Outside the capital of the Land of Lightning.
The Third Raikage stood atop a mountain peak. Wind and snow struck his muscular chest, but failed to cool his body. Instead, the snowflakes melted one by one.
The Raikage's gaze was unusually complicated. It did not carry his usual blazing fighting spirit.
Before long, a spatial vortex appeared.
The Raikage turned and saw Uchiha Obito.
This boy was clearly young, yet possessed an eerie dōjutsu. Ōnoki had once placed great hopes on him, believing he had a chance to defeat Fox.
"Raikage, Sunagakure has officially surrendered to Konoha. Though it isn't called a surrender agreement in name, in reality, it is no different from complete surrender."
The Raikage said, "I once looked down on Rasa, but at least Rasa raised his kunai against Konoha. He was merely assassinated by them.
That woman named Pakura who replaced him is useless, spineless, and only knows how to surrender to Konoha."
Uchiha Obito said, "You're the only one left, Raikage."
"Yes. Only I remain."
The Raikage turned back, continuing to look at the mountains of the Land of Lightning.
"Ōnoki is dead. Gensui is dead. The Third Kazekage is dead. Among the four other great villages, the leaders of every other village are dead.
Even in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen—the only man who could restrain Fox—is dead.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen were still alive, given his habit of compromise, there might still have been room for negotiation.
Why did you kill Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Uchiha Obito quickly denied it.
"We didn't kill Sarutobi Hiruzen. Why would we kill him?
Sarutobi Hiruzen was the collar around Konoha's neck. He was the only one capable of restraining Konoha.
Sarutobi Kanosuke is not one of ours. In fact, I've been looking for him.
Sarutobi Kanosuke killing Sarutobi Hiruzen is utterly absurd. I even suspect…"
After a pause, Uchiha Obito said, "Whoever benefits is the mastermind. I even suspect Sarutobi Kanosuke is one of Fox's people.
As an ANBU ninja, Fox had opportunities to access Konoha's forbidden techniques. He had already obtained Five Elements Great Barrage before.
For the sake of power, he cultivated the rogue ninja Sarutobi Kanosuke, then used him to kill every Konoha higher-up standing in his way.
Sarutobi Hiruzen dying to Sarutobi Kanosuke's Five Elements Great Barrage… how ironic."
The Raikage did not dwell on the matter.
Even if Fox truly was the culprit behind Sarutobi Hiruzen's death, what of it?
With Fox's current strength, a few rumors would not even create the slightest wave.
The Raikage stared at Uchiha Obito and asked, "You said you still had one final method to deal with Fox?"
Uchiha Obito nodded firmly.
"Have you heard the story of the Sage of Six Paths?"
"I have. He was someone from over a thousand years ago."
"The Sage of Six Paths had two sons. One was named Asura, the other Indra.
Those two never truly died. They have continued reincarnating in some special manner.
You surely know the previous reincarnations of Asura and Indra: Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara.
Fox killed Uchiha Madara, but that was an Uchiha Madara over eighty years old.
If it were Madara in his prime, ten Foxes would not be enough for him to kill.
I have already found the new reincarnation of Indra. As long as I take him away, cultivate him, and give me ten years, Indra's reincarnation will inevitably defeat Fox.
Indra's reincarnation is inside Konoha Village. Fox can return to Konoha at any time, so I must wait for a moment when Fox cannot return and take Indra's reincarnation away."
Uchiha Obito looked at the Raikage.
"The best opportunity is when you are fighting Fox. Raikage, do you still have the courage to face him?"
"Hmph."
After a cold laugh, the Raikage said:
"I received intelligence. Konoha's ninja are spreading talk of some new order, saying we are relics of the old order.
I will never admit defeat. I am not a spineless like Pakura.
Even if I die, I will die in battle protecting Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning.
And not only me. In a few days, Mifune of the Land of Iron will also bring samurai here.
The samurai are single-minded. They believe in the spirit of the samurai. They will not surrender either. Even if they commit suicide, they will not submit to an enemy.
If Fox wants to deal with the samurai of the Land of Iron, there is only one way—kill every last one of them.
I will join forces with Mifune. Mifune's is not weak.
We will fight Fox. Not for anything else, but for our beliefs. When the time comes, you can go complete your plan."
Uchiha Obito said, "Raikage, in ten years, this so-called new order Fox has planned will become ruins with the growth of Indra's reincarnation.
Your Kumogakure, ten years from now, will become the Kumogakure you remember."
The Raikage did not know whether he believed Uchiha Obito or not.
At this moment, he no longer cared.
Several days later, after fully absorbing the Land of the Moon, Konoha's forces arrived at the border of the Land of Lightning.
Facing the towering mountains, the Konoha ninja felt no fear.
Among the Five Great Nations, only the Land of Lightning had yet to be conquered by Konoha.
Among the four great villages besides Konoha, only Kumogakure had yet to surrender.
After the new full-moon cycle began, Yako planned to obtain Lightning Release Chakra Mode from the Third Raikage, filling the gap in his control over Lightning Release chakra.
After advancing more than ten kilometers into the Land of Lightning, reconnaissance ninja sent back intelligence.
A large number of Cloud ninja had appeared ahead.
Among the rocky mountains, the Cloud ninja in white flak jackets blended with the gray-white stones behind them. It was their camouflage color.
Yako spotted the Third Raikage from afar.
The Raikage was extremely fast—the fastest ninja in the shinobi world outside of teleportation techniques such as Flying Thunder God.
The moment the two sides met, the Raikage charged from the opposing mountain peak toward Yako like a cannonball, lightning crackling all over his body.
Yako did not use Dust Release, Erosion Release, or Thousand-Hand Wrathful King.
Instead, he tested the Raikage's strength with taijutsu.
Yako's base attributes were already extremely high. His physique was no weaker than Hashirama Senju's.
At the rear of the Konoha forces, Might Duy and Might Guy were shocked to discover that Lord Fox was actually using the Eight Gates Formation.
Might Guy asked, "Father, did you also teach Lord Fox the Eight Gates Formation?"
"Foolish son. I learned the Eight Gates Formation from the Scroll of Seals. Lord Fox must have learned it from the Scroll of Seals too."
When Yako opened the Fifth Gate, he was already evenly matched with the Raikage.
When he opened the Seventh Gate, he could already suppress the Third Raikage.
On top of that, Yako's recovery ability was astonishing. Whether it was his Senju physique, Wood Release, or the Death God's immortal body, all could rapidly heal wounds.
The Third Raikage was completely being beaten down.
For the first time, the Third Raikage was suppressed by someone using taijutsu.
In shock and fear, he poured all his chakra into one final strike.
"One-Hell-Stab Nukite!"
Seeing the Third Raikage's speed, Yako thought:
'Not bad. Lightning Release Chakra Mode qualifies for my collection.'
The Hell Stab pierced through Yako's chest.
[Host death detected. Arc of the Waning Moon system activating…]