The Hidden Cloud Village — a fortress built high above the thunder plains, where lightning danced across the mountains like restless serpents.
Inside the Raikage's meeting hall, the atmosphere was as heavy as an impending storm.
The First Raikage sat silently at the head of the long table, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the group of muscular, dark-skinned men before him. Each of them was built like a mountain — broad shoulders, thick arms, and chests like boulders. Yet, despite their intimidating physiques, not one of them dared to make a sound.
Because right now, the First Raikage's expression was as dark as thunderclouds, and when the Raikage was angry… even lightning itself seemed to pause.
The silence stretched for several long seconds before the Raikage finally spoke — his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
> "Bastards… Do they really think my Hidden Cloud Village is made of mud?"
As his rage erupted, lightning began to crackle faintly across his body, wrapping him in a flickering blue aura. His killing intent surged like a rising storm.
The strongmen sitting below him instinctively tensed. Though they had seen their Raikage's fury many times before, the power he exuded still made their spines stiffen.
In an instant, his previously lean figure began to swell, his muscles bulging and stretching his clothes to their limits.
Rip!
Fabric tore apart, revealing skin glowing faintly with electric arcs.
> "It's here… Raikage-sama's true form!"
"So powerful…"
Even though they had witnessed this transformation before, awe filled their eyes every single time.
The Yotsuki Clan had always prided itself on physical strength and lightning mastery. Every member trained their body to perfection, but only the Raikage had pushed it to an impossible limit.
His cultivation of the clan's secret art — a brutal, body-forging technique that compressed every ounce of power into a dense core — allowed him to unleash his full strength only when enraged.
It was said that this technique could only be mastered by two people in history: its creator and the First Raikage himself. Others who attempted it had either failed or crippled themselves.
Now, at full height, the First Raikage stood nearly two and a half meters tall — a human giant whose muscles looked as though they had been carved from solid rock.
Behind him, the dense layers of his back muscles twisted into grotesque shapes, forming something like the eerie visage of a demon.
Two deep grooves ran down his shoulder blades like sunken eye sockets, while the raised teres minor muscle bulged in the middle like a crimson eye. When he breathed, the fibers pulsed as though the "eye" itself were alive, staring back at the world with silent rage.
The Hidden Cloud ninjas called this horrifying sight "The Demon's Back."
And whenever it appeared, someone was about to die.
The First Raikage clenched his fists and slammed two scrolls onto the table, lightning sparking from the impact.
> "Konoha… Akatsuki Ninja Village… one plays the good cop, the other the bad cop — but both are the same damn thing!"
His voice boomed across the hall.
The two scrolls were the latest diplomatic statements.
Akatsuki Ninja Village's so-called "compensation terms" were beyond insulting — a list of demands that sounded more like a declaration of conquest.
They demanded that Hidden Cloud Village pay over one hundred million ryō, hand over their involved shinobi for "trial," and — most outrageously — that he, the Raikage himself, travel to the Akatsuki Village to "repent."
> "Hah! Me? Repent? In their village?"
"Over my dead body!"
He tore the scroll to pieces, lightning flaring as bits of paper turned to ash in midair.
Konoha's message wasn't much better. Their tone was softer, their words more diplomatic, but the meaning was the same — "exercise restraint," "maintain peace," "seek reasonable negotiations."
They were pretending to mediate, but the Raikage wasn't fooled. He could see through their little play.
Konoha and Akatsuki were working together.
Uchiha Makoto, the so-called "Lord of Light" who led Akatsuki Ninja Village, was from the Uchiha Clan — one of Konoha's founding families. Did anyone truly believe Konoha didn't know about Akatsuki's outrageous conditions beforehand?
They were just playing a coordinated act — Konoha pretending to be righteous, while Akatsuki delivered the threats.
The Raikage gritted his teeth.
> "So this is their game… extortion!"
"Raikage-sama," said Kinkaku — the fair-skinned brother — cautiously. "What should we do now?"
The Raikage slammed his palm down again.
> "What else? Issue a statement immediately! Hidden Cloud Village will never accept such shameless terms!"
He stood up, muscles rippling with power as he barked his orders.
> "And while you're at it, demand our own compensation. Hidden Cloud lost two Chunin in that battle — why shouldn't Akatsuki Ninja Village pay us instead?"
His lips curved into a cold smile.
> "Copy their statement format word for word, and demand that their so-called 'Lord of Light' come to our village to repent. Let's see how they like it."
He paused, his expression hardening.
> "But remember — don't mention Konoha. We'll deal with them later."
The Raikage wasn't just angry — he was calculating. He understood perfectly well that picking a direct fight with both Akatsuki and Konoha at once was suicide.
If he had to strike, he would pick the easier target first. Between the two, Akatsuki was far weaker and less established.
Compared to legends like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Makoto was just a newcomer with a loud reputation and little proven record on the battlefield. The Raikage refused to believe he could match the might of Konoha's founders.
> "We'll deal with the smaller snake first," the Raikage muttered. "A soft persimmon is easier to crush."
"Raikage-sama, what if Konoha or Akatsuki retaliate?" asked Ginkaku, his darker-skinned twin.
The Raikage snorted.
> "Then let them. If they want to fight, we'll fight. Does Akatsuki really dare start a full-scale war over a few Chunin? It's a bluff — nothing more!"
He crossed his arms, a sneer forming on his face.
