Who is He?

"Uchiha brat? Although I don't know exactly what happened, do you really think I would leak information about my comrades?"

A fleeting flash of yellow collided repeatedly with crisscrossing bolts of azure lightning. While simultaneously keeping the seven-blade-wielding Killer Bee at bay, the figure maintained a swift and decisive pace on the battlefield, a stark contrast to the gentle demeanor shown toward his own allies.

"Super Expansion Jutsu!"

Amidst swirling white mist and the fluttering of azure butterfly wings, Akimichi Choza's body expanded dozens of times over. Trapped within the gold dust, his face tightened.

"The Kekkei Genkai of gold dust? Rasa, that guy... I never imagined Sunagakure would join forces with Kumogakure. Did they calculate that Konoha was currently hollowed out? Shadow Neck Bind Jutsu!"

Snap, snap. Shadow-formed hands crushed the throats of several Kumogakure ninja. Nara Shikaku's brain raced, yet he could find no strategy to break the deadlock.

Surveying the battlefield, the Mount Kikyo fortress, originally intended for defense, had been reduced to ruins. Despite the desperate efforts of the Yellow Flash and the heads of Konoha's noble clans, the tide of battle continued to tilt toward defeat.

The reason was simple: although elite ninja had been pulled from various fronts, the enemy had come fully prepared.

With the Fourth Raikage, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, the future Fourth Kazekage, and the Scorch Release user Pakura leading the charge, the enemy's top-tier combatants were fighting on the front lines. In contrast, Konoha's high-ranking officials were inexplicably absent.

"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!"

"Aaaah!"

Heart-wrenching screams echoed across the battlefield. As the moisture in their bodies was instantly evaporated, spheres of Scorch Release fire floated like extensions of Pakura's own limbs, turning any figure they touched into pillars of white mist.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Heat waves rolled out and thick smoke filled the air. Pakura lowered her head with practiced ease, predicting her opponent's movements solely through their body language.

"I won't let you act so recklessly anymore. Your opponent is me."

Dressed in the uniform of the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku's three-tomoe Sharingan spun slightly. He dared not show a single opening; his opponent was also a Kekkei Genkai user, and the slightest contact would mean certain death.

"Uchiha Fugaku. That Sharingan is troublesome."

Her birch-colored hair swayed at the ends, the roots and mid-sections a vibrant green. As fireballs circled her, a cruel glint appeared at the corners of Pakura's mouth.

"Continuing this entanglement will only lead to a stalemate. Compared to me, are you really sure it's wise to leave that Perfect Jinchuriki alone?"

As they spoke, terrifying chakra condensed into a physical form. Killer Bee, having entered his Tailed Beast state, opened his maw, and a swelling Tailed Beast Bomb expanded until it rivaled the size of the Mount Kikyo fortress.

"Tailed Beast Bomb!"

The terrifying mass distorted the air, shooting forth at an unimaginable speed—enough to level the entire Mount Kikyo fortress.

"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder."

Just as the Tailed Beast Bomb was about to detonate, the Yellow Flash appeared instantly before it. Far off on the ocean, miles away from the Land of Fire, an earthquake-like tremor made the sea boil, shaking the very heavens.

"Fool! You fool! First one, transferred! Second one, no counter!"

The moment the Yellow Flash vanished, a second Tailed Beast Bomb formed instantly. Gyuki, inside Killer Bee, let out a roar.

"Let those guys see the power of our combined strength! Continuous Tailed Beast Bombs!"

Brilliant light erupted as a barrage of scorching Tailed Beast Bombs bombarded the battlefield indiscriminately. The Kumogakure ninja, already sheltered beneath the Eight-Tails, and the Sunagakure ninja, protected by gold dust, watched with indifferent expressions.

Even the Yellow Flash could not transfer such a dense barrage; it was already too late.

"The power of a Tailed Beast? Damn it, there's no time..."

Nara Shikaku's expression shifted violently, Uchiha Fugaku's face betrayed hesitation, and Yuhi Shinku, who had been hastily retreating, felt his pupils contract.

"Run! Kurenai!"

Because her opponent had been pulled underground by gold dust, Yuhi Kurenai, unaware of what was happening, turned her head. A Tailed Beast Bomb the size of a carriage filled her world.

"Father..."

"Flying Thunder God Jutsu! Guiding Thunder..."

The light vanished, and a violent gale whipped through the sky above. With speed akin to teleportation, the girl who had been frozen in place was snatched away, and the Tailed Beast Bombs surged harmlessly into the sky.

"How terrifying. To arrive just in time to encounter such a situation—was I a step too late?"

Her eyelids drooped. The wound on her thigh was severe; even without direct contact with the Eight-Tails' bomb, the terrifying heat had left the girl's flawless skin in a shocking state.

"You are..."

In an instant, silence fell. Pairs of eyes, each holding different emotions, stared at the figure who had suddenly appeared on the battlefield, most of them utterly bewildered.

"Who is he? Was that technique just now... the Flying Thunder God Jutsu?"

"Konoha reinforcements? What use is sending reinforcements at this stage?"

For a moment, none of the three sides chose to move. Even those on the Konoha side could not help but whisper among themselves.

"That family crest is... the Uchiha fan. Reinforcements from the Uchiha clan? But that guy's height... could it be..."

Finding his own hypothesis incredible, Nara Shikaku shook his head repeatedly. Uchiha Fugaku looked even more lost—when did the clan gain an expert capable of using the Flying Thunder God Jutsu?

"With injuries like these, it looks like I can't walk away. Most of my Flying Thunder God kunai have been vaporized, which is why I hate fragile things. So be it."

Using the bandages wrapped around his wrists, Hua Yue tied Kurenai to himself. He scanned his surroundings, his gaze finally locking onto the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, Rasa, Pakura, and Toroi.

"Wait, this voice is..."

"I'd love to catch up, but this is a battlefield. There's no time for idle chatter, and the other side is getting impatient, am I right? You dishonorable Fourth Raikage."

The sarcasm dripping from his words sent the Fourth Raikage into a towering rage.

"Uchiha brat, that ninjutsu of yours from back then really set me off!"

The Lightning Release Armor roared as the azure lightning flared to its maximum intensity. Seeing the Fourth Raikage on high alert left the ninjas from all three sides bewildered.

"That ninjutsu... has this guy actually crossed paths with the Fourth Raikage and come out unscathed? We really are dealing with someone incredible."

"Fugaku, is this guy an expert from your Uchiha clan?"

Facing the heads and patriarchs of Konoha's many noble families, Uchiha Fugaku could only show a look of confusion. He certainly didn't recall any expert in the clan who specialized in the Flying Thunder God.

"Uchiha brat, the same trick won't work twice. Are you trying to die here, dragging a wounded man along while facing me?"

"You are welcome to try, Fourth Raikage."

"Even if I have to use one hand to protect the wounded, and even if my Flying Thunder God kunai are exhausted, you still won't be able to lay a finger on us. I, Uchiha Hanazuki, am more than capable of carving my way through this entire battlefield!"

Veins bulged on his forehead and his muscles coiled tight. Since he had succeeded as the Fourth Raikage, this was only the second time he had been this enraged.

"You bastard brat! Go to hell!"