Time rewinds to the moment of the Five Kage Summit.
When the Third Raikage dropped his bombshell, all eyes locked onto him, and the atmosphere turned tense in an instant.
Under the weight of that invisible pressure, he drew a deep breath and solemnly revealed a shocking secret:
"We of the Hidden Cloud Village have developed a new weapon. Its power surpasses even the Tailed Beast Ball. With a single shot, it can obliterate the entire Leaf Village—no one at the center of the blast would survive."
His words stunned the room into silence.
The Third Raikage went on to explain the weapon's origin and deployment method in detail.
It all began when Uchiha Hikaru burst onto the scene with overwhelming strength. The Raikage had never felt such a sense of pressure before.
To counter this threat, he ordered the Hidden Cloud Village to devote itself entirely to R&D. They vowed to create a weapon capable of eliminating an opponent as powerful as Hikaru.
After ten relentless years of trials and experiments, the Chakra Cannon was born.
And because Hikaru's threat only grew with time, even after the cannon's completion, they didn't stop. Instead, they increased funding, optimizing and improving the weapon continuously.
Now, this weapon didn't just possess world-ending power—it had become highly portable. Its modular design allowed it to be dismantled and transported in parts, then quickly assembled in the field to adapt to complex battlefield conditions.
The Third Raikage had a simple, ruthless plan:
First, pretend to agree to the Chūnin Exams proposed by the Leaf. Use that one-month window to covertly transport the cannon's parts to the designated location, with help from all four nations.
Once fully assembled, and Uchiha Hikaru's exact location confirmed, they would strike—decisively and fatally.
After hearing the plan, Ōnoki still hesitated. The shadow of Madara Uchiha loomed too large in his mind to make a clear decision.
But the Fourth Mizukage Yagura showed no such hesitation. His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"I'll support this plan," Yagura said firmly. "But only after I've seen this weapon's power with my own eyes."
The Kazekage and Tsuchikage nodded in agreement.
Though the Third Raikage was slightly displeased by their skepticism, he knew full well that this mission could decide the future of their village. Caution was warranted.
"Very well, then follow me," the Third Raikage said, turning to leave the meeting room.
The others exchanged glances, then followed close behind.
At a secret base within the Hidden Cloud, the Third Raikage led them to the cannon's assembly site and live demonstration area.
On his command, a team of elite ninja quickly and precisely assembled the various components.
Soon, the massive Chakra Cannon stood before them, emanating a terrifying energy.
"This is the full form of the Chakra Cannon," the Third Raikage said, pointing at it. "Its blast can shatter mountains. Konoha? That'd be nothing."
The Kage stared in awe.
Yagura's eyes sparkled with anticipation. He could hardly wait.
"Let's test it," he said, signaling the Raikage to begin.
With a nod, the Third Raikage gave the firing order.
A deafening roar followed. The cannon unleashed a thick beam of raw energy that pierced the sky.
It moved so fast, no one could track it. In the blink of an eye, it vanished.
Moments later, a mountain range in the distance exploded in a thunderous blast, shaking the ground violently.
The Kage turned to one another, visibly shaken.
"So that's the power of the Chakra Cannon..."Ōnoki murmured. "It truly defies belief."
Yagura was equally amazed. Turning to the Third Raikage, he said solemnly:
"I'm in. This weapon really can turn the tide."
The Kazekage and Tsuchikage both agreed, utterly convinced.
The Third Raikage smiled in satisfaction.
"In that case, let's proceed as planned."
And that brought them to the current moment.
The Chakra Cannon lived up to its name.
Just as Hikaru sensed the buildup of chakra, the cannon completed its charge. A massive beam of energy ripped through the sky, heading straight for the Hidden Leaf.
Its speed was mind-boggling. In the blink of an eye, it reached the skies above Konoha.
From afar, the Third Raikage watched the scene unfold, eyes gleaming with anticipation and triumph.
In his mind's eye, he already saw the Leaf turned to rubble beneath the cannon's might.
But then, something impossible happened.
Just as the beam was about to strike, a transparent barrier suddenly manifested, encasing the entire village.
The beam smashed into it with a thunderous boom—only to be deflected skyward, where it detonated in a brilliant display of light.
The Third Raikage's smile froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"What… What is this?!" he shouted.
The other Kage were similarly stunned.
They had expected total destruction. No one imagined Konoha would reveal such a powerful defense at the last moment.
The barrier shimmered in the sunlight, like an unbreakable wall shielding the village.
"What kind of barrier is that?" Yagura asked, dumbfounded. "It blocked the Chakra Cannon?"
The Kazekage and Tsuchikage were speechless, exchanging stunned looks. They had never seen anything like it.
A voice rang out—calm, amused, dismissive.
"No need to be surprised. It's a modified version of the Four Crimson Ray Formation."
"Your so-called Chakra Cannon is just a toy. This barrier could withstand even a Tailed Beast Ball from the Ten-Tails."
The instant the voice fell, all four Kage felt their hearts clench. They turned sharply, eyes narrowing.
Uchiha Hikaru stood quietly nearby, a faint smile on his lips and disdain in his eyes.
"So... you've chosen to make me your enemy."