A successful hunt

Crackle!

The Raikage charged at Naruto, his two lightning-wreathed fingers aimed straight at Naruto's face!

"Hmm?" Naruto's gaze flickered. "That move is the Third Raikage's Strongest Spear..."

Shinra Tensei!

Whoosh!

The Raikage's charge stopped dead. Lightning at the tips of his fingers clashed with the repulsive force, scattering arcs of electricity, but ultimately failed to break through!

Thud!

After several seconds of stalemate, the Raikage planted his feet and skidded backward, coming to a stop in the opening in the wall!

Boom!

All four walls collapsed at once. The repulsive force flung rubble and dust into the air, turning the Raikage's residence into an open-air plaza!

The Raikage cursed, "Damn it, that repulsive force again!!"

Naruto thought, If that had been the One-Finger Nukite, I'd have been in real trouble.

Whoosh!

Air swirled around Naruto's feet as he rose into the sky!

The Raikage shouted up at him, "Are you trying to run away?!!!"

Looking down from above, Naruto said, "If you want to fight me at full strength, you need to be prepared to see your village razed to the ground. Are you?"

The Raikage declared forcefully, "Hmph! I've spent half my life dominating the Shinobi World. I wasn't afraid of your father, the Yellow Flash. Why would I fear his son? Especially a petty crook like you!"

A petty crook...

A cold gleam swept through Naruto's Rinnegan. He said grimly, "Back then, Kumogakure coveted the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan and used the Chunin Ninja Exams as an opportunity to try to abduct the clan's young heiress. Even after the plan failed, you refused to let the matter go, ultimately bringing about the tragedy of Hizashi. Tell me, just how honorable were your actions, believe it?"

The Raikage replied arrogantly, "Hmph! The strong prey on the weak, that's all. The Third Hokage didn't dare risk war by turning against us. That's what got Hizashi Hyuga killed. You can't pin that on me!"

Naruto closed his eyes and said coldly, "Hmph. True enough..."

The Raikage tried to taunt him. "What, a Konoha Missing-nin like you plans to stand up for Konoha?"

Naruto opened his eyes. "It's true that I'm a Missing-nin. Precisely because I'm a Missing-nin, everything I do is based on my own personal stance!"

Clap! As his words fell, he slammed his palms together.

Sizzle! A small black sphere formed in the gap between his palms!

The Black Orbs were barely an inch across, yet they radiated sinister chakra fluctuations. Looking at them, even one's gaze seemed unable to escape, and a moment later, a sense of dread set the heart pounding!

The Raikage's pupils contracted sharply. "What is that!?"

Naruto lifted the Black Orbs in his left hand and tossed them into the sky!

Hum!

The Black Orbs blended into the night, resonating with the moon's radiance as they sent out countless rays of white light!

Naruto said quietly, "This is a farewell gift..."

Clap! He clasped his hands together, his left eye releasing a dazzling glow!

Planetary Devastation!

Boom!

The Raikage's residence was the first to disintegrate. Rocks and rubble carried the Raikage up into the sky!!

"Damn it!!! Is this gravity?!!!"

As he rose, the Raikage leaped from rock to rock, trying to escape the pull of gravity. When that failed, he began smashing the stones with his fists and feet...

Crack! Crack!

But then the ground split apart, sending up an endless stream of boulders. Unable to fend them all off, the Raikage could only be swept along while putting up a stubborn resistance. At last, his strength gave out. He slammed hard into the forming mass of stone and was buried beneath the rocks that followed!

"I will have Lightning Release Chakra Mode. I'll be back..."

Whoosh! The Flying Thunder God Technique activated, and Naruto vanished from the sky.

Whoosh! A dozen or so seconds later, Naruto returned with the others to the ridge outside Kumogakure!

"Huff, huff, huff..." Suigetsu propped himself up with the Kubikiribōchō, saying with relief, "Good thing you got there in time. The Kumogakure ninja's Lightning Release counters my liquefaction ability far too well! Another minute and I might have died there!"

