Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

"It's actually you… Uzumaki Raiden!"

Shimura Danzo's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the figure before him. His body instinctively tensed, sensing the threat.

"Long time no see, Lord Danzo. I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this," Raiden said with a calm smile. His voice was steady, but his tone carried an unmistakable edge. "I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time!"

In the next instant, Raiden's figure disappeared.

"He's coming!" Danzo muttered, crouching slightly as he unsheathed the long sword on his back, holding it defensively in front of him.

Clang!

A sharp metallic sound rang out as Raiden's strike sent Danzo's sword flying. Before anyone could react, Raiden's blade pierced Danzo's chest.

"W-What?!"

"Impossible!"

The Anbu surrounding Danzo froze, stunned by the sudden and decisive attack.

Danzo, however, didn't react like a man who had been mortally wounded. Instead, he spoke as if unfazed. "I underestimated you. I never imagined you'd grow this strong," he said, his voice steady and full of breath, showing no signs of pain.

Raiden frowned slightly, sensing something was off.

From within Akatsuki's group, Uchiha Fugaku observed the scene intently. His Sharingan spun as he analyzed the situation. "Raiden's attack landed, yet Danzo seems unaffected. What's going on?"

Raiden's sharp senses picked up on the anomaly. His frown relaxed, and he whispered, "An illusion? When did he cast it?" His gaze shifted to one of the Anbu standing behind Danzo.

"You've noticed already," Danzo said, his voice tinged with surprise. The illusionary Danzo began to fade, becoming transparent before vanishing entirely.

Several meters away, the real Danzo emerged from the safety of his Anbu guards, his expression wary.

"An illusion affecting the five senses… It even manipulates the sense of distance and touch," Raiden muttered. His Kagura's Mind Eye locked onto the Anbu behind Danzo. "A Genjutsu user of this caliber in Danzo's unit? Interesting."

The Anbu, feeling the weight of Raiden's gaze, shouted, "Protect Lord Danzo!"

As Raiden prepared to strike again, a trap was sprung beneath him. Dozens of explosive tags floated up from the ground, wrapping tightly around his legs before detonating in a violent explosion.

"Master?!"

"Uncle Raiden!"

Yahiko and Konan cried out in shock as Raiden disappeared in a cloud of smoke and fire. Fugaku, however, remained calm, his keen eyes focused on both Hanzō and Danzo's movements.

Hanzō, who had been watching the events unfold, smirked confidently. "A reckless fool, obliterated by my trap." Turning to Yahiko, he taunted, "Was that your ace? He's dead now. Surrender, or face annihilation!"

Nagato and Yahiko clenched their fists, while Konan's face was streaked with tears as she gazed at the thick smoke.

"Don't let your guard down! He's not dead yet," Danzo barked, jolting the Anbu back into alertness.

As if on cue, a voice rang out from within the dissipating smoke. "So this is the strength of a 'demigod'? What a letdown."

The smoke cleared, revealing Raiden, unharmed, encased in a shroud of purple lightning armor. His piercing gaze locked onto Hanzō. "The Sannin teamed up against you and couldn't win? That title of 'demigod' seems rather undeserved."

Raiden extended his hand, summoning several crackling lightning arrows. Without hesitation, he launched them at Hanzō.

"Don't you care about this woman's life?!" Hanzō shouted, shoving Konan in the line of fire as he leapt away.

"Konan!"

"Uncle Raiden, stop!" Nagato and Yahiko screamed in horror as the arrows closed in.

Konan, however, remained calm. A small, serene smile graced her lips as she braced herself for the inevitable.

Yet, as the lightning arrows reached her, they swerved unnaturally, avoiding her completely. The deadly projectiles raced past her and honed in on Hanzō. At the same time, Raiden appeared beside Konan, catching her as she fell.

Boom!

The arrows struck Hanzō's body, triggering a massive explosion. Splinters and debris flew in all directions as the battlefield shook from the impact.

Raiden formed a quick hand seal, leaving a shadow clone to protect Konan while his true body charged into the smoke. He sensed that Hanzō had escaped the attack with a Substitution Jutsu and was determined to finish him off.

All eyes were on the dense smoke where Raiden and Hanzō clashed. The shadow clone escorted Konan back to Nagato and Yahiko before dispersing.

Suddenly, the white smoke turned a deep purple. Within seconds, the entire area was engulfed in a poisonous mist.

"Poison!"

Raiden leapt out of the mist, skidding to a stop with a grave expression. Yahiko rushed to his side, concern etched on his face. "Uncle Raiden, are you alright?"

Raiden ignored Yahiko's question, his eyes fixed on the spreading mist. "I failed to finish him in time. He's using the poison mist as a defense."

The atmosphere grew tense as Raiden spoke in a low voice. "His ninjutsu and taijutsu don't pose a threat to me, but this… This poison is troublesome. Even a tiger can't bite a porcupine."

Hanzō's survival instincts had saved him once again, his experience in battle proving to be a formidable shield.

(End of Chapter)

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