131-135

*Chapter 131: The Final Battle Begins*

"Clean up the battlefield. Finish them off."

Yoru sheathed his sword and gave the order to Zabuza and the others.

"Understood!"

Zabuza and his team swiftly moved to eliminate any remaining enemies, ensuring complete annihilation.

"Let’s go. If we’re lucky, we might run into a stronger Cloud Village squad on the way!"

A fierce blaze of fighting spirit burned in Yoru’s eyes—the look of a man eager to test his strength against worthy opponents.

"Got it!"

The group set off, rapidly closing the fifty-mile distance.

*"Whoosh!"*

When they were still about thirty miles from the Cloud Village army’s original position, a signal flare—likely a distress call from allied forces—streaked across the sky.

"Speed up! Our scouts might be up ahead!"

"But don’t let your guard down—it could be an enemy trap."

"Stay sharp. The Cloud main force could be right behind them."

"Our only objective is to rescue the recon team."

"Once that’s done, retreat immediately. Don’t get bogged down—we don’t have the numbers to fight the Cloud army head-on."

Everyone acknowledged the orders in unison.

Three minutes later, as they drew closer, Yoru suddenly raised a hand, signaling caution. The group immediately tensed, concealing themselves while staying alert.

*"Lord Yoru!"*

Thirty seconds later, they made contact with the scouts. The leader’s face lit up with relief at the sight of them.

"Halt—password!"

Though Yoru recognized the man, he still demanded the authentication protocol. Only after receiving the correct responses did he relax.

"Report. How many enemies are pursuing you?"

"Your former squad captains are among them… and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki! We’re no match for them!"

"The Cloud main force is only five miles behind us. Lord Yoru, even you can’t take them alone—we must regroup with our allies!"

The scout, named Kurama, spoke with visible concern. He feared Yoru’s youthful pride might push him to recklessly challenge the Cloud army alone—a suicidal move.

"Understood. Retreat!"

"Zabuza, we’re falling back!"

At Yoru’s call, Zabuza and the others emerged from hiding. Kurama exhaled in relief—at least Yoru hadn’t come alone.

"Move fast. If the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki is here, things just got complicated."

"He’s stronger than the Raikage. Engaging him would only buy time for their main force to surround us."

Kurama’s shoulders relaxed further. To his surprise, Yoru was far more level-headed than he’d assumed.

"What’s that look for? Did you think I’d charge straight into the Cloud army?"

Yoru smirked, teasing him.

"N-No, of course not, Lord Yoru! Just a joke, right?"

Kurama flushed in embarrassment, drawing laughter from the group as they retreated. Behind them, the first signs of the Cloud forces were already visible. Any delay, and they’d be trapped.

---

*Meanwhile, with the Cloud Village Forces*

"Lord Sarui, I sense Yoru’s chakra nearby. Should we pursue?"

A sensor-nin reported as the Cloud team arrived at the scene of the earlier skirmish.

"No. That boy’s too dangerous. A reckless chase would only end badly for us."

"Look around—these men were wiped out. Only someone with his sword skills could’ve done this."

Sarui gestured to the corpses floating in the water.

"Gather the bodies. Bury them on that island—letting them feed the fish is too cruel."

He pointed to a tiny islet, barely an acre in size, where Yoru’s group had briefly stopped.

"Yes, sir!"

As Cloud shinobi moved to collect the dead, Sarui narrowed his eyes at the distant figures fading into the horizon.

"For a twelve-year-old, his composure is unsettling. Most kids with his power would’ve rushed in, hungry for glory."

"But he held back. And that’s what makes him dangerous."

A true warrior mastered restraint. Recklessness was the mark of a fool—and fools were easily crushed.

"The Mist Village has birthed a monster."

Sarui sighed, then turned to Killer Bee.

"Lord Bee, could you defeat him one-on-one?"

Despite being a Jinchūriki and long confined to Kumogakure’s isolation, Killer Bee commanded deep respect. The legendary "A-B Combo" was unmatched—even if Bee himself was often… eccentric.

