The battlefield had not quieted since the clash began. Dust rose, smoke lingered faintly in the air, and the scars of steel against steel were etched across the ground. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood at the front, his eyes sharp, his body unmoving, while the ANBU around him remained stiff as statues, obeying his earlier command to remain silent and watch without interfering.
And so they watched.
They watched as Indra Uchiha stood unshaken, his grip on the Kusanagi blade steady, his posture calm, his breathing perfectly even. He looked almost untouchable, as though the battle so far had been little more than a passing exercise. His expression was not arrogant, not mocking—simply composed, as if he existed on a level beyond strain.
Across from him, Kakashi Hatake breathed heavily. His chest rose and fell in sharp, quickened motions, his single eye narrowing with grim focus. The battle had already worn down his stamina, but still, he refused to yield. He adjusted his headband slightly, revealing the scarlet glow of his Sharingan eye. The tomoe spun, focusing sharply on Indra's every move.
The silence broke again.
Kakashi's hands blurred into seals, his chakra flaring as he leapt backward to gain distance. Lightning crackled in his palm, the sound of a thousand birds filling the air. His Chidori roared to life, the electric glow illuminating the battlefield with violent brilliance.
The ANBU's eyes widened beneath their masks. They had seen Kakashi use this technique before—an assassination jutsu of piercing speed and destructive power.
With a burst of speed, Kakashi charged forward, Sharingan locked on Indra. His movements were sharp, his steps precise. The lightning around his hand extended into a deadly point aimed straight for Indra's chest.
But Indra did not flinch.
His Kusanagi blade lifted, glowing faintly as he infused it with his chakra. With a swift, calm motion, he intercepted. Sword met lightning.
The collision exploded with sparks and force, the earth trembling beneath their clash. For a moment, the battlefield was engulfed in the sound of crackling thunder and grinding steel. Kakashi gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he tried to push through, but Indra's stance was immovable, his sword unwavering.
With a sharp twist, Indra redirected the Chidori, sending the force crashing into the ground beside him. The earth tore open, a small crater forming from the impact. Dust shot upward, smoke filling the air.
Kakashi leapt back instantly, panting, his Sharingan spinning rapidly to keep track of Indra's calm figure emerging from the smoke without a scratch.
Indra's voice carried evenly across the battlefield.
"Lightning, fire, water, earth—it doesn't matter. Against me, your elements are only distractions."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed further. He refused to yield. His hands blurred again through seals, his chakra molding into different natures. He stomped his foot into the ground—Earth Release: Rock Style Wall! A surge of stone erupted between them, a towering barricade of jagged rock. Without hesitation, Kakashi weaved another set of seals—Water Release: Water Bullet Technique! A surge of water burst from his mouth, hissing as it collided with the rock fragments, creating a cloud of wet debris that obscured Indra's vision.
Kakashi moved within the smoke, his body a blur, weaving signs once again. Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique! A blazing orb of flame shot through the dust, consuming the field in waves of heat and fire.
The ANBU gasped quietly. Even for Kakashi, using three elemental styles in rapid succession was draining, and his chakra was already being tested. Yet his determination was unwavering—he would press Indra until either victory or collapse claimed him.
But from within the blaze, a figure emerged.
Indra cut through the fire as though it were smoke, his Kusanagi glowing faintly with chakra that burned away the flames upon contact. His stride was steady, his aura calm, his movements untouchable.
Kakashi's eye widened in disbelief. Not even scorched…
Indra advanced without hesitation. Kakashi hurled kunai from both hands, wires attached, trying to bind and restrict Indra's movement. But with a flick of his blade, the wires snapped, kunai scattering harmlessly to the dirt.
Kakashi's Sharingan spun faster. His instincts screamed. He lunged again, chakra flaring into another Chidori. His body blurred forward, speed heightened by his desperation.
The sound of lightning filled the field once more.
Indra did not retreat. His blade met Kakashi's strike again, chakra reinforcing the steel. The clash lit up the ground with sparks, raw power colliding, the air cracking from the intensity.
For the second time, Kakashi was repelled. His arm throbbed, his breath hitched. He staggered back, panting hard, sweat dripping from his face beneath the mask.
