Chapter 172

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[News! I've Already Confronted the Five Kage, and the System Just Arrived! Event!!!]

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The encirclement and assassination of the Third Raikage lasted nearly an entire day. The difficulty of taking down this world's Raikage was significantly higher than that of other Raikage from different worlds.

The Konoha ninjas present included not only those skilled in Wind Release, which counters Lightning Release, but also many adept in Fire Release.

While Fire Release doesn't counter Lightning Release as effectively, prolonged burning reduces the surrounding oxygen.

It was Danzo who noticed the Third Raikage's increasingly labored breathing. Although his chakra consumption was slow, his condition was rapidly deteriorating.

Danzo suggested Hiruzen use Earth Release to trap the Third Raikage and then ignite the entire valley with Fire Release.

The Third Raikage, lacking Earth Release, couldn't escape underground.

Once the valley was set ablaze, the Third Raikage wouldn't be able to break out, sparing them the need to exhaust their chakra in a prolonged fight.

Hiruzen agreed, having Jiraiya and Danzo create shadow clones, and he himself created two. They used the Four Red Yang Formation to trap the Third Raikage.

The combined efforts of four Kage-level shadow clones using the Four Red Yang Formation ensured the Third Raikage would be trapped for at least a few minutes.

Hiruzen then ordered all the ninjas in the valley to withdraw. Jiraiya and the other Konoha ninjas prepared their largest Fire Release techniques.

Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta and Gamaken, who sprayed oil into the valley, enhancing the Fire Release jutsu that followed.

Boom! The flames erupted violently upon contact with the oil, forcing even the Fire Release users to retreat. The valley turned into a blazing inferno.

Under the intense flames, the shadow clones of Hiruzen, Danzo, and Jiraiya dissipated. They could only wait for the flames to subside to ascertain the Third Raikage's fate.

The fire was so intense it blocked even the Byakugan's vision, making it impossible to see inside the valley.

The fire burned for five to six hours. Hiruzen ordered Earth Release users to erect walls around the valley while he, Jiraiya, Danzo, and other elite ninjas spread out in multiple directions.

If the Third Raikage showed any signs of escaping, they would bombard him back into the flames.

When the flames finally subsided, Hiruzen sent scouts to search the valley.

Without space-time jutsu or Earth Release, and with Konoha ninjas surrounding the area, Hiruzen believed the Third Raikage was as good as dead.

Soon, the Third Raikage's body was found, still somewhat intact with his distinctive missing arm.

Seeing the body, the Konoha ninjas finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to cheer.

The Third Raikage had killed many Konoha ninjas. Without powerful opponents to stop him, his battlefield presence was almost as intimidating as Uchiha Yoichi's. Even jōnin couldn't survive long against him.

With the Third Raikage dead, the pressure on the frontline eased significantly. Though his death was due to suffocation, it underscored the dangers of the ninja world. The Raikage, who even the Eight-Tails couldn't kill, fell to Konoha's encirclement.

Minato, having recovered his chakra, headed to Kannabi Bridge. He left before the Third Raikage's death but trusted that the presence of so many Konoha elites ensured the Raikage's end.

Five days later, the news reached the Hidden Cloud.

The Yellow Flash of Konoha had taken the Third Raikage and contact was lost for five days. Believing him dead, Iwagakure informed the Hidden Cloud and expelled the remaining Cloud ninjas, revealing their route to Konoha forces, leading to ambushes. Only one Cloud ninja survived to relay the message.

Upon hearing the news, A destroyed everything in his tent in fury, convinced that Iwagakure and Onoki had orchestrated his father's death, blaming the deaths of two jinchuriki and dozens of Iwa ninjas on the Cloud.

Otherwise, his father would have received at least one of the dozens of scrolls A had sent.

"Retreat to the Hidden Cloud Village immediately!"

Despite his sorrow, Dodai calmly advised A, "You must become Raikage at once. Konoha will act on this news soon. We must leave the Land of Fire before they attack. If you or Killer B are captured, the Hidden Cloud will fall."

The death of a Raikage required immediate action to stabilize the village. A understood and asked, "What about the Cloud ninja teams on missions?"

"Send a message for them to return if possible. If not, they must find their way back to the Land of Lightning on their own."

Dodai's decisive response emphasized the importance of their leaders, "If either you or Killer B falls in the Land of Fire, what will become of the Hidden Cloud Village?"

Leaders were essential to prevent chaos. Convinced by Dodai, A ordered a full retreat.

However, as the Cloud army abandoned their camp, Konoha's ninja forces, led by Yoichi Uchiha, Orochimaru, and Sakumo Hatake, launched an assault on the retreating Cloud ninjas.

A wanted to fight but was restrained by Dodai, who left behind 300 Cloud ninjas to delay the enemy while the main force accelerated their retreat.

