Chapter 444: Other Villages
"What?! Namikaze Minato resurrected?! Could it be... Impure World Reincarnation?!"
Kumogakure, inside the Raikage's office, the atmosphere was heavy as leaden clouds before a storm.
"...No. According to 'eyes' planted in Konoha, this isn't that forbidden technique desecrating the dead like Impure World Reincarnation."
The Cloud intelligence ninja standing before the Raikage's desk reported quietly, voice carrying uncontrollable shock and doubt. "It's a living, breathing Namikaze Minato with body temperature and complete vital signs. Konoha's official channels issued a formal announcement this morning confirming the matter."
Fourth Raikage A's fist struck the solid wood desk surface, producing a dull boom. The desktop cracked with several fine fractures in response. His rough face showed tightly furrowed brows, veins at his temples faintly throbbing.
Living and breathing? What kind of trick are those Konoha people playing?
The Raikage's voice rumbled through the office. "Official announcement? What explanation did they give?"
The intelligence ninja swallowed, presenting a transcribed notice bearing Konoha's Hokage emblem. "Konoha's published explanation is... Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's soul remained inside the Shinigami's body after using the Reaper Death Seal years ago. Recently, due to his 'tenacious will and deep attachment to the village,' he actually 'moved' the Shinigami, and both parties reached reconciliation."
"The Shinigami not only released his soul but also used 'special chakra' to reconstruct his complete physical body, allowing his return to the mortal world."
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
The Raikage snatched that transcript, scanned it briefly, then crumpled it into a ball and violently threw it to the ground. "This fairy tale can't even fool a three-year-old! Is Konoha too lazy to even round out their lies?!"
The intelligence ninja naturally also understood this obviously-fabricated truth, but Konoha internally showed no objections whatsoever.
"Villagers are celebrating joyfully, spreading the news everywhere, treating the Fourth's return as heaven-sent good fortune—morale extremely high. Among the ninja ranks there's also no questioning voices. Almost everyone has gladly accepted this bizarre explanation."
The Raikage stood, his massive frame casting an enormous shadow before the window. He gazed outside at Kumogakure's craggy mountain rocks and swirling clouds.
"What's Namikaze Minato's current movements? Has he resumed the Hokage position?"
"No." The intelligence ninja shook his head. "He's currently only active with regular jonin status, keeping a low profile. Fifth Hokage Jiraiya-sama still commands the overall situation."
"How about this, Raikage-sama? Should we..."
The intelligence ninja probed tentatively—whether they should conduct some diplomatic testing, even just courtesy inquiries, to verify how much truth lay in this so-called "Fourth Hokage resurrection."
If true, for Kumogakure this was equivalent to a bolt from the blue. The deceased "Yellow Flash" reappearing in the world was sufficient to tilt the power balance between nations.
But after prolonged silence, the Raikage slowly shook his head. "We won't act rashly for now."
The Fourth Raikage, completely unlike his exterior appearance, could make decisions considering the bigger picture even when angry.
"Test? Even if we send our most elite spies using every method to confirm Namikaze Minato currently stands living and breathing on Konoha's streets, so what? Besides making ourselves more clearly recognize the chasm between us and Konoha, what would we gain?"
"However, Raikage-sama, we could use this to—" His subordinate tried stating that notion lurking in many hearts.
"Use this to unite with other countries, using 'toying with life and death, desecrating natural principles' as justification to challenge Konoha? Attempt launching war?"
The Raikage directly cut off his subordinate's words, throwing out the most radical yet most straightforward possibility in his heart, continuing: "Yes, if the Fourth Hokage truly resurrected, Konoha's current strength is sufficient to make any single village—no, all villages—feel unable to sleep or eat peacefully."
"Once seeds of fear are planted, alliance seems to become the natural choice."
The reporting ninja nodded. This was precisely the worry and potential approach he hadn't dared fully articulate.
"Is Raikage-sama still worried about that Ember organization? But so many years have passed..."
"Even so, we can't afford the gamble." A delivered his answer decisively. "Ember's deterrent power isn't something time can easily erode. As long as there's no irrefutable proof that organization has completely collapsed, we absolutely cannot gamble the entire Kumogakure's survival on Menma's bottom line and reaction."
"Then what... should we actually do?"
"Wait." The Raikage uttered one word. "This intelligence's follow-up—we'll know very soon. Since Konoha dares 'openly and aboveboard' release this news, they won't stop at just this move... They necessarily have subsequent actions. What we must do is open our eyes wide to see clearly, prick up our ears to hear distinctly, not impatiently jump out to become targets."
"Simultaneously, pass down orders: if during this period Iwagakure sends anything regarding this matter—whether hints or explicit requests for cooperation, intelligence sharing, even joint action—treat all as unseen, don't respond, return unopened."
Seeing his subordinate show some incomprehension, the Raikage snorted coldly, explaining: "Whether Namikaze Minato's resurrection is real or fake currently remains just Konoha's unilateral claim. But speaking of who's most anxious, we Kumogakure definitely aren't ranked first."
His mind rapidly reviewed various intelligence. Kumogakure's next generation produced talented individuals in abundance. Darui already displayed Kage-level caliber. Moreover, Killer Bee and Yugito Nii—two perfect jinchuriki—stood guard. The village's future and top-tier combat power didn't greatly worry him.
In contrast, Iwagakure—according to reliable intelligence, Third Tsuchikage Onoki's personal disciple Deidara had long defected and left the village. More signs indicated he might have already established connections with the Ember organization.
Adding that Four-Tails jinchuriki Roshi had long been at odds with the village, whereabouts unknown... The anxiety of talent shortage and top-tier combat power loss was deeply troubling him.
---
****
80+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces