256-260

Chapter 256: Hell Reflected, Endless Desperation!

When the Third Raikage assumed that stance,

on the Konoha side,

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's heart skipped a beat. A chill ran from his feet to the top of his head, and his heart nearly leapt out of his throat.

"That move… it’s the Third Raikage’s signature technique!"

"The Lightning Spear Finger that can pierce through hell and penetrate the heavens!"

The gathered shinobi weren’t inexperienced. Upon hearing Sarutobi Shinnosuke reveal the details of the technique, they immediately recognized it.

"Hiss…"

Sweat trickled down their foreheads, and they nervously focused on A’s movements.

The Third Raikage’s fearsome reputation wasn’t only due to his so-called “strongest shield,” the Lightning Release Armor, but also this technique, known as the “strongest spear.”

Possessing both the strongest spear and shield, the Third Raikage could charge into enemy lines without hesitation, cutting down foes over vast distances and taking on armies single-handedly. What’s more, the technique's power increased dramatically as the number of fingers used decreased.

Everyone in the shinobi world knew this about him, yet few could do anything to counter it.

This was the true terror of the Third Raikage!

“Earlier, didn’t Hyuga Hizashi mention that the Third Raikage shattered that enormous sword technique with just two fingers?”

“And now… he’s using just one finger!”

This…

What are we supposed to do here?

Two fingers already pierced through a 60-meter-long giant sword. Now, if he’s coming at us with just one finger, isn’t he going to skewer us like candied fruit?

Faced with such a technique, who here could possibly stop it?

The Konoha shinobi collectively sucked in a sharp breath, their faces turning pale. The weaker among them, like Inuzuka Jaw and Hyuga Kenji, were so frightened by the elder's movements that they flinched like startled birds.

At this moment, the only ones barely able to maintain their composure were the more experienced members: Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Hyuga Hizashi, Aburame Ryoma, and Uchiha Setsuna.

It’s worth mentioning that due to the death of Hozuki Yuki during the last Cloud Village raid, Aburame Shikuro’s team had been split up and incorporated into other squads.

“Use any trump cards or hidden techniques you have,” Aburame Ryoma grimly advised, scanning the battlefield with a dark expression. He turned to his younger clanmate, Aburame Shikuro.

“Shikuro, I’ll handle defense. Try using your nano-sized poisonous insects. It’s the only strategy I can think of right now.”

His plan was to use the Secret Technique: Insect Swamp to create a distraction, while Shikuro’s nano-sized poisonous insects, the Aburame clan’s most lethal secret weapon, executed the Secret Technique: Poison Dust. Anyone who inhaled the poison would almost certainly die.

However, Aburame Shikuro shook his head, his face pale, and interrupted, “I’ve already tried. The nano-sized poisonous insects were all electrocuted by that layer of Lightning Release Armor before they could even get close.”

“Our only chance was to exploit the opening made by Uchiha Shinji’s Wind Release technique, but with the chaos of their battlefield, my insects can’t survive long enough to make it through.”

As one of the team’s sensory-type shinobi, Shikuro, along with Aburame Ryoma and the Hyuga pair, had seen and attempted more than anyone else. Yet now, even he had to admit the harsh reality.

Not only did the Third Raikage’s Lightning Release Armor kill the nano-sized poisonous insects, but Uchiha Shinji’s own techniques—flaming punches, thunderous soundwaves, and raging wind blades—were too destructive. Shikuro’s insects couldn’t even approach, let alone coordinate an attack.

Moreover, the only person capable of piercing the Lightning Release Armor, Uchiha Shinji, had already been beaten to a pulp.

Even if Shikuro wanted to assist, he no longer had the means to do so.

Hearing this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke clenched his teeth. As the team’s strongest Wind Release user, he gripped his chakra-metal blade, the Flying Swallow, and turned to Hyuga Hizashi, who was solemnly observing the battlefield.

“Hizashi, if I use Flying Swallow for Wind Release: True Strike, could I break through that Lightning Release Armor and create an opening?”

Hyuga Hizashi gave Shinnosuke a strange look before shaking his head helplessly.

“Do you really not know the answer to that?”

Is your Wind Release or taijutsu stronger than Uchiha Shinji’s?

Or is your flimsy chakra-metal blade sharper than the Kusanagi Sword?

Powerful single-target Wind Release techniques could indeed weaken the Lightning Release Armor, but only if the Third Raikage stood still and allowed the attack to land. Uchiha Shinji had managed to restrict the Raikage’s movements to make such an attack possible.

And the reason the Third Raikage was so unstoppable…

...was because he could move.

Not only could he move, but he was faster than anyone else.

He could evade nearly any technique that posed a threat to him.

Wind Release: True Strike required the user to approach the target with Flying Swallow and generate two high-speed, high-power chakra blades for the attack. While there was a slim chance it could penetrate the Lightning Release Armor, the real question was this:

If Sarutobi Shinnosuke approached, wouldn’t he be dead before even raising his blade?

After evaluating their options, everyone fell silent.

---

This group of elite Konoha Jōnin appeared utterly powerless in the face of the Third Raikage.

Yet, reality is often this cruel.

A team of Konoha ninja and Uchiha clan elites, who had been able to capture a Kage-level master like Kakuzu, now seemed as weak as a flock of baby chicks before the Third Raikage. It only goes to show that even among Kage-level combatants, there are vast differences in strength.

