It had to be said — Senju Haruto's talent left Hatake Kakashi utterly stunned.
The fact that the Fourth Raikage could decide a battle's outcome with a single Hell Stab – One-Finger Thrust said everything about that jutsu's uniqueness.
Even Kakashi, who had once been hailed as a genius, had only managed to develop Chidori, a lightning-style technique he created with the help of his closest friend, Obito's Sharingan.
But that strange Lightning Release Chakra Mode…? Kakashi was completely at a loss when it came to such things.
Let alone using that Lightning Chakra Mode as a base and then unleashing the absurdly destructive Hell Stab – One-Finger Thrust.
The contrast was brutal. Kakashi once again felt the terrifying weight of Haruto's natural talent.
Even a jutsu this exaggerated — Haruto had mastered it with apparent ease.
Still, Kakashi's own words just now had given Haruto an idea.
In the entire village of Konoha… no, even looking across the shinobi world, Kakashi was one of the rare few who possessed all five chakra nature transformations.
And among those five, thanks to his own natural gift, Kakashi had developed Chidori — a signature Lightning Release technique.
In other words, if one had to say which element Kakashi truly excelled at… there was no doubt it was Lightning Release.
"That's not a bad suggestion," Haruto said, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked Kakashi up and down.
It wasn't like this world had anything like a ninjutsu copyright law.
Who cared who developed a jutsu? If it was useful, you could just take it and use it.
Kakashi blinked, momentarily confused. Haruto's gaze was… oddly unsettling.
Hyūga Hizashi, Yamato, and Aburame Torune all wore the same puzzled expression.
Had someone given some kind of advice?
"Kakashi… do you ever feel like you lack the power to protect your comrades?" Haruto asked suddenly, ignoring the others' reactions.
Kakashi's eyes widened instantly, disbelief written across his face.
He had thought that way… more than once.
Whether it was Obito, Rin, or even his sensei, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato…
They had all been precious comrades — and they had all died right in front of him.
Especially Rin.
Her death was something he would never forgive himself for.
But he had never told Haruto any of this. So how could Haruto possibly know?
"It's simple," Haruto said with a faint smile. "Nothing escapes my eyes — whether it's a jutsu… or anything else."
"When I arrived just now, you practically had that thought written all over your face, Kakashi."
Haruto's blunt words hit like a thrown kunai.
Hizashi, Yamato, and Torune all suddenly understood.
Especially Yamato — back when he'd been ordered to assassinate Kakashi, he had heard him say something similar:
I've never killed a comrade. I just didn't have the power to protect them.
"…Yes."
Kakashi nodded firmly, the hunger for strength burning more openly in his gaze.
But Haruto didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he suddenly shifted gears.
"Anyway, let's head back to the village. You're all injured to varying degrees — you need treatment."
"As for Kumogakure… they're probably already starting to retreat."
With that, Haruto walked past Kakashi and the others without looking back, heading toward the village.
In Haruto's view, he had no obligation to make Kakashi stronger.
He was simply offering an olive branch — whether Kakashi grasped it or not was his choice.
If Kakashi came to him for help, Haruto wouldn't mind giving him a boost in power… but he had no intention of making such help cheap.
Kakashi remained frozen in place for a moment, unsure why Haruto's words had sounded almost evasive.
Hizashi and the others were also a bit baffled, but since Haruto had already said to return, they followed his lead.
Besides, their injuries were serious enough that they really did need to get back to the village for treatment.
As for the forest and the Valley of the End, the defenses there weren't withdrawn.
Even though the Raikage was dead, no one could be certain Kumogakure had truly retreated.
To be safe, the shinobi remained stationed there to ensure nothing went wrong.
Haruto even left several Wood Release shadow clones behind to keep watch.
His real body, meanwhile, escorted Kakashi and the others back toward the village.
Yamato, Hizashi, and Torune went straight to Konoha Hospital the moment they arrived, heading for medical treatment.
Only Kakashi stayed with Haruto, accompanying him to the Hokage's office to report the latest developments to the Third Hokage.
The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen heard the words "Fourth Raikage has been killed," he shot up from his seat, eyes wide in shock.
"What… did you say?!"
Hiruzen's lips drew in a sharp breath. Not even in his wildest dreams had he imagined Haruto could take down an enemy Kage in less than a single day.
A Kage wasn't just the leader of a village — they were its ultimate fighting force.
And yet someone like that had just been killed by Haruto.
"Is this true?" Hiruzen asked, staring at Haruto in disbelief.
When Haruto confirmed it a second time, the old Hokage finally, reluctantly accepted the fact.
"I expect the Raikage's death will crush the enemy's morale to the greatest extent. It won't be long before they retreat to regroup."
"But to be sure, I'll have both the ANBU and the Root maintain a presence at the Valley of the End. We must guarantee the enemy doesn't strike back."
Meanwhile, deep within the forests near the Valley of the End—
A Kumogakure jonin carrying the Raikage's mangled corpse ignored the throbbing pain of his wounds and raced through the trees, searching for Darui.
Though young, Darui was a rare talent and had long been regarded as the Raikage's right-hand man.
With the Raikage dead, Darui was now the highest authority on the battlefield.
The jonin didn't know how much time had passed before he finally found him.
At that moment, Darui was with C, preparing to launch a feint attack from the left flank to give the Raikage an opening to break through.
But neither of them could have imagined that the Raikage's body would be delivered to them instead.
"Lord Raikage…"
Darui froze at the sight of the Raikage's remains — only half a body left — and immediately grabbed the jonin by the collar.
He was about to explode in anger, but C quickly pulled them apart.
As devastating as the Raikage's death was, this was no time to lose their heads.
"Who… killed Lord Raikage?" C demanded, his teeth clenched.
He too wanted nothing more than to avenge their leader immediately — but some facts had to be established first.
When they learned it was Senju Haruto — the very man responsible for starting this war — both C and Darui fell silent.
Because of the Fourth Raikage's policies, Kumogakure's strongest weapon, Killer B, was still in the village.
Without him… none of them could match Haruto.
"…Retreat."
The word came out heavy with unwillingness and fury — but in the end, Darui could make no other choice.