The massive Susanoo pounded against the wall with relentless force, shattering it with each blow before leaping outside.
Snow was falling heavily.
Obito and Black Zetsu stood a short distance away, their eyes narrowing in interest. "The battle has already spread outside?" Obito mused. "I was planning to head in and take a look."
The tremors from the intense battle shook the entire building, causing those inside the Five Kage Summit chamber to realize something was wrong.
Mifune furrowed his brows. "What's going on?"
Okisuke, listening intently through the communication feed, quickly relayed the situation: "Sasuke and the Raikage clashed fiercely on the lower level. Raikage nearly lost an arm, but Hokage and Kazekage intervened. Sasuke was overwhelmed and has now fled."
Mizukage Mei Terumi's expression turned sharp. "The Raikage was injured?!"
Among the Five Kage, the Raikage was known as the strongest in raw combat ability. He was a pure warrior, relying on brute strength and lightning-speed reflexes. The fact that he was wounded and required assistance was unsettling.
Chojuro swallowed nervously. "Sasuke defeated Zabuza... If he's this strong, what would happen if he faced Mizukage-sama?"
His thoughts momentarily wandered. Mizukage-sama was not only powerful but also incredibly beautiful... Chojuro shook his head, dispelling the thought. His duty was to protect her—nothing else mattered.
Ao, ever watchful, turned to Mei. "Mizukage-sama, should we—?"
Mei glanced at Onoki and nodded. "Tsuchikage-sama, we should go. There's no point in staying here."
Onoki grunted. "Tch, three Kage against one Uchiha brat. I suppose I might as well watch the show."
Just as he was about to rise, a voice cut through the room: "I'm afraid I can't let you interfere in Sasuke's fight."
Everyone tensed.
Ao and Chojuro immediately stepped in front of Mei, while Akatsuchi moved to shield Onoki. Okisuke instinctively withdrew to Mifune's side, drawing his katana as he prepared for a fight.
White Zetsu, the same one that Raikage had supposedly killed earlier, stood before them, twisting his broken neck back into place with a sickening crack. A grin spread across his face. "Hehehe… Just stay put."
Onoki scoffed. "Akatsuki sure knows how to talk big. Akatsuchi, take care of this annoyance."
"Understood, Tsuchikage-sama," Akatsuchi replied, preparing to launch an attack.
But before he could act, white growths began sprouting from his body, rapidly expanding.
"What the—?!" Akatsuchi gasped in shock.
Then, to their horror, the same white spore-like protrusions appeared on everyone present—Onoki, Mei, Ao, Chojuro, Mifune, and his samurai. The growths pulsed, siphoning chakra and multiplying with alarming speed. Soon, each spore formed a grotesque clone of White Zetsu.
Disgusted, Mei exhaled sharply, releasing a thin mist. The moment the mist touched the White Zetsu clones, they began to melt away.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
Being a master of Water and Fire Release, Mei could produce an acidic mist capable of corroding almost anything. The spores that had latched onto her body disintegrated instantly, but more continued to grow in their place.
"Tch… These things feed on chakra!" Mei realized with a scowl.
White Zetsu chuckled. "This is my Spore Technique. You Kage were so focused on Sasuke that you didn't even notice."
Mifune gritted his teeth. "When did you—?!"
Onoki narrowed his eyes. "It must've been planted before Raikage struck you down. A delayed jutsu, set to activate at the right moment."
Mei's expression darkened. "Don't underestimate us."
Chakra surged around her, releasing an intense heat. Her body emitted steam, rapidly evaporating sweat and creating a corrosive mist.
"Boil Release: Vapor Style!"
The spores weakened, their grip loosening. Mei smirked, but Zetsu suddenly lunged at her, aiming for a killing blow.
Onoki's eyes flickered. "Akatsuchi, we're moving!"
"Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!"
The spores on Onoki's body instantly solidified into stone, crumbling as he broke free. He then floated into the air and formed a hand sign.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
A glowing cubic barrier surrounded White Zetsu. In a flash, his body disintegrated at the molecular level, erased from existence.
Chojuro exhaled in relief. "That was too close…"
Ao clenched his fists, his Byakugan scanning the room. "If something had happened to Mizukage-sama, we would never be able to return home."
Mei, now freed, nodded towards Onoki. "Thank you, Tsuchikage-sama."
Onoki cracked his stiff shoulders. "Tch… I may be old, but I'm not rusty yet."
Akatsuchi, still recovering, used an Earth Release technique to form a massive golem that swallowed the remaining spores off his body, neutralizing them.
Mei moved swiftly, using her Water Release techniques to free Chojuro and Ao, while Onoki did the same for Mifune and his men.
Mifune nodded in gratitude. "Much appreciated, Tsuchikage-sama."
Onoki waved him off. "No need for thanks."
He then turned back to Mei, eyes sharp. "If White Zetsu went to this extent to stop us from reaching Sasuke, then I'm even more curious."
Mei smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Agreed. We're not letting a single Akatsuki member slip away."
Without hesitation, the group rushed towards the battlefield.
Meanwhile, outside the summit hall, Sasuke dashed through the snow, his Susanoo crackling with energy. Tsunade was hot on his heels, her fists clenched in fury. "You're not escaping, Sasuke!"
Jiraiya, following close behind, shouted, "Tsunade, wait!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth. Tsunade's raw strength had already put him at a disadvantage, but now, if Raikage and Kazekage regrouped, he would be completely overwhelmed. His only option was to draw them further out and turn the battlefield to his advantage.
As the Kage neared, the entire summit level collapsed from the earlier destruction, sending debris crashing down. Darui emerged from the wreckage, coughing as he spotted Raikage lifting a massive stone slab off himself and C.
Raikage growled, "Damn that Uchiha… C, get a location on him!"
C activated his sensory abilities. "He's heading outside!"
Gaara, standing amidst the rubble, remained silent. His thoughts drifted to his friend.
"Naruto… if you were here, what would you do?"
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