As early as when the Kumogakure forces advanced to the Konoha border, Ryūjin had already dispatched a Shadow Clone and hidden it underground using the Earth Dragon Concealment Technique. It was completely undetectable.
That Shadow Clone was also holding a Flying Thunder God kunai.
When the Fourth Raikage launched his attack, Ryūjin used Shinra Tensei to halt his movement while simultaneously controlling the Shadow Clone to move silently beneath the ground, positioning itself behind him.
There was nothing more to say after that. Ryūjin instantly teleported using the Flying Thunder God Technique and activated Amaterasu.
Under normal circumstances, no one could escape such a combination. Yet the Fourth Raikage's strength was overwhelming.
He actually dodged it.
He only lost an arm.
Even so, that result alone was enough to shake everyone present.
That was the Fourth Raikage.
And he had lost an arm the moment the fight began.
"What just happened?"
"What kind of Body Flicker Technique was that? That's impossible!"
"How could Lord Raikage be injured like this right at the start?"
"That's the strongest Kage alive, and he lost an arm?"
After several seconds of silence, shock erupted across the battlefield.
The Kumogakure shinobi were stunned.
The Konoha shinobi were no better.
"How ridiculous… how can he be this strong?"
Even the Fourth Raikage felt a surge of disbelief. Being injured in a single exchange was something he had never imagined.
"This isn't good…"
His expression darkened as a sense of unease crept in. The situation was slipping beyond his control.
"Only an arm, huh… tsk, as expected of the Fourth Raikage. Impressive."
Ryūjin looked at him with clear interest.
That attack had combined Shadow Clones, Flying Thunder God, and Amaterasu, each one a top-tier technique. Yet even then, it only cost the Raikage an arm.
The praise was genuine.
But to the Fourth Raikage, it sounded like mockery.
His reputation echoed across the entire shinobi world, yet he had paid such a price against someone so young.
"Uchiha Ryūjin!"
Lightning Release chakra surged violently around him, almost taking physical form.
A massive aura burst forth like a raging ocean.
In an instant, he vanished.
His speed was even greater than before.
Unfortunately for him, Ryūjin was in Sage Mode. Every fluctuation of chakra around him was crystal clear.
The Raikage's chakra was like a blazing sun in the darkness.
Others might perceive it and still fail to react.
Ryūjin could do both.
"Lariat!"
A low roar echoed as the Raikage appeared directly in front of him, moving so fast it resembled space-time ninjutsu.
His remaining arm lashed forward.
The air split with a heavy sound.
This simple strike carried terrifying force, enough to crush even enhanced bodies.
"Rasengan."
Ryūjin formed a Sage Art Rasengan and drove it forward.
Boom!
A violent shockwave erupted.
The Fourth Raikage's massive body was blasted backward, flying dozens of meters before stabilizing midair and landing heavily.
Even then, the force pushed him several steps back.
Each step cracked the ground beneath his feet.
"The Raikage… was sent flying head-on?"
"Someone actually overpowered him directly?"
The shock deepened.
Losing an arm could be explained by strange techniques.
But overpowering him head-on?
That was something no one dared attempt.
Yet Ryūjin had done it.
The Fourth Raikage's face darkened further.
He had pushed his Lightning Release to its limit. His speed and strength should have been unmatched.
Yet Ryūjin matched him completely.
And then overpowered him.
At the same time, Ryūjin was also surprised.
That body was absurd.
Even a Sage Art Rasengan failed to cause serious damage.
Still, it didn't matter.
"Brother! Watch out!"
Killer Bee's voice rang out.
The Raikage turned his head, only to see the ground around him had turned into gold dust.
His feet were already sinking.
Ryūjin had used Magnet Release to trap him while he was still recovering from the impact.
Even if he had noticed earlier, it would not have changed anything.
He had no control over where he landed.
Ryūjin's earlier clash was never about showing off. It was to create this opening.
The Raikage's speed was too troublesome otherwise.
The gold dust surged upward, wrapping around his legs.
"Hmph!"
With a roar, the Raikage forced his chakra through his body, blasting the sand apart.
"Yeah right… what a damn monster."
Even so, his movement was delayed.
That was enough.
"Amaterasu."
Black flames ignited again.
The Raikage vanished, reappearing dozens of meters away.
But flames were already burning on his remaining arm.
"Lord Raikage!"
"Brother!"
Panic spread through Kumogakure's ranks.
They had already seen what those flames could do.
Several high-ranking shinobi rushed forward without hesitation.
"Trying to gang up now?"
Morino Ibiki stepped in immediately, followed by Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hizashi.
But they soon realized it was unnecessary.
"Universal Pull."
Ryūjin's eyes shifted to the Rinnegan.
A powerful force dragged all the incoming enemies, including the Raikage, toward him.
"This is bad!"
They had no control over their bodies.
They were completely exposed.
With a flick of his hand, Ryūjin launched black receivers.
They pierced through the charging shinobi without resistance.
The Raikage, despite his condition, managed to deflect one.
But it still struck his chest, piercing his lung.
"Agh!"
He coughed blood and collapsed.
More importantly, his chakra flow was disrupted.
The Lightning Release cloak vanished.
He was reduced to his base state.
Breathing heavily, he stared at Ryūjin.
Shock.
Fear.
Even terror.
Struggling, he picked up a kunai with his mouth, channeling Lightning Release through it.
Then, without hesitation, he severed his last remaining arm.
The arm fell to the ground with a dull sound.
Silence followed.
The Fourth Raikage stood there, armless, bleeding, barely alive.
"How did this happen…"
"He's completely outmatched…"
"What kind of monster is Uchiha Ryūjin…"
No one could comprehend it.
"Magnet Release."
Gold dust surged again, swallowing the Raikage completely.
He tried to move.
But he couldn't.
"Lord Raikage!"
"Brother!"
At that moment, a terrifying chakra erupted.
A massive figure appeared.
The Eight-Tails, Gyūki.
Killer Bee had entered full transformation.
Without hesitation, he launched a Tailed Beast Ball.
"Lord Ryūjin, watch out!"
"Get out of the way!"
Some Konoha shinobi panicked.
Others remained composed.
"It's fine."
"He can handle it."
Ryūjin didn't move.
He simply looked at it.
His eyes shifted.
A spatial vortex formed.
The Tailed Beast Ball was swallowed instantly.
"It… disappeared?"
Silence fell again.
"That's space-time dōjutsu…"
Ōnoki's scalp tingled.
Rasa swallowed hard.
Yagura's expression turned grim.
Killer Bee hesitated.
Then he spoke.
"Release the Raikage. Kumogakure will surrender."
Ryūjin laughed.
"You attacked Konoha because you thought we were weak."
"And now you want to walk away?"
"This isn't a game."
"You chose war. Now deal with the consequences."
His gaze turned cold.
"The Raikage is dead. I said it. No one is saving him."
He clenched his hand.
"Sand Burial."
Boom!
The gold dust exploded.
===
If you want to read more, there are up to 100 chapters available on p.a.t.r.e.o.n.
[email protected]/ _Zeph (change @ to a)