Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
Raikage's Office.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of fists slamming against a desk echoed again and again, enough to make anyone nearby think twice about approaching.
The news of Yugito's defeat had already reached Kumogakure. Everyone knew exactly why the Raikage was in such a towering rage.
After venting for a long while, the Fourth Raikage finally managed to rein in his temper.
"Mabui," he said coldly, "report the situation on the front lines."
Dressed in formal attire, Mabui immediately stepped forward with a respectful bow.
"Our forces on the front have suffered a major defeat. Of the three thousand shinobi deployed, only one-third remain combat-capable."
"Lady Yugito engaged 'Flame Demon' Yusuke Uchiha in a direct confrontation and was ultimately defeated, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic loss."
Her expression remained perfectly neutral as she read the report aloud.
"…What?"
The Fourth Raikage froze, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard.
Two-thirds of the army wiped out.
Yugito lost in a one-on-one fight?
How was that even possible?
The war had only just begun. Had Konoha really become this powerful?
With three thousand shinobi on the field, a stalemate lasting half a year wouldn't have been surprising.
Even in a full frontal clash, with the caliber of Kumogakure's forces, such a crushing defeat should have been impossible.
Mabui herself found it hard to believe.
Yugito was Kumogakure's perfect jinchūriki.
Yet only days into the conflict, she had already been forced into retreat.
And worse still—
Just two days earlier, the Raikage had confidently declared that once Yugito encountered 'Flame Demon' Yusuke, it would be Yusuke who suffered.
Instead, the outcome had completely reversed.
The slap to the face came far too fast.
"Yugito has been defeated—this is bad news!"
"Baka yarō, kono yarō—oh yeah!"
No sooner had Mabui finished speaking than Killer B suddenly burst into a clumsy rap.
Seeing his brother fooling around at a time like this, the Fourth Raikage snapped and slammed a fist straight into his face.
"This is not the time for your stupid singing!"
Three days without a beating and you start tearing the roof off.
I'm already in a foul mood—might as well use you as a punching bag!
"Ah—gah—!"
The Raikage unleashed a rapid combo, beating Killer B until he grimaced in pain.
After venting on his brother, the Raikage finally felt a bit better.
"Explain it properly," he said. "How exactly did Yugito lose?"
Even now, he couldn't accept that someone with Yugito's experience and strength could lose to Yusuke Uchiha.
Mabui steadied herself and continued.
"Last night, Yugito decided to launch a surprise attack on the Konoha camp."
"However, Konoha struck first and attacked our camp instead."
"Yugito attempted to flank them from the rear, but fell directly into a trap…"
She recounted the battle in careful detail, step by step.
The more the Raikage listened, the darker his expression became.
When Mabui reached the point where Yugito attempted to break out, only to be intercepted by Yusuke Uchiha—and was then defeated in a direct clash—the Raikage slammed his fist down, shattering the desk in front of him.
"Yusuke Uchiha again?!"
"I'll kill that brat with my own hands!"
His voice was low and furious, murderous intent blazing in his eyes.
First, Yusuke had slaughtered their diplomatic delegation.
Then he defeated Kumogakure's Two-Tails jinchūriki.
At the mere mention of Yusuke's name, the Raikage ground his teeth, itching to rush to the battlefield and tear him apart personally.
Mabui looked at the wreckage of the desk and sighed helplessly.
Another "miscellaneous office expense" added to the books.
Being the Raikage's secretary was truly exhausting.
After taking a beating, Killer B finally became serious.
Clearing his throat, he spoke in a low voice.
"To defeat Yugito head-on… this 'Flame Demon' Yusuke isn't someone we can underestimate."
The Raikage, still seething, wasn't having it.
"Underestimate?"
"He's just a snot-nosed brat!"
"I could suppress him with one hand—"
Killer B didn't give him any face at all and launched straight into another improvised rap.
"Big bro doesn't understand war at all—he's stronger than you!"
"Baka yarō, kono—"
Before he could finish, the Raikage's palm was already plastered against his face.
"Did I tell you to sing?"
"Say one more word."
Killer B flailed in protest—and then promptly went silent.
Despite his bluster, the Fourth Raikage did recognize that Yusuke Uchiha was no ordinary opponent.
But in his eyes, the only person in Konoha who had ever truly given him trouble was the "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze.
Even the Legendary Sannin hadn't earned his fear.
He had crossed paths with Tsunade before.
Though her raw strength surpassed his, he believed his speed would ultimately secure him victory.
Only when facing the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had the Raikage truly been humiliated—outclassed in the very domain he prided himself on most: speed.
For a long time, the Raikage had believed no one could defeat a man like Minato.
But that famed "Yellow Flash" had died during the Nine-Tails Incident.
Dead men were losers.
If Konoha's strongest were all failures, what were the rest worth?
It was precisely this belief that emboldened the Raikage to push Konoha to the brink.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was an old man nearing seventy—hardly comparable to him in his prime.
As for Yusuke Uchiha—
Defeating Yugito showed some skill, sure.
But challenging Kumogakure's AB Combination?
He was still far too green.
Since their debut, the AB Combination had only ever suffered a loss once—against Minato Namikaze.
Other than that, they had never been defeated.
Even against Kage-level opponents, they were confident in their ability to prevail.
This war was meant to intimidate Konoha, to show the shinobi world the strength of Kumogakure.
Another defeat was unacceptable.
Having made up his mind, the Fourth Raikage spoke decisively.
"B. You're coming with me."
"We'll lead three thousand elite shinobi to the front."
"I'll personally deal with Yusuke Uchiha!"
With Konoha acting so arrogantly, the Fourth Raikage had no intention of holding back.
If they were going to fight, then they would fight to the fullest.
I, the Raikage, will take the field myself—does Konoha's Hokage dare do the same?
He knew full well that Konoha was no longer what it once had been.
Hiruzen was old, the Sannin were no longer fit for duty, the Nine-Tails was uncontrollable.
Meanwhile, Kumogakure had two perfect jinchūriki—and him, the Raikage at the height of his power.
"Big bro… wouldn't I be enough on my own?" Killer B asked hesitantly.
At this stage, it didn't seem necessary for the Raikage himself to go.
The Fourth Raikage waved a hand and said firmly,
"No. We go together."
"This time, I won't just kill Yusuke Uchiha."
"I'll make history—and take the fight all the way to Konoha."
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