Nara Shikaku's proposal shook Hiashi Hyuga to the core, but deep down, he already understood that this was a choice he could no longer avoid.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi personally came to the Hyuga compound, then this incident would not only humiliate Konoha as a whole—the Hyuga Clan itself would suffer losses beyond imagination.
And because of that, Hiashi had no choice but to take a side.
He needed to stand with someone who could truly protect Konoha… or at the very least, uphold justice for his clan.
Natsuhiko Senju was undoubtedly one such option.
After all, he was effectively the representative left behind in the village by the Fourth Hokage himself.
More importantly, Natsuhiko had already proven both his foresight and his capability. At such a young age, he had seized control of the entire ANBU, and he had even seen through the enemy's plans before they could act.
Being protected by someone like that—and the forces behind him—was far preferable to trusting a Hiruzen Sarutobi whose carefully maintained image had already completely collapsed.
...
"So the two of you came all the way here just to see me?"
Inside the ANBU headquarters, Natsuhiko looked at Nara Shikaku and Hiashi Hyuga standing before him, a faintly amused smile appearing on his face as he spoke.
To be honest, Hiashi's arrival had not surprised him very much.
Natsuhiko had already dropped more than enough hints for the Hyuga Clan Head. Combined with everything he had done inside the village, there was no way Hiashi could fail to realize that Natsuhiko and Hiruzen Sarutobi were no longer walking the same path.
Since he understood that much—and since Natsuhiko had deliberately given him those hints—whatever choice Hiashi ultimately made was hardly unexpected.
What truly surprised Natsuhiko was Shikaku.
Strictly speaking, he had almost no personal interaction with the Nara Clan Head. Aside from meeting at a few official conferences, the most they had ever exchanged were polite nods.
The Ino-Shika-Cho alliance had indeed fully sided with the Fourth Hokage and, by extension, with Natsuhiko's faction.
However, the survival philosophy of those clans made it unlikely for them to actively approach him. They would support the Fourth Hokage's ideals and carry out his will, but they were not the type to openly draw close to someone like Natsuhiko.
Which made Shikaku's sudden visit feel rather strange.
Still, despite his surprise, Natsuhiko maintained the calm and composed demeanor he had cultivated over the past year.
Smiling lightly, he spoke in an unhurried tone.
"Honestly, even if you came to me about this matter, there isn't much I can do. Since the Hokage has already made his decision, all we can do is accept it, isn't that right?"
"No, Commander Natsuhiko." Shikaku shook his head immediately. "If there is anyone in Konoha capable of stopping the Third Hokage now… it would only be you."
"You overestimate me, Lord Shikaku." Natsuhiko smiled and shook his head as well. "I'm merely the head of the ANBU. How could I possibly interfere with the Hokage's thoughts and decisions?"
It was obvious that Natsuhiko had no intention of revealing anything too easily, and his evasive attitude left Shikaku feeling rather helpless.
Hiashi's expression also darkened slightly.
Natsuhiko's attitude was simply too strange.
Still, Hiashi remained calm and restrained. With Shikaku present, he did not need to say much himself. The head of Konoha's Administrative Department was more than capable of handling negotiations like this.
What he likely failed to realize, however, was that Shikaku's very presence was the reason Natsuhiko was behaving this way.
As Shikaku stared at the young man before him, he briefly found himself at a loss.
But he was Nara Shikaku.
It did not take him long to grasp what was happening.
Looking into Natsuhiko's calm eyes—eyes that remained fixed squarely on him—Shikaku immediately understood that Natsuhiko's current attitude existed entirely because he himself was here.
According to Hiashi, Natsuhiko had privately revealed certain information to him while deliberately keeping others in the dark.
That alone suggested one thing:
Natsuhiko's true target had always been Hiashi.
Or more accurately—
His eyes had long since been set on the Hyuga Clan itself.
And the moment Shikaku followed that line of thought to its conclusion, cold sweat nearly broke out across his back.
