After three days of arduous travel, Naruto and his team reached the Land of Lightning. Climbing several high mountains, they finally arrived at Thunder Mountain on the third night.

Thunder Mountain towered into the clouds, shrouded in mist and echoing with deafening thunder.

From the summit, the mountain formed a massive basin where Kumogakure was nestled.

Standing on the high ridge, Naruto and his team gazed down at the majestic village shrouded in mist.

"This is Kumogakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, renowned for its military and economic power. It truly lives up to its reputation..." Naruto murmured, activating his Rinnegan's observation mode. He could see a faint blue glow, like an inverted bowl, covering the entire basin.

"Oh? This barrier is quite something."

Although Konan couldn't see the barrier, she knew its nature. "That should be the Heavenly Retribution Barrier, used by Kumogakure to protect the village. Anyone who enters the barrier is immediately identified and struck by lightning until they are completely destroyed. It's an almost impenetrable barrier technique..."

Naruto turned to Orochimaru, "You once infiltrated Kumogakure and attacked the previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Blue B. How did you get past this barrier?"

Orochimaru, not questioning how Naruto knew this, replied, "That was many years ago. Back then, Kumogakure's barrier was not the Heavenly Retribution Barrier but a sensory barrier similar to Konoha's, using coded signals. I scouted ahead, stole the code, and then infiltrated."

"After that incident, Kumogakure replaced their barrier with the Heavenly Retribution Barrier. They no longer use coded signals but unique identification marks on their ninjas to avoid triggering the lightning strikes."

Naruto sighed, "Such a setup is truly troublesome."

Orochimaru added, "Indeed. Infiltrating again would be impossible for me. However, this Heavenly Retribution Barrier, created by the First Raikage, is an unfinished product. While powerful, it has a slight chance of being triggered accidentally, even with the identification mark. If that happens, one can only consider themselves unlucky."

"Every year, a few accidental deaths occur due to the Heavenly Retribution in Kumogakure, but they cover up such scandals..."

Orochimaru continued, "Of course, the Raikage doesn't fear accidental triggers. His body, protected by the Lightning Release Armor, can withstand the lightning strikes."

Naruto nodded, "I see. I didn't know such details..."

Orochimaru asked, "So, what do we do, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto replied, "It's not as difficult as it seems..."

He formed a hand seal.

*Poof!*

A shadow clone appeared beside him, holding a Flying Thunder God kunai in its mouth.

Naruto turned to Kisame, "Kisame, use your strength and Samehada to assist my shadow clone!"

"Understood." Kisame smiled, gripping Samehada.

*Clang!* Naruto's shadow clone jumped, landing on the broad back of Samehada.

"Roar...!!" Kisame shouted, using his monstrous strength to swing the sword.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

*Whoosh!*

Naruto's shadow clone leaped, piercing through the mist and entering the barrier!

*Crackle!*

A thundercloud formed above, striking down a fierce lightning bolt. Naruto's shadow clone vanished in the smoke, leaving a crater on the ground below.

Naruto chuckled, "That was fast. The clone didn't even have time to dispel itself before being destroyed. Silent infiltration is nearly impossible."

*Whoosh!*

He disappeared, using the Flying Thunder God technique to teleport to the kunai.

*Slash!*

He caught the kunai mid-air, storing it away, and landed steadily in the crater, his left Rinnegan glowing.

"Now, let's proceed..."

He formed hand seals and pressed his hands to the ground.

—Summoning Technique!

*Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!*

Five puffs of smoke appeared simultaneously, summoning Konan, Orochimaru, Kisame, Suigetsu, and Jugo to Naruto's side.

Suigetsu exclaimed, "You can do that too!?"

Naruto stood up, "According to the plan, create chaos in different areas to draw their attention. Remember, no killing!"

Everyone responded, "Understood!"

Naruto waved his arm, "Disperse!"

*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Everyone except Konan scattered, heading in different directions.

Konan cautioned, "Kumogakure has many skilled ninjas. Be careful..."

Naruto nodded, "You too."

*Rustle...* Konan's arms spread, her body and cloak transforming into thousands of beautiful paper butterflies.

"If it were me, I'd keep the scrolls with important secret techniques in the safest place..."

Naruto picked up the kunai, looking towards the blue-roofed fortress in the distance... the Raikage's residence.

**Kumogakure Barrier Team.**

A ninja wearing a hood said, "The barrier was triggered for a moment. Judging by the barrier's ripples, the intruder had a strong purpose and entered at high speed..."

Another barrier team member, looking at the clear sky outside, said, "The Heavenly Retribution Barrier's lightning strikes until the intruder is destroyed. Since there were no further strikes, it means the intruder has been eliminated..."

The barrier team leader said, "Let's conduct a field investigation before concluding. Also, to be safe, send a squad to the Raikage's residence!"

"Yes, Captain!"

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

At that moment, explosions echoed from all directions.

"Hmm, what's going on!?"

*Swish!* A Kumogakure ninja appeared, "The village is under attack, with assaults happening simultaneously in multiple locations!"

"Hmm? The intruders are not alone, and they somehow bypassed the Heavenly Retribution Barrier. It seems these intruders are quite skilled. Immediately support the attack sites and use the Thunder Transmission Technique to notify the Raikage to return quickly!"

"Understood!"

"No matter what, attacking a major ninja village of a great nation is foolish. What is the intruders' goal...?"

Watching the rising smoke outside, the ninja pondered, "Could it be..."

A large number of Kumogakure ninjas rushed to the attack sites.

Naruto, using the Transformation Technique to disguise himself as a Kumogakure ninja, approached the Raikage's residence...

"This is going much smoother than I expected..."

"Your plan is clever, but it ends here, intruder..."

At that moment, a stern and composed Kumogakure ninja wearing a black eye patch appeared before Naruto, accompanied by a group of Anbu.

Dodai?

Recognizing the 'Dodai' before him, Naruto couldn't help but recall the nickname he had given him years ago...

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Dodai had protected Naruto's shadow clones multiple times with his Lava Release: Rubber Wall and had shown exceptional combat skills and intelligence on the battlefield. He was one of the few foreign ninjas who had left a deep impression on Naruto.

Dodai said coldly, "Your intentions are exposed. Creating chaos on all sides, your real target is this residence..."

Naruto, unfazed, replied, "Mr. Dodai, what are you talking about? I just returned to the village to report to the Raikage..."

Dodai's eyes scanned Naruto up and down, "Stop pretending. Your Transformation Technique disguising as 'Samui' is indeed lifelike, but Samui left on an A-rank mission three hours ago. There's no way she could have completed it so quickly, and she always calls me by my name, never using honorifics! Reveal your true form!"

Naruto looked down at his chest, sighing, "Is that so? I was quite confident in this disguise, but since I've been caught, there's no choice..."

*Poof!*

The Transformation Technique dispelled, revealing Naruto in his Akatsuki cloak and mask before Kumogakure.

Dodai's eyes narrowed, "That cloak... you're from Akatsuki...!"

Naruto said solemnly, "Remember this name, 'Akatsuki.' It will soon be renowned throughout the ninja world!"

Dodai retorted coldly, "Arrogant fool. You and your comrades won't leave Kumogakure alive... Attack!"

*Crackle!*

Lightning flashed as the Kumogakure Anbu used the Lightning Release: Body Flicker Technique, surrounding Naruto in an instant!

*Slash! Slash!*

Ninja swords were drawn, stabbing into the ground, and hand seals were formed in one fluid motion!

They shouted in unison, "Lightning Release: Earth Walk!"

Naruto's left eye opened.

—Shinra Tensei!