Melee
The Third Raikage was ambushed by the Iwagakure army.
In order to buy time for his subordinates to escape, the Third Raikage chose to face the enemy alone.
Kitsuchi immediately barked the order: "Don't let those Kumogakure shinobi escape! Stop them!"
Hundreds of Iwagakure ninja surged forward, preparing to intercept the fleeing forces of Kumogakure.
"Lariat!"
In a flash, the Third Raikage vanished using the Body Flicker Technique, reappearing amidst the charging Iwagakure ranks.
Channeling Lightning Release chakra into his feet, he stomped down with explosive force. The ground shattered beneath him, forming a massive crater. More than twenty shinobi were killed instantly, while dozens more were thrown back by the shockwave.
The Third Raikage stood alone, blocking the path of hundreds of enemies who pursued his retreating allies.
A hail of kunai and shuriken rained down upon him.
But the Lightning Release Chakra Mode around his body intensified, crackling more fiercely.
The weapons clanged uselessly against his skin—none could pierce his armor-like body, hardened by his perfected lightning manipulation.
Like a wolf among sheep, the Third Raikage rampaged through the enemy lines, slaughtering Iwagakure shinobi with terrifying ease.
Unable to bear the sight of his comrades being slaughtered, Kitsuchi stepped in.
"Earth Release: Mountain Jutsu!"
With a thunderous rumble, Kitsuchi summoned two enormous domes of earth, intending to crush the Raikage between them.
But the Raikage braced himself, pressing outward with his palms. The stone hemispheres ground to a halt, unable to move further.
Seeing this, the surrounding Iwagakure ninja charged forward without waiting for orders.
"Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite!"
Focusing a dense amount of lightning chakra into four fingers, the Raikage pierced through the rock barrier like paper. Continuing his charge, he skewered multiple Iwagakure in one thrust, killing as he ran. His might dwarfed theirs—they were not even in the same league.
From a distance, Chi Yu watched the chaos, his body trembling slightly—not with fear, but exhilaration.
This was adrenaline. This was war.
These were the kinds of battles that stirred his blood.
By now, the Raikage's subordinates had successfully escaped.
He could have retreated too. But he didn't.
Because if the Raikage left now, Kumogakure would be left defenseless against the approaching Iwa army. He needed to buy time—enough for reinforcements from the Land of Hot Water to return and fortify the village.
"Hell Stab: Three-Finger Nukite!"
Reducing one finger for greater penetration, the Raikage used his deadly technique to dispatch another wave of shinobi.
Kitsuchi grimaced and shouted: "Earth Release: Great Wall!"
Multiple Iwa-nin performed hand seals in unison. A towering earthen wall—reminiscent of a fortress—rose to block the Raikage's advance.
But the Raikage didn't flinch. With his Three-Finger Nukite, he charged forward.
Everyone waited, poised to attack once the wall held him.
But it didn't.
With a flash of lightning, the wall was pierced straight through. The Raikage continued his slaughter, unimpeded.
Relying on the speed and power of Hell Stab and the defense of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he was unstoppable.
Not a single injury had been inflicted on him. Nearly a hundred Iwagakure were already dead.
"The strongest spear and the strongest shield, huh? Truly terrifying..."
Chi Yu's Mangekyō Sharingan spun slowly as he observed the Raikage. His admiration was genuine.
Especially when the Raikage used Hell Stab: Two-Finger Nukite—his speed nearly rivaled Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed, a technique Chi Yu himself had perfected.
If that was two fingers, then the one-finger variation must surpass even Godspeed.
Chi Yu was fascinated by the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Unlike his own Lightning Breathing, which only stimulated his muscles for speed, the Raikage's technique enhanced both his physical power and defensive capabilities.
The chakra inside the Raikage's body increased his nerve conduction speed, strength, and resilience—a perfect combat form.
Chi Yu lacked such a balanced technique. Aside from his unique ability 'Wan Ju (Myriad Rejection)', all of his techniques were purely offensive. A defensive method like Lightning Release Chakra Mode was exactly what he needed.
Kitsuchi was grim.
He had thousands of shinobi under his command, but even so, they couldn't bring down the Raikage.
Initially, Kitsuchi had planned to leave a detachment to delay the Raikage while the main force pressed on to invade Kumogakure.
But the Raikage alone had halted their advance.
Now Kitsuchi was caught between two bad options.
Even if they ignored him, it would take days to reach Kumogakure through the Land of Lightning. With the Raikage tearing through their rear ranks, the cost in casualties would be unsustainable.
But if they stayed to deal with him, the surprise attack would fail—his subordinates had already sent warning back to the village.
By the time the Kumogakure shinobi returned from the Land of Hot Water, the Iwagakure force would be caught between two fronts.
Kitsuchi had inherited Ōnoki's prudence. Reckless risks weren't in his nature.
The ambush plan had failed. Now, they had no choice but to kill the Raikage here.
But letting their forces be slaughtered like this was madness.
He clenched his fist.
"Change the terrain! Use Ninjutsu to slow him down! All units, regroup into squads and prioritize defensive formation!"
Chi Yu heard the command and frowned.
So this was the strategy now? Grind the Raikage down to death through attrition?
Cowardly. Typical Iwagakure.
He found it distasteful.
But he didn't exactly like the Raikage either. After all, Kumogakure had once kidnapped Uzumaki Kushina.
Chi Yu stood up. He hoisted his ninja blade onto his shoulder and began walking toward the battlefield.
Kitsuchi spotted the figure in the distance, narrowing his eyes sharply.
"The Blood-Eyed Shura—Chi Yu?! Has Konoha sent reinforcements?!"
Chi Yu tapped his sword against his shoulder.
"It's just me. Watching this from afar was too boring. I can't stand such a pitiful end. You Iwa shinobi have no shame—turtling up against one man?"
Kitsuchi glared at him. "So you're here to support the Raikage?"
Chi Yu scoffed. "Support him? Don't be ridiculous. Kumogakure and I are enemies. I just... want a fight."
He pointed his blade at Kitsuchi.
"So how about we make this a free-for-all?"
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