In the Cloud Ninja camp, Raikage was discussing plans with Killer Bee, Samui, and others.
"Originally, after the death of the Fourth Hokage, I thought our research results were useless. I didn't expect they'd beco useful one day."
"Lord Raikage, although the technique we're developing can prevent space-ti teleportation, a lot of preparation is required, and it's immobile," Mabui reported.
"Don't worry about that. Samui, get everything ready. We must lure him into our ambush."
"Naruto, Sasuke, good morning." Haruto Itsuki found them early in the morning.
"Ah, sorry about last ti... I was just in a bad mood," Haruto said.
Naruto chuckled and shook his head. "It's fine, I know you're not that kind of person, Boss."
Sasuke snorted coldly. "Nothing to apologize for. You only spoke the truth."
"Sa-suke—!" Naruto grabbed Sasuke by the ear.
"You idiot, let go!"
Haruto smiled slightly at this familiar scene, and the gloom in his heart faded a little.
"Alright, enough fooling around. I'm here to give you this." Haruto handed each of them a strangely-shaped kunai.
"Keep it with you. If you're in danger, channel chakra into it—I'll co imdiately."
Naruto kept it without hesitation. Sasuke hesitated, but Haruto's sharp eyes made him comply.
As the sun rose, the battle between Konoha and the Cloud intensified. It had beco all-out war, evenly matched and fiercely contested. Jōnin, Chūnin, and Genin were all fighting. In the center of the battlefield, Jiraiya summoned several giant toads to battle Killer Bee in his Eight-Tails form.
Suddenly, the Fourth Raikage charged into Konoha's main formation with an elite strike team. His overwhelming power tore through the defenses like thunder. No one could match him.
Seeing this, Haruto had no choice but to act.
He appeared suddenly in the battlefield, rescuing a Konoha Jōnin under siege, and teleported him to safety.
Raikage's eyes flared with hatred the mont he saw Haruto. mories of the damage Haruto had inflicted on the Cloud Ninja stoked his rage.
"Flying Thunder God of the Fourth Hokage... the last ti I saw that technique was over ten years ago."
"Co, boy. Face directly. I want to see how your space ninjutsu compares to Minato's!" Raikage roared.
Haruto frowned, feeling the expectant gazes from behind him. By logic, soone like him—wielding the Flying Thunder God—should be a top-tier killer on the battlefield, just like the Fourth Hokage. But the truth was—Haruto's technique wasn't battle-ready.
He lacked the Fourth Hokage's reflexes. Where Minato needed only 0.05 seconds to act, Haruto needed 0.2 seconds—even with Sharingan. That might sound small, but it ant everything in combat. Minato could strike before the enemy even realized. Haruto would still be vulnerable during the delay.
Plus, Minato's taijutsu was already Kage-level. Haruto's was only Jōnin-level. Even with good swordsmanship, Haruto couldn't take down enemies as cleanly. Distractions would an death. He could use the Eight Gates or curse seals to compensate—but the toll was too high.
So, when Raikage challenged him directly—Haruto didn't take the bait. His small fra couldn't survive a single punch from Raikage.
Instead, Haruto widened the gap, ford three shadow clones, and launched his attacks.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
"Wind Style: Hurricane Tornado!"
Boom!
Raikage was swallowed by the blast. When he reappeared, he was singed and slowed—but Haruto knew it hadn't truly hurt him. Ninjutsu was mostly useless without sothing on the level of Amaterasu. Taijutsu wouldn't work either—not against soone like Raikage.
But thankfully, Haruto had Flying Thunder God—and Raikage couldn't do anything about that.
Soon, Haruto's relentless bombardnt slowed the Raikage team's advance.
Teleporting again, Haruto stopped and called out, "Raikage, I want to talk."
Raikage finally paused, unable to catch Haruto. He stared silently, waiting.
"Yesterday, I saw you risk your life to protect your n. I realized you aren't soone who treats their lives lightly. So I don't understand... why keep fighting and causing more casualties?"
Raikage laughed. "You're naive, boy. Do you even know how the Five Great Nations ca to be?"
Haruto looked puzzled.
"They were once tiny villages—just like those in small countries today. Through war, death, and sacrifice, they rose. That's how peace ca. I don't fight because I want to—it's for my village. In this world, if we don't weaken the enemy, we get destroyed. You want peace? Peace is made. You're too soft."
Haruto fell silent, then raised Murasa, his sword.
"Maybe I don't understand everything. But I believe lives are equal. No one has the right to take others' lives so easily. Everyone deserves to live. I tried to find a bloodless path... but I've failed."
Raikage saw the sorrow in Haruto's eyes, and felt an unexpected weight in his chest.
Haruto continued, his voice cold now:
"Raikage, this war doesn't need to go on. If you don't stop, I'll erase every city in the Land of Lightning—until nothing's left. You know I have the power. You can't catch ."
Murasa trembled in Haruto's grip, his killing intent burning.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Raikage's temple. After a long silence, he exhaled.
"Actually... I didn't want this war either. But once I heard you'd mastered space-ti jutsu like the Fourth Hokage, I panicked. Every nation fears that kind of speed and destruction. But you're even more terrifying than he was."
Haruto sensed the change in tone and pressed on:
"Don't worry. As long as the Cloud doesn't start anything, Konoha won't either. So let's stop this. Let's end the bloodshed."
Raikage looked at him.
