"Remember this: next time you set a trap to fish someone in, wear a helmet. Otherwise, you'll end up like today—First Raikage, you've already lost!"
"Oh, no—there is no 'next time' for you."
"Because you're going to die here today!"
Uchiha Makoto stood not far from the First Raikage; every word landed clearly in the Raikage's ears.
The outcome was decided.
"No… I haven't lost yet!"
"Looks like you're confident—sending your main force to attack Cloud's third defensive line. You think you can kill me, but if I take your head back, this war's outcome is far from settled!!"
The First Raikage was never the timid sort. Even if Makoto had struck his vital point, he would gamble everything on one fight.
"Then come try."
"Hahahaha!!!"
Uchiha Makoto let out the standard Uchiha laugh. He knew he was taking a risk today—he didn't need a life-and-death duel with the First Raikage; stalling him was enough.
He could have done that easily.
For the sake of victory in an external war, a few inelegant tactics hardly mattered; his fame would still soar. But… he was an Uchiha!
A proud Uchiha!!
What is the meaning of power?
At minimum, it's to push your own willfulness through to the end!
And that's still not enough!
Makoto would be the freest man among shinobi—become the strongest! Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama—they were strong, standing at the summit of the shinobi world. But sooner or later, he would surpass them, stand above this sky, become the sun of the shinobi world!!
The Akatsuki behind him stared, shocked, at Makoto as his pressure and chakra all but took physical form.
The First Raikage was the same. He fully unleashed himself; his height and frame surged, and the ghastly visage of a demon showed behind him!
This was no fight the subordinates could join. Makoto had warned them: keep eyes on the small Cloud squad behind the Raikage. Don't let them run and carry word back—nothing else.
At the same time,
the Cloud squad gave up on reckless moves. The duel before them stirred bottomless curiosity. Fight? Flee? Carry a warning?
Fight and die!
And there was no escaping either!
Might as well spectate at top speed!
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song!"
Several massive, dragon-headed blasts of flame hurtled at the First Raikage. His toes tapped the ground; in an instant he entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode, becoming a bolt of lightning and leaving a string of afterimages—followed by a chain of earth-shaking explosions.
The heat and shockwave chased him; he had to ricochet a dozen times to bleed off the force.
He flicked a hand, snuffing the lingering flames on him.
"What terrifying Fire Release… I've heard Uchiha Madara's fire is no slouch either… How do you compare?"
"He's stronger."
Makoto didn't boast. His fire was masterful… but to stand beside this era's apex—he was still a tier short.
"Is that so… I hope I get to cross hands with him too. My turn!"
The First Raikage steadied his breath and charged Makoto.
Compared to trading jutsu—
He preferred to pound foes to rubble up close!
"You really do have the guts to pick that sort of opponent."
Makoto chuckled. Judging by how the four founding Kage behaved at the first Five Kage Summit, they likely hadn't seen Madara and Hashirama fight with their own eyes.
They'd only heard those two were strong… but how strong…
They probably didn't know.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared haggle there. Each and every one of them should've stood and listened to Hashirama seated—then signed the papers, fast.
As the Raikage rushed in, Makoto shook off stray thoughts. He didn't evade; he went straight in.
In a flash,
their bodies crashed together; the gale from the impact swallowed their figures. They flickered across the field; the onlookers could no longer track them—only the crack-crack-crack of bones colliding.
Pure, surging killing intent raged across the battlefield.
One thing was certain:
If those blows landed on an ordinary jōnin, death was absolute.
"Righteous Thunder—Wrathful Thunder Axe!"
A fiercer lightning flared. Makoto's three-tomoe Sharingan tracked every motion; he slipped aside. This one couldn't be taken head-on.
It would kill him!
"Still dodging?"
"To kill me, that's not enough!"
"This next one—you won't dodge!"
"Hell Stab!!"
The First Raikage grinned savagely. In the instant Makoto slipped, he finished charging a single strike—lightning chakra gathered between four fingers, thrusting at blinding speed, and in a blink he was on Makoto.
"Die!!!"
"Oh?"
"Why bother? I really didn't want to use this."
"Susanoo!!!"
Makoto's three-tomoe Sharingan caught the Raikage's approach. With a shout, even heavier pressure burst with ocular power.
In the span of a heartbeat—
a golden skeletal frame rose before Makoto and, in the blink of an eye, was wrapped in sinew and flesh!
A giant detonation cracked the air!
"What is this thing!!"
"Why is it so hard!?"
The First Raikage cursed. His ever-unstoppable, tofu-slicing Hell Stab had smashed into a steel wall this time!
Blood streamed from his four fingers. If he hadn't checked himself, perhaps… his right hand's four fingers would have been completely ruined!
The smoke thinned…
A towering figure loomed before him.
Makoto stood where he'd been.
Blood leaked ceaselessly from his eyes, but his face was wild with elation: "Hahahaha!!"
"Hahahahaa!!!"
"Susanoo!!!"
"You actually forced me to use this move—now I'll blast you to absolute smithereens!!!!"
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