The Raikage Tower stood high atop the mountain, its peak hidden within roaring clouds that flashed with constant thunder. It looked less like a tower and more like a shrine to the storm itself—worthy of the Raikage's power.
Mufasa and Sasuke walked the swaying rope bridge without fear, ignoring the howling winds and the abyss below.
Their eyes stayed forward, locked on the glowing tower.
Whoosh.Whoosh.
Two figures landed heavily on the wide balcony, their cloaks snapping in the wind. One was Mufasa, the Kazekage, the other his disciple, Uchiha Sasuke.
The Fourth Raikage, Ay, stood waiting with folded arms. His towering frame, dark skin, and wild blonde hair made him look like a beast given human form.
He wore a white cloak, broad belt, and plated armor that crackled faintly with static.
Ay's sharp eyes studied the arrivals, then lingered on Mufasa. "Good skill. You… look familiar. Aren't you Hayato of the Electromagnetic Fist? Why does your face remind me of someone?"
Mufasa laughed, his deep voice carrying over the storm. "Hayato was just a name I played with. I am Mufasa, the Kazekage. And this—" he placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder "—is my disciple."
Ay's brow furrowed, then he smirked. "So that's it. The Kazekage himself, standing on my balcony. Hah! No wonder I thought I'd seen your face before."
The mountain echoed with the voices of shinobi and villagers gathered below.
"Hit the Raikage!""Please, Master Hayato!""Teach him a lesson, Mufasa!"
Mufasa raised his hand, pointing down toward the crowd. "I came here with their hopes resting on me."
Instead of being insulted, Ay threw his head back and laughed. "In the Cloud, strength is the only respect that matters. If they want me defeated, then let them watch me crush their dreams." His grin widened. "Do you want to test me, Kazekage?"
"No," Mufasa replied calmly. "I want him to test you." He gestured at Sasuke.
Ay tilted his head, then barked out a laugh. "That brat? He's nothing but skin and bones."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, crimson Sharingan whirling. "Say that again. I'll put you down."
Ay's expression hardened, lightning beginning to crackle at his fingertips. "Little ghost, you don't know what kind of storm you've called down."
"Kazekage, what if I kill him outright?" Ay asked with a grin.
Mufasa shrugged, arms folding into his cloak. "Then you kill him. I'll collect the body."
That answer only made Ay grin wider. "So ruthless, even with your own disciple."
"Dead weight deserves no mercy," Mufasa said evenly. "This world has no place for weakness."
Ay pointed a thick finger at Sasuke. "Fine then. Boy—step forward and die."
Mufasa leaned toward Sasuke. "No holding back. Use every weapon, every trick. Show me if you can break a Kage."
Confidence surged in Sasuke's chest. He smirked, stepping forward with his hand on his sword hilt. The onlookers roared.
"Go, Kenichi!""Show him, Sasuke!"
Mufasa leapt onto a nearby rooftop, folding his arms as he watched like a hawk.
The air grew heavy as the Raikage squared off against the young Uchiha.
Ay's voice boomed. "Last chance, boy. Surrender now."
Sasuke didn't respond. His Sharingan eyes glowed like burning coals.
The Raikage felt the sudden ripple of chakra pressure—and then, in an instant, black flames erupted toward him.
Amaterasu.
Ay blurred, his body vanishing into an afterimage, the flames devouring only empty air.
For a split second, his eyes widened. 'That was dangerous.'
Sasuke scowled. "You dodged it?" His mind raced. 'Even my Amaterasu—he evaded it just by instinct and speed?' A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. 'What kind of monster…'
Ay growled, electricity dancing wildly around him. "Brat, I won't be underestimated!"
The storm answered his fury. Blue lightning surged across his body, forming an armor of pure chakra. The ground cracked under his feet as his body glowed like living thunder.
"This is Lightning Release Chakra Mode!" a shinobi below shouted.
His speed spiked, rivaling even Minato's Yellow Flash.
To the crowd, Ay seemed less like a man and more like a bolt of lightning given form.
Sasuke drew his blade, his Sharingan burning with determination. Lightning danced across his weapon as he called out: "Resound—Kusanagi, Blade of the Storm!"
Ay smirked. "You dare fight me with lightning? Fool. I am lightning!"
With a roar, Ay gathered chakra into his legs and launched upward, descending like a giant axe made of thunder. "Liger Bomb!"
The speed was unreal.
Sasuke barely had time to spin his kaleidoscope Sharingan. Black flames erupted, twisting into a shield above his head.
BOOM!
The Raikage's leg smashed into Sasuke's defense, the impact shaking the entire tower.
The shield of black fire quivered, almost shattering. Sasuke staggered, pale from the drain.
'Too strong…' he thought, forcing more chakra into the flames.
Ay landed and didn't pause. He lunged again, his hand coated in a blade of blue lightning. "Thunder Chop!"
The chakra blade drove toward Sasuke's chest. At the last second, black flames formed a barrier over his heart.
Sparks and embers clashed as lightning slammed against fire.
Ay didn't stop pressing forward. His blade pushed closer, closer—straight toward Sasuke's heart.
Sasuke watched as Raikage A's lightning-charged hand moved closer and closer to his chest. His face tightened, sweat beginning to bead at his forehead.
He drew on more chakra, his Sharingan spinning furiously, every cell in his body screaming from the strain.
The blade of lightning finally halted, stopping just short. Sasuke exhaled sharply but didn't dare relax. His entire body was burning, as if being crushed from the inside.
A sudden slash cut through the air from the side—Zanpakutō-like, swift and sharp. Raikage A dodged, retreating to gain distance. He smirked at Sasuke, who was panting heavily inside the ruined battlefield.
"Little brat," Raikage A growled with a grin. "Now you've tasted the power of the Raikage."
Sasuke's expression remained cold. "That's all you've got?"
The Raikage's grin twisted into fury. 'This kid… he's looking down on me?!' His chakra flared like a storm. "I'll crush you where you stand!"
Before Raikage A could charge again, Sasuke raised his hand. The ground trembled as purple ribs of chakra erupted around him.
Susanoo's colossal form emerged, towering and armored in lightning. Sasuke fused his own chakra with Lightning Release, weaving thunder into the spectral warrior's body.
Gasps echoed from the crowd of shinobi and villagers.
"What is that thing?!"
"It looks unstoppable!"
"Susanoo…? He's really an Uchiha!"
Even Mufasa, watching from the sidelines, folded his arms with a small smile. Boy, you're going to learn something painful today.
Raikage A's eyes lit up with excitement instead of fear. "Hah! Now this is interesting. Show me what you've got!"
From atop Susanoo's head, Sasuke's cold voice rang out. "This is the Uchiha clan's ultimate power—Susanoo. Prepare yourself to kneel."
The massive figure bent its bow, a crackling arrow of pure lightning forming in its hands. With a sharp release, the arrow screamed through the sky.
But Raikage A was faster. Blue lightning erupted across his body, and he darted forward, slipping past the arrow. He appeared at Susanoo's waist, pressing both glowing hands against the thunder-clad armor.
"Break!" he roared.
To everyone's shock, the Raikage pried open Susanoo's thunder armor with raw strength. He surged forward, wrapped his arms around the colossal construct, and lifted. Sparks rained down as if the sky itself was being torn.
"Thunder Bomb!"
With a roar, Raikage A hurled Susanoo—and Sasuke within it—into a nearby hill. The impact shattered stone, sending debris flying like a meteor strike. Thunder crackled violently as Raikage
A slammed chakra-infused blows into Susanoo, hammering it deeper into the mountain.
The once-majestic titan cracked under the relentless assault, fragments of chakra armor breaking away.
Sasuke reeled, his vision spinning. He could barely hold his chakra together. Each strike of Raikage's fists rattled his bones.
At last, the thunderous barrage ceased. Raikage A stood tall, electricity still dancing across his body, as the remains of Susanoo crumbled around Sasuke.
"You're tough, kid," Raikage A admitted with a smirk. "Tough enough to take my Thunder Bomb and still breathe. But it ends here. Admit defeat."
Sasuke, though battered and half-conscious, forced his lips into a defiant sneer. "Dream on. I'll never bow to you."
Raikage A's eyes narrowed. "Then die."
He leapt high, lightning chakra concentrating into his hand like a blade.
The infamous Hell Stab—the same jutsu he once used to cut down the Eight-Tails' horn—gleamed with deadly force.
He plummeted downward, aiming for Sasuke's head.
Sasuke tried to move but his body screamed in agony, his strength drained. The glowing blade was inches from his face when—
A hand caught it.
The Raikage's eyes widened in shock. His lightning-charged strike had been stopped mid-swing.
"Heh," came a calm chuckle. "Sasuke… now you see the gap between yourself and a true monster."
Mufasa stood there, gripping the Raikage's hand like an unshakable pillar. Not a single muscle in his arm trembled.
The Raikage snarled and pressed harder, lightning flashing violently. Yet Mufasa's hold didn't budge. His arm was rooted like stone.
"Impossible!" Raikage A shouted, veins bulging. "No one's supposed to be stronger than me—not in raw power!"
Mufasa smirked. "You're not the only one who trains his body with lightning. I've spent years shocking myself awake, tearing my muscles apart, and reforging them with electricity. You think you're unique?"
Raikage A's eyes burned with a mix of rage and respect. He ripped his arm free, stepping back.
Mufasa turned to Sasuke, helping him to his feet. "You see now? Stop posturing. You've got potential, but you've got a long way to go."
Sasuke winced, but his pride finally cracked. He nodded slowly. "I… understand. Next time, Raikage… I'll be ready to face you again."
Raikage A smirked. "Good. Maybe then you'll last more than a few blows."
The onlookers roared with excitement, demanding more. "Master Mufasa, fight him! Show the Raikage what real strength is!"
Mufasa chuckled under his breath. "So, Raikage, shall we trade fists?"
The Raikage's grin widened. His battle-lust flared brighter than lightning itself. "Damn right we will. I live for fights like this."
Mufasa sighed, already knowing there was no turning back. "Knew you wouldn't say no. But I've got a condition."
Raikage A tilted his head. "What condition?"
"After we fight," Mufasa said with a sharp grin, "you'll teach me Kumogakure's hidden ninjutsu. I want to learn it all."
Raikage A blinked, then barked out a laugh. "You're insane. But fine. Prove yourself, and we'll see if you've got the guts to handle our lightning."
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Word count: 1771
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