Uchiha Fugaku had always been an exceptionally calm and composed man.
Perhaps it was because he had lived under constant scrutiny by the Hokage's faction, or because Uchiha Setsuna, the infamous rebel, had left behind a trail of mistrust that pushed the Uchiha Clan into a politically awkward position within Konoha.
Even after Fugaku became the Fifth Hokage, that situation didn't improve much.
The reason? None other than the immense burden of his Mangekyō Sharingan — a pressure that weighed on him like a mountain.
But all of that…
All of it changed the moment he underwent that procedure with Yuki Yoru.
From that moment on, the pressure inside him erupted — releasing the long-restrained "Uchiha Maniacal Laughter Cells" that now fully awakened.
After implanting Hashirama's cells, the continuous surge of ocular power allowed Fugaku to finally say:
"There's nothing I lack anymore!"
Amid the echoing, unrestrained laughter, Fugaku's Mangekyō unleashed an overwhelming surge of chakra. The skeletal aura surrounding him instantly solidified. A beam of radiant light shot upward from his body's center, and a towering humanoid skeleton began to fully manifest — emanating a crushing, divine pressure.
This was the second stage of Susanoo.
"Now… I'm unbeatable."
"...Liger Bomb!"
Fugaku hadn't even finished his boast when the Raikage's body exploded upward, cloaked in flickering lightning chakra. With a thunderous roar, he descended like a divine bolt, combining overwhelming force with high-velocity impact.
BOOM!!
The ground groaned and split with a massive crack.
Fugaku's laughter abruptly halted. His eyes widened as he watched his second-stage Susanoo — touted as an ultimate defense — fracture like glass under the impact.
Not good.
Blood-red eyes spinning wildly, Fugaku forced an immense outflow of chakra to repair the damage. His Susanoo rapidly regenerated, layers of thick armor plating forming across its surface.
Seeing this, the Raikage frowned deeply. Then, with another violent flare of lightning chakra, he reoriented himself midair and rocketed forward again — faster and stronger than before.
Double Lariat of Raging Thunder!
The flash of an iron-strong blow, piercing like thunder's wrath!
BOOM!!!
Even the newly upgraded third-stage Susanoo was forced back several steps.
The sheer force of the blow ended Fugaku's laughter. His face turned grim.
The Fourth Raikage's power had far exceeded his expectations.
Had they fought before the surgery he received in Kirigakure, Fugaku was nearly certain he'd have lost — nine times out of ten.
But not now.
Now, I wield the power of all creation!
The Susanoo, now clad in its third-stage Black Tengu Armor, erupted with renewed chakra. Its body expanded drastically — massive limbs forming beneath it, lifting Fugaku high into the air.
Susanoo—Fourth Stage!
"Tremble before the power of the Uchiha, Raikage!"
Inside the chakra titan, Fugaku's Mangekyō spun madly. His Susanoo roared, dual swords crossing before exploding outward, sheathed in a raging vortex of violet-blue chakra.
The slash tore through the battlefield like a hurricane.
Trees shattered like matchsticks. The ground shook. It was as if the earth itself couldn't bear the force.
"What kind of joke is this…"
Even with the overwhelming might of the fourth-stage Susanoo looming, the Fourth Raikage showed no fear.
"I'm still 'A', dammit!"
"RAAAHHHH!!!"
With a furious roar, the Raikage erupted in a surge of lightning so intense it lit up the entire battlefield. Countless bolts, as thick as fingers, snaked across his body. His spiky blond hair stood on end — like a Super Saiyan incarnate.
Strongest Lightning Release Armor!
This was Lightning Release Chakra Mode pushed to its absolute maximum — the Raikage's ultimate buff.
In this state, his speed, defense, muscle responsiveness, and reaction time were all enhanced to the extreme — granting him lightning-fast mobility and near-total damage immunity.
But instead of rushing in, the Raikage calmly raised his right hand.
Thumb pressed to palm. Four fingers extended.
Lightning chakra began to compress and gather in his fingers, building into a hyper-concentrated point of power. His ring finger slowly curled in — and as it bent, the intensity in his other three fingers multiplied.
"That technique…"
From afar, Hiashi, Fūsai, Killer B, and Yugito all turned their gazes to the battlefield.
B and Yugito exchanged glances. Their pupils shrank.
They knew Fugaku was strong — but they hadn't expected him to push the Raikage this far.
Long ago...
The Third Raikage had earned his legendary title by singlehandedly battling the Eight Tails, and holding off ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi for three days and nights — allowing Kumogakure's retreat.
And the secret to that feat?
Two ultimate techniques:
The strongest shield — the enhanced Lightning Release Chakra Armor.
And the strongest spear — the terrifying Hell Stab.
The very same technique the Fourth Raikage now prepared to unleash.
Hell Stab concentrated lightning chakra into four fingers. The fewer fingers used, the greater the penetrative power.
At one finger — it reached its peak.
While the Fourth Raikage had yet to fully master the one-finger version, even three fingers were more than enough to challenge the strongest defenses.
"Die, Uchiha Fugaku!"
"Hell Stab — Three-Finger Nukite!"
"What?!"
In a flash of lightning, the Raikage vanished.
Even with his Mangekyō's powerful tracking abilities, Fugaku couldn't follow his movement — it was simply too fast.
