Another Star Fell

A hexagonal prism-shaped emerald green light wall hung high in the sky, enveloping a large cloud.

Above the Six Pillars Void Realm, the true form of Katsuki stood atop a golden barrier, her Mind's Eye watching the movements Six Pillars Void Realm, sending one Shadow Clone after another into them...

"Tsk--"

With a slight click of his tongue, Ōnoki easily broke through the seal of the Six Pillars Void Realm in his Mind's Eye's Eye, escaping through the Dust Release.

"Dust Release... This thing is incredibly destructive."

As one of the Barrier Ninjutsu of the Uzumaki Clan, the Six Pillars Void Realm is naturally very sturdy, not to mention that Katsuki's Chakra is used as if it's free. However, it was still punched with a hole by the Dust Release.

Ōnoki's aura was receding into the distance, heading towards the Stone Ninja army at an extremely fast speed.

"Wow, that's really fast!"

With a soft sigh, the Adamantine Barrier he stood on shattered, and a vast wave of lightning surged beneath his feet, shooting out like an arrow amidst thunderous roars.

"Father, what happened?"

Ai rushed into the house in a flurry of activity.

He was training with Killer B in Cloudy Thunder Gorge when he was suddenly summoned back.

"Urgent report!"

The Third Raikage flicked his wrist, and the thin letter was thrown out like a hidden weapon, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

Ai reached out and grabbed the letter, inwardly grumbling to himself, "Aren't you afraid of ruining the paper by playing around like this?" But he also knew that was impossible.

The Third Raikage, his father, was the strongest Nintaijutsu master in Kumogakure, possessing unparalleled control over his body. He could kill someone with a piece of paper as Shuriken.

I skimmed through the thin page.

In that instant, Ai's face first showed astonishment, then doubt, and finally deep worry.

"Father, is this... is this thing real?"

"I'm not sure. I've already sent people to investigate, but we'll have to wait a while to find out if it's true or not." The Third Raikage paused, then added, "However, I'm afraid it's probably true most of the time. As long as the spies on the front lines are still thinking clearly, they wouldn't fabricate such... unreliable stuff."

That's really unreliable!

Ai silently agreed, then lowered her head and looked at it carefully once more.

... The Land of Grass, the Stone Ninja army suffers a crushing defeat... The Third Tsuchikage is suspected of falling at the hands of Konoha's calamity... The Sand Ninja launch a surprise attack on the Land of Earth, plunging the Land of Earth into chaos...

The sheer volume of fragmented information overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to process it all at once.

The content, though seemingly sparse, is so detailed that not a single word can be overlooked. Every sentence and every word on the paper conveys a message, without any unnecessary details.

"That old man Ōnoki... he's actually dead?" Ai's face twisted in disbelief, unwilling to accept such an outrageous thing.

During Second Shinobi War, he had witnessed firsthand how terrifying Ōnoki's Dust Release was. Even his father, who possessed what was known as the Strongest Shield— his physical body—did not dare to directly withstand the Dust Release.

The Third Tsuchikage died just like that...

The Third Tsuchikage glanced at his son, sighing inwardly. He recalled the probing battle at the foot of Mount Baiyue; the red-haired boy had left a deep impression on him. His intuition told him he would be a future nemesis of the Cloud Ninja, but he hadn't expected that future to arrive so quickly...

First came the Third Mizukage, then the Third Tsuchikage; two Kage fell from grace in quick succession, both killed by the same person.

"Oh! Yeah! The red-haired shadow assassin--"

Killer B, who followed Ai in, started rapping and looked really hyped.

Then he was suppressed by Ai with a single punch.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you idiot?" Ai glared at Killer B. "Shadow Slayer? That name is anything but auspicious."

"Oh! Big brother's angry, angry big brother..." Despite taking a punch, Killer B remained unfazed, continuing to do as he pleased, rapping to himself.

Ai rolled his eyes, ignoring the idiot, and looked at the Third Raikage.

"Father, what should we do next?"

The Third Raikage rubbed his hand against the smooth ironwood table, his dark face expressionless, like a piece of refined steel, solid and resilient.

The Five Great Ninja Villages were established one after another, with little time difference between them. At that time, the first generation of Kage either died in battle or from old age and illness, and few of them lasted long. They all died within a few years of each other. Afterwards, the second generation of Kage took over one after another, but they also died around the same time, and there was no significant difference in their status.

The Third Hokage of filmmakers were also active during the same period.

Until recently, the Third Mizukage died, followed by the Third Hokage abdicating, and now the Third Tsuchikage has also died... Of the Third Hokage of Kage, only he and the Third Kazekage remain.

"How do we do it?"

His voice was loud, echoing in the room like muffled thunder.

"Of course we shouldn't do anything. Konoha's current momentum is already comparable to when the First Hokage was still alive. Even that rocky outcast Ōnoki is gone. Are we going to rush up there to get attacked?"

Seeing his son hesitate, the Third Raikage waved his hand.

"Ai, you and Killer B go back to Cloudy Thunder Gorge and train properly! I called you here to tell you in person that Konoha is not to be trifled with right now. Avoid it if you can, and don't do anything foolish in a moment of impulse. The Stone Ninja are a clear lesson... Regardless of whether Ōnoki is dead or not, the news of the Stone Ninja army's crushing defeat is probably true."

"... When it's time to be patient, you have to learn to bow your head. Back then, the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha were so powerful, but they did just fine. The Five Great Ninja Villages are still the Five Great Ninja Villages, and that won't change, at least not now."

"······knew."

Ai and her father stared at each other for a few seconds before she finally looked away, giving a resentful reply.

"Yes, yes, a true hero knows when to advance and when to retreat, brother..."

Killer B is making his presence felt again.

Ai's lips twitched, and he placed his fan-like right hand on Killer B's shoulder, pulling his unreliable younger brother out.

Soon, only the Third Raikage remained in the room, quietly staring at the snow-white ceiling, his mind filled with a multitude of thoughts, like an endless, surging tide.

The Stone Ninja were defeated too quickly, so quickly that he didn't know what to do. After much deliberation, the Third Raikage ultimately did not make up his mind to send troops. He only sent out a dozen groups of people to gather information. Without reliable and conclusive intelligence, he dared not make a move!

"Time really waits for no one..." (To be continued)