Chapter 399 – A Fight to the Death (I)
The Fourth Raikage ultimately agreed with his brother's proposal.
They would clash with Konoha again.
But this time, there would be no ambush.
This would be a direct, frontal confrontation.
His previous defeat at the hands of Uchiha Fugaku still gnawed at him.
Yes, he admitted that Fugaku's monstrous chakra-giant form had posed a serious problem.
But he hadn't fully unleashed his own power that day, had he?
He refused to believe he lacked the strength to break Fugaku's defense.
As for that cursed black flame—
He had been unprepared before.
He would not make the same mistake twice.
Kumogakure needed morale.
That was undeniable.
His earlier defeat had visibly shaken the army's spirit.
Their advances had stalled.
A phantom force lurked somewhere behind them.
Progress was slow and suffocating.
Anyone in his position would feel the pressure.
So he would fight Fugaku face-to-face.
With the experience from their first encounter, he believed he could win.
And if an opportunity presented itself—
He would capture Fugaku.
Or kill him.
Either outcome would yield tremendous value: leverage in negotiations, or a devastating blow to Konoha's morale.
Deep down, however, he leaned toward killing him.
Not out of wounded pride.
Not revenge.
But because Fugaku was dangerous.
That previous battle had revealed something unsettling.
In pure taijutsu, Fugaku was unimpressive.
Yet with nothing but a pair of crimson eyes, he had read the Raikage's movements—and even cast him into genjutsu.
Though he broke free quickly, the memory lingered.
Still—
Fugaku could not match his speed.
His defense was monstrous, yes.
But his mobility was lacking.
If necessary, the Raikage would simply bypass him and strike down Konoha's shinobi instead.
It was shameless.
But this was war.
And if it devolved into trading casualties—
Kumogakure held the advantage.
They were faster.
With that, the Raikage made his decision.
His injuries had largely healed.
Even the loss of an arm did not significantly hinder his combat ability.
As for Killer B's suggestion—
He had considered it seriously.
But ultimately rejected it.
He had heard rumors of the Sharingan controlling tailed beasts.
Even if unconfirmed, he would not gamble with that risk.
Instead, he devised a new plan.
One force would strike the front.
Another would attack from the flank.
But Killer B would not lead the flanking force.
He would remain available for immediate reinforcement.
And beyond that—
The Raikage had another intention.
He wanted to lure out the "ghost."
The Third Hokage.
"I'll have someone transform into you and lead the main assault," the Raikage said gravely to Killer B.
"You remain in camp and stay ready to move."
"If the Third Hokage strikes our camp, signal the flank to return immediately."
"If he strikes the flanking force, you move at once."
"This is critical. Do you understand?"
Killer B, despite his usual irreverence, did not dare defy that expression.
War left no room for casual disobedience.
He might not fully grasp the political intricacies behind this conflict—
But for Kumogakure, he would fight.
---
Meanwhile – Land of Hot Water
In a hidden valley deep within the Land of Hot Water, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with his pipe between his teeth, studying a map.
He had maneuvered his force into Kumogakure's rear sector—
Though not their true deep rear.
He was not foolish enough to hide there.
Not only would search units be dense, but cutting himself off from logistics would amount to suicide.
They were here to fight.
Not to die pointlessly.
For a month, he had played a deadly game of hide-and-seek.
And Kumogakure had failed to catch him.
With the Inuzuka clan tracking by scent, the Aburame clan scouting through insects, and the Hyūga clan providing long-range visual reconnaissance—
Their movements were nearly invisible.
On top of that, Uchiha clan members from the Police Force handled counter-surveillance with their Sharingan.
Kumogakure had no easy way to pin them down.
But there was one problem.
Over the past month, they had identified numerous potential Kumogakure supply routes.
Every single one—
A decoy.
Not one was genuine.
Hiruzen frowned deeply at the map.
"Where exactly are Kumogakure's real supply lines…"
For the first time in weeks—
The old Hokage felt true frustration.
The next phase of the war was approaching.
And both sides were now preparing not merely to fight—
But to break each other completely.
The Third Hokage was genuinely considering whether he should enter one of the major cities in the Land of Hot Water and seek out locals familiar with the terrain—just to draft a proper map for himself.
The region bordering the Land of Fire was lush and fertile—dense forests, abundant rainfall, and a mild climate.
And that was precisely the problem.
The endless woodlands provided the perfect cover.
Further inland, mountain ranges stretched endlessly. The official maps marked only major roads and bridges; the countless hidden trails threading through the forests and cliffs were left undocumented.
For an entire month—
They had accomplished nothing.
Meanwhile, reports from Uchiha Fugaku's front were filled with success.
He had annihilated a hundred-man Kumogakure assault unit.
