At that moment, both Uzuki Yugao and Moonlight Hayate began to feel restless.
They wanted to jump into the battle several times, but looking at Tatsuya's still posture, they held back, suppressing their urges.
After all, when Anbu are on a mission, the command of a superior is law. It must not be disobeyed.
"Coward..."
Moonlight Hayate, sickly and thin, stared at Tatsuya's back and whispered inwardly with disdain.
In his mind, Tatsuya was frozen in fear at the sight of the Fourth Raikage and unwilling to act.
"Hayate..."
Uzuki Yugao had grown up with him and knew his thoughts with just a glance.
No.
Captain Tatsuya wasn't like that.
He was Konoha's hero.
Red-eyed and resolute, Kurenai Yuhi stood behind Tatsuya, awaiting his command without hesitation.
"It's time," Tatsuya whispered. "You three—head to Captain Sarutobi's position. Stay away from Jiraiya and the Fourth Raikage's battle."
"Yes, Captain!" Kurenai nodded, then hesitated. "And what about you?"
"Me?"
Tatsuya gave a calm smile. "The Fourth Raikage invaded the Land of Fire. He's not leaving that easily."
"Move."
"Yes!"
With a burst of speed, the four vanished into the trees.
Even as she moved, Kurenai couldn't shake the chill down her spine.
Was Captain Tatsuya really going to take on the Fourth Raikage—alone?
---
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Jiraiya and the Fourth Raikage faced each other in a cautious standoff.
Both were testing their limits.
Raikage knew his exposed position made him vulnerable to Konoha reinforcements.
Jiraiya, for his part, knew well the threat a furious Raikage posed. If things got out of hand, even Konoha's elite might fall.
They hesitated.
Until—
Boom!
White smoke exploded beside the Fourth Raikage.
"A smoke bomb!" he barked, leaping back.
An Anbu in a white mask and cloak stepped through the smoke.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive sphere of fire—over ten meters wide—roared toward the Raikage.
"Tch. Stubborn Anbu. Liger Bomb!"
With a snarl, the Fourth Raikage surged forward with a thunder-infused elbow, aiming to split the fireball apart like he did with Jiraiya.
From afar, Jiraiya's face twisted in panic.
"No! That's the Raikage you're attacking—you're going to get yourself killed!"
Nearby Anbu froze in awe.
"Captain Tatsuya finally made a move!"
"Is he... trying to take down the Raikage by himself?!"
"Unreal. I thought he was just observing—turns out he was looking for an opening!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke watched silently, pride swelling in his chest.
"To step into such danger without hesitation... that is the true Will of Fire."
All around, the Anbu nodded in agreement.
Three years ago, Tatsuya had nearly died protecting the village from the Nine Tails.
Now, he did the same when facing a foreign Kage.
This was no fluke.
Tatsuya was Konoha's hero.
Even Moonlight Hayate was stunned.
"I was wrong... I misjudged him."
Tatsuya's figure seemed taller than life now.
---
Back on the battlefield—
Boom!
The Fourth Raikage slammed into the Great Fireball with sheer force—but his expression darkened.
"That chakra... it's too dense! This isn't a regular Anbu..."
The fireball was packed with pressure and power well beyond Jōnin-level.
Kage-level chakra?!
When did Konoha produce such an elite?
Boom!
With a roar, the Raikage surged more chakra through his Lightning Armor and tore through the fireball.
"You little—"
But then he saw them.
Over a dozen kunai with explosive tags, concealed inside the fireball, flew toward him like a storm.
Shit!
The flames had hidden them perfectly.
That sneaky bastard!
Even the Raikage had to admit—it was a brilliant trap.
This wasn't the move of a reckless fool.
It was the calculated strike of a battlefield veteran.
And it had just begun.
---