Chapter 8: A Hero Among Thousands (Part 3)

Since ancient times, retreating in the art of war has been a profound and complex discipline. How to retreat? In what manner? How to preserve as much of the fighting force as possible? These questions require strategies tailored to the time and terrain. A poorly executed retreat can easily devolve into a rout, leaving those fleeing at the mercy of pursuing forces.

One of the most effective methods is to sacrifice part of the force—to form a rearguard.

The Third Raikage chose this very method, but his approach was extreme: he would serve as the rearguard alone.

The Kumogakure shinobi protested fervently.

"Lord Raikage, you mustn't! Even with your unparalleled physique, you cannot withstand the onslaught of ten thousand shinobi! And without you, who will control the Eight-Tails? Let us hold off the Iwagakure forces while you return to the village!"

The Third Raikage let out a hearty laugh and replied, "You fools, don't you see? This has been Iwagakure's trap from the very beginning. If we retreat, their ten thousand shinobi will give chase, turning our withdrawal into a chaotic rout. At that point, none of our five thousand shinobi will survive. I must stay behind as bait to hold them here."

He continued, his tone grave, "The village doesn't have many shinobi left to defend it. Dodai is under immense pressure. You must return to help him hold the line and secure the Eight-Tails until Kouichi returns. His mastery of the Iron Armor Seal is now sufficient to restrain the beast. But he's still stationed at the Lightning-Fire border and will need at least seven days to return to the village. If the village holds out for seven days, there's still hope."

The Kumogakure shinobi tried to persuade him further, but the Third Raikage's expression darkened.

"There's no time for this nonsense! Do you want to see Kumogakure reduced to rubble? Go! All of you, leave!"

Without looking back, the Third Raikage strode out of the command tent. As he lifted the flap, he paused and said, "This was my mistake for being too reckless. I will bear all the consequences myself. After my death, Kouichi shall succeed me as Raikage."

With that, he marched resolutely toward Zheyian Gorge.

Standing alone against the tidal wave of Iwagakure shinobi, the Third Raikage's face remained impassive. Simply by standing there, he exuded an unshakable presence, like a towering mountain.

The winds of the Land of Earth swept through his beard and long hair, making them billow wildly. He resembled a lion poised to strike, his copper-bell-like eyes radiating an aura of dominance, as though he regarded the massive enemy army as nothing more than blades of grass.

The Iwagakure shinobi formed a massive encirclement around the Third Raikage, yet none dared to take the first step forward.

"Old man! Did you ever imagine this day would come?" Onoki's son, Kitsuchi, taunted.

The Third Raikage smirked disdainfully. "You're stronger than your father, I'll give you that. At least he wouldn't dare sacrifice so many of his men."

A provocation! Even in such dire circumstances, the Third Raikage had the audacity to provoke his enemies. It was as if he were the one surrounding them.

Kitsuchi clenched his teeth in fury, but he knew full well that bloodshed was inevitable today.

"Whoever takes the head of the Third Raikage will be rewarded with one billion ryo and a seat on the Elders' Council!" Kitsuchi roared.

"Earth Release: Mountain Soil Technique!"

Kitsuchi's hands moved in a blur as he formed seals, launching the first attack. Two hemispherical mounds of earth rose on either side of the Third Raikage, closing in with crushing force.

"Hmph!"

The Third Raikage let out a low grunt, spreading his arms wide to hold the two mounds at bay with sheer strength.

"Attack! Attack now! Don't stop!" Kitsuchi bellowed.

Ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi charged forward with a deafening roar, their assault like a tidal wave crashing toward the Third Raikage.

"Haah!"

The Third Raikage roared, his entire body enveloped in a blue cloak of chakra that crackled with lightning. Rings of energy radiated outward, accompanied by an earsplitting hum.

In an instant, he vanished from the crushing grip of the Mountain Soil Technique, charging headlong into the oncoming tide of Iwagakure shinobi.

"Four-Finger Nukite!"

The Third Raikage's right hand formed a spear by bringing his four fingers together. In a flash, his hand became a razor-sharp weapon.

With a single leap, he plunged into the enemy ranks like a tiger among sheep, scattering the Iwagakure shinobi in chaos.

No matter how many shinobi rushed at him, fearless and relentless, none could touch even the hem of his garment. Those in his path were either knocked aside by his high-speed movements or impaled by his Four-Finger Nukite, their bodies pierced like skewered gourds before being flung away.

From above, the battlefield resembled a vast orange sea of Iwagakure shinobi, through which a blue sphere of lightning darted back and forth. No matter how the orange tide surged, the blue sphere moved with unrestrained ferocity.

Like an iron plow cutting through fertile soil, the Iwagakure shinobi fell in droves. By noon, hundreds of them lay defeated.

Using his Lightning Release Armor as a shield, his Four-Finger Nukite as a spear, and his lightning-fast speed, the Third Raikage was virtually invincible.

In truth, there was a way to defeat him. During the First World Ninja Tournament, the Third Kazekage, Jing Hang, had demonstrated a textbook example of how to counter him. Kitsuchi, who had participated in that tournament, knew this strategy well. However, it required one crucial condition: the attacker's speed had to match the Third Raikage's. Without that, there was no hope of even touching him, let alone executing a strategy.

It was clear that Iwagakure lacked this condition.

Thus, Kitsuchi had resolved from the outset to rely on a straightforward approach: overwhelm him with sheer numbers. With over ten thousand shinobi against one, even if they couldn't defeat him outright, they could exhaust him to death.

"Use Earth Release! Slow him down and trap him!" Kitsuchi commanded.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

"Earth Release: Earth Pillar Wall!"

Iwagakure shinobi formed seals one after another, raising walls of earth around the Third Raikage, gradually shrinking his space to maneuver.

"Three-Finger Nukite!"

The Third Raikage retracted one finger, increasing his speed and power.

The earthen barriers crumbled like paper under his attacks, each pierced clean through by his strikes.

Kitsuchi, observing from his command post, was not angered but pleased. The more ferocious the Third Raikage's attacks, the more chakra he would expend.

"Keep going! Don't stop!"

The barriers multiplied, and the Third Raikage's fingers diminished one by one.

"Two-Finger Nukite!"

"One-Finger Nukite!"

The Iwagakure shinobi had become numb to the carnage. They continued to charge and erect barriers, while the Third Raikage continued to destroy everything in his path.

This mindless cycle of battle lasted for three days and three nights.

By dawn on the fourth day, the Third Raikage finally faltered. He slowed to a stop, his chakra depleted and his body drained from three days without food or water. Struggling to remain upright, he planted one hand on the ground to keep from collapsing completely.

The Third Raikage was now a blood-soaked figure, surrounded by the corpses of Iwagakure shinobi.

The remaining Iwagakure forces encircled him, yet none dared to approach.

"He's at his limit! Finish him off!" Kitsuchi roared.

"Finish who?"

A sudden voice echoed from the cliffs above, drawing everyone's attention.

The Third Raikage weakly lifted his head, his vision blurred. Through his fading sight, he could just make out a figure standing atop the cliff, their blue hair strikingly vivid.

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