Zoro's sparring with the 4th Raikage has already started. As Zoro thought, the 4th Raikage can move much faster than E. Comparing them is an insult to the 4th Raikage instead.
Zoro can barely keep up with Raikage's speed even with his Observation Haki being used at max. Reacting to Raikage's attacks are even harder than just sensing him.
That's why Zoro just covers his whole body with Armament Haki now to defend Raikage's attacks that almost always hit him.
Along with his high speed, Raikage's attacks are also very strong. Zoro keeps getting thrown by his attacks even when he knows where they come from and braces himself.
If he doesn't have Armament Haki and it's not strong enough, then he's sure a lot of his bones will be broken already by Raikage's powerful attacks.
The spectators are very impressed by Zoro now because there aren't many who can't even react to Raikage's speed. In fact, from the 4 of them, only B can see Raikage's movement. The other 3 can only see flashes that hit Zoro.
"B-san, are you sure he is the same age as me?" Yugito is the most impressed among them.
"How old are you?"
"13 now."
(An: In the previous chapter, I mistakenly described Yugito, Darui, and C as a woman and men while they are still very young at this time, sorry. Yugito is still 13 now, while Darui and C are 10.)
"Hmm, I think he says he is 14, almost 15 now, ya fool!"
Surely, Yugito and the others can see that Zoro is still young. But they just can't believe someone that young can react and even defend against Raikage's high speed attacks.
Yugito is a Jinchuuriki that has been given special training. The same also applies to C and Darui who are specially nurtured by both the late 3rd Raikage and the current 4th Raikage even when they were still in the academy.
All of them are close to Raikage and obviously know his power. That's why they can't believe someone that young can handle Raikage's high speed and powerful attacks.
After all, the 4th Raikage is so fast that even the Uchiha clan's sharingan can't follow him in the last war. Only Minato, the 4th Hokage could react to his speed throughout the 3rd shinobi world war.
Yet now, a young man who came out of nowhere is doing it too although not as good as Minato. But no one else can achieve such a feat at his age.
Just like them, Raikage himself is also surprised to see Zoro react to all of his attacks. He can react almost on time, but he can't move his body fast enough to respond, which means his body can't keep up with his senses.
Zoro's sharp senses aren't the only thing that piques Raikage's interest. His Armament Haki also impresses Raikage just as much.
As the one hitting Zoro's Armament Haki, Raikage can feel the hardness of this skill. He can punch through steel walls easily, but his punches can't break through Zoro's Armament Haki even after his punches land on Zoro's body so many times.
Although he also realizes that Zoro's Armament Haki can't negate all the damages. He can see Zoro feels hurt every time he attacks.
As Raikage thinks, Zoro really still can feel the pain from the punches. It's not only the lightning's electrocuting effect that passes through his Haki, but even the physical impacts from the punches still pass a bit and hurt him.
A little blood even comes out of his mouth after getting hit by Raikage so many times. But despite all the pains, Zoro's expression is getting happier as the fight goes on.
"What are you being happy about while being pummeled like this, kid?"
Raikage stops his attack to ask that question.
"I just like difficult fights against strong people. The thrill from hard battles is something I enjoy, just that."
"You just say that because this is not a real battle that can kill you."
"You say that because you don't know me. Even if it's a real life and death battle, I will still enjoy it."
"Is that so? Then let me see it with my own eyes, about how you will react when you are risking your life."
Raikage suddenly disappears and in an instant, his right arm has wrapped around Zoro's neck. He uses Lariat and aims at Zoro's neck using his full speed.
But then Raikage is surprised because Zoro doesn't get thrown. It's because Zoro clings on his arm by clamping it with his jaw and chest which is strong enough to stop him from being thrown.
Zoro sends a strong elbow at Raikage while still being dragged and it hits at the same time as when Raikage realizes Zoro isn't being thrown by his Lariat.
Although not as tough as his father, the 4th Raikage's body is still very tough. Most attacks won't even hurt or injure him. Yet, his face scrunches in pain when Zoro's elbow hits his ribs.
Zoro's elbow attack is very strong and he even uses Advanced Armament Haki on it, making it even more lethal. So it's not surprising for the 4th Raikage to get some of his ribs cracked even with his body's durability that has been enhanced even further with his Lightning Chakra Mode.
If Zoro's Advanced Armament Haki is stronger, his attack is more prepared, and the 4th Raikage's body is not as tough, then that attack could have injured him severely, not just cracking some ribs.
Because of Zoro's attack that injured him, the 4th Raikage loses his concentration while moving at a very high speed, which makes him lose balance and then falls with Zoro still on his arm.
Both of them crash onto the ground and then roll quite far on the ground because of the Raikage's high speed movement. They only stop after hitting a rock cliff and destroy a big part of it.
The spectators are surprised, especially B who can see what happened clearly. He also knows Raikage's power better than anyone here, so he is the most surprised when Zoro manages to hurt his brother.
The other 3 can't really grasp what happened, so B explains it to them. But he is still so shocked that he doesn't even rap anymore, even a little.
Both Zoro and Raikage then come out of the rubble. They are uninjured by the crash, but they still feel hurt from each other's attacks.
Zoro suddenly crosses his arms, making the swords on his hands are pointing up. Raikage also gets ready to attack again as he concentrates his chakra on his fists. Zoro just keeps looking forward as his aura rises.
"Rengoku Oni Giri!" (Purgatory Ogre Cutter!)
Then before Zoro moves, Raikage disappears from his spot. Zoro then also disappears from his spot. Then both of them appear behind each other in an instant.
Nothing happens for a moment, but suddenly the area around them are being destroyed and the already destroyed rubble gets destroyed even further before flying away from them.
However, Zoro suddenly coughs up blood and falls forward. His Armament Haki disappears as he loses consciousness.
Raikage is still standing, but he doesn't turn around even when B and the others are checking on Zoro. They see a big bruise with a slight scorch mark on Zoro's stomach which was caused by Raikage's full power punch in their clash just now.
"Brother, fool, ya fool! You were hitting him too strongly. He is just a kid~ but you really go all out in it~. You even used your full power punch, ya fool! Even I wouldn't be able to take it, even in Jinchuuriki Mode."
"I know I said this would just be a test and I wouldn't use my all. But how could I do that after he showed that level of power and determination."
Raikage finally turns around and everyone's eyes widen. There is a big cross wound on Raikage's torso. He even has blood come out of his mouth, showing that his injuries are quite severe.
"He just landed 2 attacks, that elbow and this cross slash. But just those 2 attacks were enough to injure me this much while I need so many powerful attacks just to take him down. He's strong and resilient. Just look at his face. Even when he is unconscious, he still looks like he'll still fight me. Not showing him my full power is an insult to him."
"Why are you doing this, Raikage-sama? I mean why did you fight him? Is he an enemy?"
Yugito is really curious about why the 4th Raikage even bothered to fight Zoro like this.
"He is not an enemy. I would even consider him an ally because he has defeated E the criminal and even returned what E stole. Making him our enemy is also not a good thing because it seems he has a connection with the Land of Iron's Daimyo. As for the reason for fighting him despite all of that. It's pure curiosity. I want to know how high a swordsman can go. Also, it's to show you 3 the power that your peer from outside can achieve. What you can see is someone polished by life and death battles all his life."
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Chapter 68. Reversed Situations
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