Natsuhiko was an incredibly ambitious man. Someone without ambition could never have climbed to the position of ANBU Commander at such a young age.
A man carrying the banner of the Fourth Hokage while possessing terrifying ambition of his own…
A man whose target was the Hyuga Clan…
And on top of that, someone who had already helped the Uchiha Clan begin pulling themselves away from the brink of total separation from Konoha…
Moreover, the situation within the Uchiha Clan itself no longer seemed stable. The struggle over internal authority and power distribution had already begun intensifying at an alarming rate.
And if Nara Shikaku's judgment was correct…
Then Natsuhiko was the one orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.
"First, he took control of the ANBU. Then, after severely damaging the Third Hokage during the last confrontation, he managed to seize portions of both the Medical Department and Root. As a result, the authority of the ANBU under his command has expanded even further.
"And because of what happened last time, we've all unknowingly ended up standing on his side.
"Officially, we support the Fourth Hokage… but in reality, what we're supporting now is him.
"As for the Uchiha Clan, it seems he has already secured influence over the Military Police Force and has begun competing for even greater authority within the clan itself. Given his methods, succeeding is only a matter of time.
"And now he's begun making contact with the Hyuga Clan. Even without me, Hiashi Hyuga likely would have come to seek him out eventually.
"On top of that, he controls something as terrifying as the newspaper agency…"
As Shikaku pieced together every bit of information he knew, he arrived at a conclusion so shocking that it sent chills down his spine.
Natsuhiko's true goal… was the position of Hokage.
This man had been taking advantage of the Fourth Hokage's inability to personally govern Konoha, steadily using Minato's name and influence to build a political foundation for himself step by step.
Everything he had done was paving the road toward becoming Hokage.
And the more Shikaku thought about it, the more terrifying the realization became.
If Natsuhiko could flawlessly handle the current crisis, then people like them—those who stood with the Fourth Hokage because of him—would naturally continue supporting him.
The Hyuga Clan, after being cornered by this incident, would also be forced to choose a side. And choosing a side meant abandoning the Third Hokage and moving closer to the Fourth Hokage's faction.
Then there was the support of the Uchiha Clan.
With all of those pieces combined, Natsuhiko's series of maneuvers had effectively allowed the Fourth Hokage's side to gain the overwhelming majority of Konoha's support.
And if the Fourth Hokage could not return to the village…
Then once the Third Hokage lost the people's trust after this incident, a new Hokage selection would become inevitable.
As a member of the Senju Clan and the current head of the ANBU, Natsuhiko absolutely possessed the qualifications to compete for the title.
Most importantly, he had always acted under the banner of the Fourth Hokage. In everyone's eyes, the two of them were inseparable.
Which meant that, in the end, all that support would naturally fall onto Natsuhiko himself.
"How long has this guy been planning all of this…? Just how terrifying is he?"
After finally connecting all the dots, Shikaku could not help but sigh inwardly in disbelief.
Every single time he thought he had already overestimated Natsuhiko's abilities, reality would prove that he had still underestimated the young man standing before him.
What kind of environment could possibly nurture someone like this?
His methods, temperament, and strength were all exceptional.
The young man in front of him felt less like a youth and more like a seasoned old fox.
Not just any fox, either, but one that had weathered countless storms, long since grown accustomed to schemes, deception, and political warfare—a monster capable of using every available resource to achieve his goals.
At that thought, Shikaku's gaze grew even deeper.
He stared seriously at Natsuhiko for a long moment before finally speaking slowly.
"You're being too modest, Commander Natsuhiko."
There was a meaningful undertone in Shikaku's voice as he continued.
"After all, what you represent now is not merely the Fourth Hokage… though of course, it's also more than just that."
"Oh?"
Natsuhiko raised an eyebrow slightly. He could immediately tell there was another layer hidden beneath Shikaku's words.
"And what exactly do you mean by that, Lord Shikaku?"
"The meaning is quite simple." Shikaku smiled faintly. "Commander Natsuhiko is, after all, a member of the Senju Clan."
