I, Konoha's Sage of Life-Chapter 145: A, You Are Now the Fourth Raikage!

"The Hiding in Mist Technique... Silent Killing Technique... A, have they used these before?"

The Third Raikage's expression was grim.

"Not at all! This is my first time encountering it. Damn it... That Orochimaru, always scheming! And those Kiri-nin are pathetic—Konoha has stolen all their signature techniques!"

A was furious.

He had tried to strike back, but the enemy had mastered the Kiri's techniques to such an extreme degree that, in some ways, they wielded them even better than many actual Kiri-nin.

Since the start of this war, this was the first time he truly understood what it meant to be one of the "Three Legendary Sannin."

"A, as a true Raikage, you must learn when to unleash your anger and when to restrain it."

The Third Raikage's voice wasn't as harsh as usual, but that only made A even more uneasy.

His father...

"Tsuda, A is still young. If there are things he doesn't know in the future, I hope you'll guide him."

"Raikage-sama, surely it hasn't come to that yet?"

Tsuda looked startled.

The Raikage's tone was filled with finality—like he was making arrangements, entrusting the village to them.

"Father! I can lead everyone back safely!" A quickly declared.

Hearing this, the Third Raikage finally smiled. As he ran, he said, "Good, A. A Raikage must always have such resolve—no matter how dire the situation, you must have the courage to break through!"

"Yes!"

A made a silent vow and then surged forward, leading the way to clear a path while protecting the others.

Killer B followed closely behind.

The Third Raikage didn't stop them—in fact, he barely acted at all.

However...

Orochimaru's attacks only grew fiercer. But Konoha's ninja never pressed for prolonged engagements—they struck and disappeared immediately.

Though A and B were fast, they didn't dare chase too deeply. As a result, they couldn't inflict any real damage on the Konoha forces, while their own troops kept suffering injuries.

Even with medical ninja providing support, the overall pace of their retreat had slowed significantly.

"Raikage-sama, together, we can still make it back to the Land of Lightning, right? After all, our losses in this war haven't been too severe..."

"You're just as naive as A! According to the intel from the Anbu, Ōnoki himself has arrived in the Land of Lightning. That means he's determined to carve a piece out of Kumogakure."

The Third Raikage was fully aware of the situation ahead.

Orochimaru's current tactics were solely meant to drain their chakra and stamina.

The real crisis wasn't in the Land of Fire—

The closer they got to the Land of Lightning, the stronger the resistance they would face, and the more exhausted the Kumo-nin would become.

But...

He didn't dare stop.

If the western battle had truly ended and Konoha's forces from that side arrived...

Then the Kumo forces would be completely finished!

A and Killer B's efforts weren't wasted. At the very least, they had cleared out many of Orochimaru's summoned snakes, easing the pressure on their rear ranks.

However...

Once they left the Land of Fire, the real danger began.

Konoha launched a full-scale interception, and behind them—

A new ninja force appeared.

The Konoha Police Force had now entered the fray, led by none other than their captain, Uchiha Fugaku.

The pressure on the battlefield intensified.

"B!"

"Got it!"

A and B moved in unison, their bodies suddenly crackling with intense lightning.

Their speed was incredible—before the enemy could react, they were already upon a Konoha Jōnin, who barely managed to erect a Water Formation Wall.

But—

Slash!

A single hand chop sliced through the water barrier.

Lightning Release: Lariat!

The next moment—

A figure flashed past.

Before the Konoha Jōnin could even register what had happened, A and B had already moved behind him, their arms hooked around his neck.

Then—

Crack!

A sharp snapping sound echoed. The two of them pressed forward, continuing their rampage.

...

"Should we intervene?"

"Let them go. Stopping them would come at too high a cost—let Ōnoki deal with them."

Jiraiya shook his head and issued a retreat order.

A and B were stronger than he had anticipated. Their synergy was impeccable, and when they fought together, their combined strength was terrifying.

There was no need for Konoha to engage in a head-on clash.

Ōnoki and his Iwa forces were still ahead—if Konoha could weaken the Kumo forces even slightly before they reached them, that was enough.

A and B didn't rush to break through the defensive line. Instead, they hunted down stragglers.

Though the Konoha ninjas retreated swiftly, they still suffered casualties, a testament to A and B's overwhelming strength.

However—

Such bursts of power came at a cost.

Their stamina drained rapidly, and by the time they had cleared a sufficiently safe path, both were panting heavily.

Pulling off another such feat was no longer an option.

Yet—

Ahead lay the most formidable obstacle.

The Iwa forces, led by Ōnoki himself.

A vast array of Earth Release defenses stretched out before them—so imposing that it made one question which village's border they were really standing at.

The Third Raikage stepped forward.

"Father... I can still push through one more time! I will lead everyone back to Kumogakure!"

A spoke through gritted teeth, suppressing his exhaustion.

Beside him, Killer B remained silent, but stood firmly by his side.

"That's enough, A."

The Third Raikage raised his fist, seemingly ready to strike—but after a moment, he instead placed a firm yet gentle hand on A's shoulder.

A's eyes reddened.

He lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Father... My recklessness has led Kumogakure to this situation."

