Third Raikage

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Third Raikage (三代雷影)
Alias(es)	“Strongest Spear”; “Strongest Shield” 106 123
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Cloud Village
Occupation/Role	Third Raikage; commander of Cloud Village forces
Status	Deceased; died from accumulated injuries three days after holding off Stone Village forces during Cloud Village's retreat 123
First Appearance	Chapter 38

Appearance

The Third Raikage is depicted with long hair and an imposing physique. In battle, he envelops himself in a blue Lightning Release Armor that intensifies his intimidating presence. 38 97

• Long hair that flares outward when his chakra surges 97
• Blue lightning chakra coating his entire body in Lightning Release Armor 38 86
• Frequently fights with lightning concentrated around his fingers or arms 38 99
• Sustained a chest wound during his battle with Danzō and repeated internal injuries in later conflicts 86 106

Personality

The Third Raikage initially places overwhelming faith in individual power, openly stating that Cloud Village does not coexist peacefully with the weak. He is decisive, aggressive, and willing to employ deception, abduction, and large-scale military force to secure advantages for his village. 81 99

His defeat by Su Zheng prompts self-reflection. He recognizes that his confidence in his own strength made him neglect the development of younger talent, leading him to personally support Konosuke's training. 77

Despite his ruthlessness in war, he values capable opponents and acknowledges strength without resentment. He accepts his loss to Su Zheng, praises Ōnoki and Rasa during battle, and ultimately gives his life to secure Cloud Village's retreat. 38 99 121 122

Abilities & Skills

Lightning Release Armor

The Third Raikage's signature defensive and speed-enhancing technique covers his body in Lightning Release chakra.

• Grants extreme movement speed, allowing him to evade attacks and close distances almost instantly. 86 121
• Provides exceptional durability against Earth Style, Explosion Release, Sand Gold, and Ice Style attacks. 99 106 117 121
• Can be strengthened through greater chakra output, allowing him to break free from Rasa's Sand Gold burial. 99
• Prolonged combat and serious injuries can cause the armor to disperse or weaken. 38 99 106

Hell Stab / Lightning Finger Techniques

His primary killing style concentrates Lightning Release into his fingers, creating piercing attacks described as his “strongest spear.”

• Hell Stab: Four Limbs Condensation — A four-finger thrust used to cut through Wood Style restraints, stone, and enemy defenses. 86 97
• Hell Stab: One-Finger Condensation / One Finger Piercing Hand — His strongest single-finger thrust; it previously severed the Eight-Tails' tentacles and can penetrate powerful defensive techniques. 38 86 99 121
• The technique is powerful enough to break through Danzō's Wood Style defense and severely wound him. 86
• Su Zheng successfully blocked the One-Finger Condensation with chakra armor during their spar. 38

Black Lightning

The Third Raikage can release black, leopard-shaped lightning to incapacitate opponents.

• Paralyzed Rasa long enough to press him into a defensive position. 99
• Destroyed Kondo Takashi's ice giant during their battle at sea. 106
• Was used against Ōnoki after the Raikage maneuvered behind him with a Lightning Clone. 121

Lightning Clone

He employs a Lightning Clone as a feint against opponents who can track his high speed.

• Used a Lightning Clone to draw Ōnoki's Dust Release attack before approaching the Tsuchikage from behind. 121

Combat Endurance

His body and Lightning Release Armor allow him to continue fighting through damage that would incapacitate most shinobi.

• Withstood Rasa's repeated Sand Gold techniques, explosive tags, and the Great Sand Burial Seal before breaking free. 99
• Survived Kari's Explosion Release attacks, including a final technique comparable to a small Tailed Beast Bomb. 117
• Forced his way out of Kondo Takashi's Ice Age and Crystal Ice Palace despite severe internal injuries and chakra drain. 106
• Continued fighting Stone Village forces after deciding to stop suppressing his existing injuries. 122

Battlefield Strategy

Although best known for direct combat, the Third Raikage is also a capable military planner.

• Organized a multi-pronged infiltration of Leaf Village to seize Sharingan and Byakugan users while disguising Cloud shinobi as Mist shinobi. 81
• Planned the invasion of Sunagakure around rapid plunder and withdrawal rather than prolonged occupation. 91 97
• Ordered the transfer of seized gold between ships after anticipating Mist Village interference. 103
• Prepared a retreat route lined with controlled explosive tags, allowing him to delay Stone Village forces alone. 122 123

History

Spar with Su Zheng

Seeking stronger opposition, Su Zheng challenged the Third Raikage in Cloud Village. The Raikage opened with Hell Stab: One-Finger Condensation, but Su Zheng's chakra armor blocked it. After an extended exchange between their respective armor techniques, Su Zheng combined his chakra armor with the Seven-Day Breathing Method and defeated the Raikage with a single amplified punch. The Third Raikage accepted the defeat and acknowledged Su Zheng's strength. 38

The loss changed his outlook. By the time Konosuke displayed a self-developed Lightning Chakra enhancement, the Raikage recognized another potential genius and chose to nurture him rather than hoard his own techniques. He allowed Ay and Killer B to assist Konosuke's Lightning Release Chakra Mode training. 77