For a moment,

The atmosphere became stifling and heavy, as though the air itself was hard to breathe.

Everyone’s eyes nervously focused on the elderly figure who began to move forward step by step.

One step. Two steps.

Faster and faster!

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into an unstoppable thunderbolt, hurtling toward them at extreme speed!

Each heavy step felt as if it struck directly at their hearts, making their chests pound wildly.

Fortunately, at that moment—

“Fire Style: Grand Flame Arrow!” x5!

At Uchiha Setsuna’s command, the five Uchiha who had followed him stepped forward. Their hands were already weaving signs:

Rat → Ox → Dog → Horse → Monkey → Boar → Tiger!  

They inhaled deeply, gathering chakra in their throats, causing their chests to swell as they leaned back.

Then, with their index fingers hooked,

They exhaled five massive flame arrows, resembling giant bolts from a heavy crossbow. The flames roared forth, tearing through the air, and hurtled toward the Third Raikage with thunderous force!

Unlike the infernal flame arrows unleashed by Uchiha Madara in the original story—flames that rained down like falling meteors—

The standard effect of this technique, when performed by most Uchiha, is as its name suggests: fiery arrows resembling giant crossbow bolts. This shape transformation greatly enhances the technique's penetrating power and speed.

At this moment, the fiery arrows locked onto the incoming lightning-clad Raikage and his finger-thrust Lightning Spear, a move said to pierce through heaven and earth itself.

Five arrows were fired in quick succession, streaking through the air like shooting stars!

Uchiha Setsuna’s expression was grim, his Sharingan locked tightly onto the charging Third Raikage.

Unlike commanding the other Uchiha to use large-scale AoE ninjutsu that spreads and causes devastating damage upon impact,

Setsuna, having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and elevated his ocular power, could clearly see every move the Raikage made!

Thus, he waited for the right moment.

And yet—

Uchiha Setsuna glanced at the rapidly approaching “Uchiha Shinji-chan,” his face solemn.

“If it’s you, you won’t be defeated so easily.”

“After all, you’ve created countless miracles along the way.”

A faint warmth rose in his gaze, as if he could see through the current moment of crisis to the scene from a few months ago—when he had first left the village with this foolish kid.

He saw a boy he had little hope for, who had defied all odds, performed the impossible, and turned the tide of battle!

Uchiha Setsuna took a deep breath, weaving hand signs with tightly clenched hands. The tension on his face was like a taut rope being pulled from both ends.

Then, he opened his blood-red eyes wide, the black three-tomoe pattern spinning rapidly within them.

“If you’re still alive, then show me once more.”

“Uchiha Shinji!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 257: I Spit Snakes, the Snake Spits Me, and I Spit Blades! A Hand Pierces Through the Chest!*

Five blazing fire arrows, like massive crossbow bolts, shot out in rapid succession.

*Swoosh!*

The howling wind echoed as the elder, speeding through the thunderstorm, had his long, tied-back hair wildly lifted into the air!

In a moment of extreme tension—just as the fiery red arrows were about to collide with the thunder's light—

a fierce figure slammed into the ground and leaped up, pointing one finger skyward while the other hand rested behind their back, twisting their body in mid-air!

The fire arrows streaked beneath him, piercing the ground, ricocheting, and detonating with a deafening roar!

*"Boom!!"*

The shattered rocky terrain erupted into a sea of blazing flames, stretching out in jagged waves of destruction!

In an instant, the earth trembled, rubble flew everywhere,

but the bolt of thunder surged forward with even greater speed, tearing through the flames with a terrifying and unstoppable momentum!

Amidst the lightning,

Ai glanced briefly at the explosive fire arrows behind him, quickly calculating their destructive power. A trace of contempt flickered in his eyes.

The next moment,

he landed, stepping forward with a low crouch. Like an unstoppable lightning spear, he faced the remaining four fire arrows head-on, meeting them with the tip of his finger.

*Forward! Charge!*

*Swoosh!*

His robust form tore through the air, dragging a trail of fierce winds!

At that moment, the fire arrows collided with the lightning-imbued tip of his finger, like needle points meeting in a deadly duel!

*Boom!!*

The powerful fire arrows were pierced and detonated instantly by that single finger, disintegrating into four blazing streaks of red light that tore backward.

In an instant, the fire erupted into a towering inferno, spreading in all directions!

*"Now!"*

Uchiha Setsuna's eyes flashed with a sharp, cold glint. His face, taut with tension, twisted into a ferocious grimace. Forming the "tiger" seal with his left hand's index and middle fingers, he roared:

*"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Annihilation!!"*

The aged figure leaned back, expelling an enormous firestorm from his mouth, fueled by nearly all of his accumulated chakra.

This fire jutsu, amplified once by the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan,

manifested as a massive sea of flames!

The fiery torrent surged forward like a pack of wild beasts, spreading into a fan-shaped inferno that spanned nearly 100 meters at its widest point!

In an instant, everything in its path was consumed!

At the same time,

Uchiha Setsuna's gaze turned vicious. He spread the fingers of his right hand, swung his arm back, and yanked a wire to change the trajectory!

It was a direct throw—flinging the battered and barely breathing Uchiha Shinji towards the Third Raikage, Ai!

