Chapter 363 – For the Sake of Kumogakure
While Kei and Kenta were still weighing Ayaka's eventual choice,
on the far side of the shinobi world, deep within Kumogakure, another decision of equal gravity was being made.
Inside the Raikage's office, Fourth Raikage A sat behind his desk, his sharp gaze fixed on the Cloud ninja standing before him.
The man did not look particularly impressive.
His appearance was rough, even unrefined—but his strength and experience were beyond question.
He was one of Kumogakure's veteran jōnin, a shinobi who had survived the final days of the Second Shinobi World War and fought through the entirety of the Third.
His name was Atsubi.
To be honest, A felt conflicted.
A shinobi like Atsubi would be considered exceptional in any village.
Even though many of Atsubi's views clashed directly with A's own, his value was undeniable.
Wherever there were people, there would be conflict—
conflict of interests, conflict of power.
Atsubi had never truly been on the same side as the Fourth Raikage.
If he were, he wouldn't be standing here now.
Yet despite their differences, their goal was the same:
The prosperity of Kumogakure.
And it was precisely for Kumogakure's sake that A found himself hesitating.
"Raikage-sama, there's no need for this hesitation."
Atsubi spoke first, clearly sensing A's inner struggle.
"This mission was decided jointly by you and the elders. And I happen to be the most suitable candidate. Wearing that expression is almost an insult—to me and to my profession."
"I am a shinobi."
"You're right," A replied, his voice deep and steady.
"I shouldn't be acting this way. But you should also understand—part of the reason this mission landed on your shoulders is because I don't particularly like you."
Then, his expression hardened.
"But as Raikage, I must put aside personal feelings. You still have a chance to refuse. If you choose to, I will seriously consider it."
Atsubi was momentarily surprised by the Raikage's blunt honesty.
He had always known A didn't like him.
That much was obvious—and tied closely to the faction he represented.
Even in Kumogakure, a village where the Raikage held overwhelming authority,
political struggle was inevitable.
Where interests existed, disputes followed.
Where factions formed, compromise—and sacrifice—were unavoidable.
After a brief pause, Atsubi shook his head.
"No."
He had no intention of declining the mission.
Refusing might allow him to live—but it would expose both him and his faction to devastating retaliation.
He knew this assignment was a death sentence.
And yet—
From the village's perspective, if the mission succeeded, the rewards would be immeasurable.
"Raikage-sama," Atsubi said calmly, meeting A's gaze head-on.
"We both understand what this mission represents."
"This is an opportunity for Kumogakure to seize immense prestige across the shinobi world.
A chance to display our strength—our muscle.
A chance to push our village one step further forward."
"This is my honor."
"Everything I do is for Kumogakure."
"The world needs to hear our voice."
A rose from his seat, his towering frame radiating unshakable resolve.
"I can see it now," he said slowly.
"You've already accepted death."
"You're right—I shouldn't strip you of that honor."
He paused.
"Have you chosen your people?"
"Yes."
Atsubi nodded and reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folded sheet of paper.
"These are the names," he said, handing it over.
"They're my choices."
The Fourth Raikage nodded—but the moment his eyes fell on the names listed on the document, his grip tightened.
So tight that the paper crumpled slightly in his hand.
Atsubi… you bastard.
No—more accurately, the bastards standing behind Atsubi.
They had deliberately chosen these people.
The names on the list weren't those of high-ranking officials.
Nor were they elite powerhouses or young prodigies brimming with limitless potential.
They were ordinary shinobi.
Yet they all shared one fatal trait:
Every single one of them was a diehard loyalist of the Fourth Raikage.
A knew it instantly.
This was no coincidence.
Atsubi had done this on purpose.
And the worst part?
There was nothing A could use to object.
The candidates were clean.
Capable.
Politically unobjectionable.
That suffocating sense of humiliation made his blood boil.
So this is your revenge…
Still, after a long moment of silent deliberation, the Fourth Raikage finally nodded.
