Chapter 185: Kawakaze vs. Raikage

Kawakaze and Orochimaru left Kumogakure and traveled to the Land of Hot Water, leaving a Slug Clone on Crescent Moon Island to monitor the situation.

A week passed without any news. The Raikage was still recovering from his injuries, making it impossible for him to arrive so soon. The Third Raikage, cautious as ever, wouldn't risk facing two Kage-level opponents while injured. Who knew if it would come to a fight?

Kawakaze and Orochimaru, however, were in no rush. They spent their time leisurely, enjoying the Land of Hot Water.

Day after day, they ate, drank, argued, and laughed, their moods lighthearted. With the Two-Tails in their possession, they remained unshaken, holding the advantage firmly in their hands.

Another noon arrived.

In a luxurious restaurant, the two indulged in a grand feast, sipping fine wine. Orochimaru gestured toward the table laden with dishes, and Kawakaze, unbothered by the extravagance, didn't see it as wasteful.

Money lets you get what you want!

"It's been so long, and there's still no news. I'm afraid your plan will fall through."

"Do you think the Raikage will be killed by the Eight-Tails?" Orochimaru asked, leisurely taking a sip of sake. His calm demeanor only added to Kawakaze's frustration.

The smile in Orochimaru's eyes was unmistakable as he subtly observed Kawakaze's expression. The two hadn't gone out of their way to gather information, and news from Kumogakure rarely reached the ordinary towns of the Land of Hot Water. It was doubtful whether even Yugakure could glean any updates from Kumogakure.

"What are you thinking? The Eight-Tails can't kill the Raikage at all," Kawakaze snapped, glaring at Orochimaru. Over the past few days, Orochimaru's constant remarks had been grating on his nerves.

No amount of good food could keep him quiet, and Kawakaze could only blame himself for this predicament. Being annoying seemed to be contagious, and Orochimaru's happiness seemed to grow with Kawakaze's irritation.

"That's hard to say," Orochimaru replied, unfazed by Kawakaze's glare. He poured himself another cup of sake and continued to speculate without any evidence.

"At most, it's a situation where both sides lose."

"Okay, thank you. You can't say anything useful," Kawakaze retorted, his frustration peaking. He shoved a piece of meat into his mouth, but Orochimaru's words had ruined his appetite.

He couldn't help but worry whether his meddling would alter the outcome of the battle between the Raikage and the Eight-Tails. If it did, all his plans might fall apart. The Raikage could die, but not at the hands of the Eight-Tails—that would be unacceptable.

"Haha~" Orochimaru burst into laughter at Kawakaze's sulking expression.

He drained his cup of sake in one go, clicking his tongue in appreciation. "Tsk, good sake!"

Kawakaze shot him a glance but said nothing. Instead, he silently lamented to himself, Kawakaze, you've picked the wrong friend.

...

As the two ate and drank, they had no inkling of the suffering Hiruzen was enduring in Konoha.

"Homura, have you heard any news?"

Hiruzen sat in his office, the room thick with smoke, reflecting his internal anxiety.

"The Eight-Tails is rampaging, and the Jinchūriki is probably dead," Homura replied. "There's been no sign of any major battles otherwise."

The report from Kumogakure only heightened Hiruzen's frustration. He couldn't understand how Kawakaze and Orochimaru could act so brazenly, even after their actions had been exposed.

"Is Kumogakure such a waste?" Hiruzen muttered angrily. The information didn't align with his expectations. How could Kumogakure, even on high alert, have failed so miserably?

The memory of Konoha's own lapse gnawed at him. Not long ago, three Jōnin from Kumogakure had nearly succeeded in capturing Kushina. If not for Orochimaru's intervention, the outcome could have been disastrous.

Now, Kumogakure was dealing with two Kage-level infiltrators, which complicated any potential discussions.

"Could it be that they know?"

Homura's voice trembled as a chilling thought struck him. His face paled visibly. He had personally overseen the matter to ensure secrecy, but the fear of being exposed loomed large.

Thinking of Danzo's demise, Homura shivered. He realized that if Kawakaze wanted revenge, it would be effortless. With Orochimaru at Kawakaze's side, the danger was even greater.

"How is that possible? You acted covertly, didn't you?" Hiruzen asked, his composure slipping. He froze momentarily, his pipe paused mid-air.

"It was very covert, but—" Homura began.

"Stop talking and just keep an eye on the news from Kumogakure," Hiruzen interrupted impatiently, waving his hand to dismiss him.

