Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou [182]

"Father!" "Lord Third Raikage!"

"Shirou!"

Under the astonished cries of both sides' shinobi, no one could have predicted it. Without giving anyone time to react, two bolts of lightning clashed together under the cover of night.

The Chidori in Shirou's hand, enhanced to its peak, severed the arm of the Third Raikage. At the same time, the Third Raikage's strongest Hell Stab One-Finger Nukite pierced Shirou's chest with its Lightning Release chakra.

This all happened in an instant. As blood splattered, the shinobi on both sides hurried to react and rushed forward to provide support. Yet, even at this moment, both sides, fighting desperately, kept staring at each other with madness in their eyes.

"Uchiha! Die already!"

Despite losing an arm, the Third Raikage did not retreat. Instead, with a furious roar, he gathered strength in his remaining left arm and launched an elbow strike aimed at Shirou's head.

This time, he wouldn't miss!

 "Raikage!"

With a similarly furious roar, Shirou's Sharingan, now fully linked into a single tomoe pattern, glowed in his eyes. A bright blue chakra sphere appeared in his palm, which he thrust toward the Raikage.

Rasengan!

The two strikes collided in an instant. At such close range, no jutsu could compare to the instantaneous Rasengan. Even Chidori's thrusting power would weaken when used at this distance.

With a loud explosion, the blue Rasengan struck the Third Raikage's elbow joint. The Heavy Flow Violence elbow attack was instantly deflected. Seizing this opportunity, Shirou roared:

 "It's not over yet!"

Lion Combo.

From high above, Shirou, stimulated by the Lightning Armor, twisted his body and combined Konoha's taijutsu techniques, unleashing a flurry of strikes against the Raikage in midair. The final blow was a powerful downward kick.

"Impossible! I can't dodge this!"

The Third Raikage's pupils widened in shock as if he were caught in an illusion. He couldn't dodge! Yet, he knew he had tried to evade.

With a deafening crash, the ground below shattered and cracked instantly. At the same time, reinforcements from both sides arrived on the battlefield.

"Lord Raikage!"

The Fourth Raikage candidate, A, was the first to reach the battlefield and immediately pulled his father from the rubble.

The Third Raikage was in an extremely sorry state. His right arm was severed, and his body was covered in blood after taking a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken head-on. However, thanks to the protection of the Lightning Armor, he avoided critical injuries.

Even so, after rescuing the Third Raikage, the shinobi of the Kumo were all in disbelief.

Their mighty Raikage had been pushed to such a state.

"Quickly, treat Lord Raikage!"

The Fourth Raikage candidate, A, roared in anger. Meanwhile, Shirou on the Konoha side was also rescued. Unlike the Kumo shinobi, Uzumaki Kushina urgently exposed her arm.

"Shirou! Quickly, absorb it!"

As she did this, the violent Nine-Tails chakra surged around her, both attacking the Kumo shinobi and shielding herself behind the Tailed Beast Cloak.

With a greedy sizzle, Shirou absorbed the chakra, and the terrifying wound on his chest began to heal visibly.

Everything that had just happened was too fast!

By the time the shinobi on both sides reacted, the two combatants had already exchanged two consecutive blows.

Namikaze Minato, taking in the scene, was visibly shocked.

"The… Flying Thunder God Technique!"

He saw it clearly—Shirou and Kushina had used space-time ninjutsu to appear instantly in front of Lady Tsunade. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made it in time.

Kushina's terrifying S-rank Wind Release: Rasenshuriken had struck first, immediately followed by the duel between the Third Raikage and Shirou.

The ultimate clash between Chidori and the Hell Stab One-Finger Nukite ended in mutual destruction!

 The Lightning Armor didn't stop the enhanced Chidori, and Shirou's own Lightning Armor couldn't withstand the Hell Stab One-Finger Nukite.

The strongest defense and the strongest spear—just like in the original story, the spear was superior for both sides.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

The blood-soaked Third Raikage A, panting heavily as he surveyed the battlefield, gave a fatigued roar, issuing the order to retreat.

The Fourth Raikage candidate, A, was stunned as he looked at his father. Such exhaustion… he had only ever seen it once before, during his father's battle with the Eight-Tails, where both were utterly drained.

"Retreat!"

With a furious shout from the Kumo shinobi, the order to retreat was passed on. Meanwhile, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee, had been snapped out of his rampage by Uchiha Mikoto, and the Eight-Tails were now fully under his control again.

"Retreat!"

At the same time, signals from Konoha reinforcements came from afar. At that moment, the sudden clash between the Kumo and Konoha shinobi at the border came to an end.

