Rewinding time to the moment Kakashi set off to provide support...
While Uchiha Itachi and Hagoromo Matou were locked in a fierce exchange, Uchiha Kaede found himself embroiled in a clash with Killer Bee.
As the partner and adoptive brother of the Fourth Raikage, and the Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails, Bee was a formidable powerhouse—one of the few who had achieved perfect synchronization with his Tailed Beast.
He was also a man who loved to rap and play as much as he loved to fight.
With his dark skin, pale hair, black sunglasses, and seven blades strapped to his back, Bee was the picture of eccentricity.
He spoke in rhymes and frequently held concerts where the only attendees were his own students. Yet, beneath the rhythmic bravado lay a shinobi of chilling calm and calculated precision.
Historically, every Raikage required a partner to reach their full potential. When Ay became the candidate for the Fourth Raikage, the Third recruited a generation of youths to find a "Bee"—a partner who could match Ay's speed and power in the Double Lariat.
Most failed the grueling coordination tests led by the senior shinobi Tutai, but Killer Bee succeeded where others fell short. The bond between Ay and Bee, forged through sweat and lightning, was deeper than blood.
During the Third Great Ninja War, the "A-B Combo" had terrorized the battlefield, defeating legions from the Leaf and the Stone.
Bee had even faced the legendary Minato Namikaze. During that battle, Bee's quick thinking with his ox-tails saved Ay from a lethal blow, prompting Minato to remark that Bee possessed "something truly incredible"—a strength of spirit that Ay needed to recognize.
Though Bee was often unreliable in daily life, he cared deeply for his brother. He sensed that Hagoromo Matou was a cunning and potentially dangerous individual, which is why he had volunteered for this mission to keep a watchful eye on the silver-haired genius.
Faced with such an opponent, Uchiha Kaede didn't dare lower his guard. Yet, as the battle progressed, Bee's attacks seemed oddly sluggish, as if he weren't fully "in the zone."
Sensing Kaede's scrutiny, Bee rapped first: "Yo, Sharingan Boy, your flow is feeling tight, but your focus is straying, you're losing the light! Whee!"
"...And you're any better?" Kaede retorted.
Refusing to engage in the rap battle, Kaede's Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun violently. The power of flame within him swelled to a crescendo, transforming into a terrifying torrent of heat.
Under the immense thermal pressure, a brilliant, blinding light erupted in mid-air. Bee didn't hesitate, unleashing his signature Kenjutsu: Acrobat!
Using every joint in his body, Bee danced with his seven blades in a chaotic, unpredictable rhythm that made it impossible to track his movements. It was an A-Rank Taijutsu feat that combined speed with lethal complexity.
Faced with the lightning-fast assault, Kaede remained rooted to the spot. A massive sphere of fire materialized in his palm, releasing a shockwave of explosive heat that illuminated the entire sky.
In his Mangekyo state, Kaede possessed two awakening traits: Final Destination and Turbo Flame.
Now, even in his Three-Tomoe state, he could channel residual versions of these powers—the former manifesting as Sunny Day and the latter as Flash Fire.
Kaede's eyes were tuned for the pure, domineering path of fire. As the two traits fused, the sky turned a blinding crimson!
"Is that... a mutation of the Great Fireball Technique?"
The surrounding Leaf and Cloud Anbu had never seen anything like it. The fusion of Sunny Day and Flash Fire created a miniature, blood-red sun.
From this sphere, countless serpents of flame began to lash out, and the surrounding forest ignited instantly.
Fire rained down from the heavens, incinerating everything in its path. Kaede's opening move was utterly ruthless, a "friend-or-foe" attack that even disrupted the duel between Itachi and Matou.
As the inferno roared, Kakashi—who was just arriving back at the scene—gasped in horror. He realized the battle for the Seven-Tails was right ahead, but Lop Nur's caravan was directly in the path of the spreading fire.
"Uchiha Kaede, have you lost your mind!?"
"Sorry... I can't seem to control this 'Super Great Fireball'..."
Kaede's apology was useless. The fire had turned the forest into a furnace. Sensing the danger, the Seven-Tails' aura began to flicker and retreat, sensing a predator even more chaotic than itself.
Kakashi realized he couldn't stay to investigate. He had to lead the caravan to safety. He turned back, which led to the moment he executed the rogue ninja with his Lightning Blade.
But even as he stood there looking "cool," the terrifying sun behind him was expanding.
Is Kaede insane? He created a destructive jutsu he can't even direct!
Even Itachi frowned, unable to fathom why Kaede would use such a volatile, uncontrolled method in a sensitive mission.
"Mr. Kakashi," Lop Nur remarked, pointing toward the horizon, "is that a fireworks display from the Leaf? It's quite lovely."
Kakashi felt a wave of embarrassment. The Uchiha's Sharingan and the massive fireball were dead giveaways of the Leaf's involvement. It was impossible to deny.
Lop Nur tilted his head, a playful smile on his lips. "But why aren't the Leaf ninja chasing the enemy? Instead, they seem to be... riding that fireball directly toward us? Mr. Kakashi, I have extremely valuable trade goods in these wagons. If anything happens to them, I expect full compensation."
The giant crimson sun swept across the landscape like the end of the world. The retreating rogues from earlier were caught in the expanding heat wave and sent flying.
Hearing the threat of a massive insurance claim, Kakashi's "cool and composed" facade shattered instantly.
"Kakashi-senpai! I really can't hold it back anymore...!" Kaede's voice echoed from the distance.
Damn it, Kaede! Don't you dare screw me over like this! Kakashi screamed internally.
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