Inside a sealed conference room in Kumogakure, the Third Raikage sat at the head of a long table. Senior officials of the village were seated on both sides.
Some matters were too sensitive to discuss in public, so the meeting had been moved here.
For a long time, the Third Raikage said nothing.
The elder's speculation… the intelligence regarding Shimura Kizaru… and the scene of the battle that morning all replayed again and again in his mind.
No matter how unwilling he was to admit it, the elder's guess was very likely correct.
The person who attacked the village… was most likely Konoha's prodigy.
Shimura Kizaru.
And now another problem stood directly in front of him.
How should Kumogakure—and he himself—respond to the retaliation from Konohagakure and Shimura Kizaru?
Should they clarify the matter and directly declare war on Konoha?
Or endure it for now and observe how the situation developed?
Even someone as decisive as the Third Raikage found it difficult to reach a conclusion.
War…
Just thinking about the enemy's terrifying mobility and destructive ninjutsu gave him a headache.
He even suspected that if war truly broke out with the Land of Fire, that single shinobi—very likely Shimura Kizaru—could destroy Kumogakure's entire rear region by himself.
If that happened, no matter how powerful he was or how many troops Kumogakure had, defeating Konoha would be impossible.
Flight.
Extreme speed.
Long-range destructive techniques.
A shinobi like that was practically a strategic weapon on the battlefield.
But if they didn't fight…
The Third Raikage felt anger surge in his chest again.
He simply couldn't swallow this humiliation.
Nor could he explain it to the shinobi and civilians of Kumogakure.
A weak Raikage could never earn the trust of his people—especially in Kumogakure, a village that worshiped strength above all else.
If he chose to endure silently, the seat beneath him might not remain stable for long.
Realizing this, the Third Raikage felt a dull pain in his chest.
He had no real choice.
After a long moment of silence, he finally made his decision.
They would fight.
But the way they fought would require careful planning.
"The information that the enemy may be a Konoha shinobi will not be made public for now," the Third Raikage said slowly.
Several of the senior officials looked disappointed.
But none of them dared question the decision.
"Strengthen intelligence gathering on Shimura Kizaru. At the same time, increase his bounty on the black market."
"How much should the bounty be raised?" asked the official responsible for such matters.
The Third Raikage paused briefly before speaking coldly.
"Three hundred million."
A faint gasp spread through the room.
Such an enormous bounty—and such an expenditure—had never been issued by Kumogakure before.
"…Understood," the official replied after a moment of stunned silence.
"The jinchūriki project will be restarted as well. Begin selecting candidates."
Another shocking order followed immediately.
Ever since Kumogakure obtained two tailed beasts, the village had attempted to create a stable jinchūriki that could be deployed on the battlefield.
Unfortunately, every attempt had failed.
During the worst period, more than a dozen tailed beast rampages occurred within three years.
Five or six members of the Raikage's own clan had died during those incidents after becoming jinchūriki.
Because of those terrible losses, the Third Raikage had temporarily abandoned the plan.
But now…
Facing the pressure created by Kizaru and Konohagakure, he had no choice but to reopen the project.
Even if it meant taking that risk again.
"In addition," the Third Raikage continued, "spread information among the other great villages."
"Report that Shimura Kizaru of Konohagakure infiltrated the Land of Lightning, launched a sneak attack on me, and fought me to a standstill."
The room exploded instantly.
"Boss, you can't do that!"
"Boss, please reconsider!"
"Raikage-sama—"
"Silence!"
The Third Raikage's furious roar immediately quieted the room.
"You fools!" he snapped, glaring at the people on both sides before letting out a heavy sigh.
They couldn't even grasp such a simple strategy.
How could he defeat Konoha relying on people like this?
"If a monster comparable to Senju Hashirama has truly appeared in Konohagakure," the Third Raikage said coldly, "then the other villages should suffer the same headache we do."
"We will not bear that pressure alone."
Only then did the officials finally understand.
By spreading the news among the higher circles of the ninja world, Kumogakure would force the other villages to become wary of Konoha's rising prodigy.
"Boss… should we spread this information throughout the entire ninja world?" one subordinate suggested eagerly.
The Third Raikage slowly turned his head.
His gaze carried killing intent.
For a moment, he seriously considered punching the idiot.
Spread it throughout the entire ninja world?
Was he supposed to publicly announce that the Third Raikage couldn't defeat a ten-year-old child?
Where would his dignity go?
What about Kumogakure's reputation?
This information only needed to circulate quietly among the high-level leadership of the great villages—just enough for them to start worrying about how to deal with Shimura Kizaru.
That was enough.
A group of brainless idiots.
With people like this… how could they possibly win a war?
Two days later.
After stopping in the hot springs of the Land of Hot Water to clean up and change clothes, Kizaru's team finally returned to Konohagakure.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Seeing the three of them return safely, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally relaxed.
Leaning back in his chair, the Third Hokage slowly sipped his tea while listening to the mission report.
Then—
Pfft!
The tea he had just swallowed sprayed straight out of his mouth.
The cup in his hand shook violently, spilling tea everywhere.
Ignoring his embarrassment, Hiruzen stared at Sarutobi Shinnosuke in disbelief.
"What did you say?!"
"Kizaru raided Kumogakure… killed hundreds of shinobi… and seriously wounded the Third Raikage?!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke gave a helpless smile.
When he had first heard the report himself, he had also been completely speechless.
For a moment, he had even thought Kizaru was joking.
"…Yes."
He nodded toward his father.
"After we lured the Third Raikage away, Kizaru infiltrated Kumogakure alone."
"He destroyed a large number of buildings and facilities, killed Dodai—the new generation prodigy of Kumogakure—and hundreds of their shinobi."
"After withdrawing, he ambushed the Third Raikage when he returned for reinforcements… and severely wounded him."
Hiruzen slowly placed the trembling teacup back on the desk.
Then he looked at Shimura Kizaru with extremely complicated eyes.
…This kid.
Danzo, who had been sitting silently beside him the entire time, stared at his old friend with a look of pure disdain.
Tch.
What a fuss.
Under the table, however, Danzo's hand was gripping his own leg tightly.
Very tightly.
I'm not surprised at all.
Just… a little excited.
His grip tightened even more.
"Will this provoke a war between the Land of Lightning and us?" Koharu Utatane asked anxiously.
Danzo immediately turned his head and stared at her sharply.
He didn't say a word.
But the meaning was obvious.
Koharu instantly understood.
"Of course… Kizaru did very well," she corrected herself quickly.
"I only meant that we should remain cautious about Kumogakure's retaliation."
Together with Homura Mitokado, Koharu served as a balancing force within the Hokage faction.
And she understood something very clearly.
Offending Hiruzen Sarutobi might only cost someone their political career.
But offending Danzo…
Could cost them their life.
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