Lightning sliced through flesh, severing the Raikage's left arm below the shoulder. Wrapped in black flames, the severed arm fell to the ground, burning its armor, flesh, and bones to black ash before it could roll far.
The cries from Kumogakure's ranks abruptly faltered.
No one on Konoha's side cheered immediately either. Everyone stared at the Raikage's empty left shoulder, watching Lightning Release forcibly staunch the blood, watching the man who had just demanded Sasuke's death be forced to sever his own arm.
Sasuke raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his eye. The six-pointed star pattern in his right eye was still turning.
The black flames did not disperse.
They rose from the ground, gathered by Kagutsuchi into a pitch-black spear that hovered beside Sasuke, its tip aimed at the Raikage's chest.
The Raikage retreated to the riverbank. His guards crowded around him, and several tried to stop his bleeding, only for him to roar them away.
"Don't touch me!"
Sasuke connected the Amplification Sound Ninja Technique, his voice carrying over the Boundary River. "Fourth Raikage A, this is Konoha's final warning. Retreat beyond the Land of Lightning's border and surrender those involved in Kumogakure's hiring killers to steal eyes, fabricating witnesses, and launching cross-border attacks."
The Raikage panted heavily and slammed his right fist into the stone. "Brat, you think burning off one of my arms will make Kumogakure bow its head?"
Sasuke looked at Yamada Naoto. "Broadcast the footage of the Raikage losing his arm to the external channels."
Yamada Naoto scrambled to form hand seals. "It's already broadcasting. The Black Market channel, the Land of Fire's Daimyo's Residence channel, and Sunagakure's temporary delegation channel are all connected."
Shikaku's scalp prickled as he listened. "You're going to extort Kumogakure right here?"
"It's not