Deep within the battlefield—
The clash between Uchiha Akihito and Kumogakure's AB Combination raged on.
What began as cautious probing had escalated into a life-or-death struggle.
The Fourth Raikage moved like a tempest, still carrying that domineering aura as though he ruled the battlefield itself.
"Is it really worth risking your life for a village like Konoha?"
"Uchiha Akihito, surrender while you still can!"
Akihito did not reply.
Instead, he answered with a flying slash.
"If you want me to surrender, you're not qualified."
"Defeat me first—then talk."
A flicker of anger crossed the Raikage's eyes.
So the boy intended to fight to the end.
Fine.
No more words.
"Uchiha Akihito!"
"You're courting death!"
"Bee—we switch to an aggressive formation!"
Killer Bee immediately raised his thumb.
"Got it, bro."
"Eighth blade entering the stage!"
"Yeah!"
With a shout, red chakra cloaked his body—the Tailed Beast Chakra Mode.
His speed, strength, and regeneration surged dramatically.
The Raikage's eyes sharpened as he further activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, pushing his body to greater limits.
"Feel the wrath of the Raikage!"
Akihito's expression grew serious.
Facing two Kage-level opponents alone was no small feat.
The brothers gave him no time to think.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
"Lightning Oppression Horizontal!"
Their speed was terrifying.
Without activating his Sharingan, Akihito could barely track them.
Bee empowered by the Eight-Tails was dangerous enough—
But the Raikage's speed approached that of Minato Namikaze himself.
Even a three-tomoe Sharingan would struggle to predict such movements.
Akihito reacted swiftly.
He raised his blade to block Bee—
And relied on elementalization to endure the Raikage's elbow strike.
BOOM!
The impact bent his chakra-forged blade into a crescent.
Akihito was blasted backward—
Crashing into the ground in an explosion of flame.
The fire roared—
Then gradually reformed into his silhouette.
Akihito stepped out from the flames.
"So this is the Lightning Chakra Mode… the blue lightning said to rival the Yellow Flash."
"The Fourth Raikage truly lives up to his name."
Seeing him unharmed, even the Raikage showed a trace of admiration.
"You're uninjured after that?"
"As expected of the 'Flame Demon.'"
After exchanging blows for some time—
Even the Raikage had to admit:
Akihito's mastery of flame had reached a near-miraculous level.
Even the Hōzuki clan's control over water likely paled in comparison.
And he was only seventeen.
Given time—
Who in the shinobi world could stand against him?
A chilling killing intent erupted from the Raikage.
As a leader, he understood the importance of eliminating threats early.
If Akihito could not be turned into an ally—
He must be destroyed now.
"Bee. We attack together. Continuous pressure. Drain his stamina and chakra."
The Raikage had already seen through Akihito's weakness.
Elementalization made him immune to physical attacks—
But stamina and chakra were finite.
Even his father, the Third Raikage—the so-called "One-Man Army"—had been exhausted to death by Iwagakure.
Akihito would be no exception.
"Double Lariat!"
The brothers attacked in relentless succession.
Their combination techniques were so fast that even ordinary Kage-level shinobi would struggle to evade them.
Akihito's eyes narrowed.
"Sharingan… activate."
With his three-tomoe Sharingan open, he could finally track their movements—
But seeing did not guarantee dodging.
Nearly half their attacks still had to be endured through passive elementalization.
"One-Sword Style: Blazing Vortex!"
"One-Sword Style: Crimson Flame Mirror!"
Even under pressure, Akihito counterattacked.
His flaming sword waves forced both brothers to stay cautious.
The Raikage growled.
"Damn it!"
"Uchiha Akihito is this troublesome?"
"These flames sting like hell!"
Bee rolled his eyes.
"It's just a scratch, bro. Stop whining."
"The kid's cut off several of Gyūki's tentacles. I'm hurting more than you!"
The Raikage's veins bulged.
If not for the enemy in front of them—
He would have disciplined his brother immediately.
Just you wait, he thought.
After we finish Akihito…
He charged again.
"I refuse to believe I can't break you!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Oppression Bomb!"
Enduring the scorching heat, he grabbed Akihito and executed a crushing power slam.
Bee followed instantly—
"Super Sonic Lightning Blade!"
The Lightning Slam combined with chakra-infused blade strikes—
Even Akihito's elemental body strained under the pressure.
"One-Sword Style… Flame Demon."
Akihito drew his blade in one decisive motion—
And transformed into a towering inferno giant.
Blazing fire surged outward.
The AB Combination was forced to retreat.
"Huff… huff…"
Akihito's breathing grew heavier.
He had repelled them—
But the cost was steep.
The Raikage looked at him and sighed.
"To endure this long against the two of us…"
"You should be proud."
"Your talent is the greatest I've ever seen."
"Even compared to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—you are not inferior."
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