Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Raikage, who had taken the initiative to attack, quickly retreated to the side of Ai and Killer Bee. They both stared at the scars on the Third Raikage's chest, shock written all over their faces.

No one understood the strength of the Third Raikage's protective lightning armor better than Ai and Killer Bee. It was the first time they had seen anyone capable of piercing through it.

"He managed to cut through the strongest shield with a blade. What kind of monster is this guy?"

Ai looked at the wound on his father's chest and then turned his gaze toward Uzumaki Raiden, who stood ready with his blade.

"That transformation earlier must have been some kind of secret technique. If I'm not mistaken, he likely can't sustain it for long."

"Ai, Killer Bee, you two fall back. This opponent is not one you can handle today," said the Third Raikage, gesturing firmly. Ai and Killer Bee complied without hesitation, retreating swiftly as instructed.

Once they left, the Third Raikage crouched slightly, and his chakra flared even more. The lightning chakra enveloping his body began to surge violently.

At that moment, Raikage's hair stood on end, and as his chakra intensified, his beard fluttered slightly. To Raiden, the Third Raikage now resembled a Super Saiyan.

"With the boost from Sage Mode, my sensory abilities have also greatly improved."

"This Raikage's chakra is like a blazing sun. Even Killer Bee can't compare to this intensity."

"With this level of chakra, the term 'tailless beast' is more fitting to describe Raikage."

Raiden twirled his blade deftly and gripped it tighter. In an instant, his figure vanished, only to reappear right in front of the Raikage, thrusting his blade at Raikage's chest.

"Hell Stab – One-Finger Thrust!"

Raikage's eyes gleamed coldly as his right hand, wrapped in intense, pulsating lightning chakra, moved to counter. This unique chakra differed from the lightning armor's standard operation, and Raiden immediately grew cautious.

Both moved with incredible speed. Raikage's intention was clear—he sought to exchange minor injury for a fatal blow against Raiden. His strategy was simple: his unparalleled lightning armor would minimize damage, while his strongest spear, the Hell Stab, would pierce Raiden completely.

Seeing Raikage's resolve, Raiden's eyes sparkled. Without faltering, he shifted his body slightly to avoid vital areas, maintaining the force of his attack toward Raikage's heart. Simultaneously, Raikage's fingertips neared Raiden's body.

Even before Raikage's fingers made contact, the sharp force emanating from them pierced Raiden's lightning armor.

"Mangekyō Sharingan!"

At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku, who had been hiding, activated his Mangekyō Sharingan's ability decisively. Fugaku had arrived shortly after Raiden but stayed hidden, biding his time. The appearance of the Third Raikage made Fugaku conceal himself even further, knowing Raiden would eventually need his support.

As anticipated, the chance to use the Mangekyō Sharingan's powers had come. This coordination between Uzumaki Raiden and Fugaku had been planned.

"Pfft!"

"Crack!"

Raiden's blade pierced through the Third Raikage's chest, causing blood to gush from the wound. At the same time, a crisp cracking sound echoed as the Raikage's single-handed thrust broke through Raiden's lightning armor. However, under the influence of Fugaku's ability, the terrifying chakra Raikage had gathered dissipated back into his body, momentarily deactivating his lightning armor.

"Damn brat!" the Third Raikage roared, chakra flaring violently around him again. Grabbing the blade of the Sakegari no Tachi with his right hand, he swung his left fist at Raiden.

Raiden reacted swiftly, pushing off Raikage's lower abdomen with both feet and using the momentum to pull his blade free and retreat. Raikage, unable to resist the force, slid back more than ten meters, leaving two deep trenches in the ground.

Blood flowed freely from the gaping wound in Raikage's chest, but his imposing aura showed no signs of diminishing.

"How is this possible? Did he avoid it?" Fugaku muttered, astonished as he observed the unyielding Raikage.

Despite his injuries, Raikage stood tall, his fighting spirit unbroken. Raiden, holding the blood-stained Sakegari no Tachi, landed lightly on the ground. Observing the flowing blood on his blade, he considered retreating.

While Fugaku assisted from the shadows and Minato and Hatake Sakumo stood ready to intervene, the larger battle between Konoha and the Cloud ninjas grew fiercer. Konoha had suffered heavy losses, and Raiden doubted their ability to capture the Third Raikage, Ai, and Killer Bee. If they decided to flee, pursuit would be futile and potentially disadvantageous.

The Third Raikage also evaluated the situation.

"This red-haired kid is terrifyingly strong. That technique earlier is dangerous. I can't afford to continue fighting him without understanding how it nullifies my lightning armor."

As Raiden and Raikage hesitated, a sharp whistle echoed across the battlefield. Cloud ninjas quickly disengaged and regrouped.

Cloud Ninja's sudden retreat left some Konoha ninjas confused, but Uzumaki Raiden, standing at the core of the battlefield, immediately understood the reason.

"Did the Cloud Ninja choose to retreat because they sensed the threat from Fugaku?" he pondered. "They probably couldn't imagine that the Mangekyō Sharingan has significant side effects and can't be used multiple times a day. In other words, the third Raikage doesn't dare to gamble on whether this technique can be used repeatedly."

