Cloud Hidden Village – Kumogakure
After receiving news that the Third Raikage had been killed in battle, a storm of curses broke out across Kumogakure. Soon after, the Fourth Raikage was appointed.
Unlike the chaos that typically plagued other villages during succession, the next Raikage had been decided long ago.
When the Fourth Raikage fought side by side with Killer Bee, he had already made up his mind—he would be the next to wear the mantle of Raikage.
Raikage's Office
The Fourth Raikage glared at a letter from Kirigakure, then slammed his palm onto the desk, shattering it in fury.
"Damn it!"
Sparks of lightning crackled across his body as he roared. His eyes were locked on the letter.
"Kirigakure is going too far!"
"They killed my father, and now they have the nerve to demand compensation from us? This is outrageous!"
His voice echoed through the room.
"Lord Raikage, please calm down."
A calm voice came from a man with oil paint streaked across the right side of his face. He was Blue B—the current Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and the Raikage's cousin.
Strong, disciplined, and capable of suppressing the power of the Eight-Tails, Blue B was one of the strongest shinobi in Kumogakure. Because of both his power and lineage, he served as the Raikage's right hand.
In the original timeline, he had fallen to a trap by Orochimaru—poisoned by genjutsu-inducing drugs and devoured after the Eight-Tails was forcibly extracted from him.
But now...
Thanks to the interference of Zenkichi, Orochimaru had yet to target him. Blue B still lived.
Blue B advised, "Zenkichi of Kirigakure is not someone to be taken lightly. If we reject their terms outright, we may put the entire village in jeopardy."
The Fourth Raikage growled, "So we're supposed to just roll over and let Kirigakure push us around?"
Blue B shook his head, offering a faint smile. "Of course not. Zenkichi is powerful, and Kirigakure is getting arrogant."
"They've provoked not just us, but Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure too. Four of the Five Great Shinobi Nations have grievances with them."
"I suggest we bide our time—send them some supplies to lull them into a false sense of peace, and when the time is right, we strike together with the others."
The Fourth Raikage's eyes lit up with understanding. "Yes… this is a solid plan. Why should we alone take the lead? Let the other villages pull their weight."
"If we act now, we'll only wear ourselves down and give Konoha and the others a chance to swoop in and benefit. We can't let those snakes outmaneuver us."
He cursed the other hidden villages with disdain.
After a moment, the Raikage added, "Fine. If they want supplies, they'll get them. But they'd better return my father's body."
Blue B nodded. "We should issue that demand jointly with Sunagakure. They're still missing Chiyo's remains—Kirigakure is holding them too."
---
Iwagakure
"Uchiha Madara is still alive? Are you sure?"
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, stared seriously at his son, Kitsuchi.
Ōnoki carried a deep grudge toward Uchiha Madara. As a young shinobi, he had once faced Madara in his prime and had been crushed.
Madara had long since forgotten that battle. But Ōnoki never did. The memory haunted him.
Kitsuchi spoke cautiously, "From what our scouts observed, it seems Madara really was alive—though very old."
"Most likely, he used some forbidden method to temporarily regain his peak strength."
"But that power didn't last. He was eventually overwhelmed and killed by Zenkichi."
"One of our sensory ninja reported that Madara's chakra suddenly collapsed at one point—it fits."
Ōnoki let out a long breath. "So he finally died…"
"I can't believe Madara lived all the way from the Warring States Era to now. He's like some ancient relic that refused to disappear."
"Has there ever been anyone more stubborn?"
Ōnoki muttered bitterly, a look of complex emotion on his face.
"Father, what should we do about the letter from Kirigakure?" Kitsuchi asked once his father had calmed.
"Kirigakure again…"
"Ever since Zenkichi appeared, they've become insufferable."
"They crippled my son, and now they want compensation from me?"
Ōnoki scoffed, killing intent in his voice.
"Father, don't act rashly," Kitsuchi warned. "I've fought Zenkichi before—he's not a normal shinobi."
"His abilities are bizarre. He shrugs off all attacks."
"Just like the rumors say, only high-level sealing techniques affect him… but those are too slow. He's far too fast."
"In short, we still don't have an effective counter."
Ōnoki snorted. "Don't worry. I won't rush in blindly."
"We've got allies. When the time comes, we move together."
Kitsuchi furrowed his brow. "Allies? I have to remind you, Father… when we last tried to take out Zenkichi, Tsunade from Konoha stood by and watched."
"We all coordinated the assault. But after a few words from Zenkichi, she did nothing."
"That shows we can't trust Konoha too much. They may backstab us."
"Maybe Zenkichi did something in Konoha that shook their spirit. Now they don't even dare confront him."
Ōnoki nodded slowly. "That's a good point. Then we'll reach out to Kumogakure and Sunagakure first."
"They've both lost high-ranking shinobi to Zenkichi. They won't let it slide."
"As for those hotheads in Kumogakure… there's no doubt they'll want revenge."
"I hear the new Raikage is the son of the last one?"
"Hmph. Like father, like son. If the father was a reckless brute, the son can't be much better."
Ōnoki sneered coldly.
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