"If we lose the daimyo's support, the village will likely descend into internal chaos immediately."
After hearing the Elder's reasoning, Yagura Karatachi sighed and asked: "Then how many people should we send to attack Kumogakure?"
"Why not send those shinobi clans with Kekkai Genkai? It would be a good opportunity to weaken their power."
Unlike other shinobi villages, Kirigakure had always implemented an isolationist policy, with almost no contact with the outside world.
For the village, those shinobi clans with powerful Kekkai Genkai and large populations were the real threat to the village's rule.
Sometimes, those clans would even openly defy the Mizukage's orders.
Under such circumstances, successive Mizukage of Kirigakure had no favorable feelings toward the village's Kekkai Genkai families.
This was the perfect opportunity to deplete those clans' members.
"Additionally, select some ordinary shinobi from the village to make up two thousand total. That should satisfy the daimyo."
"Very well. I'll see to it."
Land of Fire.
Konoha Village.
Hokage Building. Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his office, his face showing excited emotion.
"Excellent, excellent!"
"That fool Uchiha Yuzuru actually openly murdered the Land of Lightning's daimyo..."
"Now I can finally repay all the humiliation I've suffered!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes gleamed as he muttered excitedly to himself.
Ever since the Uchiha clan defected, he hadn't slept well for a single night.
First Kushina was lured away, then the Nine-Tails rampage, followed immediately by defeat and reparations...
If Hatake Sakumo hadn't drawn fire for him, the villagers would have already driven him from office.
Originally, he'd planned to play the turtle for a while, since Konoha was currently no match for Kumogakure.
But he never expected Uchiha Yuzuru to give him such divine assistance.
Murdering the daimyo...
Indeed, just as his teacher had said—the inherently evil Uchiha were the root of all chaos!
Just then, Shimura Danzo rushed excitedly into the office.
"Hiruzen, the daimyo has ordered the formation of a shinobi alliance. This is our perfect opportunity to attack Kumogakure!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag on his pipe and smiled as well: "Danzo, for once we're thinking alike."
"Working together with the other shinobi villages, we'll definitely rout Kumogakure."
"Then we can placate them with a bit of money and rest easy for a while."
Shimura Danzo picked at his ear, barely believing what he heard: "Wait...
We win and still pay them money?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen froze, then laughed awkwardly: "Uh...
Misspoke. I meant make them pay us reparations."
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Shimura Danzo didn't dwell on it, only saying excitedly: "Most importantly, we make Kumogakure hand over the Uchiha clan. Our village's rogue ninja must be dealt with by us."
"Fine. We'll do as you say."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Have the shinobi clans send more shinobi. We need to deploy at least three thousand."
"Danzo, I'm leaving this to you."
"Good. I'll go."
After receiving Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders, Shimura Danzo strode out of the Hokage's office, gently closing the door behind him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.
Once they defeated Kumogakure, let's see who would dare question him, the strongest Hokage!
Under the coordination of various nations' daimyo, the shinobi alliance composed of Konoha Village, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure quickly assembled.
Konoha Village deployed the most shinobi—a full four thousand.
Sunagakure deployed slightly fewer, but still three thousand combatants.
Next was Kirigakure with two thousand, though many possessed Kekkai Genkai.
Iwagakure deployed the least—only one thousand.
After the shinobi alliance formed, they underwent roughly a month of joint training.
Finally, under Shimura Danzo's organization and after completing a rallying ceremony, the ten-thousand-strong shinobi alliance marched mightily toward the Land of Lightning!
Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
The moment Uchiha Yuzuru arrived at the Raikage's office, the Third Raikage punched him in the chest.
"My brother, you're finally back! Our revolution in the Land of Lightning is a complete success!"
"We no longer have to worry about finances or be constrained by those nobles and aristocrats."
"This is all your achievement. Even I, the Raikage, feel somewhat inferior."
During this time, they had completely taken control of the entire Land of Lightning.
Not only had they established power structures similar to the Military Police Force everywhere, but they'd also built roads and bridges, winning widespread praise.