"Maybe 50-50. Win or die tryin’!"

"Kid’s as dangerous as Minato was back in the day—maybe worse, ya fool! Ya fool!"

For a brief moment, Bee’s tone was deadly serious. Then, just as quickly, he reverted to his usual rhythm.

"But who fights fair? Team up, gangbang style! Beat ‘em down, yo! Yeah!"

Sarui sighed. Expecting consistency from Bee was hopeless.

"Move out."

With that, the Cloud forces withdrew. The real war was about to begin.

---

*Allied Base*

When Yoru’s team returned unharmed, Mei Terumī visibly relaxed. After leaving a contingent to guard headquarters, the rest mobilized for the frontline—led by Yoru himself, ready to face the Cloud army directly.

Mei joined the ranks, despite protocol dictating she remain at the rear. But curiosity drove her: How strong was the Raikage, really? And where did she stand now?

So, under the guise of "Deputy Combat Commander," she entered the battlefield.

"Sis, aren’t you worried about leaving our rear exposed?"

Yoru groaned. In his view, Mei should’ve stayed back—only stepping in if the frontline collapsed.

"We left Water Clones behind. As long as someone feeds them chakra, they’ll hold. Yours has 30% of your strength—even the Raikage couldn’t break through quickly."

"Besides, we won’t let him or the Eight-Tails slip past us. So why worry?"

Mei’s confidence was unshakable. And why not? With Yoru’s power backing her, she had every reason to be bold.

---

*Chapter 132: Yoru vs. The Fourth Raikage*

"Fair point. Let’s just hope we don’t get backstabbed while we’re away."

Even Yoru couldn’t predict the future with certainty. No matter how flawless their plans were, reality had a way of throwing curveballs.

*Marutsu Island*—a tiny landmass barely two square kilometers in size, half of it covered in rugged hills and thorny thickets.

And it was here that the first clash between Kumogakure and Kirigakure erupted.

Kirigakure struck first.

Thanks to Yoru’s extraordinary sensory abilities, they had set up an ambush along the Cloud ninjas’ route, catching them completely off guard. By the time the enemy realized what was happening, they had already lost over a hundred men.

The Fourth Raikage trembled with rage, bellowing:

"Yoru, you bastard! Show yourself!!"

"Sneak attacks are a coward’s move! Is this how a true warrior fights?!"

Killer B, however, wasted no words—he immediately launched a *Tailed Beast Bomb* straight at Yoru’s position.

*"Six Pillars Flame Formation!"*

Yoru cursed Killer B’s over-the-top opening move. If that attack landed, it would’ve wiped out nearly a thousand of their allies. Without hesitation, he erected a massive, dark-red barrier wreathed in flames, intercepting the blast just outside the island.

The explosion that followed shook the heavens and earth, the sheer force rupturing the air itself. A monstrous shockwave sent towering waves crashing down, forcing the Cloud ninjas to scramble back in panic.

"He blocked a Tailed Beast Bomb… head-on?!"

"How is that possible?! No one can just tank that kind of attack!"

As the dust settled, the island—and every Kirigakure shinobi—stood completely unharmed. The Cloud ninjas stared in disbelief.

"Are we… really supposed to fight someone like this?"

"W-We have the Raikage and Killer B… We can still win… right?"

Their morale had taken a brutal hit.

Seizing the moment, Yoru didn’t hesitate.

"Advance!"

"All squad leaders, engage as planned! Support each other when necessary—understood?!"

With that, he dispelled the barrier and roared:

*"Fourth Raikage! Fight me!!"*

His voice thundered like steel striking stone.

"You little brat—don’t get cocky!!"

The Raikage’s eyes blazed as he shot forward, lightning crackling around him, tearing through the air like a comet.

*"Lariat!"*

The attack was too fast to dodge. Most would’ve retreated or countered with a jutsu—but Yoru simply *drew his sword*.

The moment his blade left its sheath, a razor-sharp aura split the sky.

