A sharp shout made Sarutobi Hina clench her kunai. The ten reconnaissance squads responsible for monitoring the border immediately went on alert.
"Hey, Uchiha Hanazuki, are there really enemies?"
Kakashi furrowed his brow and scanned the area, then instinctively asked in a low voice.
"Where are those guys?"
"This might take a while to explain. It'll be easier to just flush them out. Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Formation!"
At some point, three Shadow Clones had appeared. Countless fireballs the size of phoenix flower seeds burst in every direction, raising billowing clouds of dust.
"Found us, have you? Not bad eyes for a little Konoha brat. You could've just pretended you didn't see us and died without any pain. Why can't you accept your fate?"
Everyone stared into the dust cloud in the distance, fully on guard.
His tall frame, pale yellow-brown skin, and goatee the same color as his hair made Uchiha Hanazuki's mouth twitch a little faster.
"Idiot! Moron! Big brother's such an idiot, getting spotted by some brat..."
A man carrying seven Ninja Blades taunted him in a bizarre rap cadence, instantly making the big brother he'd addressed fly into a rage.
"Bee! You bastard! Once I'm done with these Konoha brats, I'll make you pay!"
"Big brother's furious, this is bad... Time to run, scatter!"
Killer B waved his arms about, utterly lacking artistic talent. Sarutobi Hina, however, was drenched in cold sweat, her expression grave.
"The AB Duo? Did you hear that Minato-sensei was heading to the Sand Ninja front and decide to take advantage of the opening?"
"You could've avenged the Third Raikage, but instead you chose this chance to attack Konoha. What are you thinking?"
At the mention of the Third Raikage, who had fallen in battle, Fourth Raikage A's expression darkened. His already dark complexion seemed even more somber.
"Whether it's the Stone Ninja or Konoha, sooner or later I'll make that old geezer Ōnoki pay. But first, I'm going to deal with you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cloud Hidden Ninja appeared from all directions. Hundreds of them were there, staring at the group with unconcealed bloodlust.
"Ha... Hanazuki, who are all these people?"
"That's genuine killing intent. That feeling... they're at least as strong as the village's jonin. There are so many of them?"
Anko trembled all over and instinctively ducked behind Hanazuki. Yugao could only grip her long sword tightly; under the pressure of that killing intent, she couldn't even move.
"Fourth Raikage A, Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer B. You've barely set foot on the battlefield and already forgotten the enemy's intel?"
Hatake Kakashi gripped his Chakra Blade and instinctively assessed the situation.
There are over a hundred enemies, all seasoned fighters from the battlefield. Most are Chunin, with another twenty jonin leading them. Fourth Raikage, Eight-Tails Jinchuriki...
Damn it, is there nothing we can do? We've only got me, the jonin Sarutobi Hina, and a bunch of immature Genin fresh out of the Ninja Academy...
Kakashi lowered his eyes, his heart heavy with frustration. Would he meet the same fate as his father today?
"To reward you for those keen eyes, I'll start with you. Lightning Style: Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop!"
The scene seemed to freeze. The burly Fourth Raikage suddenly appeared in front of Anko, then brought his attack down as her face turned deathly pale.
"Look out!"
"Damn it, he's too fast! We can't stop him!"
As Kakashi and the others watched in despair, a hand blade as deadly as a Famous Sword flashed. Azure lightning burst in every direction, and the air seemed to freeze.
Anko's legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground. The fear in her eyes turned to shock as a shadow covered most of her body. For a long time, she couldn't speak.
"Honestly, if you're praising my eyes, you should be attacking me. Who goes after someone else? You look reckless, but you've got quite the calculating streak, big guy."
Compared with Fourth Raikage's arm, Hanazuki's looked like a withered branch. Yet that branch had firmly caught the hand blade that could split stone, leaving everyone present in an uproar.
"Th-this brat, Uchiha Hanazuki, stopped the Fourth Raikage, who's as fast as the Yellow Flash?"
"Hey, hey, what just happened? I didn't see a thing!"
"Is he really that strong?"
Ignoring their astonished faces, Hanazuki lowered his head and spoke calmly.
"Idiot, you shouldn't be sitting on the ground in front of an enemy. Can you stand?"
"That crest... Are you an Uchiha brat? You dare look around while fighting me? You're surprisingly irritating, you bastard! Liger Bomb!"
With a sharp tug, Fourth Raikage seized Hanazuki's arm, and the rumble of lightning and sheer force instantly pinned him in place.
"He looks burly, but he's actually a speed-type fighter? That chakra crackling with lightning... Lightning Release Armor?"
"Damn brat, die!"
He slammed Hanazuki into the ground. The roar of lightning and immense force sent sparks flying as clouds of dust billowed everywhere, then finally drifted away.
"Is he dead? No, that hit was far too light."
When the enormous crater came into view, everyone fixed their eyes on it. But the figure inside hadn't been crushed to pulp. All they saw was a black kunai.
"Careful, careful! The great Fourth Raikage doesn't fight fair. You just attack without warning? Were you trying to bury me here?"
"Body Flicker Technique? Are you the Yellow Flash's student?"
Looking around, he saw that the Konoha Ninja trapped within the encirclement had all been moved outside it. Kunai engraved with crude formulas were scattered throughout the battlefield.
"Sorry, wrong guess. Minato-sensei and I have only met in passing. I've barely graduated from the Ninja Academy, and now I'm up against someone like you. This is too much."
Only then did Fourth Raikage A regard the Uchiha boy before him with full seriousness. The Lightning Release Armor spread over his body once more.
Black clothes and a black cloak, black fingerless sleeves on both hands, dark red bandages wrapped around his limbs, and the Uchiha Clan's Flame Fan crest embroidered on the back of his mantle.
"Another genius ninja. But you'll be dying here soon. Have you thought of your last words?"
"My last words are that I really want to live another five hundred years. And you've got the nerve to call yourself the Fourth Raikage? You were just sizing up the easiest targets to attack, weren't you?"
Fourth Raikage sneered at Hanazuki's teasing.
"This is a battlefield between Konoha and Cloud Hidden. I have no habit of showing an enemy mercy, brat! Thunder Combat Ninja Encounter Must Spit Encouragement Blade!"
The shadow rushed closer with the whirlwind, the blade flashing coldly. Hanazuki blocked the Raikage's attack again and shook his head helplessly.
"Why do you keep going after my teammates, you bastard? Never mind. No need to show an enemy mercy, right?"
"Yugao, let me borrow your sword for a moment. I'll give it back once I've killed this bastard."
With a bright smile, Hanazuki held out his hand. Uzuki Yugao, still bewildered, gave a slight nod. The long sword she had been gripping was already in Hanazuki's hand.