The Lightning Release Body Reinforcement Technique was the foundation of the Cloud Village's strength. What had leaked to the outside world were only the most basic forms of the technique—nothing useful or powerful. Because of this, the shinobi of Kumogakure had long stopped caring about the diluted versions spread beyond their walls.

Only those with high status, or those who had rendered great service to Kumogakure, were ever allowed access to the complete Lightning Release Body Reinforcement Technique.

But the moment Kaito arrived, he had comprehended the entire structure of the technique—on his own. And worse still, he wasn't even from the village.

Had Kaito not indirectly helped the Fourth Raikage avenge the death of his father, the Raikage's infamous temper would have already sparked a battle right then and there.

"Is there really no room for negotiation?" Kaito asked, his voice low and growing colder.

Sensing the shift in Kaito's tone, Raikage Ay's eyes narrowed, a storm of fury flickering within them. "None! Leave now!"

As one of the Five Great Nations and a land that revered strength above all, the Hidden Cloud had never tolerated outsiders threatening their authority. If not for Kaito's terrifying reputation, Ay would've already acted.

At its core, everything came down to power.

"This is your last chance," Kaito said, his voice calm but sharp as steel. "Will you hand over the complete Lightning Release technique, or not? You're the Raikage—you should know how much your words weigh."

He paused, then added coldly, "But if you don't… I'll erase your entire village from the map. And then the Five Great Nations will become Four."

The moment those words dropped, a wave of spiritual pressure burst forth from Kaito.

The air trembled. It was as if the atmosphere itself was being crushed under a giant weight. The pressure roared like an ocean storm, crashing over everything in the room.

Mabui, the weakest among them, managed to stand for barely a second before collapsing unconscious.

And the pressure only intensified.

"So strong… Even the Third Raikage didn't emit pressure like this…" Darui thought, his body shaking as he fought to stay upright. Despite being a seasoned jonin and former secretary to the Third Raikage, he could hardly withstand Kaito's overwhelming aura.

Under this kind of pressure, only Elite jonin would be able to function at all. The rest? Useless.

And elite jonin were scarce after the brutal battle with the Sand Village. Across all five great nations, such shinobi were the backbone of their respective villages—prized and rare.

But Kaito wasn't just strong. He was someone who had gone toe-to-toe with the Third Tsuchikage and defeated both the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.

If war broke out now, Kumogakure wouldn't just lose—it would be devastated.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, six masked Cloud shinobi appeared in front of the Raikage Building, alerted by the surging pressure. All six exuded powerful chakra—each of them an elite jonin.

Further away, other Anbu agents waited beyond the reach of Kaito's pressure, their instincts telling them to stay back.

"Raikage sama! Are you alright?" one of the elite Anbu asked respectfully.

Boom!

The Fourth Raikage, his anger finally boiling over, slammed his fist into the desk, splitting it in half. His eyes burned with fury.

"You dare threaten me? The leader of a nation?"

"To me, you're just another disappointment," Kaito said with a sneer. "So, last time. Will you give me what I want, or not?"

"You've crossed the line!"

Ay exploded in rage. Lightning surged over his body as he activated the Lightning Chakra Mode, forming a dense armor of chakra around him. With a roar, he lunged forward, his iron-clad fist aimed straight at Kaito's head.

"Raikage sama, wait!" Darui tried to stop him—but it was too late.

Kaito didn't move.

As Ay's thunder-charged punch came barreling toward him, Kaito calmly extended his right hand—open-palmed.

Bang!

The collision created a shockwave that rocked the entire building. The floor trembled, and a fierce wind gusted through the broken windows, sending shards of glass flying. Even the Anbu's masks weren't enough to shield them from the force.

But none of them were paying attention to the wind.

All eyes were locked on the scene in front of them.

Kaito stood unmoved, his palm gripping Ay's armored fist. That punch—Ay's signature technique, the devastating Heavy Flow—was completely neutralized.

It was a blow that no ordinary jonin dared to face head-on.

But this masked man… he had stopped it with one hand.

No movement. No reaction. Just sheer dominance.

The Fourth Raikage's mind reeled. He had poured everything into that strike—his speed, strength, and full chakra power—but it was useless. His arm trembled from the impact, going numb from the backlash.

It felt like hitting a mountain.

He gritted his teeth and pulled back. There was no point in continuing. This wasn't a battle he could win.

Kaito's strength was on a different level—just like the rumors said. The very same force that had humbled the Third Tsuchikage, the Four-Tails, and the Five-Tails… it was standing in front of him now.

And it wasn't bluffing.

Kumogakure had just come out of a draining war against the Sand Village. The village was still recovering, vulnerable. A battle here and now would be suicide.

Ay took a deep breath and slowly withdrew his hand.

"Darui," he said through gritted teeth, "go retrieve the complete Lightning Release Body Reinforcement Technique."

His words echoed through the silent chamber.

It wasn't just an order. It was a concession.

The Fourth Raikage—the head of a Great Nation—had compromised.

Not under the pressure of armies.

But under the will of one man.

If word of this ever reached the outside world, the balance of the Great Nations would be shaken. But it wouldn't. Not here. Not from these men.

Kumogakure's loyalty was absolute. And what had happened today… would remain buried within these walls.

---

I've started uploading two new fanfictions on my Patreon (they're free to read!).

One is based on One Piece and the other on Naruto.

patreon.com/Zphyr_

I'd love to hear your thoughts, should I keep going with them or stop?