(The male protagonist is already semi-invincible at this point.)
Five years passed quickly.
Five years have been enough for Shinobi World to undergo many subtle changes. Under the secret promotion of Uchiha Shaoyu and the strong leadership of Third Raikage, Kumogakure has steadily improved its strength and deepened its foundation.
Deep inside Kumogakure, the giant martial arts arena reinforced with the strongest Thundercloud Steel, specially designed for shadows to test their strength, was echoing with heart-stopping roars and shock waves.
The two sides fighting in the field, one of them is Third Raikage, who is wrapped with violent Lightning Release chakra, his muscles are as knotted as steel, and his hair and beard are all spread out.
He brought the Nintaijutsu of "Strongest Spear" and "Strongest Shield" to the extreme. Every thrust carried the power of piercing the mountains, and every punch he threw caused the air to explode.
However, his opponent is not a human being, or even a psychic beast in the conventional sense.
It was a huge, strange and ferocious synthetic monster.
Its upper body looks like a bird but not a bird, covered with rough horn and feathers. Its face wears a white mask with a blank expression, and in the center of the mask is a huge, bloodshot one-eye.
The lower body is a sinuous, thick, black snake body, with sharp claws like a tiger and strong hoofs like Round Deer.
Sometimes it spits out shadow energy bombs that can corrode Lightning Release's chakra, sometimes it approaches at a ghostly speed, and slashes with its sharp claws that tear apart the space.
This is exactly the chimeramon summoned by Uchiha Shaoyu through Ten Shadows Technique.
Agito!
Even if it is as strong as Third Raikage, it still feels more troublesome than ever in front of this chimera beast that combines the power of multiple shikigami, has strange and changeable abilities, and is not afraid of death.
His Lightning Release attacks were either weakened and purified by the aura around Agito, or were quickly dodged or resisted by Agito. Agito's counterattacks had tricky angles, were extremely powerful, and often had various negative effects.
"Bang!!!"
It was another head-to-head collision. Third Raikage poured all his strength into a Heavy Boulder strike that hit Agito's cross-blocking claws, but failed to repel it. Instead, the counterattack made his arm numb.
The giant eyes under Agito's mask flashed red, and the snake's body suddenly exerted force. A swing of its tail containing strange power hit Third Raikage's chest firmly.
"Boom--!"
Even "Strongest Shield", which had tempered its body to the extreme, groaned under this blow and flew backwards like a cannonball, hitting the special wall at the edge of the martial arts arena, leaving a human-shaped depression and gravel falling down.
Amidst the dust, Third Raikage shook his head and broke free from the hole in the wall. The lightning on his body was slightly dimmed, and there was a dull pain in his chest.
He waved his hand, his voice loud but with a helpless smile.
"No fight, no fight, Shaoyu boy, take this monster back quickly, if you continue to fight, my old bones will really fall apart."
In the spectator seats at the edge of the martial arts arena, Uchiha Shaoyu smiled slightly and raised his hand Hand Seals.
Agito in the field let out a low neigh, as if coming from a mixture of the vocal cords of different creatures, and the huge body quickly turned into a flowing shadow, retracted under Shaoyu's feet, and disappeared.
Shaoyu's figure flashed and appeared next to Third Raikage as if teleporting, handing him a pot of water.
"Lord Raikage, accepted."
Third Raikage took the kettle, drank a few sips, wiped his mouth, and looked up and down at Shaoyu with his copper bell-like eyes, with complex expressions of wonder and relief.
There is also a subtle emotion.
"Shaoyu ah..."
Third Raikage's voice deepened.
"In the past few years, your boy's strength has really become more and more difficult for people to see through. Not only these weird and ridiculously powerful psychic beasts, but also yourself..."
He paused and recalled the previous discussion with Shaoyu himself.
Shaoyu rarely even takes the initiative to attack, but just stands there, as if surrounded by an invisible, space-distorting force field.
Neither Hell Stab, which he is famous for, nor the violent Lightning Oppression Horizontal can really touch Shaoyu's body. The attack is always slowed down and stopped by Infinity at the last moment, as if there is always an insurmountable "Infinity" distance between them.
That weird ability made him, "Strongest Spear", who was used to crushing his opponents with absolute strength and speed, feel more aggrieved and powerless than ever before.
"Even you, I can't beat you now."
Third Raikage admitted frankly, there was no jealousy in his tone, only the most direct recognition of the strong.
"Your strength, wisdom, contribution to the village, and the growing power of Uchiha under your command... all have surpassed the scope of ordinary shadows."
He turned around and looked at Shaoyu seriously, his eyes burning.
"Shaoyu, I am not young anymore. The future of Kumogakure needs a stronger and younger leader to lead it. How about it? How about taking my place now and becoming Fourth Raikage?"
Third Raikage has been thinking about this issue for a long time. Shaoyu's prestige, strength, and achievements are sufficient. It can even be said that if his identity was not a little special, he would have been able to take advantage of the situation.
Uchiha Shaoyu heard this and did not answer immediately. He calmly stared at the bold and straightforward Third Raikage in front of him.
Third Raikage was supposed to be covering the retreat of his companions in Third Shinobi World War not long after. He fought alone against tens of thousands of Iwagakure Ninja troops and died of exhaustion, creating the final legend of Strongest Spear and the shield.
But now, history has changed due to his appearance. Kumogakure is stronger, and the threat of Iwagakure is still there, but the same brutal blocking battle may not happen.
But...
Shaoyu spoke slowly, with a respectful and sincere tone.
"Raikage is very kind, Shaoyu is grateful. However, I think it is not the time yet."
"I'm still young. I don't want to Tenten deal with those dense documents. I still want to enjoy myself."
He paused, looked at Third Raikage, an imperceptible light flashed deep in his eyes, and silently added in his heart.
Moreover, Third Raikage, according to your original destiny, you may face a tragic end in the near future.
Since I came here and changed so much, I naturally have to try to change your fate of dying in battle.
When you get through that hurdle safely, I will take over the position of Raikage from you. Wouldn't it be more justified and without regrets?
Third Raikage naturally couldn't hear what Shaoyu was saying. Seeing that Shaoyu was resolute and had sufficient reasons, he stopped insisting and patted Shaoyu on the shoulder with a big smile.
"Haha! Okay! Since you want me to take over for a few more years, I will take over for a few more years! However, Kumogakure's future burden will be handed over to you sooner or later, so don't be lazy."
"Okay, Lord Raikage." Shaoyu bowed and responded.