By now, Shikaku had become even more convinced that his deductions were correct.
The smile on his face deepened slightly.
"To be honest, Lord Hiashi came here today because I invited him. It's because I've discovered something far more important… and far more interesting.
"Perhaps from now on, we can have deeper contact with one another.
"And perhaps… cooperate more closely as well."
At this point, Shikaku's meaning could not have been clearer.
If Natsuhiko still failed to understand him after hearing all that, then there would truly be a problem.
Natsuhiko had long anticipated that someone might eventually see through his actions.
But he had never expected anyone to understand him this thoroughly before he had even openly revealed his true ambitions.
And to top it all off, Shikaku had even brought the very person Natsuhiko had been targeting directly to him.
At that moment, even Natsuhiko could only sigh inwardly.
As expected of Nara Shikaku.
In truth, Natsuhiko had misunderstood the situation somewhat.
He had assumed that Nara Shikaku had already seen through everything beforehand, which was why he had deliberately brought Hiashi Hyuga along to meet him.
But the reality was quite different.
Shikaku had only pieced everything together moments ago. Bringing Hiashi here had originally been nothing more than a way to completely declare his stance.
Of course, Shikaku had no intention of admitting that aloud.
Natsuhiko's attitude just now had already confirmed that all of Shikaku's deductions were correct.
Perhaps only Hiashi still had not fully grasped what the two of them were really talking about.
Or maybe it was simply because his thoughts were focused elsewhere entirely. At this moment, everything occupying his mind revolved around the Hyuga Clan and the crisis with Kumogakure.
"Gentlemen, now is not the time for riddles or meaningless implications."
Seeing Natsuhiko fall silent while Shikaku also stopped speaking, Hiashi finally spoke up.
"Commander Natsuhiko, Lord Shikaku and I came here today to make our position clear. A very firm position."
As he spoke, Hiashi's expression became solemn.
"I believe you understand what I mean, Commander Natsuhiko. Konoha has already fallen into crisis… and so has the Hyuga Clan."
He paused briefly before continuing in an even firmer tone.
"And because of that, I hope to receive help.
"I hope to receive your help… and the Fourth Hokage's help.
"In return, the Hyuga Clan is willing to stand completely on your side.
"We are willing to firmly stand alongside the Hokage and Commander Natsuhiko to face whatever comes."
After saying those words, Hiashi's pale Byakugan eyes locked firmly onto Natsuhiko.
Although his speech sounded resolute and dignified, the truth was that this was already a form of surrender.
It was only the pride of the Hyuga Clan that allowed him to preserve a measure of dignity while lowering his head.
Perhaps that was one of the common flaws shared by great clans.
They valued pride and reputation more than almost anything else.
Sometimes, Natsuhiko felt fortunate that he had reincarnated into the shattered remnants of the Senju Clan rather than one of those powerful aristocratic families.
The current Senju simply lacked the strength necessary to maintain that kind of arrogant pride.
Otherwise, his own methods in the beginning—constantly yielding, quietly accumulating power, and only exploding once he had enough strength—would have been enough to disgrace the entire clan.
After all, back then he had practically acted as a triple agent, constantly maneuvering between the Third Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, and the Senju Clan.
Truthfully, Natsuhiko had hated living that way.
But reality was cruel.
Sometimes, courage and strength alone were nowhere near enough to solve every problem.
Besides, at that time, he had not even possessed sufficient power to begin with. His system cheat had severely restricted his chakra, preventing him from fully unleashing his abilities.
Otherwise, he never would have been so grateful to Danzo.
If that old bastard had not accidentally allowed him to obtain Hashirama Senju's flesh cells, Natsuhiko's rise would never have happened so quickly.
Which was precisely why, when Danzo finally died, Natsuhiko had gone out of his way to arrange a particularly "memorable" death for him.
After all…
The way Danzo died had perfectly embodied the true spirit of Konoha.
Shaking his head lightly, Natsuhiko pushed aside those unpleasant memories.
The days of struggling to survive in the cracks between giants were already over.
