"Pfft—"
The Raikage's massive body slammed violently into a towering tree before finally coming to a halt. The impact shook the surrounding forest, sending leaves and splinters scattering through the air. He coughed harshly, a mouthful of blood spilling from his lips as he steadied himself.
For a moment, the battlefield fell into stunned silence.
The Kumogakure ninjas nearby froze in disbelief. Their invincible pillar—the Raikage—had actually been injured.
"Lord Raikage! Are you alright?!"
Several Kumogakure shinobi immediately forced their opponents back, creating distance before rushing toward him in panic. Their faces were pale, their voices tense. Never in their memory had they seen such a sight.
On the other side, the Konoha ninjas also stood frozen.
They hadn't pursued.
They couldn't.
Because what they had just witnessed… felt unreal.
The Raikage—who had dominated battlefields for years, who had crushed enemies with overwhelming speed and power—had just been sent flying.
Even during the brutal years of the Third Shinobi World War, no one had managed to push him to this extent.
"Cough… cough…"
The Raikage steadied his breathing, slowly straightening his back. His eyes burned with fury as he glared forward.
"It's all that idiot Killer Bee's fault… distracting me at the wrong moment…"
His voice was low and dangerous, filled with suppressed anger.
"I won't let him off so easily."
Despite his words, there was no real doubt in his mind about his brother's strength. Killer Bee was not someone easily defeated. What had shaken him was not fear—but the momentary lapse in focus.
And that had cost him.
Across from him, Kakashi stood silently.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
He had aimed to kill.
But the Raikage's reaction speed… had exceeded expectations.
Did he reinforce himself with Lightning Release at the last instant?
Kakashi's brows furrowed slightly.
That level of instinct… truly monstrous.
Before either side could move again—
"Boom—!"
The ground at the edge of the battlefield suddenly cracked open.
A figure burst out from beneath the earth, carrying an unconscious body in his arms.
All eyes turned.
The Raikage's pupils shrank instantly.
"Bee!"
The man in his subordinate's arms was none other than Killer Bee.
But his condition… was horrifying.
His entire body was scorched black, his skin charred, smoke faintly rising from his flesh. His chest rose and fell weakly—barely breathing.
For the first time since the battle began, true panic flashed across the Raikage's face.
"How did this happen?!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Who did this to him?!"
The Kumogakure Jonin holding Bee quickly spoke, urgency in his tone.
"Lord Raikage, we must retreat immediately. His injuries are critical. If we delay any longer—"
The Raikage clenched his fists tightly.
His gaze swept across the battlefield.
The situation was clear.
They had lost.
Continuing the fight would only bring more casualties… and perhaps even his own death.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the raging fury in his chest.
Then he looked toward Homura Mitokado.
"This time… you Konoha have won."
His voice was cold, unwilling.
"But don't think this is over. Kumogakure will return."
His eyes shifted toward Kakashi, locking onto him like a predator memorizing its prey.
"I will remember you."
Then, raising his voice, he roared:
"Kumogakure ninjas—retreat!"
The command echoed across the battlefield.
Without hesitation, Kumogakure forces disengaged. They leaped backward, breaking contact and retreating in an organized withdrawal.
Konoha forces did not pursue.
They were exhausted.
Wounded.
And most importantly—their objective had been achieved.
Unnecessary sacrifice… would serve no purpose now.
Watching the enemy withdraw, Homura Mitokado let out a long breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Then he raised his voice:
"Stop the attack! We have won!"
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air—
Then it erupted.
Cheers thundered across the battlefield.
Weapons were raised high.
Voices roared with relief, joy, and disbelief.
They had survived.
They had won.
Even Kakashi allowed his tense body to relax.
Slowly, he lowered his guard.
Looking down at his hands, his gaze became distant.
The strange energy he had felt…
The mysterious state he had entered…
The way his body had healed…
None of it made sense.
What… was that power?
Too many questions remained unanswered.
As he stood there, Homura Mitokado approached him with a warm smile.
"Kakashi," he said, "you have done well."
"To defeat—or rather, stand against—the Raikage… this is no small achievement."
"I will personally recommend you for commendation from the Village."
Kakashi shook his head slightly.
"You overestimate me."
"It was… luck."
