"Big brother!"
Seeing the Fourth Raikage fall under genjutsu, Killer Bee shouted anxiously.
Akihito immediately followed up with a volley of Yasaka Magatama.
"It's over."
But Bee moved just as fast.
Before the attack could land, he secretly extended several of Gyūki's tentacles to shield the Raikage.
"Don't even think about it!"
BOOM—
The Yasaka Magatama detonated against the Eight-Tails' tentacles. The flesh was blown apart instantly, but the Raikage narrowly avoided death.
Akihito inwardly clicked his tongue.
What a pity.
He had initiated the attack himself, so he hadn't activated Epitaph. The Raikage had already lost mobility—there was no need to waste ocular power on foresight.
"Genjutsu… Release!"
Bee quickly injected his chakra into the Raikage's body. With his brother's assistance, the Raikage finally broke free from the illusion.
"…Sorry, Bee."
"He's not easy to deal with. We need to be more careful."
"Got it, bro."
"This guy's ruthless. Gotta stay prudent."
"Bakayaro, konoyaro—oh yeah!"
Even at a time like this, Bee couldn't resist throwing in an awkward rap. Strangely enough, it eased some of the tension.
The AB Combo regrouped.
Akihito frowned slightly.
Maintaining the tengu-armored Susanoo consumed enormous chakra. His Mangekyō was not Eternal—no matter how strong his ocular power was, Susanoo remained a double-edged sword.
Used well, it would secure victory.
Used poorly, it would drag him down.
And against the so-called "Strongest Tag Team," time was not on his side.
"No more dragging this out."
His Mangekyō pulsed again.
"One-Sword Style: Heaven-Blazing Slash."
The spiritual blade cleaved downward.
The Raikage had not fully recovered from genjutsu, so Bee stepped forward instead.
"Little Eight, let's go! Lariat!"
Cloaked in tailed-beast chakra, Bee charged head-on—intending to block Susanoo with pure taijutsu.
BOOM!
Flame-wreathed blade and flesh collided, erupting in a violent shockwave.
Sweat beaded on Bee's brow as Gyūki's chakra surged to its limit.
Truth be told—
Bee's Lariat was even stronger than his brother's.
The flames gradually dissipated.
Bee remained standing—
Barely.
His chakra cloak was almost gone, his body scorched with burn marks. Without Gyūki's regeneration, he would have fallen already.
"Ha… blocked it!"
Despite his injuries, Bee grinned.
His brother had suffered earlier—
But he was still standing.
Didn't that prove something?
The Raikage dashed over, concern in his voice.
"You alright, Bee?"
Bee puffed up proudly.
"This? Just a scratch."
"Unlike some people who get knocked down by a single glance."
The Raikage's face twitched.
"…You mocking me?"
"Not now, bro! Family discipline later!"
The Raikage snorted but held back.
Akihito, meanwhile, assessed calmly.
Bee had monstrous recovery.
The Raikage had near-tailed-beast-level chakra reserves.
Dragging this out was unwise.
His eyes sharpened.
"One-Sword Style: Scorching Hell."
The blade fell—
And the battlefield transformed into a sea of fire.
The temperature warped the air itself.
Bee immediately transformed into full tailed-beast form, lifting the Raikage onto his palm.
"Bro, I'll cover you. Get out of this zone."
The moment Akihito released the technique, Bee sensed lethal danger.
If they didn't withdraw now—
They might not get another chance.
"You sure?"
"I've got Little Eight."
The Raikage hesitated—but trusted his brother.
Yet before they could escape—
Akihito closed in.
"Trying to leave?"
"Not so easy."
"Mangekyō Sharingan—Epitaph."
The future unfolded before him.
Even at peak speed, aided by Gyūki—
The Raikage could not outrun time itself.
BOOM!
One strike—
The Raikage was blasted back into the blazing inferno.
Akihito's voice echoed coldly:
"One-Sword Style: Avīci Inferno."
The flames surged higher, forming a prison of endless fire.
The Raikage and Bee stood within it—
Faces solemn.
So this…
Was Akihito's true strength?
No wonder the battlefield had begun whispering his name.
Flame Demon of Konoha.
The title—
Was no exaggeration.
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