Now, with enough strength and enough influence accumulated beneath him, he already stood at the peak of Konoha's power structure.
Even if he had not yet officially obtained the position of Hokage, he knew that was only a matter of time.
He no longer needed to act timid or submissive in front of anyone.
Nor did he need to bow and scrape for survival like before.
Back then, survival itself had left him with no choice.
But now…
The survival of others rested in his hands instead.
"I understand your intentions now."
Natsuhiko nodded lightly. His gaze lingered meaningfully on Shikaku for a moment before he continued.
"Although I didn't attend the meeting personally, I assume the Raikage's letter of condemnation has already arrived, correct?"
"Yes, Commander."
Shikaku nodded immediately, his expression turning serious.
"The situation is very unfavorable. And I suspect that while the letter arrived, Kumogakure's pressure campaign has only just begun."
"That's correct. A few hours ago, I already received intelligence reports that Kumogakure's main forces have begun mobilizing."
Natsuhiko smiled faintly before continuing calmly,
"And the demand is for Lord Hiashi to be handed over, correct?"
"Yes."
Shikaku glanced at Hiashi briefly before nodding.
"The Raikage's position is that the death occurred at the hands of the Hyuga Clan. According to the information they received, the one responsible was Lord Hiashi himself.
"They are demanding that we surrender him, and the Third Hokage…"
"His response isn't surprising," Natsuhiko interrupted lightly, tapping his fingers against the desk. "In his eyes, Konoha is still too weak."
He let out a soft sigh before continuing.
"The Third Hokage has grown old, and with age, his methods have become increasingly conservative.
"Yes, Konoha is weaker than before. But if we hand over Lord Hiashi this time, the blow dealt to the village will be beyond imagination.
"The entire shinobi world will see it as proof that Konoha has truly declined. Our economy, our reputation, even our cultural influence will suffer enormous damage.
"And more importantly, surrendering Hiashi would devastate the morale of Konoha's shinobi."
Natsuhiko's gaze turned colder as he spoke.
"At that point, the village itself would no longer be able to remain united. After all, Konoha was created to protect its people—not to sacrifice them in exchange for a fragile and humiliating peace."
The moment Natsuhiko said those words, the direction of the discussion was effectively decided.
Shikaku silently nodded inwardly.
Natsuhiko's analysis was absolutely correct.
Of course, he also knew that part of the reason he now leaned so heavily toward Natsuhiko was due to the subtle influence of the newspapers over time.
But even setting that aside, Shikaku knew he still would have supported him.
Because the entire purpose behind the founding of the village was to protect everyone living within it.
What Hiruzen Sarutobi was doing now was no longer merely turning back the clock of history.
He was stomping on the accelerator while driving downhill.
If this continued unchecked, the crash waiting at the bottom would either shatter Hiruzen himself… or drag the entire village down with him.
In reality, history had already proven the outcome.
Ten years later, during the Chunin Exams, the attitudes displayed by Konoha's jonin and clan leaders would become the clearest evidence of Hiruzen's failure.
Standing beside Shikaku, Hiashi also found himself nodding unconsciously.
No one understood the gravity of this situation more deeply than he did, because he was standing at the very center of the storm.
Natsuhiko's words struck directly at his heart.
Wasn't the entire reason the village existed to protect its people?
Although the establishment of shinobi villages had transformed wars from small-scale clan conflicts into massive battles involving tens of thousands of professional ninja, there was one undeniable truth:
The existence of the villages had dramatically reduced the casualty rates of individual clans.
That was why people were willing to fight for Konoha.
Because Konoha protected them in return.
But now, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not even wish to fight anymore. He simply intended to force someone else to die in exchange for peace.
Who could possibly accept something like that?
If Natsuhiko knew what Hiashi was thinking at this moment, he probably would have offered him a perfect example:
Uchiha Itachi.
"Well then, it looks like we're going to have a busy night."
Natsuhiko tapped the desk once more before turning toward Shikaku.