He had originally been prepared to burn his bridges, but he never imagined things would progress so smoothly.
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuzuru shook his head: "When it fails, it's called a coup. When it succeeds, it's a revolution!"
"I won't claim this glory alone. It belongs to all of us."
After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, the Third Raikage laughed even more heartily.
The best decision of his life was accepting the Uchiha clan.
He and Yuzuru were truly kindred spirits.
"Raikage!"
Mabushin rushed in, then upon seeing Uchiha Yuzuru, bowed respectfully. "Lord Yuzuru."
"I wanted to ask what you plan to do."
Hearing this, the Third Raikage and Uchiha Yuzuru exchanged glances, then both laughed simultaneously.
"Yuzuru, I feel like we're thinking the same thing again. You tell Mabushin."
Uchiha Yuzuru nodded and said with a smile: "If they want to come, we'll fight."
"It's merely a ten-thousand-strong shinobi alliance. The advantage is ours!"
Land of Lightning.
Border.
On a vast, open expanse, a massive platform dozens of meters high stood ahead.
Uchiha Yuzuru and the Third Raikage stood at the very front.
The fierce wind whipped their garments, making them snap and flutter as the two stood side by side, arms crossed.
Below them were neatly arrayed Cloud ninja.
Everyone stood silently in place without making a sound. The forehead protectors on the Cloud ninja gleamed in the sunlight, converging into a silver torrent.
Facing them was the shinobi alliance composed of Konoha Village, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure.
The two sides stood barely a kilometer apart, facing each other down, the air thick with killing intent.
Shimura Danzo stood at the very front of the shinobi alliance, his eyes flashing with excited light.
So many people all waiting for his command, awaiting his next order.
This feeling...
Was utterly intoxicating!
Throughout the entire shinobi world, who else could command the combined shinobi forces of four villages like him?
Even Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara in their time probably didn't have the prestige he now possessed!
After today's battle, his reputation would surely spread throughout the shinobi world!
At that thought, Shimura Danzo took a deep breath, his voice amplified by Chakra echoing in every shinobi alliance member's ears: "Those before us are Kumogakure's traitors. Today we will crush them at any cost."
"Charge!"
As Shimura Danzo finished speaking, the ten-thousand-strong shinobi alliance began moving like a massive, precise machine, steadily charging toward the Cloud ninja's position.
At the same time, Kumogakure's shinobi began dispersing in all directions. The once-orderly formation split open to create four corridors.
The next second, Ai, Killer Bee, Hatake Sakumo, and Uchiha Fugaku stepped to the very front.
Boom!
The Third Raikage's body fell like a cannonball from the dozens-of-meters-high platform, smashing the ground into a spiderweb of dense cracks.
"Hahaha...
How exhilarating! I've been waiting for a battle like this for so long!"
"Today I'll show you what it means to be the strongest Raikage!"
As the Third Raikage's words fell, Ai, Killer Bee, and the others came to stand behind him.
Five figures stood tall, facing the ten-thousand-strong shinobi alliance without changing expression.
Seeing this scene, the shinobi alliance all revealed astonished expressions.
"The Third Raikage, Ai, the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, Hatake Sakumo, Uchiha Fugaku...
Shouldn't these powerful fighters be in the rear commanding troops to stabilize morale?"
"Have those Cloud ninja lost their minds? Do they really think just five people can stop us?"
"Bastards! There's a limit to looking down on people! They're not taking us seriously at all!"
Hearing the shinobi alliance's angry questions, the Third Raikage laughed loudly again: "It's merely ten thousand shinobi. The few of us are more than enough."
"With great power comes great responsibility. Protecting the village and my comrades is my duty as Raikage. Even if I die here, I must shield the new shoots as they grow!"
After hearing their exchange, the shinobi alliance all showed confused expressions.
Especially the Konoha shinobi.
Why did those words sound so familiar?
Far in the rear, Shimura Danzo's face turned iron-blue.
Those Cloud ninja were definitely trying to disgust Konoha on purpose.
No need to guess—this was certainly the idea of those inherently evil Uchiha.
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