"Humph! You may be powerful, but it's far too arrogant to think you can stop thousands of my troops all by yourself!" Luo Sha's voice was filled with scorn and anger as he spat out those words.
Hearing this, Luo Sha's fury grew uncontrollably. Did the Third Raikage truly believe he and his entire Sand Shinobi army were made of clay—easily broken and discarded?
Across the battlefield, Minato watched quietly, a flicker of respect crossing his eyes. Though they stood on opposing sides, their positions carved by loyalty and duty, Minato couldn't help but admire the Raikage's fierce spirit—willing to risk everything, including his own life, to protect those under his command.
Yes, it was sacrifice. A word that carried weight on this bloodied field.
Even Minato knew, deep down, that the Third Raikage had no chance to break through the siege this day. Surrounded, outnumbered, and exhausted, escape was impossible.
Yet, despite this, the Raikage refused to bow.
"Haha! There's no use in talking anymore. Catch up to me if you can!" The Third Raikage roared in defiance.
His voice was like thunder, echoing across the battlefield. Suddenly, he surged forward, the crackle of lightning surrounding him.
"The Strongest Lightning Style Armor!"
With a violent yell, the Raikage activated his technique, his body flashing with a fierce golden glow.
In a blink, he struck through the Sand Shinobi lines, moving like a lightning bolt. His fist smashed down repeatedly, sending enemy soldiers flying like ragdolls.
"Hateful!" Luo Sha's face twisted with shock and rage.
The Raikage was no longer trying to meet them head-on; instead, he was opting for swift, unpredictable movement. He weaved through the enemy ranks like a storm, forcing Luo Sha's forces to abandon their aggressive pursuit and fall back into a defensive formation.
"Magnet Style: Sand Mat!" Luo Sha reacted quickly, forming hand seals without hesitation.
Beneath his feet, a dense cloud of golden sand erupted, lifting him high into the air.
"I vow to stop the Raikage!" Luo Sha gritted his teeth, determination blazing in his eyes.
But even as Luo Sha soared above the battlefield, the Raikage's speed was unmatched. Like a streak of lightning, he darted through the Sand Shinobi, picking off targets with ruthless precision. Every moment he stayed on the move meant lives lost for Luo Sha's army.
Luo Sha dared not use large-scale ninjutsu to catch up, afraid of the collateral damage it might cause to his own troops. So all he could do was grit his teeth and pray to somehow stop the Raikage's relentless assault.
"Don't be afraid! Everyone, unite!" Luo Sha's voice boomed through the ranks.
"Our lives are worth giving for the Raikage's survival!" he shouted, rallying his troops.
"Quick! Stop him together! Create an opening for Master Fengying to take action!"
Despite their initial panic, the Sand Shinobi began to respond in force. Under the guidance of their leading Jōnin, hundreds of Chūnin gathered, synchronizing their chakra and preparing to unleash a combined ninjutsu.
"Wind Style: Fierce Wind Palm!" The command rang out.
On the left flank, five hundred Chūnin gathered their power, compressing the wind into a violent, focused typhoon force—a tempest with the strength of a dozen storms. The compressed wind surged forward, carrying a deadly barrage of shurikens aimed straight at the Raikage.
Simultaneously, on the right flank, another five hundred Chūnin combined their strength. They expelled fierce gusts from their mouths, mixed with clouds of swirling sand and dust, aiming to strike the Raikage with a whirlwind assault.
"Wind Style—Vacuum Ball!" A group of twenty Jōnin appeared in the Raikage's path, inhaling deeply before releasing spherical, compressed blasts of air—each the size of a basketball.
"Careful!" Luo Sha's voice rang urgently from a distance, warning his comrades.
For a moment, it seemed the Raikage might finally be slowed down by this coordinated attack.
But then, the unexpected happened.
The Raikage sneered, eyes burning with defiance. He didn't slow down a bit.
On his raised right hand, lightning began to gather—concentrated and brighter than the light of his already blazing Lightning Style Armor.
"Hell Thrust: Four-Handed Punch!"
With a burst of raw power, the Raikage's fist slammed forward.
A single strike cut through the wind barrage like a hot knife through butter.
A flash of blood streaked across the air, and one of the Jōnin who had stepped forward to block the attack was suddenly decapitated. His head rolled on the ground, his wide-open eyes frozen in terror and disbelief.
"Flash Sale!" a stunned soldier muttered.
"No way!" another gasped.
"How is this possible?!" a third cried out in shock.
"This isn't a human anymore. It's a monster!"