In the midst of the roaring sea of flames that devoured and scorched everything,

the thunder-clad elder tore through the firestorm with raw power, advancing unscathed.

The only impact was the flame obscuring his line of sight.

*"Trying to use this jutsu as a smokescreen to cover your retreat?"*

Ai's expression turned cold.

But it didn't matter—he had memorized the Leaf's position and was confident that his speed would let him catch them before they could escape beyond the firestorm.

However, at that moment—

A dark shadow was abruptly flung before Ai.

It was none other than Uchiha Shinji, who had taken a direct hit from the Thunder Blast Bomb and been rescued by Uchiha Setsuna!

Seeing this, Ai was momentarily stunned.

*"They saved him, only to throw him back? Why toss their young clan leader like this?!"*

But then,

the seemingly lifeless Uchiha Shinji—his body mangled, his neck bent at an unnatural angle—suddenly opened his crimson snake-like eyes!

He was alive!

And more than that—

*"Nice work, Elder!"*

Facing the Third Raikage Ai, who had suddenly appeared in front of him, Uchiha Shinji grinned hideously.

Then, he opened his mouth wide!

A thick white snake shot out from his battered, broken body!

The serpent lunged at Ai, its body scorching black as it writhed against the electrified Lightning Cloak, yet it coiled tightly around Ai’s chest!

The scene was absurd, like a snake hitching a ride on a high-speed train.

The wind roared, and the landscape blurred into streaks of light as the white serpent clung to the unstoppable Ai.

*"Is this... Orochimaru’s jutsu?"*

Never in his wildest thoughts did Ai expect someone to hitch a ride on his Hell Stab in such a bizarre fashion.

For a moment, even the fierce Raikage felt a chill run down his spine.

Then, the white snake opened its mouth again,

and from within emerged a fresh, slime-covered Uchiha Shinji!

This new Uchiha Shinji was ghastly pale, with purple markings like eerie eye shadows extending from his eyes. On closer inspection, his pale skin was not human flesh but was composed of white snake scales—giving him a strangely sinister beauty.

Uchiha Shinji’s crimson snake-like eyes flared open as he glared fiercely at Ai.

*"Die, you old bastard!"*

The suddenness of the transformation left Ai with no time to adjust or break free from Uchiha Shinji’s grip!

In that instant,

Uchiha Shinji glared with bloodshot eyes as crimson tears streamed down his face.

*"Sage Art: Sharingan—White Flash Eyes!"*

Accompanying this inescapable Sage Art dojutsu, Uchiha Shinji opened his mouth once more!

A golden beam of sword light surged out from his mouth in an instant!

The Grasscutter Sword, gleaming with dazzling golden light, shot out from him and streaked toward the temple of the ruthless elder cloaked in the strongest Lightning Release Armor!

“Composite Ninjutsu: Super Sonic Vacuum Wind Blade!”

In that moment, A genuinely felt the threat of death!

The danger was so real that his forehead turned cold, and every single hair on his head stood on end!

Under normal circumstances,

In his state of the strongest Lightning Release Armor, this golden sword light from the Uchiha brat would need time to break through his defense. He would have been able to react and counterattack during that brief interval.

But if he fell under a genjutsu and lost consciousness, things would be completely different.

He would become fish on the chopping block for Uchiha Shinji to slaughter, leaving the latter plenty of time to break through his defenses and finish him off!

“Damn it, this disgusting Uchiha brat!”

A felt a chill crawl up his scalp. His anger boiled over as he glared at Uchiha Shinji, who was perched on his shoulder, sizing him up with a cruel gaze that wasn’t meant for a fellow human being. A's fury climbed to its peak!

At that moment,

The crimson snake-like Sharingan eyes turned into two enormous red dragons that coiled tightly around him, dragging him into a world of genjutsu.

Then,

The dragons devoured a luminous pearl and unleashed a pale white beam of light that enveloped his entire being!

Even though his burly body maintained its charging posture, the elder cloaked in lightning momentarily lost consciousness.

*Splat!*

The golden sword light struck the strongest Lightning Release Armor!

As sweat dripped from his brow and his body trembled uncontrollably, A lost all consciousness, moving only on primal instinct. Uchiha Shinji licked the corner of his lips in excitement as he watched.

“Well then, let’s see—”

“What’s left of you without this shell of a turtle, Raikage!”

With a guttural sound, Shinji opened his mouth and spat out the golden sword light, forcing the Grasscutter Sword downward inch by inch!

Thus—

It pierced, sliced, and tore through, revealing everything beneath!

Just as Uchiha Shinji thought and acted on this,

Suddenly, the unexpected happened!

*“Haaaahhhhhhhh—!”*

From below, the Raikage, acting purely on instinct, suddenly let out a furious roar!

His eyes were vacant, yet rage coursed through him inexplicably. His muscles tensed and bulged violently with this surge of anger!

Then,

Under Uchiha Shinji’s increasingly terrified gaze, A, driven by the anger ingrained before he lost consciousness, summoned his muscular instincts. His left hand, slung behind his back, swung forth with a brilliant thunderclap!

*“Lightning Release: Black Panther Slash – Furious Lightning’s Thousand-Dance!”*

Blinding lightning erupted in his left hand, transforming into a deep, inky black. This black lightning, far more potent than ordinary Lightning Release, coiled into the shape of a panther and wrapped around the Raikage’s hand blade.