> "Konoha wants to play the mediator, letting Akatsuki handle the dirty work. If we show weakness, they'll take advantage. But if we strike back with equal force, Akatsuki will be caught off guard and retreat!"
He began pacing slowly, explaining his reasoning to the others like a commander teaching strategy.
> "This is nothing more than a conflict over mission rights — something common since the Warring States Era. It will never escalate to total war. It's not worth it for them!"
His subordinates nodded, eyes wide with admiration.
> "Raikage-sama is truly brilliant!"
"So wise — and so strong!"
Their voices rose in unison. Not only did their leader possess unmatched physical power, but his strategic mind was just as formidable.
Hidden Cloud Village was in capable hands.
---
Meanwhile, at Akatsuki Ninja Village, Uchiha Makoto stood in his office, flipping through a copy of Hidden Cloud's fiery statement with a faint grin tugging at his lips.
> "Why does everyone think I'm bluffing?" he said softly, amused. "Do they really believe Akatsuki wouldn't dare to go to war?"
He placed the paper down and turned to the window, watching the bustling village below.
Everywhere he looked, ninjas were mobilizing — smiths forging weapons, medical squads organizing supplies, courier teams preparing scrolls and provisions.
War preparations were already underway.
Ninja clans that had survived the endless bloodshed of the Warring States Period had all developed standardized war templates — a fixed method for transitioning from peace to conflict. Makoto had taken these old models and vastly improved them, integrating modern logistics and efficient funding.
Unlike the frugal clan leaders of old, who pinched every coin, Makoto had one simple philosophy:
> "Add more money."
If a tool could make the difference between life and death, it was worth paying for.
Weapons, armor, medicines, explosives — he wanted the best of everything.
His "war fund" had already cost billions, and now it was finally time to put it to use.
This would be his first war as the Lord of Akatsuki Ninja Village — the war that would establish his authority once and for all. Failure was not an option.
If they lost, or even suffered severe losses, not even Uchiha Madara's support could save his reputation. He would have to step down.
Makoto checked the clock on his desk.
> "It's about time. My guests should be arriving soon."
Two visitors were expected that afternoon: Uzumaki Shinji, leader of the Uzumaki Clan, and Uchiha Setsuna, an envoy from Konoha.
Whether by coincidence or intent, both had requested to meet him on the same day — so Makoto decided to receive them together.
A short while later, the two men arrived, one after the other, barely ten minutes apart.
> "You've both traveled a long way," Makoto greeted warmly, rising from his seat. "I apologize for not meeting you sooner."
> "Makoto, it's been a while," said both men almost simultaneously.
Makoto already knew why they were here — both were here to persuade him to back down. But that didn't mean he wouldn't show courtesy.
After all, Setsuna was family — an Uchiha like himself, a man he had once fought alongside during the clan wars. They had shed blood together.
And Uzumaki Shinji — well, they shared a 3.86-billion-ryō bond, as Makoto liked to joke.
He poured each of them a cup of hot tea, and once the brief formalities ended, both got straight to the point.
> "Makoto," Setsuna began, his tone serious, "Hokage-sama believes your compensation terms for Hidden Cloud are too extreme. For the sake of peace and the stability of the ninja world, he hopes you'll reconsider and pursue a peaceful resolution."
> "Yes," Uzumaki Shinji added. "Makoto, I've read those terms myself. They're… harsh. Hidden Cloud is a major power in the Land of Lightning. Starting a war with them could drag the entire world into chaos."
Makoto listened quietly, then smiled faintly.
> "I know exactly what I'm doing," he replied calmly. "This war isn't something I'm avoiding — it's something I want. If not today, it'll happen eventually. So why not strike first, while we have the advantage?"
He leaned forward slightly, his Sharingan glinting.
> "Right now, it's three against one — Akatsuki, Konoha, and the Uzumaki. The balance of power favors us."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Uchiha Setsuna lowered his gaze, thoughtful. He had attended Konoha's emergency council meeting earlier that week.
The way Makoto spoke… it was exactly what Madara had said during that meeting.
Almost word for word.
Even their tone carried the same ruthless conviction.
Uzumaki Shinji frowned, deep in thought.
He couldn't deny Makoto's logic — wars between villages were inevitable. But the cost… the cost was enormous. Even with Akatsuki's funding, full-scale war would drain every village involved.
> "Makoto," Setsuna finally said, "I'll be honest. Lord Madara thinks the same way you do. But Hashirama and Tobirama strongly oppose it. They had a serious argument at the meeting. The Uchiha's influence in Konoha isn't as strong as the Senju's. If you insist on war, Konoha might not send reinforcements. You'll be fighting Hidden Cloud alone."
Makoto chuckled softly.
> "So that's how it is," he said, as though he had already expected it. "Konoha won't move… that's fine."
He turned his gaze toward Uzumaki Shinji. The Uzumaki leader felt the weight of that stare, but before he could speak, Makoto waved a hand dismissively.
> "Don't worry. I'm not asking you to choose now. I know exactly what I'm doing — and Akatsuki Ninja Village will win."
Setsuna frowned.
> "Makoto, you're being reckless. Think this through. The fate of your entire village is at stake!"
Makoto smiled faintly and leaned back in his chair.
> "It seems you still don't understand what kind of power Akatsuki possesses."
He tapped the desk lightly, eyes glinting with sharp confidence.
> "Do you know what true money power is?"
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