Outside the dense mist, on the side of the Shinobi Allied Forces.
Hizashi activated his Byakugan to provide real-time reports on the battle inside the mist.
"Lord Raikage is at a severe disadvantage. He lacks sensory Ninjutsu, and the aquatic environment is unfavorable for him. Ryou-senpai has unleashed a Water Dragon Bullet Technique to attack Lord Raikage."
"This is bad. Ryou-senpai excels at Water Release; this environment plays right into his hands!"
Killer Bee was so frustrated he started rapping: "Stupid Big Bro~ Why aren't you more composed? Bastard Ryou~ How did he know Big Bro can't use sensory Ninjutsu?"
Killer Bee should have been the one to fight Ryou instead of the Fourth Raikage. While the Fourth Raikage was indeed very strong in a direct confrontation, he had many weaknesses.
For instance, without sensory Ninjutsu, if he encountered a Sharingan's genjutsu, he would suffer greatly without nearby comrades to dispel it.
Danzo spoke to the sensory Shinobi of Kumogakure: "Quickly, use your sensory Ninjutsu to assist the Raikage in battle!"
Mifune intervened: "Isn't that a bit ungentlemanly? They are in the middle of a fair one-on-one duel. Outside interference breaks the rules!"
Mifune was a samurai, and samurai were a group of people who valued honor over life and practiced self-restraint.
Ryou and the Fourth Raikage were currently acting as dueling generals on the battlefield, engaged in a one-on-one match. If outsiders interfered in such a contest, it would be a breach of conduct.
It wasn't illegal, but it was unethical.
Danzo countered Mifune: "We shinobi are not samurai; we don't care for your rules. Furthermore, Uchiha Ryou brought a cat into the fight."
Mifune shook his head: "Danzo, don't think I don't understand the ways of the Shinobi. During the Chunin Exams, Shinobi are permitted to use Shinobi tools and Summoned Beasts."
"Summoned Beasts are also considered a Shinobi's tool."
Danzo then looked at the Kumogakure sensory Shinobi and commanded: "From this day forward, you are the Fourth Raikage's Summoned Beast. Now go and assist your master!"
"..."
The Kumogakure group and Mifune were all dumbfounded. You could even play it like that?
Danzo really was capable of doing anything!
Killer Bee stepped forward and rapped: "Fool Ya fool Stop with these tricks. Big Bro is a proud man. If he relies on others to escape a predicament, he won't accept the outcome no matter what!"
Danzo looked grimly at Killer Bee: "Killer Bee of Kumogakure, the Raikage cannot lose. It would strike a blow to the morale of the Shinobi Allied Forces."
Killer Bee shook his head: "Fool~ Ya fool~ The fact that our Five Great Shinobi Villages combined so many people to deal with just two is already a blow to morale."
"Lord Killer Bee is right. If we of Kumogakure lose, we lose. A battle between men ends in either victory or defeat."
"One must be a graceful loser!"
The people of Kumogakure also firmly intervened. A person can lose, but they shouldn't stubbornly insist they haven't.
"Hmph!"
Danzo snorted and stopped paying attention to the Kumogakure people, focusing instead on Hizashi's reports of the battle.
Hizashi's voice was filled with surprise: "Ryou-senpai is manipulating steel to attack Lord Raikage. This is Magnet Release. He can perform the Secret Technique: Magnet Release of Sunagakure."
Danzo's face turned black as coal: "What's going on? How does this evil Uchiha know the Secret Technique of the Sunagakure Kazekage lineage?"
The Third Hokage said: "He likely extracted information about Magnet Release from Rasa's brain and then went to train in it."
Ryou's main body knew Magnet Release. Even without Shukaku's assistance, he could use it, as he had memorized the fusion method for Magnet Release after working with Shukaku so many times.
It just wasn't as effortless as it was with Shukaku's help, and currently, his clone wasn't wielding it with total ease either.
He was simply controlling some poison-coated Kunai and shuriken to attack the Fourth Raikage.
He used whatever moves were the most underhanded!
Hizashi was breaking into a cold sweat as he watched: "Ryou-senpai's attacks are completely without honor. He's specifically aiming for Lord Raikage's eyes and crotch."
