Irrelevant

"Hiding in Mist Technique, Silent Killing… A, have they used these before?"

The Sandaime Raikage's voice was heavy.

"Never! This is my first time seeing it! Damn it… Orochimaru only knows underhanded tricks! And Kiri's a bunch of useless trash—letting Konoha steal their signature techniques!"

A was livid.

He tried to counterattack, but the enemy had mastered these Kiri techniques to perfection—in some ways surpassing even Kiri's own ninja.

For the first time since the war began, he truly understood what "Sannin" represented.

"A. A proper Raikage must know when to vent fury and when to restrain it."

The Sandaime's tone wasn't its usual sternness—something far more concerning.

This..

Was his father…?

"Dodai. If A struggles later, guide him."

"Raikage-sama! Surely it hasn't come to that?"

Dodai's face paled.

This sounded like… last words. A village's final entrustment.

"Father! I can lead everyone home!"

A interjected urgently.

The Sandaime finally smiled mid-sprint.

"Good. That's the resolve a Raikage needs—the courage to smash through any obstacle."

"Yes!"

A steeled himself and charged ahead to clear the path, Killer B following closely.

The Sandaime didn't stop them. He barely even fought back.

Yet—

Orochimaru's assaults intensified. Konoha ninja struck briefly before vanishing—

A and B's speed was unmatched, but without pursuing deeply, they couldn't deal meaningful damage. Meanwhile, their forces kept accumulating injuries.

Despite medics, their advance slowed drastically.

"Raikage-sama, we can still make it back, right? Our losses aren't catastrophic…"

"Are you as naive as A? ANBU confirms Ōnoki himself is at our borders. He aims to carve flesh from Kumo."

The Sandaime saw the bigger picture.

Orochimaru's current tactics merely drained their chakra and stamina.

The true danger lay ahead—

Closer to Lightning Country, resistance would grow stronger while his men grew wearier.

But stopping wasn't an option.

If the western front had truly ended, and Konoha's western forces arrived…

It would be over.

A and B's efforts did help—they cleared many of Orochimaru's snakes, easing the rear's burden.

However.

The real crisis began at Fire Country's border.

Konoha launched full-scale interceptions. Even the Konoha Military Police joined—led by Uchiha Fugaku himself.

The pressure skyrocketed.

"B!"

"Yo!"

Lightning cloaked the duo as they blurred forward—

A Konoha jōnin barely erected a Suiton barrier before—

SLASH!

A hand-chop split the water wall.

Raiton: Lightning Straight!

Then—

WHOOSH!

Two figures flanked the jōnin, arms hooking his neck from both sides—

CRACK!

A sickening snap echoed as they charged onward.

...

"Intervene?"

"Let them pass. The cost isn't worth it. Let Ōnoki handle them."

Jiraiya ordered the retreat.

A and B's synergy exceeded expectations—their combined might was terrifying.

Konoha needn't fight to the death!

Ōnoki and Iwa awaited ahead. Merely weakening Kumo sufficed.

A and B didn't breach the line immediately, instead hunting stragglers. Though Konoha retreated swiftly, casualties mounted—proof of their prowess.

But such outbursts had consequences—

Their stamina plummeted. After securing a path, both were gasping, incapable of repeating such feats.

Yet the hardest barrier remained:

Iwa. Ōnoki.

Earthen fortifications stretched endlessly—who's border was this again?

The Sandaime stepped forward.

"Father! I can charge again! I'll get everyone home!"

A rasped through exhaustion.

B stood silently beside him, equally resolute.

"Enough, A."

The Sandaime raised a fist—then softened it into a pat.

A's eyes reddened.

"Forgive me, Father. My recklessness brought this upon Kumo."

"Not your fault. You've done enough. Now… let me clear the path. Let's see how many Ōnoki prepared for me."

"A. From this moment… you are the Yondaime Raikage."

Discarding his robe, the Sandaime revealed his battle attire—

Then charged ahead alone.

...

"The Sandaime Raikage lives up to his title."

Kyōichi observed solemnly.

A Kage sacrificing himself as vanguard wasn't unheard of—

But none matched this scene's grandeur: One man radiating the force of thousands.

His speed wasn't extraordinary.

Yet his aura alone made every Iwa-nin tense—including Ōnoki.

"Kyōichi. Minato. Don't renege."

Ōnoki's expression was grave.

"Of course. We'll help stop the Sandaime Raikage."

Kyōichi emphasized help.

If Ōnoki expected them to frontline against a death-seeking Raikage, he was mistaken.

Ōnoki understood.

He cast Light-Weight Rock on both, granting near-flight capabilities.

The main force against the Raikage would still be him—but Kyōichi and Minato's harassment was essential to land Jinton.

"Ōnoki! This pitiful force thinks it can stop us?"

The Sandaime was mere hundreds of meters away, lightning crackling across his body.

"It's enough."

Ōnoki floated upward, sighing.

"Truthfully, I'd rather not fight you. But defeat left me no choice…"

"Don't listen to his lies, Kumo friends! Konoha only fights defensively! This was all Ōnoki's idea!"

A voice rang from Iwa's ranks.

Both Kage froze.

Ōnoki hadn't expected Kyōichi's blatant interjection.

The Raikage was baffled—

Since when did Iwa have Konoha overseers?

Then two figures emerged from the earthworks—

Young men in Konoha headbands, appearing utterly uncoerced.

Ōnoki didn't even refute the claim.

The Sandaime couldn't comprehend it—

How had a Great Village capitulated so completely?!

But hesitation lasted only seconds—

Lightning surged as the Raikage activated his fullest Lightning Armor and Chakra Mode, becoming a streak of light charging the fortifications.

Whatever the situation—

They wouldn't be allowed to leave peacefully.

So—

Fight first!

"Minato, don't engage directly. Survive."

"Understood. You be careful too!"

Their hushed exchange ended as—

SHING!

Minato flung a shuriken that multiplied into thousands, peppering the Kumo forces—with a few kunai hidden among them.

Ōnoki recognized this technique—

But such attacks hardly threatened Iwa, let alone Kumo.

Meanwhile, Kyōichi waited motionless—

Until—

BLUE LIGHT!

The Raikage's expression twisted as he condensed lightning into a blade-like chop.

Blade met hand—

SHIIINK!

A faint sound, then—

The slash connected. Lightning stuttered.

A and B tried intercepting Kyōichi, but—

He'd already taken to the skies.

Flying?!

Their momentary shock ended as Dodai's Lava Release jolted them into action—

But paper wings propelled Kyōichi beyond reach.

Simultaneously—

Minato teleported beside the Raikage, a Rasengan aimed at his palm.

The Raikage couldn't dodge—

Only shifting from four-finger to three-finger stance—

Three-Finger Hell Stab!

The Rasengan shattered—but its hidden Fūton chakra left a hairline crack in his Lightning Armor.

And that tiny flaw—

SPURT!

Blood sprayed as the Raikage counter-thrust—

But Minato had already teleported away via kunai.

Space-Time Ninjutsu?!

The Nidaime's technique?!

"RETREAT! NOW!"

A followed his father's gaze—

And saw blood dripping from the Sandaime's hand.

Someone had pierced the invincible Lightning Armor?!

Impossible!

"GO! DAMN IT!"

The Sandaime's earlier confidence vanished.

Ōnoki hadn't come understaffed by accident—

He'd come for the Raikage himself.

A, B, the others—

They were irrelevant.