Looking at the group below with expectant expressions, Dodai continued, "Listen up, if both sides don't apply the same amount of force simultaneously, the Rubber Man cannot be twisted apart. If one side is too strong or too weak, it won't break—only bend. First, try exchanging blows with A (Ai) to estimate how much force is needed, then use the Extreme Ox: Lightning Hot Knife on the Rubber Man."
"Alright, let's start testing from the first one." The jonin named Dodai spoke up when he saw Ai already walking to the opposite side of the Rubber Man.
"Please guide me!" shouted a boy of around ten years old as he clenched his left fist and charged toward the Rubber Man.
Boom! With a dull thud, the boy was instantly sent flying.
"Damn it!" he cursed, punching the ground in frustration. It had only taken a moment—he'd been flung away by the recoiling Rubber Man. Clearly, his strength was too weak. And that was all he had!
"Next."
"Please guide me!"
Boom! Another figure was flung through the air.
"Next." Dodai frowned as he continued calling them one by one.
Boom! Instantly, another figure was thrown.
"Next…"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dodai: "…"
"Next," Dodai kept calling. Then he turned to the Third Raikage and said, "Looks like we won't find a match this time either." From his tone, it was clear that they had already conducted several rounds of selection to find a suitable candidate for B.
The Third Raikage remained calm. "If only he had a real brother, this would've been much easier. Having a deep mental bond is crucial. But the selections aren't over yet, are they? We can't say for sure until the last one is done."
The Lightning Hot Knife was a famous technique in the village. It focused chakra throughout the body and rammed into the opponent, dealing tremendous damage. However, when two people used it simultaneously, it evolved into the Extreme Ox: Lightning Hot Knife—a technique where the enemy's head would be twisted and blasted away by opposing collision forces. This wasn't just a simple one-plus-one equals two. Alone, a user could only knock the opponent back, dealing impact and fall damage.
But with two using it together, the damage output far surpassed that of a single user. Still, was it really that easy? Clearly not. From the scene at the training ground, with one after another being flung away due to lack of strength, it was evident how hard it was for two people to use the technique together.
The condition for using this technique: both must apply nearly identical force at the same time. Otherwise, the weaker one gets blasted away. And don't underestimate being thrown.
If the one in the middle wasn't a Rubber Man but an actual enemy, it's easy to imagine—the weaker partner would be thrown along with the enemy by the stronger one. And the one thrown might suffer more than the enemy—possibly even finished off while midair. That's why being thrown was no joke. In battle, victory or defeat is often decided in a single instant.
At the side of the training ground, they continued to observe the dwindling number of candidates—these were all top students handpicked from the academy.
A was now 26 years old. Under the Raikage's personal training, he already possessed jonin-level strength. Not to mention that A focused on lightning-style taijutsu, making his power formidable—even a jonin-level ninja skilled in ninjutsu would lose 70% of their strength if hit by him full force.
Under these conditions, the chosen successor to the role of B would need to not only collide with A but also analyze A's strength in that instant and adjust their own accordingly. But these candidates were still children—how strong could they be? That made it much harder for A to adjust to their strength in the moment. Even if they succeeded, A would constantly have to adjust to them, severely weakening the technique's overall effectiveness.
Still, it wasn't all bad. This could help slowly build up their synchronicity and train A's adjustment ability. Besides, the title of B wasn't just about protecting A—it was preparation for becoming the next Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails!
As for who had a stronger future ahead, no one could say. All that remained now was the boy yawning lazily—Killer Bee. The candidates before him weren't even considered by the Raikage.
Boom! Another figure was sent flying.
"…"
As more and more candidates were eliminated, the atmosphere on the field grew heavier. Even the jonin Dodai gulped nervously from the pressure.
"Next, Killer Bee!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the Raikage's casual demeanor immediately turned serious. He fixed his gaze on the white-haired boy.
This was a unique child. Especially the look in his eyes beneath his thin eyebrows—there was no innocence in them at all, giving him a distinct presence.
Around his neck hung a long white scarf fluttering in the wind behind him. Combined with his black outfit, he appeared sharp and full of spirit.
"Finally, my turn? Thought I'd be old by the time it came." Killer Bee mumbled, clenching his right fist. In an instant, arcs of blue electricity began to crackle around his body.
Whoosh! In a flash, Killer Bee dashed out.
"So fast…" muttered Dodai, the one-eyed jonin. His eyes lit up. "Looks promising."
At the same time, A's eyes narrowed. "That's the Lightning Armor? Impossible! Did Father teach him that? That's no ordinary technique—it requires a strong physique to handle. Even I only fully mastered it as a Chunin! And it's not just the armor—just from how fast he's running, he's already mastered lightning chakra stimulation. That level of control isn't possible without at least Chunin skill!"
Zzzzz! As Bee rushed forward, a crackling sound echoed from the friction of highly concentrated electricity around his body.
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, the Rubber Man's head flew off. The other children had no idea what just happened—their eyes couldn't even keep up with Bee's speed.
"As expected of Big Brother Bee!" Motoi cheered on the sidelines, excited by the perfect performance.
"Lord Raikage, it looks like we've found him! I didn't expect him to be this talented!" Dodai said excitedly to the Raikage. From his tone, it was clear they'd been waiting a long time for someone who could match A.
"Not bad," the Third Raikage nodded. "Not only have we found him, but I'd say he's even better than A was at his age."
Although he had known Bee's potential, seeing him actually succeed in executing the Extreme Ox: Lightning Hot Knife alongside his son filled the Raikage with joy.
The only surprise? That this kid had already mastered the Lightning Armor technique. He had only taught it to Bee less than a month ago!
That kind of talent was terrifying.