"Alright. If that's how it is... let's stop fighting. We'll discuss terms later."
...?!
Was it really that easy?
Haruto couldn't believe it at first. But the sincerity in Raikage's voice made him smile.
"I didn't expect it to be this simple... but thinking about the village, I would've chosen the sa."
He relaxed his guard.
He didn't notice Raikage subtly signaling his subordinates...
In a corner of the battlefield, Kakashi was leading Sasuke and Naruto in battle.
"Is that them?" Mabui asked, pointing at Kakashi's team.
"That's right. They're that brat's teammates," Samui replied with certainty.
"Well, proceed with the original plan," Mabui ordered calmly, dispersing with a few Jonin.
"Naruto, Sasuke—don't chase so close! Sothing feels off!" Kakashi suddenly warned.
Bang! The ground exploded—four Cloud ninjas appeared.
Boom! Naruto was smashed to the ground hard. Sasuke rushed to help but was suddenly hit in the shoulder by a hidden weapon of unknown material.
Kakashi grabbed Naruto: "Naruto, are you okay?!"
Naruto shook his head, getting up.
Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke stood back to back. "Sothing's wrong. Fight and retreat!"
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto summoned multiple clones instantly.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!" Sasuke retaliated, launching flaming projectiles.
Kakashi eliminated one enemy with a Genjutsu and a hand strike, then fled with the boys.
"Oh? Discovered already?" Mabui pushed her glasses. "In that case, switch to Plan No. 1—drive them to the target zone."
"Huh? Soone ahead. Detour—this way!" Kakashi led them into a new route, unease in his chest.
Too many enemies for a zone so close to Konoha. Why?
Eventually, they erged from the jungle into open terrain.
Thanks to Haruto Itsuki's earlier technique, the central battlefield was now visible. Though enemies remained, the threat of ambush was gone.
"Phew... here, if anything goes wrong, Shukaku and Haruto won't let us fall."
They kept moving, carefully avoiding the battle between Jiraiya and Gyūki.
"Wait... is that Haruto?"They spotted him—and he saw them.
Seeing their pursuers, Haruto turned to the Raikage: "Raikage-sama, the war is almost over. Let's stop this now."
The Raikage's expression turned cold. "I refuse."
"...?"
Haruto was caught off guard.
"Kill them!" The Raikage suddenly burst forward toward Kakashi's team.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!" Haruto teleported to Sasuke and Naruto's side—he caught them.
"Flying Thunder God Technique—!!" Nothing happened.
"Wha—? Why didn't it work?!"
"Lightning Style: Heavy Flow Storm!"
Boom!The Raikage's elbow smashed into Naruto's stomach.
Pfft—!Naruto coughed a mouthful of blood and collapsed.
"Naruto! Are you okay?!" Haruto knelt beside him.
"I'm fine... Boss... I told you... next ti, I'll protect you..."
Haruto's eyes moistened, old mories flashing back.
"Work hard, Naruto. Etch this pain into your soul. Train a hundred, no—a thousand tis harder. I look forward to the day you can truly stand before ."
"This is... our man's promise."
"Oh—!" Naruto lifted a shaky fist. "Boss... next ti... I'll protect you...!"
"You idiot. Don't talk! I'll heal you now."
Haruto poured chakra into Naruto's stomach, healing the gash.
"Boss... do you think I look cool?"
"Shut up, idiot."
"I'm hungry... suddenly want so Ichiraku ran..."
"Yeah." Haruto's tears stread. "I'll treat you to ran every day for a year. You can eat until you burst."
"Hehe..."
Monts later, Naruto fell silent.
Haruto froze. The world slowed. Boom— Boom— Boom—Only the sound of his own heartbeat remained.
Kakashi and Sasuke were fighting desperately—but Haruto couldn't hear them.
A mont later, Kakashi and Sasuke were blocked by the Raikage's n.
Raikage approached Haruto step by step.
"You don't need to be so sad. In a way... he was your downfall."
"We sabotaged your seals—your space ninjutsu failed. While you froze... we sealed the area. No Flying Thunder God for you. You're next."
Haruto held Naruto close, tears dripping.
"Why...? Peace was so close... Why must we keep doing this?"
The Raikage exhaled.
"You remind of myself. I once believed in peace too. But the world taught —peace must be backed by power."
"You? You dream of a world without war. But what if you change? Can you swear you'll never start a war? Even now—can you forgive ? Can you still say you want peace?"
"That's why you're naive. You don't understand the world's cruelty. Let teach you."
Chakra surged visibly from the Raikage.
"Too late for you to understand. Say goodbye, kid."
"Lightning Style: Thunder God's Axe!"
Bang!A huge crater erupted from the ground.
Haruto dodged, still holding Naruto. He laid him down gently.Then he stood—and drew Murasa.
"...You're right. I've never wanted to kill soone so badly."
"You've angered ."
"I'll annihilate the entire Land of Lightning to bury him."
Haruto's body changed—the curse seal blood, and killing intent erupted.
A voice echoed within him: "Fall—Kill—Let the world feel your pain—"
Rooaarrr——!
A wave of black aura surged from Haruto, shaking the entire battlefield.
Chūnin collapsed. Jōnin trembled. Everyone turned toward him, afraid.
Then Haruto looked up.
His eyes—Three Tomoe Sharingan inside a black sclera.
"I will kill every last shinobi in Kumogakure."
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