"Are we tied up? Hahaha! Lightning—Torrent!"
A's grin was twisted with cruelty.
Violent, terrifying lightning surged around him, coiling like a monstrous serpent.
Within the chaotic thunder, A's figure transformed into a blue bolt of lightning, faster than the eye could follow, streaking straight toward Takayama Haru.
Everyone from Squad Seven immediately clenched their fists in tension!
Minato Namikaze quickly pulled out his Flying Thunder God Formula and vanished.
Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha glared in anger, their bodies tense. Just then, Haru stepped forward to block A's path.
Seeing Takayama Haru's back, the others felt a wave of relief. They exchanged glances, reassured.
Lightning burst dazzlingly from Haru's hands!
"Chidori of Thunder!"
BOOM!
Two immense forces collided, creating a powerful shockwave that rippled outward from the impact!
BOOM!
The temporary arena collapsed instantly!
Cracks spread like a spider web from where Haru and A stood, reaching out in all directions.
A's face changed. His arms trembled, and he staggered several steps backward!
Such power!!!
Haru's overwhelming force pushed A back, forcing him to stabilize himself after retreating.
But Haru remained standing where he was—without stepping back an inch!
A looked grim. He hadn't expected to be suppressed like this.
"Big bro, watch out!"
Suddenly, Killer Bee shouted and launched an attack.
His aim was to distract Minato Namikaze who had used Flying Thunder God to teleport behind A.
Sensing the danger, Minato instinctively turned around, redirected his attack mid-air, and lunged at Killer Bee instead!
A trusted Killer Bee completely, keeping his back to him as he squinted at Haru.
This guy's strength is bizarre!
His Water Style is powerful, and now his Lightning Style too?!
And that punch earlier actually knocked me back.
That proves this guy isn't just a master of ninjutsu—his physical prowess might even surpass mine.
A didn't dwell on the thought. He acted.
The way of the ninja is to face adversity head-on!
"Come! Show me your true strength!"
"Righteous Thunder God—Furious Thunder Axe!"
A leapt high, his feet wrapped in terrifying lightning as he stomped downward.
That single stomp could crush even a Jonin known for defense!
Haru narrowed his eyes and froze his hands.
"Flying Thunder God!"
Minato, battling Killer Bee, was stunned!
"Holy crap, that's Flying Thunder God! When did Haru learn that?!"
Even more shocking—Minato realized Haru used the technique more fluently than he did.
An unbelievable sight.
No one had seen Haru use it before, yet now everyone was stunned by it.
BOOM!
A's Thunder Axe stomp missed, smashing a massive crater into the ground!
Meanwhile, Kushina and Mikoto had retreated with Squad Seven.
Suddenly, two Hidden Cloud Jonin appeared behind them.
"Hmph, we'll take them hostage to threaten Haru and Minato…"
"Watch out!"
Mikoto cried out as two shadows rushed toward them. She spread her arms wide to shield the others.
But just then—Haru appeared.
"You're asking to die!"
Haru's cold killing intent flashed in his eyes as he faced the two attackers.
"Wood Style—Birth of the World of Trees!"
With a thunderous strike, countless thick roots and vines burst from the ground, instantly separating the two Jonin.
By the time everyone got a clear look, the attackers were wrapped up like dumplings, tightly bound by roots and vines.
A's eye twitched. This guy can also use the forbidden Konoha technique—Flying Thunder God?!
Something's off. This Takayama Haru is way stronger than they thought.
But A had to stall. The longer he dragged this out, the better his father's plan would go.
What A didn't know was that the Third Raikage was already being chased by one of Haru's shadow clones.
"You're strong. I admit—you're the strongest young ninja I've ever seen."
A spoke quietly, staring at Haru.
Haru smirked coldly. "You're not qualified to judge me."
"No more games."
With that, Haru began the sealing technique. Countless roots and vines surged toward A.
A's face darkened as he stared at the overwhelming wooden forest—nowhere to dodge.
Even the other Hidden Cloud ninja looked stunned at the terrifying Wood Style technique.
They were young and had never witnessed the legend of Hashirama Senju. Seeing this forest now—it felt mysterious and terrifying!
Can A win?
Even Killer Bee had doubts.
Maybe they should retreat…
His first thought was to run, but he knew A wouldn't.
He was the Third Raikage's son—the future Fourth Raikage. He carried the hopes of the Hidden Cloud Village. He couldn't retreat!
With no way back, he had only one path:
"Thunder—Liger Bomb!"