Hiruzen didn't dare entertain further speculation, instead pinning his hopes on favorable news. If Kawakaze and Orochimaru returned safely, the trouble they could bring was unimaginable.

Adding to his unease were the rumors circulating in the village. Some villagers were voicing dissatisfaction over his reluctance to go to war. However, Hiruzen dismissed the criticism. As long as proper compensation was arranged, the complaints would fade.

After all, he thought, I haven't been Hokage for so many years for nothing. I know how to calm the villagers.

In his view, the dissent was a minor ripple, incapable of threatening his position.

He had sent people to calm the villagers, and so far, the results had been promising. The uproar had gradually subsided, leaving his reputation unscathed.

However, what he didn't realize was that this was a trap carefully laid by Fugaku. What had surfaced so far was only the tip of the iceberg. Once the momentum grew, it would become nearly impossible to reverse the situation.

Under Kawakaze's guidance, Fugaku had grown as dark and calculating as ink, showing signs of his uncle's influence. The young fox was steadily evolving into an old one.

"I wonder how Kawakaze is getting on in Kumogakure," Fugaku mused as he and Tsunade sat in a teahouse, quietly reflecting after a business discussion.

"I don't know either. I'll ask."

Without hesitation, Tsunade performed a summoning. "Summoning Technique."

Under Fugaku's curious gaze, she summoned Lady Katsuyu. A small slug, about the size of a teacup, appeared on the table after a brief delay.

"What do you two take me for? A communication tool?" Lady Katsuyu grumbled as soon as she arrived.

She was clearly displeased, her tone heavy with complaint. The harsh environment of Crescent Moon Island, with its relentless sunlight, was torturous for a slug. She couldn't fathom why she had been subjected to such conditions.

"Ugh..." Tsunade groaned, rubbing her temples. She guessed that Kawakaze had assigned Lady Katsuyu to a task she disliked. If Fugaku hadn't asked, Tsunade wouldn't have summoned her.

"I just want to ask about Kawakaze's situation," Tsunade said gently, careful not to aggravate the slug further.

"Don't worry about him," Lady Katsuyu replied with visible impatience. "He's eating well and sleeping soundly."

She summarized curtly, clearly annoyed. She had just seen Kawakaze drinking sake while she was stuck baking in the sun on Crescent Moon Island.

That son of a bitch Kawakaze is drinking sake while I'm here suffering. Where do I even go to file a complaint about this? Lady Katsuyu thought bitterly.

"I mean, how is their mission progressing?"

Tsunade wasn't worried about Kawakaze's safety; she just wanted an update on their mission.

"They're waiting for the Raikage in the Land of Hot Water to trade some secret technique for the Two-Tailed Jinchūriki," Lady Katsuyu replied. "And they want me to wait at the agreed-upon location. Does he have a conscience? That damned place, I..."

Lady Katsuyu couldn't stop herself and began ranting incessantly. Tsunade, her face lined with exasperation, didn't dare interrupt. Is this really the Lady Katsuyu I know? she thought. How much trouble has Kawakaze caused?

Fugaku glanced at the small slug, watching her animatedly complain, and considered offering her a glass of water. He worried she might become too emotional and lose her temper.

"Ahem, I think I understand. Why don't you go home first?" Tsunade quickly interjected during a pause, sensing the grudge was deep. She decided she didn't want any more updates from Lady Katsuyu.

"I'm not talking anymore. It's infuriating," Lady Katsuyu grumbled. "I'm leaving."

With a puff of smoke, she disappeared.

"Hey..." Tsunade gave Fugaku a dry laugh, struggling to maintain her composure. That unreliable Kawakaze was indulging in sake while Lady Katsuyu suffered alone. Who wouldn't be upset by that?

"Haha, Kawakaze has his own considerations," Fugaku said diplomatically, though he couldn't help sympathizing with Lady Katsuyu's frustration. Still, there was nothing he could do to help.

"I guess Kawakaze will be back soon. When he returns, you can discuss it in detail."

Tsunade chose not to dwell on the matter and shifted her focus back to her experimental research.

"Yes, okay," Fugaku agreed. So far, the plan was proceeding smoothly. Everything was on track, and now they just had to wait for Kawakaze to return and take charge.

The two finished their tea in silence before going their separate ways.

In the restaurant, Kawakaze and Orochimaru had not yet finished their meal.