Even someone as domineering as him sometimes had no choice but to compromise.
"…Fine."
His voice was low, cold, and heavy.
"They're yours now."
He fixed Atsubi with a sharp stare.
"I only have one demand—this mission must succeed. Use this time to familiarize yourself with them. Drill coordination, build trust. I won't accept failure."
"I understand, Raikage-sama."
Atsubi bowed calmly, then added:
"However, we likely won't have much time for training. I intend to depart within the next few months."
"Depart?"
The Raikage frowned.
"So soon? Are you altering the plan?"
Originally, the Raikage and the elders had agreed on a gradual approach—
orchestrating repeated low-intensity conflicts between Cloud and Leaf shinobi.
Not open war.
But friction at the mission level.
Conflicts that were technically legitimate—
yet easily escalated if pushed just a little further.
That escalation was precisely what Kumogakure wanted.
But never to the point of open war.
Only then could the plan proceed smoothly.
Ironically, what unsettled them most was Leaf's sensitivity.
Before Kumogakure even began its low-level provocations,
the mere act of ramping up training had already put Konoha on alert.
Leaf had dispatched a negotiation team, attempting to defuse the situation—
even hoping to resolve it outright.
Impossible, the Raikage thought.
Especially with Minato Namikaze still alive.
That man had once fought both A and his sworn brother to a standstill—alone.
His speed was despair-inducing.
And his mastery of space-time ninjutsu bordered on the absurd.
Still—
This wasn't a duel.
This was war.
Unless someone existed who could single-handedly crush an entire army, numbers would always matter.
And Kumogakure had the numbers.
Their recovery after the Third Shinobi World War had been the fastest.
Their military strength had already returned to—if not surpassed—pre-war levels.
They had money.
They had weapons.
They had confidence.
Why shouldn't they act?
Was there really someone in Konoha capable of repeating what happened in Kirigakure—
a lone shinobi overwhelming an entire village?
If such a person existed, wouldn't the Nine-Tails incident have ended very differently?
The plan was airtight.
Yet now, Atsubi was proposing a deviation.
The Raikage narrowed his eyes.
"Go on."
"Yes."
Atsubi nodded.
"We intend to depart early to make several private visits."
"…Private visits?"
The Raikage's eyes sharpened.
"You mean the Uchiha—and that old monkey, the Third Hokage?"
"Exactly."
Atsubi's voice was calm, almost eerie.
"The Uchiha and the Third Hokage have never been on good terms. During the Fourth Hokage's rise, the Uchiha invested heavily in him—and in doing so, thoroughly offended the Third."
He continued evenly:
"The head of the Konoha Police Force, Uchiha Kei, personally executed Danzō Shimura, the Third Hokage's closest ally."
"And he ensured Danzō was denied burial in Konoha's Heroes' Cemetery."
That was more than enough.
Even if the Raikage were slow-witted, he now understood Atsubi's intent perfectly.
"…You plan to visit the Third Hokage first."
A cold smile tugged at the Raikage's lips.
He knew that old man well.
If Atsubi showed goodwill—
only to later die violently within Konoha—
The Third Hokage would seize that opportunity with both hands.
"…That's vicious," A muttered.
"He'll use this to claw his way back up. And you intend to provoke the Uchiha as well, don't you?"
"Yes."
Atsubi answered without hesitation.
"Konoha was wounded by the Nine-Tails. They won't dare act rashly. They'll be forced to swallow whatever we give them."
"These methods came from the elders. I'm merely executing them."
"Figures."
The Raikage nodded grimly.
"Only those rotten old fossils could come up with something this despicable."
Then his expression hardened.
"Proceed as planned. I may despise you—but remember this."
"You are a hero of Kumogakure."
Atsubi bowed deeply.
"And I despise you as well, Raikage-sama."
"But for Kumogakure—
even if it costs me my life, I will not hesitate."