Who would truly hold power in Kumogakure in the future would be difficult to say.
The fearsome reputation of the two Warring States Period's titans, the Uchiha Clan's bottomless potential, and their terrifyingly high rate of producing geniuses from the Warring States Period until now... all of it sent a chill down Dodai's spine.
Given enough time, would the flag flying over Kumogakure still belong to Raikage A?
It would likely change its name to Uchiha. This was not an exaggeration. He was a retainer of the Sandaime Raikage, and his life's purpose was to help the Yondaime Raikage hold Kumogakure securely.
The immense risk hidden behind this seemingly incredible opportunity made a cold sweat break out on his back.
In stark contrast to Dodai's high alertness, Yondaime Raikage A's reaction was far more complex.
His face, usually tight with anger, was now filled with utter astonishment. His thick eyebrows were raised so high they nearly vanished into his hairline.
His mouth hung slightly open, his full lips moving a few times, yet he couldn't manage to utter a single word.
'Arrogant!'
'Damn, he was arrogant beyond belief!'
'I, the Yondaime Raikage, had dominated the Shinobi World for decades, known as the Blue Lightning! I had seen arrogance before, but never like this!'
'And I had never seen anyone so arrogantly self-righteous, so 'sincere' in their arrogance!'
As for Dodai's worries about a power shift in Kumogakure... Hmph, was his, the Yondaime Raikage's, tolerance the same as the Sandaime Hokage's?
If Kumogakure could truly rule the Shinobi World because of this, what did the mere title of Raikage matter? He would gladly give it up!
Samui and Mabui, standing to the side, had even more subtle feelings.
Looking at Makoto's confident expression and those crimson, seemingly magic-filled two-tomoe Sharingan, they couldn't help but recall their previous physical contact with him.
The tips of their ears turned slightly red. Kumogakure had always revered strength, and the strong were supreme!
If Makoto's future power could truly reach the level of the former Asura of the Shinobi World, Uchiha Madara...
He wouldn't even need to be that strong. Just having power approaching the Raikage's would mean that nearly every Kunoichi in Kumogakure would answer his call if he so much as crooked a finger.
Makoto took in the wonderfully varied and complex expressions on their faces. The highly provocative smile on his face suddenly vanished.
He instantly switched to a harmless, even somewhat youthful and 'shy' appearance, scratching his head.
"Cough, well, you see, I'm not very good with words, not skilled at speaking..."
"...???"
Hearing this, the looks the others gave Makoto became somewhat strange, 'You're not good with words? Not skilled at speaking? Then there probably aren't many people in all of Kumogakure who can speak well.'
The rather thick-skinned Makoto ignored their expressions and sharply changed the subject.
"When in Kumogakure, do as the Kumogakure's people do. Don't you always believe in strength above all? Then use combat to prove my talent."
He pointed a finger decisively outward, his previously shy expression instantly filled with fighting spirit.
"Arrange a sufficiently worthy opponent for me. Let's have a proper spar."
"Let strength do the talking. Prove my value. Prove that this big dream I'm selling... cough, the future I'm describing, is definitely not a fantasy!"
By the end, Makoto felt his mouth was dry. He pulled out a huge, emerald-green watermelon, its rind cleanly peeled, from his [Player Backpack].
Crunch!
The crisp biting sound exploded in the office, which was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, sounding particularly jarring, even a bit weirdly captivating.
The people present first showed astonishment, 'Where did this kid pull such a big watermelon from?'
Then their emotions turned to annoyance, 'This kid... actually just started eating watermelon so casually, in large mouthfuls, right in front of us? This is the Raikage's office!'
'It's the heart of Kumogakure's power! Who doesn't enter holding their breath, reverent and respectful? And this kid? On his first day in Kumogakure, he acts like he's the Raikage?'
Even the Yondaime Raikage himself hasn't been this unrestrained and leisurely in this office!
This carefree and content manner, as if sunbathing in his own backyard, paired with the two-tomoe Sharingan in his pupils, created an extremely intense sense of contrast that almost tore apart the common sense of everyone present, and... a kind of arrogance bordering on contempt for everyone!
A thick vein 'popped' out at Yondaime Raikage's temple.
'Is Uchiha talent directly proportional to arrogance? This kid probably doesn't even know how to write the word 'fear'!'
'Uchiha Makoto, you were abducted by Kumogakure, not invited here to be the Raikage!'
'If he's allowed to be this cocky and lawless, he'll definitely be able to poke a hole in Kumogakure's sky in the future.'
'He must be taught a lesson right now, have his edge thoroughly curbed, let him know that Kumogakure isn't a warm and fuzzy place like Konoha. The rule here is strength above all.'
'No matter how good the talent, until it's converted into strength, you stay down!'
"Good!"
Raikage's voice was like thunder from a clear sky, making the windows vibrate, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness and a trace of ignited excitement.
"Kumogakure's rule: strength is revered! I'll grant your wish!"
As the words fell, he slammed his palm down violently.
Boom…
This desk, which had bravely endured for over seven days and ten-plus hours, finally met its destined end as 'Raikage Office Consumables', instantly shattering into pieces, wood splinters flying.
As everyone knows, the Hokage's office door and the Raikage's office desk are the strategic consumables with the fastest turnover rate in the Shinobi World.
Makoto, startled by the loud noise of the desk being smashed, looked at the excited Yondaime Raikage and nearly treated the little haters of Kumogakure to a view of the sun.
He almost used 'Art is a Patrick Star'.
"Let me see exactly how much weight this 'talent far surpassing Uchiha Madara's' of yours carries!"
"No problem!"
Makoto stood up briskly, casually patted non-existent dust from his pants. The two-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes were filled with feverish excitement.
He didn't know if it was the Uchiha bloodline's combative nature acting up or his own inherent nature, but he was somewhat eager to fight.
In Konoha, he didn't have many chances to fight. But the people here in Kumogakure were extremely eager for a fight!
"Someone, clear out the largest training ground!"
Yondaime Raikage barked towards the door. The Anbu guard outside flashed away to carry out the order immediately.
"Samui, Mabui! You two take him to the training ground to prepare first!" The Raikage ordered in a deep voice, a gleam flashing in his single eye. "Dodai and I will be there shortly."
"Yes, Raikage-sama!"
Samui and Mabui were also somewhat anticipating seeing Makoto in combat. Loving a good fight was in Kumogakure's bones.
Mabui made a 'please' gesture towards Makoto, giving him a complex look, then took the lead.
Samui followed closely behind, the rhythm of her high heels hitting the ground seeming slightly faster than usual.
By the time the sound of their footsteps completely disappeared down the corridor, leaving only A and Dodai in the Raikage's office, the previously intense atmosphere subtly stalled.
The two looked at each other. Almost simultaneously, a very practical and somewhat awkward question surfaced in their minds...
So... who should they send to spar with this kid later?
Children in Kumogakure around Makoto's age... most hadn't even grown body hair yet.
Although the Shinobi World matured early, children of this age hadn't even started at the Academy yet. Even children from great clans had only just begun training.
Their combat ability wasn't high, at best they could throw kunai. For a moment, it was genuinely difficult to arrange an opponent.
After all, not everyone was like Fugaku, missing a screw in his head, taking a four-year-old Itachi to battle.
Sending someone older would be an unfair victory if they won.
Sending someone of a similar age? That was pure nonsense. Looking across the entire Shinobi World, what child in this age group could fight against his two-tomoe Sharingan? They wouldn't even qualify as punching bags.
For a moment, the two high-level decision-makers of Kumogakure actually fell into a certain bizarre, hard-to-articulate silence and dilemma over the issue of 'selecting an opponent'...