"Mr. Yoichi, I'll take the lead and you support me!"
"No, I'll take the lead."
Uchiha Yoichi shook his head and said, "I'm not showing off. Compared to Senior Sakumo's Wind Escape, I lack the means to break through the Lightning Release Armor. If I'm just supporting, even the Sharingan becomes useless."
Facing the enemy head-on, at least it might make the Third Raikage wary of his Sharingan.
"The Third Raikage is very difficult to deal with...."
"That's why you need to seize the opportunity, even if you don't attack, you can prevent the Third Raikage from launching a full-force assault. Don't worry, his speed is fast, but the Sharingan can still see..... Besides, I'm not without my means."
Upon finishing his words, Uchiha Yoichi's palm revealed a Sealing Jutsu. This was the Sealing Key given to him by Uzumaki Minami, allowing him to slightly open the Four Symbols Seal and harness Godzilla's power.
Speaking thus, Uchiha Yoichi pressed the Sealing Key on his palm to his abdomen, then gave it a slight twist.
The Four Symbols Seal opened a small gap, and Uchiha Yoichi began absorbing Godzilla's power.
After absorbing the Nine-tailed Chakra once and the power of the Star Stone twice, Godzilla had already begun evolving an Atomic Furnace and was about to become a Mature Stage Godzilla.
Uchiha Yoichi's body soon began to change; his body temperature rose, a dark purple glow appeared beneath his skin, and his heart emitted an unusual humming sound.
Hatake Sakumo was somewhat shocked seeing this unfold, not expecting Uchiha Yoichi's body to undergo such a transformation.
Though not certain of the extent of the strength, Hatake Sakumo still chose to trust Uchiha Yoichi. In the next moment, the Thunderlight wrapped around him became restrained, while the white light on his blade became sharper and more dazzling.
Uchiha Yoichi slightly bent his body, the heat exhaled from his mouth almost like Scorch Release, causing the small grass on the ground in front of him to wither from the heat. Before attacking, he glanced at the Lightning Fang embedded not far in front.
Boom!
Uchiha Yoichi moved, almost simultaneously attacking the Third Raikage, and he took the opportunity to pull the Ninja Blade from the ground.
"Three-Finger Nukite!"
Lightning Fang——Slash!
The blade felt slightly scorching under Uchiha Yoichi's influence. As it neared the Three-Finger Nukite, Uchiha Yoichi directly tilted the blade.
He had just experienced the immense power firsthand; in direct confrontation, his strength was far from matching the Third Raikage. Without this technique to deflect the force, his Ninja Blade might have been struck away.
Clang!
A deafening metallic collision sounded, as if freezing the air around, and in the next second, gusts of wind surged in all directions, visible shockwaves rippling through the air.
The stones on the ground were sent flying. If an average ninja got close, they'd have to first contend with the stones' force, stronger than thrown Hidden Weapons.
Crackle~ Crackle!
Uchiha Yoichi lacked Wind Escape, so the Third Raikage did not fear him. After the clash, he forcefully bent Uchiha Yoichi's arm; although the Ninja Blade wasn't knocked away, it emitted a near-difficult metallic screech.
"Don't underestimate the Raikage, you bastard..."
The Third Raikage raised his fist high, intending to follow up with another strike.
However, at the thought's inception, he sensed a blinding white light in his peripheral vision. Struck by a sudden sense of danger, he abandoned his attack and leaned back.
As the Third Raikage dodged, a slashing blow came crashing down.
'What a tough opponent...'
Dodging successive strikes, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but feel solemn, secretly acknowledging the legend of the Hidden Cloud Village's Strongest Spear.
Sharingan Genjutsu!
Seizing the chance, Uchiha Yoichi locked eyes with the Third Raikage using the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but the latter quickly diverted his gaze.
Having previously been hypnotized by a Demon Passport, the Third Raikage believed it to be the Sharingan's ability, and so he remained vigilant of Uchiha Yoichi's Sharingan, not allowing even a sliver of opportunity for an Illusion Technique.
Nevertheless, this slight head movement provided Uchiha Yoichi an opening, and he slashed towards the Third Raikage's throat.
Simultaneously, Hatake Sakumo aligned his blade, ready for another strike. Swordmasters always wait for the right moment, and both Uchiha Yoichi and Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship is offensively driven. Once they seize even the slightest opportunity, a storm-like assault follows.