Still, Indra stood as though untouched. His chest did not rise or fall in exhaustion, his grip did not falter, his blade gleamed with unwavering sharpness.
The Hokage's eyes narrowed. He has not weakened. Not even slightly. Kakashi has unleashed elemental techniques, Sharingan, Chidori—yet Indra looks as though the battle has not even begun for him.
The ANBU exchanged nervous glances, the pressure in the air suffocating.
Danzo's lips curled faintly into a smirk from his hidden perch. Yes… yes, this is it. Let the Copy Ninja fall. Let Hiruzen see the futility. Let them all realize who among us truly understands strength. The Hokage's chair will soon be mine.
Back on the battlefield, Kakashi wiped sweat from his brow, his chest heaving. His hands trembled slightly as he prepared another jutsu. His chakra reserves were running thinner by the moment, but he had no choice. He formed the seals again, gathering every ounce of his willpower.
Lightning roared once more in his palm—Chidori!
This was the third time. His body screamed in protest, veins bulging at the strain, but his Sharingan locked on Indra with fierce resolve. He dashed forward, faster, sharper, every ounce of his energy poured into this strike.
Indra stepped into the charge, Kusanagi glowing brighter as his chakra poured steadily into it.
The two collided violently, the sound of thunder and steel echoing across the training ground. The impact lit the air in a shower of sparks, the ground beneath them splitting. For a moment, the two forces held in deadlock, the clash of determination vibrating through the battlefield.
But Kakashi's body faltered first. His chakra burned away, his muscles strained, and his strength wavered. Indra, however, remained still, his sword pressing forward with unwavering composure.
Kakashi was flung back, rolling across the ground, dirt scattering around him. He pushed himself up to his knees, panting heavily, his Sharingan bleeding faintly at the edges. His chest heaved, his arms trembled, but still, he tried to rise.
Indra lowered his sword calmly, standing tall, untouched, unshaken. His presence loomed like a mountain unmoved by the storm.
Hiruzen's gaze grew sharper. Three times… Kakashi used Chidori three times, and still Indra stands unbothered. Not even panting. This boy… this Uchiha… his power is beyond what even I anticipated.
The battlefield went still once more.
Kakashi half-knelt on the ground, blood dripping faintly from his eye, his body screaming from exhaustion. Yet Indra remained, perfectly calm, blade steady, aura unwavering.
The ANBU did not speak. Danzo's eye glimmered. The Hokage frowned deeply.
And the fight had not yet ended.
It was only reaching its climax.
The battlefield was heavy with silence.
Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, the pride of Konoha, was down on one knee. His chest rose and fell sharply, sweat dripping from his forehead, his Sharingan eye bleeding from overuse. His breath came out in rough gasps, and his body trembled under the strain of exhaustion. His chakra reserves had already been pushed beyond their limits.
Moments ago, he had unleashed everything he had — his ninjutsu mastery, his fire style, water style, earth techniques, his lightning-based counters, his famed Chidori not once but thrice, and finally, the peak of his skill: Raikiri.
The ground itself still bore the scars of their clash. Deep trenches cut through the earth where Kakashi's Chidori had collided against Indra's Kusanagi sword, which glowed faintly with chakra. The once-solid rocks were shattered into dust. Trees that stood around the battlefield were charred black, their bark eaten by flame and lightning, and puddles of steaming water evaporated into mist under the oppressive atmosphere.
But amidst this scene of destruction stood Indra Uchiha.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Not even panting.
His breathing remained steady, his eyes cold and sharp. His expression carried no hint of exhaustion, only amusement, only disdain. The bloodlust radiating from him was suffocating, yet it was under perfect control, as though he could increase it or withdraw it at will.
Kakashi, still half kneeling, glanced up at him through his mask, his mind spinning. Impossible… he should be at least… tired… after all this. No human should be able to endure this much battle and remain untouched. What is this monster?
And then, in the silence that stretched too long, Indra's voice cut through like a blade.
"Stop wasting time."
