[Susanoo] blocked Raikage The Third's attack.
Looking at the battered Raikage, Chinya smirked slightly. "I'll admit it—you're stronger than me. For now, I can't beat you. But this is just temporary. Our final showdown will be for another day."
Raikage The Third stared at Chinya. "What? Are you running away? Weren't you just boasting about taking my head as a trophy?"
Chinya admitted openly, "That's right—I'm leaving. But what makes you think you could even stop me? Losing to a village leader—the Kage—doesn't seem shameful at all. And besides… you look worse than me, and from anyone else's eyes, it might seem like I was the one in control.
"You have Cloud Village to protect and must stay here holding off these Rock Ninjas. I don't owe this place anything—I just came here to fight, not to die. I still have an unlimited future ahead of me.
"Originally I wanted to take your head instead of those Rock Ninja, since it felt somewhat wasteful for you to fall to such dishonorable foes. Plus, I didn't want to use underhanded methods to heal myself and keep fighting you—that wouldn't be fair.
"So if I can't take your head, then I'll just have to give up.
"And if I try to stop you, you think I could hold you back?"
The corner of Raikage The Third's mouth curved slightly, though with half his face already bloodied and torn, it appeared somewhat terrifying. "Hmph. Is that so? Then if you believe I'll die here, why say our battle will be decided in the future?"
Chinya replied seriously, "That part I won't tell you. Just remember, when we meet again, I'll be at my peak strength. I'll definitely find you for a decisive battle."
After a moment of silence, Raikage The Third said, "I see. If that's how it is, then go."
Slightly surprised, Chinya asked, "Hmm? You won't even try to stop me one last time?"
Without another word, Raikage The Third turned around, his back facing Chinya. "Like you said, I can't stop you. This will be my fight against this group of backstabbers from now on. I look forward to our decisive battle in the future."
Raikage The Third charged toward the Rock Ninja once more, launching fierce attacks.
Chinya gave Raikage The Third's back one last deep glance before vanishing from the battlefield with the Shifting Body Technique. Sitting atop a rock at the very edge of the battlefield, he quietly watched the battle unfold.
Chinya had sustained serious injuries, but spent some Witness Points to recover. He sat silently, watching the final moments of Raikage The Third.
Kitsuchi ordered the Rock Ninja to launch a defensive counterattack against Raikage The Third.
Although Raikage The Third had lost one arm to Chinya's blade, his valor remained exceptional. Still, he could no longer slaughter Rock Ninjas freely as he did at the beginning.
Time passed, and by the next day, the battle raged on.
Raikage The Third's speed had clearly dropped. His movements showed obvious hesitation, though aside from Chinya's wounds, he still hadn't taken a single hit from the Rock Ninjas.
Five or six hours later, Chinya stood up from the stone, solemnly watching Raikage The Third.
"It's over..."
Chinya sensed Raikage The Third's dwindling presence using Kenbunshoku Haki—it had weakened to an absolute minimum.
Raikage The Third suddenly dropped to one knee after crushing two or three Rock Ninja with a single punch.
Raikage The Third's breathing grew ragged and heavy.
"It's come to this... huh."
Fragments of his fellow villagers flickered through Raikage The Third's mind before finally settling on Chinya.
"Perhaps dying by his hand wouldn't be so bad… Too bad you weren't one of our ninja…"
Raikage The Third's vision blurred as his head slowly drooped.
Chinya let out a long breath. Raikage The Third's strength had been absolutely terrifying. Even at the very end, he hadn't shown any sign of weakness.
The Rock Ninja had completely worn down Raikage The Third to the point of death.
And if Chinya hadn't known about the Raikage's Nin-Taijutsu beforehand, he would have already been injured.
Had Raikage The Third known about Chinya's techniques, he might not have been hurt at all.
In the end, the battle between Chinya and Raikage The Third had never been fair to begin with.
Gazing at the Raikage's body lying on the battlefield, Chinya murmured, "I'll wait for the day you return through Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei). Then we can fight again."
Chinya turned and left, heading back to the Land of Hot Water.
With Iwagakure betraying the alliance and the death of Raikage The Third, Konoha's counterattack was about to begin.
Just after arriving in the Land of Hot Water, Chinya heard the news regarding Raikage The Third.
A inherited the mantle of the Fourth Raikage and would protect the village and nation as Raikage.
Kumo officially accused Iwagakure of betrayal, stating that ten thousand Rock Ninja had ambushed Raikage The Third.
Kumo announced their withdrawal from the war, warning that anyone who dared attack Kumo would face the full might of the entire village, retaliating with total annihilation of the enemy village and nation alike.
No one doubted Kumo's resolve to retaliate with all their strength; other ninja villages might hesitate, but Kumo, renowned for its martial arts faction, certainly would do it without hesitation.
At the same time, Chinya's reputation soared once more.
Ten thousand Rock Ninja failed to injure Raikage The Third, yet Chinya succeeded—he not only wounded him but also severed one of his arms.
It finally clicked for Chinya.
It wasn't the Rock Ninja exaggerating their numbers—it was Kumo itself that claimed they had deployed ten thousand ninja.
Apparently, it was done to showcase the legendary strength of Raikage The Third.
...
As soon as Chinya returned to base, he found Orochimaru already assembling a team.
Seeing Chinya arrive, Orochimaru exclaimed in awe, "You were right, Master Chinya—the Rock Ninja really did attack Raikage The Third."
Chinya asked, "Master Orochimaru, are we mobilizing now to go attack the Rock Ninja?"
Orochimaru nodded. "Exactly! Now that Kumo has withdrawn from the war, there's no need to leave so many people here in the Land of Hot Water. Since the main force of Iwa has yet to return to their village, we'll move to support the Land of Grass and eliminate every last Rock Ninja stationed there."
"But Chinya," Orochimaru added, "there are rumors spreading that you were seriously injured in the fight against the Raikage, just like him—that one of your arms was broken by the Raikage. But judging by how you look…" He eyed both of Chinya's arms, which showed no signs of having been broken.
Chinya replied calmly, "Actually, I didn't engage in direct combat with Raikage The Third. I launched a surprise attack and cut off his arm. I believe the Rock Ninja are trying to pin the blame on me by claiming that I went head-on against Raikage The Third, all while covering up their own failure to even injure him — and even saying that I was injured too."
Orochimaru didn't press further and instead asked, "So, are you still capable of fighting now?"
Chinya nodded. "I'm ready to fight anytime!"
Orochimaru nodded as well. "Then come with us to the Land of Grass. Since Cloud Village has announced its retreat, this war won't last much longer and should end soon."
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