Uchiha Yoichi, lacking the consciousness of a Sword Master, would use any tactic to injure the enemy.
Lower regions, knee, ankle, heart, throat, eyes, nose, etc., Uchiha Yoichi had trained in the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, knowing well which body parts are tough to defend.
Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo alternated his strikes, incessantly interrupting the Third Raikage's attacks. Should the Raikage aim a lethal strike at Uchiha Yoichi, the White Fang would unleash a full-force slash towards the Third Raikage's weak points.
Both knew well of the Third Raikage's strongest move, ensuring they never gave him the distance needed to deploy the One-Finger Nukite.
Individually, neither Hatake Sakumo nor Uchiha Yoichi could match the Third Raikage; but together, they could doggedly restrain him in place.
——————————————
The fierce battle dragged on, scattering across the battlefield.
Half an hour went by, and the elite ninjas from the Hidden Cloud Village were on the brink of collapsing, having already lost five men, with only seven left, aware of the Konoha ninja's intentions.
Yet, regrouping was no longer feasible.
Neither Orochimaru nor his team would provide the Hidden Clouds any such opportunity.
Moreover, having not witnessed Lord Raikage dispatching his opponents by now, Mabum felt foreboding — if they stall the Third Raikage here, what happens with the Ninja Army in the back?
With this troubling thought, Mabum found it increasingly likely.
"Samz, cover me. I need to get to Lord Raikage."
Pushing back Sarutobi Shinnosuke with Ninjutsu, Mabum quickly shared with Samz, "I suspect the Konoha ninjas have reinforcements, and this is just a vanguard sent to wear us down. We can die, but Lord Raikage must not be sacrificed. I'll use the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu to get him out!"
Hearing Mabum's conjecture and plan, Samz concurred and agreed swiftly: "Go, I'll stake my life to support you."
"Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash of Lightning Pillar!"
"Lightning Release: Thunderbolt!"
Samz unleashed two Jutsu in succession, the first Genjutsu creating an opening for Mabum, and the second Lightning Release Ninjutsu blocking Konoha's pursuit allowing Mabum to slip away from the battlefield.
Once Mabum reached the other side, he saw the Third Raikage being stalled by two; despite holding an advantage, he was unable to finish them off. Upon seeing this, Mabum's suspicions grew stronger.
"Lord Raikage!"
Mabum shouted, unleashing a Lightning Release Jutsu into the fray to drive back Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Yoichi, before rushing to the Third Raikage's side: "Lord Raikage, they might have reinforcements. Take the Glazed Bottle, I'll use the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu to get you out!"
"I can't, Mabum, there's no Raikage who abandons his subordinates and flees...."
"Lord Raikage, delay any longer and no one will get out; this is the collective decision and devotion of us and to the Hidden Cloud Village!!"
Mabum's eyes widened as he spoke, uncertain of how long his comrades could hold on, but witnessing the Konoha duo stalling Lord Raikage in the Land of Fire, escape would soon be impossible.
"Hurry, Lord Raikage!"
Upon finishing, Mabum prepared to use the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu, resolved to sacrifice himself to ensure the Third Raikage's escape.
"Senior Sakumo, they intend to flee, using the Hidden Cloud Village's Heavenly Transfer Jutsu."
Uchiha Yoichi noticed the teleportation Jutsu markings appear beneath the Third Raikage's feet, instantly deducing their plan; Hatake Sakumo, upon hearing, prepared to intervene, yet Mabum had already initiated the seals.
Thinking escape would come so easily!
Godzilla within Uchiha Yoichi's body also underwent a change, from its tail's dorsal fins began glowing with a purple light, ascending to its upper torso's heart area. In the next second, the purple light was absorbed swiftly by the surrounding space.
Uchiha Yoichi mirrored Godzilla's transformation, albeit lacking a tail and dorsal fins, the purple light began shining from his limbs.
Buzz!
Buzz!
Buzz!
Finally, the purple light converged in Uchiha Yoichi's throat, feeling an intense scorching sensation about to erupt.
Boom!
The ray beam coalesced into a brilliant purple beam, shooting from Uchiha Yoichi's mouth like a meteor, piercing through Mabum and the arm of the Third Raikage holding the Glazed Bottle!
"Mabum!!"
Yet Mabum, with a gaping wound in his chest, smiled, forming the final seal with his hands.
"Teleport..."