A

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	A (艾)
Alias(es)	Third Raikage; Third A
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hidden Cloud Village
Occupation/Role	Third Raikage; former leader of Hidden Cloud
Status	Alive; relinquished the Raikage title to Yotsuki Sora 77 101
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

A became the Third Raikage after defeating Gold Horn and Silver Horn thirty years before Yotsuki Sora succeeded him. He later adopted Sora, a descendant of their clan whose extraordinary Six Paths bloodline had made him an ostracized child in Hidden Cloud. 2 18 77

During the Eight-Tails' rampage roughly a decade before the main conflict, A was seriously injured while the village suffered devastating casualties. The incident and its aftermath contributed to Sora's break with Hidden Cloud. 3

During the war against Hidden Stone, A led Hidden Cloud's main force into the Heavenly White Mountains, where Ōnoki's army surrounded them. He fought through exhaustion and severe injuries, using his One-Finger Piercing Hand to strike Ōnoki before being nearly erased by Dust Release. Sora arrived through a space-time technique, extracted A from the battlefield, and covered the survivors' retreat. 38 39

A survived with the loss of an arm. Hidden Cloud's medical division developed a Gelel Stone-powered chakra prosthetic to restore his combat capability, and the operation was successful. 54 55 74

After witnessing Hidden Cloud's failures and Sora's resolve to reform it, A accepted a challenge for the village's future. Their battle at Cloud-Lightning Gorge ended with Sora's victory; A formally passed the title of Fourth Raikage to his adopted son. 74 75 77

Personality

A is defined by endurance, directness, and responsibility toward Hidden Cloud. Even when trapped, exhausted, and facing Ōnoki personally, he continued fighting to create an escape route for his forces. 38 40

He values strength as the foundation of leadership, but ultimately accepts Sora's superiority rather than clinging to power. After their duel, he entrusts the village to Sora and later offers him strategic advice as the former Raikage. 77 101

Abilities & Skills

Lightning Release Nintaijutsu

A is a master of Hidden Cloud's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. At full power, his lightning armor produces extreme speed, defense, and destructive force; his movement exceeds ordinary visual tracking and leaves molten ground in its wake. 37

• Uses the Full-Power Lightning Release Chakra Mode, described as the strongest Lightning Release Armor. 37
• Can break through defensive formations and Earth Release barriers through direct force. 87
• Retains enough speed and power to threaten Kage-level opponents even after prolonged combat. 38

Hell Stab

A's signature piercing technique is Hell Stab, including the One-Finger Piercing Hand variant.

• Landed a powerful One-Finger Piercing Hand against Ōnoki during their climactic battle. 38
• Later prepared to wield Thunder God's Arm, Hell Stab through his Gelel Stone-powered prosthetic. 76

Extreme Durability

A can continue fighting through injuries that would incapacitate most shinobi.

• Endured days of combat while trapped with Hidden Cloud's remaining forces. 39 41
• Continued fighting after suffering grave wounds from Ōnoki's Dust Release. 38
• Required a mechanical arm because an ordinary flesh transplant would not adequately support his powerful body and chakra. 54

Command

As Raikage, A personally led Hidden Cloud's main force in wartime and remained a strategic advisor after his succession.

• Directed the trapped forces' retreat after Sora opened a path through White Stone Gorge. 39
• Provided Sora with written strategic guidance regarding Hidden Cloud and the Land of Hot Water. 101

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Gelel Stone-powered prosthetic arm — A chakra-conductive mechanical arm installed after he lost an arm to Ōnoki's Dust Release; it enhances his Lightning Release Armor and supports Thunder God's Arm techniques. 54 74 76

Relationships

• Yotsuki Sora — Adopted son and eventual successor. Their relationship was strained by Sora's grievances against Hidden Cloud, but A ultimately recognized his strength and passed him the Raikage title. 2 38 75 77
• A (his son) — Biological son and the former candidate for the Fourth Raikage position. He is deeply distressed by his father's injuries and Sora's succession. 47 53 86
• Dodai — Trusted subordinate and longtime associate involved in Sora's return and A's recovery. 2 54
• Ōnoki — Rival Kage and battlefield opponent. Their battle in the Heavenly White Mountains left A gravely wounded. 38 39
• Yunai — Chief medical ninja who oversaw the plan for A's chakra prosthetic. 53 54

Notable Quotes

“Looks like if I leave the village to you, then I can... rest easy...” 77