klisemfg Chapter 546 The Scorching River Erupts in Flames!
Chapter 546 The Scorching River Erupts in Flames!
Roshi, as the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails Son Goku, has now fully unleashed the power of the tailed beast within him, reaching his most ferocious form.
"Roar--!"
The colossal four-tailed beast roared to the sky, shaking the entire valley. Its molten lava-like body suddenly crouched, then its enormous mouth opened, and a vast amount of chakra within it erupted like a volcano. The next moment, an incomparably scorching torrent of magma and flames, like a hellish river of fire, with the power to destroy everything, violently spewed forth towards the tiny white figure before it!
"The Scorching River erupts in flames!"
Wherever the fiery river passed, space itself seemed to be scorched and distorted. Huge rocks melted and evaporated the moment they touched it, leaving behind charred marks. This was one of the Four-Tails' most powerful area-of-effect attacks besides the Tailed Beast Ball, enough to turn everything in sight to ashes.
However, faced with this terrifying attack capable of incinerating mountains and boiling seas, the white figure remained unusually calm. He was none other than Konoha's "White Fang"—Sakumo Hatake. His figure appeared so small before the scorching torrent of lava, yet he stood firm like a pillar of strength. Instead of dodging, he made an incomprehensible move.
"Hah!" Sakumo shouted, and the chakra blade in his hand, the short sword that emitted a cold white light, suddenly burst forth with a dazzling white light, as brilliant as a falling star. He raised the sword high above his head, and then, with incredible speed, slashed it down from above!
"Tsk-!"
A deafening roar that tore through the heavens and earth! That seemingly ordinary chakra blade actually cleaved the surging river of fiery magma in two! Wherever the blade passed, the scorching magma was severed, the flames were torn apart, forming two separate streams that roared past Sakumo's sides, failing to even touch the hem of his clothes. This strike seemed capable of severing even the laws of nature, demonstrating unparalleled swordsmanship and chakra control.
After cleaving through the river of flames, Sakumo's figure accelerated like an arrow released from a bow, weaving between the two torrents of magma, heading straight for Roshi in his fully transformed tailed beast form. His speed was extreme, like a white lightning bolt, instantly bridging the distance between them.
"What?!" A look of shock flashed in Old Purple's huge pupils. It did not expect that its strongest attack would be broken so easily.
However, Sakumo's attack did not stop. The moment he rushed in front of Rōshi, the chakra blade in his hand erupted with an even more dazzling light. The tip of the blade was pointed at Rōshi's massive body; this time, his target was the thick layer of tailed beast chakra covering Rōshi's body.
"cut!"
Sakumo exerted a sudden burst of strength, his short sword carrying an unparalleled, sharp force, precisely striking a key point on Rōshi's chakra cloak. The blade didn't directly pierce flesh; instead, it used a combination of vibration and cutting to shatter and tear apart the seemingly indestructible chakra cloak from the inside!
“Hooa ...
The Tailed Beast-transformed Roshi let out a piercing scream. The defense constructed from the Tailed Beast's chakra shattered like glass under Sakumo's blade, dissipating into countless specks of light. Deprived of its chakra cloak, Roshi's massive body shrank, reverting to human form, though charred black and barely breathing. His eyes were unfocused, filled with disbelief and terror, before he collapsed to the ground with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The Konoha ninjas outside the barrier erupted in deafening cheers upon witnessing this scene. Hatake Sakumo, the man known as the "White Fang of Konoha," once again proved his status as the pinnacle of the ninja world with his unparalleled strength.
The sound of flowing molten lava gradually subsided, but the acrid smell lingered in the air. After the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Rōshi, collapsed to the ground, an eerie silence fell over the entire battlefield. The Konoha ninja outside the barrier erupted in deafening cheers, but they were quickly drawn to Sakumo Hatake's next move, and their cheers subsided, tinged with a hint of doubt.
Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha who had single-handedly turned the tide of battle, did not press his advantage, nor did he deliver the fatal blow to the fallen Roshi. He sheathed his chakra blade; the short sword, radiating a cold white light, was cleanly and neatly sheathed with a soft "click." His gaze fell on the unconscious Roshi, his eyes filled with complex emotions, containing both the sharpness of an enemy and a hint of camaraderie as a fellow ally.
He walked slowly to Lao Zi's side, and amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, gently bent down. He reached out and softly supported Lao Zi's body, slowly lifting him from the scorched ground and letting him sit against a relatively clean boulder.
"Old Purple, wake up," Sakumo said softly, his voice devoid of any victor's arrogance, but instead carrying a sense of peace.
Old Purple's body trembled slightly. He struggled to open his eyes, which were covered in smoke and exhaustion. In his blurred vision, the first thing he saw was Hatake Sakumo's young yet resolute face. He coughed twice, some black blood foam spilling from his mouth, and said in a hoarse voice, "Hatake... Sakumo... why... didn't you kill me?"
Sakumo shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. “This is a fair duel. We are both fighting for our respective villages, and there are no personal grudges between us. Moreover…” He paused, his eyes growing deeper, “Back then, outside Orochimaru’s laboratory, if you hadn’t helped me, I probably wouldn’t be standing here now.”
Upon hearing this, a complex light flashed in Lao Zi's eyes. It was indeed a scene from several years ago—a chance encounter, a fateful entanglement. He hadn't expected that Hatake Sakumo would still remember this kindness. He had once wondered if Hatake Sakumo, like other ninjas, would eliminate his enemies without hesitation once defeated.
“I didn’t expect… you would still remember.” Old Zi’s tone was more relieved, and a bitter smile appeared on his tired face. “I lost, and I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Your swordsmanship is indeed unparalleled.”
"Your Lava Release is extraordinary. To be able to wield the power of the Four-Tails to this extent, that strength is worthy of respect," Sakumo sincerely praised. He extended his hand to Rōshi, "This battle ends here. You and I have no mortal enmity."
Old Purple looked at Sakumo's outstretched hand and remained silent for a moment. He slowly raised his charred palm, which, though still retaining a lingering heat, firmly grasped Sakumo's hand.