The air itself seemed to scream in protest as violent lightning chakra tore through it, creating a sound like fabric being ripped apart at impossible speeds. The Fourth Raikage A's form became little more than a blur of crackling energy, his Lightning Release Armor pushing his already formidable speed to its absolute limits.
Shhh!
In the blink of an eye, A materialized directly in front of Minato, his massive fist cutting through the air with devastating force. The punch carried the weight of his entire body behind it, enhanced by the raw power of his lightning chakra. The very air around his fist seemed to distort from the sheer velocity and force of the attack.
This was the Raikage's ultimate technique—a strike that had shattered mountains and reduced entire battlefields to rubble. The concentrated lightning chakra around his fist created a visible aura of destruction, and the ground beneath his feet cracked from the explosive force of his movement.
Yet as this earth-shattering blow hurtled toward Minato's face, the blond Hokage remained completely motionless. His expression was serene, almost meditative, as if he were observing a gentle breeze rather than facing an attack that could level a small village.
The other three Kage watched with bated breath, their hearts pounding as they witnessed what should have been the decisive moment of the battle. Even though they had accepted the inevitable outcome before the fight began, seeing it unfold in real-time was something else entirely.
But those with keen eyes could detect subtle changes beginning to manifest on Minato's gentle, handsome features. Orange pigmentation slowly began to gather at the corners of his eyes, forming the distinctive markings of Sage Mode. His normally azure blue pupils underwent a transformation, shifting from their circular shape to become horizontal, toad-like slits.
The natural energy around Minato began to surge and condense, creating an invisible barrier of such density and power that it seemed to warp the very fabric of reality around him.
Bang!
The Raikage's fist connected with what should have been Minato's face, but instead struck an immovable wall of compressed natural energy. The impact created a visible shockwave that radiated outward from the point of contact, causing the ground to tremble and dust to swirl around the two combatants.
"What!?" The exclamation burst from the lips of all three remaining Kage simultaneously, their pupils contracting in shock at the impossible sight before them.
They had known intellectually that Minato was powerful—his reputation as the Yellow Flash of Konoha was legendary throughout the ninja world. But witnessing him casually deflect the Raikage's most devastating attack without even moving a muscle was beyond their comprehension.
This wasn't merely strength; this was a demonstration of power that transcended their understanding of what was possible for a human being to achieve. The gap between their abilities and Minato's was not just vast—it was seemingly infinite.
The Fourth Raikage's expression shifted from confident determination to dawning horror as he realized the true nature of what he faced. No matter how much force he applied, no matter how much lightning chakra he channeled through his muscles, he could not advance even a single millimeter past the invisible barrier.
His arm trembled with the strain of maintaining maximum power, the lightning armor around his limb flickering and sparking as it struggled to maintain its integrity against the overwhelming pressure. Sweat beaded on his dark forehead as he pushed himself beyond his limits, yet achieved nothing.
"This power..." he whispered, his voice barely audible above the crackling of his lightning chakra. The weight of his own insignificance settled on his shoulders like a physical burden.
It was in this moment that the pride of the Hidden Cloud Village, the man who had never known defeat, truly understood the astronomical difference between himself and the being standing before him. This wasn't a ninja he was facing—this was something approaching the level of the legendary Sage of Six Paths himself.
"I'm sorry, Lord Raikage," Minato spoke softly, his voice carrying a note of genuine regret. There was no mockery in his tone, no satisfaction at having demonstrated his superiority. Instead, there was only the quiet sadness of someone who understood the burden of overwhelming power.
With a movement so fluid it seemed like a gentle breeze, Minato raised his right hand and extended his palm toward the Raikage. The gesture appeared almost casual, as if he were simply reaching out to touch a flower.
Bang!
The natural energy in front of the Raikage suddenly compressed and then exploded outward in a controlled burst. The invisible force struck him like a tidal wave, lifting his massive frame from the ground and sending him flying backward through the air.
His feet touched down and immediately began carving deep furrows in the earth as he slid backward, his body automatically adjusting to maintain balance even as he struggled to process what had just happened. The gouges in the ground stretched for more than ten meters before he finally came to a stop, his chest heaving with exertion.
A looked down at himself in amazement. The lightning armor that had protected him for so many years, the same armor that had deflected countless attacks and turned aside the sharpest blades, had been completely shattered across his chest. The chakra construct had simply dissolved under the pressure of Minato's attack.
