The samurai surrounded Sasuke.
Sasuke glanced around before focusing on the Raikage standing before him. His entire body tensed as his cells reacted instinctively to the overwhelming presence of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Slowly, the pupil of Sasuke's left eye began to expand, and veins crawled across his eyeball, staining it red. His Sharingan morphed into the shape of a Mangekyō Sharingan.
Darui frowned, observing the change in Sasuke's eyes. "Hey, C, that Uchiha kid's eyes... they look different from before."
C carefully analyzed the chakra fluctuations, his eyes widening. "Mangekyō Sharingan... No wonder Raikage-sama is pushing his Lightning Release Chakra Mode to its highest activation. He intends to counter it with sheer speed!"
The Raikage roared, his chakra surging violently. His hair stood on end, crackling with electricity as his body reached its peak activation.
Karin, hiding behind a wall, trembled. "Raikage's chakra is terrifying... It's almost at the level of a Tailed Beast!"
Nearby, Suigetsu was pinned against the wall by Darui's sword, his body limp from the Lightning Style attack. He gasped for air. "Damn... My resistance to Lightning Release still isn't enough. My whole body is numb... I can't even liquefy properly."
His eyes shifted toward Sasuke. "Sasuke, you better hold on..."
Blood slowly seeped from Sasuke's left eye, forming a trail down his face. Drop by drop, it fell to the ground, leaving two crimson streaks on his cheek. Around him, a skeletal ribcage of purple chakra formed—the first manifestation of Susanoo.
His left eye pulsed. The moment had come.
"Amaterasu!"
A black inferno ignited in front of the Raikage, twisting like a living serpent as it lunged toward him. The flames burned through the air, aiming straight for their target.
But the Raikage, at his highest speed, vanished before the black fire could consume him. The samurai behind him, however, weren't as lucky.
The flames of Amaterasu engulfed the samurai's armor. He collapsed, screaming in agony. "Aaaahhh!"
Another samurai rushed forward. "Put it out! Quickly!"
"Stop!" the captain barked. "Don't go near him! This isn't ordinary fire!"
C's face darkened. "A fire that ignites wherever the user looks... The inextinguishable black flames... This is Amaterasu!"
Darui swallowed, tension growing in his chest.
Meanwhile, Sasuke scanned the battlefield, searching for the Raikage's next move. A flicker of motion—too late.
Raikage appeared from the left at an impossible speed, his body charged with lightning.
"Lariat!"
Before Sasuke could react, his body instinctively activated its defense. The ribs of his incomplete Susanoo burst into black flames, forming a burning barrier around him.
Raikage skidded to a stop. His fist hovered inches from Sasuke, his expression unreadable. The moment of hesitation spoke volumes.
Karin, watching from the high wall, clenched her fists in excitement. "Incredible! That's the Black Flame Shield! With this, Sasuke won't be easily hit!"
C stared in disbelief. "He... He's controlling Amaterasu's form? Better than Itachi?!"
Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed with disdain.
The Raikage felt his pride shatter.
"Don't underestimate me, brat!"
With pure brute force, he powered through, shattering the burning exoskeleton of Susanoo. His fist slammed into Sasuke's face.
The flames burned his hand, but Raikage grinned. "Finally! Landed a punch on this damn Uchiha!"
Karin gasped. "Raikage is insane...!"
"Raikage-sama..." C whispered.
Darui chuckled. "He actually sacrificed his own hand. Typical Boss."
Sasuke crashed into the ground, coughing up blood. His vision blurred, and the power of Amaterasu began to flicker. He clutched his left eye, the strain weakening his control.
The Raikage, however, wasn't finished. He leaped above Sasuke, raising his left leg high.
"This ends now!"
"Guillotine Drop!"
Sasuke, in a final act of desperation, activated his right Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Flame Shield! Kagutsuchi!"
A barrier of black flames shaped like a cross emerged just as Raikage's foot descended.
Darui's eyes widened. "He's molding Amaterasu's flames into a defensive technique?!"
Karin squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch. C's sensors flared in alarm. "Raikage-sama, if you continue—"
But the Raikage didn't stop. He was determined to crush Sasuke, even if it meant losing a limb.
Just as his foot was about to make contact, a massive sand wall surged between them.
Raikage's foot hit the barrier of sand.
"Sand?!"
Sasuke, still sprawled on the ground, narrowed his eyes. "This chakra..."
The battlefield hushed as everyone registered what had just happened.
Gaara stood calmly, arms crossed. Sand swirled protectively around him. Behind him, Tsunade and Jiraiya approached.
"Apologies for the interference, Lord Raikage," Gaara said coolly.
Tsunade smirked. "Even if I hadn't stepped in, Kazekage would have acted."
Raikage clenched his jaw, retreating to Darui and C's side.
Sasuke struggled to his feet, scanning Gaara, then shifting his gaze to Tsunade and Jiraiya. He smirked. "Hokage... I was just about to come looking for you."
Elsewhere, Kankurō used chakra threads to carefully detach the samurai's burning armor, while Temari swung her fan.
"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel Technique!"
The gusts lifted the Amaterasu flames from the samurai, sending them skyward.
Kankurō sighed. "The flames that never go out... Amaterasu."
Tsunade turned to Jiraiya. "Take care of Raikage's burns."
Jiraiya nodded and approached Raikage. "If Kazekage hadn't stopped you, those flames would have eaten through your body."
Raikage snorted, staring at his burning hand.
Jiraiya sighed. "Let me handle it, Lord Raikage. Otherwise, your arm might be done for."
Raikage, reluctantly, held out his scorched hand.
The tension in the air remained. This battle was far from over.
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