"It's quite the dramatic entrance, but kid, you're being a little rude!" Uzumaki Raiden folded his arms across his chest, looking at Uchiha Sasuke. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a leisurely tone.
Uchiha Sasuke's sudden appearance was beyond Uzumaki Raiden's expectations. Before Sasuke showed up, Raiden hadn't even sensed his Chakra. As he spoke, he silently locked onto Sasuke using Kagura's Mind Eye, only to find that the Chakra within him was vastly different from what he had perceived before.
The Chakra in Sasuke's body today was much stronger than before, and to Raiden, it felt eerily cold. This chilling sensation was something Raiden had only experienced in Fugaku and Uchiha Madara before.
"Is this the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan causing such a shift in his Chakra?"
"Or is there another reason?"
Raiden pondered silently before speaking loudly, "Kid, you just said you were looking for me. What do you want?"
"It's simple. Did you participate in the massacre of Uchiha's revolution?"
"Many members of our Uchiha clan were killed by you."
"The eyes of those clansmen were collected by Konoha, weren't they?"
"Hand them over!"
Uchiha Sasuke glared at Uzumaki Raiden as he spoke. Hearing this, Raiden frowned slightly, a strange feeling rising within him.
"Revolution? Massacre?"
"That was rebellion. I call it suppression."
"And what position are you speaking to me from right now? As a rogue ninja of Konoha, are you demanding that I hand over the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai?"
"Boy, are you joking?"
Uzumaki Raiden's tone turned cold as Kagura's Mind Eye expanded, covering the entire town. In his perception, there were no traces of the masked man, Madara, or anyone else. This indicated that Sasuke wasn't acting with them at the moment.
However, from Sasuke's words and demeanor, it was clear that someone had been influencing him. The young Sasuke lacked the ability to truly analyze these matters; his thinking was naive and blinded by emotion.
"Rebellion? Uchiha was only trying to reclaim its rightful power. How is that a rebellion?"
"My father and elder brother recognized the injustice of Uchiha's situation in Konoha long ago."
"Since the past, Uchiha has been ostracized by Konoha, unable to enter the core of the village's leadership."
"Rather than being a noble clan of Konoha, Uchiha was treated like livestock—raised only to be slaughtered when deemed necessary."
"I will lead Uchiha to a new world. With our power, we can stand independent in the ninja world!"
Sasuke gripped his sword tightly, his voice filled with emotion.
At this moment, both Terumi Mei and Chōjūrō turned to look at Uzumaki Raiden. They didn't know the internal politics of Konoha, but based on Sasuke's words, it was clear that something dark had transpired between Konoha and the Uchiha clan.
This was major news. Even Mizukage Terumi Mei couldn't help but be intrigued, watching Uzumaki Raiden intently, awaiting his response.
"A new world? Independence?"
"How naive can you be, kid?"
"You say Uchiha was excluded from Konoha's leadership, but do you even realize that your father was the head of the Konoha Police Force? He was an important figure in the village's administration."
"Did you know that your elder brother, Uchiha Itachi, along with Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Obito, were all direct disciples of the Hokage—trained as potential successors?"
"Even you were a primary focus for training within the village."
"And yet, you still claim that Uchiha was excluded from power?"
Raiden's voice was firm. He didn't mind debating with Sasuke. Simply defeating Sasuke wasn't enough—if his mindset remained the same, he could never become an ally.
Uchiha Sasuke was crucial to Konoha. Due to the influence of the Sage of the Six Paths, Sasuke was destined to become an exceptionally powerful figure—one whose destructive capabilities could rival even Uchiha Madara.
With Madara's whereabouts unknown, if Sasuke were to align with him, their combined power could deal a devastating blow to Konoha. If things escalated, the two of them could even overthrow the village.
"Leadership? The so-called Konoha Police Force was nothing more than a cage to imprison my father."
"Whether it was my brother, Uchiha Shisui, or Uchiha Obito, you and the Fifth Hokage only took them in as disciples out of fear—fear that their overwhelming talent would allow them to escape your control."
"You only used Uchiha for its combat strength, never once intending to grant the clan the respect it deserved."
"Apart from the Uchiha you named, are there any others who held mid-to-high-ranking positions in the village?"
"No!"
"Our Uchiha clan had so many elites, so why were we confined to the Konoha Police Force? Why were we imprisoned within the village?"
"If you refuse to hand over those Sharingan, then I will take them myself."
"I'll take your head in exchange!"
With that, Sasuke drew his sword from his lower back and charged directly at Uzumaki Raiden.
"Chidori!"
Lightning Chakra crackled around the Kusanagi Sword, enhancing Sasuke's speed. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Raiden, slashing toward his chest.
"So fast! Uchiha Sasuke is incredibly fast!"
Chōjūrō saw Sasuke's sudden attack and wanted to help defend Raiden, but Sasuke's speed was beyond his reach. He could only watch in astonishment.
"Too weak, brat!"
Facing Sasuke's attack, Uzumaki Raiden didn't bother drawing his Sakegari no Tachi, nor did he dodge. He simply stood his ground, activating his Lightning Armor.
The Kusanagi Sword slashed down, striking Uzumaki Raiden's chest. However, to Sasuke's surprise, instead of cutting through, the blade clashed against Raiden's body with a crisp impact, followed by the crackling sound of electricity. The powerful slash, infused with Lightning Release Chakra, couldn't even pierce Raiden's Lightning Armor.
"Nani?!"
Through his Sharingan, Sasuke quickly analyzed the effect of his attack. Shocked, he gathered a dense amount of Lightning Release Chakra into his left hand.
"Such powerful Chakra, all concentrated in his hand?"
"If I take a hit from this, I'm dead!"
