Third Raikage

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Third Raikage (三代雷影)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Kumogakure
Occupation/Role	Raikage of Kumogakure; village military and political leader
Status	Active 130
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background

The Third Raikage rose to power after the Second Raikage died during Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s rebellion. His early rule depended on support from political forces tied to the previous Raikage, leaving much of Kumogakure’s practical authority in the hands of older advisers even after he established his battlefield reputation during the Second Shinobi World War. 46

He supports the Ninja Academy as a long-term solution to Kumogakure’s shortage of trained shinobi. After observing its ideological education, he approved increased funding for students’ meals and endorsed placing Raikage statues where students would grow up under their influence. 4

Appearance

The Third Raikage’s combat presence is defined by Lightning Release Chakra Mode, which surrounds his body in flickering lightning. The aura is so distinctive that Killer B later imitates it while posing as him during the raid on Orochimaru’s laboratory. 53 62

• Emits an oppressive Kage-level presence while using Lightning Release Chakra Mode. 26 62
• Moves quickly enough to vanish from sight after activating his Lightning Release. 4
• His physical strength allows him to halt A and Sakai Yushi’s near-fatal attacks with one hand each. 89

Personality

The Third Raikage is fiercely protective of Kumogakure and reacts decisively to threats against its people. When the Ninja Academy is attacked, he arrives personally, kills an infiltrator, and immediately investigates the possibility of an internal intelligence breach. 9

Though widely perceived as a violent, straightforward warrior, he is a restrained and capable political operator. He builds support through jutsu distribution, promotions, intelligence operations, and carefully timed council votes rather than purging his opponents. After defeating the old adviser bloc, he leaves its leaders alive and nominally in office to prevent rebellion or defections. 46 47

He is pragmatic to the point of ruthlessness regarding village advancement. He treats bloodlines, forbidden techniques, sealing methods, and even Jashin Cult rituals as strategic resources, while also recognizing the need to protect unstable jinchūriki and preserve Kumogakure’s internal stability. 34 69 81

Abilities & Skills

Lightning Release Chakra Mode

The Third Raikage coats himself in Lightning Release chakra to gain overwhelming speed, defense, and close-range combat power.

• A completed Rasengan fails to make him react or penetrate his defense. 53
• His aura can immobilize weaker shinobi through sheer pressure until he consciously restrains it. 26
• He uses the mode while testing Kumogakure’s Heavenly Transfer Technique platform, successfully transporting himself from Turtle Island back to the village. 96
• He overwhelms Orochimaru in direct combat when Orochimaru attacks Kumogakure. 62

One-Finger Nukite

A concentrated piercing strike used to exploit openings against exceptionally durable opponents.

• Severed one of the fully transformed Eight-Tails’ horns after Kumogakure’s Lightning Release barrage slowed the beast. 29

Tailed Beast Combat

The Third Raikage is capable of confronting a fully released Tailed Beast at close range.

• Fought the Eight-Tails alone for half a night without suffering injury, repeatedly forcing it back in hand-to-hand combat. 29
• Delayed Kumogakure’s mass assault until the Eight-Tails’ attention shifted, minimizing casualties among the assembled shinobi. 29
• Recognized that his chakra reserves would eventually become the limiting factor against the Eight-Tails’ vastly greater chakra supply. 29

Political and Military Strategy

The Raikage combines military intimidation with negotiation, resource acquisition, and institutional reform.

• Accepted Chiba Shun’s proposal to maintain military pressure on the Land of Fire while preparing a possible alliance with Konoha. 20
• Extracted eighty-two jutsu and compensation equivalent to seven hundred S-rank missions through the Konoha alliance treaty. 28
• Used newly acquired jutsu, Byakugan-bearing children, loyal Jonin promotions, and intelligence leaks to politically isolate the old adviser faction. 46
• Authorized controlled study and distribution of the Eight Gates after Kumogakure acquired its first six gates from Shennong. 52

History

Ninja Academy and Internal Security

The Third Raikage personally observes the Ninja Academy’s ideological instruction and comes to view it as central to Kumogakure’s future manpower development. 4

When Root operatives attack Chiba Shun at the Academy, he kills the fleeing intelligence ninja and orders an investigation into the whereabouts of Kumogakure’s taijutsu specialists, suspecting a registered shinobi is collaborating with Konoha. 9

He later rewards Chiba for the operation by crediting the spy he killed under Chiba’s name, granting Chiba 130,000 ryo and access to a B-rank ninjutsu. 10

Alliance with Konoha

Seeking to strengthen Kumogakure while reducing pressure from the other great villages, the Third Raikage accepts a strategy of mobilizing toward the Land of Fire while opening alliance negotiations with Konoha. 20

