When Thunder Falls

The battlefield trembled as the clash between the shinobi of Iwagakure and the mighty Raikage intensified. Lightning danced through the bloodied air while earth crumbled beneath the weight of overwhelming chakra. Both sides had suffered devastating losses. Countless skilled Iwa shinobi lay lifeless on the ground, and the Raikage — once a towering force of nature — now stood as a mere shadow of his former self, his body battered and his chakra reserves dwindling.

Azora, crouched silently amidst the chaos. Her fingers weaved through familiar hand signs, and once more, she conjured a shimmering orb of water. But this time, it was laced with a even more deadly toxin, crafted from rare herbs found only in the Stone Cliffs. With a flick of her wrist, the orb shot through the battlefield like a serpent, aiming straight for the Raikage.

The Raikage, though resilient beyond belief, found himself overwhelmed. Poison seeped into his bloodstream with every strike, slowing his movements. The continuous barrage of ninjutsu from the Iwa shinobi left him no room to breathe, no chance to counter. His punches, once capable of crushing mountains, now lacked force. His reflexes dulled. His once-vast chakra pool had diminished to mere embers.

He knew... his time had come.

Encircled by a relentless army of Iwa shinobi, escape was no longer an option. The great Raikage — the storm of Kumogakure — had become a wounded beast, cornered by predators. Above him, vultures circled, as if nature itself anticipated his demise.

Still, the Raikage stood tall. Blood trickled from his mouth, and shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags clung to his body like cursed ornaments. Yet he remained defiant.

"I will not leave this world without dragging you Iwa scum into the abyss with me!" he roared, his voice cracking the air like thunder as he flexed what strength he had left.

He charged one last time. Blades pierced his skin. Fire and lightning clashed against his frame. Wind scythes tore at his limbs. But still... he stood.

Even as his legs trembled, even as his lungs wheezed and his vision blurred, the Raikage would not fall. The Iwa shinobi watched in stunned silence. He made no further move. He simply stood there — still, imposing, unbent.

Moments later, silence claimed him.

The Raikage died on his feet.

A final act of defiance. A final insult to his enemies.

"Is... is it over?" asked one of the exhausted Iwa shinobi, his breath ragged, blood staining his flak jacket.

"I think we did it," another replied, his eyes wide with disbelief. He dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by relief.

A victorious cry echoed across the ruined battlefield. The shinobi of Iwagakure had achieved the unthinkable: they had slain the Raikage, leader of a great nation. But the cost had been astronomical.

Azora, though victorious, felt no joy. Her muscles ached, and her chakra was nearly depleted. She barked out orders to begin body recovery. "Count our fallen. Gather the dead. They will be honored."

Reports soon reached her hands. Of the thousand shinobi deployed from Iwa, only 398 had survived. Over six hundred lives lost in a single confrontation. It was a victory, yes — but a bitter one.

"We underestimated him," Azora muttered, her tone grim.

"At least the dead will not have died in vain," replied Yusu, who had barely survived.

"Send a full report to the Tsuchikage," Azora ordered a nearby chūnin, her voice barely above a whisper.

She found a stone and sat upon it, letting herself breathe. Her body was broken. Her heart, heavy. They had claimed the head of the Raikage, but the war was far from over. Kumo, though shaken, still had strength. Their hold over the minor nations remained. They could still dispatch troops, even if morale was uncertain. It all depended on the new Raikage. Would he seek vengeance, or would he pull back, realizing the odds of maintaining war against three great nations — Iwa, Konoha, and Kiri — were far too great?

But such thoughts were for another day.

Azora had a new mission: to rebuild her forces and prepare for the battles to come.

One Month Later

The news spread like wildfire, carried on the tongues of traders and the wings of messenger birds. From the towering mountains of Iwagakure to the ancient forests of Konoha, through the scorching sands of Suna, and even across the misty waters to Kirigakure — the death of the Raikage had become the talk of every hidden village.

For Iwa, it was a cause for pride, a beacon of hope in the long and bloody conflict.

For Konoha and Kiri, it was a strategic advantage. A weaker Kumo meant less pressure on their borders, fewer battles to fight.

For Suna, the shift meant little. They had redirected their war efforts from Iwa to Konoha, lured by the promise of fertile land and valuable resources. Though progress was slow, the campaign against the Leaf was deemed more profitable.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Arano sat in his war chamber, frowning as a messenger relayed troubling news. Kumo had begun spreading rumors — a tale that the Third Raikage had fought alone for three days and nights, standing against ten thousand Iwa shinobi before succumbing to death.

"A fantasy," Arano hissed, slamming his fist against the table. "A hero's death... fabricated for propaganda."

Though the Tsuchikage knew the tale was false, combating misinformation across the shinobi world was impossible. Still, within Iwa's borders, anyone caught spreading such lies would find themselves silenced permanently.

The battle on the eastern front had cost Iwa dearly. Reinforcements were being dispatched to fill the gaps left by the dead. As for the new Raikage, intelligence suggested he was torn — torn between revenge and pragmatism.

In the end, he chose war with Konoha.

A tactical decision. The Leaf had more to offer — in land, influence, and power.

But the grudge against Iwa would not fade. It smoldered in the shadows, waiting for the day vengeance would rise again.

For now, the world turned.

The war continued.

And the ninja nations held their breath, knowing the next great battle was never far away.