"Konoha's pursuit forces?"
The moment Aomizu appeared, all six Kumogakure shinobi stiffened instinctively. Their mission was already deep inside enemy territory. Prolonged conflict here, especially if surrounded, was the last thing any of them wanted. If Konoha had dispatched a proper pursuit squad, escape would be incredibly difficult.
However, their apprehension quickly shifted into confusion.
Because from beginning to end—
only Aomizu appeared.
No Anbu.
No Jonin.
No reinforcements.
Nothing.
Just one teenage boy standing calmly in their path.
"Does Konoha have no one left?"
The Fourth Raikage, A, narrowed his eyes at the lone figure approaching. His voice dripped with disdain. It was ridiculous—insulting, even—that a single boy dared pursue the elite Cloud-nin who had infiltrated so deeply.
Dodai, however, remained cautious. "Don't underestimate him. Eliminate the threat quickly—we must leave this forest immediately."
As the Third Raikage's most trusted subordinate, Dodai's words carried weight. Even Raikage A, known for his explosive temper, didn't rebuke him.
At that moment, Killer Bee stepped forward eagerly.
"Big Bro, leave this guy to me! I'll take him down fast—dattebayo!"
Yet his enthusiasm was instantly rejected.
"Bee, stop being childish," the Raikage barked. "You all move ahead. I'll finish him and catch up."
Even though he was not yet the official Fourth Raikage in this timeline, A was already a seasoned Jonin and one of the strongest shinobi in the Hidden Cloud. Born with the Third Raikage's bloodline, he inherited monstrous physical power and the potential for overwhelming speed.
He wasn't boasting when he said he would finish this quickly.
Before he even finished speaking, Raikage A shot forward—
and the world blurred.
His body became a streak of blue lightning.
His speed was monstrous—comparable to teleportation. Even experienced shinobi would struggle to react, much less defend. Years of harsh taijutsu and Lightning Release training had forged him into a human thunderbolt.
Aomizu's pupils contracted instantly.
Even with his heightened perception, he could barely follow that speed. His instincts screamed danger—but even if he noticed it, his body wasn't fast enough to evade.
Despite training with the Eight Gates and having surpassed the level of many taijutsu specialists, Aomizu was still too slow before the Raikage's thunder-charged assault.
The blow was unavoidable.
At least, that was what should have happened.
Bang!
Instead of Aomizu being crushed under the Raikage's attack—the Raikage himself was blasted backward.
A powerful shockwave rippled across the clearing.
Aomizu had activated—
Shinra Tensei.
The Deva Path's ultimate repulsion technique.
An ability belonging exclusively to the legendary Rinnegan.
It required no hand signs.
It activated instantly.
And it could repel anything.
The technique consumed a tremendous amount of chakra, however. Had Aomizu not trained rigorously and expanded his reserves, he wouldn't have been able to use it so freely.
"What…?"
Raikage A, who just moments ago radiated unstoppable dominance, was now hurled through the air like a ragdoll. The sight left the five Cloud-nin dumbstruck.
Even Killer Bee stood frozen in disbelief.
As A's sworn brother, no one knew the Raikage's strength better than him. Except for the Third Raikage, Killer Bee believed that no shinobi alive could overpower A in pure physical combat.
He had believed that once A moved, Aomizu's fate was sealed.
But now—
His pride, confidence, and expectations were shattered in a single moment.
The disappointment of not being allowed to fight Aomizu himself transformed instantly into shock—
and a deep, suffocating sense of defeat.
The month of grueling training he endured suddenly felt meaningless.
Motoi and Shiko, similarly, could do nothing but stare. They had received intelligence about Aomizu after the second exam ended and had mentally prepared themselves.
But even their exaggerated estimations fell short of reality.
Motoi, especially, regretted ever provoking this monster of a boy.
Aomizu didn't waste time.
With a swift gesture, he extended his hand—
Universal Pull!
The gravitational force yanked Kushina—still unconscious—directly toward him.
However, Killer Bee instinctively tightened his grip on her and was dragged along as well.
"Damn it! What kind of power is this?!"
He stabbed his blade into the ground to anchor himself, but the irresistible pull still dragged him inch by inch toward Aomizu.
Realizing Aomizu's intent, the other Cloud-nin finally snapped out of their shock. All four prepared to attack simultaneously, committing wholly to the confrontation.
Aomizu kept one hand extended to maintain Universal Pull.
With his other hand, he rapidly formed a sequence of hand signs.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
A massive dragon made of swirling water exploded into existence, roaring as it hurtled toward Killer Bee and the others.
The dragon's force overwhelmed Bee's grip. His blade slipped. Kushina was ripped free, flying directly into Aomizu's arms.
The water dragon didn't stop there. It continued charging toward Dodai's squad.
"Lava Release: Rubber Wall!"
Dodai reacted instantly. His hands slammed together, producing a thick wall of rubber-like lava that intercepted the water dragon. The force of the collision shook the trees and sent shockwaves across the forest floor.
Simultaneously, Kushina stirred in Aomizu's arms.
Her eyes fluttered open.
"A… Aomizu?"
Her voice trembled. She recognized the familiar warmth of the person holding her, even though her mind was blurry.
Fragments of memories returned—the ambush, the struggle, the sudden pain, and then darkness.
She quickly realized they were no longer in Konoha.
She had been kidnapped.
And Aomizu had come alone—
to save her.
Before she could speak further—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Dozens of shuriken shaped like squares sliced through the air toward them.
Troy's Magnet Release.
Aomizu instantly reacted. His arm wrapped protectively around Kushina as he flickered away, avoiding the incoming assault using the Body Flicker Technique.
Setting Kushina down safely, he flashed through another series of hand seals.
Wind Release: Cutting Wind Technique!
Razor-sharp blades of wind erupted outward, slicing apart every square shuriken—
even the ones still under Troy's magnetized control.
Dodai couldn't help muttering under his breath.
"How is this kid just a Genin?"
He had read the intel. He knew Aomizu was unusual.
But what he was witnessing now far exceeded anything he had mentally prepared for.
"Genin or not," Raikage A growled as he rejoined the group, "he cannot be allowed to live."
Despite being blasted away earlier, Raikage A stood completely uninjured. Aomizu frowned deeply upon noticing this.
He had poured full power into that Shinra Tensei.
Anyone else would have been gravely injured or outright killed.
But this man—
the future Fourth Raikage—
had withstood it without even a scratch.
A terrifying monster of pure muscle and lightning.
Dodai stepped closer and whispered urgently, "His ability is strange. Do you know how to counter it?"
Even A had no answer.
He wasn't someone who backed down easily, but charging in blindly would only result in being repelled again.
Aomizu didn't intend to let them think.
He raised both hands.
This time, six separate spheres of water began swirling into shape.
Water Release: Six Water Dragon Bullets!
Six enormous dragons erupted from the ground, each aimed at one of the six Cloud shinobi.
It was a technique that only those with overwhelming chakra and supreme Water Release mastery could perform.
Dodai and the others felt a chill run down their spines.
Is his chakra infinite?
All six Cloud-nin had the same horrifying thought at the same time.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)