The Sand Shinobi who had previously stood with full confidence to intercept the Raikage now erupted into chaos.
The combined might of thousands of ninjas had failed to even scratch their opponent. Worse still, the Raikage's unrelenting assault had instantly slain one of their strongest warriors.
"Damn it!" Luo Sha cursed, his face darkening as he finally arrived, riding the swirling sand.
He saw the devastation firsthand and felt his heart sink.
Having personally witnessed the Raikage's physical toughness, Luo Sha knew his own warnings were true—but powerless to change the course of this fight.
At the Raikage's blistering speed, Luo Sha could not find an opening to display even a fraction of his own skills.
"This can't continue!" Luo Sha thought bitterly.
Since the Raikage was determined to force the Sand Shinobi back into a defensive posture, Luo Sha decided to play his hand.
"Transmit my order—All Sand Shinobi, cease pursuit of the Cloud Shinobi! Return immediately to defensive positions. Surround and annihilate the Raikage!"
His voice was fierce, his tone deadly serious.
This time, Luo Sha didn't care about the cost. Even if it meant sacrificing countless lives, he would exhaust the Raikage until he was drained of every ounce of strength.
Meanwhile, at the rear, Minato seized the opportunity to speak.
"Lord Kazekage," he said carefully, "I will notify the Uchiha clan to evacuate immediately. It's too dangerous for them to remain here with the Cloud Shinobi's overwhelming presence."
Rasa, the Kazekage, turned to look at Minato with a softened expression.
He had briefly considered asking Minato to help stop the Raikage's reckless charge, but the Raikage's indomitable will was clear to see.
Konoha was still a new ally in this conflict—a friendship built on fragile trust.
It was easy to lend a helping hand, but far harder to risk life and limb for another's cause.
"So be it," Rasa said softly. "Minato brother, go quickly, and return soon."
With those words, Minato vanished like a flash, his speed unmatched.
In moments, he outpaced the Sand Shinobi and arrived before the Uchiha clan.
"Minato-kun!" Uchiha Fugaku greeted warmly when he saw Minato approach.
Because of the close friendship between Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto, Minato and Fugaku had often crossed paths and shared mutual respect.
"Fugaku-san," Minato smiled with relief, stepping forward.
The two men clasped each other's arms firmly in a warrior's embrace.
"How's the battle at the front?" Fugaku asked anxiously. "Why have you come here now?"
"That's what I wanted to discuss," Minato replied quickly. "The Fourth Kazekage has ordered the Sand Shinobi to abandon pursuit of the Cloud Shinobi army. Brother, you should lead your clansmen with me to bypass the enemy forces and regroup with the Kazekage."
Fugaku's eyes widened with realization.
"Thank goodness you arrived when you did, brother. Otherwise, we would have been left to face the Cloud Shinobi alone."
He spoke not as a fighter, but as a man grateful for timely aid.
"But if the Cloud Shinobi are retreating, surely the Kazekage is at a disadvantage. Why isn't he pursuing them?" Fugaku questioned.
Minato nodded, understanding the confusion.
"Let me explain on the move," he said, motioning for the Uchiha to follow.
Together, they skirted around the Sand Shinobi forces, moving swiftly toward Rasa.
Along the way, Minato filled Fugaku in on the entire situation—the desperate battle, the Raikage's valiant charge, and the sacrifice he was making to protect their allies.
Fugaku listened in awe.
"The Third Raikage is truly terrifying," he breathed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"A pity such a mighty warrior must fall here today."
Minato sighed deeply, the weight of war pressing on him.
"Yeah," Fugaku agreed, knowing Minato's thoughts were grim.
"But since he's chosen this path, why not join forces to honor his last stand?"
Minato looked at Fugaku with renewed determination.
"Indeed."
Neither man liked the Cloud Shinobi—constantly stirring conflict and chaos wherever they went.
But they could not deny the Raikage's courage and honor. The man had chosen to start this war; now, he would end it by fighting to the death.
---
Battlefields roared with the sounds of clashing wills and flying blades.
The Sand Shinobi tightened their ranks as the Raikage, undeterred by overwhelming numbers, carved a path through them like a living storm.
Each step he took seemed to charge the air with electricity.
The wind whispered warnings of an unstoppable force.
Luo Sha's sand surged forward, trying to catch the lightning in his grasp.
But the Raikage was always one step ahead—always faster, always stronger.
The sandstorm of conflict raged on, but the Raikage would not falter.
He fought not just for victory, but for honor, loyalty, and the lives of his comrades.
This was a battle to be remembered.
---
End of Chapter 35.