Fighting in the Land of Fire, with Konoha reinforcements nearby, was too risky. Sacrificing a few ninjas to ensure the safe retreat of A and Killer B was the priority.

The 300 Cloud ninjas, divided into two groups, set traps and prepared to hold off Konoha's pursuers.

One group encountered Yoichi's vanguard. The traps activated but had little effect on Yoichi, whose Susanoo's skeletal armor rendered most traps harmless. Yoichi ordered his men to clear the traps while he engaged the enemy.

The Cloud ninjas fought to the death, facing their greatest fear, the Yellow Flash of Konoha. The massacre lasted nearly an hour. When the last Cloud ninja fell, stabbed through the heart by Yoichi's blade, the delaying force was annihilated.

"Yoichi-sama, should we continue the pursuit?"

"Tend to the wounded, clear the traps, and continue the pursuit cautiously. If we reach the border, halt the chase."

Yoichi ordered. Despite him killing most of the enemy, the traps and desperate Cloud ninjas caused some Konoha casualties.

The other Cloud ninjas, facing Orochimaru, met a similar fate. After fierce fighting, they too were wiped out.

Sakumo had retaken the camp, finding it thoroughly stripped of supplies and intel by the retreating Cloud ninjas.

By dawn, the battle had ended. Yoichi and Orochimaru halted at the border. Pursuing further was pointless with their limited numbers.

They left patrol teams at the border and returned to camp.

Clearing out the remaining Cloud ninjas in the Land of Fire took over ten days. Konoha's forces, blocking the borders, ensured few Cloud ninjas escaped.

The Hidden Cloud's defeat wasn't a rout but significant. In the end, Konoha counted nearly 400 Cloud ninja corpses, including those killed by Yoichi.

Despite their initial advantage, the Cloud ninjas ended up with greater losses, largely due to the Third Raikage's death and the failed mission to Iwagakure.

With the Cloud's retreat confirmed, Mitokado began organizing patrols and sentries, fearing more sabotage teams.

Mitokado had taken over battlefield command only to be berated by the daimyo for failing to stop the Cloud's sabotage. Even direct appeals from the daimyo hadn't helped.

Unable to resolve the situation, Mitokado agreed to dispatch ninjas but achieved little, save for Yoichi's efforts.

Eventually, Mitokado avoided the daimyo's emissaries, incurring the daimyo's ire.

Yoichi continued his minimal involvement, focusing mainly on winning over Tsunade. Mitokado couldn't command him.

As Konoha's forces prepared to return home, relief washed over them. The war was over, and they had survived.

After stabilizing the last batch of wounded, Tsunade prepared to leave.

"Shizune, let's go."

"Eh? Tsunade-sama, are we leaving without telling anyone?"

"Why bother? There are no more wounded to treat. They can recover in the village. If I tell that old geezer, he'll just make me go back to the village."

Tsunade grumbled. Mitokado had been pestering her to return to Konoha, but with the war nearly over, she saw no reason to stay.

Shizune asked, "Shouldn't we tell Yoichi-sama?"

Tsunade pinched Shizune's cheek, "Why tell that brat? Shizune, have you been bribed by the food he's been giving you?"

Shizune retorted, "Tsunade-sama, you ate more than I did!"

"What did you say?"

Seeing Shizune fall silent, Tsunade resumed packing.

Shizune's words, however, made Tsunade hesitant. Not telling Yoichi felt sneaky, like a thief. But that brat had been too much lately, undermining her dignity. Despite being over ten years his senior, she saw no respect from him.

"Forget him. Let's go, Shizune!"

Tsunade and Shizune slipped away. As one of the Sannin, Tsunade's movements went unchallenged.

But just outside the camp, she heard a familiar voice call her name.

Hearing Yoichi, Tsunade felt a mix of tension and relief. She turned, her expression fierce, fists clenched, "Brat, what do you want?"

"Here, these are the three bottles of Tenmitsu sake you didn't finish last time."

Yoichi tossed her a storage scroll. As she caught it, he asked, "You still have the kunai I gave you, right, Tsunade-sama?"

"Hmph!"

Tsunade, secretly pleased, huffed. She wasn't the type to discard someone's gift.

"Let's go, Shizune."

Tucking the scroll away, Tsunade ignored his question, calling for Shizune.

Yoichi, understanding Tsunade still had the kunai, returned to the camp. He too would return to Konoha with the others. With the wars against the Cloud and Stone settled, peace would last for a while.

Konoha had suffered significant losses, with over 900 dead, including thirteen from the Uchiha clan. Despite the odds, facing three fully controlled jinchuriki, Konoha's victory was largely due to Yoichi.

His fame now surpassed that of the White Fang.

(End of Chapter)