"Coming, coming," said Lady Katsuyu, the slug perched on Kawakaze's shoulder. She suddenly exclaimed, having spotted Raikage arriving on Crescent Moon Island with a group of people. Finally, her days of enduring the harsh sun were over. Though it was just a clone, the experience had been grueling. With shared vision came shared physical sensations.

"Oh, he's not dead," Orochimaru remarked, his expression unchanging as he took another bite of food. He knew exactly who Lady Katsuyu was talking about.

"Stop eating, let's go." Kawakaze pulled some money from his pocket, placed it on the table, and stood up, dragging Orochimaru with him.

In the blink of an eye, the two disappeared and reappeared on Crescent Moon Island.

The Slug clone, already shriveled from the sun, didn't utter a word. The moment Kawakaze arrived, it turned into smoke and vanished.

"Hey, sorry," Kawakaze muttered, licking his lips as he apologized to the Slug clone still on his shoulder.

"Hmph." A puff of smoke rose from his shoulder as the clone snorted and disappeared.

"It's still angry," Kawakaze said helplessly to Orochimaru, lamenting the Slug clone's inability to hold a conversation without displaying a temper.

"No wonder it's angry," Orochimaru replied, clearly able to empathize with the clone's plight in the scorching sun.

"Forget it. Worst case, I'll apologize again later," Kawakaze said dismissively, turning his attention to the view down the mountain. From this vantage point, he could clearly see the Raikage and a group of Kumo ninja wandering aimlessly on the island below.

"Lord Raikage, the island is so big—how are we supposed to find him?" a Kumo ninja asked, his voice tinged with frustration. The man, with a bandage over his left eye, was Dodai, a trusted aide of the Third Raikage and a user of the Kekkei Genkai Lava Release.

"It's not like they're playing a trick on us," he added skeptically.

"Since he told us to come, there's no need to look for him," Raikage said confidently. "He will appear when he is supposed to."

The Raikage suspected Kawakaze had left some sort of contingency plan on the island and might already be watching them from the shadows.

"Are you really going to just hand over the secret techniques to him?"

Dodai's tone betrayed his reluctance. While he understood that the Tailed Beasts were the village's top priority, the thought of giving away the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, developed by the Second Raikage, was hard to accept.

"That depends on whether Kawakaze has the ability to take it," The Raikage replied, a hint of teasing in his gaze. His techniques weren't so easily obtained.

If Kawakaze didn't prove himself, there was no way the Third Raikage would hand over the secret techniques. Crescent Moon Island might even become the place where Kawakaze and Orochimaru met their end. Once they were dealt with, both the Tailed Beast and the techniques could be reclaimed.

"Understood," Dodai said, finally feeling reassured by Raikage's plan. Kumogakure had never been humiliated like this before. They were the ones who took from others—when had the tables turned on them?

"Be on your guard," The Raikage instructed as he continued forward. He had his own intentions, but he wasn't naïve. There was no guarantee Kawakaze and Orochimaru weren't thinking the same thing.

As the group moved further along, Orochimaru licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

"Hey, hey, why don't we just fight them?" Orochimaru's voice broke the silence beside Kawakaze.

Kawakaze was startled at first but then let out a light laugh.

"That sounds like a good idea."

In the original story, Kabuto used Sage Mode to hold his own against the Uchiha brothers.

Although he had the advantage of the terrain, it was undeniable that the Ryuchi Cave's Senjutsu Techniques were incredibly powerful.

Now, Orochimaru had also mastered Sage Mode, making the two of them formidable opponents for Kumogakure. Even if they couldn't claim total victory, they still had the hostages.

No matter how the battle played out, they wouldn't lose.

"I leave Raikage to you," Orochimaru said, assigning the Third Raikage to Kawakaze while preparing to handle the Kumo ninja himself.

"No problem."

With a shared understanding, the two leapt from the high mountain.

Kawakaze landed with explosive force, creating a massive crater in the ground. Lightning surrounded him in a radiant halo as he held a sword in his right hand, his gaze fixed solely on Raikage.

Orochimaru followed close behind, his movements swift and fluid, weaving effortlessly as he approached the Kumo forces.

"Good timing," The Raikage bellowed, immediately sensing their approach.

He roared, his entire body radiating a brilliant blue light. His long yellow hair flowed as he stood with half-exposed bronze muscles, a prominent scar marring his right chest. Lightning crackled across his body, amplifying his intimidating presence as though he were a humanoid beast.