In a flash,

The black lightning shifted form, turning into a panther-like black bolt that encircled the Raikage’s hand.

With a single slash, it collided with the golden sword light that was tearing through the Lightning Release Armor!

*Splat!*

Using his body to clash with a divine weapon,

Half of A’s left hand was severed in an instant!

Yet, the remaining part of his hand, now shaped like a lightning blade, carried immense power. With one swift strike, it slammed into Uchiha Shinji’s face!

*Boom!*

It was like a watermelon bursting open.

Blood and fragments flew everywhere as Uchiha Shinji lost his balance and fell off the Raikage’s shoulder, crashing powerlessly to the ground!

At that moment,

Raikage A woke up, panting heavily, and stared with lingering fear at the Grasscutter Sword embedded in his shoulder after piercing through his Lightning Armor.

Before him, the Konoha ninjas stood in stunned silence, their faces frozen in shock at the scene they had just witnessed.

A’s gaze instantly sharpened. His furious eyes turned into two piercing swords as he scanned the Konoha ninjas.

Then, a sinister grin spread across his face.

Without pausing, he raised his remaining finger and pointed at them with unbridled rage.

He charged forward—madly charged forward!

The anger in his heart churned like a storm-tossed sea!

To think he was pushed to such an extent by this despicable Uchiha brat!

To think he was forced to this point!

His fury surged to its zenith, culminating in a hellish final charge—

“Then, all of you can die for me!!”

But at that moment—

“Damn it, it’s you who should die!!”

A hoarse voice, one so familiar it seemed etched into his very bones, suddenly rang out from the side.

Emerging from his right,

That haunting figure appeared again—impossible to shake off.

With bloodied, crimson Sharingan eyes glaring fiercely,

The blood-soaked Uchiha Shinji rose once more,

Grasping a massive, glowing blue sphere in his hand, aiming it at the Raikage’s arm.

With a roar louder, angrier, and more ferocious than before,

He growled through clenched teeth:

*“Sage Art: Screw Your Damn Armor!!”*

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 258: Thunder Spear Pierces Armor, A Step Into Despair!

There once was a story...

A weapon merchant sold both shields and spears.

He boasted about his shield, saying, "My shield is unbreakable—nothing can pierce it."

Then he praised his spear, saying, "My spear is so sharp it can penetrate anything."

Someone asked him, "What would happen if you used your spear on your shield?"

The merchant was rendered speechless.

In the world of ninjas, however, the answer to this paradox has already been revealed.

The Third Raikage, who once battled the Eight-Tails for three days and nights, managed to sever all eight of its tails and beat it until it could no longer stand. Exhausted to the point of unconsciousness, he collapsed. In this state, his most powerful Lightning Release Armor was pierced by his own Hell Stab: One-Finger Thrust, leaving a lightning-shaped scar on his chest.

This scar was the Third Raikage’s only weakness!

For Uchiha Shinji, with his current level of strength, facing such a formidable opponent was a daunting task.

The only strategy he could think of to defeat the Third Raikage was to emulate Naruto’s tactics from the Fourth Great Ninja War: use the information about the scar to trick the Raikage into using his Hell Stab: One-Finger Thrust to pierce his own armor and fatally strike his heart.

However...

The Uchiha Shinji of today was up against the living Third Raikage, whose indomitable will and superhuman reflexes were unmatched.

This battle-hardened warrior, who had climbed to the summit of power with blood, sweat, and countless battles, was nothing like the reanimated puppet controlled by Kabuto, whose strength was merely the result of brute force.

Naruto’s method could only fool a remotely controlled puppet.

To deceive the living Third Raikage in person—to make him let his guard down and overlook his own weakness—Uchiha Shinji had only one option: to risk his life!

Every blow he endured, every bloody skirmish he fought, every ounce of power he unleashed, and every sacrifice he made had led to this moment—the moment closest to success, the moment most susceptible to carelessness.

Hidden underground, waiting patiently for his chance, was a snake clone that had taken refuge beneath the battlefield, moving stealthily to the Raikage’s inevitable strike zone.

And now—

The clone erupted from the ground!

Carrying a massive, glowing Rasengan, it struck the extended right arm of the Raikage!

In that instant, the Raikage’s eyes widened in shock. His mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound came out. He could only watch as his own Hell Stab: One-Finger Thrust shattered his invincible Lightning Release Armor.

Then—

His fingers pushed forward, piercing his left chest. His muscles convulsed and spasmed as sharp lightning tore through them.

Straight to his heart—

The thrust landed with a resounding impact!

Splurt!

Blood sprayed into the air!

The searing night wind carried the scent of dust and blood, swirling over the battlefield.

The once-unyielding thunder that had torn through the sea of flames came to an abrupt halt. Heavy steps churned up dust storms where they stood, leaving everyone stunned by the sudden reversal of fortune.

The Konoha shinobi stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the Third Raikage, whose right arm was buried in his own chest, blood pouring from his mouth. They looked at one another in shock.

And then—

"Well done, Shinji!"

The Konoha shinobi clenched their fists and cheered, their voices filled with admiration. Even Uchiha Setsuna, who had narrowly avoided being struck by the One-Finger Thrust, exhaled deeply, a weary smile appearing on his face.

