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When it comes to the fastest ninja in the world of Naruto, many would immediately think of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, both masters of the overpowered Flying Thunder God Technique, a space-time ninjutsu. However, people often overlook the Raikages throughout history, as well as Killer Bee, who, with the protection of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, are just as fast as the Flying Thunder God users. In the manga, Killer Bee, clad in his Lightning Release Armor, once matched Minato Namikaze in speed. But this Lightning Release Armor has always been a closely guarded secret of Kumogakure, not to mention that mastering Lightning Release itself requires innate talent.
Yet, for Jinghang, a transmigrator from another world, such problems were no longer issues. He might not know Lightning Release, but he had Magnet Release.
The great physicist Michael Faraday had long since elucidated the relationship between electricity and magnetism. The phenomenon of electromagnetic induction occurs when a conductor in a closed circuit cuts through magnetic field lines, generating an electric current in the conductor. The theory was clear, so the implementation was straightforward: form a closed circuit using iron sand, and then use other magnetic iron sand to frantically cut through the magnetic field lines. And thus, a high-quality imitation of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode was born.
Speeding through the desert, Jinghang donned a headscarf and goggles, his blue Lightning Release Armor emitting a sharp, crackling sound. He truly was a streak of sparks and lightning.
"This Lightning Release Armor is effective, but it consumes a lot of chakra. It seems I'll need to take a breather and recover before reaching the Lishi Fortress," Jinghang muttered to himself.
Compared to his peers, Jinghang's chakra reserves were undoubtedly terrifying. Since graduating from the Ninja Academy, he had been relentlessly training to increase his chakra capacity. Everything else could be sacrificed, but not the "blue bar." The Second Shinobi World War had just begun, and there were still ten years until the Third War and decades until the Fourth War. Who knew how many tough battles lay ahead? Without enough chakra, how could he even fight? Only by reaching the level of the Third Raikage—who fought an army of ten thousand for three days and nights—could one truly be invincible!
Through training, Jinghang discovered that increasing chakra was similar to improving physical fitness: only by repeatedly pushing beyond one's limits could growth occur. As a result, the training grounds of Sunagakure often witnessed a blue-haired figure tirelessly sweating it out. This dedication even caught the attention of the Second Kazekage, who often gazed out over the village. "Hmm, this blue-haired guy isn't bad. What's his name?" Thus, Jinghang's name entered the radar of Sunagakure's high-ranking officials. After completing countless S-rank and A-rank missions and commanding several victorious skirmishes at the border, the Kazekage, Shamon, decisively promoted him to a personal guard. A skilled fighter, a capable strategist, and a sweet-talker (a skill honed from his previous life as a community worker)—despite his youth, Jinghang possessed a broad perspective. He was tall, handsome, and charismatic (after all, among all the Kazekages, the Third was arguably the most dashing). Such a promising young man was naturally worth nurturing. Within just a few years, Jinghang earned the dual support of both the militant and conservative factions of Sunagakure's leadership, effectively becoming the "Crown Prince." Even when Jinghang proposed using the village's "nuclear bomb"—Shukaku—for training, Shamon didn't bat an eye before agreeing. With the ability to wrestle a Tailed Beast, his chakra reserves were undoubtedly among the top five in the ninja world, if not the top three. However, running across the desert for an entire day and night in his imitation Lightning Release Armor was as exhausting as piloting a Gundam, draining even his immense reserves.
"I guess it's time for me to study Sage Mode. That technique is like having a cheat code. But where should I learn it? Mount Myōboku? Shikkotsu Forest? Ryūchi Cave? Or perhaps some other summoning beast's domain? Speaking of which, maybe I should contract a summoning beast," Jinghang mused as he sped forward.
Meanwhile, at the Lishi Fortress
Akasuna Guimu unfolded the directive sent by the falcon from Sunagakure. The small slip of paper contained only three short sentences:
The Second Kazekage has fallen in battle. Jinghang will succeed as the Third Kazekage.
Konoha's White Fang will invade Lishi Fortress at noon on the 27th.
Reinforcements led by the Third Kazekage are on their way. Hold the line.
The note was dated the night of the 25th.
The message was written in plain text, indicating the dire urgency of the situation. Sunagakure's intelligence department clearly had no time to encrypt the words. Though brief, the three sentences left Akasuna Guimu feeling as though he had swallowed an entire pig leg whole. It took him a long while to process the information.
