Chapter 139: Two Choices
RUMBLE—!
Thunder echoed across the sky, and terrifying wind pressure relentlessly approached.
In an instant, the Raikage's speed reached its peak. The Lightning Release Chakra Mode covering his body collided and rubbed violently against the airflow, creating ripples that spread outward and erupted with a piercing sonic boom.
The atmosphere seemed to ignite as it tore apart—a meteor trailing a long tail, followed by continuously exploding ring-shaped sonic clouds, unleashing visible shockwaves. The terrifying howls shattered windows along the way, and countless civilians covered their ears in pain.
The next moment, the Raikage made a dramatic entrance, smashing through the wall and appearing in his office.
"Konoha shinobi—state your name!"
The Raikage glared at the ninja sitting casually in his chair with his feet propped up on the desk, suppressing his rage as he spoke.
His eyes, wide like bronze bells, burned with fury. His pale blond hair and beard stood on end like steel needles under the stimulation of lightning chakra. His muscles gleamed with a hard, bronze sheen, twisted and coiled like tree roots, with dark veins bulging prominently. A fierce and overwhelming aura emanated from him, making one feel as if facing a sudden thunderbolt!
"Owl—that's my codename."
Uchiha Kazuki put down the scroll and straightened his posture. "As for my real name, I'm just an insignificant shinobi, so there's no need to mention it."
White animal mask, black ANBU cloak, short black hair.
Combining these three details, the Raikage quickly recalled the intelligence Kurabi had brought back yesterday.
An Uchiha clan shinobi from Konoha's ANBU had suddenly appeared while they were besieging the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and single-handedly slaughtered forty-seven Cloud shinobi with extremely brutal methods.
Kurabi, who witnessed the entire massacre, suffered immense psychological trauma and became completely devastated.
"So it was you!"
The Raikage clenched his fist, his eyes flashing with cold fury. "You killed so many Cloud shinobi, and you still dare appear before me!"
"It is indeed me."
Uchiha Kazuki nodded slightly, acknowledging his identity. "So, Raikage, are you planning to avenge them?"
"You've got quite the nerve, boy."
The Raikage's gaze fell on the scroll, his anger intensifying. "Since the founding of the Hidden Cloud Village, you're the first shinobi to break in here."
"Is that so? It seems I'm quite lucky to be the first."
Uchiha Kazuki crossed his arms, his voice flat as he chuckled lightly. "By the way, your village's taijutsu is truly exceptional—especially your research and utilization of pressure points, chakra pathways, and muscle control. In my opinion, it can definitely be called unparalleled in the shinobi world."
"Have you finished your nonsense?"
Torrents of lightning surged around the Raikage, crackling violently in the air, exuding an aura of destruction.
"No, and I advise Lord Raikage to calm down."
Uchiha Kazuki chuckled, tilting his head slightly with a playful tone. "If you hurt me, a Tailed Beast might suddenly rampage somewhere in the village."
"What did you say?!"
The Raikage's calm expression finally showed a crack.
Immediately, intense anger flashed across his features, and the lightning around him seemed to become even more violent under the influence of his emotions.
There was no doubt—this was a threat!
Moreover, this bastard was using the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki to threaten the entire population of the Hidden Cloud Village!
"Calm down, calm down, Lord Raikage."
At this moment, Uchiha Kazuki held all the cards and showed no fear of the Raikage's power. He continued smoothly, "Don't look at me like that. If our positions were reversed, you'd probably understand my actions, right?"
"Brat... you're courting death!"
The Raikage's eyes widened like bronze bells, and a chilling killing intent filled the entire room.
His muscles trembled, fully activated by lightning chakra. With just a simple shift of his stance, his bones and tendons crackled and popped like a bowstring being released.
"Before you act, have you really thought this through?"
Uchiha Kazuki spoke meaningfully, one hand supporting his cheek. "Is it worth trading the safety of your entire village for my life?"
In the Raikage's eyes, nearly every part of him was full of exploitable weaknesses.
Yet despite showing not the slightest intention to resist, Uchiha Kazuki remained confidently smiling.
This wasn't arrogance—it was because he'd calculated everything perfectly.
If it were the Fourth Raikage, that hot-headed fool, he wouldn't dare use this tactic. After all, who knew if that impulsive man would just recklessly attack anyway?
But the Third Raikage was a completely different story.
Don't let his burly appearance and seemingly straightforward demeanor fool you—the Third Raikage was actually a meticulous and calculating individual.
The appearance of a rampaging Tailed Beast in the village would bring devastating catastrophe!
Even if the Tailed Beast was eventually subdued, it would cause immense casualties throughout the Hidden Cloud Village, with countless civilians perishing.
Uchiha Kazuki's actions had effectively tied the entire village's safety to his own.
The Raikage was caught in a dilemma.
Instinct told him he should act immediately and kill this damned brat—otherwise, the consequences would be severe!
But the Raikage's rationality prevented this impulsive thought from manifesting.
The loss of thousands, even tens of thousands, of civilian lives for a single shinobi was unacceptable to him as Raikage.
"Lord Raikage!"
"Someone's broken in!"
"We'll kill him!"
Outside the door stood elite Cloud shinobi forces, ready to storm in and slaughter this arrogant bastard.
"Your subordinates are here, Lord Raikage."
Uchiha Kazuki shrugged and spread his hands. "So then—make your choice, Lord Raikage."
The Raikage waved his hand dismissively. His dark eyes, sharp as blades, scrutinized Kazuki before he roared at the door, "Everyone—stand down!"
The Cloud shinobi who'd come as reinforcements were bewildered.
Though they didn't understand why the Raikage would issue such an order, they still obeyed.
Thus, a group of Cloud shinobi and jonin stood menacingly at the door, teeth clenched in hatred as they watched the Konoha ANBU sitting casually in the Raikage's seat.
"Kid, your target is Minato Namikaze, isn't it?"
The Raikage's face darkened, his eyes growing increasingly dangerous. He cut straight to the point. "Enough with the games—let's get down to business."
"Oh?"
Uchiha Kazuki showed interest, listening intently. "Please, go ahead."
"Since you've given me two choices, I'll give you two choices in return."
The Raikage sat down nearby with commanding presence, one hand propping up his chin, his eyes fixed on Kazuki indifferently. "Either I release Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and you stay behind; or you release the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki right now, and then I'll kill you, Minato Namikaze, and recapture the Jinchuriki."
"Not bad—very fair."
Uchiha Kazuki nodded with a smile. "Some say life is a series of choices. What do you think, Lord Raikage?"
The Raikage raised his eyelids slightly, his eyes flashing with almost tangible killing intent. "Clearly, you've drawn the worst possible hand."
[End of Chapter 139]
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