"Huff, huff, huff..." Hinata stopped, sweat streaming down her tired face, freezing into icicles in the wind and snow.

In the crowd ahead, her Byakugan saw only Naruto.

Naruto's eyes trembled with emotion, his heart aching: How long did you run to get here?

After many years, meeting again should have been a joyous reunion, but past events cast a shadow over it.

In front of him was his anxious beloved, and behind him were the menacing Raikage and his guards.

Please, don't come any closer... Naruto silently pleaded.

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata couldn't contain her anxiety and took a step forward.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a shadow extended from behind, connecting to Hinata's feet.

Shadow Imitation Technique!

In the sky, an ink bird flew, carrying Shikamaru, who had broken his leg during Pain's attack on the village. He maintained the seal and said, "Hinata, I understand how you feel, but now is not the time. Look at the situation. If you go now, you'll only distract Naruto!"

"..." Hinata bit her lip, suppressing her urgency.

Naruto thought gratefully: Shikamaru, thank you...

Kumo Jōnin C observed, "They're from Konoha. Judging by their age, they're his peers. There are two from the Hyūga clan?"

Kumo had a long history with the Hyūga clan, and the Byakugan was naturally a focus of attention.

Darui's gaze fixed on Neji. "Hmm... I've seen this kid on missions. Hyūga Neji, a very young Jōnin from Konoha. Unfortunately, he's from the branch family, destined to be a caged bird."

"Sending a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears brats to deal with their rogue ninja, Konoha is as pretentious as ever! Let me beat Uzumaki Naruto half to death and take him back to Kumo to interrogate him about Sasuke's whereabouts!!"

Crack! Crack!

The Raikage cracked his neck, lightning enveloping him, and charged at Naruto!

Too fast. Even Konan and Orochimaru beside Naruto couldn't react. A flash of lightning sent Naruto flying!

Whoosh!!!

Naruto used his samurai sword to block the Raikage's punch, sliding across the snow!

"Hmph!" The Raikage snorted, adding force to his punch. Crack! Naruto's samurai sword broke!

Sage Mode's sensory abilities were top-notch. Naruto dodged the punch!

But the Raikage turned his fist into a hand blade, slashing horizontally at Naruto's right shoulder!!

Crack!

The sound of dislocation echoed, and Naruto winced in pain, activating his left eye's dōjutsu.

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—Preta Path!

Crackle!!

The Raikage's lightning armor disintegrated into pure chakra, absorbed by Naruto.

"Hmm!?" The Raikage was surprised.

Whoosh...!

At that moment, Konan used paper bombs, attaching them to the Raikage's back...!

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Explosions at point-blank range!

Naruto took the opportunity to retreat, grabbing his right shoulder with his left hand and pressing hard... Crack! His dislocated shoulder was reset!

He thought: That was close. If I hadn't absorbed that troublesome lightning chakra in time, it wouldn't have been just a dislocation...

C, watching the explosion area, said, "Hey... is the boss okay?"

Darui calmly replied, "Even without the lightning armor, that level of explosion won't hurt the boss's body!"

Sure enough, the Raikage emerged unscathed, his eyes wide with anger. "Hmph, it seems you've got a good eye. You used it to neutralize Ōnoki's Dust Release at the summit, right? But unfortunately, there's a slight delay between getting hit and activating the absorption. That tiny delay is enough for me to kill you three times!"

Crackle!!!!!!

Even more intense lightning enveloped the Raikage, his hair standing up like spikes.

Darui said, "Oh? The boss is using that move at full power to deal with the Nine-Tails jinchūriki!"

The Raikage, full of momentum, said, "This Lightning Release Chakra Mode II was honed to end the Yellow Flash of Konoha. Unfortunately, the Yellow Flash is dead, so I'll end his son here...!"

Naruto thought: The Lightning Release Chakra Mode, a super-strong taijutsu passed down through the Raikage generations, varies with each user. The Fourth's defense isn't as strong as his father's, the Third Raikage, but his speed is even greater. I've learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, but without Kurama's chakra, my reflexes can't match my father's...!

Darui shouted, "Boss, weren't we supposed to capture him alive to interrogate him about Sasuke's whereabouts?"

The Raikage replied, "Doesn't matter! As long as that brat Sasuke keeps being arrogant, finding him won't take long!!!"

Boom!!!

With that, the Raikage charged at Naruto with overwhelming speed, too fast for even the Rinnegan to fully track!

Fortunately... Sage Mode could sense the danger!

—Shinra Tensei!

Boom!!!

An omnidirectional force field erupted!

Thud!!!

The Raikage's charging form halted in front of Naruto, his lightning-covered fist inches from Naruto's face!

"Damn...!!" The Raikage planted his feet, pushing his fist another half-inch, but couldn't close the remaining gap...!!

After a moment of stalemate, with a muffled thud, the Raikage was sent flying, landing in front of Darui and C.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Orochimaru and Konan once again stood in front of Naruto.

This time, Konan scattered paper bombs, and Orochimaru summoned several snakes.

Naruto covered his left eye, still shaken. "The Raikage is terrifying when serious. He almost resisted Shinra Tensei..."

Orochimaru said, "The Raikage's fighting style counters you well. His powerful attacks and absolute speed mean even a slight mistake could be fatal."

Konan added, "But with 'both Rinnegan,' you could precisely track his movements, and the Deva Path's techniques wouldn't reach their limit so easily."

Naruto had his own thoughts: Ultimately, my chakra isn't strong enough at this stage. I relied too much on Kurama's power, including the quick recharge of Sage Mode. The gap between me and the First Hokage is significant...

And thinking back, if not for the Sage of Six Paths granting power midway, how could we have fought Madara or even Kaguya?

The road is still long. This time, I'll find true strength in a different way!

Darui said, "Boss, the enemy's eyes are troublesome, and he has two strong allies. It won't be easy to take him down quickly..."

The Raikage turned to the others. "Are you just going to watch!!"

Mifune politely said, "Raikage-dono, the two subordinates who were impersonated have been found unharmed. Since this is a ninja dispute, we samurai won't intervene for now..."

"My back hurts. I'll leave it to you young folks..."

Ōnoki clutched his back, glancing at Gaara, thinking: Gaara's been warning me with his eyes since earlier...

Mei Terumī said, "This is the Land of Iron. If we ninjas act recklessly, it would be disrespectful..."

Gaara said, "I still believe Naruto wouldn't harm the interests of ninjas..."

"You're all a bunch of chatterboxes!!"

Seeing the other Kage had no intention of intervening, the Raikage gritted his teeth and shouted at Naruto again, "Uzumaki Naruto, I know Uchiha Sasuke was here!!! Where did he go? Tell me, this is your last chance!!!"

"Sasuke was just here...!?" Hearing this, Sakura, behind Hinata, was shocked.

Naruto smiled. "Raikage, why trouble Sasuke..."

The Raikage shouted, "Damn it, he killed my brother!!"

Naruto said, "Your brother Killer Bee is still alive, but he's being targeted by Akatsuki. If you act quickly, you might still make it..."

The Raikage was stunned. "What did you say...!?"