At that moment, Yugao Uzuki and Hayate Gekko were growing anxious.
They had wanted to join the fray several times already, but every time they looked at Kazuya, standing still and composed, they swallowed their impulses and held back.
After all, on Anbu missions, their superior's orders were law—absolute and unbreakable.
"Coward!" Hayate, struggling with his health as always, glared at Kazuya's back with disdain.
In his eyes, Kazuya had seen the Fourth Raikage and lost his nerve, paralyzed by fear.
"Hayate…"
Yugao, who had grown up with Hayate, knew him well. A single glance at her childhood friend was enough to guess what he was thinking.
No!
Kazuya-taichou isn't like that!
He's a hero of the Leaf!
Kurenai, meanwhile, had far more faith in Kazuya. She stood by his side without question, waiting for his command.
"It's time," Kazuya suddenly said in a low voice. "You three, head over to Captain Sarutobi. Stay away from Jiraiya and the Fourth Raikage's battlefield."
"Yes, Captain!" Yugao hesitated for a moment before asking, "What about you?"
"Me?" Kazuya's tone was light, even casual. "I can't let the Fourth Raikage just walk out of the Land of Fire, can I?"
"Move out!"
"Yes, sir!"
Swish, swish, swish!
In an instant, the four of them vanished.
Kurenai's expression remained one of disbelief.
Does he mean… is he planning to challenge the Fourth Raikage?
That's… too dangerous!
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and the Fourth Raikage stood at a distance, eyeing each other warily.
With a moment of separation between them, both were considering calling off the fight.
For the Raikage, his cover had been blown, and the longer he stayed, the more likely it was that more Leaf reinforcements would arrive.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, was wary of pressing too hard. After all, the Raikage wasn't just any opponent—he was the leader of a hidden village and a speedster at that. If the Raikage decided to go on a rampage, it would be a nightmare for the nearby Anbu to survive.
After all, killing the Raikage might not necessarily be a good thing for Konoha!
Yet, while both Jiraiya and the Raikage hesitated, uncertain about their next move—
Bang!
A sudden burst of white smoke exploded near the Fourth Raikage.
"A smoke bomb!" the Raikage thought, startled.
He immediately spotted a figure in a white mask and cloak, an Anbu from Konoha, appearing before him.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Kazuya moved quickly, weaving hand seals and unleashing a massive fireball from his mouth.
Boom! Boom!
The fireball had a diameter of over ten meters, its size immense and intimidating.
"Damn Anbu!"
"Double Lariat!"
The Raikage roared, thrusting his elbow toward the Great Fireball, aiming to dissipate it the same way he had countered Jiraiya's earlier attack.
"You…"
"Fall back, now!"
From a distance, Jiraiya shouted in alarm, "The Fourth Raikage isn't like an ordinary Kage-level ninja! You can't beat him!"
At that moment, Jiraiya felt a shiver run down his spine.
Which reckless fool in the Anbu thinks they can take on the Fourth Raikage head-on? Are they not afraid of death?!
Nearby, the other Anbu noticed the unfolding scene.
"It's Captain Kazuya!"
"He's finally making his move!"
"Wow, he's attacking the Fourth Raikage head-on?"
"Before, I thought Captain Kazuya was holding back due to injuries. But now, it turns out he's creating headlines the moment he jumps in!"
The Anbu members could hardly believe their eyes.
They were no strangers to risking their lives, but taking on a Kage-level opponent like the Raikage? That was a different story. Even with the advantage in numbers, no one had dared to join Jiraiya on the front lines against the Raikage. The gap in power was just too wide!
In the face of such a significant disparity, the will to fight could falter.
"Kazuya…" Sarutobi Shinnosuke, leading the Anbu's First Division, couldn't help but marvel. "This fearless courage, this willingness to face impossible odds—this is the true Will of Fire!"
The other Anbu members shared his awe, their expressions filled with admiration.
Captain Kazuya truly embodied the Will of Fire!
Three years ago, during the Nine-Tails' attack, he had faced the beast without flinching, risking his life for the village and his comrades.
Now, even against the formidable Fourth Raikage, he displayed the same unwavering courage, stepping up to fight in a battle that wasn't even his responsibility.
He was a true hero of Konoha!
Some of the Anbu had doubted Kazuya before, thinking he was holding back or shirking his duties. Seeing his valor now, they wished they could slap themselves for being so foolish.
How could they have misjudged him so badly?
Kazuya hadn't been hiding—he'd been watching for the Raikage's weaknesses!
Fearless. Unwavering. Selfless.
"Kazuya is actually challenging the Raikage!" Hayate Gekko, frail and sickly, could hardly process what he was seeing.
Just moments ago, he'd been scorning Kazuya as a coward, only to be proven completely wrong.
This wasn't fear of death.
Kazuya was making a bold move, aiming to change the tide of battle with a decisive strike!
In that moment, Kazuya's figure seemed to grow larger than life in Hayate's eyes.
Meanwhile, Kazuya's battle against the Raikage had begun.
Bang!
The Raikage, dismissing the Great Fireball, tried to dissipate it with a single blow.
But as soon as his elbow made contact with the fireball, his expression shifted dramatically.
"This Chakra is… strong!"
"This isn't just some ordinary Anbu."
For the first time, the Raikage sensed something was off.
The Great Fireball contained compressed, high-density Chakra, far exceeding the strength of a typical Jonin.
Kage-level?
The Raikage's scowl deepened.
Since when did Konoha have such a powerful Anbu?
"Break it apart!"
The Raikage roared, pouring even more Chakra into his technique.
Boom!
The Raikage's Lightning Release Nintaijutsu unleashed a powerful surge of energy, shattering the Great Fireball from the center.
"You…"
The Raikage started to mock his opponent, only to spot something unexpected. Embedded within the broken fireball were a dozen kunai, each attached to an explosive tag, streaking toward him amidst the flames.
What the—?!
Damn it!
Who would mix exploding kunai into a fireball like this? This was a whole new level of sneakiness!
This Anbu… they're playing dirty!