*CLANG!*

Despite his slender frame, Yoru’s strength matched the Raikage’s. The collision sent sparks flying, the shockwave blasting a crater into the sea below—yet Yoru didn’t budge an inch.

"Ghh—!"

Instead, the backlash of their clash sent razor-edged gusts slicing through nearby fighters, leaving deep gashes. The wounded cried out, hastily retreating.

"That sword aura is insane! Just the aftereffects are this deadly?!"

"And he’s trading blows with the Raikage bare-handed… What kind of monster is he?!"

The Raikage’s punches could crush boulders—*5,000 pounds of force* in his Lightning Armor mode. A direct hit meant instant death.

Yet Yoru had blocked it.

"Is that all you’ve got, Raikage? With strength like this, you thought you could crush Kirigakure?"

Yoru smirked, taunting. Of course, he hadn’t relied on raw power—his *supreme sword intent* had deflected the strike.

"Shut your mouth, you bastard! Bee, now!" the Raikage snarled.

In a flash, Killer B appeared, his elbow cocked back, chakra erupting around him.

*"Lariat!!"*

The air itself trembled.

"Look out—!"

The Mist ninjas held their breath, praying Yoru would survive.

But he didn’t even flinch.

*"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"*

A massive dragon of water erupted, slamming into Killer B and hurling him back.

"What?!"

The Raikage’s eyes widened as Mei Terumī, hands still in a seal, smirked.

"It’s not just you two who can fight as a team."

And in that split second of distraction—

*"Genjutsu: Mind Collapse!"*

Yoru’s one-handed seal sent the Raikage spiraling into an illusion.

"Damn it—!"

Too late.

*"Flash Sever."*

A single, blinding slash—

The Raikage’s iron-like skin split open like paper, his chest torn to the bone.

*"Lightning Style: Lightning Guillotine!"*

Gritting through the pain, the Raikage retaliated with a chop capable of shattering mountains—

But Yoru *dodged effortlessly*, leaving behind only a chilling smile.

---

Chapter 133: The Fall of Yoru  

The moment the Fourth Raikage saw Yoru’s smirk, his expression twisted in realization. He immediately dispersed the lightning shrouding his body.  

If he remembered correctly, Mind Collapse disrupted chakra flow.  

Using massive amounts of chakra now would only destabilize it further—leading to a catastrophic explosion.  

But—  

"Too late, Raikage."  

Yoru’s voice was light, almost amused.  

"Detonate."  

The Raikage’s chakra pulsed violently, then—  

BOOM!  

A blast rivaling a scaled-down Tailed Beast Bomb erupted, flames rocketing skyward. The shockwave sent towering waves crashing outward, and at its epicenter stood the Raikage—bloodied, but still standing.  

The power of Mind Collapse’s explosion depended on the victim’s chakra quality. The stronger the chakra, the deadlier the blast.  

And the Raikage’s chakra? Monstrous. Near tailed-beast levels.  

The result spoke for itself.  

"You bastard!!"  

Killer B’s eyes burned with fury.  

"Raikage-sama!!"  

The Cloud ninjas were stunned. Their leader—defeated so quickly?  

But then—  

"Bee! NOW!"  

The Raikage’s roar split the air.  

In the next instant, he vanished, leaving only a crater in the ocean behind. Killer B followed, a sonic boom tearing through the battlefield as an oppressive, suffocating aura gripped everyone’s hearts.  

"Double Lariat!!"  

The Raikage and Killer B reappeared—flanking Yoru from both sides. Twin Lightning Chops aimed for his neck, a pincer attack meant to obliterate him.  

"——!!"  

Mei’s pupils shrank.  

But before she could even scream—  

SLASH.  

Yoru’s head flew.  

His body burst like a ruptured balloon.  

Just like that—he was gone.  

"Yoru!!"  

Mei’s voice shattered, raw with disbelief.  

The Mist ninjas froze.  

Their triumphant expressions crumbled as they stared at the bloodied remains.  

What… just happened?  

It was over before anyone could react.  

"H-How…?"  