"And his mouth is just as ruthless, constantly insulting Lord Raikage's ancestors!"
"Lord Raikage is starting to buckle."
"This is bad. Ryou-senpai used Wood Release to drag the Raikage into the water. He's appeared behind Lord Raikage and is absorbing his chakra."
"..."
Mifune was speechless. Even from a samurai's perspective, Ryou's fighting style was far too dirty.
He asked the Third Hokage: "Lord Hokage, is this how the Shinobi of your village fight?"
The Third Hokage gave a somewhat embarrassed smile.
While Shinobi sought to make every strike lethal and targeted vital points, someone this underhanded was still a rare sight.
Even members of the Root didn't attack an opponent's relatives during combat.
Only someone with an extremely foul personality would hit the junk while cursing the parents.
Danzo stroked his chin, actually admiring Ryou's combat style. This was exactly how a battle should be—the more disgusted the enemy felt, the more effective it was.
If the enemy was disgusted, it meant the offensive was working.
It was far stranger when samurai developed a mutual respect in the middle of a fight. That just meant they weren't being hit hard enough and were merely sparring.
It wasn't a life-or-death struggle!
The Third Hokage suggested to the Kumogakure people: "That brat Ryou is using every dirty and mean trick in the book. Ending it like this is enough; call the Raikage back!"
The Kumogakure sensory Shinobi nodded. He was also using Ninjutsu to sense the battle within the mist.
Ryou was cursing the Fourth Raikage's ancestors while pulling every dirty trick imaginable. He had absolutely no Shinobi ethics, and the Fourth Raikage couldn't control his temper.
He was being led by the nose by Ryou. If this continued, he would lose in a very humiliating fashion.
It was better to end it with some dignity now.
It wasn't that the Fourth Raikage was weak, but rather that his abilities seemed to have been leaked to Ryou.
Ryou knew the Fourth Raikage's strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits. He knew exactly how to prevent him from staying calm.
The Kumogakure sensory Shinobi channeled chakra to the Fourth Raikage: "Lord Raikage, please calm down!"
The Fourth Raikage's body, activated by Lightning Release, had very strong defenses. Ryou's Kunai couldn't pierce them.
Even when he tried to absorb the Raikage's chakra, the man was so tough that his chakra pathway system was protected by a layer of Lightning Release Armor.
It was hard to absorb; he would have to wait until the Fourth Raikage was exhausted to easily take his chakra.
"Lariat!"
The Fourth Raikage concentrated chakra in his elbow, intending to strike Ryou.
Ryou quickly dodged.
The Fourth Raikage seized the opportunity to burst out of the water.
The Kumogakure sensory Shinobi said: "Lord Raikage, the mist environment is too disadvantageous for you. Please retreat!"
"Hmph!"
The Fourth Raikage let out a cold snort. It wasn't anger at his own sensory Shinobi for telling him to retreat, but dissatisfaction with himself.
The Fourth Raikage finally realized his shortcomings.
He lacked sensory methods, had no long-range Ninjutsu, and couldn't keep his temper in check. Since becoming the Raikage of Kumogakure, he had trained desperately.
But in front of a truly powerful opponent, his weaknesses would be infinitely magnified.
In his future training, he had to make up for these shortfalls.
The Fourth Raikage shouted: "Uchiha Ryou, I lose!"
After admitting his defeat, the Fourth Raikage turned into a bolt of lightning and exited the mist over the river, returning to the Shinobi Allied Forces's position.
The Fourth Raikage's voice was very loud, and everyone in the Shinobi Allied Forces near the shore heard him admit defeat.
No one was particularly surprised.
They would have been more surprised if the Raikage had won.
Because Ryou's record had already been broadcast to the entire army: soloing Sunagakure, killing the Fourth Kazekage, and taking away the One-Tail Shukaku.
Breaking into Takigakure, defeating Jiraiya of the Sannin, Konoha's Yellow Flash Minato, and the Uchiha Clan's genjutsu master Shisui.
Such achievements had already placed him at the top of the Shinobi World.
The Shinobi Allied Forces was originally formed specifically to crusade against Madara and Ryou.