10-meter-high barrier around Akuro, surrounding him from all sides.

Though the ground and the sky wasn't covered by the barrier, it didn't matter. Akuro had already launched the Lightning Flood jutsu and his control over Lightning jutsus was far inferior to Darui, who had the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai.

The Lightning flood hit the barrier, exploding a mere dozen meters away from Akuro! A glint appeared in Samui's eyes as she thought, ‘Got him! Now, it all depends on you!’

Despite the powerful Lightning Flood jutsu, the barrier held firm. Inside the barrier, countless Lightning arcs bounced back at Akuro, but he stood unfazed. Not a single one could pierce through his cloak. However, that was the least of his concerns. His attention was focused on the massive chakra build up he sensed above the opening of the barrier.

A vajra-shaped weapon appeared in his right hand, though it was still hidden under his sleeves. Akuro thought, ‘The Tailed Beast Bomb… When did Yugito learn it? Besides, she should know it's too slow…’

Even though the Tailed Beast Bomb was an extremely powerful jutsu, creating it generally took a long time. Of course, it wasn't easy to harm the Jinchuriki due to the chakra cloak of their Tailed Beast. So, it wasn't a problem in most cases. However, if the opponent was considerably stronger, it could backfire.

Akuro channeled Lightning through the Blade of the Thunder Spirit and shot a narrow but powerful Lightning Ray at the Tailed Beast Bomb. He intended to destabilize and explode it while Yugito was forming it. The amplification factor from the Blade of the Thunder Spirit along with Lightning's natural speed meant that there wasn't much others could do to stop it.

To Akuro's surprise, instead of completing the Tailed Beast Bomb, Yugito shot an incomplete Tailed Beast Bomb into the barrier. Needless to say, Yugito and the rest were aware of the flaw in the Tailed Beast Bomb. Knowing Akuro's fighting style, they adjusted their plans accordingly.

The lightning ray pierced through the incomplete Tailed Beast Bomb before piercing through the head of Matatabi's chakra construct. Unfortunately, Yugito had moved away, causing the ray to miss her. As for the Tailed Beast Bomb, it was already unstable. It deformed even faster but continued descending at an increasing speed!

Moments later, the unstable Tailed Beast Bomb exploded a few meters above the ground! Darui and the rest braced themselves for the shockwave of the explosion. Samui asked, “Did we get him!”
C answered, “Of course not! He'd be long dead if he couldn't dodge this. Darui, he's moved around 80 meters in that direction.”
Darui looked at the direction C was pointing at. Moments later, his figure disappeared.

Akuro glanced at the location of the barrier and thought, ‘Interesting. Since the distance between us was low, she didn't bother creating a perfect Tailed Beast Bomb. She sacrificed power for speed. Even though she used as much chakra as a normal Tailed Beast Bomb would require, the explosion was only a fifth of how strong it could have been if the Tailed Beast Bomb was stable.
It failed to even destroy the lightning barrier. The only reason that barrier is no more is because the explosion dug up the ground and the Tanto were sent flying. That said, it was still strong enough to kill a human. So, it was a perfect move in this situation…
However, to achieve this, her cooperation with Matatabi has to be impeccable. She's even better than Roshi in this aspect. Did she become a perfect Jinchuriki like Bee?’

A different sword appeared in Akuro's right arm. Lightning flowed through the blade as he swung the sword vertically behind him. He came face-to-face with Darui, who was swinging his lightning infused broadsword at Akuro horizontally. Their blades were merely inches away from each other when Akuro's eyes widened.

A grin appeared on Darui's face as black sparks appeared on his body. Just before the two blades clashed, a black lightning cloak appeared on his body! His strength and speed increased tremendously in an instant. Yet, when the two blades finally clashed, Akuro didn't move a step behind. A Lightning cloak was around his body as well. Darui was unable to gain an advantage.

Akuro muttered, “Impressive. I didn't think you'd catch a hold of my technique so quickly. It's quite a surprise…”

Offended, Darui exerted more strength as he said, “It's not your technique! It's the secret technique of Kumogakure created by the Third Raikage.”

During their first meeting, Fujin had used Raiga's Thunder Armor to fool Darui and the rest into thinking he knew the Lightning Chakra Mode in preparation for the future. He got his hands on the Third Raikage's notes on the technique when he raided the Raikage Building.

Unfortunately, Fujin was too busy in Konoha's affairs to start training it immediately. It was only after he left Konoha that he could devote time to recreating this technique from scratch by using the Third Raikage's notes to guide him.

He had only just started to get a hang of the technique. He was actually quite far from mastering it. Luckily, Darui was even worse off than him. So, he didn't notice it and assumed Akuro was an expert at using the Lightning Chakra Mode.

Akuro replied, “Oh… I didn't think someone would recreate this technique in this era. That's impressive as well. He would have been an entertaining opponent. A shame I heard he died long ago.”

Darui chuckled, “You're lucky you didn't ‘wake up’ when he was alive. If you did, you would have long been dead!”

Akuro replied plainly, “Unlikely. You shouldn't underestimate me so much, young one. Ninjas from this era can't comprehend the difference between our strengths!”

A frown appeared on Darui's face. He felt like Akuro wasn't saying so just because of what he claimed. He turned his gaze past Akuro. The reason why he engaged in a banter with Akuro was to provide an opening to Yugito. During their short exchange, she snuck up behind Akuro. However, before she could attack, a ray of lightning suddenly fell from the sky.

Before she realized what was happening, the lightning mercilessly tore through her chakra cloak and struck her! Yugito screamed in agony as the lightning tore through her body, zapping her inside out. Her flesh couldn't withstand such torture and it broke apart in several places. Within a fraction of the second, Yugito was completely covered in blood. Matatabi's chakra cloak dissipated as Yugito fell to the ground, hanging on to her consciousness by a thin thread.

The sight shocked Darui, C and Samui. Even though Darui was the team leader, Yugito was their trump card against Akuro. They never imagined her to be defeated by a single attack!

Darui looked at the sky and quickly analyzed, ‘That spot… It was the same spot his earlier attack pierced through. Don't tell me he used his earlier attack to gather more Lightning in the skies and attack with an even stronger attack! Can something like that even be done?’

Suddenly, Darui recalled Akuro's earlier words, ‘Ninjas from this era can't comprehend the difference between our strengths!’

Darui thought, ‘So, that's what he meant! I need to help Yugito!’