Confession

Outside Amegakure.

One after another, figures moving as fast as afterimages sped through the curtain of rain before finally stopping at the edge of a forest outside Amegakure.

The person at the front was none other than the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure.

Quietly standing beside him were elite Kumogakure shinobi in raincoats. Among them were core members such as the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer B and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii, as well as rising stars like Darui.

At that moment, Kumogakure Jonin Kiba approached the Fourth Raikage and said softly, "Sir, Konoha's people are here!"

The Fourth Raikage, who had been watching Amegakure ahead, shifted his gaze and glanced back.

A large group of Konoha Ninja, likewise clad in raincoats, came rushing over under the lead of Jiraiya and Tsunade.

The Fourth Raikage frowned slightly. "In a battle of this scale, the Hokage shouldn't be absent!"

Jiraiya smiled. "The old man's getting on in years. Let us disciples handle this kind of dirty work!"

"Hmph!"

The Fourth Raikage snorted coldly and said no more.

After all, two of the Konoha Sannin had come, so he could hardly criticize them further.

Just then, a mocking voice came from above them. "Could it be that Hiruzen Sarutobi can't lift a blade anymore? If so, he should retire early and give up the Hokage's seat!"

Everyone looked up to see the Third Tsuchikage slowly descending from the sky.

Soon afterward, a large group of Iwagakure Ninja silently crossed through the rain and assembled in the forest.

Tsunade replied bluntly, "You needn't trouble yourself with Konoha's affairs, Tsuchikage."

The Third Tsuchikage put on a stern face and stopped teasing them. Instead, he gazed at Amegakure in the distance, shrouded in rain, and fell into thought.

Jiraiya also looked toward Amegakure, a complicated expression appearing