Naruto : Gamer System-Chapter 74 : Battling Raikage

"Kill!" Haruto Itsuki gathered a huge amount of chakra into Murasame and slashed at Raikage with immense force.

"Ninjutsu: Lightning Shield!"

Raikage didn't dare underestimate Haruto's power. He quickly gathered chakra in his arms.

Boom!

After a deafening collision, Haruto was blasted back dozens of steps, while Raikage merely slid back three.

Haruto tilted his head, looking at Raikage's unharmed arms. He paused, then suddenly gave a twisted smile. "Why should I kill you first? I want you to feel my pain too."

He turned and dashed toward the outer perimeter.

"Not good! Stop him now!"

Raikage shouted. Sweat beaded down his face. What kind of monster was this kid? That bloodlust... He had never heard of such a terrifying successor in Konoha. If Haruto escaped, the Hidden Cloud would be doomed.

"Ninjutsu: Lightning Style – Lightning Rampage!"

"Earth Style: Black Panther!"

"Lightning Style: Sonic Surge!"

Raikage led a squad of Jonin to intercept Haruto.

"Quick! Set the barrier! Don't let him leave the restricted zone!"

"Sealing Technique: Lightning Prison!"

Moments later, a glowing blue barrier surged into place, trapping Haruto inside.

At the edge of the battlefield, while Haruto and the Cloud ninja clashed, a strange figure crept up stealthily.

"I didn't expect Konoha to have such a terrifying genius... possessing the chakra of both the Senju and Uchiha lineages, perfectly merged. And there's something else... a familiar bloodline. He's perfect for our plan," whispered Black Zetsu.

Indeed, the Akatsuki had dispatched operatives to monitor the war. Conflict always created openings for them.

"But at his current level, he's nearly uncontrollable. He might already be one of the strongest in the world," said White Zetsu.

"This has nothing to do with strength. Even Pain was a puppet dancing to our strings. If we can exploit his desire for peace, he could become another Pain," Black Zetsu's voice grew giddy at the thought.

"Wait... this chakra..."

Inside Naruto's body, Kurama roared in panic. "Dammit, don't die! If you die, I will die too!"

The wound on Naruto's abdomen began to emit a faint red glow.

"His internal organs are crushed... even my chakra can't fully repair that. Am I going to face that darkness again?"

Kurama trembled. Though tailed beasts could resurrect after death, the wait was long and torturous—a limbo of endless silence and blackness. Compared to that, even confinement in a jinchūriki was paradise.

"Where... am I?"

Naruto blinked, finding himself in a blank white world. In front of him sat an old man with his back turned.

"This is where Yin and Yang intersect. You can think of it as the space between life and death," the old man said calmly.

Naruto's face paled. "Wait—I'm dead!? No! I haven't become Hokage yet! I don't want to die!"

The old man laughed heartily. "I'm no god of death, just an old man."

Naruto looked curious. "Can you save me then? Please, I've got so many things left to do!"

"Oh? Tell me."

"I haven't become Hokage yet... I haven't helped Haruto achieve peace... and I haven't eaten enough Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto listed with teary eyes. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

"Haha! So many reasons to live." The old man nodded thoughtfully, making a decision.

But just as he was about to act, he paused. "It seems your time hasn't come. I can't give you this power yet. But we'll meet again."

Outside, a twisted face emerged from the shadows.

"Confirmed... he's the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki," said Black Zetsu.

He placed a hand on Naruto's belly, scanning his internal state. "Still barely alive. Kurama's trying his best, but it's not enough."

He turned to White Zetsu. "You're up. Patch him."

"Why me!? That's gonna hurt!" White Zetsu whined.

"Shut it. Do you want us to delay our plan for another fifty years? Patch him now."

Reluctantly, White Zetsu leaned over and began merging with Naruto's body.

"Ugh... squeeze more!" Black Zetsu tugged.

"You're gonna kill me, you jerk!" White Zetsu groaned.

Slowly, Naruto's body stabilized. His heartbeat resumed. Inside, the chaotic red chakra of Kurama and a faint golden light pulsed together—then stilled.

