Third Raikage: Are You Threatening Me?

Late at night.

Kumogakure.

Towering peaks pierced the clouds, imposing and majestic.

Clouds drifted around the mountainsides, shrouding the entire village in what seemed like a layer of black mist and making it impossible to see clearly.

At the highest point in the center of the village stood an ancient house with its doors tightly shut.

The Third Raikage sat cross-legged, eyes closed as he refined Chakra.

A breeze swept past, and a voice shattered the night's silence, exploding beside the Third Raikage's ear. "The night is beautiful tonight."

The instant the words fell, the Third Raikage's fist smashed through the window and the wall along with it.

Yet the target of his attack appeared entirely unaffected, standing motionlessly beneath the moonlight.

"You're Uchiha Yuzuru?"

Staring at those Crimson Red eyes with their unusual patterns, the Third Raikage asked coldly.

Uchiha Yuzuru nodded. "That's right."

At that moment, dozens of Lightning Release Ninjutsu instantly engulfed Uchiha Yuzuru.

Immediately afterward, four enormous stone pillars burst from the ground, surrounding Uchiha Yuzuru.

The lightning winding around the pillars linked together, forming a lightning cage that trapped Uchiha Yuzuru inside.

Dozens of Cloud Ninja slowly emerged from the darkness, continuously pouring Chakra into the stone pillars.

But to their astonishment, Uchiha Yuzuru moved like a phantom, simply taking a step and walking out of the lightning pillar seal.

"Don't be nervous. I only came to have a little chat with you."

"A chat?"

The Third Raikage sneered. "I think you're afraid that Kumogakure will attack your Uchiha Clan."

"Though I'm quite surprised that you managed to defeat A and Killer B, that's all there is to it."

"If Kumogakure sends out its forces, you won't be able to protect the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Yuzuru shrugged noncommittally and said calmly, "Likewise, if I decide to strike Kumogakure, you won't be able to protect the village's other ninja."

"A, Killer B, young geniuses who haven't yet grown up, the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled..."

Uchiha Yuzuru seemed troubled as he stroked his chin. "If war breaks out, who do you think I should strike first?"

"Oh, right. If I use these eyes to control the Tailed Beasts, then I won't have to worry about that."

The Third Raikage's pupils contracted. "Are you threatening me?"

"What do you think?"

The Third Raikage fell silent.

If Uchiha Yuzuru had merely been strong, he would not have feared him at all.

Since the founding of the village, Kumogakure had never feared anyone.

But Uchiha Yuzuru's abilities were far too bizarre.

Not only did he possess the power to defeat A, but he had also crossed Kumogakure's barrier without anyone noticing.

Even he, the Raikage, had only detected the other's presence after Uchiha Yuzuru had taken the initiative to speak.

Physical attacks were ineffective, and Sealing Jutsu did not work either...

Most terrifying of all, as Uchiha Yuzuru himself had said, the Mangekyō Sharingan possessed the power to control Tailed Beasts.

If he truly controlled the Two-Tails or Eight-Tails, then after several Tailed Beast Bombs, Kumogakure would likely become a field of ruins.

The more he considered it, the more immense pressure spread through the Third Raikage's heart, cold sweat continuously dripping down his body.

He would rather experience another Ninja War than provoke an enemy like this.

"Um..."

"Perhaps we really should have a proper chat."

"The night is indeed beautiful tonight. Ha, hahaha, hahahahaha..."

Seeing the smile on the Third Raikage's face, Uchiha Yuzuru smiled as well.

He had expected this outcome long ago.

When faced with a ghost capable of dealing a fatal blow to the village at any time, unless one chose mutual destruction, fighting him simply was not worth the cost.

And the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Kumogakure had never been tense enough to warrant such a choice.

Watching the Third Raikage and Uchiha Yuzuru converse and laugh together, every Cloud Ninja present stood rooted in place as though they had become fools.

Everyone in Kumogakure knew that the Third Raikage was a stubborn man with a fiery temper, someone who dared to clash head-on with the Eight-Tails using his human body.

Anyone who dared defy his will would be struck down head-on.

No matter the issue, this Third Raikage had always been overwhelmingly forceful, as if the word compromise did not exist in his dictionary.

Yet such a man had actually compromised?

And he was even laughing with an invading enemy?

Everything felt like a dream.

But no matter how unbelievable the Kumogakure ninja found it, facts were facts.

At the Third Raikage's invitation, Uchiha Yuzuru entered the Raikage Building at his side.

"A true hero emerges in youth. Aside from my son, I've never seen a young man as outstanding as you."

"Yuzuru, right? What happened before was all a misunderstanding. I hope you won't take it to heart."

Uchiha Yuzuru was somewhat surprised by the Third Raikage's proactive goodwill.

He had thought Kumogakure was full of brainless brutes, but it seemed they had this side to them as well.

Still, Uchiha Yuzuru did not put on airs. He merely smiled and said, "Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I'll be taking my leave."

"Wait."

The Third Raikage suddenly called out to Uchiha Yuzuru. "Yuzuru, now that your Uchiha Clan has left Konoha, do you intend to remain in the Land of Fields forever?"

"A small country like that has nothing. For a powerful ninja clan like the Uchiha to settle there would be a terrible waste."

"Furthermore, Konoha has already branded you as Rogue Ninja. They definitely won't let this go."

"The other ninja villages will also covet your Sharingan and keep a close eye on your every move."

"Even for you, trying to stand against the entire Shinobi World is not very realistic, is it?"

Uchiha Yuzuru replied calmly, "Not long ago, Kitsuchi from Iwagakure came to speak with us. They offered us many generous terms."

"Iwagakure?"

The Third Raikage's expression changed as a sense of crisis abruptly rose within him.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure were sworn enemies!

If Uchiha Yuzuru truly led the Uchiha Clan into Iwagakure, Kumogakure would be in danger!

If war broke out, Uchiha Yuzuru alone would be enough to cause them endless trouble.

At that thought, the Third Raikage immediately said, "Yuzuru, no matter what that old bastard Ōnoki promised you, Kumogakure is willing to offer twice as much!"

The corners of Uchiha Yuzuru's lips curled upward.

He had finally taken the bait.

"If we join Iwagakure, Ōnoki will provide us with land and part of their industries to help the Uchiha Clan settle down and develop. He will also allow the Uchiha Clan a certain degree of autonomy and permit us to participate in Iwagakure's core decision-making."

After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's terms, the Third Raikage fell silent for a while before saying, "No problem. Kumogakure can agree to those terms as well."

"It's just..." The Third Raikage fixed his eyes tightly on Uchiha Yuzuru. "How can we ensure that the Uchiha Clan sincerely intends to settle in Kumogakure?"