"Konoha's Copy Ninja, Sharingan Kakashi… Tsunade, do you really think you can defy my will just because he's here?" The Fourth Raikage met Tsunade's provocation head-on, showing no signs of backing down.
As he spoke, his eyes widened, lightning crackled across his body, and his yellow hair and beard stood on end—like a thunder god descending to earth!
How could the dignified Raikage lose in presence to a mere woman, even if she was one of the famed Three Legendary Ninjas?
"Wrapping extreme Lightning Chakra around the body… stimulating the cells, even the nervous system, to boost both defense and reaction speed... Is this the Lightning Release Chakra Mode—Kumogakure's secret technique?" Kakashi's eyes widened, his Sharingan's three tomoe spinning rapidly as he analyzed every detail of the Raikage's aura.
He himself could enhance his body with Lightning Chakra, but not to the Raikage's extent. Stimulating the nervous system to such a degree required an immense Chakra output—something he couldn't afford with his Sharingan's burden.
Reaction nerves determined reflex speed, and with Lightning Release Chakra enhancing his body, the Fourth Raikage's movements would be swift and explosive.
He might have already reached the level of speed once held by his teacher, the Fourth Hokage, Minato.
This is bad!
'Super Saiyan Raikage?' While Kakashi focused on observing, predicting, and preparing for the next move, Ishikawa could only tremble inwardly, his heart pounding wildly as he watched the monstrous presence before them.
The Raikage's speed now might rival Naruto in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. Even Kakashi might struggle, and as for Tsunade, she might look strong, but in real combat, her Hemophobia could make her lose control.
Strong on the outside, weak on the inside—that was Tsunade's state right now!
"Lord Raikage, watch out for that Sharingan!" Suddenly, Amai stepped forward and warned, placing himself in front of the Raikage to block Kakashi's sight.
The words were a warning against Genjutsu—but the real goal was clear: to keep Kakashi from copying the technique.
Though the Lightning Release Chakra Mode was a prized Kumogakure secret, its learning curve was deceptively simple: easy to learn, nearly impossible to master.
If a master technician like Kakashi copied it, it could become a strategic disaster for the Hidden Cloud!
Besides, if this escalated into a full-blown fight, it was unclear whether they'd gain anything at all. Tsunade was a Sannin. Kakashi is a genius technician. Neither were people to be taken lightly.
"Trying to copy my Lightning Release? Hmph. Let's see if he can leave here alive first!" The Raikage sneered. Electricity crackled as it danced along his arms—violent, unforgiving.
'He's coming!' Kakashi and Tsunade's pupils shrank as a flash of lightning split the air. The Fourth Raikage vanished—and then reappeared beside Tsunade almost instantly.
'So fast!!' Tsunade's instincts screamed, and without hesitation, she swung her leg in a vicious counter-kick. "Heavenly Spear Foot!"
'Heavy-Style Elbow!' But in the same breath, the Raikage used his superior reflexes and focused lightning chakra into his elbow, striking Tsunade's calf before her kick could connect.
'No! Dammit—!' Tsunade's expression twisted. Even though she possessed monstrous strength, it was meaningless if she couldn't hit her opponent. And now she'd been caught.
If that strike landed cleanly, her bones might shatter. Blood would spill. And with it… her greatest weakness. She'd freeze. She'd break down. Hemophobia would consume her.
But then—
"Raikiri!!" In the blink of an eye, just as Tsunade braced for the worst, Kakashi's voice thundered from her side.
A surge of blue lightning exploded from beside the Raikage—Kakashi had already closed the distance. Tsunade's eyes widened in shock as she saw Kakashi wielding his Raikiri, lightning roaring in his hand, surging forward like judgment itself.
Although he still couldn't match the Raikage's attack speed, as long as his elbow touched Tsunade, even for a split second, he would definitely pause—and that moment was enough for Kakashi's Raikiri to land!
It was a blatant trap—a classic case of cutting off the hand to save the arm.
'Is this the power of the Sharingan?' In that flash of insight, the Raikage narrowed his eyes and let out a silent sigh before decisively giving up the attack.
The Sharingan had pinpointed that barely visible flaw in an instant and immediately launched a counter. If Kakashi's strike had landed, even he wouldn't have escaped serious injury.
Almost at the moment, his elbow neared Tsunade, the chakra under the Raikage's feet exploded like a cannonball—boom!—and he shot upward through the roof to dodge Raikiri's deadly strike!
"Boom—!!" In the next instant, Tsunade's powerful leg smashed into the ground like a battering ram. The earth trembled and split open violently beneath her feet…
Though it seemed like a drawn-out clash, everything happened in the blink of an eye. Lightning flashed across the izakaya—and before Ishikawa and the others could react, the ground was cracking and the building began shaking.
"This place is going to collapse—get out!" Ishikawa quickly shouted, scooping up the dazed Shizune and breaking out the window with a burst of chakra.
Startled but responsive, Tarou and Jiro snapped out of it and followed, their feet exploding with chakra as they launched themselves after him!
"Bang…Boom!" Almost the moment the three of them landed in the backyard clearing, the entire izakaya collapsed in a thunderous crash. Fortunately, the earlier commotion had driven out the shop owner and guests, preventing any casualties.
"Good job, kid." With a gust of wind, Tsunade landed beside Ishikawa, her eyes gleaming with approval.
Without giving him a chance to reply, she quickly shoved a small packet into his hand. "This is hangover medicine. Feed it to Shizune and wake her up—we'll need her help. You three alone can't handle that Kumogakure Jonin."
"Understood!" Ishikawa took the medicine and immediately handed it to Taro, while his own eyes remained locked on the opposite side, filled with tension and dread.
Damn, that was close! Thankfully, with Kakashi-sensei going all out, the tide didn't turn against them. If not…
But really—did Tsunade expect them to fight that kind of monster?! Three rookie Genin and a drunk assistant against a high-ranking Hidden Cloud Jonin?
She must be joking.
"Over there!!" Whoosh! Kakashi appeared at Tsunade's side, his left eye narrowing with intensity.
"You found something?" Tsunade asked as Ishikawa turned back toward them, alert.
Kakashi didn't answer right away. Instead, the tomoe in his left eye spun rapidly, focusing with precision as his Sharingan analyzed the battlefield. Then his brow furrowed slightly.
"There's something inside the Raikage… something that's absorbing his chakra. Earlier, I couldn't see it clearly because his entire body was shrouded in lightning, but just now, when he focused chakra into his elbow, I saw another concentration point pulling chakra away."
"Sensei, are you saying something inside him is draining his chakra?" Ishikawa blinked, his mind racing as if he'd stumbled onto a half-forgotten memory.
Even though he was a transmigrator, Naruto had over 700 episodes, not counting Boruto. How could anyone remember every minor subplot? Especially with Naruto's pacing, filler arcs, and side characters that made the story feel like a memory inside a memory…
Still, something about this situation seemed familiar.
He'd definitely seen this plot point before. Damn it—it's right there, but he couldn't recall!