The Third Raikage, a Kill-Stealing Plan, and Another Encounter with Explosion Release: Hunting

Land of Earth, northern hilly region.

This place was already far from the main battlefield between Konoha and Iwagakure. In its place was an even more brutal battlefield—Kumogakure against Iwagakure.

Several ninja corpses lay scattered across the low ground between the hills. Iwagakure's earth-yellow forehead protectors and Kumogakure's dark-blue ones overlapped, filling the still-smoky air with a thick stench of blood.

At the center of the battlefield stood a burly man, towering like an iron fortress, atop a pile of shattered rocks.

He stood over two meters tall, his body seemingly forged from steel. Dense battle scars covered his knotted muscles—every single one earned in frontline slaughter.

His skin was bronze from years of tempering by Lightning Style chakra, and he wore Kumogakure's distinctive short-sleeved combat attire.

A pale-blue Lightning Release Armor covered his bare upper body. Currents continuously leaped and surged across his skin, crackling sharply.

—The Third Raikage, A.

"Lord Raikage, Iwagakure's forces have begun pulling back again!"

A Kumogakure Anbu ninja rushed in from the edge of the battlefield, dropping to one knee beneath the rubble pile as he delivered his report urgently.

"The reconnaissance unit has confirmed that Iwagakure's main force has withdrawn from the southern front, but part of their elite troops are still advancing toward your position. They appear to be an interception force sent by Ōnoki."

"Hmph."

The Third Raikage gave a low snort through his nose. Lightning flickered in his eyes, and his tone was full of mockery. "That old bastard Ōnoki really is impossible to kill."

"First, he used a divided-force strategy to tie down our flanks. Now he wants to gather his elites and intercept me—does he really think Iwagakure's pathetic rocks can stop me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right hand and held his fingers close together. Lightning Style chakra gathered at his fingertips, radiating a suffocating pressure.

"Pass down the order. Gather the troops. We've pushed too deep, and losing support from our rear forces puts us at a severe disadvantage. Concentrate our strength and kill our way out of Ōnoki's encirclement!"

"Yes!"

The Kumogakure Anbu ninja immediately departed.

In another forest at the edge of the battlefield, Uchiha Jun crouched within the crown of an ancient tree dozens of meters tall, watching the Third Raikage's kumo-nin forces through gaps in the dense foliage.

"Damn, that amount of Lightning Style chakra... no wonder he could fight the Eight-Tails alone."

Uchiha Jun spoke softly, his gaze carefully sweeping over the Third Raikage.

Uchiha Jun had always enjoyed collecting the genes of powerful figures throughout the Shinobi World for research. But ever since his Golden Finger had truly kicked in and introduced "Gold Coins," allowing him to obtain Gold Coins by killing powerful figures in the Shinobi World—

The Third Raikage's head was no less tempting to Uchiha Jun than a living Tailed Beast!

As for how to steal it?

Naturally, he would send out the Shinobi World's ultimate scapegoat—his little brother Danzo.

By coincidence, Danzo's mastery of Wind Release was perfectly suited to breaking the Third Raikage's Lightning Release Armor. His odds of winning in a frontal clash might not be great, but wasn't there also Ōnoki's Iwa-nin force?

Once the Third Raikage and Ōnoki had worn each other down enough, it would be time for little brother Danzo to go all out and nab the kill.

As for how to steal the kill and draw a wave of hatred toward Shimura Danzō, he only needed to publicly announce that he planned to use the Third Raikage's corpse for some forbidden jutsu experiment.

After all, Konoha was famous for having plenty of forbidden jutsu.

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had become famous for forbidden jutsu and ruthless tricks. Great Konoha had always been like this!

There was one forbidden jutsu that required the assistance of a Third Raikage tagged #dark-skinned #athlete #blond #NTR for research. Naturally, that would not be hard to understand.

Then he could mock Sarutobi Hiruzen for failing to inherit Tobirama Senju's "legacy," declare that Tobirama Senju's "legacy" would be carried forward by himself, and spout other absurd trash talk.

Little brother Danzo would become famous in no time.

"Jun."

A cool voice came from behind Uchiha Jun.