"After that explosion… he still moved?!"  

"That’s the Raikage’s resilience?! What kind of monster—?!"  

Fear crept into the Mist ranks.  

Facing this—with fewer numbers—could they even win?  

Meanwhile, the Cloud ninjas erupted in triumph.  

"Serves him right for mocking the Raikage!"  

"Who’s laughing now, huh?!"  

Nothing boosted morale like decapitating the enemy’s leader.  

But—  

"Calm yourself, Mizukage."  

Zabuza’s voice cut through the chaos, his grip tightening on his blade.  

"If Yoru died this easily, I’d have overestimated him. A man who can command me doesn’t fall so cheaply."  

Kisame grinned, Samehada resting on his shoulder.  

"Heh. Exactly. That guy’s not done yet."  

Hōzuki nodded. "Agreed."  

The Raikage scoffed.  

"Denial won’t save you."  

His gaze then snapped to Yugito, the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki.  

"Last chance, Yugito. Return now, and I’ll forgive your betrayal."  

"But if you refuse…" His voice turned icy. "You’re replaceable."  

Yugito laughed—sharp, defiant.  

"Old man, if I had any doubts before, they’re gone now."  

Her fingers curled into claws, blue chakra flaring.  

"Why would I go back to being a prisoner? In Kirigakure, I’m free."  

Her voice rose, years of bitterness spilling out.  

"Was I born just to cage Matatabi? To be your weapon?!"  

"I’m a person! I have wants, fears—a life!"  

"Why should I rot in that cave while the village I protect fears me?!"  

Every word was a knife.  

The Raikage’s expression darkened.  

"So be it."  

Lightning crackled—  

And he blitzed toward her.  

Yugito barely dodged, her body sheathed in flickering tailed-beast chakra.  

"Fire Style: Fire Rat Jutsu!"  

A swarm of flaming mice surged at the Raikage.  

He didn’t even flinch.  

"Pathetic."  

His fist reared back—  

"You think this can stop me?!"  

Chapter 134: The Thunder God Descends  

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!  

The mouse-shaped flames exploded violently the moment they neared the Raikage, unleashing blistering heat and shockwaves that trembled the earth. Even through his Lightning Armor, the Fourth Raikage staggered back, his skin seared. Thick dust clouds billowed up, obscuring his vision.  

With a furious roar, he tore through the haze—only for Yugito to greet him with a fully charged Tailed Beast Bomb, its pressure crushing the air itself.  

"Leave this to me, bro! Keep pushin’!"  

Killer Bee’s voice rang out as he launched his own Tailed Beast Bomb to intercept.  

BOOOOM!  

The collision split the sky, scattering clouds and igniting a shockwave that churned the sea into a frenzy. Combatants from both sides scrambled back—except the Raikage. He lunged through the chaos, his hand a blade aimed at Yugito’s throat.  

Yugito’s breath hitched. Blocking Bee’s attack had drained her; dodging this was impossible.  

"Water Style: Water Wall!"  

Mei Terumī’s jutsu erupted between them, deflecting the Raikage mid-strike.  

"GODDAMN FIFTH MIZUKAGE!!"  

The Raikage spat blood, his chest wound reopening. Wheeling toward Mei, he bellowed: "Fine! I’ll crush you first! Let’s see how your men fight without their leader!"  

"Yo, the real party starts now!"  

Killer Bee’s chakra flared suddenly, overpowering Yugito and hurling her backward. Before she could recover, he morphed into his Tailed Beast Cloak, bony protrusions sprouting from his skull.  

"Eight Twists Decapitation!"  

The technique that once pulverized mountains—now aimed at Yugito’s heart.  

"So… this is it?" She shut her eyes, bracing for impact.  

——  

"Tsk tsk. Picking on others isn’t nice, Bee."  

Yoru’s voice cut through the battlefield like ice. Shadows swallowed the sunlight as thunder cracked, shaking souls to the core.  

"Lightning Style: Thunderfall Array!" 

"Lightning Style: Pillar Barrier!"  

