037 Raikage's Thoughts, Tobirama and Hashirama's Names

Kumogakure.

The Third Raikage stood with his arms crossed, eyes closed in thought.

Before him lay Konoha's declaration in response to Kumogakure, one that had been announced to the entire shinobi world.

Beside the Third Raikage stood his son, the Fourth Raikage, whom Kumogakure unanimously recognized as the next generation's Raikage.

As well as Dodai, the highly trusted new military strategist.

"What do you think?"

The Third Raikage's deep, heavy voice rang out. "Konoha's response is far from simple..."

Contrary to the usual impression.

Kumogakure had always presented itself with the image of "barbarians," yet the Third Raikage, their brain, possessed an exceptionally meticulous mind.

That so-called irascibility and savagery were merely camouflage, meant to make the schemes in his heart more effective.

"Konoha fought the Second Shinobi World War into that state, and they still dare to act so tough?"

The young and vigorous Fourth Raikage craned his neck as he said, "They fought Sunagakure and Amegakure to a standstill, and when the war ended, they barely demanded any reparations. They just kept trying to bring it to an end!"

"Dad, I'm telling you, something's wrong with them!"

The Third Raikage glanced at his son. "Something's wrong? Go on, explain."

"They must have developed a 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.

Though the brawny Fourth Raikage had a sturdy build, before his even more muscular father, the blow still made him grimace in pain.

"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 and know your opponent's thoughts and condition."

"Even if Konoha is merely putting on a show, look at Hiruzen Sarutobi's wording. He has clearly endured to his limit and is on the verge of exploding at the slightest spark!"

"Not only are we unable to go to war now that we've lost Blue B, but even if we could, we cannot let Kumogakure face Konoha alone while they're in this state!"

The Third Raikage shifted his gaze toward Dodai.

This newly appointed Kumogakure strategist and wielder of the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai immediately spoke up. "Lord Raikage is right. Someone resolved to die will bite off a piece of their enemy's flesh even in a desperate fight."

"After the Second Shinobi World War, the Third Hokage's prestige declined to a degree both in Konoha and throughout the shinobi world. Such a hardline attitude is likely meant to stabilize the people and the situation."

"With this response, the Third Hokage has made up his mind not to yield. So even if we defeat Konoha, what we lose will certainly exceed what we gain."

The Third Raikage nodded. "Brat, do you understand now?"

The Fourth Raikage nodded thoughtfully. Though young and rash by nature, he had followed at his father's side, soaking up the qualities required to become Raikage like a sponge.

"Besides, we need to carefully consider the 'Will of the Second' mentioned by the Third Hokage..." Dodai said gravely. "Though I did not live through the Second Hokage's era, I have read a little about him in the records."

The Third Raikage clicked his tongue and nodded.

"That man truly was an extremely troublesome opponent..."

"All kinds of despicable ninja techniques emerged one after another, impossible to guard against, and they were devastatingly powerful to boot!"

"His personality was harder than iron. That was why the Second Raikage wished to form an alliance with him, only for those two scum to ruin it..."

The scum the Third Raikage referred to were Kinkaku and Ginkaku, Kumogakure's most dangerous rogue shinobi.

At 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 wounded.

Hearing his father's words, the Fourth Raikage's expression turned solemn.

Senju Tobirama... a man worthy of his father's acknowledgment?

"Though I admire the Second Raikage's kindness and broad-mindedness..."

"But with no outsiders here, to speak honestly, I did not approve of forming an alliance with Senju Tobirama either."

"Giving him time to develop ninja techniques... who knew what he might have come up with? In any case, Kinkaku and Ginkaku are rogue shinobi Kumogakure will never forgive, that much is certain, because they harmed the Second Raikage."

"But killing Senju Tobirama may not have been anything but the removal of a future calamity for Kumogakure," the Third Raikage said.

The Fourth Raikage was stunned speechless.

That was how his father evaluated him?

"The Shadow Clone Technique used by every village, as well as the Anbu system, were both created by him."

"Not to mention Water Release. The Flying Thunder God Technique, which can perform 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, which summons the souls of the dead; manipulating an enemy's relatives and friends; infiltrating enemy ranks to detonate Explosive Tags capable of triggering chain explosions—he did all of that."

"I heard that the First Hokage even forbade him from conducting research, meaning he achieved all those results within only 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 "rebellious" just now...

Forming an alliance with someone like that truly was like dancing with wolves.

"I think the First Hokage claimed to forbid it, but secretly indulged him..." the Fourth Raikage said indignantly. "Otherwise, how could he have developed so many jutsu in such a short time?"

The Third Raikage swept out a large hand and shot his son a stern glare.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, is not someone a junior like you can criticize as you please..."

"Known as the God of Shinobi, he truly possessed a heart that desired peace. It was simply that the shinobi world could not accommodate such ideals." The Third Raikage shifted 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 invoking 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 took over from the Third Raikage. "That's right, and we have no choice but to accept it."

Diplomacy was a complicated matter.

It involved the reputations of one's predecessors, the situation among every village in the Shinobi World, wording, interests, and more...

Yet it was also immensely important.

If handled well, a one-on-one confrontation could become two-on-one, or even three-on-one...

"So that's it for Blue B? Dad..." 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 wounded. It must have been someone's doing!"

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had guessed.

Orochimaru and the others had left no traces behind, so Kumogakure did not know that Konoha was responsible.

But since an incident had occurred, a mature Kage should think of ways to minimize the losses.

For example, using this as a pretext to make trouble and see whether they could extort supplies from other villages...

"Have you still not realized what our problem is?!"

Lightning flared around the Third Raikage's body. "Even if it is almost impossible, even if Konoha did do it, can the village really go to war with them?"

"Once we respond, the village will find no allies to oppose Konoha. And if Konoha truly managed to assassinate Blue B without leaving the slightest trace, do you want the village to face such an enemy alone?!"

"What you need to do is tighten the village's security, lead everyone in extra training, and become stronger!"

Scolded loudly by the Third Raikage, the Fourth Raikage clenched his fists and answered at the top of his voice:

"Yes, Father! I was wrong!"

"Mm, that's my good son."

The Third Raikage nodded and said to Dodai beside him, "Prepare a response to Konoha."

"Acknowledge that Hiruzen Sarutobi is a Hokage who inherited the Will of the First and the Will of the Second, and that the two countries once had a foundation of friendly agreements..."

"Kumogakure admits that its judgment was somewhat hasty. We have found clues to the forces coveting the Eight-Tails, and hope to reach a consensus with Konoha—so that one day, we may punish those who disrupt peace together!"

Dodai immediately replied, "Understood!"

This was a boost to Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation.

The unspoken meaning was: Don't escalate this any further and truly start a war...

The Third Raikage narrowed his eyes as he looked in Konoha's direction.

Though theoretically, Hiruzen Sarutobi was most likely just a rabbit biting when driven into a corner.

Still, he secretly felt that this old rival of his seemed to have displayed a different sort of capability...

"Forget it. There's no time to think about Konoha."

"Completing the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki must be placed on the agenda immediately!"