"This isn't your fault. You've done enough. Now, it's my turn to clear the path for you all. I'd like to see just how many forces Ōnoki has prepared to stop me."

"A... from this moment on, you are the Fourth Raikage!"

The Third Raikage cast off his robe, revealing his battle attire.

Then—

He charged forward alone.

...

"The Third Raikage truly lives up to his title as the strongest Raikage."

Kyoichi muttered in admiration.

A village's leader paving the way for his people...

It wasn't unheard of, but never had it been as awe-inspiring as this—one man standing at the front, exuding the might of an entire army.

His speed wasn't overwhelming.

Yet—

The sheer pressure of his presence put every Iwa ninja on high alert, even Ōnoki himself.

"Kyoichi, Minato... you two better not go back on your word."

Ōnoki's expression was grave.

"Of course, we'll help you stop the Third Raikage."

Kyoichi emphasized the words help you heavily.

If Ōnoki expected them to directly confront the Third Raikage, he was sorely mistaken. The Raikage was likely fighting with the resolve to die in battle—anyone who tried to block him would face his final, all-out assault.

Ōnoki nodded.

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He cast the Light-Weight and Heavy-Weight Rock Techniques on the two of them, allowing them to move at extreme speed—even fly.

He understood well.

The main force against the Third Raikage was still himself. But Kyoichi and Minato were crucial for stalling him—without them, landing Dust Release would be nearly impossible.

"Ōnoki, you think this is enough to stop us?"

The Third Raikage was now only a few hundred meters away.

Behind him, a force of Kumo-nin followed closely, while his entire body surged with silver lightning.

"It's enough..."

Ōnoki hovered in the air, sighing.

"In truth, I never wanted to fight you. But I lost... so I have no choice but to accept Konoha's terms."

"Don't listen to his nonsense, friends from Kumogakure! Konoha has always been a peaceful nation—we only fight defensive battles! This was all Ōnoki's idea, it has nothing to do with us!"

A voice suddenly interrupted from among the Iwa ranks.

The Third Raikage and Ōnoki were both stunned.

Ōnoki hadn't expected Kyoichi to speak up so boldly.

And the Third Raikage...

He was completely dumbfounded.

What was going on?

Did Iwa have Konoha overseers now?

The next moment, he saw two figures emerge from behind the earth walls.

They appeared to be in their early twenties and wore Konoha headbands.

More importantly...

They didn't look like prisoners.

In fact, Ōnoki himself looked more like their prisoner. Even after Kyoichi's blatant contradiction, he hadn't dared to argue back.

The Third Raikage was utterly baffled.

How had Iwagakure, one of the Five Great Villages, surrendered this completely?

However—

His confusion lasted only a second or two.

In the next instant, his entire body crackled with lightning as he activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode at full power.

Then, like a streak of light, he charged toward the earthen wall.

He didn't care what was going on between Iwa and Konoha.

One thing was certain: They weren't going to just let them leave.

So—

He'd fight first, and figure things out later!

"Minato, don't go all out. Just focus on survival."

"I know. You be careful too."

The two whispered to each other.

Then—

Shing!

Minato flicked a kunai.

After forming several hand seals, the single kunai multiplied into thousands, blotting out the sky as they rained down upon the Kumo forces. Among them, a few were marked with his signature Flying Thunder God seals.

Ōnoki recognized the technique.

But—

Even his own Iwa-nin wouldn't be fazed by such an attack.

Meanwhile, Kyoichi had yet to make a move, seemingly waiting for the Third Raikage to get closer.

However—

At that moment...

A blue light flared.

The Third Raikage's expression hardened.

His hands came together—four fingers clenched into a blade.

A highly condensed Lightning Release edge formed—an attack that could slice through nearly anything.

He slashed downward.

Hiss—

A sharp noise rang out.

Lightning clashed, energy froze.

A and B, behind him, rushed to assist—but—

The moment they were about to attack Kyoichi, he...

Took to the sky.

"Did he just... fly?!"

They were momentarily stunned.

Then—

A Lava Release attack from Tsuda brought them back to reality.

Ninjutsu rained down upon Kyoichi—

Yet—

Sheets of paper emerged, forming wings.

Combined with his Light-Weight Rock enhancement, Kyoichi soared even faster into the air.

Meanwhile...

Minato teleported beside the Third Raikage.

In his palm—

A Rasengan surged forward.

Blood splattered through the air.

The Third Raikage thrust his fingers toward Minato, aiming to trade injuries. But in an instant, his opponent vanished, reappearing far away.

A kunai?

His breath caught as his mind raced, and in a flash, he understood everything.

A space-time jutsu based on kunai?

Senju Tobirama's technique?!

"Get out of here!"

The Third Raikage's voice was urgent.

Hearing this, A turned his head—his pupils immediately contracting in shock.

Blood was dripping from the Third Raikage's hand!

Someone had actually broken through his Lightning Release Armor?

Impossible!

"Get the hell out!"

At first, the Third Raikage had thought that with Onoki bringing so few men, he could clear the path and hold the rear without necessarily dying. But now, he understood completely—Onoki had come specifically for him.

A, B, and the other Kumo-nin didn't matter.

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