Both sides' plans had crumbled into failure.

"Retreat!"

The Kumo shinobi hurriedly escorted their Raikage off the battlefield. Some, unwilling to concede, shouted angrily at the Konoha shinobi:

 "Our Raikage has not been defeated! You Konoha cowards!"

The Third Raikage had fought against Konoha's Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and Namikaze Minato, and then battled against the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the genius Uchiha Shirou.

Such a record was terrifying across the entire ninja world!

The Kumo shinobi's unwilling cries left the Konoha shinobi in silence, a shadow looming over them.

The strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, the mightiest village—Konoha!

This battle was a wake-up call. Other villages were strong too!

"Retreat!"

"Konoha shinobi, stay on guard. Do not pursue…"

From daybreak to nightfall, both sides panted heavily, exhausted as they stared at the end of the battle.

Amidst the ruins of the battlefield, a drizzle began to fall, as if the sky itself was mourning the war.

However, the Konoha shinobi felt no joy at having survived. Instead, their expressions were solemn. This battle… they had lost.

The strongest Hokage had suffered a crushing defeat!

The strongest Konoha, against just one Raikage, had ended up in such a state. They couldn't accept it.

"Why… why did it end up like this!"

In the rain, some Konoha shinobi, unable to accept reality, shouted angrily, as if questioning why the so-called strongest village had fallen so far.

A weakened Hyuga Hizashi raised his head to the gloomy sky. At that moment, Konoha's fate felt like the destiny of a caged bird, and he let out a mocking smile.

"Heh… White Fang abandoned a mission for his comrades and caused irreparable damage to the village. The Second Hokage chose to protect the younger generation by sacrificing himself, also bringing great losses to the village…

And now, our Hokage has made an entirely different decision to avoid unrest in the village. Which choice is right, and which is wrong?"

White Fang. The Second Hokage.

 These two heavy names cast yet another shadow over the hearts of the Konoha shinobi present.

So, what exactly is the true Will of Fire?

It seems that everything happening now is completely different from what they were taught as children.

"We've won this battle!"

Amid the heavy atmosphere, a hoarse voice slowly echoed. Countless eyes turned toward the source, where the red cloak of the Tailed Beast Chakra was gradually fading, revealing the figure of Uchiha Shirou.

His white robe was already torn apart, exposing his perfectly restored, muscular chest. Standing in the rain, Shirou gazed resolutely at Hyuga Hizashi and the Konoha shinobi around him.

"The Second Hokage sacrificed his life to protect the village's future. Though it caused immense pain to the village, I believe this spirit represents the true Will of Fire.

The decisions of the Hokage are not something ordinary shinobi like us can dictate. But this contradictory, self-centered, distorted Will of Fire—I, Uchiha Shirou, absolutely refuse to acknowledge it!"

As Shirou's powerful voice resonated through the cold rain, the confused gazes of countless Konoha shinobi began to sharpen.

They had become shinobi, wielding immense power, for one purpose—their families, parents, and the academy taught them it was to protect the ones they held dear.

"When this war is over, I, Uchiha Shirou, will stake everything to uphold the true Will of Fire..."

His resolute declaration stirred a familiar feeling in the hearts of the Konoha shinobi present. Many of their eyes grew moist.

Wasn't this very Will of Fire what united all the great clans into the Konoha family? Wasn't it this Will of Fire that they had fervently followed?

Only this kind of Will of Fire was worthy of their loyalty!

Among the crowd, Namikaze Minato's pupils dilated as he listened to Shirou's revolutionary declaration. His childhood teachings told him this was wrong, yet his body refused to move.

The Hokage should focus on the bigger picture. But now, had the Hokage's will truly become twisted?

"Shirou, your eyes..."

At that moment, Kushina gasped in shock as she saw Shirou's black pupils gradually transform into the three tomoe Sharingan, which then began spinning rapidly, merging into one cohesive shape.

The other Konoha shinobi present were equally stunned. Only the elite of the Uchiha Clan reacted with disbelief, their faces filled with shock.

As the blood-red three tomoe spun rapidly, they fused, forming a new pattern: 卐.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan!"

The Uchiha shinobi trembled as they uttered the name of this legendary eye from their clan's history. The rest of the crowd was equally astonished.

Some recalled the old legends of the Uchiha Clan's most powerful Sharingan.

"That pattern!"

Kushina, staring at the mesmerizing blood-red design, was filled with shock. Even Tsunade, standing nearby, muttered in disbelief:

"Even the Mangekyō reflects the Will of Fire?"

In Tsunade's eyes, Shirou's Mangekyō had only awakened after he firmly resolved to uphold the Will of Fire. The pattern itself was proof of this resolve.