Kekkei Genkai Operation Against Leaf Village

Seeking to strengthen Cloud Village, the Third Raikage investigated several bloodline abilities, including the Blood Dragon Eye, Dark Style, Platform Style, Sharingan, and Byakugan. He ultimately prioritized the Sharingan and Byakugan because both originated in Leaf Village. 81

Working with Dodai, he approved an operation involving more than two hundred Cloud shinobi, many of them jōnin. The force captured Uchiha shinobi for intelligence, learned Leaf Village's barrier passphrases, disguised itself as Mist shinobi, and infiltrated the village to target the Uchiha and Hyūga clans. 81

The operation resulted in captured clan members and severe losses in Leaf Village, but it also provoked a retaliatory Leaf raid on Cloud Village. During the aftermath, the Third Raikage confronted Danzō and his Root forces. He pierced Danzō with his strongest Hell Stab, but Danzō's Wood Style counterattack impaled him with growing branches and forced the Raikage to withdraw. 83 85 86

Invasion of Sunagakure

After learning that the Third Kazekage had disappeared, the Third Raikage saw an opportunity to raid the Land of Wind's resources. He and Dodai chose a sea route for the invasion, prioritizing stealth. 91

He led Cloud Village forces alongside Yugito Nii against Sunagakure. Yugito breached the village's layered defenses with a Tailed Beast Bomb barrage, allowing the Cloud army to enter. The Raikage personally killed the Sand shinobi Aoyama and devastated defending forces. 97

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, stopped his advance with Magnet Release and repeatedly buried, bombarded, and sealed him beneath Sand Gold. The pressure strengthened the Raikage's Lightning Release Armor, allowing him to break free. After suffering significant damage from Rasa's techniques, he used Lightning Style: Purple Lightning Wolf Smoke to order Cloud Village's retreat. 99

Cloud Village escaped with gold and metallic minerals, destroying resources it could not carry. The Third Raikage regarded the raid as a successful gain despite abandoning the original plan for a longer operation. 100

Conflict with Mist Village

During the return voyage from the Land of Wind, the Third Raikage anticipated Mist Village interference and ordered seized gold moved to other ships while metal ores were placed aboard a decoy vessel. 103

He later fought Third Mizukage Kondo Takashi at sea. Kondo's Ice Style repeatedly restrained and damaged him, eventually trapping him in the chakra-draining Crystal Ice Palace. The Raikage released sealed chakra at the cost of severe injury, shattered the ice palace, rescued Cloud shinobi from the battlefield, and escaped with the surviving fleet. 106

War Against Stone Village and Death

When Stone Village invaded Cloud Village and captured Killer B and Konosuke, the Third Raikage chose retaliation despite recognizing Cloud Village's recent losses. He rallied the village and led the counterattack. 112

During the campaign, he overwhelmed Stone Village shinobi and survived Kari's Explosion Release ambush. Kari's final Blazing Spirit Bomb failed to kill him, though the battle reinforced the Raikage's awareness that his own lifespan had been shortened by accumulated injuries. 117

He later fought Ōnoki directly. The Tsuchikage's Earth Style and Dust Release created several dangerous openings, but the Raikage's speed, armor, and tactical use of a Lightning Clone prevented either Kage from landing a decisive victory. 121

As Stone Village forces encircled the retreating Cloud army, the Third Raikage remained behind to hold the enemy back. He used a prearranged explosive-tag field to block the pursuit, defeated Han's partial Tailed Beast Transformation with one punch, and fought alone for ten minutes to give his forces time to escape. 122 123

He died three days later from his accumulated injuries. Despite being an enemy, Ōnoki gave him a proper burial. 123

Relationships

• Ay — His son and eventual successor as Fourth Raikage. The Third Raikage entrusted Cloud Village's future to him during the Stone Village retreat. 77 122
• Dodai — Trusted Cloud Village minister and strategist who helped formulate the Kekkei Genkai operation and Sunagakure invasion. 81 91
• Su Zheng — Sparring opponent who defeated him; their battle earned mutual respect and triggered the Raikage's self-reflection. 38 77
• Konosuke — Young Lightning Release talent whom the Third Raikage chose to cultivate after recognizing his potential. 77
• Killer B — Cloud Village shinobi whose capture by Stone Village contributed to the Raikage's decision to launch a counterattack. 112
• Yugito Nii — Key ally during the invasion of Sunagakure and Cloud Village's withdrawal from the Land of Wind. 97 100
• Rasa — Fourth Kazekage and opponent during Cloud Village's invasion of Sunagakure; Rasa seriously injured and temporarily sealed him. 99
• Danzō — Root leader who confronted him after the Leaf operation; their battle ended with both men injured and Danzō retreating. 86
• Ōnoki — Tsuchikage and major wartime opponent. Their duel ended without a clear victor; Ōnoki later buried the Raikage. 121 123
• Kondo Takashi — Third Mizukage who nearly defeated him with powerful Ice Style techniques during the sea conflict. 106

Notable Quotes

“You are indeed strong, but don't think you can injure me...” 38

“We do not associate peacefully with the weak.” 99

“Let me show these Stone Village ninjas what a ‘Raikage’ of the Cloud Village is!” 122