Ōnoki glanced at the five elite shinobi he had raised and said nothing. This was their trial—a test of their mentality and growth. Whether they succeeded or not, the experience would refine them.

Whoever emerged from this ordeal would not only gain strength but also a hardened state of mind.

Lifting his head, he shouted, "Kill that brat from Konoha! Take the Raikage's body—we move out after that!"

Nearby, several Iwagakure shinobi who had been silently waiting made their move, lunging at Kaito with kunai drawn.

Kaito frowned, rage already boiling in his chest. He understood well—during the Third Great Ninja War, human life had no worth. If you weren't on the same side, there was only one rule:

Kill.

This was survival of the fittest in its purest form.

That dismissive tone, the arrogance in their eyes—it infuriated him.

Chakra exploded from his body.

A violent aura surged outward, and the incoming Iwagakure shinobi were instantly blown back by the sheer pressure radiating from Kaito. A fierce wind howled through the battlefield, lifting dust and debris into the sky, darkening the sun.

Standing amidst the chaos, Kaito looked like a divine force. His eyes glinted with power, scanning the battlefield from above.

His voice, cold and cutting, rang through the noise.

"I want to see you try, Ōnoki. Try and kill me."

Some Iwa shinobi hesitated, stepping back in fear. This… this wasn't some lost Genin. The power Kaito had just released—many of them hadn't even seen that from the Third Raikage.

They thought they'd found a lamb, but it was a lion in disguise.

Ōnoki narrowed his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Good… very good. I didn't expect to meet a young Kage-level shinobi today."

His expression darkened. "Konoha truly never runs out of talent. First White Fang, then the Legendary Sannin, and now Namikaze Minato… and you. Another prodigy."

"But you made a mistake," he growled. "You should've stayed hidden. You could've escaped when I wasn't watching—but now… now it's too late."

A deadly glint shone in his eyes. "I won't let another Kage-level genius rise in Konoha—not while I'm alive."

Suddenly, his voice boomed across the battlefield.

"Everyone—attack! Kill him at all costs! Whoever succeeds… will become my final disciple!"

Ōnoki didn't care that the Third Raikage had just fallen. The Raikage was old, nearing the end—just like him.

But Kaito was young. Given time, he could become something even greater than Senju Hashirama. That thought alone was enough to make Ōnoki's blood run cold.

Another Hashirama or Madara couldn't be allowed to exist.

Ōnoki was ready to lose his entire army if it meant killing Kaito.

His words ignited the Iwagakure shinobi.

The chance to become the Tsuchikage's final disciple was worth dying for. Even those who'd considered fleeing now screamed and charged like madmen.

They didn't care if Kaito was stronger. They were swept up in the frenzy, chasing glory—or delusion.

Kaito looked at the wave of enemies approaching. His face remained expressionless, but a faint sneer curled his lips.

"You used this method to kill the Third Raikage, and now you want to use it on me?" he muttered. "Ōnoki… do you really think human wave tactics will work on me?"

Kunai rained from the sky like steel hail.

Kaito raised his arms, his voice calm.

"Awaken."

A strange pulse radiated from his body, instantly enveloping the battlefield in a hundred-mile radius. The chakra in the air twisted and surged.

Buzz—Buzz—Buzz!

The earth cracked.

Stone, dirt, and gulleys all morphed into radiant white lightning. The entire battlefield was consumed by a roaring thunder domain.

Those unfortunate enough to be within range were vaporized in an instant—reduced to ash without even a scream.

Elite jonin and Earth Release specialists tried to defend themselves, launching barriers and fortified walls of stone.

But it was useless.

The white lightning broke through everything.

In mere moments, the ten-thousand-strong Iwagakure army was gone.

All that remained was Ōnoki, who had managed to rise into the sky before the domain fully activated. His expression was blank with shock.

Even the five prodigies—his most promising future Tsuchikage candidates—were gone. Vaporized.

Kaito walked through the thunder field like a god, untouched by the lightning. The arcs of energy parted for him as though obeying their master.

He raised a single hand, summoning a colossal thunder dragon, glowing white-hot with raw power. It coiled upward with a snarl, crackling with violent chakra.

Kaito stood atop the dragon's head, gazing calmly at Ōnoki.

Ōnoki hovered in the air, his face pale. He hadn't expected this.

His elite army—his strongest force—gone.

His expression twisted with grief, rage, and disbelief.

"You monster! You killed them all!"

His scream tore through the sky, his chakra flaring wildly.

"You'll die for this! I'll kill you myself!"

Kaito's voice was steady. "If you can… then try."

Ōnoki roared and clapped his hands together.

A translucent cube formed between his palms, humming with devastating power.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

The white cube hurtled toward Kaito like a missile, tearing through the sky with a high-pitched whine.

Kaito's expression didn't change. He stepped upward using Moon Step, hovering mid-air.

With a wave of his left hand, the thunder dragon beneath him roared and surged forward, rushing headlong into the incoming Dust Release technique.

---

Thanks for the Powerstones 🥀