"Lord Shikaku, I'll have to trouble you to gather all the clan heads, department leaders, and jonin who share your views."
"Right now?" Shikaku paused thoughtfully for a moment before immediately nodding. "Understood. I'll handle it as quickly as possible."
"Not as quickly as possible," Natsuhiko corrected calmly. "Immediately. We need to arrange everything before the Third Hokage reaches Lord Hiashi's residence."
Shikaku's expression sharpened instantly.
"I understand. I'll go at once."
...
That night, Konoha was destined to remain sleepless.
Following Natsuhiko's instructions, Shikaku personally summoned nearly every clan head, department head, and jonin likely to share the same stance to a conference room within ANBU Headquarters.
And once everyone had gathered, Shikaku laid out the current situation in full detail without hiding anything.
The moment they heard the truth, everyone immediately realized just how severe the situation had become.
Kumogakure's ambitions had long since become impossible to conceal.
A year ago, they had already begun stationing troops near the Land of Hot Water. Half a year ago, conflicts between Kumo shinobi and Konoha mission teams had become increasingly frequent.
And now, after an incident like this…
War almost felt inevitable.
Almost none of the clan shinobi present—not even the clan heads or department leaders—voiced any opposition.
Some of them had personally attended Hiruzen Sarutobi's earlier meeting, while others had not been present but still agreed with Nara Shikaku's reasoning.
Even the jonin who came from civilian backgrounds only felt slightly uncomfortable about the fact that Shikaku and Natsuhiko had gathered everyone privately behind the Third Hokage's back.
After all, Natsuhiko represented the Fourth Hokage, and standing here with him meant they were, whether willingly or not, being drawn into the center of Konoha's political struggle.
But despite that discomfort, they still agreed with Shikaku.
The truth was simple:
Natsuhiko's preparations through the newspapers had been far too thorough.
For a very long time, he had been subtly breaking information apart and scattering it across countless articles, quietly shaping public opinion piece by piece.
And over time, that influence had seeped deeply into everyone's subconscious.
Combined with the nearly half-year of escalating skirmishes against Kumogakure shinobi near the Land of Iron—conflicts many of them had personally experienced while leading missions—the resentment toward Kumo had only grown stronger.
Besides, anyone capable of becoming a jonin, clan head, or department head naturally possessed a high level of political awareness.
Well… almost everyone.
Someone like Might Guy was probably the rare exception whose reactions were a little slower than most.
After hearing Shikaku's explanation, how could they fail to understand that this matter simply could not be compromised?
To compromise now would be to create unimaginable disaster for Konoha itself.
It could even lead to the village's collapse.
Putting aside how the Hyuga Clan would react, everyone present was already thinking about the same terrifying question:
If Konoha surrendered one of its own this time…
Then what would happen next time?
And everyone understood perfectly well how devastating such a retreat would look in the eyes of the shinobi world.
Yes, Konoha's military strength had been heavily drained during the Third Great Ninja War and had still not fully recovered.
But once others realized they could force Konoha to bow its head…
Then more demands would inevitably follow.
Konoha absolutely could not retreat.
This time, Kumogakure demanded a person.
Next time… would they demand territory instead?
Even if war broke out now, the cost would undoubtedly be brutal.
And even if Konoha won, the benefits gained externally might not be significant at all.
At most, victory would strengthen morale within the village itself.
To the outside world, however, things were different.
After all, Konoha had always been regarded as the strongest village in the shinobi world.
If the strongest village defeated Kumogakure, wouldn't that simply be considered normal?
Compared to Kumo—the aggressor initiating the conflict—the rewards Konoha could obtain from victory were pitifully small.
But even so…
If they won this war, Konoha could secure at least another decade—or perhaps even longer—of stable peace.
And if those peaceful years were used wisely, the village could completely recover its former strength.
Perhaps it could even rise to heights greater than before.
As for losing?
Unconditional surrender was a form of defeat.
Fighting to the bitter end was also a form of defeat.
Although the second option appeared far more costly, the positive impact it carried was immeasurably greater.