Twin spells activated. The latter encased Yugito in a hexagonal lightning shield just as Bee slammed into it. The former?  

A water-vat-thick bolt of lightning speared down onto the Raikage.  

CRACK! BOOM!  

Two sounds. One crisp, one deafening.  

The Raikage vanished into the sea, the impact drilling a crater into the depths. Bee’s cry of "BROOOO!" morphed into a guttural roar as he fully transformed—the Eight-Tails’ monstrous form towering over the battlefield, its aura suffocating.  

"You’ll PAY for this, brat!!"  

Yoru merely flicked his sleeve upward. "Then show me what the Eight-Tails can do." His fingers snapped.  

"Heaven’s Wrath— Rain."**  

The sky split open.  

Not one or two bolts—but a tsunami of lightning, turning the battlefield into an electric hellscape. Mountains would’ve been flattened. Even Sage Jiraiya’s strongest attacks paled in sustained devastation. This was Yoru’s edge: endless output.  

Cloud and Mist shinobi alike froze, jaws slack.  

"Who… survives that?"  

Darui laughed bitterly. The gap between him and Yoru wasn’t just wide—it was unfathomable. Mastery like this might take him a decade to achieve. By then? Yoru would be untouchable.  

Kisame whistled. "Now that’s a monster."  

Zabuza: "A Mist ninja outclassing Cloud in lightning? Ridiculous."  

Even Raiga’s legendary Thunderblade seemed trivial now. Lariat Yugito clenched her fists. Once his peer, now she could only watch his back disappear into the distance.  

A Cloud ninja whimpered: "We can’t win against this—"  

——  

"ROOOOAR!"  

The sea erupted. The Eight-Tails emerged, its body scorched—one tentacle severed. Across its back lay the Raikage, barely conscious.  

Killer Bee had answered.  

This was the power of a perfect Jinchūriki.  

Chapter 135: Another Unexpected Twist  

"A tentacle substitute? Not bad for a ninjutsu!"  

Yoru showed a hint of surprise and praised.  

"That was some impressive lightning—almost knocked me out!"  

"Now it’s our turn to counter, Yoru!"  

"Eight-Tails Spin!!"  

The Eight-Tails coiled its body into a tight spiral and began rotating violently.  

"Whoosh—!"  

"Rumble—!"  

In an instant, the sea for miles around churned violently.  

With overwhelming force, the Eight-Tails created a massive whirlpool, threatening to swallow everyone in its path.  

This spectacle went far beyond what most considered possible for a shinobi.  

"Since when do ninja have this kind of power?!"  

Kisame Hoshigaki quickly retreated but found himself unable to escape the pull, helplessly dragged by the centrifugal force toward Killer B.  

If even someone as strong as Kisame couldn’t break free, the others stood no chance.  

They were completely overwhelmed, swept toward Killer B like leaves in a storm—utterly powerless against this force of nature.  

Mei Terumī: "Yoru-chan, stop him now! We can’t let this continue!"  

Yugito: "Hey, if you can’t handle it, let me step in!"  

Utakata: "If needed, I’ll lend my strength too."  

There was a way to stop the Eight-Tails—if the Two-Tails and Six-Tails combined their Tailed Beast Bombs, even the Eight-Tails would struggle!  

"Lord Yoru, please stop him!" A Kirigakure shinobi pleaded.  

"Lord Killer B, why are we getting caught in this too?!" A Kumogakure shinobi shouted, fighting against the current.  

The Eight-Tails’ attack spared no one—friend or foe.  

"Got it, just hold on!"  

The Eight-Tails’ impatient voice echoed in Killer B’s mind:  

"Are you sure this’ll work, Bee? If we fail, we’re in for a brutal fight."  

"Don’t underestimate them. With Kirigakure and the rogue ninja village allied, plus their elite fighters, they might just overpower Kumo’s forces."  

"We could lose this war."  

Killer B: "No choice—we’ve gotta take the risk. If this doesn’t work, we’ll just have to stall him."  