Rumor had it that, during the Third Great Ninja War, the Raikage went toe-to-toe with the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.
Fugaku had always assumed that was Kumo propaganda — there was no way anyone could match Minato's space-time ninjutsu in raw speed… aside from perhaps Yuki Yoru or Shisui…
But now?
He wasn't so sure anymore.
Cannot be caught... Never mind. Ultimately, you must clash and confront me, and Susanoo is the most perfect power!
Fugaku snorted confidently.
His fourth-stage Susanoo held its twin swords high, poised for impact.
Lightning flashed.
The strike came too fast — Fugaku couldn't even respond.
BOOM!
Hell Stab smashed into the chest of the Susanoo.
The thick black armor shattered. The inner skeletal shell cracked under the pressure.
No defense is truly absolute. Even full-body Susanoo could be broken under sufficient force.
Let alone stage four.
CRACK!
Their eyes met — both fixated on the spiderweb fractures spreading across Susanoo's ribcage.
BOOM!
Lightning danced across the battlefield as the Raikage's Three-Finger Hell Nukite smashed through Susanoo's chest, blowing Fugaku out of the susanoo's body like a ragdoll.
He flew through the air, smashed through tree after tree, and finally crashed against a massive trunk — unmoving.
The once-godlike Susanoo crumbled and vanished into flickering chakra.
"Ghhhaa!!"
Blood sprayed from Fugaku's lips. His chakra was almost gone.
"Lord Fifth!"
"Damn it!"
Hiashi and Fūsai cried out in panic, trying to retreat and shield Fugaku — but the two Jinchūriki relentlessly pinned them down. One misstep, and they would've died right then.
"So this is the great Mangekyō Sharingan? Pathetic."
The Raikage loomed above Fugaku, sneering.
"Arrogant fool. Did you really think you were the next 'Shinobi World's Asura?' From this day forward, Konoha—!"
His words were cut short.
Fugaku, bloodied and gasping, suddenly lifted his head.
From his left eye, a line of bloody tears slid down.
The Raikage's pupils contracted.
"Shit—!"
A surge of overwhelming chakra erupted.
The world spun. The Raikage staggered, dizzy, as reality twisted around him.
His dominant spirit deflated like a pierced balloon.
"Big Bro!"
"Raikage-sama!"
Killer B and Yugito shouted. For the first time, they panicked.
But the Raikage steadied himself.
"I'm fine."
He wasn't just a walking slab of muscle. His resistance to genjutsu wasn't zero.
While the Mangekyō illusion had drained him, it wasn't enough to finish him.
"Impressive eyes… Don't worry. In Kumogakure, they won't go to waste."
He raised his hand again, lightning crackling, preparing to end Fugaku once and for all.
"Ara ara~"
A light, almost teasing voice drifted in. The Raikage's movement stopped abruptly.
He turned slightly — and there, appearing silently behind him, was a figure cloaked in a white Water Shadow robe.
Yuki Yoru.
"Pardon me. Would you kindly move aside?"
"Yuki Yoru…"
The Raikage's face turned darker than ever. From the corner of his eye, he saw the lingering hand seals of Ichikishimahime and the white mist that had begun to float around Yoru's body.
Reverse Summoning Jutsu…
Hiashi exhaled in relief. Fūsai straightened, face taut. B and Yugito stiffened.
"Just in time."
Ichikishimahime sighed, sensing her rapidly draining Sage chakra.
"You've got five minutes… no, three minutes at most, Yoru!"
Three minutes.
The words startled everyone present.
Hiashi and Fūsai paled.
You idiot! What kind of ninja reveals their time limit to the enemy?!
"Three minutes…"
The Raikage relaxed slightly.
Only three minutes?
Even if it was Yuki Yoru — he could hold out that long.
And he wouldn't let this prey slip away!
"That man is mine," Yoru said softly. "Would you mind letting him go?"
He didn't even acknowledge IIchikishimahime's warning — instead, he looked calmly at the Raikage.
Sensing Yoru's chakra rising behind him, the Raikage's expression darkened.
His hand shot down toward Fugaku—
In that instant, the temperature plummeted.
Frost bloomed outward from Yoru, encasing the Raikage's entire body — and the surrounding forest — in glacial ice.
The Raikage froze mid-strike, arm outstretched, inches from Fugaku's eye.
Frozen.
"Big Bro!!"
"Raikage-sama!!!"
Killer B and Yugito screamed. They could no longer remain calm. Their chakra flared as they broke free from Hiashi, Fūsai, and the Snake Maidens — dashing toward the Raikage.
Yoru gently waved his hand.
Fugaku's broken body floated toward him, landing softly beside him.
"Sorry… I… caused trouble, Lord Yoru…" Fugaku muttered weakly, forcing a faint smile.
"If you're calling me 'Lord Yoru', how could I possibly abandon you?" Yoru replied with a warm smile.
Even as two Jinchūriki hurtled toward them in a chakra frenzy, Yoru didn't flinch.
Without turning, he raised a hand.
A barrier of invisible force formed in the air, stopping both Jinchūriki's chakra blasts with ease.
With his other hand, he reached toward the frozen Raikage.
"Can we please calm down, all of you?"