Uchiha Kai roared, his voice reverberating across the battlefield.
In that moment, he could almost feel his entire body blazing with light.
Yes.
Ever since transmigrating, he had lived cautiously, always scheming like an old fox.
Reckless risks? That wasn't his style.
But now—
Namikaze Minato's righteous charge had stirred something deep inside him.
For the first time, he felt his blood boil with pure fighting spirit.
This move might not maximize his profit.
But damn, it felt good.
Liberating, even.
Ōnoki was the first to react—his eyes lit with excitement, then his entire body shuddered. His voice rang out instantly:
"Everyone, fall back!
Do as Lord Kai says—retreat twenty kilometers!
No… thirty kilometers!"
Yes.
Ōnoki was rattled.
Because he had seen it before—the terrifying presence when Uchiha Kai went all out.
Even remembering it now, he felt a cold tremor deep in his bones.
This man was not like the Third Raikage.
Grinding him down with sheer numbers was impossible.
The battlefield fell silent.
Kai rarely appeared on the frontlines; few recognized him.
But with the Third Tsuchikage's word, even the doubtful shinobi hastily withdrew.
The Third Raikage narrowed his eyes.
At Kai's appearance, he gave up on pursuing the others.
Even Minato no longer interested him.
No, he didn't know this Uchiha youth.
But Ōnoki's reaction made it clear—this boy was no ordinary enemy.
Interest flickered in his hawk-like gaze.
His bronze-toned skin glowed with power, his golden mane shone like fire, and those sharp, predatory eyes cut to the bone.
He crossed his arms, smirking proudly.
"How amusing.
Judging from your face, you're what—barely in your teens?
Yet even that old fossil Ōnoki fears you so much.
That makes me curious.
The rest of you bastards fight like cowards. Looks like I'll die here today.
But you… you're different.
So young, and you dare stand before me alone.
Tell me your name!"
He wasn't stupid.
Surrounded by tens of thousands of shinobi, with sealing formations closing in from every direction, the Raikage knew the truth—he was destined to die here.
It was simple.
He might be unmatched in strength, able to battle the Eight-Tails to a draw, but even his immense chakra reserves weren't limitless.
Tens of thousands of enemies could wear him down.
As for fleeing? That wasn't an option.
Not because he couldn't, but because he wouldn't.
With him were the Cloud's elite—the strongest shinobi of Hidden Cloud Village, even his own son, the future Fourth Raikage, and the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki.
If he fled, none of them would survive.
This was the Land of Earth. The enemy had gathered here to kill him.
If he broke free, they would turn their nets on his son and his comrades instead.
He could die.
But his son must live, must ascend as the Fourth Raikage, and carry Hidden Cloud Village into a stronger future.
If he chose escape, perhaps he could reach the village alive—
But without these elite ninja, Hidden Cloud Village would be crippled.
And worse… his son would die.
So the Third Raikage had already accepted death.
But before falling, he would slaughter as many foes as possible—buying time for the Cloud to stabilize.
That resolve gave him a strange, calm arrogance.
"I am Uchiha Kai," Kai said lightly. "Surely the Raikage has heard the name."
His voice was steady.
No fear, no hesitation—even before the strongest Raikage.
Yes, the Third Raikage was powerful, able to fight the Eight-Tails evenly.
But that strength only overwhelmed ordinary men.
Compared to the likes of Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara?
The gap was as vast as heaven and earth.
Those two could treat tailed beasts as pets.
The Raikage wasn't even in the same league.
Hell—even Pain of the Rinnegan could snuff him out with ease.
If such monsters appeared, Kai would retreat without shame.
But the man before him?
The Third Raikage wasn't qualified to inspire fear.
"Oh, so it's you," the Raikage mused.
"My son spoke of you—a formidable opponent.
The Uchiha still have heirs worth noting, I see.
It may seem I bully the young, but… don't expect me to hold back!
Come!"
Recognition flashed in his eyes.
Uchiha Kai—
The one who had nearly killed both his son and the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki.
If not for himself, they would already be corpses.
That alone told him all he needed to know.
But as an enemy, mercy had no place.
"Good," Kai replied evenly. "That's what I was hoping for.
Minato-nii, don't intervene.
Let me test myself… against the strongest Raikage."
Minato's brows furrowed.
Seeing Kai step in to help despite breaking mission protocol had filled him with gratitude.
After all, Minato was the one disobeying orders.
The plan had been to let the Raikage exhaust himself, then strike him from behind.
But watching Konoha shinobi die like wheat before the scythe—his conscience refused silence.
So when Kai charged forward, Minato felt genuine warmth.
He resolved to treat Kai as a friend—not just an ally of convenience.
But now…
to watch him insist on facing the Raikage alone…
He hesitated.
Yet remembering Kai's terrifying strength, he finally nodded.
"Alright. I understand."
He folded his arms and stepped back.
But his right hand still gripped a Flying Thunder God kunai.
Should Kai falter, he would intervene instantly.
With Minato withdrawn, and the fodder shinobi evacuated, Kai's lips curved into a faint, eager smile.
Even he didn't know his own limits.
Now, finally, was the chance to find out.
And as a bonus—
This would make Hiruzen and the others think twice about underestimating him.
Enough thought.
*"Conqueror's Haki—open.
Armament Haki—open.
Observation Haki—open.
Sharingan—open.
Tekkai… jade form!"*
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