Long-Term Goals

"My purpose is simple: are Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso truly missing-nin?"

Ai went straight to the point, without any subtlety.

This perfectly matches the character of the Cloud Ninja.

Minato frowned and said in a deep voice, "That's natural. Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso betrayed the village more than ten years ago. Over the years, Konoha's Anbu has never given up the pursuit, but unfortunately, these two are extremely cunning and powerful, and we have never succeeded in capturing them."

"Bang!"

Ai slammed his fist on the coffee table, smashing it to pieces.

The cup fell to the ground and shattered with a crash, the tea spilling out.

"Hmph! Minato, if that's the case, why did this Calamity beside you let Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso leave? Is this what you call never giving up the pursuit? They delivered themselves to our doorstep and we didn't even make a move. No wonder we've gotten nothing in over ten years. It's all a load of bull!"

The voice grew louder and louder, until it almost turned into a tirade of profanities.

The anger burning within her was intense, and the grief overwhelmed Ai's reason, almost making her lose control.

Minato remained calm, unmoved by Ai's anger, and kept his mouth shut, not responding.

He couldn't answer that question.

"Lord Raikage, Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso are no ordinary missing-nin!" Katsuki spoke slowly and deliberately, calmly observing A's bloodshot eyes. "These two are very strong. Although I really want to keep them here, I can't!"

"As the saying goes, even two fists can't beat four hands. Even if I were made of iron, how many nails could I hammer? Even the Third Raikage fell to me. I'm powerless on my own. It's embarrassing to say, but I have to admit it. Those two stole the remains of my village's First Hokage Second Hokage mastered the Forbidden Jutsu, Impure World Reincarnation. That blond Jonin must have seen it too."

As she spoke, Katsuki paused slightly, not giving the Third Raikage another chance to lash out, and continued, "I understand what Lord Raikage is thinking. I swear, Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso were not deliberately orchestrated by Konoha. They not only stole the remains of the two previous Kage, but also attacked the cemeteries of Konoha's various clans. These facts cannot be denied. Your spies planted in Konoha should have gathered this information, right?"

At the end, Katsuki casually made a sarcastic remark.

Ai did not react, and even after being mocked, she remained silent.

He didn't doubt Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso's status as missing-nin. As Katsuki said, based on the information he had, Konoha couldn't possibly have gone to such great lengths to create two such pawns. Such acts as digging up graves would have extremely negative consequences.

If Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso's betrayal was just a smokescreen, then he would accept the loss suffered by the Cloud Ninja this time!

He came over to question them precisely because he didn't believe Konoha had lied about it.

Otherwise, the Jonin of the Cloud Ninja Jonin would surround the embassy and directly start a war with Konoha.

"Lord Tianzai is too modest. Even if you were truly no match for those two, couldn't you at least stall them for a moment? You are also a sensory ninja. At that time, my Cloud Ninja's reinforcements were not far away. I don't believe such nonsense as you not noticing."

Ai's face was cold, and her icy voice was like a strong wind blowing from a snowfield, drilling straight into one's bones.

That's his real problem.

More than questioning the identities of Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso, he was puzzled as to why the Konoha calamity would allow the two to leave.

He didn't believe a word of the nonsense that Katsuki was powerless to do so. The title of the number one Shinobi World had been passed down for a long time, and no one dared to deny it.

Minato narrowed his eyes slightly, not looking at his brother-in-law sitting beside him, but his mind was racing. He didn't have a wide-ranging Sensory Ninjutsu, so he didn't know what had happened between Katsuki and the two missing-nin, but judging from the Cloud Ninja's reaction, there must be something fishy going on.

"Hmm!"

After a moment of Katsuki, looking at the menacing A and Killer B, Mizuki shook his head helplessly and said, "Even if I could really hold them off, what then? Senju Zen wasn't seriously injured after killing the Third Raikage, Uchiha Genso is no pushover either. Weren't those two the leaders of the Cloud Ninja reinforcements? Even if all of you went into battle, the chance of taking down Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso wouldn't exceed 30%."

He held up three fingers, shook them, and looked at Ai, who was about to explode with anger. He sneered and preemptively said, "Don't give me that nonsense about whether you live or die being none of my business. Too many of you have died, and it will put Konoha in a difficult position. At least I don't want to fight you in Kumogakure. Don't take your temper out on us. If you want to capture those two guys, do it after we leave the Land of Lightning."

The conversation ended unhappily.

Ai and Killer B a rage. They arrived full of anger, and left feeling even more furious.

Unfortunately, he had no other recourse but to sulk.

With powerful Jonin like the Cataclysm, the Yellow Flash, and Body Flicker Shisui in the Konoha squad, the team didn't dare to move an inch, aside from hurling insults.

The Konoha team set off.

The Cloud Ninja this, and no one came to see them off. The entire village was mourning the death of the Third Raikage. Shops were closed, and all pedestrians were dressed in black. Walking down the street, they were met with a wave of disgusted stares.

Sadness, like an unyielding dark cloud, densely shrouded the entire village.

The road winding through the mountains, Minato and Katsuki deliberately slowed their pace, silently falling behind the group.

"Katsuki, what are you planning?"

Minato suddenly spoke up and asked.

"How so?"

"Why did you let Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso leave? You might have fooled the Fourth Raikage, but don't try to fool me. With your abilities, if you were serious, how could you have come up empty-handed? You should have at least taken down one of them."

Minato looked at Katsuki with a puzzled expression.

Katsuki's lips curled into a smile. "Because even if I defeat Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso, it won't matter. If the root of the problem isn't removed, merely pruning the branches is just a delaying tactic. I don't want to shift our responsibility onto future generations. I want to personally eliminate the source of this chaos."

"Madara Uchiha?"

Minato fell silent.

When it comes to Madara Uchiha, the Konoha ninjas instinctively become wary.

"Yes! Madara Uchiha, a guy who wouldn't rest in peace even in death." Katsuki looked up at the boundless blue sky. The weather was fine. He raised his right hand, palm facing the sky, blocking out the rising sun. "Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso, those two idiots, are just manipulated pawns. With enough time and effort, we can always find replacements. Rather than killing them like this, it's better to let them run their course. As soon as Madara Uchiha his face, I'll shatter his very soul." (To be continued)