"Wow... his will to live is ridiculous," White Zetsu muttered.

The two disappeared just before others arrived.

Naruto's color returned. No one noticed that the cells White Zetsu left behind were being quietly devoured by another strange energy. Faint green chakra glowed from the wound, silently transforming his body.

Boom! Haruto slashed fiercely at the barrier—but it didn't even flinch.

"Stronger than the Four Purple Flame Formation..." His eyes scanned the formation: four Jōnin anchoring the seal, and a row of Chūnin behind them acting as chakra support.

Raikage finally breathed out. "You're too dangerous. You should die here, brat."

Haruto chuckled darkly. "You think this can trap me?"

Raikage's instincts flared. Haruto suddenly ran to the edge, locking eyes with one of the barrier support-nin.

"You think I can't kill you through this?" His Sharingan spun. Murderous intent exploded outward.

The ninja froze. His pupils dilated. "Hanaka! What's wrong?!"

Bang-bang-bang! The ninja's chest exploded—blood spraying the barrier.

"Close your eyes!" Raikage roared.

But it was too late. One by one, Haruto met the eyes of the remaining barrier team.

Boom! Boom! Boom! All collapsed in place.

"When the difference in strength is too vast... intent alone can kill." Haruto walked toward a weak point in the barrier, chakra pouring into Murasame.

Shhhhing— The slash shredded the weakened seal. The barrier disintegrated like ash.

"You thought you could trap me?" Haruto grinned wickedly. "I'll kill every single person in your Lightning Country. One by one. Right in front of you."

Raikage didn't flinch. "Not worried about your friends?" He pointed at the distant battle—Kakashi and Sasuke struggling. "I'll kill them if you leave. But if you stay, fight me. Settle this. One-on-one."

Haruto paused. Then smirked. "Fine. I'll kill you first."

Murasame screamed in his grip, vibrating wildly.

Pfft! Haruto stabbed Raikage in the lower abdomen.

Too easy. Haruto's eyes narrowed. He yanked—Murasame didn't move.

Boom! A lightning-infused fist slammed into his chest, hurling him back.

"Kh...!" Coughing blood, Haruto stood up again.

Raikage smiled grimly. "Hurt?"

"It's wonderful!" Haruto lunged toward a nearby Cloud Shinobi. His hand pierced through the man's chest.

The wound in Haruto's chest began to regenerate.

Raikage's face hardened. "Stay back, all of you. He only gets stronger feeding on you."

The battle resumed. Raikage's blows were brutal, precise. Haruto's Sharingan and Cursed Seal kept him alive—but he was being pushed back.

"This isn't enough..." Haruto stepped back. "Five Gates: Gate of Limit—Open!"

Boom! Wind howled as chakra exploded from him. His aura became tangible, distorting the air.

Raikage squinted against the pressure. "He just keeps rising..."

"Lightning Style: Dual Chidori!" Haruto's hands sparked as he rushed in.

"Ninjutsu: Thunderstorm—Thousand Blade Barrage!" Their strikes collided—flashes of blue and white lightning burst from their fists.

Boom! Both were sent flying, coughing blood.

"You're stronger than I expected..." Haruto grinned.

"You're the reason I attacked your allies first." Raikage smirked.

"You bastard—!" Haruto's rage surged.

"Six Gates—Open!"

His speed broke the sound barrier. Raikage struggled to keep up—defending his vital points, but taking heavy hits.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each strike cracked the ground.

But then... Haruto hesitated. He's stalling. Waiting for my time limit to run out.

"No you don't!" Haruto kicked Raikage down, recovered Murasame, and plunged it into him.

Pfft! Blood splattered. Raikage coughed and... smiled?

"This barrier... wasn't just to trap you..."

"Huh?"

Clang! Chains erupted from the ground—eight glowing seals wrapping around Haruto's arms and legs.

"What—!?"

"It's a double-layer seal. Originally meant to trap tailed beasts. You fell right in." Raikage rose, blood running from his mouth.

"This is over."

"Ninjutsu: Thunder Release—Heavy Flow Storm!!"