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"Whoosh!"
Sakumo suddenly flashed back to his original position, collapsing to the ground weakly.
Tsunade's face tightened, and she immediately started treating his injuries with a bright green chakra glow on her hands.
At this moment, Sakumo's forehead was covered in sweat, his lips pale. Despite having lost both arms, his eyes were still fixed on Sōsuke with determination. For him, the only belief in survival was to avenge his former companions, even at the cost of his life.
Meanwhile, Sōsuke stood there, making no move to stop him from retreating.
"Snap!"
He casually threw the sharp White Fang aside, placing it next to Sakumo's blood-stained severed arm, the pale blade and the red arm glaring under the sunlight.
He smiled slightly, glancing at everyone with a hint of indifference, and said softly, "If you continue to see me as a former companion, you might accidentally lose your life."
Hearing his words, everyone was taken aback.
At that moment, Dai took a step forward, looking at Sōsuke seriously, and said, "No matter what, I consider you my companion, Sōsuke. Even if everything in the past was a lie, those memories are precious to me."
As he spoke, he slowly unwrapped the bandages from his hands.
As the bandages fell to the ground, revealing Dai's hands scarred from old wounds, he looked straight at Sōsuke with a serious gaze and said softly, "So... even if it's all an illusion, as a companion, I won't let you leave the village!"
Hearing his words, everyone felt the same way and looked at Sōsuke, hoping he would change his mind.
Unfortunately, Sōsuke merely glanced at Dai's hands, smiled slightly, and said, "Is that so... Dai, it seems you've grown a lot over the years..."
"Then, let me see to what extent Hakuda technique I taught you can be utilized..."
Hearing this, Dai's expression darkened, his hands clenched slightly, and he took a small step forward.
"Heh..."
He exhaled softly, and with a stomp, the ground beneath him suddenly cracked, sending stones flying.
The next moment, his figure vanished from the spot.
"Whoosh!"
A green figure suddenly appeared in front of Sōsuke, throwing a punch with terrifying momentum!
Sōsuke, smiling lightly, merely extended a hand to block it at his side.
"Boom!"
A loud noise erupted where their fists met, followed by a shockwave dispersing in all directions, causing a whirlwind of dust and debris!
However, Dai's figure suddenly flickered in front of Sōsuke.
Sōsuke narrowed his eyes, still smiling, "An afterimage? Then the attack is from behind..."
As he spoke, his pale hand drew Kyōka Suigetsu from its sheath at his waist, pulling out the snow-white blade halfway.
"Clang!"
Dai's figure reappeared, his punch precisely blocked by Kyōka Suigetsu.
Dai's fist hit the blade of Kyōka Suigetsu, making a loud noise but failing to penetrate. Surprised but not panicked, Dai twisted in the air and slammed his foot down with a heavy momentum.
"Leaf Rock Destroying Rise!"
Facing this terrifying strike, Sōsuke's eyes slightly narrowed, a faint smile on his lips.
Suddenly, he seemed to blend into the space at his side, disappearing from the spot!
"Boom!"
The solid ground cracked open instantly under Dai's kick!
Dust and shockwaves violently surged in all directions, forcing Jiraiya and others to shield themselves from the powerful debris!
A crater nearly ten meters in diameter was formed under Dai's kick!
The ground was cracked in all directions, extending to the surrounding buildings and causing them to collapse!
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the others were shocked by Dai's performance, hardly believing how strong Dai had become.
However, Dai in the crater looked tense, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.
That strike hadn't hit Sōsuke; where had he gone?
Then, suddenly!
"Dai, watch out behind you!"
Jiraiya shouted a warning.
Hearing this, Dai's expression tightened, and he quickly turned to counterattack, but he was puzzled.
Behind him? Why couldn't he feel any airflow disturbance?
"Bang!"
Dai's body shot backward like a cannonball!
"Crash!" "Crash!"...
Numerous house walls were penetrated by his body, until he finally stopped, almost buried under rubble and wood.
"Cough, cough..."
With a series of muffled coughs, Dai slowly crawled out from the rubble and wood chips, covered in dust and looking very disheveled.
However, for him, the real concern was his abdomen.
He half-kneeled on the ground, eyes wide open, directly hit by Sōsuke's terrifyingly powerful strike, causing unbearable damage to his internal organs.
Suddenly, he vomited a large mouthful of blood.
Everyone on the scene was shocked by this scene, wondering if Sōsuke had just used the legendary space ninjutsu...
Nearby, Sōsuke gently sheathed Kyōka Suigetsu, the faint smile on his face now gone, expressionless.
Looking at Dai kneeling on the ground, vomiting blood, he said indifferently, "If we continue, I can't guarantee I won't accidentally kill you."
"Your strength is still too weak, Dai. If you really want to stop me, then continue to grow stronger."
"Become the strongest in taijutsu, and then, perhaps, I might find you interesting."
Saying this, he turned to look in the direction of the northwest corner of Konoha, no longer paying attention to the people on the scene.
During the fight between Sōsuke and Dai, Sakumo had picked up his left arm and White Fang.
Tsunade had already reattached Sakumo's left arm to his body, a task made simple by medical ninjutsu.
As Sōsuke was about to leave for the northwest direction of Konoha,
"Boom!"
A terrifying surge of chakra suddenly erupted from not far behind him!
He frowned slightly, glancing coldly over his shoulder.
Dai's surroundings were filled with floating dust and wood, suspended in the air by the terrifying green chakra swirling around him!
His face turned almost purplish-red as he shouted,
"The Gate of Pain, open!"