Yet despite the overwhelming force that had struck him, he bore no injuries. Not even a bruise marked his skin. The realization hit him like a physical blow—Minato had shown mercy. The attack that had sent him flying could have easily killed him, but it had been precisely calibrated to demonstrate power while causing no harm.
A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked up at Minato. The expression in his eyes shifted from shock to something approaching reverence. He had spent his entire life believing that power was something that could be measured, that there were limits to what any individual could achieve. Minato had just shattered that worldview completely.
The other three Kage materialized near Minato using their respective movement techniques, their faces masks of barely controlled amazement. The Tsuchikage's normally composed demeanor had cracked, revealing genuine awe. The Mizukage's usual confident smile had been replaced by wide-eyed wonder. Even the young Kazekage, who had witnessed the power of the One-Tail firsthand, seemed overwhelmed by what he had just observed.
The silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of what they had witnessed. The demonstration had lasted mere seconds, but it had fundamentally changed their understanding of what was possible in the ninja world.
The Raikage slowly allowed his lightning armor to dissipate, the crackling energy fading until he stood in his normal form. In response, Minato deactivated his Sage Mode, the orange pigmentation around his eyes fading as his pupils returned to their normal shape.
When the five Kage stood together again, the atmosphere had completely changed. The Raikage's earlier aggression had been replaced by something approaching humility as he looked directly at Minato.
"What you did just now... that shouldn't be your full strength, right?" The question came out as barely more than a whisper, but it carried the weight of someone who had just glimpsed the true scope of his own limitations.
Although every fiber of his being rebelled against admitting it, the Raikage had realized during their brief exchange that Minato had been holding back considerably. The attack that had sent him flying had been controlled, measured—a demonstration rather than a genuine attempt to harm.
Minato's expression grew contemplative as he studied the expectant faces of the other four Kage. After a moment, he nodded slowly, confirming what they had all suspected but hoped wasn't true.
The revelation hit the assembled Kage like a physical blow. These were the strongest individuals in their respective villages, the pinnacle of what their nations could produce. Each of them had spent decades honing their skills, mastering techniques that lesser ninja could only dream of attempting. Yet in this moment, they felt their own insignificance with crushing clarity.
They understood with sobering certainty that if any of them had faced Minato in place of the Raikage, the outcome would have been identical. The gap between their abilities and his was not something that could be bridged through training or determination—it was absolute.
"Does Uchiha Madara really possess the same level of power as you?" The Raikage's voice carried a note of desperate hope, as if he were praying that the answer would somehow make their situation less dire.
Minato's expression darkened, and he shook his head slowly. "That's not accurate. That guy is stronger than me."
The simple statement landed like a thunderbolt among the assembled Kage. If Minato, who had just demonstrated power beyond their comprehension, was saying that Madara was even stronger...
"In our last battle, it might have appeared that we were evenly matched," Minato continued, his voice heavy with the weight of memory. "But I was completely helpless against his invisible attacks. If we were to fight with everything we had, my chances of victory would be minimal at best."
The Hokage's honesty was both refreshing and terrifying. He wasn't boasting or trying to make himself seem more powerful than he was. Instead, he was giving them the unvarnished truth about their enemy—and that truth was more frightening than any of them had imagined.
"Moreover," Minato added, his expression growing even more grave, "Madara also possesses the power of the Outer Path Demon Statue and five of the tailed beasts. If he learns to harness those powers as completely as Nagato did with the Rinnegan, not even I would be able to resist him."
The weight of this revelation settled over the assembled Kage like a suffocating blanket. They had been operating under the assumption that while Madara was dangerous, he was still within the realm of what they could potentially handle if they worked together. Now they understood that they were facing an enemy whose power dwarfed even their combined strength.
"Uchiha Madara truly is a troublesome existence," the Raikage muttered, his voice carrying a note of resignation that none of them had ever heard from him before.
The remaining four Kage felt the full weight of the situation settling on their shoulders. Even the Third Tsuchikage Ohnoki, who had witnessed Madara's methods firsthand during the previous era, realized with dawning horror that when Madara had faced him, the legendary Uchiha had not even been using a fraction of his true strength.
"So we must gather all our strength to stop his plan," Minato said, his voice taking on a note of urgency. "If he obtains the complete Rinnegan or captures the remaining tailed beasts, we will no longer have any means of resistance."
The current war situation might appear to favor the five major ninja nations, but Minato understood that this was merely an illusion. They were fighting against an enemy who was holding back, playing with them rather than making a serious attempt to achieve his goals. Once Madara decided to stop playing games and claim his full power, even the combined might of the entire ninja world would be insufficient to stop him.
