"You arrogant little Uchiha brat. Is it just those eyes that give you such arrogance? Or is it because…"
The Fourth Raikage looked around.
"Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, the so-called Yellow Flash. If it's space-time ninjutsu, you should be here too, right?"
"Whoosh!"
Minato landed with a smile, drew out his special kunai, and flicked them into the trees and ground around them.
"Raikage, I already warned you eight months ago. If you act recklessly, Konoha will go all-out in this war. If Kumogakure is destroyed, you'll be the one who doomed it."
The Raikage ignored him and scanned his surroundings.
"How many more of you are there? Come out together!"
His voice echoed, but no one answered.
Nearby, Yugito could no longer contain herself. In an instant, blue flames enveloped her whole body.
Two-Tails, Matatabi's form!
Fireball Jutsu!!
Blue chakra fireballs erupted, igniting a swath of forest.
"Whoosh!"
Shisui's figure shot out, rushing straight at the Raikage.
"Boom!!"
His blade, engulfed in massive flames, clashed against the Raikage's steel-hard arm.
In that moment, Shisui's Mangekyō spun, Kotoamatsukami!
As the Raikage faltered for just a split second, Yun's eyes turned their way.
Amaterasu!!
Black flames roared to life.
But in the blink of an eye, the octopus tails behind the Raikage disrupted his chakra, instantly breaking Shisui's genjutsu.
Snapping out of it, the Raikage's body crackled with blue lightning chakra, dodging most of the Amaterasu.
His hair stood on end, Lightning Release Chakra Mode, full power.
The Amaterasu flames clung to his arm, but he tore away the chakra coating, forcing the black fire to fall off.
At that moment, Minato appeared behind him, a Rasengan forming in his palm.
"Boom!!!"
The massive octopus tail intercepted the strike, as Killer B's short blade swung down toward Minato.
"Whoosh!"
Minato vanished again, leaving B warily facing the three opponents.
Behind them, Yugito, already fully transformed, stood guard, flames rippling across the forest.
"B," the Raikage said grimly, "take Yugito and escape. I'll hold them off. This is Konoha's trap. There are far more waiting to surround us than just these few."
B frowned. "Bro, what nonsense are you spitting?"
Yugito shook her head. "As shinobi of Kumo, how could we abandon our Raikage and run?"
The Raikage shook his head.
"This war should never have happened. I'll take responsibility for its consequences. If both the Raikage and our jinchūriki fall here, Kumo might truly be wiped out, just as Konoha said."
The weight of his words silenced them. Losing Kumo's strongest fighters would be devastating.
And with vultures circling all around, once Kumo looked weak, the other villages would tear it apart.
"From the moment this war began, you should have foreseen this day. If you try to seize from others, be prepared to be crushed in return."
Yun's voice rang out as he appeared beside the Raikage.
His flaming longsword slashed down, blocked by the Raikage's arm.
But in the same instant, the Raikage's other hand shot out, lightning flashing so fast even the Mangekyō couldn't follow.
Lightning Release: Lariat Chop!
"Boom!!"
A giant blue chakra skeleton shielded Yun.
But,
"Crack!"
The blade split the skeletal defense, lightning surging into Yun's chest.
"Pft!"
Yun staggered back, blood spurting from a hole in his shoulder. Yet, the wound sealed almost immediately.
In the next moment, the Raikage, at full power, became living lightning itself, dashing at speeds the Mangekyō couldn't follow.
[Kotodama!]
Yun's Mangekyō spun, and he vanished from the spot.
As the Raikage missed, Yun reappeared, his eyes glowing.
[Amaterasu!]
With foresight, black flames erupted in midair, exactly where the Raikage appeared.
The black fire clung to his lightning cloak, threatening to consume him whole.
"Bro!"
"Lord Raikage!"
Killer B and Yugito both fully transformed into their tailed-beast forms, rushing in, only to be blocked.
Behind them, Itachi and Jiraiya appeared.
Kushina, cloaked in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, her nine golden tails forming massive hands, instantly restrained both the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails.
Jiraiya unleashed a torrent of Fire Release, engulfing the Hachibi.
Beside him, Itachi's Mangekyō flared, Amaterasu! Black flames consumed the beast, its flesh sizzling.
Meanwhile, Yugito's Matatabi form was struck by Minato's giant Rasengan and Shisui's flaming blade, sending her crashing to the ground. Her blue fire set the forest ablaze.
"Damn it!!!"
Enraged, B sacrificed a tail to shed the Amaterasu, then transformed into the fully manifested Hachibi.
"Vmmm…"
Chakra condensed, forming rapid-fire miniature Tailed Beast Bombs that rained toward Konoha's forces, one aimed straight at Yun.
Flying Thunder God Barrier!
Minato's marked kunai lit up, black seals spreading across the air, diverting the blasts.
Itachi's Mangekyō spun again, Amaterasu!!
Black fire appeared once more, but eight tails whipped up, blocking both Itachi's gaze and the flames.
"Damn Uchihas!!"
Roaring in pain, B tore off more tails to extinguish the black fire, then regrew them with Hachibi's chakra.
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
Jiraiya's jutsu swallowed the Hachibi, dragging it down.
Then he spat oil across its body, igniting it with Fire Release.
"Boom!!"
The colossal beast thrashed, howling as flames devoured it.
"ROAR!!!"
It forced another Tailed Beast Bomb, smaller this time but faster, firing it straight at Jiraiya.
Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!
Jiraiya shielded himself in hardened hair, barely withstanding the hit. Luckily, the bomb's power was reduced for speed, otherwise, it would have shredded him instantly.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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