During the negotiations, he pushes Hiruzen Sarutobi for jutsu, financial compensation, and simplified hand-seal methods. The final treaty gives Kumogakure two A-rank techniques, twenty B-rank techniques, sixty C-rank techniques, and 1.4 billion ryo in compensation. 28

Eight-Tails Rampage

The Eight-Tails escapes after Killer B is deployed before gaining sufficient control over the beast. The Third Raikage regrets allowing the early deployment but engages the fully transformed Eight-Tails himself after arriving too late to prevent its release. 28 29

He coordinates Kumogakure’s formations, wears the Eight-Tails down in close combat, and capitalizes on Chiba Shun’s disruption of the beast’s footing to land a decisive blow. The Eight-Tails is resealed, but more than three hundred Kumogakure shinobi are killed and the army loses over half its effective strength. 29

Consolidation of Power

After Kumogakure gains jutsu, Byakugan assets, and loyal Jonin through Chiba’s operations, the Third Raikage launches a political campaign against the old adviser bloc. More than eighty percent of the Jonin council supports his proposals. 46

He expands the adviser council from four seats to six and installs two trusted nominees, giving his faction a decisive majority. Rather than execute or formally dismiss the former advisers, he strips them of practical authority while preserving the appearance of unity. 47

His first major policy after securing control is to abolish Kumogakure’s previous fragmented training system. All shinobi and apprentices aged eight or younger, including clan children, are ordered into the Ninja Academy, making it the village’s sole official ninja-training institution. 47

Military Modernization

The Third Raikage acquires the first six gates of Shennong’s modified Eight Gates and orders Kumogakure to test, refine, and distribute the method. Elite Jonin, Jonin, and Special Jonin receive access to the first three gates, while later gates require approval and compensation. 52

He funds Chiba Shun’s attempt to recreate the Rasengan, then personally tests the completed technique against his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Although the Rasengan cannot affect him, he recognizes its value and orders its training method recorded. 53

After Chiba demonstrates the Jashin Cult’s ritual, the Raikage classifies the cultists and their abilities as village secrets. He orders further testing, including whether Kumogakure shinobi can learn the ability without sacrificing fellow villagers. 81

Orochimaru Raid and Later Policies

The Third Raikage authorizes the raid on Orochimaru’s hidden laboratory despite Kumogakure’s nominal alliance with Konoha. He approves Chiba’s plan to use a feint and the Heavenly Transfer Technique so that he can be deployed rapidly if Orochimaru returns. 61

Orochimaru is deceived into attacking Kumogakure, where the real Third Raikage defeats him in direct combat. Orochimaru escapes through evasive techniques, but his assault causes more than 300 million ryo in damage to the village. 62 63

He later promotes Chiba Shun to adviser after Chiba completes thirteen S-rank missions, eleven independently. Chiba is granted control of the Intelligence Department and Barrier Division, while A is assigned responsibility for the Ninja Academy. 108

Bloodline and Jinchūriki Development

The Third Raikage supports Kumogakure’s program to raise children with Hyuga bloodlines, orders their abilities assessed, and assigns specialized mentors to develop the most promising candidates. 100 101

After Yamato demonstrates Wood Release, the Raikage classifies the ability as a secret, awards Chiba another S-rank mission, and takes personal responsibility for Yamato’s combat training while allowing him to remain in the Academy for social development. 101

When Hyuga Jun awakens a completely pure Byakugan, the Raikage personally verifies it and orders comprehensive testing of the eye’s range, functions, and military applications. 130

Relationships

• A — His son and foremost close-combat successor. He appoints A as Ninja Academy vice principal, personally begins training him in Lightning Release Armor, and intervenes before A and Sakai Yushi kill one another in sparring. 47 89 115
• Killer B — Kumogakure’s Eight-Tails jinchūriki. The Raikage initially regrets deploying B too early, but later orders him to Turtle Island to complete his development into a Perfect Jinchūriki. 29 89 96
• Chiba Shun — Strategist, adviser, and frequent recipient of the Raikage’s support. The Raikage rewards Chiba’s operations, relies on his political schemes, and elevates him to the adviser council. 46 65 108
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Political counterpart and Konoha’s Third Hokage. Their negotiations produce a profitable but distrustful alliance between Kumogakure and Konoha. 28
• Sanada Masaki — Adviser who participates in high-level planning and political discussions, including operations involving Orochimaru, Akatsuki, and Konoha’s succession. 61 115
• Hyuga Jun — A Hyuga-bloodline child whose pure Byakugan excites the Raikage because of its potential military value. 130
• Yamato — Rescued child with Wood Release. The Raikage takes personal responsibility for his future training after recognizing the value of his ability. 101