After One Punch, No One Fell

Sasuke's piercing scream tore through the brief silence of Lightning Cloud Gorge.

That purplish-black Chakra, carrying extreme coldness and evil, spread wildly along the Cursed Seal pattern on the back of his neck, and in the blink of an eye, it covered the left half of his cheek.

This is the "Snake Mark" that Orochimaru left in Sasuke's body. It had been suppressed by Naruto's Yang Release, but after witnessing the Two-Tails' rampage, the Eight-Tails 'Chakra eruption, and the Raikage's Kage Level killing intent, it completely lost control.

"You piece of trash, you dare to act up in front of me?"

Naruto's eyes turned icy, and his undisguised killing intent exploded like a tangible force. He was about to step forward.

But someone was faster than him.

"An uncontrollable Yin Release monster!" Raikage A's eyes widened, his volatile temper instantly igniting.

As the village's leader, he absolutely could not allow this ominous and eerie Chakra to run rampant in the Lightning Cloud Gorge within the Land of Lightning.

"Boom!"

The air currents were forcibly torn apart. The Raikage's burly body transformed into a blinding blue lightning bolt, his right arm outstretched like a heavy hammer capable of cleaving mountains, aimed straight for Sasuke's neck.

Lariat!

Sasuke's Two-Tomoe Sharingan wildly, but he could only watch in despair as the world-destroying blue light rapidly magnified in his pupils. His body was corrupted by the Cursed Seal and completely unresponsive, leaving him frozen in place like a lamb to the slaughter.

"Old man, who gave you the audacity to touch my people?!"

A furious roar exploded like thunder.

Naruto didn't hesitate at all. Eight Gates, Gate of Life, open again!

The green flames erupted like a volcano, instantly overshadowing the storm unleashed by the Raikage. Liquid-like Yang Release Chakra surged wildly towards his right hand.

With fingers slightly spread, Chakra is rapidly compressed and rotated.

Without any pre-cast animation, it was instantaneous with one hand. A ball of azure Chakra, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction, formed in Naruto's palm.

Rasengan!

He exerted force with his feet, and the Rocky Ground collapsed like tofu. He transformed into a golden and green afterimage, forcefully cutting into the path that the Raikage and Sasuke had to take.

No retreat, no avoidance, face it head-on!

Boom--!!!

The Rasengan and the Lariat collided head-on in this cramped, deep abyss.

A blinding white light instantly engulfed half of Lightning Cloud Gorge.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then came a terrifying, ear-piercing bang.

The violent shockwave expanded wildly outwards in a ring from the two of them. The hard rock walls were peeled away and shattered like paper. Karui, Omoi, and the others desperately stuck their weapons into the ground, but were still thrown back more than ten meters by the hurricane.

"Big Brother!" Killer B's sunglasses were blown off, and he was so shocked that he forgot to rap.

Everyone stared intently at the eye of the storm.

In a head-on collision of this magnitude, any Jonin would have been blasted into a million pieces long ago.

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

The ground was plowed into a giant crater, ten meters deep and thirty meters in diameter.

At the bottom of the pit, two figures still stood upright.

No one fell.

Naruto's sleeves were completely ripped apart, and several charred marks appeared on his forearms from the violent Lightning Release. But his golden pupils remained arrogant and unruly, exuding an invincible domineering aura.

Opposite him, the Raikage maintained the posture of swinging his Lariat. His prized Lightning Release Armor had a visible crack appearing on his right shoulder, and the muscles in the shoulder armor were twitching slightly.

For the first time, undisguised shock appeared on the Raikage's rugged face.

A Hidden Leaf Genin, without Tailed Beast Cloak or Kekkei Genkai, with only his physical body and a ball of Chakra, managed to withstand his full-force Lariat!

This is not a variable for Hidden Leaf; this is a dragon that has not yet fully revealed its fangs!

"Interrupt me." Naruto casually flicked the burnt ash off the back of his hand and slapped Sasuke on the back of the neck.

"Ugh!"

Sasuke trembled violently. Naruto's domineering and pure Yang Release Chakra, like a red-hot iron, burned into his meridians.

The newly emerging purplish-black Cursed Seal marks, like snowflakes exposed to the scorching sun, hissed and were forced back to the nape of the neck with overwhelming force, shrinking back into three lifeless black Tomoe.

The evil seeds left behind by Orochimaru were no match for Naruto's absolute vitality; they didn't even have the chance to turn the tide.

Sasuke's legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. He looked up at the golden figure blocking his way, his fingers digging into the ground, his mind in turmoil.

Once again.

Faced with that Kage Level pressure, even his proud Uchiha bloodline lacked the courage to draw his Kunai. Naruto, on the other hand, was able to withstand the Raikage's deadly attack head-on!

"You brat..." The Raikage slowly withdrew his numb right arm, and the Lightning Release Armor around his body gradually receded.

He looked at Naruto, and his eyes completely changed. He abandoned the condescending attitude of an elder towards a junior, and the disdain of a strong village towards a weak one.

That's the gaze of the strong looking at each other.

"Old man." Naruto turned around, casually putting his hands back in his pockets, his tone lazy yet carrying an undeniable air of authority, "Still want to fight? If you do, the compensation you brought won't be enough to fill this wretched canyon."

The Raikage remained silent.

He looked down at the metal cipher card clutched tightly in his left palm. It was the evidence of the mole that Killer B had secretly given him earlier.

The radical faction within the Hidden Cloud Village leadership colluded with the black market, attempting to sell their Jinchūriki.