Chōjūrō noticed Sasuke's movements and instinctively wanted to step forward and assist. However, Terumi Mei grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Watch closely. Konoha's Fourth Hokage isn't someone a brat like Uchiha Sasuke can challenge," she said, showing no intention of interfering in the battle.
"Chidori!"
Sasuke lunged forward, his left hand thrusting toward Raiden's chest, but Raiden merely shifted his eyes, glancing at Sasuke with disdain.
"Magnetism!"
Sasuke's Chidori struck Raiden's chest, but the result was exactly the same as before. His Chidori failed to penetrate Raiden's Lightning Armor, unable to cause any damage. Realizing this, Sasuke quickly retreated, creating distance between himself and Raiden.
"You were so confident when you spoke just now, but is this really all you've got?"
"If that's the case, taking my head might be a little difficult for you."
Raiden didn't pursue him. Instead, he casually brushed off the nonexistent dust from his chest, smiling.
"He's too strong… Such a high concentration of Chakra, yet not even Sasuke's attacks can break through his defenses?"
"What kind of ninjutsu is this? What kind of attack could possibly harm him?"
Chōjūrō stood frozen, dumbfounded. Watching Raiden take two of Sasuke's most powerful attacks without so much as flinching left him speechless.
From Chōjūrō's perspective, both the Lightning-Infused Slash and Chidori were terrifying attacks. Yet neither could even scratch Raiden.
"That's the Lightning Armor—a secret technique of the Cloud Village. Before now, only members of the Yeyue Clan could master it," Terumi Mei explained, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Then why does Konoha's Hokage know a Cloud Village secret technique?" Chōjūrō asked, puzzled.
"Because of his talent. The Cloud once investigated Uzumaki Raiden's abilities and confirmed that the Lightning Armor technique was not stolen."
"Raiden developed his Lightning Armor entirely on his own."
"During the Third Shinobi World War, Uzumaki Raiden single-handedly suppressed Sand Ninja, forcing them into a peace treaty. He even fought off the Third Raikage, who led an attack on Konoha. That's why he earned the title 'Konoha's Thunder.' His specialty is Lightning Release."
"Defeating him with Lightning Release is impossible for Uchiha Sasuke."
Terumi Mei spoke clearly, and although she wasn't particularly loud, Sasuke, standing in the distance, heard every word.
Until now, Sasuke had only known Raiden as Naruto's uncle, Konoha's Fourth Hokage, and an expert in Sealing Techniques. Beyond that, he had little information about Raiden's past.
Hearing Terumi Mei reveal Raiden's achievements, Sasuke felt a sinking feeling in his chest.
Since unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan with the masked man's help, this was the first time Sasuke had felt such overwhelming pressure. Even when being hunted by the Mist Ninja, he had never experienced anything like this.
"Sasuke, don't hold back. Come at me with everything you've got."
"I'd love to see what progress you've made over the years. But if what you've shown so far is the best you can do, then don't waste my time."
"I'll take you back to Konoha and have Fugaku discipline you properly."
Raiden grinned, taunting Sasuke with a beckoning gesture.
Gritting his teeth, Sasuke remained silent, but his Mangekyō Sharingan activated as the tomoe in his eyes spun and merged.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"Amaterasu!"
Sasuke's gaze locked onto Raiden's body, focusing his pupil power to unleash Amaterasu.
However, the instant he did, Raiden's figure vanished, leaving behind an afterimage.
"Too slow!"
Before Sasuke could locate him, a thunderous boom erupted behind him.
Without hesitation, Sasuke instinctively activated Susanoo, enveloping himself in a purple skeletal frame, with black flames of Amaterasu burning within.
Raiden grinned at the sight. His Lightning Armor surged, now covered in a layer of golden chakra, before he drove his fist into Susanoo's back.
The impact shattered the skeletal Susanoo, and the force surged through its defenses, crashing directly into Sasuke's body.
"Ugh!"
Blood spewed from Sasuke's mouth as he was sent plummeting into the ground.
Meanwhile, the black flames of Amaterasu, which had spread across Susanoo, also ignited Raiden's body.
Still coughing up blood, Sasuke turned his head weakly to look at Raiden, a smirk forming on his face.
"Heh… This is Amaterasu—the eternal black flames."
"Anyone caught in Amaterasu's fire is doomed."
"Uzumaki Raiden, your head is mine after all!"
Sasuke's smile froze.
His Amaterasu had definitely burned Raiden's arm, yet Raiden smiled back at him. The golden chakra surrounding his arm flowed like liquid, peeling off his body—taking the black flames of Amaterasu with it.
Amaterasu had been stripped from his body!
"Kid, don't underestimate a Hokage!"
"If this is all you've got, then what exactly can you do?!"
Raiden chuckled, stepping over the dying black flames, slowly advancing toward Sasuke.
Sasuke, seeing Raiden approach, gritted his teeth and screamed. Desperation filled his eyes as two tears of blood trickled down his cheeks.
Amaterasu ignited once more!
But this time, Raiden didn't dodge.
Instead, his golden chakra flared up, covering his entire body. Everywhere Sasuke looked, black flames erupted, but they burned on the golden chakra instead of Raiden himself.
The golden chakra that was tainted by the flames simply peeled off Raiden's body and fell to the ground—rendering Amaterasu completely ineffective.
Sasuke's attacks were useless.
Frustrated, Sasuke panicked. Susanoo quickly formed a skeletal fist, launching a powerful strike toward Raiden.
Yet when the massive fist neared Raiden, he merely extended one finger, lightly tapping the attack.
The moment his finger made contact, Susanoo's fist came to a halt—completely immobilized.
"The difference in power is too vast."
Raiden muttered softly before grabbing Susanoo's hand.
With a sudden crush, Susanoo's arm was obliterated—vanishing into nothingness.
(End of Chapter)