"You're saying there's a poison-using Uchiha on the battlefield?!"
In the Kumogakure command tent, a dark-skinned man shouted in alarm.
"Yes, Commander-sama. That Uchiha isn't just skilled with poison—his Body Flicker Technique is on another level!" reported a Kumogakure shinobi who had just returned from the frontlines.
He had personally witnessed that Uchiha killing his comrades, so he rushed back to report the situation.
The commander's brows furrowed tightly.
Raikage-sama had just left the camp, and already, something had gone wrong on the battlefield.
Originally, the First Raikage himself had been commanding the battle, but after his departure due to urgent matters, leadership responsibilities fell to the current commander.
Before leaving, Raikage-sama had instructed him to proceed with the plan as usual and wait for his return.
So, the commander issued no special orders, and everything continued as planned.
But now, an Uchiha using poison had suddenly appeared on the battlefield.
This was clearly an unexpected development—one that had to be dealt with immediately!
"How strong is this Uchiha?" the commander asked.
He figured if the enemy wasn't very strong, he could ignore him. But if the Uchiha was powerful, then someone needed to be sent to take him out.
"Reporting, Commander-sama, that Uchiha is extremely powerful! I saw him kill four jonin with my own eyes," the Kumogakure shinobi replied, his face pale with fear at the memory.
Four of the village's jonin had been killed so easily.
Hearing this, the commander's expression darkened, killing intent flickering in his eyes.
"Someone like that must be eliminated!"
To kill four of the village's jonin with ease—their strength clearly surpassed that of an ordinary jonin. Most likely, he was at the elite jonin level.
On secondary battlefronts, an elite jonin was an enormous threat.
Given enough time, he could kill a large number of chunin and special jonin.
Normally, shinobi of that level would be deployed to the main battlefield.
Who would have expected one to appear on a minor front?
They couldn't let this person continue running amok.
With that in mind, the commander ordered:
"Send two elite jonin from the frontlines to eliminate that Uchiha."
"Yes, Commander-sama!"
As the reporting shinobi left, the commander muttered worriedly,
"Raikage-sama, please return soon..."
He lacked any talent for command and feared making the wrong decision.
What he didn't know was that the Raikage-sama he spoke of... was already in grave danger.
...
Somewhere in the Shinobi World.
"Raikage-sama, long time no see," said Gold and Silver Brothers as they stepped out from the shadows, eyeing the First Raikage and his two guards with menacing looks.
"Gold and Silver Brothers! You dare abandon your post?!" one of the guards roared.
The First Raikage's face tightened, and he spoke coldly, "Why are you here?"
The Gold and Silver Brothers were infamous for their violent and brutal nature.
Their methods were ruthless, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
These brothers, wielding the Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths, were well-known troublemakers in Kumogakure. Not even the Raikage could rein them in.
Especially after they'd gained access to the Nine-Tails' chakra—they became even more uncontrollable.
The First Raikage found them to be a constant headache.
Now, seeing them suddenly appear before him, he instantly had a bad feeling.
"Why are we here?" the brothers looked at each other and said in unison, "Naturally, to send Raikage-sama to the afterlife!"
As they spoke, they activated their partial Tailed Beast Transformation, and their power surged.
"Hmph, that depends on whether you have the strength!" the First Raikage's body crackled with Lightning Release chakra.
...
Bang!
On the main frontlines, Homura Mitokado's body hit the ground like a broken sack, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He had completely lost the ability to fight.
"Homura!" Uchiha Kagami called out in concern as he looked at Homura Mitokado on the ground.
"Kagami, get Homura to safety. I can still hold on," Sarutobi Hiruzen gasped for air, swinging his Adamantine Staff to fend off the hulking brute in front of him.
That brute was none other than the future Second Raikage.
Uchiha Kagami nodded without hesitation, withdrew from the fight, and brought Homura Mitokado to a safe location.
"Be careful..." Homura Mitokado whispered weakly.
Uchiha Kagami gave a firm nod, then turned and rejoined the battle.
"This guy's defense is ridiculous!" Hiruzen gritted his teeth, his palms going numb from the impact.
"Even the Adamantine Staff can't break through!"
With his three-tomoe Sharingan activated, Uchiha Kagami could barely anticipate the enemy's movements—let alone deal real damage.
The brute's fist crackled with violent Lightning Release chakra as he punched forward. The force compressed the air until it detonated with a sonic boom.
His massive fist hurtled toward Uchiha Kagami.
If that punch connected, Kagami would be crippled—or worse, dead!
Kagami barely dodged, but the shockwave still sent him flying several meters. He tumbled across the ground before coming to a stop.
"Kagami!" Hiruzen shouted, but before he could say more, the brute's fist came at him next.
He raised his staff to block, but before he could fully stabilize it, a tremendous force slammed into him.
A thunderous boom erupted, and the staff shook violently as Hiruzen was launched backward like a severed kite string.
While airborne, he thrust the staff into the ground, managing to halt his momentum.
But the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth showed he was in rough shape.
"Konoha's geniuses? Is that all?" the brute sneered, Lightning Release chakra forming a suit of armor on his body. "Against my Chakra Mode, your attacks are nothing more than tickles."
This Chakra Mode was a B-rank taijutsu technique he developed himself—officially known as "Lightning Release: Chakra Mode."
It enveloped the body with powerful currents for offense and defense. In this state, the user gained incredible speed and impressive damage resistance.
With Chakra Mode, he could practically dominate the battlefield.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Kagami stood back to back, barely able to keep going.
The Konoha shinobi around them were overwhelmed, and none could spare the strength to help.
"Hiruzen, are you okay?" the Adamantine Staff in Hiruzen's hands opened an eye, looking at him with concern.
This wasn't just a weapon—it was the Sarutobi clan's sacred summoning beast: the Monkey King, Enma.
"If it comes to it, I'll stay behind to buy time for your escape," Enma said solemnly.
"Enma, what are you talking about?" Hiruzen wiped the blood from his mouth. "I'd never abandon you!"
"...I see. Got it," Enma replied, saying no more.
...
Crackle... hiss...
The brute strode forward, Chakra Mode sparking across his body.
"Enough chit-chat. It's time for you to die."
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Kagami's faces grew grim. They had prepared for a final, desperate stand.
But just as the brute was about to deliver the finishing blow—three figures suddenly appeared on the battlefield.