The night was deep, Kumogakure Village base was brightly lit. Jonin Dayi entered the base's tent, his expression grim and uncertain. He took off his dusty Forehead Protector and tossed it onto the table with a dull thud.
"I really didn't expect this..." he muttered to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Today's meeting of the joint surveillance forces was originally just a routine matter, but the atmosphere became subtle Shikaku Nara from Konoha appeared.
Following the Raikage's secret orders, Dayi deliberately stirred up a topic at the meeting. "Shouldn't Konoha take more responsibility for future crises?"—After all, almost all the disasters shown on the Heavenly Screen were related to Konoha!
The Akatsuki leader was Jiraiya's student, Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi were Konoha's missing-nin, and even Six Paths Madara was one of Konoha's founders... Dayi found it increasingly absurd. "This future catastrophe projected on the Heavenly Screen is practically Konoha's 'exclusive performance,' we other villages don't even deserve to be supporting characters!"
"Ha, Konoha really does produce a lot of talented people," Dayi thought sarcastically, pouring himself a glass of strong liquor and downing it in one gulp.
What surprised him even more was that he had only intended to test the waters, but the representatives from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure all tacitly agreed, even more enthusiastically than he had expected. It seemed that everyone's fear and dissatisfaction with Konoha had been brewing for a long time.
"The future battles projected on the Heavenly Screen are all Konoha people showing off; the other villages don't even get a decent shot..." Dayi grew increasingly annoyed, his fists clenching unconsciously. "Why?"
He recalled the Raikage's secret letter—"Put some pressure on Konoha and see their reaction."
The Raikage is no fool. Although Kumogakure has always appeared tough on the surface, the information revealed by the Heavenly Screen this time is too shocking. Kakashi and Might Guy from Konoha are leading a training exercise on the border? If that monster who can open the Eight Gates really attacks, even if Kumogakure wins, it will pay a heavy price.
"Lord Raikage... he must be intimidated too, right?" Dayi thought to himself, but he dared not say it aloud. After all, the Raikage's order was to "join forces with the other villages to exert pressure; we cannot let Kumogakure withstand Konoha's counterattack alone."
"Hmph, no matter how strong Konoha, it's impossible for it to fight against the Four Great Shinobi Villages at the same time." Dayi sneered and poured himself another glass of wine.
"But... Lord Raikage really just testing us? Or is he actually afraid too?"
The thought flashed through his mind, but Dayi immediately shook his head, dismissing the disrespectful idea.
"Fine, I'll just keep putting pressure on them tomorrow and see how Konoha responds!"
Unfortunately, he was completely wrong.
He had no idea that the secret orders given by the shadows of other villages to their subordinates were completely different from the ones he had received.
Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure, Ōnoki of Iwagakure, Mei Terumi of Kirigakure all secretly instructed their subordinates:
"On the surface, they may side with Kumogakure, but in crucial moments, they must stand with Konoha."
The real crisis is the threat posed by the Akatsuki; we must not let small things cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture.
"If the Kumogakure wants to be the first to stick their neck out, let them be. We, the Kirigakure, will just watch the show."
Therefore, all those "righteously indignant" echoes at today's meeting were actually just acting.
Only Kumogakure, Dayi from Jonin, foolishly believed that the Four Great Shinobi Villages were truly united against a common enemy.
Only he was putting pressure on Konoha.
The representatives from the other villages were thinking the same thing:
"These brutes from Kumogakure are getting dumber and dumber under the Raikage..."
"Just give them a few perfunctory replies; they'll be the ones taking the blame in the end anyway."
"If Konoha is really provoked, Kumogakure will be the first to Kumogakure."
Dayi was completely unaware that he was being used as a pawn by other villages.
He was still gloating, feeling that his pressure today had been very successful, and had even begun to fantasize about how the Lord Raikage would reward him.
"Hmph, no matter how strong Konoha, it can't possibly fight against the Four Great Shinobi Villages at the same time!"
He thought confidently, unaware that—
At this very moment, the representatives from other villages are probably in their respective strongholds, watching the Kumogakure's performance as if they were fools.
The flickering lights inside the tent cast shifting shadows on Dayi's resolute face. He slowly removed his armor, revealing a muscular body covered in numerous scars, each a testament to a life-or-death struggle.
"Hoo..."
He let out a long sigh and lay back on the simple cot, but he couldn't fall asleep. The "victory" at today's meeting had filled him with excitement, but now that he had calmed down, those memories that he had been deliberately suppressing came flooding back like a tide.
--The Third Shinobi World War.
He was young then, and following the Fourth Raikage, he witnessed the most tragic era of Kumogakure.
His father, the Cloud Kumogakure who always laughed heartily, was Jonin in a surprise attack by Konoha's Yellow Flash and couldn't even bring back his body. His younger brother, a hot-blooded young man who had just been promoted Chunin, died in a meaningless skirmish and didn't even leave behind a complete last word.
"Life and death on the battlefield are determined by fate..."
Dayi closed his eyes, his rough fingers unconsciously stroking a hideous scar on his chest—a scar left by an unknown ninja from Konoha. He could no longer remember the man's face, only that the man's eyes, filled with resentment and anger before his death, were exactly like his own brother's.
"If you're less skilled, you can't blame anyone but yourself if you die."
This was the creed of the Kumogakure, which he had long accepted. What he couldn't let go of was that even at such a heavy price, the Kumogakure had ultimately lost. The Hidden Konoha remained high above, like an insurmountable mountain.
--Until the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself.
A cold smile crept across Dayi's lips. That year, Kumogakure entire Hidden Cloud Village was jubilant. The Sannin Konoha was beset by internal and external troubles. They even took the opportunity to test the waters, kidnapping the Main Family daughter of the Hyuga Clan. Although the plan ultimately failed, it made the Kumogakure realize one fact: Konoha was not invincible.
"I thought our era was about to begin..."
He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking. But just as Kumogakure was gathering his strength, preparing to avenge his humiliation, that damned mysterious Heavenly Screen appeared.
--The future Konoha will still be so powerful that it inspires despair.
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha; Princess Tsunade, the powerful Jiraiya; Kakashi Might Guy, the Copy Ninja, and his Eight Gates... not to mention those two monstrous youths— Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
"Why should I?!"
Suddenly, Dayi slammed his fist into the bed frame in a fit of rage, the wooden frame groaning under the weight. His breathing became heavy, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Why does Konoha always seem to produce such geniuses?
Why is it that despite Kumogakure's immense sacrifices, they can only ever look up to them?
Why... is fate so unfair?
After the anger came a powerless emptiness. Dayi slumped against the headboard, staring at the swaying shadows above the tent.
"Lord Raikage... do we really have a chance?"
The thought flashed through his mind, but it sent a shiver down his spine. He quickly shook his head, banishing the disrespectful idea from his head.
The ninjas of Kumogakure never admit defeat!
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The future shown on the Heavenly Screen wasn't immutable, and the strong of Konoha weren't invincible. As long as the plan was proper...
"Continue to apply pressure tomorrow."
A renewed fighting spirit ignited in Dayi's eyes. He rolled over, grabbed the liquor on the table, and downed it in one gulp. The fiery liquid burned his throat, yet it made him feel incredibly clear-headed.