The Raikage stood tall amidst the shattered earth, his chest rising and falling as he took a deep breath. Sparks danced across his skin—his famed Lightning Chakra Cloak flickered violently, unstable… then vanished. The crackling aura of power that once cloaked his body faded into nothingness, leaving only silence and tension behind.
He was no longer protected by his greatest weapon.
"Now's our chance!" Azora commanded sharply, her voice slicing through the chaos. Her dark eyes locked on the towering figure before her. "We strike now, or today's losses will be for nothing! Move!" she barked, rallying her exhausted but determined Iwa forces.
The Raikage narrowed his eyes, his bare muscles tightening like coiled steel. His presence alone was overwhelming, even without his chakra cloak. Thunder rumbled in the distance, as if nature itself acknowledged his wrath.
"Don't think that just because I've lost my Chakra Mode… you can take me down easily," he growled, voice low, guttural, and fierce. "You fools still don't understand… even without it, I am a nightmare to my enemies."
Azora's lips curled into a calm, almost mocking smile. "Then we'll see for ourselves. But don't expect to walk away alive."
Without waiting, the Raikage roared and charged forward like a beast unleashed. Several Iwa shinobi moved to intercept, but their efforts were useless. His fists were merciless—one strike sent two ninja flying, another shattered a defensive wall like brittle clay. Even drained of his enhanced chakra, his raw power was devastating.
Azora knew she couldn't face him head-on. Not in taijutsu. Not against a monster like him.
"Water Jet Jutsu!" she called, flashing through hand signs.
Her cheeks puffed unnaturally as a torrent of pressurized water built within her mouth. In the blink of an eye, she unleashed it—a concentrated stream, cutting through the battlefield like a razor. It shot straight toward the Raikage.
He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast—but the jet curved, following his motion with deadly precision. He jumped again, then again, weaving through Azora's relentless barrage with blistering speed.
But just as her jutsu ceased and the Raikage prepared to counterattack, a shadow loomed behind him.
BOOM!
A massive earthen tuna—crafted with chakra and sealed with explosive tags—slammed into his back with crushing force. The Raikage was hurled across the field like a ragdoll.
It didn't stop there.
The massive construct followed his flight path and detonated mid-air.
A thunderous explosion consumed the battlefield, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Dust and smoke billowed outward in a scorching wave.
From within that dark cloud, the Raikage emerged… but not unscathed. Bruises marked his body, blood trickled from his mouth. He was still standing—but now, the Iwa shinobi knew he could be hurt.
"Underhanded cowards!" the Raikage bellowed, fury burning in his eyes. His gaze locked on the source of the explosion—Yusu.
The mountain of a man dashed forward, fists swinging. Yusu reacted quickly, forming earthen walls to shield himself, but they were smashed to rubble one by one. The Raikage tore through them like paper, relentless, unstoppable.
Yusu was forced into retreat, leaping backward again and again, scrambling to form more barriers. A few unlucky Iwa ninja who couldn't react in time were crushed under the force of the Raikage's blows—leaving only blood and silence behind.
With a growl, the Raikage thrust his hands into the dirt, scooped up two massive chunks of earth, and hurled them like missiles. Yusu barely had time to raise another wall—too weak to stop the full force. The projectiles slammed into him, sending him crashing backward.
Seeing their second-in-command in peril, the Iwa forces surged forward.
"Protect Yusu-sama!" several shouted.
But those who charged toward the Raikage met a quick and brutal fate. His fists showed no mercy.
Azora, watching the slaughter unfold, clenched her fists. I won't let him kill us all… I won't let him kill Yusu.
"Everyone!" she shouted. "Fire your strongest long-range jutsu—now!"
Her voice carried desperation, but also command.
Dozens of shinobi responded. Fire, water, earth—all elements converged at once. Explosions rocked the battlefield, engulfing the Raikage in a storm of chakra.
Amid the chaos, the Raikage stood firm, shielding his face with his arms as jutsu after jutsu collided against him. Smoke and flames danced across his battered body.
He felt it.
"…Blood?" he muttered. His vision blurred as he touched his cheek. Crimson stained his fingertips.
He was bleeding.
For the first time in years… someone had made the Raikage bleed.
Using the momentary distraction, Iwa medics rushed to Yusu's side. They started basic first aid, but the wounded commander waved them off.
"I still have chakra… don't waste time on me. Focus on the enemy!" he barked.
The body count rose—ten… fifteen… twenty… more. The Raikage was a storm, and every second that passed cost more lives.
Azora, breathing heavily, formed a single hand seal.
Now or never…
She summoned a sphere of swirling water in her palm. From her pouch, she pulled a small vial and poured a few drops into the orb. The color of the water darkened—twisting, corrupting. Her special technique… a poisoned water sphere.
"Go!" she whispered, and hurled it with all her might.
The dark orb flew through the air and struck the Raikage square in the chest. It burst on impact—splattering him in the poisoned liquid.
He staggered slightly, but didn't fall. The poison wasn't lethal… not yet. It was only a mild dose.
Azora bit her lip in frustration. "Tch… If I want to stop him, I'll need to hit him with more. Many more…"
She glanced back at her team, now fighting for their lives.
Hold him off a little longer… just a little longer, she thought. And I'll finish this.