Witnessing this scene, Sarutobi Shinnosuke’s spirits lifted. He tightened his grip on his Flying Swallow blade.

“Now’s our chance!”

With Shinnosuke’s shout, the others quickly snapped back to attention.

"Shinnosuke, Hayama, coordinate with my Fang Wolf Fang! Let’s finish him off!"

Standing beside Shinnosuke, Inuzuka Jaw immediately formed a cross-shaped Ram seal, calling out to his large yellow dog as they charged toward the Third Raikage.

In an instant, man and beast transformed into two spinning drills, merging midair into a two-headed wolf with whirling fangs!

Hayama and Sarutobi Asuma exchanged a glance, nodding in silent agreement before dashing forward with a flurry of hand signs.

This strategy had been carefully planned.

Among the Konoha shinobi present, the piercing strength of Hayama’s Wind Release techniques and the Inuzuka clan’s secret Fang Wolf Fang technique were unparalleled.

Combining Wind Release: True Single Strike, Konoha-style Vacuum Blade, and the Inuzuka clan’s secret technique could potentially breach the Lightning Armor, allowing the Aburame clan’s nano-poison insects to deliver a fatal dose.

The plan was sound.

However...

Nearby, Hyuga Hizashi, observing the battlefield with his Byakugan, suddenly widened his eyes in horror as though he had seen something unspeakable. He shouted urgently—

"Wait! Don’t go any further! Fall back immediately!"

At the same time—

“Damn it!”

Uchiha Shinji, crawling out of a charred husk from the fiery battlefield, saw this scene. His pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted in alarm:

“Run! This isn’t a fight you can meddle in!”

Gritting his teeth against the searing pain coursing through his body, sweat dripping from his forehead, Uchiha Shinji picked up the Kusanagi Sword from the ground and charged toward the Third Raikage.

From the last feedback of memories he received before his clone exploded due to chakra depletion—

The Third Raikage was still alive!

“Don’t underestimate me! This strike, even against a Kage—”

Inuzuka Jaw, having already leaped into midair with no way to retreat, clenched his teeth. His gaze locked firmly onto the Third Raikage.

But in the next moment, the combined yellow two-headed wolf widened its four eyes in shock, as though struck by an invisible blow.

At that instant—

“Ahhhhhhh—!”

The Third Raikage stood his ground, his eyes wide with fury, and violently pulled his right hand out of his chest. Blood spurted out in a fountain, revealing a large, bloody hole through which his rapidly beating heart could be faintly seen.

The armor of his strongest Lightning Release technique briefly flickered but quickly stabilized once more.

To everyone’s shock, the right hand he pulled out, dripping with blood, was no longer the single-fingered spear he had initially thrust into his own chest. Instead, it had become a hand blade, with all four fingers pressed together!

When his Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite pierced into his own chest, the Third Raikage, in a split second of extraordinary reflex, altered it into a Four-Finger Nukite, clenching his muscles to halt the attack before it could completely obliterate his heart!

“Hah… hah…” The Raikage panted heavily, his breath like that of a raging bull. Slowly, he lifted his head, his predatory gaze locking onto the advancing two-headed wolf.

In the blink of an eye, he leaped into midair, grabbing hold of one wolf head with his remaining hand while clutching the other with just two fingers of his damaged hand.

Then— Rip!

Bang! Bang!

The wolf’s body was split in two from the middle, and its two heads were crushed in an instant.

Inuzuka Jaw—dead.

Before the blood raining down from the wolf's corpse could even touch the ground, the blinding light of lightning flashed once more, cutting through the chaos with terrifying speed.

Although Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Hakuyun Hayama had stopped in their tracks at the warning from Hyuga Hizashi, their reactions were far too slow compared to the Raikage’s attack.

“Heavy Stream Explosion!”

The Third Raikage’s massive arm swept through the space between them, delivering a devastating elbow strike wreathed in lightning.

Bang! Bang!

The two were launched like arrows, flying hundreds of meters before crashing through a grove of trees at the base of the surrounding cliffs.

Their whereabouts—unknown.

Their survival—uncertain.

Uchiha Shinji, who had been charging forward, abruptly stopped in his tracks as a violent sense of danger surged in his heart. Acting purely on instinct, he leapt sideways.

In the next instant, the lightning surged before him again.

Amidst the flashing arcs, the Raikage fixed his gaze on Uchiha Shinji, his single leg extending in a deadly kick aimed straight at Shinji’s abdomen.

“Guillotine Drop: Raging Thunder Axe!”

Shing!

The lightning grazed past Uchiha Shinji’s side, leaving a thunderous crack behind.

It was the sound of Uchiha Shinji’s leg being sliced through like butter by the lightning’s blade, reduced to nothing but fragments in a mere second.

“Hiss—!”

Uchiha Shinji gasped sharply, a chill running down his spine. Supporting himself with one hand, he flipped back into a standing position. In an instant, his leg had already regenerated.

Tension gripped his entire body like a tightly wound spring as he faced the elder Raikage, who had now stopped a short distance away. His fists clenched, his teeth gritted.

He had thrown everything he had at this man—

But still—

He couldn’t bring him down!

This man, named A, was too strong!