"Sigh. Notify our comrades stationed outside to abandon all outer defenses. Set more traps within the fortifications and concentrate all personnel on defending the central fortress of Lishi. Tell Yura to prepare to bury the wells at any moment, and burn all documents containing writing," Guimu commanded, passing the note to his wife, Akasuna Hideki.
Hideki took the note and her eyes widened instantly.
"Don't just stand there—go relay the orders. Konoha's White Fang will arrive by noon. We must buy more time for the village, more time for the Third Kazekage, and more time for our son, Sasori," Guimu said with a calm smile to his wife.
On Konoha's Side
"Order the troops to rest in place for ten minutes. After that, launch a full-scale assault on Lishi Fortress. All jonin combat squads are to head straight for the central fortress. Leave the outer defenses to the lower-ranking ninjas," commanded Sakumo Hatake.
In his prime, Sakumo Hatake was a man of resolute demeanor, a well-built frame, and decisive actions. He wasted no words or movements. Every muscle in his body seemed perfectly balanced, and his aura was like a sharpened blade, capable of cutting through anyone's gaze. No one dared question his orders or ask unnecessary questions; they could only obey.
This westward assault on Sunagakure was Sakumo Hatake's brainchild. Based on his meticulous analysis of intelligence, he deduced that Sunagakure's main forces were concentrated on the Rain Country front. The western region of the Wind Country, due to its geographical separation from the Fire Country by the River Country, had seen its elite jonin transferred to the frontlines, leaving only fifty or so stationed at Lishi Fortress, few of whom were jonin. This opportunity was immediately seized by the seasoned Sakumo, who drafted a proposal to the Third Hokage. Using diplomatic pressure, they coerced the River Country into granting passage, allowing him to lead a detachment straight toward Sunagakure. The Third Hokage, newly ascended and eager to assert his dominance, instantly approved the plan. Within a day, the River Country's diplomatic hurdles were cleared, and Sakumo Hatake was appointed to lead an 800-strong vanguard for the westward campaign. The likes of Chōza Akimichi and Koharu Utatane formed the second wave of reinforcements. If the plan succeeded, Sunagakure would face utter devastation.
"Report! The central fortress of Lishi has been breached by Fire Release and explosive tags. The remaining Sunagakure forces are resisting fiercely, with two puppet masters proving particularly troublesome."
"Let's go. Squad Seven, follow me," said Sakumo, grabbing his family's heirloom blade. Two ninjas shadowed him closely.
The central fortress of Lishi, standing amidst the desert sands, should theoretically have been a circular structure. Yet now, half of it lay in ruins, with smoke and debris scattered everywhere. The bodies of both Konoha and Sunagakure ninjas littered the ground, alongside broken kunai and shattered shuriken. The intense battle was clearly nearing its conclusion. Hundreds of Konoha ninjas in green combat vests stood ready, their eyes fixed on the remaining enemies.
At the forefront were Akasuna Guimu and Akasuna Hideki, each controlling two puppets to block the advance. Both were covered in wounds and blood, their chakra and stamina clearly depleted after a fierce battle. Behind them stood seven or eight other Sunagakure ninjas, equally battered and weary.
"The battle is over. Struggling further is pointless. Surrender now, and I'll spare your lives. I'll only say this once," Sakumo Hatake declared, stepping forward.
Akasuna Guimu did not reply, only offering a faint smile in response.
"Then don't blame me," said Sakumo, drawing his short blade.
In an instant, the room was filled with blinding white light. The blade's gleam seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible to track Sakumo's movements. He was like a ghost, his speed and precision unparalleled.
Swish. Swish.
With just two strikes, the four sturdy combat puppets were reduced to piles of scrap wood.
The Akasuna couple exchanged a resigned glance and closed their eyes in despair.
Without hesitation, Sakumo lunged forward, aiming to end the battle with a single strike.
But just as his blade was about to slice through Akasuna Guimu's throat, a small cluster of black powder coalesced on the blade like liquid.
The powder rapidly expanded, transforming into a small black iron rod. No matter how much force Sakumo applied, the blade couldn't move an inch further. His battle-hardened instincts kicked in, and he performed a backflip to retreat seven or eight meters, gripping his blade in a defensive stance.
Akasuna Hideki's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the black rod that had appeared out of nowhere.
"This… This is Jinghang-senpai's… Little Flying Rod!?"