Because what it preserved was spirit.
And for a shinobi village, spirit was everything.
"And everyone…"
At that moment, Natsuhiko finally rose from his seat and addressed all the shinobi gathered in the room.
"I know many of you are pessimistic about the situation," he said calmly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "But I want to tell you that there's no need to be so hopeless.
"Konoha's true foundation is far beyond what outsiders can imagine."
Although Natsuhiko's words were clearly meant to encourage them, many still felt they offered little practical reassurance.
Yes, Natsuhiko was powerful.
But no matter how talented he was, he still needed time to continue growing stronger.
And yet…
His words still planted a faint sense of anticipation in everyone's hearts.
Perhaps Natsuhiko truly knew something unbelievable.
For example—
Perhaps the Fourth Hokage might actually return.
...
"Damn it!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his fist heavily against the desk, his expression dark and furious.
Even in his worst nightmares, he had never imagined that his control over the village had weakened to this extent.
After the earlier meeting ended, he had deliberately waited for some time, intending to let tensions settle before acting.
Then, bringing several Root shinobi with him, he personally set out toward the Hyuga Clan compound.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi knew this visit to the Hyuga Clan would likely end badly, he still believed he had no choice.
In his eyes, sacrificing a few individuals in exchange for Konoha's peace was perfectly reasonable.
He deliberately avoided thinking too deeply about the consequences such a decision might bring. It was not that he failed to understand the risks—rather, he had already convinced himself that the current Konoha simply could not afford to resist.
However, when he finally arrived at the Hyuga compound, he was stunned to discover that Hiashi Hyuga was nowhere to be found.
He waited in silence.
And he kept waiting.
Yet even after a long time passed, no one returned.
At that moment, Hiruzen immediately realized something was wrong.
He quickly ordered people to locate Nara Shikaku, but the report he received only made his expression darken further.
Shikaku had already contacted numerous clan heads and jonin and brought them all to the ANBU Headquarters.
Hiruzen understood exactly what that meant.
Because this was betrayal.
Not the simple kind of betrayal where people merely disobeyed his wishes. Ever since the Fourth Hokage's era—and Natsuhiko himself—there had already been countless conflicts against his authority.
But this time was different.
Konoha was facing external pressure, and while he, the Hokage, was attempting to direct the village's response, his own subordinates had collectively ignored him and begun acting on their own.
This was no longer ordinary disobedience.
In some ways…
This was practically mutiny.
"How did things end up like this…?"
Hiruzen genuinely could not understand.
But one thing was certain:
The situation had already become extremely dangerous.
Even after his previous failures, he had still remained Hokage.
But now?
These people no longer even treated him like the Hokage at all.
"…Did I make a mistake?"
For the first time in a long while, Hiruzen found himself seriously asking that question.
Unfortunately, no one could answer him.
And by the next day, he sharply noticed something even more alarming.
The entire machinery of Konoha had begun operating on its own.
Without even consulting him, Nara Shikaku had already drafted a diplomatic response addressed to Kumogakure—and its tone was unmistakably forceful.
Hiruzen still managed to read the report in the end.
And after reading it, he felt his blood pressure rise immediately.
Because the report clearly detailed the actions of Kumogakure's envoy inside Konoha while openly outlining Konoha's suspicions regarding Kumo's true intentions.
At the very end, it even warned Kumogakure against provoking unnecessary conflict.
"This report is practically adding fuel to the fire!"
And sure enough, only a day later, Kumogakure sent another official statement to Konoha.
This time, the wording was even harsher.
The entire declaration framed Kumogakure as the "victim" in the conflict while aggressively condemning Konoha's actions.
And once again, they demanded that Konoha hand over the culprit responsible for the envoy's death.
If Konoha refused, then Kumogakure would respond with the harshest possible retaliation.
The intention behind the statement could not have been clearer.
Kumogakure no longer intended to wait.
This was their final ultimatum.