If this matter were to be reported to the Daimyo by Hidden Leaf, the reputation of the entire Kumogakure would be ruined. Moreover, this blond brat in front of us is not someone who can be forced to submit.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Raikage suddenly threw his head back and burst into a loud, booming laugh that made the cave reverberate.

"Enough!" He waved his hand, his voice booming like thunder, "If we keep fighting, Lightning Cloud Gorge will truly be gone!"

Killer B immediately slid forward, swaying his hips as he chimed in, "The canyon's gone, the trade routes are cut off, the trade routes are cut off, nobody's eating, yo! Big Brother's spoken, the fighting stops, peace is paramount, yo!"

The tense atmosphere, almost frozen in place, was instantly shattered by this eerie rap.

Yugito was not far away, slowly walked forward. She was still wearing Naruto's oversized, tattered coat.

Without even glancing at the Raikage, she walked straight to the unconscious, missing-nin and stomped her high heel on his broken leg bone.

"missing-nin are a disgrace to Hidden Cloud, but not Hidden Leaf's enemies." Yugito raised his head, his sharp, cat-like eyes staring directly at the Raikage, his tone icy. "Arrest those who should be arrested, and compensate those who should be compensated. This is also for the sake of the Land of Lightning's reputation."

Upon hearing this, Samui tacitly stepped forward and handed the Raikage the incomplete document he had just tidied up.

"Lord Raikage, the evidence is irrefutable." Samui's tone was completely calm. "These missing-nin have been stealing and selling military-grade Lightning Ore for a long time, forging border documents, and are even suspected of trading with illegal organizations abroad. The village must conduct a thorough investigation."

She emphasized the words "illegal overseas organizations".

Don't worry, bro. The Anbu all know the rules of this business, and they have to follow them. When offering a way out to the big boss, you have to do it properly.

Raikage took the document, his gaze deep and thoughtful. He knew all too well how deep the waters ran behind this.

Taking a deep breath, the Fourth Raikage, known for his domineering nature, surprisingly extended his large, generous hand to Naruto.

"Naruto Uzumaki, this matter at the border is a dereliction of duty by Hidden Cloud," the Raikage said in a deep voice. "I will give you, and Hidden Leaf, a formal explanation."

This is an extremely rare instance of a powerful figure in the Shinobi World bowing down to someone's face.

Sasuke and Sakura were both stunned. The Raikage had actually taken the initiative to sue for peace?

Naruto looked at the outstretched hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

He made no move to shake hands, but instead pulled a photocopied black market transaction list from his pocket and casually slapped it into Raikage's palm.

"Brother, tell me the truth." Naruto looked into the Raikage's eyes with a half-smile, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, "So eager to settle things? You're not afraid that if I conduct a thorough investigation, I'll uncover all the taxes you've evaded in the Hidden Cloud black market, are you?"

The Raikage's facial muscles twitched violently. This brat, not only is his fist hard, but his mouth is even more venomous.

"One thing at a time." The Raikage gritted his teeth, crumpling the list into a scrap of paper. "The compensation for the Hidden Leaf, and the cost of the materials for the destroyed craftsmen—I will deliver every penny to the Hokage's desk!"

"Great." Naruto snapped his fingers. "Alright, let's call it a day. As long as the money's here, our score is settled."

Having taken the money, established his authority, and incidentally exposed the internal scourge of Hidden Cloud, Naruto made a fortune from these negotiations on the Thunderfire Border.

"Bi, Yugito, take this bunch of disgraceful bastards back to the village!"

The Raikage snorted coldly, turned, and left. Lightning flashed, Hidden Cloud ANBU quickly gathered up the remaining forces, hoisted the missing-nin, and disappeared into the night.

The Yugito stood still.

She looked down at the jacket she was wearing, which still held Naruto's warmth, and unconsciously ran her fingertips over the rough fabric.

Thanks.

She suddenly spoke softly, her voice extremely low. Gone was her usual arrogance; only a hint of undisguised complexity remained.

After saying that, she turned around, her figure transforming into a blue blur as she quickly caught up with Hidden Cloud's group. However, she didn't return the tattered coat.

Naruto looked in the Yugito had disappeared, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

He withdrew his gaze, his eyes turning cold once more.

"Sasuke."

Naruto walked up to Sasuke, who was still panting heavily, and looked down at him.

"B-Big Brother..." Sasuke's face was pale, his eyes filled with resentment and humiliation.

Naruto reached out, grabbed Sasuke by the collar, and lifted him off the ground.

"Orochimaru, that rat, has overreached." Naruto's voice was icy cold, his golden pupils reflecting Sasuke's stiff face. "This time I held my nerve. Next time, if your life is in someone else's hands again..."

Naruto released his grip, letting Sasuke fall back to the ground, and then delivered his final, declarative statement, word by word.

"Then you are not worthy to stand in the new residence of my Uzumaki Clan."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, his fingertips digging into the rock until they bled. An almost morbid fanaticism and an extreme thirst for power grew wildly from the darkest corner of his heart.

I must become stronger. No matter what means I have to use, I must steal the power that my older brother possesses—the power that could even repel the Raikage!

Naruto ignored Sasuke was lost in his obsession, and turned to look at the ruins in the distance.

Orochimaru, the traitor within the Hidden Cloud, and the Akatsuki's black market network.

A vast net covering the Shinobi World is slowly tightening. And he has already grasped the core of that net.

"Let's go back to the village." Naruto put his hands in his pockets, turned, and stepped into the wind and rain. "The unveiling ceremony of the Uzumaki Estate isn't over yet."

The undercurrents are only just beginning to surge.