Kawakaze wasted no time, closing the distance with incredible speed. His sword thrust fiercely toward the Raikage's chest, the Chakra surrounding the blade glowing brightly and emitting a sharp zila sound in the air. Even through the light, the defined lines of the Raikage's taut muscles were visible. Kawakaze was eager to test the strength of the so-called strongest shield.

"Lord Raikage!" Dodai shouted, alarmed by Kawakaze's speed. There was no chance for him to intervene.

"You still have time to care about others?" Meanwhile, Orochimaru raised his hand, summoning a swarm of massive snakes that surged toward the Kumo ninja. The writhing creatures opened their mouths wide, their scarlet tongues flicking as they hissed menacingly, creating a sound that sent shivers down spines.

"Lava Release: Rubber Wall," Dodai called out, quickly forming hand seals. He spat out an elastic membrane, creating a defensive barrier that blocked the advancing snakes.

Dodai's Lava Release was unlike Rōshi's, designed for defense rather than offense. Still, Orochimaru had already achieved his goal: the battlefield was now divided in two.

The Raikage's expression grew serious as he faced Kawakaze's sword. The speed and power of the attack had caught him off guard, forcing him to reevaluate his opponent.

"This kid is fast," he muttered to himself. Without hesitation, the Raikage threw a simple yet powerful punch.

At such close range, the strike produced a sound, as if the very air had frozen.

The sheer force behind the punch was terrifying. He was confident that his body could withstand attacks at this level, but could this kid handle his fist? Was he really trying to engage a Raikage in hand-to-hand combat?

The Raikage could already picture it—his fist connecting with Kawakaze's face, the younger ninja spitting out a few teeth. The thought brought a sneer to his lips.

Clang!

The sound of fist meeting sword reverberated sharply, an iron clash that filled the air. The collision unleashed two streams of Chakra of the same attribute, which exploded on impact, forcing both fighters to retreat several meters.

The scene the Raikage envisioned didn't play out. Kawakaze had managed to hold his ground, unable to penetrate his defense, but still standing firm.

"This is what I want." Kawakaze's eyes flashed with determination as he steadied himself. He wasn't discouraged. Instead, a spark of resolve lit up in his gaze. He had to obtain such a defense.

"Give Jonah back, or you will die here."

Raikage shook his hand briefly, flexing his fingers. Though his body was uninjured, the strike wasn't painless.

"Stop bragging." Kawakaze studied him, wondering if it really looked that easy to kill him.

Without hesitation, he reached into his ninja tool bag, pulling out a handful of Senbon. Infusing them with lightning Chakra, he hurled them with precision. The projectiles streaked through the air with another shattering sound, aimed straight at the Raikage.

The Third Raikage laughed, unbothered. This isn't even enough to tickle me.

Clanking~

A series of senbons struck Raikage, creating a sharp, pleasant sound. At that moment, Raikage no longer saw Kawakaze in his line of sight.

In an instant, all the hair on his body stood on end as he sensed an attack from behind. Using the strength in his legs, he leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding Kawakaze's sword. The blade missed its mark, and Kawakaze swung it upwards in pursuit.

Unable to exert full strength midair, the Raikage had no choice but to block the strike. Another metallic clash echoed through the air. Using the impact to his advantage, the Raikage propelled himself out of Kawakaze's attack range and landed firmly on the ground. The force of his landing caused Kawakaze's foot to sink halfway into the earth.

"Flying Thunder God Technique?" the Raikage muttered, recognizing the move. He was no novice—he knew quality techniques when he saw them. Wasn't this the famed Flying Thunder God Technique of Konoha? It was far too late to piece this information together now, especially having never directly fought Konoha before.

If it had been anyone else, that strike would have been fatal. Only the Raikage's strength and reflexes allowed him to escape unharmed.

"That's right," Kawakaze said, a broad smile spreading across his face. He knew there was a significant difference between simply parrying and truly defending against the technique.

"Hmph. I'll see how fast this Flying Thunder God Technique really is," the Raikage sneered. "Hell Stab: Piercing Four Fingered Hand."

The Raikage gathered a massive amount of Chakra into his four fingers, the lightning blindingly intense. With a slight movement of his feet, he vanished, resembling a streak of blue lightning. The air tore apart like paper, releasing a deafening roar.

In the blink of an eye, the Raikage appeared directly in front of Kawakaze. His four fingers thrust fiercely toward Kawakaze's neck. If the attack connected, Kawakaze wouldn't have enough lives to survive it.

