Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

What exactly was White Zetsu's strength? This question had no definitive answer.

As a creation of Kaguya Otsutsuki's will, Black Zetsu extracted humans trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi during ancient times from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to serve as Kaguya's future army. Most of them were relatively weak, suitable only for tasks like digging up corpses or reconnaissance. However, there were exceptions, such as the formidable White Zetsu Fly.

In the original manga, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, White Zetsu's 100,000-strong army fought against 80,000 members of the Allied Shinobi Forces. The results were surprisingly decent: by the midpoint of the war, 50,000 White Zetsu had perished, but the Allied Forces had also lost 40,000. The staggering casualty ratio of 5:4 was a testament to their effectiveness.

Techniques like Spore Technique, Cuscuta Technique, and Mayfly Technique, unique to White Zetsu, caused significant trouble for the Allied Forces. Their Impersonation Technique alone nearly plunged the alliance into chaos, as paranoia and distrust spread among the ranks. Even the brilliant strategist Shikaku Nara struggled to find a solution. If not for Naruto's game-changing intervention, the outcome of the war might have been very different.

But Jing Hang had long anticipated such scenarios.

First, all participating Sunagakure ninjas bore unique marks. A white cloth was tied around their left arm, while a large black dot was marked on their right palm. Additionally, they used cryptic passphrases to identify each other, often drawn from popular lyrics like, "I love you walking alone in the dark alley, I love your unyielding stance." If the passphrases didn't match, no matter who stood before them, they were authorized to eliminate the impostor immediately. This minimized the chances of White Zetsu sowing confusion with their impersonation abilities.

Second, all ninja weapons had been coated with a mineral-based toxin developed by Sunagakure's medical department. When it came to White Zetsu research, Sunagakure proudly claimed the top spot in the ninja world. The vials and jars in their underground medical labs were no joke. With the combined expertise of Tsunade and Chiyo, two titans of medical and toxicological arts, the toxin had been refined to near perfection. In short, even a minor scratch from this poison would spell instant death for White Zetsu.

However, Jing Hang and the Third Raikage had no intention of wasting their time on small fry. The two exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with determination, and simultaneously activated their Lightning Release Armor. In an instant, a blue blur and a blue-gold blur charged toward Madara Uchiha, who sat calmly at the center of the battlefield. Their chosen technique was none other than the Cloud Village's signature move—Double Lariat.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Two heavy thuds echoed as their attacks struck the stone walls.

Madara raised his head slightly, glancing at the two with mild interest.

"Your accuracy is passable, but your strength is lacking," he remarked nonchalantly.

The Third Raikage's bull-like eyes widened in disbelief.

"What the hell is this thing? How is it so sturdy?"

Jing Hang, on the other hand, seemed more intrigued than frustrated.

"This is some high-level stuff. It's the Uchiha clan's unique ability—Susanoo. But this isn't the complete version. When fully deployed, it becomes a majestic giant."

Madara sat encased in a massive shell of blue chakra. Within the translucent barrier, faint skeletal structures were visible—likely ribs. It was a textbook example of Susanoo in its initial stage.

"You seem well-informed," Madara remarked, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Then, do you know the true power of Susanoo?"

A glint of malice flashed in Madara's eyes as a massive blue skeletal claw shot toward Jing Hang.

Jing Hang reacted swiftly, leaping out of harm's way.

"Big brother, hold him off for a while," Jing Hang called out to the Third Raikage, as he began preparing his own technique.

This was no time for carelessness. Susanoo was the ultimate power housed within the Mangekyo Sharingan. By materializing massive chakra constructs, it provided both unmatched offense and defense. Getting caught by it would mean severe injury at best.

Fortunately, Madara at this point was a shadow of his former self, an aged relic. It was unlikely he could summon Susanoo in its full form. Jing Hang had accounted for this in his plans. After all, he had brought along a rare powerhouse capable of breaking through Susanoo's chakra shell.

"One-Finger Nukite!"

The Third Raikage leapt forward, delivering a swift and devastating Hell Stab. The attack cleanly severed the blue skeletal claw at the wrist.

"To think there's someone like you in the Cloud Village. Truly impressive," Madara said, his tone tinged with admiration. Having previously fought the First and Second Raikage, he could tell this man surpassed his predecessors.

"Haha, you flatter me," the Third Raikage replied humbly, though his hands never stopped moving. Using the momentum from his waist, his mountain-like physique spun gracefully, channeling centrifugal force into his raised Nukite. The attack drove straight toward Madara's Susanoo.

"Crack!"

The sound was akin to an ice pick striking frozen glass.

A crack appeared on the chakra shell of Susanoo.

"Yaaah!"

With a roar, the Third Raikage pushed his Nukite three inches deeper. The cracks on Susanoo's surface spread like a spiderweb. It was as if the tempered glass was on the verge of shattering, and the Third Raikage's hand continued to penetrate deeper.

"You are indeed strong. But..."

Madara nodded slightly before suddenly widening his eyes. His blood-red Sharingan glowed ominously, the intricate tomoe patterns spinning rapidly.

The Third Raikage felt his mind reel. A wave of dizziness swept over him, as if his very soul was being pulled from his body. Unconsciously, he withdrew his Nukite and even deactivated his Lightning Release Armor.

At that moment, a cooling sensation from his waist jolted him back to his senses.

"Hmm? Interesting," Madara raised an eyebrow. Another blue skeletal claw formed, gripping the Third Raikage tightly.

"Wind-Magnet Rasenshuriken!"

The Third Raikage's assault had bought enough time for Jing Hang to complete his preparations. This new technique, the Wind-Magnet Rasenshuriken, was a creation Jing Hang had developed over the years. Essentially, it combined the destructive power of Wind Release: Rasenshuriken with the sealing properties of Magnet Release, harmonized through Sage Mode. Jing Hang had even sought advice from Shukaku for this technique.

The Rasenshuriken retained its signature bright blue hue, but its surface was adorned with intricate patterns resembling those on Shukaku's body. Surrounding the sphere were high-speed rotating wind blades, emitting a sharp, piercing howl.

"Big brother, reactivate your Lightning Release Armor!" Jing Hang shouted. The attack's range was significant, and friendly fire was not an option.

With a loud cry, Jing Hang hurled the Rasenshuriken toward Madara. The spinning sphere hurtled toward Susanoo, emitting a grating sound as it clashed with the chakra shell. The two forces wrestled for dominance, neither yielding an inch.

But Jing Hang wasn't content to merely watch. Seizing the moment, he grabbed an iron sand short blade and moved to flank Madara from behind.

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