Scorpion, hidden among his human puppets, was utterly stunned by what he saw.
He muttered in disbelief, "The spears I just released move faster than the speed of sound. But that guy… he actually cast three different jutsu in such a short span and managed to block the attack."
"But he only blocked one direction. What will he do when the attack comes from all directions?"
With that thought, Scorpion manipulated his puppet to activate Magnet Release once again.
The iron sand that had fallen to the ground suddenly lifted into the air, swirling ominously. In the sky around Riku, thousands upon thousands of iron needles began to form. Each needle was over ten centimeters long, rotating with deadly force in midair, surrounding Riku from every side.
Scorpion grinned maliciously. "Let's see how you defend against this—hahaha!"
Riku narrowed his eyes. "Zero One Seven..."
Sakura looked on, alarmed. "His Magnet Release is far more refined than before. What do we do now? He's attacking from every angle—it's nearly impossible to block that."
Chiyo's expression was grim. "This technique is indeed difficult to defend against. Scorpion's combined it with Wind Release, which significantly boosts the speed and penetrating power of those needles. I'm afraid even Earth-style walls wouldn't hold."
But Scorpion wasn't done.
Raising his other hand, more iron sand surged from the ground, condensing into thick iron rods floating in the air.
Chiyo's face went pale. "Is he planning to use the iron rods to shatter any defense first, then follow up with the needles? That bastard… he's ruthless."
Sakura clenched her fists, understanding what Scorpion intended.
She turned to Riku, eyes wide. "Riku, why aren't you retreating?! This jutsu is impossible to block!"
Riku gave her a small smile. "Don't worry. It's a powerful jutsu, yes—but not unblockable."
Scorpion laughed wildly. "Boy, if you're going to talk big, at least pick a better time! You think you can block this? Don't be ridiculous!"
Riku didn't respond, merely glanced at him with calm eyes.
Scorpion, annoyed by Riku's indifference, gave a sharp wave of his hand.
In an instant, the iron needles and rods rained down from the sky toward Riku.
"This is the end! Even a god couldn't block this! Die, Riku!"
Sakura slammed her fist into the ground. "Boom—!"
The earth cracked as she attempted to raise a chunk of stone to shield them, but her movements were too slow. The iron projectiles were too fast.
By the time her hand struck the ground, the first needle was already upon them.
But at that moment—
A surge of lightning erupted from Riku's body.
Boom!
Countless arcs of thunder wrapped around him, Sakura, and Chiyo like a cocoon.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Iron needles and rods slammed into the lightning shield, sparks flying everywhere. The shield shimmered under the assault, flaring with electric light.
But nothing got through.
Not a single needle penetrated.
Riku stood tall at the center, his expression composed.
The bombardment continued for over ten seconds, but the lightning barrier held strong. Sakura stared at Riku, awe in her eyes. In that moment, he looked like a pillar holding up the heavens, immovable and absolute.
The air crackled as the remaining needles and rods clattered to the ground, defeated.
Even Chiyo was left speechless. "This child… how is he so terrifying? Those rods and needles were fast enough to pierce steel, but he stopped them all with a lightning barrier. Has his mastery over lightning reached this level?"
While Sakura was filled with admiration, Chiyo's thoughts were different. If Riku is truly this strong… then Konoha's resurgence in the ninja world is no longer a matter of 'if'—it's inevitable.
The last of the projectiles fell with a thud.
Scorpion clenched his fists in frustration. "Damn it… this guy… he's unbearable!"
He had been certain this attack would finish Riku. But that lightning net had been absurdly powerful. Even iron rods traveling several times the speed of sound were completely nullified.
It was like firing artillery shells at a wall of chakra—except the wall never even shook.
As the last sparks died out, Riku calmly dismissed the lightning barrier.
He looked at Scorpion's puppet and said coldly, "Is that all you've got? If that was your trump card, then you're out of luck."
Scorpion, now furious, clenched his fists tighter. "Don't think I can't kill you, brat!"
Riku smiled. "I'll stay with you to the end. Sakura, Lady Chiyo—this battle is between me and him. You should fall back and tend to your wounds."
Sakura stepped forward, standing beside him. "I want to fight with you."
Riku didn't respond immediately, just looked at her.
Chiyo placed a hand on Sakura's arm. "Sakura, this is no longer a battle you can interfere with."
Her words struck Sakura like a hammer. She bit her lip, torn by unwillingness, but she knew the truth. The power gap between her and Riku—or even between her and Scorpion—was far too vast now.
In the previous exchange, she would've died in an instant without Riku's protection.
Even if her heart resisted the truth, her mind couldn't deny it.
"…Riku, be careful," she finally said, stepping back.
Riku gave a small nod.
Scorpion's power had impressed Riku—but not beyond what he could manage.
He simply wanted to see if the puppet master had anything left in his arsenal.
Scorpion stared at Riku with hate in his eyes. His puppet—towering over ten meters tall—bristled with seals and weapon ports.
Now, Scorpion's hands began forming seals.
"If Magnet Release can't threaten you," he growled, "then let's try this—Wind Style: Pressure Damage! And Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
The massive puppet's hands finished forming the seals, and a colossal amount of chakra surged into the technique.
Scorpion's chakra—already Kage-level—was amplified by a massive reservoir stored in his puppet body. That puppet held five times the chakra of Scorpion himself.
This, too, was why Riku had some admiration for him.
With the puppet's chakra combined with his own, Scorpion now had a chakra pool that surpassed even most Kage.
As the puppet's seals completed and chakra poured into the air, Riku's brow furrowed slightly. "Wind Style: Pressure Damage? Isn't that Kakuzu's technique?"
But then he thought—Given his background, it's not impossible that he stole it. With his talent, learning jutsu secretly wouldn't be that hard…
---------------------
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your Support is Truly Appreciated
--------