On the front lines, Konoha and Kumogakure's elites were still locked in fierce combat.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio continued to hold down the Two-Tails' jinchūriki, Yugito Nii.
Hiashi Hyūga and Shisui Uchiha kept Rōshi's loyal aide Dodai and the young prodigy Darui fully occupied.
Yugito glanced at the three clan heads before her and spoke proudly:
"You've managed to stall me this long. Not bad."
"But it's pointless. By now, Lord Raikage and Lord Killer Bee have surely taken Uchiha Akihito's head."
Though concern flickered in Shikaku Nara's eyes, he answered firmly:
"Lord Akihito isn't that easy to defeat."
"He's Konoha's 'Flame Demon'—renowned across the ninja world!"
Yugito scoffed.
Flame Demon? So what?
Could he possibly defeat the AB Combo?
Don't be ridiculous.
On another part of the battlefield, mutual respect had formed between the opposing elites.
Dodai—the trusted aide of the Third Raikage.
Darui—the Fourth Raikage's right-hand man.
Hiashi of the Hyūga and Shisui of the Uchiha.
None were unworthy of their reputations.
Just as both sides paused to catch their breath—
A figure appeared.
Uchiha Akihito.
He strode forward calmly, Killer Bee slung over his shoulder.
With a single sweeping slash, a flying blade of fire cleaved the battlefield in two.
His voice thundered across the plains:
"Hear me! The AB Combo has fallen to my blade."
"Kumogakure has lost this war."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Shock and disbelief froze the Kumogakure shinobi in place.
Lord Raikage… and Lord Killer Bee… lost?
Impossible.
Meanwhile, Konoha's forces erupted with emotion.
Victory.
Exhilaration.
Defeating two Kage-level opponents alone—
Akihito-sama was unbelievable!
Yugito snapped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Don't joke!"
"How could Lord Raikage and Lord Killer Bee lose to you?!"
Akihito merely smiled—and tossed Bee forward.
Facts spoke louder than words.
The Eight-Tails jinchūriki lay captured.
Gasps rippled through the Cloud ranks.
"It's Lord Killer Bee!"
If Bee had been taken prisoner—
Then Akihito's claim might truly be real.
"No… I refuse to believe it!"
"How could Lord Raikage lose?!"
Cloud morale plummeted instantly.
If even the AB Combo had fallen—
What hope remained?
Seizing the moment, Shikaku used Inoichi's telepathic transmission to broadcast across the battlefield:
"Lord Akihito has defeated the Raikage and captured the Eight-Tails!"
"We've won!"
"Konoha is victorious!"
Cheers exploded like wildfire.
"Konoha wins!"
"Long live Lord Akihito!"
The tide had turned completely.
Moments later, a battered Fourth Raikage appeared at the front lines.
Yugito, Dodai, and Darui rushed to him.
"Lord Raikage! Are you alright?"
He coughed harshly.
"I'm fine. Just minor injuries."
"But Bee has been captured by that Uchiha brat."
"We must rescue him."
Yugito flared with anger.
"Our numbers still surpass theirs!"
"Let's fight to the end!"
Dodai immediately intervened.
"Don't be reckless!"
"Lord Raikage, morale has collapsed. Continuing now risks total annihilation."
"We should withdraw—and negotiate later."
The Raikage's fists trembled.
Retreat?
After such humiliation?
But he was a Kage.
He had to think beyond pride.
Morale was broken.
Continuing meant disaster.
Retreating would hurt his reputation—
But it would preserve Kumogakure's strength.
He was young.
Not like Ōnoki in the Third Shinobi War, who gambled everything and still failed before the Yellow Flash.
After a long internal struggle—
Reason prevailed.
"…Transmit my order."
"Full retreat."
Like a receding tide, the Cloud forces withdrew.
Watching them go, Akihito finally exhaled.
Since departing Konoha, he had endured two brutal battles.
At last—
The storm had passed.
He deactivated his Sharingan, preparing to rest—
When two Konoha jōnin silently slipped behind him.
Without warning—
They struck.
Akihito barely reacted in time.
A blade sliced across his cheek.
A thin line of crimson trailed down his jaw.
Against the AB Combo, he had remained unscathed.
Yet now—
He had been wounded by his own side.
After such intense expenditure of chakra and mental focus, he had released both his Sharingan and Fire Release Chakra Mode.
His guard had dropped.
His eyes sharpened.
…Almost fell to allies?
Careless.
The two jōnin moved in for another strike.
But Akihito gave them no chance.
"Fire Release Chakra Mode."
His body dissolved into flame.
Their blades passed harmlessly through.
"Mission failed. Retreat!"
Seeing their attack ineffective, the two attempted to flee.
A cold smile curved Akihito's lips.
"Running now?"
"Isn't that a little late?"
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