Chapter 125 – King vs. King
The Fourth Raikage did not meet the eyes of the Uchihas, but he heard their laughter. His brows furrowed, and he rumbled in a puzzled tone:
"You can still laugh? Hmph… as expected of the Uchiha Clan. You're all freaks."
Then, with a scornful smirk, he added:
"Speaking of freaks, isn't your clan leader one as well? To assassinate his own village's Hokage… to commit such a treasonous act… truly unforgivable."
But Uchiha Yashiro ignored the Raikage's words. His gaze instead turned toward a certain direction, his eyes burning with fervent anticipation.
The Fourth Raikage also sensed it. His lightning-like gaze snapped to the same direction, where numerous shadowy figures were rapidly approaching.
"Heh… so reinforcements have come."
He sneered disdainfully—until his eyes fell on the figure leading them. Draped in the Hokage's robes, with an unmistakable bearing of authority, the leader drew his attention immediately. The Raikage's expression shifted, narrowing his eyes before an amused smile curved across his lips.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
Throwing back his head, the Fourth Raikage laughed loudly:
"Your Hokage has finally arrived! Uchiha Fugaku… what a freak!"
Crossing his arms, the Raikage stood firm, cold eyes fixed on the approaching figures as they regrouped with the few survivors he had left standing.
And from behind him, the sound of many feet rang out as well. The Kumogakure reinforcements had arrived—right on time.
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"Clan Leader!"
Uchiha Yashiro and the surviving Uchiha shouted with passion, their voices filled with relief and reverence.
Fugaku gave a slight nod, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan already open. His eyes locked on the lightning-wreathed giant standing across from him.
So this is the Fourth Raikage…
He had already sensed the enormous eruption of chakra moments earlier. Anticipating the threat, Fugaku had activated his Eternal Eyes in advance. He knew the Raikage's speed was monstrous—one misstep could be fatal. His Susanoo was ready to manifest at a moment's notice.
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"Hokage-sama!"
Hyūga Daichi—the one who had first spotted the Raikage—and another Hyūga, who had narrowly escaped earlier, both called out with raw excitement. Their faces lit up with renewed hope.
But when their gazes moved past Fugaku, their expressions froze.
Behind him stood none other than Hyūga Hiashi, the clan head himself.
"C–Clan Leader?!"
Daichi's eyes bulged, his voice breaking with disbelief. He rubbed his eyes hard, but no—there was no mistake. Their Clan Leader was truly there.
Hiashi ignored their shock. His eyes, cold and sharp, remained locked on the towering figure across from him.
It was this man—the Fourth Raikage—who had sent agents to infiltrate the Hyūga estate, attempting to abduct his beloved daughter. An incident that had nearly cost him his life.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen had been an accomplice, then this Raikage was the mastermind.
The same man who was responsible for the death of his brother, Hizashi.
Now, face-to-face, Hiashi's fury surged. If not for the Raikage's overwhelming power, he would have long since thrown himself forward to take vengeance.
He quickly took in the battlefield—the churned earth, the shattered trees, and the countless corpses. The evidence was undeniable. His face darkened further.
---
"Alas… I've arrived a step too late. My apologies, everyone."
Fugaku's voice carried calm authority, though tinged with a sigh.
"Hokage-sama!" Uchiha Yashiro immediately cried out, seizing the moment. "You must avenge us! The enemy struck too swiftly—we couldn't stop them at all. Everyone… only a few of us remain!"
At his words, many of the Konoha shinobi behind Fugaku exchanged uneasy glances. Their hearts trembled with disbelief.
So many stationed at the border outpost… and only a handful survived?
Among the older jōnin, veterans of the last Kumogakure campaign, grim recognition dawned. The devastation before them was reminiscent of that era—the time when the young "A–B Combination" of Kumogakure had carved their legend across the battlefield, utterly unstoppable.
Their faces turned solemn. Their Fifth Hokage now stood before them… but could even he withstand the storm known as the Fourth Raikage, as the Fourth Hokage once had?
Victory or defeat no longer depended on numbers. Both sides had armies behind them. The true outcome would be decided by their leaders—Hokage versus Raikage.
King versus King.
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"Damnable Cloud ninja!"
Might Guy's fists clenched as his eyes fell on the scattered corpses of comrades littering the ground. His voice thundered with raw anger:
"Let me, Konoha's proud Blue Beast, face you!"
But before he could charge, Uchiha Yashiro stepped in sharply. He had no idea how strong Might Guy truly was, but he couldn't risk morale being crushed by another swift defeat.
"Stand down! This enemy is beyond reckless charges. Trust in Hokage-sama!"
Guy bit his lip, then reluctantly stepped back into the ranks. He recalled Kakashi's earlier warnings—this was not the time to let his emotions dictate his fists.
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"Fourth Raikage," Fugaku finally spoke, his voice sharp as a blade. "Are you so eager to throw away your life?"
His words cut through the air, leaving both allies and enemies stunned.
The Konoha shinobi behind him were wide-eyed.
Is Hokage-sama truly this bold?
The Fourth Raikage was no ordinary foe—he was a living legend, seasoned in countless battles, feared across the entire shinobi world.
On the other side, the Kumogakure ninja erupted in derision.
This so-called Fifth Hokage dares to speak so brazenly to Raikage-sama? He must have a death wish.
To them, Fugaku was nothing but the "Fierce Eyes" who had once fought on the Hidden Mist frontlines before fading into obscurity.
Even among the Konoha ranks, doubt simmered. They had expected their Hokage to negotiate, to temper the situation with words. Instead, he had hurled the gauntlet of war without hesitation.
The Raikage, as expected, roared with laughter.
"Uchiha Fugaku—I know of you. The Uchiha coward." His voice was thick with contempt. "I heard that after the Nine-Tails incident, you were cast aside, driven to the village's fringes like trash."
His eyes blazed with mocking disdain.
"And what now? You murdered your own Hokage in a coup, and by that, claimed the seat of power. Do you truly think yourself untouchable?"
The Raikage's voice turned ice-cold, like the chill of winter steel.
"Don't delude yourself. Even your precious Third Hokage humbled himself before me—ceding land, paying reparations, bowing his head in submission. If Sarutobi Hiruzen himself could not stand against me, what makes you think you can?"
His words peeled away the last remnants of pretense, baring raw contempt.
The hearts of Konoha's jōnin sank.
Yes… even the Third Hokage bowed to Kumogakure. What is the Fifth planning? Does he truly intend to fight this out to the bitter end?
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But not all were shaken.
Hyūga Hiashi's eyes burned red with bloodshot veins. His fists trembled, but not from fear.
The Raikage's oppressive aura was undeniable—but so was his own resolve.
And unlike the others, Hiashi knew something they did not.
The man standing at the forefront, clad in the Hokage's robes, was no longer the same Uchiha Fugaku of the past.
The Eternal Mangekyō burned in his eyes. A power akin to Uchiha Madara himself.
Hiashi's heart steadied.
Yes… this time, things will be different.
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✨ End of Chapter 125