Whoosh! The Cursed Seal receded, revealing cuts of varying depths scattered across Jugo's chest and back. He said gravely, "Kumogakure's swordsmanship really is extraordinary. They could easily injure my body even with the Cursed Seal active. I almost lost control of my killing intent..."

Kisame Hoshigaki rested Samehada on his shoulder. "I rather enjoy fighting people with enormous amounts of chakra. A pity there's no one else in Kumogakure like the Eight-Tails or the Raikage..."

Orochimaru's silky hair fluttered, white snakes coiled around his body. He wore a knowing smile, his voice hoarse. "Compared to chakra, I'm more interested in the mysteries of kekkei genkai and techniques. I collected quite a few useful samples during that little raid. Heh heh..."

Planetary Devastation was complete, hanging motionless in the night sky as a magnificent spectacle!

Konan's cool eyes showed open admiration. "Planetary Devastation. You've already learned to use this technique before I even realized it. Who's trapped inside?"

Naruto said evenly, "The Raikage."

"!?" Everyone looked astonished.

After a moment of surprise, Konan ventured, "Are you planning to use the Raikage's life to make Bright Akatsuki's name known?"

"No." Naruto shook his head lightly. "I simply wanted that Raikage to get a taste of the Caged Bird Seal. I don't intend to kill him!"

Sizzle!

Orange markings appeared around his eyes as Sage Mode activated.

Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!

Rumble, rumble...!

The wind blades tore through the air, erupting with unparalleled force!

Once it subsided, a hole had been blasted into the lower side of Planetary Devastation, giving the Raikage a way to escape.

"I've left a Flying Thunder God Mark here. From now on, coming here will be just like coming home..."

Flap! The cloak of his Fire Cloud Robe billowed as Naruto turned with easy confidence. "Let's go. Back to Amegakure!"

The group flashed back to Amegakure.

Boom!

Several minutes later, amid a thunderous roar, a streak of lightning burst out through the hole in Planetary Devastation.

The lightning faded, and the exhausted Raikage fell toward the ground. He spat furiously, "Damn you, Naruto Uzumaki! From now on, you're my number one enemy-and Kumogakure's!!"

Thud!!!

He landed amid the ruins...

"It's Lord Raikage!!!"

"Quick, get the medical team!!!"

Another battle had also drawn to a close.

Crack!

A blood-drenched tree trunk snapped off from Obito's right shoulder...

The Mangekyō beneath his mask gazed coldly at Killer B, who lay on the verge of death, unable to rise again!

"Don't blame me. This Shinobi World has long since rotted to its core. Only the tailed beast inside you can create an infinite dream that embodies hope..."

Whoosh!

The Kamui vortex swallowed Killer B!

"The hunt for the Eight-Tails is complete."

The vortex contracted. Obito turned toward the figure who had appeared behind him at some point and said calmly, "You're here..."

He delivered that greeting not in Madara's voice, but in his own.

Tobi said, "I was worried you might accidentally kill the Eight-Tails and disrupt our future plans."

Obito looked away. "I'm not a child anymore. Even when I vent my anger, I know where to stop. In any case, the Eight-Tails is now in our hands..."

Tobi asked, "Are we going to seal the Eight-Tails into the Demonic Statue right away? To be honest, with our current manpower, it'll probably take more than ten days..."

Obito's gaze grew distant. "Even if sealing the Eight-Tails makes the Demonic Statue stronger than it is now, that means nothing if we can't control it."

Tobi spread his hands. "Yes, that's true. You need the Rinnegan to control that thing, after all."

After careful consideration, Obito said, "So, until we recover the Rinnegan, I'll extract the Eight-Tails from its jinchūriki and use it as a summoning beast for the time being, just as I once commanded the Nine-Tails..."

Tobi smacked his fist into his palm. "Hmm, that's a good idea. You managed to control even the Nine-Tails, the strongest of them, for a while. Controlling the Eight-Tails should be no problem."

Obito turned and placed a hand on Tobi's shoulder, a vortex unfurling from his right eye.

"Let's go back. Sasuke's eyes should be almost ready. Our next move will center on Sasuke..."