Five days and the news that Senju Raizen, the Dragon of the Leaf had left Konohagakure spread like wildfire.
In the councils of every Hidden Village, from the thunder mountains of Kumogakure to the hidden strongholds of Iwagakure leaders and strategists paused to digest the information. Then… they laughed.
Kumogakure
Third Raikage a towering man with muscles like steel and a mind like lightning clenched the letter in his massive hand. His booming voice filled the council chamber.
Third Raikage: "Fools. They let their only true weapon walk away. Konoha has lost its fangs!"
Around him Lightning Daimyo advisors nodded in satisfaction.
Advisor 1: "Should we prepare an attack, Lord Raikage?"
Third Raikage: "No... not yet. I have a better plan. If this Dragon is free, then perhaps it is time he sees the strength of the cloud. Send a silent envoy. Track him. If we can draw him to our side the tides of war will shift permanently."
Iwagakure
At the same time, the Tsuchikage's room echoed with cruel laughter. Despite losing Ishikawa and many top shinobi in the battle with Raizen, Iwagakure was glad that the most unpredictable threat had now become no one's ally.
Sunagakure
Even in Sunagakure hidden in the scorching dunes, the elders looked uneasy. The young Kazekage candidate shook his head.
Kazekage Candidate: "We celebrated Konoha's loss. But that boy... he's not just a Senju. He's a walking storm."
Kirigakure
Mist Village sent their silent assassins just to gather information, but even they admitted no location, no trace. Raizen had vanished.
Konoha
Back in Konoha, the silence around Raizen's departure was deafening.
The Senju elders had gathered in the inner council red faced and seething.
Elder Hoshiji: "This is your doing Mito. You pushed him away. Not only did we lose the Wood Release inheritor but nearly 70% of the Senju clan was absorbed into the general Konoha structure by that Tobirama."
Elder Enmei: "He was more than Tobirama. He was our clan's future and you allowed him to walk out."
Mito seated solemnly, did not respond immediately. Her face was pale, and her hands trembled faintly in her lap. She remembered Tobirama's dying request. Support Hiruzen. For the sake of balance.
Mito: "He wouldn't have stayed. Not after that meeting… not after watching us choose Monkey over him. But perhaps this is what destiny chose."
Outside, the Uchiha clan quietly celebrated.
Kagami Uchiha shook his head, half in shame, half in awe.
Kagami: "They didn't choose Raizen. But now they have to live in a world with him… but not with him. That's worse than war."
Elder Setsuna Uchiha sneered.
Setsuna: "Good. Let the Senju bleed. The Hokage title should never have become their heirloom anyway."
Meanwhile in a dark, forgotten forest near the border of the Land of Fire, A figure moved silently under the moonlight.
Clad in black, cloak fluttering mace across his back and a scroll sealed with complex seals at his waist, Senju Raizen meditated beneath an ancient tree. Vines coiled around his arms gently the wood chakra now resonating with his very breath.
He opened his eyes slowly. The iris of a dragon glinted back.
Raizen: "So… this is what freedom feels like."
He recalled Tobirama's words the final meeting, the silent betrayal of the council chamber.
Raizen: "You wanted me to protect Hiruzen. Dream on!!"
Back in Kumogakure, the Third Raikage sat in deep thought.
Third Raikage: "A bloodline capable of Wood Release, Dragon Transformation and thunder like speed? If Konoha was foolish enough to lose him… maybe we'll be smart enough to welcome him."