So strong that Uchiha Shinji felt the faint edges of despair creeping into his heart.

At that moment—

The Raikage paused, narrowing his eyes as his gaze focused on Uchiha Shinji’s abdomen.

“So that’s it. Before I even move, this kid can sense my intent to kill and predict my actions.”

“And that thing inside him, the tailed beast, not only slightly disrupts my will but also continuously feeds him chakra to keep him fighting.”

“These details weren’t in the intel!”

From the start, he had felt that his emotional fluctuations were off. Now, he was certain—

The source of this anomaly was the tailed beast sealed within this kid’s abdomen. Coupled with the intel his subordinates had gathered about that creature, he finally understood what had been driving this boy’s tenacity.

Standing amidst the sea of flames that scorched the entire cliffside, the Raikage coldly fixed his gaze on Uchiha Shinji.

“You’re like an indestructible cockroach!”

Then—

He tore off his blood-soaked upper garment, revealing a muscular, scarred body, his back resembling a demon’s visage.

The Raikage’s expression turned icy as he glanced toward the trembling Two-Tails in the distance. Reaching down, he grabbed the massive, ochre-colored jar inscribed with the character for “Dust.”

“But this ends—

Here and now!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 259: The Two-Tails’ Escape – This is War!*

When the Third Raikage’s gaze fell upon the Two-Tails nearby, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but feel a slight twitch in his eyelid. The fact that he had managed to hold his ground against a powerhouse like A was largely thanks to the Two-Tails! Utilizing the chakra dispersed by the Two-Tails around the cliff-ringed battlefield, combined with the intense emotions radiating from the Third Raikage, Shinji had been able to unleash jutsu after jutsu without concern for depletion—bringing the Raikage to his current battered state.

As long as this secret remained undiscovered,

Ji could even stand proudly, hands on hips, and confidently declare to the Raikage:

*“I can play with you all day!”*

After all, the Third Raikage was still human at this point—not an Edo Tensei body. While the Raikage’s previous chest-piercing move hadn’t been fatal, it was still a grievous wound. Uchiha Shinji refused to believe it hadn’t affected him in some way.

In this environment, Uchiha Shinji was practically an Edo Tensei warrior himself—endless chakra, an undying body, and the ability to use extreme tactics to trade his life for his opponent’s. With such an advantage, the scales of victory were slowly tilting in Shinji’s favor.

However, a ninja battle is ultimately a battle of intelligence.

As both sides continued to reveal their hands, Shinji’s tactics inevitably became clearer to the Third Raikage.

At this moment, in the midst of charred ruins and scattered wildfires flickering unpredictably in the wind, the Third Raikage turned his cold gaze toward the Two-Tails. The massive feline, who had been watching the battlefield cautiously from the sidelines, flinched under his menacing glare, retreating several steps instinctively as if haunted by some traumatic memory.

Then, with a deep breath, the Raikage raised his voice and called out coldly:

*“Two-Tails!”*

Hearing this command and seeing his movement, Matatabi—the Two-Tails—shuddered. Seemingly recalling something horrific, the creature dared not respond and retreated further under the Raikage’s oppressive gaze.

The Raikage exhaled heavily and declared with a somber tone:

*“I’ll let you go!”*

*“For three years, I will not attempt to capture you!”*

Both Uchiha Shinji and the Two-Tails froze in surprise upon hearing these words.

Matatabi’s face instantly lit up with joy—could this really be true? Escaping from Kumogakure and shedding the fate of a prisoner was precisely what it had long desired. Given the Raikage’s reputation, Matatabi believed the promise would be honored.

Uchiha Shinji, however, instantly turned grim. Without the passive chakra support from the Two-Tails, how was he supposed to continue fighting the Raikage? With pure grit?

Just as Shinji opened his mouth to try persuading the Two-Tails not to trust the brash words of Kumogakure’s leader and to join forces with him instead, he saw something shocking—

The moment the Raikage’s promise was spoken, Matatabi’s face lit up with uncontainable joy. Without the slightest hesitation, the Two-Tails arched its massive paws and leaped gracefully away. In a single bound, the giant beast darted past the Raikage and sprinted south toward Hell Valley’s exit.

Without a word or backward glance, Matatabi decisively abandoned Uchiha Shinji!

Uchiha Shinji: “…”

True to his word, the Third Raikage stood his ground, his gaze coldly fixed on Uchiha Shinji, preventing any attempt at escape.

At this point, for the Raikage, ensuring Uchiha Shinji’s death here and now had become a higher priority than recapturing the Two-Tails. Matatabi could always be dealt with later.

But tonight, this boy had shown him too much promise. He could no longer afford to let him continue growing stronger. Only someone who had lived through the previous era could understand the true terror of a Uchiha like this—reckless, deranged, and unafraid of death.

If left unchecked, such a Uchiha could one day become a threat of monumental proportions, akin to a figure from 40 years prior—a man who had once filled the entire ninja world with fear and left nations dreading his whims:

*Uchiha Madara.*

Recalling his younger days, the Raikage shuddered at the memory of the man who had once roared “Hashirama!” and split the skies with a single strike of his glowing blade. That devastating attack had reached the Land of Lightning itself.