"If we don’t, things will get even worse."  

Eight-Tails: "Then let’s do it!"  

The moment the words left him, the Eight-Tails abruptly stopped spinning—then, using its momentum, its massive body shot straight toward Yoru.  

Yoru, still off-balance, couldn’t dodge in time. The Eight-Tails wrapped around him, trapping him.  

This was the real purpose of the Eight-Tails Spin!  

Yoru’s speed and defense made catching him nearly impossible—unless he was destabilized first.  

And now, the Eight-Tails had succeeded.  

"Hurry, Bee! Don’t let him break free!" the Eight-Tails urged.  

"Got it!"  

Killer B emerged from the Eight-Tails’ head, quickly forming hand signs before spewing a flood of ink that coated Yoru—and everyone nearby.  

Nearly a thousand shinobi were stained black.  

"Sealing Jutsu: Billion Raging Ink Waves!" Killer B chanted in his signature rhythm.  

Hearing this, Samui’s eyes widened.  

"All Kumo-nin, dive into the water—NOW!"  

Though confused, the Kumo forces obeyed instantly.  

Then—chaos.  

"What’s happening?! I can’t move!"  

"Me too! It’s a sealing technique!"  

"What?!"  

Panicked shouts erupted—mostly from the allied forces.  

Kisame, Zabuza, Mei, Yugito… all of them were hit.  

"Wash off the ink in the water—quick!" Mei shouted, noticing the Kumo shinobi were unaffected after submerging.  

"Yoyoyo~ Too late now!" Killer B taunted. "Sleep forever—SEALED!"  

Yoru, at the center of it all, turned into a watery figure—completely encased.  

"Splash—!"  

Mei and the others barely escaped by plunging into the sea, washing off enough ink to avoid being sealed.  

But not everyone reacted in time.  

Most of the allied forces were frozen mid-movement, now lifeless black statues floating on the waves.  

Seeing Mei and the others escape didn’t faze Killer B.  

His real target had always been Yoru.  

As long as he was sealed, everything else was worth it.  

With Yoru gone, victory was within Kumo’s grasp.  

"Alright, men—TIME TO STRIKE BACK!"  

Killer B raised his fist, rallying his troops.  

"OOOH!"  

"Yes, Lord Killer B!"  

The Kumo shinobi surged from the water, a tidal wave of renewed morale.  

"Kirigakure scum—your end is here!"  

"Hahaha! Prepare to be crushed!"  

The Kumo forces roared with excitement, sensing victory.  

Without Yoru, what hope did Kirigakure have?  

None.  

"What now…? Is it over?"  

Some Kiri-nin wavered, watching the Kumo army charge like wolves.  

"Don’t talk like cowards!"  

"Giving up now? Where’s your pride?!"  

"Do you think we can’t fight without Lord Yoru?"  

"Stay strong! We still have Lady Mizukage, the Seven Swordsmen, and our elites!"  

Most of the Kiri forces stood firm, unshaken.  

Mei’s voice cut through the doubt:  

"Well said! FOLLOW ME—ATTACK!"  

Her eyes burned with fury as she barked orders:  

"Kisame, Zabuza, Jūzō, Yugito, Utakata—each of you lead a squad. We fight as one!"  

"Kirigakure bows to NO ONE!"  

"Understood!"  

"Yes!"  

"Heh, finally our turn?"  

The named warriors grinned, battle-ready.  

Mei continued:  

"Suigetsu, Ameyuri Ringo, Haku, Kimimaro, Chōjūrō, Shimma Isshin—you’ll support Tenji in holding the line. Understood?"  

At that moment, Mei realized something:  

Without her noticing, Yoru had gathered an elite force for Kirigakure.  

If these warriors grew stronger, the village wouldn’t just survive—it would thrive.  

Suigetsu smirked. "About time I got some action!"  

Ameyuri licked her lips. "Then I’ll make sure you remember my name, Kumo dogs!"  

Shimma Isshin cracked his knuckles. "Don’t disappoint me, Cloud rats."