Sōsuke watched Dai with an emotionless gaze, thinking,
He's already opened four gates...
However, Dai seemed not yet ready to give up. With a red face and a serious expression, he looked determinedly at Sōsuke, saying,
"Sōsuke! I must stop you!"
"The Fifth Gate, the Gate of Limit, open!!"
A rich green chakra burst skyward from him!
Because of the terrifying chakra fluctuation, a fierce windstorm formed, creating violent winds on the scene.
His pupils were almost entirely white at this point, his face purplish-red, and his black hair stood up on its own without wind, standing on end!
But all of this was not over yet!
Dai clenched his fists tightly, and on his forehead, neck, and arms, wherever exposed skin could be seen, terrifying tendons bulged!
He grimaced in pain, and the bones inside his body began to crackle!
As if enduring terrifying torture, his voice low and hoarse.
"The Sixth Gate, the Gate of Joy! Open for me too!!"
Intense chakra fluctuations swirled around him, the momentum astonishing!
The onlookers were all stunned by now!
This... is Dai's true strength!?
How did he achieve this terrifying chakra fluctuation!?
Watching this scene, Sōsuke's indifferent gaze concealed a hint of subtle complexity, as he murmured.
"Enough, Dai...."
As his words fell,
Sōsuke's figure suddenly disappeared from where he stood!
"Bakudō #99, Part 1. Kin!"
As the command was uttered, countless thick bandages suddenly appeared on the ground, wrapping around Dai.
At this moment, Dai had not yet opened the sixth gate. He was firmly entangled by the bandages, like a mummy!
The next moment!
"Boom!"
Countless bandages that bound him suddenly shattered, turning into scattered pieces!
Sōsuke appeared beside him, frowning slightly as he watched this scene, unsure of what he was worried about.
Dai's body was enveloped in a majestic green chakra, his pupils already white, veins bulging on his face!
"Sōsuke! I won't let you leave the village!!"
Even though the attempt to open the sixth gate was interrupted, resulting in failure, he still shouted in a deep voice.
He placed his hands in front of him, one in front and one behind, assuming a half-squatting posture.
The next moment!
"Boom!"
The ground within dozens of meters suddenly sank several meters in height!
His figure suddenly appeared in front of Sōsuke!
"Konoha's Secret Technique. Rock Breaking Fist!"
With a roar, he threw a punch, and countless chakra surged along with the wind unleashed by this punch!
Sōsuke frowned slightly but did not dodge. Instead, he met the punch head-on!
As if a terrifying monster hidden in the depths had slightly opened its eyes, a terrifying and awe-inspiring chakra suddenly surged from Sōsuke's body!
"Boom!"
The two fists collided, creating an astonishing sound like thunder, deafening!
A terrifying shockwave suddenly erupted, blowing nearby houses to collapse!
"Bang!"
Dai's body plummeted to the ground like a meteor, smashing into the ground and creating a large crater!
Dust and debris rolled continuously, the scene in chaos.
But Sōsuke stood in the air, almost unscathed. He glanced lightly at the ground, expressionless.
"Are you going to continue... Your right arm should be broken by now...."
There was no answer underground to Sōsuke's words. In the midst of the smoke and dust, a green figure suddenly leaped out!
In the blink of an eye, he rushed to Sōsuke's side!
"I told you! No matter what, I will definitely stop you!"
"Konoha's Secret Technique. Hidden Tiger!"
His body suddenly rotated forcefully, almost all the chakra surging into his right foot. A white chakra tiger head emerged ferociously on his right foot!
Facing such a powerful kick, Sōsuke's eyes were slightly cold.
Facing the incoming Hidden Tiger carrying majestic chakra, his fair hands, one slightly raised and the other gently placed on Kyōka Suigetsu, Sōsuke said softly.
"Ketsurōshiga!"
As he spoke, a terrifying and awe-inspiring chakra faintly appeared, and a brilliant and majestic sword light suddenly flashed in the sky!
"Boom!"
The two moves collided.
The wind howled in the sky, the dazzling chakra collision flashed and disappeared in the sky, even attracting the attention of the Rock ninjas attacking Konoha!
"Crack, crack..."
With the sound of bones cracking, Dai's body once again rapidly fell to the ground!
"Bang!"
His body did not directly crash into the ground but was caught by Sōsuke by the collar, and then thrown gently to the ground.
At this moment, Dai was extremely weak, his eyes half closed.
Blood seeped from all over his body, his hands and feet all broken, unable to move.
Sōsuke looked down at him, standing still for a moment. Throughout, his face remained expressionless.
Just as he was about to take a step to leave!
"Click..."
A pair of hands covered in blood seemed to exert their last bit of strength, tightly grasping his trouser leg, staining his white clothes with blood.
Sōsuke didn't pay attention to it, instead looking down at him.
"I...if...if you really...leave...Sō...Sōsuke...you...you won't be able...to turn back...anymore..."
Dai lay on the ground, unable to open his eyes, blood and dust mixed on his face, lips trembling weakly.
Hearing his words, Sōsuke's gaze was somewhat complex, and after a moment, a hint of determination flashed, his voice gentle.
"Enough.... Dai... you've done enough...."
"It was my choice... a path that no one before me has taken.... I believe I will succeed..."
"So... I'm sorry...."
With that, Sōsuke took a step away, leaving a bloody handprint on his trousers.
In the bright sunlight, his tall figure appeared very lonely.
And those bloodstained hands fell weakly to the ground.
Against the sunlight, they seemed incredibly lost.