Yes, contrary to popular belief, Madara’s legendary sword strike hadn’t landed in the Land of Water. It was the Land of Lightning. After all, the Valley of the End lies between the Land of Fire and the Land of Fields, making the Land of Lightning the only possible destination for that blow.

Now, watching the Two-Tails flee while he remained unable to intervene, Uchiha Shinji’s expression grew darker. With Matatabi gone, the chakra it had been passively supplying dwindled sharply, causing Shinji’s recovery rate to plummet. The sensory enhancements and emotional absorption granted by the Two-Tails’ chakra also shrank drastically, reducing his effective range to a mere five meters.

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Shinji cast a heavy glance toward the Third Raikage. With only the lingering chakra in the area and what he could absorb from close combat, he braced himself for what was to come.

As long as he doesn’t continue using the Giant Serpent-Style Substitution Technique like earlier and remains cautious, he can still buy some time.

The longer he drags this out, the better his chances of waiting for reinforcements.

On the other hand, the Third Raikage’s injuries won’t hold out for much longer.

After all, that wound in his chest—deep and gaping—isn’t something that will heal anytime soon.

However,

A, staring at Uchiha Shinji, seemed to see through his every thought. With a cold snort, he sneered and then spoke grimly:

“Kid,”

“Are you thinking about stalling me further?”

“Are you thinking about continuing to steal chakra from me?”

“Are you thinking that you’ve already won?”

A suddenly lifted his head, his eyebrows bristling one by one, veins bulging across his face. Fixing his intense gaze on Uchiha Shinji, he decisively bellowed:

“Wrong!”

Without warning, he raised his right hand and roared furiously:

“Bee—!!”

With the motion of his muscular arm,

a massive shadow, like a collapsing skyscraper, rose behind the Third Raikage!

Tentacles thrashed wildly, shaking the earth. A colossal beast with a human torso and a bull’s head emerged, roaring furiously to the heavens!

“—ROAR!!”

Uchiha Shinji’s pupils shrank dramatically. Without hesitation, he leapt away, narrowly dodging the sweeping onslaught of the enormous tentacles.

Just as Uchiha Shinji had hoped to buy time,

the delay created by the Third Raikage had allowed the Eight-Tails to gather enough chakra for a full transformation.

At the Raikage’s call, Killer Bee didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately unleashed this technique!

As for A, the Third Raikage, his expression remained indifferent—neither joyful nor sorrowful. He didn’t pursue Uchiha Shinji, letting him widen the distance between them.

“Kid, don’t blame me for being ruthless,”

A calmly stared at Uchiha Shinji. Taking a deep breath, his gaze sharpened into a piercing gleam.

“After all, this is war!”

The next moment,

A’s expression turned cold. With a sharp swing of his arm, he pointed toward the group of Konoha shinobi led by Uchiha Shinji and commanded in a deep voice:

“Bee, use the Tailed Beast Bomb to take them all out!”

“Yes, boss!”

The Eight-Tails, Gyūki, pulled a human-like, menacing grin across its face. With a deep, guttural response, it raised its head and opened its massive maw!

Swoosh!  

Like ten thousand industrial fans roaring at once, violent winds surged. Blue-black chakra particles gathered in the enormous bull-headed mouth, condensing and compressing into a pitch-black, deep, and ominous Tailed Beast Bomb, emanating a sense of absurd, destructive power!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 260: The Cloud's Collapse Plan—Activated!*

At this moment, a thousand miles away from the Hell Valley battlefield, within the Land of Lightning lies *Kumogakure* (The Hidden Cloud Village).

This ninja village, perched atop towering mountain peaks that pierce the clouds, is enveloped by perpetual mist and reverberates with deafening thunderclaps.

At the heart of the village stands the *Raikage Tower*, a structure seemingly wedged between cliffs and peaks—its imposing silhouette almost too jarring to ignore.

Inside the village's core, within the *Raikage’s office*,

*Orochimaru*, like a ghost in a desolate land, was seated on the Raikage’s throne. Before him were countless files, all classified as the Hidden Cloud’s most sensitive secrets.

Scrolls detailing the *Lightning Armor’s forbidden techniques*, records of war strategy meetings, the secret mobile routes of Turtle Island for creating the perfect Jinchūriki, maps outlining the borders' defensive layouts—there was even a borderline insane raid plan formulated by Kumogakure.

As he skimmed through the priceless intelligence in his hands, Orochimaru couldn’t help but sneer, a mixture of excitement and sarcasm flickering in his serpentine eyes.

All the years Jiraiya had spent tirelessly piecing together information from remote corners of the ninja world—bars, brothels, and small villages—didn’t amount to even a tenth of the accuracy and detail of these documents.

“So, what has that fool been doing all this time? Still chasing after that so-called ‘Child of Prophecy’?”

Shaking his head, Orochimaru finished packing the copied files and tossed them into the waiting mouth of a summoned snake nearby.

As he prepared to leave, satisfied with his haul, his gaze fell on an unsealed scroll lying at the edge of the Raikage’s desk.

“This is... a scroll about the Cloud’s sealed artifact? The Amber Purifying Pot has been taken?”

Frowning slightly, Orochimaru picked up the scroll. Beneath it lay a stack of non-classified intelligence files. On the topmost page, he noticed a familiar photograph:

“Uchiha Shinji?”

