The cold wind cut like a blade, adding an extra chill to the already solemn battlefield.
But at this moment, Uchiha Susumu and Uchiha Kiyoshi felt an even greater coldness in their hearts than the winter wind.
Facing the overwhelming chakra surging before them, the two Uchiha elders felt their spirits plummet. When Uzumaki Raiden had been standing idly, they hadn't sensed any pressure from him. But the moment he entered his fighting stance, they finally understood just how terrifying Konoha's former Fourth Hokage was.
"Even just his aura is this oppressive…!"
Uchiha Shin narrowed his eyes slightly. Though momentarily stunned, he quickly focused his chakra—he knew that the Hokage's next attack would be devastating, and he had to be prepared.
A Deadly Assault
"Then let's start with the one using space-time ninjutsu."
Uzumaki Jiuming closed his eyes briefly, feeling the full extent of his power. Without making any grand movements, he simply extended his hand toward Uchiha Kiyoshi, sending a golden chakra arm racing toward him. At the same time, Raiden's gaze shifted to Uchiha Shin, where crackling lightning quickly condensed before him.
"Zzzt!"
With a sharp crack, the thunder sliced through the air.
"Here it comes!"
Uchiha Shin had already raised his vigilance to the highest level. The moment he saw Raiden's gaze on him, he instinctively dodged, predicting the trajectory of the attack. Sure enough, just as he leapt away, a lightning strike obliterated the ground where he had stood moments ago, leaving behind a deep crater.
While Raiden attacked Shin, the golden chakra arm closed in on Uchiha Kiyoshi. Its speed was astonishing—faster even than the lightning strike.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!"
The attack was swift. As Uchiha Kiyoshi attempted to evade, he realized with horror that Raiden's chakra arm could track his movements. After a few desperate dodges, he understood that his speed alone wouldn't be enough to escape.
With no choice left, he made a quick decision.
As he dodged, Kiyoshi's eyes sharpened, focusing intently. The space before him began to distort.
"So this is his space-time ninjutsu?"
Uzumaki Raiden sensed the unusual chakra radiating from Kiyoshi's body. With a flicker, he shifted his focus away from Shin and turned toward Kiyoshi.
A second later, Raiden's figure vanished.
"I did it!"
Kiyoshi had concentrated all his energy on the incoming attack, and when he saw space beginning to warp—successfully absorbing the golden chakra arm—he felt a surge of triumph.
But in the next moment, a deep chill crawled up his spine.
Someone was behind him.
"It can't be—"
Before Kiyoshi could even turn around, he felt a bone-crushing impact against his back.
"Crack!"
"BOOM!!!"
A deafening sound echoed across the battlefield as a figure was sent flying. Kiyoshi's body smashed through several walls before disappearing from sight.
Where he had stood, there was no trace of him—only Uzumaki Raiden, still shrouded in his golden chakra mantle.
"Was that too much?"
Raiden clenched his fists, feeling the residual energy in his knuckles. The combination of his raw Super Strength and the immense chakra of Kurama had made his power overwhelming. Though he had held back slightly, the force he unleashed had still exceeded his expectations.
Extending his senses toward Kiyoshi's location, Raiden shook his head.
In the distance, a large crater marked where Kiyoshi had landed.
There was no life force left.
Unleashing Rage
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
Uchiha Shin watched in horror as his younger brother was obliterated before his eyes. Rage consumed him, completely overwhelming his fear.
With a furious roar, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Through his blood-red eyes, he could see it clearly—Kiyoshi's chakra was fading rapidly.
There was only one explanation for that.
Kiyoshi was dead.
The realization ignited something deep within Shin's soul. The pain of losing his younger brother sent him into a frenzy.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!"
With a mad howl, the tomoe in his Sharingan spun violently, merging into a complete Mangekyō pattern. A powerful chakra construct began forming around him.
"He's triggered a power surge? His Susanoo is even stronger than before!"
From a distance, Uchiha Fugaku frowned, sensing the increase in Shin's power. Meanwhile, Uzumaki Raiden regarded his opponent with an indifferent smirk, a predatory glint flashing in his eyes.
"Susanoo? That won't save you."
Raiden's figure blurred, vanishing into golden light.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared directly above Uchiha Shin.
Annihilation
"So fast!"
"Not even my Mangekyō Sharingan could track his movement—"
"BOOM!!!"
Before Shin could finish his thought, a devastating blow landed on Susanoo's head, smashing it into the ground. The entire battlefield trembled.
Even with Susanoo's armor, Shin felt the impact—his internal organs churned, his ribs strained under the pressure, and he involuntarily coughed up blood.
"Damn… this power…!"
Raiden hovered above him, studying the fractured Susanoo.
"Sturdy little shell."
Without hesitation, he punched again.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Repeated blows battered Shin's Susanoo, forcing him deeper into the ground. Though the defense barely held, the man inside was suffering.
Coughing up another mouthful of blood, Shin gritted his teeth.
"I… can't keep taking this!"
His gaze darted toward the debris-strewn battlefield—kunai, shuriken, and short blades littered the ground.
"A chance!"
Shin focused his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Immediately, the scattered weapons levitated and shot toward Raiden.
Futile Resistance
"A magnetic manipulation technique? Or something else?"
Raiden raised an eyebrow. It was the first time he had seen this particular ability.
"But your control is sloppy."
The golden chakra mantle around him expanded, wrapping around his body protectively.
The incoming weapons barely pierced two centimeters into the chakra barrier before losing all momentum.
With a casual flick of his wrist, Raiden swept them away, sending the weapons clattering to the ground.
"Nice try."
Before Shin could react, golden chains erupted from Raiden's body—the Kongō Fūsa.
The chains effortlessly pierced through Susanoo, wrapping around Shin's body and yanking him out of his chakra construct.
Trapped and immobilized, Shin found himself face to face with Raiden.
Only his head remained free.
"Now," Raiden murmured, his piercing gaze locking onto the Uchiha, "let's have a little chat."
(End of Chapter)