Kumogakure.
The Third Raikage stood with his arms folded, his eyes closed in thought.
Before him lay Konoha's statement in response to Kumogakure, one that had been announced to the entire Shinobi World.
Beside the Third Raikage stood his son, the Fourth Raikage, who was universally recognized in Kumogakure as the next generation's Raikage.
As well as Dodai, the highly trusted new military strategist.
"What do you two think?"
The Third Raikage's deep, heavy voice rang out. "Konoha's response isn't simple..."
Contrary to the usual impression.
Kumogakure had always presented itself as a band of "brutes," yet the Third Raikage, its brain, possessed an exceptionally meticulous mind.
His so-called temper and savagery were merely camouflage, meant to make the schemes in his heart more effective.
"Konoha fought the Second Shinobi World War to that state, and they still dared to act so tough?"
The young and vigorous Fourth Raikage craned his neck and said, "They fought Sunagakure and Amegakure to a standstill, and when the war ended, they didn't even demand much compensation. They were bent on ending it!"
"Old man, I'd say something's wrong with them!"
The Third Raikage glanced at his son. "Something's wrong? Go on..."
"They must have developed some forbidden technique for war!" the Fourth Raikage declared with certainty.
"And then? Are you planning to drag the village's shinobi over there to test their mettle?" The Third Raikage smacked the back of his son's head.
Even the burly Fourth Raikage grimaced in pain when faced with his even more robust father.
"You need to learn to use your brain. Just fighting and killing won't let you gain a lasting foothold in the Shinobi World!" The Third Raikage lectured his son.
"You need to understand military strategy, to know your opponent's thoughts and condition."
"Even if Konoha is putting on a show, look at Hiruzen Sarutobi's wording. He's already reached the limit of his patience, ready to explode at the slightest spark!"
"Never mind that we can't go to war now that we've lost Blue B. Even if we could, we can't let Kumogakure face Konoha in this state alone!"
The Third Raikage turned his gaze toward Dodai.
Kumogakure's newly appointed military strategist and wielder of the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai immediately spoke. "Lord Raikage is right. A man prepared to die will bite off his enemy's flesh even at the cost of his life."
"After the Second Shinobi World War, the Third Hokage's prestige declined somewhat in both Konoha and the Shinobi World. His hardline attitude is likely intended to stabilize the people's hearts and the situation."
"With a response like this, the Third Hokage has clearly decided not to back down. So even if we defeat Konoha, we will certainly lose more than we gain."
The Third Raikage nodded. "Kid, do you understand now?"
The Fourth Raikage nodded thoughtfully. Though young and reckless by nature.
By following his father, he was also absorbing the qualities needed to become Raikage like a sponge.
"Besides, we need to give serious consideration to the 'Will of the Second' mentioned by the Third Hokage..." Dodai said solemnly.
"Though I didn't live through the Second Hokage's era, I've read a little about it in the records."
The Third Raikage clicked his tongue and nodded.
"That guy really was an extremely troublesome opponent..."
"All sorts of underhanded ninjutsu emerged one after another, impossible to guard against, and their power was absurdly great!"
"His personality was hard as iron. That was why the Second Raikage had wanted to sign an alliance with him, only for those two scum to ruin it..."
The scum the Third Raikage referred to were Kumogakure's most dangerous rogue shinobi, Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
During the alliance ceremony, they had launched a surprise attack on the Second Raikage and Senju Tobirama with the Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths, leaving both Kage severely injured.
Hearing his father, the Fourth Raikage's expression grew grave.
Senju Tobirama... a man even his father acknowledged?
"Although I admire the Second Raikage's kindness and broad-mindedness..."
"Since there are no outsiders here, to speak frankly, I didn't support forming an alliance with Senju Tobirama back then either."
"Giving him time to develop ninjutsu, who knew what he might have come up with... In any case, Kinkaku and Ginkaku are rogue shinobi Kumogakure will never forgive, because they harmed the Second Raikage."
"But killing Senju Tobirama may not have been a bad thing. It may have eliminated a future disaster for Kumogakure," the Third Raikage said.
