The End of the Third Raikage
Chi Yu stood firm, his Susanoo shielding him from the Third Raikage's devastating blow.
Looking at the Raikage's bloodied and battle-worn figure, Chi Yu smiled faintly.
"I admit you're stronger than me. Right now, I can't defeat you. But this is only temporary. The conclusion of our battle will come another day."
The Third Raikage narrowed his eyes, blood dripping from a gash across his brow.
"What's this? You're running away now? After all that talk about taking my head?"
Chi Yu replied calmly, almost amused.
"Yes, I am retreating. But can you stop me? Losing to a Kage is no disgrace—and look at you. From the outside, it seems like I was the one suppressing you."
He glanced meaningfully toward the battlefield.
"You have a duty—to protect the Hidden Cloud and hold off these Iwagakure. I don't. I came here only to fight you, not to die. I still have a future to pursue."
Chi Yu's tone darkened slightly.
"To be honest, I intended to take your head on behalf of those Iwagakure shinobi. It felt like a waste to let you fall to them—those who dared betray their own alliances. I even considered using... that method to recover and continue fighting. But that wouldn't be a fair duel."
He turned away slightly.
"If I can't win fairly, I'd rather retreat. And truthfully, if I decide to leave, I doubt even you can stop me."
A crooked grin crept across the Third Raikage's bloodied face, making his expression both proud and grotesque.
"Heh. You think I'll die here, and yet you talk about settling things later?"
Chi Yu's eyes narrowed.
"I won't say more. Just remember: the next time we meet, I'll be at my peak—and I will find you. One day, we'll settle this properly."
The Third Raikage was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he turned his back on Chi Yu.
"Go, then. You're right—I can't stop you. My fight now is with those traitorous dogs."
Without another word, he launched himself toward the Iwagakure forces, lightning flickering around his battered body as he struck them down one after another.
Chi Yu watched him for a moment longer, then vanished using the Body Flicker Technique. He reappeared on a rocky outcrop at the edge of the battlefield and sat, breathing heavily, his wounds still fresh.
He used his internal reserves—and a few carefully hoarded witness points—to heal enough to remain conscious. Then, he watched.
---
Kitsuchi, the son of Ōnoki and a commander of Iwagakure's forces, took the lead in organizing a defensive counterattack.
Despite having lost an arm to Chi Yu's ambush, the Third Raikage remained a storm of raw fury and power. But the difference was clear—he was no longer slaughtering his enemies effortlessly. His stamina, though legendary, had its limits.
By dawn the next day, his speed had slowed. His movements were no longer sharp, and hesitation began creeping into his strikes. Even so, aside from the injury Chi Yu had dealt him, the Iwagakure forces had yet to land a single clean hit.
Another five hours passed.
Chi Yu finally stood. His Observation Haki—refined through unorthodox means—sensed it clearly: the Raikage's chakra was beginning to fade, pushed beyond its natural limit.
The Third Raikage killed two more shinobi with a lightning-cloaked lariat, but then fell to one knee.
His breathing became labored, shallow.
"It's the end..." Chi Yu whispered.
Memories flickered in the Raikage's mind—of comrades, his son, and finally, Chi Yu.
Perhaps… dying by his hand wouldn't have been such a shame. What a pity… why wasn't he born one of us?
The Third Raikage's vision blurred. He slumped forward and did not rise again.
Chi Yu exhaled slowly, solemnly.
"The man was a monster. Even in death, his strength didn't waver."
The Iwagakure forces stood cautiously around the fallen Raikage, shocked and exhausted. They had not defeated him—only outlasted him.
Chi Yu shook his head.
"If he'd known my technique as well as I knew his... that arm might never have been lost."
He stared at the corpse for a long moment.
"I'll wait for the day you're summoned by Edo Tensei. Then we'll finish what we started."
With that, Chi Yu turned and disappeared toward the Land of Hot Water.
---
Word of the Third Raikage's death spread quickly.
Ay, his son, inherited the title of the Fourth Raikage and vowed to defend the Hidden Cloud and the Land of Lightning with his life.
The Hidden Cloud issued an official statement condemning Iwagakure's betrayal of the alliance. They claimed that ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi had ambushed the Third Raikage—and that he had fought them single-handedly.
They also announced their immediate withdrawal from the war. Any further aggression against the Hidden Cloud would be met with full-scale retaliation—village, nation, bloodline be damned.
No one doubted they meant it. The martial might of the Hidden Cloud was unmatched in brute force, and their will was iron.
Meanwhile, Chi Yu's name spread again like wildfire.
Ten thousand shinobi couldn't harm the Third Raikage—yet he had taken his arm.
Chi Yu smirked when he heard it.
"So it wasn't Iwagakure boasting... It was the Hidden Cloud themselves. All to glorify their Kage's death."
---
Upon returning to the encampment, Chi Yu found Orochimaru already preparing troop movements.
The Sannin turned as he saw him.
"You were right, Chi Yu. Iwagakure did strike down the Raikage."
Chi Yu asked, "So we're moving now?"
Orochimaru nodded.
"Yes. The Hidden Cloud has officially withdrawn. We'll pull most of our forces from the Land of Hot Water and focus on reinforcing the Grass Country. Iwagakure won't have time to regroup if we move now."
He then narrowed his golden eyes, looking Chi Yu up and down.
"Strange. The rumors say you were badly injured—some even say your arm was shattered by the Raikage. And yet... you seem fine."
Chi Yu didn't flinch.
"I never faced him head-on. It was a surprise attack that severed his arm. I suspect Iwagakure is exaggerating, trying to shift the narrative. They couldn't hurt him, so now they claim I did—and that I was injured in return. Saves them some face."
Orochimaru's smile was thin.
"Perhaps. Can you still fight?"
Chi Yu nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. I'm ready."
"Good," Orochimaru replied. "Come with me. If this continues at our pace, the war may end sooner than expected."
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters