Looking at Kurenai smiling so happily at Shiki, Asuma's inner anger only grew heavier.
"…you looking for a fight?"
Asuma's eyes narrowed, irritation burning just under the surface.
Shiki couldn't help laughing at that expression.
He casually raised his hand and rested it on the handle of his sword.
"You…"
Don't let Asuma's fierce posture fool anyone — when actually standing in front of Shiki, he still had enough brain cells left not to act suicidal.
Arrogant? Yes. Stupid? Absolutely not.
And looking at Shiki, who really seemed ready to draw his blade, Asuma's face visibly drained.
"L-Lord Shiki!"
At that moment, the one-armed Sarutobi Shinnosuke instantly stepped forward, blocking in front of Asuma.
"My younger brother is still immature. Please, Lord Shiki, for the sake of Lord Third Hokage, don't take Asuma's behavior to heart!"
"Ohhh? Now that's some impressive talking."
Shiki grinned sharply.
"Did Hiruzen really scare you into being this polite?"
"A few years ago, if you were this good with words, I wouldn't have just cut off your arm, you know…"
Shiki tilted his head.
"I would've taken your head clean off."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's face darkened. He didn't respond.
Before the tension could escalate, another presence appeared.
Nara Shikaku emerged from the forest edge, immediately noticing the silent confrontation between Shiki and Shinnosuke. He felt his stomach twist but there was no time for this.
He focused only on Shiki.
"Lord Shiki — Cloud Village has attacked!"
"Huh?"
Already starting?
Shiki blinked with mild surprise.
A bunch of reckless muscleheads indeed.
But Shiki didn't panic. This whole trip was literally to fight these meat-headed maniacs from the Hidden Cloud. There was nothing to hesitate about.
He waved his hand casually.
"Gather the ninjas. We're going to face the Cloud idiots head-on. All muscle, no brain — nothing to be scared of."
"Yes!"
As commander-in-chief, Shiki's confidence alone was enough to settle the hearts of every subordinate.
If the commander panicked, the war was already lost.
But Shiki?
He radiated nothing but overwhelming certainty.
--
Meanwhile — Cloud Village Side
"Lord Raikage, the leader on Konoha's side is Shiki — the one known as the Golden Lion. We should still exercise caution!"
The Third Raikage stood at the front of the marching Cloud forces, leading them straight toward Konoha's camp. Once he heard Konoha's forces were already assembled, he didn't hesitate.
He immediately gathered every Cloud ninja he had brought.
His expression was filled with the confidence of a man preparing to crush an enemy with one decisive blow.
"Lord Raikage! Perhaps we should try planning more carefully—"
"Plan my ass!" The Third Raikage snapped.
"Defeating a One-Tail Jinchūriki? I've fought Tailed Beasts more times than I can count!"
He wasn't wrong.
During his era, the Third Raikage fought the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails countless times.
Whenever they rampaged, he personally beat them back into submission.
As for Shiki?
The Third Raikage scoffed.
He had heard the rumors.
He just didn't care.
"It's just a One-Tail! I'll use this battle to tell the entire ninja world — Cloud Village is the strongest village now!"
Ever since the First and Second Hokage died, Cloud had never accepted Konoha's "strongest village" title. And now?
The Third Raikage planned to snatch it in one war.
"But—" One of his jonin tried to speak.
But before he could finish, the future Fourth Raikage — A, standing tall beside his father — cut him off with a cold, confident snort.
"What's there to worry about? My father is here. I'm here. B is here. Yugito and the Two-Tails are here too. Konoha? They're nothing."
Truly the son of the Third Raikage, recklessness passed down through genetics.
The jonin could only shut his mouth. At this point, what else could he say?
They kept moving, and soon Konoha's camp came into sight. The Third Raikage lifted his hand, signaling a halt.
He turned to Killer B.
"B. Go say hello to Konoha."
"OK!" Killer B spun dramatically.
"Leave it to me, Lord Bee! I'll shock Konoha with my crazy steez! Yeah!!"
The man still loved rap.
"A-are you sure about this, B?" A asked, concerned for his partner.
"Relax, bro! Don't be slow! Lord Bee is ready to go!" B replied, striking a ridiculous pose.
…A stared at him.
Annoyed.
Regretting their brotherly bond.
If he wasn't my brother, I'd punch him.
"Go."
The Third Raikage chuckled and gave B the OK.
"OK!"
B stomped the ground. Crimson chakra surged around him in waves, the pressure alone pushing back several weaker ninja.
"The Eight-Tails…"
"What terrifying power…"
"With Lord B, there's no way we lose!"
Cloud ninja had always treated their Jinchūriki far better than other villages. No scorn, no fear — only respect.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
As more chakra poured out, the earth cracked apart.
Octopus-like tails burst from the ground behind B.
"Those Konoha fools — Lord Bee is here to give you a gift!"
Gyūki's voice boomed like thunder.
Even from a distance, the oppressive chakra shook the air around Konoha's camp.
"What the hell is that!?"
"That chakra is dangerous!"
"Enemy attack! ALL UNITS ON ALERT!"
Above the battlefield, the Tailed Beast Bomb gathered between B's jaws — pitch-black and humming with annihilating power.
"Go die!!"
The Bijūdama shot forward in a blinding flash toward Konoha's camp.
"Hmph! Victory is ours!"
The Third Raikage and A both smirked.
A full-power Eight-Tails Tailed Beast Bomb was no joke.
Just as B danced excitedly, preparing to rap his victory verse...
"B!" Gyūki suddenly roared inside his mind.
"BE CAREFUL! A terrifying presence just appeared over there!"
"Huh? What danger?" B blinked, his expression confused.
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