The Fourth Raikage was stunned.
That was how his father assessed him?
"The Shadow Clone Technique and the Anbu system used by every village were created by him."
"Not to mention Water Release. The Flying Thunder God Technique, which allows large-scale instantaneous movement through multiple anchor points, is essentially an enhanced version of the Heavenly Transfer Technique."
"You understand the strategic value of that, don't you?"
"The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu that summons the souls of the dead, manipulating the enemy's relatives and friends, infiltrating enemy territory to detonate Explosive Tags capable of chain explosions—those are all things he did."
"I heard that even the First Hokage had forbidden him from conducting research, meaning he achieved all this within just a few years..."
The Third Raikage spoke quietly.
The Fourth Raikage's face darkened as he listened.
He finally understood why his father had said something so outrageously rebellious earlier...
Forming an alliance with someone like that truly was like dancing with wolves.
"In my view, the First Hokage claimed to forbid him, but secretly indulged him..." the Fourth Raikage said indignantly. "Otherwise, how could he have developed so many techniques in such a short time?"
The Third Raikage swept out a large hand and glared sternly at his son.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
"The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, isn't someone a junior like you can casually criticize..."
"Known as the God of Shinobi, he truly possessed a heart that desired peace. It was only that the world of shinobi could not accommodate such ideals." The Third Raikage changed the subject.
"So, do you understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's deeper meaning now?"
"By mentioning the First Hokage, he was implying that Konoha was the first to establish the concept of 'Tailed Beast balance,' while Kumogakure was the village coveting another's Tailed Beast."
"And by using Senju Tobirama as a deterrent, he was telling the Major Hidden Villages that Konoha's patience had reached its limit..."
"He was playing the prestige card of the Senju brothers."
Dodai picked up where the Third Raikage left off. "Exactly, and we have no choice but to answer it."
Diplomacy was a complicated matter.
It involved the prestige of one's predecessors, the situation among every village in the Shinobi World, wording, interests, and more...
Yet it was also immensely important.
Handle it well, and a one-on-one became a two-on-one, or even a three-on-one...
"So are we just letting Blue B's matter go, old man...?" The Fourth Raikage let out a long sigh, unwilling to accept it. "Someone has to pay a price!"
"We haven't even found his body, and so many Anbu were killed or injured. It definitely was someone's doing!"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had guessed.
Orochimaru and the others had left no traces, and Kumogakure did not know Konoha was responsible.
But since something had happened, a mature Kage should think about minimizing the losses as much as possible.
For instance, using this incident to make accusations and see whether they could extort some supplies from another village...
"Have you still not realized our problem?!"
Lightning flared around the Third Raikage. "Though it is almost impossible, even if Konoha did it, could the village really go to war with them?"
"With this response out, the village can't find allies to oppose Konoha. And if Konoha truly can assassinate Blue B without leaving even a trace, are you going to have the village face such an enemy alone?!"
"What you should do is strengthen the village's security, lead everyone in extra training, and become stronger!"
The Fourth Raikage, loudly rebuked by the Third Raikage, clenched both fists and shouted in reply.
"Yes, Father! I was wrong!"
"Good. That's my son."
The Third Raikage nodded and said to Dodai at his side, "Prepare a response to Konoha."
"Acknowledge Hiruzen Sarutobi as a Hokage who inherited the will of the First and Second, and note that our two nations once had a foundation of friendly alliance..."
"Kumogakure admits its judgment was somewhat hasty. We have found clues regarding the forces coveting the Eight-Tails and hope to reach a consensus with Konoha, so that one day we may punish those who destroy peace together!"
Dodai immediately replied, "Understood!"
This was a boost to Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige.
The unspoken message was: don't keep escalating this until it truly sparked a war...
The Third Raikage narrowed his eyes and looked in Konoha's direction.
Though logically speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi was most likely merely a cornered rabbit biting back.
Deep down, however, he felt that this old rival seemed to be displaying a different kind of capability...
"Forget it. There's no time to think about Konoha."
"Completing the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki must be put on the agenda immediately!"
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