His body surged with lightning chakra, turning into a lightning giant as he charged at Haru at blinding speed.
Vines and roots shattered as he passed—nothing could stop him.
From behind, Kushina gasped. "Haru, watch out!"
At that moment, Haru's hands froze again.
"This isn't just a forest wall!"
A shield of intertwined wooden vines rose from the earth, blocking A's path.
"Argh!"
A roared, charging forward.
BOOM!
The wall shattered!
But just before A's hand could reach Haru's face…
"Wood Style—Art of the Wood Golem!"
A giant wooden figure burst from the ground beneath Haru.
A's Lightning Release—once formidable—had been worn down. Now, he crashed into the wooden golem.
BOOM!
The golem stumbled back two steps.
But even while retreating, it counterattacked!
Massive wooden fists pounded forward.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Like a pile driver, it mercilessly hammered A, kicking up smoke and debris.
Just as A tried to escape, vines and roots dragged him back in.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Everyone watching broke into cold sweat.
Eventually, the golem stopped.
The smoke cleared slowly.
A's body was embedded in the ground, forming a deep crater.
His limbs were still bound by roots, unable to resist.
CRACK!
A coughed up blood. The lightning around him vanished.
He'd lost!
Killer Bee and the others were stunned!
Not just Hidden Cloud—but even the Konoha ninja stood frozen in shock!
The son of the Third Raikage, destined to be the Fourth… had lost to Haru.
Beaten to a pulp by a wooden golem?!
A weakly cried, "Killer Bee… we're leaving…"
"No, big bro!"
"Run, or it'll be too late!"
Another Cloud Jonin pulled Killer Bee away, saying, "Lord Raikage will exchange hostages for A's freedom!"
Haru chuckled. "Since when is the Raikage a hostage? Minato, bind A."
Killer Bee's eyes flared with killing intent, but he was dragged away—leaving A, gravely wounded, behind.
"…Okay."
Minato sighed. Didn't catch anyone. A got captured by Haru. Killer Bee escaped. Typical errand work.
Haru patted Minato's shoulder. "He's yours now."
"And those two ninja and the secretary. This win's all ours."
"Kakashi, Obito—you two help Minato."
"…Okay."
Kakashi and Obito exchanged blank stares. Always stuck with grunt work.
After sealing A, Haru split into four shadow clones. They quickly vanished into the forest.
"Going after them?"
Haru shook his head. "Not them. I'm chasing the Third Raikage."
"And capturing Yao."
Everyone's eyes widened.
Capture the Third Raikage?
Isn't that a bit much?
But thinking back… even the Third Mizukage died at Haru's hands. And A just got destroyed.
Maybe… the Third Raikage isn't his match either?
They shook their heads—unwilling to believe it.
It was just too absurd.
...
As Haru turned to intercept the Third Raikage and Yao…
A white-robed elder suddenly appeared on the battlefield.
Hidden Cloud ninja were fleeing in chaos. They saw the old man, paused briefly, then kept running.
"Roar!"
Yao bellowed, charging toward the elder.
Suddenly, the elder's Rinnegan eyes opened.
It was none other than Uchiha Madara.
In just a few days, he had reclaimed one of his Rinnegan.
Haru's sudden rise forced Madara to stop trusting Nagato with both.
Now, he needed one for himself.
He activated it—controlling Yao instantly.
Taking a deep breath, Madara made his most daring move yet.
His last gamble had been using Izanagi to revive during the Valley of the End battle.
Now, he used his own body.
Haru had grown too powerful. Madara couldn't let it continue.
Shadow clones couldn't beat him—only the real body could.
"Spiritual Technique—Outer Path Diagram!"
A gigantic, humanoid withered tree appeared, bearing nine blank eyes on its forehead.
Cloud ninja turned to see it and froze.
"What… is that?!"
Before their horrified eyes, the monstrous figure opened its mouth, spitting out a clasp that bound Yao and dragged him in.
Under Madara's genjutsu, Yao couldn't resist. Within a minute, he was swallowed by the Gedo Statue.
One eye on its forehead snapped open—revealing a pupil.
Everyone was stunned.
Yao, the symbol of Cloud Village—eaten by that… monster?
Madara canceled the summoning, and the statue vanished.
Then, under everyone's shocked gaze—he struck.
"Fire Style—Sea of Flames!"
A torrent of flame erupted like a tidal wave, incinerating all nearby ninja instantly.
"Hmmph…"
Madara coughed blood, his expression dark, staring toward the direction of Konoha...