He then saw a detailed battle plan targeting Hell Valley. It included information about tailed beast movements, alliances with the *Blood Pool Clan*, the actions of Kumogakure’s forces, and a coordinated plan for their two Jinchūriki to eliminate enemies with overwhelming force.

Flipping to the final page, Orochimaru noticed two lines of handwriting penned personally by the Third Raikage:

- “For the complex power structure of the Uchiha, if necessary, aim directly for the core!”  

- “Abandon plans to retrieve the Two-Tails. Use the artifact—the Amber Purifying Pot—to forcibly extract the tailed beast, thereby severing its host’s immortality!”  

Seeing this, Orochimaru’s expression darkened.

If this plan was executed as described, then—

He abruptly stood up from the Raikage’s chair and turned to face the massive floor-to-ceiling window of the office.

His cold, golden snake-like eyes gazed down at the Hidden Cloud Village below.

From this vantage point, he could see the tranquil city illuminated by countless lights,

Children running carefree through the streets and alleys,

Women walking home together after a long day's work,

And ninja sweating through their rigorous training on the steep mountain paths.

This place, to him, was almost entirely unguarded.

Orochimaru inhaled deeply, his face freezing into an icy and indifferent mask.

“Raikage, don’t blame me for being underhanded...”

He muttered hoarsely, his gaze steady as he watched the peaceful village below.

Then, raising his palm, his eyes glinted with cold determination.

“After all, this is war!”

As Orochimaru’s hand rose, fully armed figures emerged one by one from behind him.

“Go,” he commanded icily, forming the final *Boar* seal for the Summoning Jutsu with his hands.

He then pressed his open palm against the office’s window, triggering a massive summoning array that extended far beyond the visible horizon.

“Now, the *Cloud’s Collapse Plan*—”

“—Begins!”

At that moment—

“BOOM!!!”

Accompanied by a deafening roar that shook the entire village, gusts of wind tore through the area as countless villagers looked up in terror.

What they saw would be etched into their memories forever:

A colossal, eight-headed white-scaled serpent crashed through the Raikage Tower, coiling itself around the sacred structure revered by all Hidden Cloud ninja.

All eight heads reared skyward, letting out deafening roars that seemed to release an unrelenting fury from the depths of its soul.

“ROAR!!!”

---

*Hell Valley.*

Fierce winds swept through the battlefield, howling like vengeful spirits.

Under the looming shadow of a terrifying beast, the *Third Raikage*, Ay, paused mid-battle, glancing back in the direction of his village. His heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

He shook his head, dismissing it as a fleeting distraction caused by the pain from his injury.

Steeling himself, Ay turned his focus back to *Uchiha Shinji*.

With a rough hand, he gripped the massive ochre-colored urn at his feet, narrowing his eyes dangerously.

This urn was a treasured artifact passed down through the Hidden Cloud Village—rumored to be a *sacred relic forged by the Sage of Six Paths himself*.

*The Amber Purification Jar!*

Though called a jar, it’s actually more like a large, cumbersome urn, making it inconvenient to carry.

However, its powers are exceptionally formidable—

When this ninja tool is activated, as long as the enemy’s name is called and they respond, they are forcibly sealed within the Amber Purification Jar.

Compared to the other Six Paths Ninja Tools, which have strict and often insidious effects, this artifact is relatively straightforward. Its mechanism of sealing anyone who responds is broad and lacks restrictive conditions.

In theory, one could avoid being sealed by staying silent once they’re aware of how it works.

But here’s the catch—

The Third Raikage, A, developed a unique strategy that guarantees a 100% success rate in sealing his enemies!

If someone possesses the sheer physical strength to carry this heavy artifact into battle, they can shout their enemy’s name while pummeling them into submission until they have no choice but to scream in pain. At that point, no one—not even a Tailed Beast—can escape the powerful seal of the Amber Purification Jar!

That’s right—

Agonized screams or cries of despair technically count as a response to the wielder!

At this moment, A’s cold gaze locked onto Uchiha Shinji, who had abruptly stopped in his tracks. Upon seeing Shinji’s face pale and his body tense before decisively rushing back into the fray without hesitation, A couldn’t help but sneer.

“Compassion on the battlefield only leads to your own demise,” he said with a chilling smirk.

“It seems you’ve made your choice!”

Taking a deep breath, A raised his fists, bent his legs into a combat stance, and growled menacingly,

“Unfortunately for you, it’s the wrong one—”

“A path to death!”

With that thought, A charged forward, barreling toward his opponent like an unstoppable force!

In that instant, A, Killer Bee, and Uchiha Shinji formed a straight line, their positions aligned perfectly. The distance between the combatants closed rapidly as they rushed headlong toward each other!

At the same time—

Uchiha Shinji’s focus locked onto the Tailed Beast Bomb forming in the jaws of the Eight-Tails. His chest burned with barely contained fury, threatening to explode.

Facing the advancing Third Raikage, Shinji abandoned any notion of conserving chakra. He funneled a massive amount into the Kusanagi Sword clenched tightly in his hand.

In his palm, the chakras of wind, fire, lightning, and water swirled together, merging into a single, concentrated point on his blade.

Then, in a bold move, Uchiha Shinji closed his eyes, relying entirely on instinct to guide his actions.

Because what he was about to attempt was something nearly impossible—

(To be continued…)