At Shuoye Uchiha's command, the colossal phoenix seemed to receive a final directive.
It dove.
Its descent was swift as a falling star.
Flames trailed behind it, igniting the air itself. The earth blackened under its passage. Trees collapsed into ash before the heat even touched them. In moments, the battlefield resembled a scorched wasteland—apocalyptic and suffocating.
Darui and the others felt their throats tighten.
They trusted the Raikage's strength.
But against a technique of this magnitude—
Even he could not emerge unscathed.
Yet the Raikage did not retreat.
He threw his head back and laughed.
"Don't worry about me! I carry the name of Raikage!"
"Fire Release? Don't insult me!"
Lightning erupted around his body. Blue arcs coiled like living serpents as he charged directly into the inferno, a figure of thunder against the descending blaze.
From afar, Shuoye watched with faint approval.
"A worthy opponent."
"And a worthy opponent deserves full force."
His voice carried calm certainty.
Darui's expression hardened.
"Ready yourselves!"
"Lightning Release: Great Thunderfall Annihilation!"
Mabui roared as chakra surged violently through her body. This was their final countermeasure.
Darui formed seals at blinding speed, drawing together the collective lightning chakra of the Hidden Cloud shinobi. The energy rose, coalescing into something vast.
"Crush the Uchiha!"
At his shout, the lightning Kirin above roared silently and transformed into a descending beam of catastrophic brilliance, tearing toward Shuoye's position.
The heavens split.
Thunder detonated across the battlefield.
Massive lightning pillars slammed downward, colliding head-on with Fire Release: Divine Phoenix Soars the Heavens.
Fire met lightning.
The impact consumed the sky in blinding white.
The roar of the collision shook the earth itself.
For a heartbeat—
Silence.
Smoke and dust swallowed the battlefield.
From the shadows at its edge, a figure stepped forward with a low, amused click of the tongue.
White Zetsu.
Its hollow eyes gleamed strangely as it observed the destruction.
"What a performance," it muttered.
"But the ending seems obvious."
"The Uchiha… are about to suffer heavy losses."
It sounded almost pleased.
Then—
Applause echoed.
Thunderous.
From within the fading flames, the Raikage emerged.
His armor was scorched, his breathing heavier—but his eyes burned with sharp brilliance.
Darui and the others exhaled in relief. Cheers erupted behind him.
As long as the Raikage stood—
Victory was still possible.
He scanned the battlefield and smiled with fierce confidence.
"Uchiha."
"Your era ended long ago."
"This war will mark the triumph of the Hidden Cloud!"
His voice rang with certainty.
But just as victory seemed within reach—
The ground trembled again.
Stronger.
Deeper.
Smoke churned at the center of the battlefield.
When the dust finally parted—
A colossal silhouette stood revealed.
The Eight-Tails.
Fully manifested.
The sight struck like a bolt from the heavens.
The Raikage's expression froze.
Impossible.
"How—?!"
"Shuoye can control the Eight-Tails?"
"Has he awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
The thought chilled him.
Moments ago, he believed the tide had turned.
Now—
The battlefield had shifted entirely.
A deep roar rolled across the land.
The Eight-Tails' presence alone crushed morale. Its immense chakra flooded the air, pressing down like a mountain.
Shuoye appeared beside it, stepping forward with measured calm.
Behind him stood Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and Uchiha .
None showed fatigue.
None showed doubt.
Only burning resolve.
"Now," Shuoye said evenly,
"The real battle begins."
His voice carried across the battlefield.
"Kill."
The command struck like thunder.
The Eight-Tails roared, shaking the heavens.
Many Hidden Cloud shinobi faltered, their confidence shattering under the tailed beast's overwhelming aura.
But the Uchiha did not retreat.
Their eyes blazed brighter.
"Darui! Prepare to engage!" the Raikage barked, forcing himself into focus.
Lightning surged from his body again, crackling violently.
"We do not lose here!"
Darui clenched his jaw, fear breaking beneath determination.
"We stand!"
He repositioned the formation, reorganizing the remaining shinobi into defensive ranks.
The battlefield trembled.
Two forces stood poised.
And the storm had only just begun.
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