Encounter, AB Combination

A sharp shout instantly caused Sarutobi Hina to tighten her grip on her kunai, and the ten reconnaissance squads responsible for patrolling the border immediately fell into a state of high alert.

"Hey, Uchiha Hanazuki, are there really enemies here?"

Hatake Kakashi frowned, his gaze darting around as he subconsciously asked in a low voice.

"Where are those guys?"

"Explaining it might be complicated; it's more convenient to just force them out. Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Formation!"

Before anyone knew it, three shadow clones appeared, and countless fireballs the size of phoenix flower seeds sprayed in all directions, kicking up billowing clouds of dust.

"Exposed? You Konoha brats really do have a pair of decent eyes. You could have just pretended not to see anything and died without pain—why can't you just accept your fate?"

Everyone's gaze fixed on the dust cloud not far away, their bodies tense and ready for battle.

The tall figure with light tan-brown skin and a goatee of the same color as his hair caused the corner of Uchiha Hanazuki's mouth to twitch with increasing frequency.

"Fool! You idiot! Big Brother is such a fool, getting spotted by a brat..."

A figure carrying seven ninja swords spoke in a bizarre, rhythmic rap, instantly causing the "Big Brother" he addressed to fly into a rage.

"Bee! You bastard, once I'm done dealing with these Konoha brats, I won't let you off!"

"Big Brother is angry, oh no... time to run away, dismissed!"

Killer Bee danced about, completely devoid of any artistic sensibility, while Sarutobi Hina broke into a cold sweat, her expression grave.

"The AB combo? Did you catch wind of Minato heading to the Sunagakure front and decide to take advantage of the opening?"

"You aren't choosing to avenge the Third Raikage, but instead using this opportunity to attack Konoha—what exactly are you thinking?"

At the mention of the Third Raikage who sacrificed himself on the battlefield, Fourth Raikage A's expression turned gloomy, his already dark complexion deepening.

"Whether it's the Rock Ninja or Konoha, I'll make that old geezer Onoki pay the price sooner or later, but first, I have to deal with you lot."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cloud Village ninjas appeared from all directions, numbering in the hundreds, their unmasked killing intent fixed on the group.

"Ha... Hanazuki, who are these people?"

"That's genuine killing intent. Based on this feeling, they're at least Jounin-level from their village, and there are so many of them?"

Anko trembled all over, subconsciously hiding behind Hanazuki, while Yugao could only grip her long sword tightly, unable to even move under the pressure of that killing intent.

"Fourth Raikage A and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee. You just stepped onto the battlefield—did you not even memorize the enemy's dossiers?"

Hatake Kakashi gripped his chakra blade, subconsciously analyzing the situation around them.

There are hundreds of enemies, all of them seasoned veterans from the battlefield. Most are Chunin, and on top of that, there are twenty team-leading Jounin, the Fourth Raikage, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki...

Damn it, is there nothing I can do? There's only me, the Jounin Sarutobi Hina, and a group of immature Genin who just graduated from the academy...

Kakashi lowered his eyes, unable to shake the lingering sense of unwillingness in his heart. Was he really going to follow in his father's footsteps today?

"As a compliment for that keen eyesight of yours, I'll start with you. Lightning Release: Lariat!"

In a scene that felt almost frozen, the hulking Fourth Raikage suddenly appeared in front of Anko, striking down with lethal force as her face turned deathly pale.

"Oh no!"

"Damn it, he's too fast—there's no way to block that."

Just as Kakashi and the others watched in despair, a hand-blade sharp as a master-crafted sword flashed, blue lightning scattered in all directions, and the air seemed to freeze in that moment.

With her legs turned to jelly, Anko collapsed to the ground. The wavering in her pupils turned to shock as a shadow loomed over most of her body, leaving her speechless for a long time.

"Seriously, if you're going to compliment my eyesight, the attack should be aimed at me. Who attacks someone else instead? You look reckless, but you're actually quite calculating, aren't you, big guy?"

Compared to the Fourth Raikage's arm, Hanazuki's arm looked like a withered branch, yet that branch was now firmly clamping down on the hand-blade capable of cleaving through mountain rock, leaving everyone present in an uproar.

"Th-this brat, Uchiha Hanazuki, blocked the Fourth Raikage, who possesses speed equal to the Yellow Flash?"

"Hey, hey, hey, what just happened? How come I didn't see anything?"

"Is that guy really that strong?"

Ignoring the shocked expressions of the crowd, Hanazuki lowered his head and spoke in a calm tone.

"You idiot, who sits on the ground in front of an enemy? Can you still stand?"

"This crest... are you a brat from the Uchiha clan? You dare look around while fighting me? You bastard, you're unexpectedly infuriating! Liger Bomb!"

With a swift tug, the Fourth Raikage violently seized Hanazuki's arm, the roar of lightning and raw power instantly binding Hanazuki's movements.

"You look hulking, but you're actually a speed-type? This chakra flickering with lightning—is this the Lightning Release Armor?"

"You little brat, die!"

He slammed him down toward the ground with savage force. The roar of lightning and power erupted in a shower of sparks, billowing dust filled the air, and eventually drifted away with the wind.

"Is he dead? No, the impact was too light."

As the massive crater was revealed, every gaze fixated on the pit. What greeted them was not a mangled body, but a single black kunai.

"That was close, that was close! A dignified Fourth Raikage playing dirty, attacking without warning—were you trying to bury me right there?"

"Body Flicker Technique? You brat, are you a student of the Yellow Flash?"

Looking around, the Konoha ninjas who had been in the encirclement had already been moved outside of it, and kunai engraved with simple markings were scattered all across the battlefield.

"Unfortunately, you guessed wrong. Minato and I have only crossed paths; having to face an opponent of your caliber right after graduating from the Ninja Academy is truly enough."

Only at this moment did the Fourth Raikage A put on a solemn expression, scrutinizing the Uchiha youth before him as his Lightning Release Armor once again surged across his body.

Dressed in black robes with black fingerless sleeves and dark red bandages wrapped around his limbs, the Uchiha clan's flame fan crest was embroidered on the back of his cloak.

"Another genius ninja, but you are going to die here soon. Have you thought of your last words?"

"My last words are that I really want to live for another five hundred years. You have the nerve to call yourself the Fourth Raikage, yet you were just eyeing those easy targets again, weren't you?"

Facing Hua Yue's mockery, the Fourth Raikage sneered repeatedly.

"This is the battlefield between Konoha and the Cloud Village; I have no habit of discussing morality with enemies, brat! Lightning Oppression Horizontal Straight Blade!"

Shadows approached with the hurricane, the blade's edge glinting with a cold light. Hua Yue, having parried the Raikage's attack once more, shook his head helplessly.

"Why do you bastards always pick on my team members? Forget it, there's no need to talk about morality with the enemy, right?"

"Yugao, lend me your sword for a moment. I'll return it once I've killed this bastard."

With a brilliant smile, the bewildered Uzuki Yugao nodded gently, and the long sword she had been clutching tightly was already in Hua Yue's hands.