Naruto: Battling the Five Kage, the System is Late

The First Raikage Ai, the First Mizukage Hakuren, the First Tsuchikage Ishikawa, and the First Kazekage Rettō.

In today's ninja world, the only shinobi capable of forcing these four to join forces were either Hagoromo Gengetsu or, perhaps, Senju Hashirama and the absent Uchiha Madara.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, despite his precarious situation, found himself idly pondering.

Why hadn't Madara ever faced this kind of treatment?

That man's ideals were not so different from his own—he had loudly proclaimed his intent to unify the ninja world through Konoha's military might. Yet, no one had ever suggested ganging up on him.

"Maybe that's the advantage of working within the system," he mused.

When you make a mess, there's always a big brother to cover for you.

Unlike himself, who had always assumed he was the big brother.

Allowing a brief moment of reflection, Gengetsu's sharp eyes quickly refocused on the battle.

Rettō's blade. Ishikawa's hands. Ai's follow-up punch. And, most critical of all, Hakuren's sinister water prison technique.

Taking it all in, Gengetsu wasted no time in responding.

Chidori Stream.

Zzzzzz!

A dazzling burst of lightning illuminated the battlefield, its brilliance bathing the four Kage in blinding light.

The sharp sound of countless chirping birds pierced the air as lightning erupted from Gengetsu's body, forming a protective barrier that simultaneously spread outward, enveloping the surrounding area.

Caught within the lightning field, the Kage each reacted differently.

Ishikawa, beneath the ground, grunted in pain and was forced to release his paralyzed hands.

Hakuren, with water conducting the electricity, emitted a plume of black smoke as his water prison collapsed with a loud splash.

Ai, unfazed, pressed forward, his punch unwavering.

Rettō, though slightly affected, gritted his teeth and endured the discomfort, his wind chakra effectively mitigating the lightning's effects as he swung his blade.

Boom!

The clash created a shockwave that sent dust and debris flying.

Through the thick haze, a figure shot backward like a cannonball, spinning mid-air before slamming into the ground.

With a sharp twist of his waist, Gengetsu forced his feet into the earth, carving long trenches as he slid to a stop.

Pulling his legs free from the dirt, he straightened up.

His silver armor, once pristine, was now battered and broken, leaving him looking far worse than before.

But that was the extent of the damage.

His breathing steady, his chakra undiminished, Gengetsu tore off the remnants of his armor and tossed them aside.

The combined assault of the four Kage, particularly Hakuren's water prison, had been nullified in a single move.

Even so, it wasn't without cost. Rettō and Ai had managed to leave a few marks, but thanks to Steel Release, the damage was negligible.

The fight continued.

Gengetsu had barely discarded his armor before Ai and Rettō launched another relentless assault.

The battle between the three reignited with ferocity.

Wind's sharp precision and lightning's destructive force were on full display through the First Kazekage and the First Raikage.

While Gengetsu held the advantage in versatility and mastery of chakra, in their specialized domains, the two Kage were almost his equals.

Moreover, both had clawed their way through the blood-soaked Warring States era. Their combat experience was unmatched.

In terms of taijutsu, Gengetsu found himself at no clear advantage.

But battles were never determined by a single factor.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As Gengetsu clashed fiercely with Ai, who fought with reckless abandon, his peripheral vision caught a flash of Rettō's swift and elusive movements.

"He's coming!"

Gengetsu's eyes narrowed.

Ai drew attention with frontal attacks while Rettō delivered the killing blow from the shadows. The two had no need to communicate; their synergy was born of experience.

Previously, this strategy had left Gengetsu momentarily at a disadvantage.

Now it was time to turn the tables.

Letting Ai continue his assault, Gengetsu shifted his stance, turning sharply to grab at Rettō just as the Kazekage lunged for the kill.

Rettō's expression didn't change.

With wind chakra surging through his blade, his attack would land before Gengetsu's counter could reach him.

And it did.

As Rettō's razor-sharp blade closed in, Gengetsu's eyes sharpened. His outstretched left hand opened, five fingers spread wide.

Chidori Sharp Spear.

Lightning chakra extended from Gengetsu's palm, forming a long, piercing spear of electricity that shot toward Rettō with incredible speed.

Rettō's composure broke as his face twisted in surprise.

While Gengetsu's proficiency in various Kekkei Genkai was well-documented, little was known about his mastery of chakra shape transformation.

Rettō had assumed Gengetsu's focus on chakra nature manipulation left little room for its counterpart. After all, no one could excel at both.

Could they?

"Surely, you weren't practicing ninjutsu straight out of the womb," Rettō had thought.

Reality hit him like a slap in the face.

Even Orochimaru, a master of ninjutsu, had been astonished by Sasuke's use of Chidori Sharp Spear.

As the First Kazekage, Rettō instantly understood the value of what Gengetsu had just displayed.

There was no time to dwell on it.

Caught off guard, Rettō barely managed to retract his blade and block.

Slash!

The Chidori Sharp Spear pierced through Rettō's raised left arm, narrowly missing his head.

Gengetsu didn't stop there. Using the momentum from Ai's punch, he twisted his body, ready to sweep the spear sideways and sever Rettō's arm entirely.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Thin, needle-like streams of water suddenly shot toward Gengetsu.

Unnoticed until now, Hakuren finally made his move.

The First Mizukage's proficiency in water techniques was well-known, but few appreciated his expertise in sealing techniques.

Though not as storied as the Uzumaki Clan's, Hakuren's sealing jutsu, when combined with his water style, had earned him a fearsome reputation long before the founding of the Five Great Nations.

It was this mastery that made Kirigakure remarkably stable compared to other villages, with fewer instances of rampaging tailed beasts.

The water needles appeared harmless but were infused with Hakuren's unique sealing techniques.

Sealing techniques cared little for raw strength; even ordinary shinobi could be subdued by them, let alone someone as powerful as Kaguya.

Fully aware of their danger, Gengetsu didn't dare take them head-on. He abandoned his attack on Rettō, leaping back several times to retreat.

Boom! Boom!

Hakuren, Ai, and the injured Rettō pursued him relentlessly.

As Gengetsu retreated to an open area, Ishikawa, who had remained silent until now, finally made his move.