Raiden quickly pieced the situation together. Raising his hand, he unleashed a Lightning Release jutsu at the retreating Cloud Ninja, attempting to hinder their escape. However, both Ai and the third Raikage intercepted the attack with their own Lightning Release techniques. The Cloud Ninja forces then dispersed like a tide, vanishing from view.

"Boy, you are remarkable. With shinobi like you, Konoha will remain strong for another 30 years."

Raikage's voice boomed as he landed at the rear of his retreating forces, shielding them from Konoha's chasing jutsu. His tone carried both respect and admiration. With those words, he transformed into lightning and disappeared.

The departure of the Cloud Ninja brought a collective sigh of relief among the Konoha forces. Many of their shinobi, exhausted from battle, collapsed to the ground. Though Cloud Ninja outnumbered them, Konoha had managed to force their retreat, averting what could have been a catastrophic disaster for the village.

After the battle, Minato and Hatake Sakumo approached Raiden, visibly concerned about his condition. Minato, in particular, recalled the distinct signs of Sage Mode earlier.

"Are you alright? Is this a side effect of Sage Mode?" Minato began, his worry evident.

Before he could finish, Raiden raised his hand to interrupt. "I'm fine. The rapid influx of natural energy caused it, but it's not a side effect for me. Don't worry."

He quickly shifted the focus. "Let's pursue them. We can't let the Cloud Ninja leave so easily."

Minato and Sakumo exchanged a glance before nodding. They efficiently organized the troops, tended to the wounded, and dispatched a summoning ninja. With everything in order, the trio led their forces in pursuit of the retreating Cloud Ninja.

It was only during this pursuit that Uchiha Fugaku emerged to join Raiden. His sudden appearance surprised Hatake Sakumo, who asked curiously, "Fugaku? Why are you here?"

Minato, however, observed Fugaku with a knowing expression. Raiden noticed Minato's understanding look and decided to explain. "Fugaku has been with me from the start. His speed is just slightly slower than mine. He remained hidden, using his Sharingan to monitor the enemy and wait for the right moment."

"Fugaku deserves most of the credit for forcing the Third Raikage to retreat."

Raiden didn't delve further into the specifics of Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan. Minato and Sakumo, not being ones to pry unnecessarily, accepted the explanation and focused their attention on pursuing the Cloud Ninja forces.

Despite their efforts, the Cloud Ninja forces retreated swiftly toward the Fire Country's border. Though Konoha had sent word to Jiraiya for reinforcements, the support troops were positioned to intercept along a different route than the Cloud Ninja's escape.

After five days of pursuit, the Konoha forces reached the southeastern coast of the Fire Country, only to find the Cloud Ninja had boarded prepared ships and escaped across the sea.

"I didn't expect the Cloud Ninja's retreat route to take this direction!" Hatake Sakumo exclaimed, gazing at the vast coastline. "Instead of withdrawing toward the Land of Hot Water, they escaped by sea to the Land of Waves."

Minato sighed. "Our border forces are concentrated near The Land of Whirlpools to defend against Mist Ninja incursions. No one anticipated an attack from the mainland. It's no surprise they couldn't block this route."

Fugaku, however, appeared unperturbed. "Even if they had been intercepted, it wouldn't have mattered. It would've only caused more casualties for Konoha.

"Even injured, Raikage isn't someone ordinary shinobi can handle. His allies, especially that white-haired one, are also formidable. Expecting the border forces to stop them was unrealistic—even Raiden couldn't guarantee it."

Fugaku cast a sidelong glance at Raiden, sensing that he hadn't been fully committed to the pursuit. With Raiden's speed, he could have likely disrupted the Cloud Ninja's escape more effectively.

"Let's report this to the Hokage," Sakumo concluded as the team observed the red sun rising over the horizon, its warm light lifting their spirits slightly.

"By the way, Raiden," Minato asked with a smile, stretching his arms. "Why did you suddenly appear in the Land of Fire? Was the peace mission completed?"

Raiden nodded. "Yes, the Tsuchikage was reasonable, and the peace talks went smoothly. We can now focus our efforts on the Cloud and Mist Ninja."

Taking a deep breath, Raiden allowed himself a rare smile. After years of exhausting war, the prospect of peace felt tangible, and it filled him with hope.

Suddenly, an Anbu wearing a fox mask appeared beside Minato and whispered something urgently. Minato stopped him. "It's fine. Just speak freely—we're all allies here."

The Anbu hesitated but then reported loudly, "Sir, the Konoha Border Force engaged in a major battle with Mist Ninja! Kakashi's team and over a dozen others are trapped in a small town south of the Land of Whirlpools. The Border Force leader requests your immediate support!"

Minato and Sakumo's expressions hardened momentarily before they composed themselves. Minato quickly took charge.

"I'll organize support for the mission. Everyone else, rest here!" He turned to Sakumo. "Don't worry about Kakashi. I'll go now."

"Raiden, the troops are under your command. They're all your former subordinates—you'll know how to handle them."

With that, Minato vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly traveling to the battlefield.

Raiden sighed. "This truly is one wave after another. If the Mist Ninja have come, we might as well deal with this problem while we're at it."

(End of Chapter)

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