Uchiha Hikari's figure silently emerged from the shadows on the other side of the treetop and landed beside Uchiha Jun. Her crimson Mangekyō Sharingan glimmered faintly beneath the tree's shade.

"I've confirmed it. Iwagakure's elite troops have finished assembling roughly forty-five kilometers northeast of here. Sekki, one of Ōnoki's trusted subordinates, is leading them. At their current pace, they should reach the battlefield in around thirty minutes."

"And engage the kumo-nin forces led by the Third Raikage."

Uchiha Hikari's voice remained soft, but her tone carried urgent gravity.

"Also, I sensed two unusual chakra signatures—the Four-Tails jinchūriki and the Five-Tails jinchūriki. Ōnoki is probably planning to deploy them in this battle as well."

Uchiha Jun raised an eyebrow slightly.

The Four-Tails jinchūriki, Roshi, was a bloodline ninja who wielded Lava Release. He could cover his entire body in lava armor, possessing extremely high physical defense, and could transform Tailed Beast chakra into high-temperature lava. His attacks had a wide range and powerful penetration.

The Five-Tails jinchūriki, Han, wielded Boil Release and could achieve extreme speed through steam propulsion. His taijutsu was also exceptional.

Both were experts at the Elite Jonin level. Once they entered Tailed Beast transformation, they could even possess Kage Level combat strength. If they joined the battle, even if the Third Raikage was not afraid, he would inevitably be dragged into a bitter fight.

"Good. Hikari, have a Shadow Clone notify Kakuzu to come to the Land of Earth. Once he arrives, have him prepare a retreat plan for us that will let us shake off the Iwa-nin pursuers after the battle. Leave that matter to Kakuzu."

"Alright."

Uchiha Hikari nodded, created a Shadow Clone that turned and departed, while her original body concealed itself once more to protect Uchiha Jun from the shadows.

The sky over Qionggu Ridge was now gloomy, like an inverted iron plate.

Uchiha Jun crouched behind a protruding boulder, sensing the increasingly hot and humid air. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

He looked up at the horizon—the clouds were thickening and lowering at a pace that defied natural law, with faint lightning flashing within them.

Uchiha Jun turned his head toward Uchiha Fugaku beside him.

At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku was observing the Iwa-nin Explosion Release Unit resting in the valley below through a crack in the rocks.

The leading Elite Jonin, Explosion Release: Hunting, leaned against a massive boulder with his eyes closed. The scorching chakra waves radiating from him distorted the surrounding air slightly.

He had clearly just gone through a fierce battle.

"Are you sure you can use that jutsu? Does it really have the power of a forbidden jutsu?"

Fugaku did not turn around. His steady voice carried a trace of caution. "This isn't a joke in a training ground. If it fails—"

"Don't worry. I'm ninety percent sure."

Uchiha Jun interrupted him in an even tone. "But first, we need to 'fatten up' the clouds overhead. So during the coming battle, I'll need Clan Head Fugaku to use more Fire Release jutsu."

Fugaku fell silent for several seconds before nodding. "Mm. I'll cooperate."

He then stood and gave a signal to Aburame Shibi and several other Konoha Chunin behind him. "Proceed according to the plan. Remember, your primary objective is to wear down and restrain the enemy, creating an opportunity for me to kill Explosion Release: Hunting."

"Understood."

Aburame Shibi adjusted his sunglasses. Fine Kikaichū had already begun crawling out from inside his sleeves, silently blending into the surrounding ground.

Moments later, fierce sounds of battle suddenly erupted throughout the valley of Qionggu Ridge!

"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"

Uchiha Fugaku was the first to appear before the Iwa-nin position. Forming hand seals, he expelled a massive fireball more than five meters in diameter. It crashed toward the Iwa-nin defensive line on a scorching wave of heat!

"Enemy attack! It's the Uchiha of Konoha!"

The Iwa-nin reacted swiftly as well. Several Earth Release ninja formed hand seals at once, and thick earthen walls rose from the ground, forcibly blocking the Fireball Jutsu's impact.

Boom—!

The fireball collided with the earthen wall and exploded into sparks that filled the sky, scorching the surrounding ground black.