This was why he had accepted the Raikage's challenge. The demonstration of power had not been about showing off or asserting dominance—it had been about helping the other Kage understand the true scope of what they faced.
The Raikage's actions had not been motivated by hatred or immature considerations. He had needed to judge for himself whether the legendary Uchiha Madara, an enemy he had never met, truly possessed the overwhelming power that the reports suggested.
"Hokage," the Raikage said after a long moment of contemplation, his voice carrying a weight and solemnity that spoke to the gravity of the decision he was about to make. "I agree with your proposal."
The words hung in the air between them, and Minato felt a surge of emotion that he struggled to contain. Despite the hatred and mistrust that had existed between the five major ninja nations for generations, these Kage were willing to put aside their differences and work together for the greater good.
This required a level of magnanimity and courage that truly lived up to the title of "Kage" that they bore. Each of them was risking not only their own lives but the safety of their villages by agreeing to this alliance.
From this moment forward, the Ninja Alliance was officially established. The five great nations, who had been enemies for so long that many had forgotten why the conflicts had started, were now united against a common threat.
"Since we have decided to work together to form a coalition," Mizukage Mei Terumi said, her voice carrying the authority and wisdom that had made her one of the most respected leaders in the ninja world, "there must be someone who can serve as the supreme commander of the coalition and take control of the overall situation."
The suggestion was logical and necessary. In large-scale ninja battles, the quality of leadership and strategic coordination often determined the outcome more than raw power. No matter how strong individual forces might be, without proper command and control, they would be nothing more than scattered sand in the wind.
The other four Kage understood this principle intimately, and after Mei Terumi made her proposal, their eyes all turned to Minato simultaneously. There was no debate, no discussion of alternatives—the choice was obvious to all of them.
In terms of strength, strategy, leadership ability, and prestige, no one was more suitable for the position of supreme commander than the current Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
The Yellow Flash of Konoha. The God of Ninja. The Yellow Flash whose name had become legend throughout the nations and struck fear into the hearts of enemies across the ninja world.
Whether they were Konoha ninjas or shinobi from other villages, all held deep respect and awe for the name Namikaze Minato. His reputation transcended village boundaries and political alliances—he was universally recognized as the pinnacle of what a ninja could achieve.
More importantly, it had been Minato who had initiated the formation of the Ninja Alliance in the first place. If it weren't for his vision and leadership, the coalition might never have been formed, and the entire ninja world would have been destroyed by Madara's machinations.
"Except for Lord Hokage," Gaara said, his young voice carrying surprising authority, "no one else could convince the other four Kage and the ninjas from various villages to work together as an Allied Ninja Force."
The Kazekage's words carried particular weight, as he had experienced firsthand the transformative power of Minato's leadership during the previous conflicts involving the Akatsuki organization.
"Exactly," Mei Terumi agreed with a smile, though her expression was tinged with deep respect. "The man before us has not only changed Konoha but also Kirigakure, and indeed the entire ninja world."
Her words carried the authority of someone who had witnessed the positive changes that Minato's influence had brought to her own village. The Hidden Mist had been transformed from a place of fear and bloodshed into a thriving community, largely due to the example set by Minato's leadership.
Tsuchikage Ohnoki nodded without hesitation. "In my opinion, only the Hokage can take on the responsibility of supreme commander."
Coming from the oldest and most experienced of the assembled Kage, these words carried enormous weight. Ohnoki had lived through multiple wars and had seen countless leaders rise and fall. His endorsement was not given lightly.
"I have no objections," Raikage A said with a slight shrug, though his casual demeanor couldn't hide the respect in his voice. For the first time in his life, he felt genuine awe for a ninja from what had traditionally been an enemy nation.
"In that case, I will temporarily assume the duties of supreme commander," Minato said, accepting the position without hesitation. His voice carried the weight of absolute commitment as he continued, "But this war cannot be won by me alone. The most important thing is the concerted efforts of all ninjas working together!"
A smile of genuine happiness appeared on Minato's face as he spoke these words. In this moment, he felt as though he was finally beginning to understand the true meaning of the disaster mentioned in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
Only in times of great disaster could the ninja world completely put aside their previous hatreds and grievances to work together toward a common goal. Only when faced with extinction could the various villages and nations unite their hearts and minds in true cooperation.
In such circumstances, the person who could lead everyone to victory and peace would be the prophesied savior—the child of prophecy who would bring either great destruction or great change to the ninja world.