The Third Raikage's gaze swept across the surroundings and his expression changed instantly.
There wasn't a single Konoha ninja guarding the perimeter.
"…Damn it."
Although reckless by nature, the Third Raikage was far from stupid. He immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. Without another word, his figure vanished in a blur.
In the next instant, he was already charging at full speed toward Ay and Killer B's position.
"Ay! B! Are you alright?!"
The Third Raikage's thunderous voice echoed across the camp.
"Dad!"
"Lord Raikage!"
Ay and Killer B both stiffened in surprise as the familiar figure suddenly appeared before them.
As expected… this really was a trap.
The Third Raikage didn't answer. His eyes flicked briefly toward Yugito Nii, who was still under guard, and a flash of understanding crossed his gaze. Everything clicked into place.
But now clearly wasn't the time to dwell on it.
Remembering the terrifying strength of the man standing ahead, the Third Raikage—now with only one arm remaining—set his jaw, his expression turning grave.
"Ay! B! Find an opening and retreat!"
Starting a full-scale fight inside Konoha's camp wasn't recklessness—it was suicide.
Even if the Third Raikage himself feared no death, he couldn't gamble with the lives of his son and the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki.
As the Third Raikage of Kumogakure, he carried too much on his shoulders to do anything else but get them out alive—no matter the cost.
"Yes!"
Ay and Killer B exchanged a glance and nodded solemnly. Neither argued. They both knew this wasn't the time.
"Lion Might Style — Cleaving Heaven!"
"Lightning Fang Bomb!"
BOOM!
Wrapped in blinding lightning, the Third Raikage's figure shot forward like a living projectile, smashing straight toward Shiki.
At the same time, Shiki swung his blade... golden sword light erupting as a massive slash tore forward to meet him head-on.
BOOM!
The lightning armor covering the Third Raikage's body cracked, a long, searing slash carved cleanly across it.
This man… is truly troublesome.
Even a casual sword strike carried enough power to break through his Lightning Release Armor.
Facing Shiki, the Third Raikage couldn't feel even a shred of confidence in being called the "strongest shield."
Without hesitation, after the brief clash, his body blasted backward several meters. In the next instant, he reappeared beside Ay and Killer B.
"B—do it!"
"Got it!"
Killer B didn't hesitate.
A massive octopus tail belonging to the Eight-Tails burst from the ground, tearing through the earth as it lashed wildly toward Shiki's position.
"Hm?"
Shiki lifted an eyebrow slightly. He hadn't expected B to use such a move.
With a casual motion, he swung his blade several times.
Golden sword energy flashed.
The Eight-Tails' thick tentacle was cleanly severed.
"Aaagh!"
The pain surged not only through Gyūki, but directly into Killer B's body as well.
"B!"
Ay shot him a worried glance.
Without wasting another second, the Third Raikage grabbed Killer B, and together with Ay, activated Thunder Chakra Mode to its limit. Three streaks of lightning tore through the air, fleeing Konoha's camp at extreme speed.
Shiki watched the twin thunder lights vanish into the distance.
He made no move to pursue.
Slowly, he slid his sword back into its sheath.
His gaze drifted to the severed octopus tentacle on the ground, and he spoke casually,
"Looks like we've got meat for dinner tonight."
Bang! Bang!
As soon as the words fell, the severed tentacle dissolved into white smoke and vanished.
Shiki blinked once.
"…Well. Guess I can't eat Eight-Tails meat anyway."
His casual tone instantly lightened the atmosphere.
The Cloud Village forces had retreated.
Only Yugito Nii remained behind, still captured and completely confused about what had just happened.
"So… what exactly is going on here?" Yugito asked aloud.
It felt like she had been dragged out just to stand around without understanding anything at all.
No one answered her.
No one even looked her way.
Yugito clenched her teeth in frustration.
After a moment of silence, Nara Shikaku stepped up beside Shiki.
"Lord Shiki," he said slowly, "did you intentionally let them escape?"
Shikaku didn't believe that someone of Shiki's strength couldn't have chased down the Third Raikage. He wasn't the only one thinking it—many of the Konoha ninja present were quietly watching Shiki, curiosity written across their faces.
"Yes."
Shiki nodded without hesitation.
"Compared to those hot-headed Cloud shinobi, I'm more interested in the next act."
"…The next act?"
Shikaku frowned slightly. He remembered that Shiki had mentioned coming to watch a 'show' earlier—but the Third Raikage had already retreated.
What show could possibly be left?
Before he could ask further, Shiki spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"Here it comes."
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Shouts rang out as Sarutobi Shinnosuke rushed back into the camp, leading several ninja with Sarutobi Asuma close behind him, his face pale with panic.
But when Shinnosuke saw Shiki standing unharmed, surrounded by calm Konoha ninja, he froze.
What…?
This isn't right.
The plan should've succeeded. It was flawless—there shouldn't have been any mistakes.
Unless…
Unless the Cloud Village only rescued the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki and didn't attack the camp at all?
With that thought, Shinnosuke immediately shouted,
"Everyone! The Cloud Village launched an attack—Yugito Nii has likely been taken away! We must act immediately!"
"Hey! Are you blind?! I'm right here!"
Yugito snapped, utterly speechless.
She stared at Sarutobi Shinnosuke with a strange expression, feeling more and more that this Konoha ninja was… not very bright.
"…What?"
Shinnosuke froze, staring blankly at Yugito.
In his original plan, the Cloud Village should have already attacked the Konoha camp in force. That was why he had taken his younger brother and several ninja away under the excuse of "patrolling"—in reality, to avoid being caught in the chaos.
But reality had gone completely off script.
Even worse, Shinnosuke noticed something that made his heart sink.
The respectful gazes he used to receive as the Hokage's son were gone.
Instead, many of the ninja were looking at him with barely concealed hostility.
"…W-what's going on?" he asked stiffly.
A bad feeling crept up his spine.
"Haaah…"
Nara Shikaku let out a long sigh and shook his head.
He already knew—it was over for Shinnosuke.
This time, even Shikaku wouldn't step in.
What Shinnosuke had done was no longer forgivable.
Shiki chuckled softly, eyes fixed on Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
"Actually," he said calmly, "the Cloud Village shinobi already came."
"…Huh?"
Ignoring Shinnosuke's confusion, Shiki slowly explained—repeating Ay's earlier words, the accusation of betrayal, and how Sarutobi Shinnosuke had sold out Konoha's camp.
As the explanation continued, Shinnosuke's expression shifted—from confusion… to disbelief… and finally, to pure terror.
"That's a lie!" Shinnosuke screamed hoarsely, his face twisting. "An absolute lie!"
They can't know… they can't know…
If they know, it's over…
But his frantic denial only made things worse.
"This is clearly a Cloud Village plot!" he shouted desperately. "They're trying to make us turn on each other! Don't fall for it!"
Then, as if grasping for a lifeline, he roared,
"Most importantly—I'm the Third Hokage's son! How could I ever betray the village?!"
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