The deaths of several subordinates did nothing to shake the Raikage's resolve to break through.
He had seen the cruelty of the Shinobi World since childhood. Coming to Iwagakure alone had been an enormous gamble.
He had already caught Ōnoki off guard and gravely wounded him. The seven thousand Cloud shinobi at the border had begun to move.
With his strength, he could hold off the Stone shinobi surrounding him for a day or two. Once the Kumogakure Forces occupied northern Land of Earth, Iwagakure would have to spread out its troops.
He could seize that chance to break free, and Kumogakure's years of planning would finally pay off.
The Raikage rushed out of Iwagakure at top speed. Lightning crackled across his body as Stone shinobi appeared all around him.
"We can't let him escape this time. The Raikage stays here!"
"He dared attack the Tsuchikage in Iwagakure. Only his death can atone for that!"
Dozens of Stone shinobi formed hand seals at once.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Walls of earth rose from the ground, slowing the Raikage. At the same time, a succession of Earth Release ninjutsu struck at him.
His Lightning Release Chakra Mode provided formidable defense, but every attack it blocked consumed some of his chakra.
They could wear down his chakra bit by bit this way.
While the Raikage fought off the Stone shinobi, the Cloud shinobi stationed at the border had risen and quickly assembled.
Shanyan was a captain among the Iwagakure troops stationed at the border. He was responsible for watching Kumogakure Camp's every move.
"Captain, they're assembling inside Kumogakure Camp. This doesn't look good."
Shanyan nodded. "The Raikage is still in Iwagakure. If they make a move now, they're putting the Third Raikage's life at risk.
"But we can't ignore this. Return to