Either Konoha accepted humiliation and surrendered its own people, losing the trust of the entire village in the process…
Or both sides would stop wasting words and go directly to war.
It was outrageous.
But undeniably effective.
At this point, there was little left to discuss.
The only thing Konoha could do now was avoid formally declaring war first while preparing itself for the conflict to come.
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Lightning, within a massive plaza inside Kumogakure—
The Fourth Raikage stood side by side with his younger brother, Killer B, overlooking the enormous army assembled below them.
More than eight thousand shinobi had already gathered.
And every single one of them would march toward Konoha with him.
That's right.
This time, the Fourth Raikage intended to personally lead the campaign.
Kumogakure had always possessed a tradition of Raikage leading their forces into battle personally.
The only exception had been during the First Great Ninja War, when the First Raikage died during an internal rebellion within the village itself.
As for the Third Raikage, during the Third Great Ninja War he had charged deep into enemy territory against Iwagakure, only to be discovered by Onoki. In the end, he was worn down by endless waves of enemies over the course of three days and three nights before finally dying from exhaustion.
The Fourth Raikage himself also possessed extensive battlefield experience.
He had personally carried out numerous missions over the years and had fought directly against Konoha as one of Kumogakure's main forces during the Third Great Ninja War.
This time, the Fourth Raikage still intended to personally participate in the war against Konoha.
Because he already had a target in mind—
Natsuhiko Senju, the head of Konoha's ANBU.
He knew that Natsuhiko possessed both Wood Release and the Flying Thunder God Technique. Having once lost to Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God, the Raikage had always regretted never getting another chance to face the Fourth Hokage again.
But now…
Natsuhiko could serve as a suitable replacement.
"I hope you can give me some entertainment," the Fourth Raikage thought to himself coldly. "And ideally, Hiruzen Sarutobi joins the battle too."
In his eyes, however, Hiruzen Sarutobi was far less dangerous than Konoha's so-called "Nightingale."
Slowly raising his head, the Raikage swept his gaze across the eight thousand shinobi gathered below him, and a powerful sense of pride surged within his chest.
An army of eight thousand ninja was neither overwhelmingly massive nor insignificant.
After all, the Land of Lightning itself still needed protection, and Kumogakure could not afford to empty its defenses entirely.
Even so, eight thousand shinobi was already an enormous force.
And that was not all.
There were still another two to three thousand Kumogakure ninja stationed near the borders of the Land of Hot Water. Combined with the fact that the Raikage himself would personally lead the campaign, it could be said without exaggeration that Kumogakure was going all out against Konoha this time.
This was not merely a military operation.
It was a declaration of attitude.
A display of strength.
A statement to the entire shinobi world.
Kumogakure was furious.
They had sent envoys under the banner of peace, only for those representatives to die inside Konoha without receiving any proper explanation.
And because of that, they intended to retaliate with the harshest measures possible.
"Is everyone ready?!"
The Fourth Raikage suddenly roared toward the massive army below. Empowered by chakra, his thunderous voice spread clearly across the entire plaza, reaching every Kumogakure shinobi present.
"We came seeking justice from Konoha! Peace was hard-earned, yet they showed no intention of cherishing it!"
His voice grew even louder, overflowing with violent pressure.
"We will show them the consequences of recklessly destroying peace! We will make that arrogant Konoha understand the true power of Kumogakure!"
"We're ready! We're ready! We're ready—!"
Thousands of Kumogakure ninja roared in response almost instantly. The deafening chorus echoed throughout the enormous plaza like rolling thunder.
The atmosphere exploded into a frenzy.
Every shinobi present felt their blood boil.
Hatred began spreading rapidly through their hearts, while the desire for battle swelled uncontrollably.
They wanted war.
They craved war.
They wanted to crush Konoha completely beneath their feet.
"Good."
Only after the thunderous shouting finally subsided did the Fourth Raikage slowly nod in satisfaction.
Then he raised his right hand high into the air.
"Move out!"
His fierce voice exploded across the plaza once more.
"We march to flatten Konoha!"
...
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