On a tree several hundred meters from the training ground, three intelligence officers from other ninja villages pretended not to know each other in an awkward atmosphere, hiding in the same tree to observe and gather intelligence.
Due to doubts surrounding the death of the Third Raikage, the Third Tsuchikage, the Fourth Kazekage, and the Third Mizukage had each sent spies to investigate the truth.
However, because of the special military situation, the other intelligence officers who had originally been hiding in Konoha and Kumogakure couldn't get inside, so they had no choice but to risk observing from here.
Then things got even more awkward. When they arrived, they discovered that the trees on both sides of the training ground were actually occupied by the ANBU of Konoha and Kumogakure, leaving only this crooked tree for the three of them.
The three intelligence officers from different villages could only continue their "surveillance" after the ANBU of Konoha and Kumogakure recognized them and deliberately looked the other way, pretending not to know each other—while the other side also pretended not to know them, pretending not to know.
And so it happened. The Iwagakure intelligence officer Yakushi Nono (actually a Konoha spy), the Konoha spy #2 and Yugakure intelligence officer Yakushi Kabuto, who couldn't get any information at all, and the only real spy on the entire scene—an anonymous man from Sunagakure—together formed this awkward trio.
In fact, having been intelligence officers for so long, this was the first time they had encountered such an outrageous situation. But fortunately, Konoha and Kumogakure wanted to keep them as witnesses, so they wouldn't harm them. Otherwise, Mr. Anonymous would have fled long ago.
After understanding the situation, the trio and the ANBU began to wonder what ability Nara Locke and his shikigami possessed that allowed him to defeat the Third Raikage A, known as the strongest shield and spear, on a frontal battlefield.
If Locke in the center of the field knew this question, his answer would be very simple—adopt a father.
In a ninja world where everyone either plays with ninjutsu or taijutsu, with pupils and tattoos, Mahoraga's advantages were infinitely amplified.
In the period after the amplitude adjustment, Locke had been releasing Mahoraga to get used to being beaten—from the five nature transformations of ninjutsu to genjutsu and taijutsu—until he ran out of cursed energy.
Since there was no such thing as a magical world where every sorcerer had different abilities, most of them were killed on the first encounter, making Mahoraga the strictest father in the ninja world.
It was a pity that the level of Konoha's ninja wasn't very high. They couldn't fight once Mahoraga adapted to a certain stage, and couldn't become completely immune and turn into a monster in the true sense.
But fighting against the Fourth Raikage, who hadn't yet adapted, was no problem. So Locke didn't hesitate to release Mahoraga, ready to let him experience what it meant to have problems in this world that couldn't be solved with elbows.
Inspired by Locke's deliberately provocative and harsh words, A was completely enraged by the young brat touching his reverse scale. He suddenly leaped, lightning instantly exploding around his right leg, wrapped in overflowing rage and power, and charged recklessly at Locke.
"Righteous Thunder, Evil Thunder Axe!!"
The shouts faded, blinding lightning suddenly exploded, and everyone around was caught off guard, hastily raising their hands to cover their eyes, avoiding the dazzling bright light.
The next second, a deafening roar suddenly exploded in their ears. A thick, muffled sound mixed with the crackling of thunder made the ground tremble slightly. Anyone could hear the force of this strike.
Killer Bee on the side clenched his fists and subconsciously cheered for his older brother, silently uttering in his heart:
"Bro, no matter what happens, you have to win!"
As soon as he said this, Gyūki, who had heard his heart, appeared in the spiritual world and said in a deep voice:
"Your older brother won't win."
"Stupid cow! What nonsense are you talking?!" Killer Bee immediately exploded, full of dissatisfaction. "How could Bro not beat this kid?!"
The ox ghost slowly shook its head and said solemnly: "Although this boy has power that doesn't match his age, it's impossible for him to defeat your older brother—unless his ninjutsu is as strange as the frightened Paluy said."
Killer Bee was stunned when he heard this, remembering Paluy, whom Locke had left with a scar and who was the only one to return alive from that battlefield. He blurted out:
"Is it that strange psychic beast?"
"It's not a psychic beast, nor even an ordinary creature. But it is somewhat similar to us." The tone of the ox ghost grew lower, with a faint, imperceptible hint of scrutiny.
"Huh? So it's your brother?" Killer Bee immediately seized on this point, recalling the image from just now. "There really is something like a tail looking at the back of its head!"
"Stupid! How could I have such a brother!" The ox ghost scolded angrily, then lowered his voice and added.
"I just said it was similar. I didn't say it was a tailed beast. Although its chakra is rich, it's not worth mentioning compared to us. But the most important thing is that it hides an ominous power within itself."
"This rich and strange Yin power—a thousand years ago, I only saw such power in one person."
Killer Bee's heart was shocked, and he hurriedly asked: "Who?"
The ox ghost spoke word by word, his voice wrapped in unprecedented solemnity:
"Our father, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo."
In the real world, the lightning scattered. When everyone barely opened their eyes, the scene before them shocked everyone's hearts. Mahoraga had indeed caught A's lightning axe with one palm.
The right leg, wrapped in raging lightning and carrying immense force, was pressed against Mahoraga's palm, allowing the lightning to wildly travel up its arm, but it was difficult to suppress even half of it.
The iron pincer of Mahoraga's palm gripped A's right leg, allowing the lightning between his legs to wildly explode with crackling arcs, but the force in its arm didn't budge at all.
In the next second, the veins on its arm bulged. It suddenly turned, applied force, and directly threw A's entire body like a rag doll. The strong wind scattered the surrounding gravel, and his heavy body drew a humiliating arc in the air, crashing into a stone wall in the distance.
A was thrown and rolled several times on the hard ground. The rough stones scraped against his Lightning Release Armor, producing a screeching sound. Finally, he hit a stone wall that stopped his figure.
Locke yawned, then summoned a group of rabbits from the shadows, arranged a soft ball, and ordered Mahoraga after A fell into it:
"Mahoraga, work hard. Don't break him."
Mahoraga didn't say a word from beginning to end, not missing a single beat in response. It walked straight toward A.
Its steps were steady, not fast, and each step made the ground beneath its feet crack with fine fissures. The muffled sound of its landing was like a heavy hammer striking the eardrums of the surrounding Kumogakure ninja, stepping on the tips of their hearts even harder.
The oppressive feeling of death and silence spread with its steps, crushing everyone—that pride etched into the bones of Kumogakure's ninja, those who revered the Raikage and took pride in Kumogakure's combat power—was forced to watch step by step as it was pressed into the ground beneath their feet, allowing the cold pressure to grind and oppress them again and again.
Someone clenched their ninja tools, their knuckles white, their throats tight, even their breathing stagnant and heavy. No one dared make a sound. Even looking at the slowly moving figure became a kind of torment.
A, on the other hand, slowly stood up and, without a word, activated his lightning-release chakra mode. The Lightning Release Armor wrapped around him, giving him strength and courage once again.
"Father, I'm sorry. I know I should stop, but I can't. If I give up so easily, I'll never forgive myself for the rest of my life."
The quiet internal monologue ended. A clenched his fists fiercely, puffed out his chest, and took a deep breath to suppress all the surging rage.
In the next second, the Lightning Release Armor around his body suddenly exploded with raging lightning. His entire body transformed into a bolt of lightning that tore through the air, carrying a thousand impulses, and charged at Mahoraga.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Plow, Hot Blade!!"