Swish!

The smile on Kawakaze's face lingered for a split second before disappearing entirely. The Raikage's attack missed. It was the Flying Thunder God Technique again. Kawakaze had evaded the deadly blow.

Behind him, a loud explosion erupted. Turning around, he saw the aftermath of the Raikage's attack. The boulder behind him had been obliterated, its debris still cascading to the ground.

"Fast enough?" Kawakaze scratched his ear, taunting the Raikage.

"A coward who only knows how to dodge," the Raikage growled, resorting to a low-level provocation, his expression dark and sour.

"Heh, that's too low," Kawakaze replied with a smirk. "But I'll satisfy you."

Twisting his neck, red marks appeared around Kawakaze's eyes, and his aura grew even more intimidating. The lightning surrounding his body intensified, condensing further into a fearsome force.

"Kenjutsu, Flaming Thunder God!"

With unstoppable momentum, Kawakaze transformed into a Thunder Dragon cloaked in flaming light, its blood-red mouth wide open as it surged forward to devour the Raikage. Everything in its path was reduced to scorched earth, and as it advanced, the Thunder Dragon solidified, its form roaring with thunderclaps that shook the air.

"Hell Stab: One Fingered Assault!"

The Raikage, unwilling to take any chances, unleashed his strongest attack. The lightning Chakra surging through his body exploded outward. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the sheer force, splitting into spiderweb-like patterns.

Boom!

In an instant, the two dazzling flashes of lightning collided. For a moment, the two forces remained in a stalemate, each vying for dominance.

However, Kawakaze's blade could not endure the overwhelming power. Cracks formed along its surface, spreading rapidly before the weapon shattered entirely. It marked the second sword Kawakaze had destroyed—following the one he broke against Ōnoki. The Strongest Spear was truly formidable, and its reputation was well-deserved.

Without hesitation, Kawakaze released the hilt of the broken blade and charged forward with his fists, meeting the Raikage's still-powerful One Fingered Assault head-on.

The resulting explosion was even more devastating, enveloping the two combatants in a storm of lightning.

"Kawakaze!" Orochimaru, observing the scene, couldn't help but exclaim. If anything happened to Kawakaze, how would he explain it to Tsunade?

"Lord Raikage!" Dodai and the other Kumo ninja fought off the surrounding snakes, their expressions filled with shock.

But within the blinding lightning, none of them could discern what was happening.

"I'm fine," Kawakaze said as he emerged from the lightning. A bloodied hole in his palm was already healing rapidly.

"I'm fine," the Raikage echoed as he appeared moments later. A bloody trail marked his finger—the strongest shield had finally been breached.

He stared at his injured finger with a complex expression. The fact that Kawakaze could wound him proved the young ninja had the potential to kill him. At that moment, the Raikage's opinion of Kawakaze shifted dramatically.

"Kawakaze Hatake, you're quite good," the Raikage admitted, his gaze locking onto Kawakaze with cold intensity.

"You're not bad either," Kawakaze replied, raising his hand. The last trace of blood on his palm disappeared, healing fully before the Raikage's eyes.

"It's not over yet."

The Raikage bristled at the provocation. He thought to himself that without his weapon, Kawakaze's attack power had likely decreased significantly.

Meanwhile, Kawakaze was weighing his options. Direct attacks had proven ineffective; his defense was no match for the Raikage's. Even if he used the Heavenly Thunder of the Nine Skies, it likely wouldn't yield any better results. Ninjutsu of the same attribute had a natural resistance—this wasn't like fighting Ōnoki or the Third Kazekage.

"Who's afraid of whom?" Kawakaze said, his voice unwavering.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the two charged at each other simultaneously.

Fist met fist, foot met foot—it was raw, primal, hand-to-hand combat. To those watching, they looked like two feral beasts, their attacks devoid of finesse but brimming with sheer power.

The energy exploding around them was so intense that even those inclined to help hesitated to approach.

In no time, Kawakaze's body was covered in numerous wounds, but his powerful healing ability ensured none were critical. He looked battered but far from defeated.

The more the Raikage fought, the more unsettled he became. What kind of monster is this? Kawakaze's defense wasn't as strong as his own, but his terrifying healing ability was something else entirely. Was this what it meant to be an unkillable force?

Even without a sword, Kawakaze was holding his ground. No wonder he had such a reputation in the ninja world—he truly lived up to it!