His words were sharp, arrogant, and filled with deadly confidence. His Kusanagi sword, still humming faintly with the residue of chakra from the clash, was lowered, its edge dripping with sparks of condensed chakra. His crimson Sharingan spun lazily, locking onto Kakashi with merciless clarity before shifting toward the true figure he wanted.
Indra's lips twisted into a dangerous grin as he turned his head toward the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Let's end it."
The words weren't merely a challenge. They were a command, a declaration, spoken in a tone that made even the seasoned ANBU shift uneasily.
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed. His old, weathered face, carved by years of leadership and battle, revealed nothing outwardly — but his heart was heavy. He had expected Indra to show strength, yes. He had expected Kakashi to push him. But this… this overwhelming dominance, this ability to stand unscathed after Kakashi had given everything… this was something beyond his expectation.
Hiruzen's thoughts churned as his gaze shifted from the defeated Kakashi to the merciless Indra. So this is the true depth of Indra Uchiha… even after Kakashi used his Sharingan and Raikiri, he stands there without so much as a scratch. If I cannot gauge his full strength, then how can I hope to control him?
Behind him, the ANBU members remained tense, their masks concealing their unease, their hands twitching slightly toward their weapons but frozen in place by the Hokage's earlier command.
Danzo, who stood farther away, leaned heavily on his staff, his bandaged face twisted in a shadowed sneer. His cold eyes gleamed with concealed malice as he silently observed. Yes… yes… let them clash. Let Hiruzen take the brunt of this monster. When both of them are wounded, when blood has drained them both, that is when I will step forward. After today, the Hokage's seat will finally be mine. Hiruzen will not outlast this battle. And Indra… he will either die or be weakened to the point of no return. Perfect…
The silence was cut when Hiruzen finally exhaled, his jaw tightening. His gaze hardened, his aura shifting from cautious restraint to battle-forged intensity.
"Indra Uchiha," the Third Hokage said, his voice loud, commanding, resonating across the battlefield. "If it is a fight you seek, then you will have it. But know this — I am the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf. I will not allow your arrogance to run wild unchecked. I will protect this village, even if it means cutting you down with my own hands!"
Indra's grin only widened.
"Hmph," he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Protect the village? Is that what you call it? All I see is hypocrisy. All I see is weakness disguised as wisdom. But don't worry, Hokage-sama — today, I'll put an end to this farce of leadership."
His Sharingan glowed brighter, the three tomoe swirling with malevolent clarity. His grip on the Kusanagi sword tightened, the blade angled forward with predatory precision.
The ANBU instinctively tensed again, sensing what was about to unfold, but Hiruzen raised his hand ever so slightly — a silent command for them to hold back. His sharp mind calculated rapidly. I must fight him myself. I must see his full power with my own eyes. Only then can I decide how the village will survive against this threat.
Hiruzen's chakra flared, the aura of a seasoned Kage filling the field. Despite his age, his strength as the "God of Shinobi" was not to be underestimated. The ground itself seemed to respond to the pressure as his presence spread, forcing even ANBU and Kakashi to feel the weight of his intent.
Indra, however, remained unfazed. His crimson gaze never wavered, and his stance only grew sharper, more lethal.
He smirked again, lifting his sword with a slow, deliberate motion, pointing it toward the Third Hokage. His voice, filled with dangerous arrogance, sliced through the charged air.
"Then come, old man. Show me if you deserve the title of Hokage… or if you're just another relic of the past."
The clash between Indra Uchiha and the Third Hokage was inevitable.
Even Kakashi, still struggling to stay upright, could sense it. His mind, despite his fatigue, whispered bitterly: Hokage-sama… be careful. This isn't just another opponent. This is a storm wearing the skin of a man.
Danzo's sneer deepened as he watched from the shadows. Yes, fight. Destroy one another. In your destruction lies my rise.
The ANBU braced, their bodies trembling from the sheer killing intent between the two forces about to collide. The world itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the strike that would ignite the battle.
Indra's Sharingan locked onto the Third Hokage. Hiruzen's weathered hands clenched tightly around his staff.
Two generations of Konoha's might stood on the brink of a deadly confrontation.
And then, without another word, the distance between them began to close.
The final battle of the night was about to begin.
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End of Chapter
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