Cloud Ninja Raikage, Nothing Special

Konoha's Central Command Tent

A white-haired man dressed in Konoha shinobi attire stood in the center, his iconic "oil" headband now replaced with the leaf insignia—a somber change for wartime.

Jiraiya stared at the battlefield map before him, his gaze distant and unfocused, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Four days had passed since Sakura led her team out on their mission, and not a single word had come back. The silence left Jiraiya restless and uneasy.

Sakura was the Hokage's cherished final disciple, someone the old man deeply favored. If something were to happen to her under Jiraiya's watch, the Hokage might just kill him.

Moreover...

Jiraiya's sharp black-and-white eyes lingered on the map as his brows furrowed tightly.

Something was off.

Four days ago, the forces of Kumogakure (the Village Hidden in the Clouds) pushed aggressively to the borders, forcing Jiraiya to deploy his troops defensively. But their actions seemed oddly deliberate—keeping his forces tied down without escalating into full conflict. It was as if their only goal was to pin him here and prevent him from making any moves.

Truth and deception intertwined, leaving Jiraiya hesitant to act without fully understanding their intentions.

At that moment, a man entered the command tent.

"Jiraiya-sama."

The man spoke respectfully as he looked at Jiraiya.

"Kakashi," Jiraiya said, gesturing to the map, "assemble a temporary team with Byakugan support: Yūgao Uzuki, Kurenai Yūhi, and one Hyūga. You'll lead them to scout this area."

He circled a region on the map.

Kakashi's expression grew serious.

Two elite Jōnin, Kurenai and Yūgao, paired with a Hyūga for reconnaissance—it was a team strong enough to handle most threats.

"Is it about Sakura's team...?" Kakashi's voice carried a heavy tone.

"It's been four days without a word." Jiraiya sighed softly.

The Land of Frost wasn't large—four days was more than enough time for Sakura's team to circle the border thrice over. Jiraiya couldn't help but fear the worst.

"If we leave, the frontlines—" Kakashi hesitated, his concern evident.

Though there was no direct battle at the moment, the sudden absence of such a capable team could create a dangerous gap if Kumogakure launched an attack.

"Am I not enough to hold the front?" Jiraiya smirked, rising to his feet. His tall, imposing figure radiated an unshakable sense of power.

As one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya alone could turn the tide of battle.

"Understood." Kakashi gave a firm nod.

Boom!

The clash of fists reverberated through the battlefield—a brutal collision of raw physical strength. Each punch brought an ear-splitting roar, and every stomp cracked the ground beneath them.

The combatants moved like feral beasts, their power far beyond human.

"You conniving brat! Die!"

A ferocious punch, crackling with violent lightning, grazed past Sakura's ear.

Reacting instantly, Sakura grabbed the Raikage's wrist, pivoted her body, and hurled him over her shoulder with an immense force. The massive figure of the Raikage slammed into the ground, shattering it under the impact.

The fluidity of her movements and her dominance in close combat were masterful, leaving no doubt about her expertise.

"When it comes to scheming and treachery, no one beats Kumogakure."

Sakura pressed her advantage, stomping down hard on the Raikage as he attempted to rise.

Boom!

Her strike caused a localized tremor, the ground fracturing violently beneath her foot.

The Raikage braced himself with the metal bracers on his arms, absorbing the blow. In the same motion, he grabbed Sakura's ankle and yanked her toward him, his other fist swinging directly at her face.

Sakura countered with lightning reflexes, catching the punch with her palm. Her voice rang out, laced with cold sarcasm:

"Let's not forget, during the First Shinobi World War, your Golden and Silver Brothers ambushed the Second Hokage under the guise of peace."

"And after that? You kidnapped the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki during an era of supposed truce. Then ten years ago, you tried to abduct a Hyūga heir under the pretext of another 'peace treaty.'"

"You lot are nothing but bandits, villains, and oath-breakers!"

Her words, sharp and biting, sent the Raikage into a fury.

"Silence!" he roared.

"Those were acts of rebellion! Treachery!" he bellowed, referring to the actions of Kinkaku and Ginkaku's unit. "Our Second Raikage also fell victim to their betrayal!"

Sakura smirked, a mocking curve to her lips. "So, by your silence, you admit to kidnapping Kushina Uzumaki and attempting to steal the Byakugan?"

"You—!"

The Raikage, known for his hot temper, struggled to find a rebuttal. Humiliated and enraged, he grabbed Sakura and tried to slam her to the ground.

Sakura, however, planted one hand firmly on the ground to stop the force, her other leg kicking fiercely at the Raikage's torso.

The Raikage blocked with his knee—the strongest part of the human body—and halted her attack.

"Hmph, Kumogakure is nothing but a den of petty schemers," Sakura sneered. "Even the duplicitous Sunagakure shinobi are more trustworthy than you muscle-headed cowards hiding in the shadows."

Her relentless provocations only further ignited the Raikage's rage.

"Shut your mouth!" he bellowed. "In this world, without strength, you are nothing!"

"In the face of absolute power, everything else is meaningless!"

The two combatants were locked in a stalemate, each refusing to give ground.

"Ah, so this is the essence of Kumogakure," Sakura scoffed. "When you're in the wrong, you resort to brute force to justify yourselves. Truly, the mighty Raikage of Kumogakure is nothing special."

"You insolent brat!" The Raikage roared, lifting Sakura again to slam her down.

But this time, Sakura had anticipated the move. Planting her hands and feet firmly, she countered, her immense strength resisting his overwhelming force.

To the Raikage, it felt as though he was grappling not with a young girl but with a raging dragon.

"This strength… it rivals Tsunade's!"

Beads of sweat began to form as his grip weakened under the pressure of Sakura's raw power.

"Damn it!" the Raikage cursed. "Cee!"

Finally, another figure emerged—a long-hidden guard.

Cee, a sensory and genjutsu specialist, had been the one to track Sakura's team.

"Lightning Illusion: Thunder Pillar!"

------

more advance and fast update chapters on

pat reon.com/yuuwand