The 卐 symbol, whether inverted or upright, has always symbolized the sun and fire in various religious beliefs.

Thus, under the scrutiny of Tsunade and countless Konoha shinobi, they witnessed the moment Shirou awakened his Mangekyō.

This was a Will of Fire ingrained into his very bones, a will so resolute that even the Sharingan's design reflected it!

Words can deceive, but the Sharingan, which reflects the heart's truth, cannot lie!

Uchiha Mikoto's eyes sparkled with admiration as she witnessed this scene. She had always believed Shirou was the strongest.

Surrounded by countless astonished gazes, Uchiha Shirou, who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, exuded a charisma that radiated security and reliability. His determined gaze swept across the crowd.

"Shirou! Everyone!"

At that moment, Namikaze Minato stepped forward, urgently addressing the crowd as he gestured for calm:

"I trust in the Third Hokage's Will of Fire. Perhaps there's been some misunderstanding here. But think about it—if our Hokage were to fall in battle or be surrounded, the village would descend into chaos, and the Four Great Ninja Villages would immediately launch an assault..."

Minato's pale defense was met with silence. The solemn expressions of the shinobi around him spoke volumes.

Perhaps this would destabilize the village. Perhaps it would plunge the village into crisis. But wasn't Konoha founded on this very Will of Fire that had drawn them together?

"Then, Minato, if our Hokage isn't trapped on the battlefield, does that mean the village won't face chaos? That wars won't break out?"

Shirou's cold voice echoed, finally prompting a retort. Minato hurriedly nodded.

"I believe in the Third Hokage. Everything he does is for the village..."

But seeing Minato's unwavering faith, Shirou shook his head in disappointment.

"Sister Tsunade, I think I understand your words now."

Standing in the rain, Shirou looked up at the overcast sky, as if the heavens above the Land of Fire were also covered by dark clouds.

"Now, I finally understand what Konoha lacks—a true Hokage, a leader who can reignite the Will of Fire and lead us forward!"

His revolutionary words stirred countless shinobi present. This was practically a denial of the Third Hokage's authority. Yet, at this moment, no one voiced opposition.

Only those who had experienced pain firsthand could understand the meaning of this moment.

"And if the village still falls into chaos, if the Four Great Ninja Villages continue their war against us..."

Shirou's icy tone addressed Minato's concerns, causing his face to pale. He had never considered this possibility. In his eyes, the Third Hokage had dedicated his life to the village.

Seeing Minato's powerless silence, Shirou smirked bitterly and shook his head.

"If that happens, it only proves Konoha is truly sick. The endless cycle of war and suffering, the long-term complacency of those in power—it's twisted their will.

I, Uchiha Shirou, will use these eyes to correct this distorted will. Konoha will rise anew from the flames. The true Will of Fire will once again burn brightly across the ninja world... I, Uchiha Shirou, will stake everything to become the new Hokage!"

His resolute and transformative declaration filled the Uchiha shinobi with fervor. Other clan shinobi, too, emerged from their shock.

Their ancestors had documented the Mangekyō Sharingan. Yet this moment, where what was once deemed an evil power now exuded an unprecedented sense of security, struck a chord within them.

Entrusting their lives to these eyes felt more reassuring than standing behind their current Hokage.

But then, a sudden change occurred!

"Something's wrong!"

The quick-reacting Minato's expression shifted, his pupils reflecting a terrifying glow.

"It's a Tailed Beast Bomb!"

"Damn you, Kumo Shinobi!"

Suddenly, amid the misty rain, both sides had withdrawn from the battlefield. Yet, in the distance, a terrifying glow of chakra appeared.

The Konoha shinobi were stunned. They had just witnessed the devastating power of a Tailed Beast Bomb in the prior battle.

"Kumo Shinobi!"

Kushina Uzumaki roared, rapidly gathering the Tailed Beast Bomb chakra in front of her. But the Kumo Shinobi's Tailed Beast Bomb was already closing in.

The massive, destructive sphere of energy plowed through the forest, leaving a deep trench in its wake.

As the Konoha shinobi stared in horror, the Tailed Beast Bomb neared, radiating destruction. But at that moment, a lone figure appeared before them.

The remnants of his white robe disintegrated under the overwhelming pressure, yet his gaze remained resolute.

"Shirou!"

"Uchiha Shirou!"

The crowd erupted in cries of shock as they recognized the figure.

Standing before them, Shirou's expression was grave. Crossing his hands, he summoned a kunai trident adorned with mysterious markings.

With his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, he faced the incoming destruction head-on.