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The Raikage's most formidable technique, his pride—Lightning Release: Chakra Mode—had been pierced by the secret technique Naruto had developed: Hell's Hands!
He stared blankly at his chest, watching blood gush out, his mind struggling to process the scene.
This brat actually used his spear to attack my shield?
Such a vicious tactic—this kid Naruto!
Seeing the Raikage wounded, C suddenly shouted in alarm, "Lord Raikage!"
He leapt forward instantly, followed closely by Darui.
Tutai came running as well, with Karui, Omoi, and Samui on his heels.
C rushed to the Raikage's side, kneeling to assess the injury.
It was too deep—the penetrative power of Hell's Hands was overwhelming, and the force of the thrust had been immense. The technique had clearly damaged internal organs.
In other words, if Raikage-sama dared to continue fighting now, he would die.
"Lord Raikage, don't move! I'll begin treatment immediately!"
With that, C activated Mystical Palm Technique, the green glow of medical chakra lighting up his hands as he placed them over the wound.
Darui unsheathed his sword and stepped in front of Naruto, shouting, "Where are the Raikage's guards?!"
Karui, Omoi, and Samui quickly stepped into formation in front of him. In the distance, the Jōnin escort units summoned by Darui arrived on the scene and stood ready.
"Captain, we're here!"
"Captain, we're ready to fight!"
"We swear to protect Lord Raikage with our lives!"
Naruto observed the defensive stance forming in front of him, then looked down at the Raikage with a calm, slightly amused smile.
"How about it, Uncle Raikage?"
The Raikage clenched his teeth and focused inward, assessing the damage. Even if he tried to bluff or continue the fight, he knew deep down—with Naruto's current strength, even without tapping into the Rinnegan or Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, he would still lose.
For the proud Raikage, it was a crushing reality—one he didn't want to face.
Darui, sensing his leader's turmoil, stepped forward, blade drawn, and said firmly, "Boss, as the Raikage and leader of Kumogakure, there are things that demand dignity. If you can't accept it, say the word—we'll back you up!"
Hearing their captain speak with such resolve, the other Jōnin nodded in agreement, eyes burning with loyalty.
The Raikage gritted his teeth harder, closing his eyes to think.
Tutai stood at the side, holding a scroll and hesitating, uncertain of whether to speak or not.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he spoke in a colder tone: "Uncle Raikage… are you planning to break our agreement?"
As he spoke, the Deva Path's power surged from within him, and a massive Shinra Tensei repulsion burst forth, sending shockwaves across the area. The force alone knocked back all the Kumogakure guards who had moved to defend their leader.
"This chakra…!"
"Too strong!!!"
"Hold the line, everyone!"
Darui clenched his jaw. He had seen firsthand how dangerous Naruto could be. If the Raikage broke the pact now, none of them would survive—not against Naruto's wrath.
Naruto, voice like ice, spoke with quiet fury. "To be honest, I was willing to make a deal because I respected you. But if you insult that respect, I won't hesitate to reduce your village to ashes."
At those words, the Raikage's eyes flew open. He let out a sharp breath, then pulled the spear-like arm Naruto had driven into his chest, blood spurting violently as he did so.
C shouted in shock, "Lord Raikage!!!"
He turned and yelled, "Medical Corps, get over here! Now!"
But the Raikage, ignoring the agony, pushed C aside and stood up. He walked toward Naruto with staggering steps and declared:
"Naruto, I—Raikage A—concede defeat."
The surrounding Kumogakure shinobi were stunned, their world tilting on its axis.
"How can this be?"
"Lord Raikage surrendered!"
"The invincible Raikage… lost to a Konoha brat?!"
The murmurs spread like wildfire. For the people of Kumogakure, the Raikage wasn't just a leader—he was a symbol, a totem of strength. His defeat felt like the village itself had fallen.
"I don't accept this! I want to challenge Naruto!"
"Me too! For the honor of the village!"
"That's right—let's go together!"
Naruto looked at the group, heart conflicted. Despite their threats, their unity moved him. A village standing together—that's the kind of place he had always dreamed of creating.
Dodai stepped forward and faced the protesting shinobi. He saw that if he didn't intervene now, Naruto might truly retaliate—and there'd be nothing left to salvage.
"Enough! What are you doing?! Didn't you hear what Lord Raikage said?!"
The crowd quieted under his commanding tone.
"Do you all think you're stronger than the Raikage?! That you can win when he couldn't?!"
The Kumogakure shinobi fell silent, fists clenched, some shaking with frustration.
Dodai sighed, then continued, "This was a duel, an honorable one. Kumogakure doesn't ambush the wounded or take advantage of weakness. We fight with honor. We win with pride and lose with dignity!"
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the assembled shinobi.
"If Lord Raikage says he lost, then that loss is his alone to bear! And he does so as a leader. Today we may lose—but tomorrow, we'll rise again!"
"Men of Kumogakure—where's your pride?!"
Hearing Dodai's words, the crowd's mindset shifted.
"Master Dodai is right. It was a fair fight."
"If we lose today… it doesn't mean we won't win tomorrow!"
"That's right! We, Kumogakure, can accept loss—we won't forget, and we'll get stronger!"
The Raikage gave Dodai a grateful look. The man had helped him recover some dignity and stabilize the situation.
C and the medical team rushed in and began working on Raikage's wound with surgical precision. C himself handled the more delicate aspects of the stitching and healing.
Raikage, barely holding back groans of pain, looked to Naruto and said:
"Naruto… I'll agree to your terms, so long as they don't harm the village's interests. But I have a condition of my own—I want to see him."
Naruto nodded. "No problem."
He formed a hand seal.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
There was a low hum as the space around Naruto shimmered. Far away, in a Yunyin classroom, Killer Bee—still mid-lesson—suddenly felt the mark on his body heat up.
Before he could react, he vanished, leaving a room full of bewildered students behind.
Back in Kumogakure, Bee reappeared at Naruto's side, looking around with confusion.
"Yo—what the hell? This place looks mad familiar!"
In Amegakure, Nagato glanced in Bee's direction through the link and
chuckled softly.
" bro what kind of mischief are you cooking this time?"
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