Then, during a probing attack personally led by the Fourth Raikage, he had killed over two hundred enemy shinobi.
Yes, Konoha had suffered over a hundred casualties and lost significant supplies.
But the Raikage had severed his own arm.
That alone was staggering.
The victory had electrified frontline morale. Even the hidden detachment operating behind enemy lines felt invigorated.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was pleased—despite political tensions, despite internal rivalry. When facing an external enemy, they stood united.
But the contrast stung.
Fugaku's glory was undeniable.
And here he was—
Still searching.
Still waiting.
"Those Uchiha… They have their problems," Hiruzen muttered around his pipe, "but once they awaken those eyes… their power becomes extraordinary."
His expression darkened.
He remembered well how his teacher, the Second Hokage, had evaluated the Sharingan.
And he agreed with that judgment.
Which was precisely why he distrusted them.
---
Just as Hiruzen was staring at the map in thought, a shinobi rushed into the valley.
"Is that confirmed?" Hiruzen's expression shifted sharply. "Kumogakure has moved?"
"Yes, Third Hokage-sama."
The news soured his mood instantly.
Kumogakure was mobilizing—
On a massive scale.
They still hadn't located the enemy supply routes.
And now this.
The Fourth Raikage was leading the charge personally.
More than three thousand shinobi.
And—
The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki had deployed as well.
Not at the Raikage's side, but striking from the flank.
Hiruzen immediately understood.
They were forcing him out.
If he refused to support the front, the defensive lines might collapse.
If he intervened—
His position would be exposed.
A classic dilemma.
And to make matters worse, Kumogakure reinforcements were already marching toward the front.
They were aggressive.
Relentless.
"These damned brats…"
Hiruzen clenched his pipe, thoughts racing.
He had two choices.
Ignore it—risk catastrophic losses and possibly allow Kumogakure to push into the Land of Fire.
Or move to support—exposing his carefully concealed detachment.
Their mission had always been clear:
Support. Reinforce. Disrupt supply lines.
Support came first.
If he did nothing—
That would be unforgivable.
He studied the map again.
If Konoha still had access to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, perhaps this wouldn't feel so precarious.
He silently cursed Fugaku and Kei for blocking the deployment of the Nine-Tails.
"Confirm again," he said slowly. "It's the Raikage and the Eight-Tails?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen sighed heavily.
"Prepare the troops. We—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
His gaze locked onto a specific section of the map.
His eyes narrowed.
Silence stretched.
Then—
A slow, cold smile curved across his face.
He knew what to do.
---
Border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water
Fugaku stood atop a tall tree.
Below and behind him stretched an ocean of green—Konoha shinobi assembled in formation. Closest to him stood Nara Kyōhei.
Across the forest line—
The Kumogakure army.
The Fourth Raikage stood at their forefront, cloak whipping in the wind.
Even with one arm missing, he radiated dominance.
Fugaku had received intelligence the night before.
Enemy movement. Force consolidation.
An attack was imminent.
He had responded immediately.
Part of his forces remained in camp—veteran frontline shinobi familiar with the terrain.
The rest gathered here.
He couldn't risk abandoning his rear.
Reports indicated Kumogakure had dispatched a separate flanking unit.
And the location of the Third Hokage remained unknown.
Caution was essential.
Wind rustled through Fugaku's hair.
His Sharingan spun in three-tomoe form.
He would not underestimate the Raikage again.
"Fourth Raikage," Fugaku called coldly, "I did not seek you out—yet you deliver yourself to me. Are you so eager to die?"
It wasn't his natural temperament.
But morale demanded arrogance.
They were outnumbered.
The Raikage sneered.
"Uchiha Fugaku. Last time, I simply lacked information. Your black flames are interesting—but do you truly think I cannot counter them?"
"Only the weak rely on words," Fugaku replied, voice icy.
"It's a shame your arm was reduced to ash by Amaterasu. It would have made a fine trophy.
No matter.
This time, I'll take your head."
The Raikage roared.
"I'll take your eyes!"
With a sharp gesture, he signaled the charge.
Kumogakure's forces erupted forward in a thunderous wave.
Fugaku's eyes shifted—
Mangekyō.
His hands flashed through seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
The sky turned crimson.
An inferno cascaded downward like a falling sea of flame.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Oppression!"
The Raikage hurled aside his cloak and shot upward.
Condensed lightning chakra gathered in his remaining arm—
And split the blazing torrent in two.
Fugaku didn't hesitate.
He surged forward, targeting only the Raikage.
Behind him, Konoha shinobi charged with battle cries.
Kumogakure answered in kind.
More than five thousand shinobi collided.
The forest trembled.
The war—
Had entered its next stage.