Even now, he wasn't sure if he could replicate that state again.
But Homura simply smiled, assuming modesty.
In his eyes, Kakashi had crossed a threshold—a vital one.
At a time when Konoha lacked strong leadership…
This was invaluable.
The Rear Medical Camp
The atmosphere here was vastly different.
Instead of cheers, it was filled with groans, quiet voices, and the scent of medicine.
Kenta lay on a bed, completely wrapped in bandages—like a tightly packed zongzi. Not a single inch of skin was visible. He couldn't move, could barely speak.
Next to him, Aoki Yoru and Yui lay on separate beds.
Both looked utterly drained.
Their faces were pale.
Their bodies weak.
This was the consequence of pushing their Chakra—and in Yoru's case, his mental energy—beyond their limits.
Standing nearby, Kakashi looked at them with genuine astonishment.
"You three… actually defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki."
Even now, it sounded unbelievable.
On his way back, he had met Maruboshi Kosuke and his squad.
After hearing their account…
No one believed it at first.
It sounded like a myth.
But the devastated battlefield…
The lingering Chakra…
The massive crater…
All of it proved the truth.
Aoki Yoru let out a weak laugh.
"Defeated is a bit much."
"We barely survived."
"If the timing had been different… we'd be the ones dead."
His head throbbed painfully.
He hadn't expected the backlash from overusing mental energy to be this severe.
Beside him—
"Mmff—mmf!"
Kenta made muffled noises, trying to speak through layers of bandages.
Kakashi tilted his head.
"…Does he need something?"
Aoki Yoru glanced at Kenta.
Then said calmly:
"He's congratulating you."
"For defeating the Raikage."
Kakashi blinked.
Then chuckled lightly.
Yoru continued:
"Speaking of which… congratulations, Kakashi-sensei."
"You're famous now."
Yui nodded weakly in agreement.
"To fight the Raikage like that… it's unheard of."
Kakashi shook his head again.
"I don't feel any different."
"And fame… brings trouble."
His gaze dimmed slightly.
He remembered his father.
Expectations could crush a person.
He had no desire to walk that same path.
Just then—
The tent flap lifted.
An Anbu stepped inside.
"Lord Kakashi," he said respectfully, "Lord Jiraiya requests your presence."
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly.
"Jiraiya-sama has arrived?"
"Yes," the Anbu replied. "He arrived three hours ago. After speaking with Advisor Homura, he asked to see you."
Kakashi nodded.
"I understand."
He turned back to his students.
"Rest well."
Then he left the tent.
Command Tent
Laughter echoed from inside even before Kakashi entered.
"Hahaha!"
Jiraiya stood up as soon as he saw him.
Without hesitation, he walked over and slapped Kakashi's shoulder heavily.
"Kakashi!"
"I've heard everything!"
His grin was wide, eyes filled with approval.
"I thought you'd keep drifting like before…"
"But you've finally broken through!"
"You really are Minato's disciple."
There was genuine pride in his voice.
After all, Kakashi was practically his grand-disciple.
Then he added:
"And those three brats of yours…"
"They're impressive."
"I heard what they did."
"In the future, they'll be pillars of the Village."
Kakashi smiled bitterly.
"You praise us too much."
Then his expression turned serious.
"There's something I don't understand."
Under Jiraiya's attentive gaze, Kakashi described everything—
The near-death state.
The sudden recovery.
The strange energy he felt.
The way the world had changed around him.
As Jiraiya listened, his smile gradually faded.
His expression became serious.
Very serious.
When Kakashi finished, he asked quietly:
"Do you know what it is?"
Jiraiya nodded slowly.
"I have… some ideas."
Then he raised a hand.
"Give me a moment."
Without hesitation, he bit his thumb, drew blood, and pressed his hands together.
"Summoning Jutsu."
"Poof—!"
A cloud of white smoke filled the tent.
When it cleared—
Two figures stood there.
One small and green.
One slightly larger and purple.
The purple one wore a scarf and held a rice scoop.
Toad Fukasaku.
Toad Shima.
They looked around calmly, then focused on Kakashi.
Jiraiya crossed his arms.
"Now… let's figure out what happened to you."
And with that—
A new mystery began to unfold.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)