Overbearing Thunder Shadow Forces A (Kuro: Damn!)

Hearing the Fourth Raikage's sudden words, he froze for a moment.

Ai looked calmly at Kou in front of him, as if she had expected his reaction.

He didn't urge him, but quietly waited for Kou to digest the suggestion.

The surprise in his eyes vanished in an instant, and he calmly began to observe the Fourth Raikage before him.

His confident demeanor clearly indicated that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Kou instantly curled the corners of his mouth, his face once again feigning that signature relaxed expression, and waved his hand with a smile, saying:

"Hahaha, Fourth Raikage, you really love to joke..."

"I'm not joking."

The Fourth Raikage looked at the figure before him and said in a deep, gruff voice:

"I'm serious."

The feigned smile on his lips vanished completely in an instant.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're probably here for the Uchiha bloodline."

Koko raised his hand and casually pointed in the direction Itachi had left, attempting to divert attention to him.

"In that case, why don't you try talking to Itachi? In terms of talent, he's far superior to me."

"Hmph! How could that guy who killed his entire clan and then defected from his own village possibly compare to you?"

The Fourth Raikage snorted coldly without hesitation, an undisguised look of disdain appearing on his rugged face:

"We, the Kumogakure Village, are not a garbage dump. No matter how talented he is, we would never accept someone like that!"

Kou's lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but silently give a thumbs-up to the Fourth Raikage in front of him.

This is spot on, it's just the Fourth Prince's personality!!!

"We people of Kumogakure have never liked beating around the bush. I'll just say what I mean."

The Fourth Raikage met Koko's scrutinizing gaze calmly and continued speaking directly:

"Back during the Third Ninja World War, we in Kumogakure investigated you, and we have a general understanding of your situation."

Although we don't know exactly what happened to make a man like you choose to defect from Konoha, based on your actions in the Ninja World over the years—we can at least conclude that you are not a dangerous element like Orochimaru."

At this point, the Fourth Raikage's gaze swept past Kokoro and landed in the direction where Itachi had disappeared, then he said in a deep voice:

"I also suspected that you might be a spy sent by Konoha to infiltrate Akatsuki."

However, the massacre of the Uchiha Clan has eliminated this possibility.

As she spoke, Ai turned her gaze back to Kou and said with certainty:

"Although Konoha's attitude towards you is rather ambiguous, given what has already happened, there is absolutely no way you can go back."

And now, Uchiha Itachi, who slaughtered the Uchiha Clan, has joined your Akatsuki.

"Being under the same roof as someone you want to kill must be pretty unpleasant, right?"

The Fourth Raikage spoke confidently, slowly extending his bronze palm towards Kou opposite him:

"Since you can't stay in Konoha and you're feeling stifled in Akatsuki, why not consider joining our Kumogakure?"

He looked directly into Kou's slightly shimmering Red Eye and said in a "sincere" tone:

"If I remember correctly, the Uchiha Clan was once part of the Land of Lightning in history."

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, it's perfectly reasonable for you to return to the Land of Lightning and join the Kumogakure, isn't it?"

Kou slightly narrowed his eyes, meeting the Fourth Raikage's unwavering gaze, but did not speak immediately.

The atmosphere on the cliff fell silent at that moment.

Ai looked at Kou, and in his rugged eyes, besides undisguised admiration, there was also a hint of expectation.

Kou slightly turned his head, putting on an extremely troubled look, as if he was seriously weighing this choice.

After a moment, he sighed, looked at the Fourth Raikage with a pained expression, and said righteously:

"Wow, joining the Kumogakure? That's certainly a very tempting offer."

It's just a pity that I've always firmly believed in this principle.

Looking at the Fourth Raikage before him, a righteous and awe-inspiring expression appeared on his handsome face as he spoke with righteous indignation:

"A true man is born between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long!"

"In Kumogakure, there might not be as much freedom as I have now in Akatsuki."

Before the Fourth Raikage could react, Koko's lips curled into a smile again, and his tone became relaxed and casual:

"However, it's not entirely impossible for me to join Kumogakure, as long as you agree to one small condition..."

The Fourth Raikage silently watched Koko, slowly withdrawing his outstretched hand.

He looked into Kou's amused eyes and nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Kou's smile deepened, and he said with a chuckle:

"After joining Kumogakure, I wish to immediately succeed as the Fifth Raikage. What is your opinion?"

The Fourth Raikage's expression darkened the instant he finished speaking.

The authority and oppressive aura that had been temporarily suppressed returned to his face at this moment!

Kou smiled as he looked at the Fourth Raikage, who had finally stopped acting, a cold glint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

The Fourth Raikage's reaction was entirely within his expectations.

Doujin Rai may look rough and simple, and not very bright, but in reality, he's as cunning and scheming as any leader in the Ninja World.

While they claim to appreciate me and invite me to join Kumogakure, it's all a pretense; their real intention is to acquire the Uchiha Clan's bloodline without any risk!

He let out a cold laugh deep in his heart.

As a time traveler, he had considered doing what was written in the fanfiction he had read in his previous life:

If we really run out of options in the future, we'll take the entire Uchiha Clan and flee to Kumogakure.

Then I can lead the Kumogakure army straight into Konoha and give those old guys in Konoha High Command a satisfying Dragon King slap in the face. Wouldn't that be wonderful!

But once he actually entered the Ninja World Ninja Academy and truly understood the logic behind how these ninja villages operated, those unrealistic fantasies never resurfaced.

He even once regarded this idea as a typical example of arrogance among time travelers, and would occasionally bring it up to reflect on himself.

Because such an operation is fundamentally impossible to succeed.

No Kumogakure, or even any other ninja village in the Ninja World, would ever accept the Uchiha!

What? You mean a top Konoha clan with thousands of members, including countless elite ninjas, and boasting the prestigious title of a former legitimate noble family from the Land of Lightning, is now going to join the Kumogakure Village as a whole?

You're not here to surrender, you're here to become fathers!

It's important to understand that the true nature of a ninja village is that it's Alliance of forces composed of various interest groups.

Regardless of the specific ninja village, the internal division of interests and power structure have long been firmly established.

At this moment, a top-tier clan whose overall strength far surpasses any other clan within the Kumogakure suddenly appears at the dinner table. How should this piece of the pie be divided?

Unlike Kumogakure, Konoha lacked an internal force capable of rivaling the Uchiha and thus balancing them off.

If the Kumogakure Uchiha, it would be hard to say whether Kumogakure would ultimately belong to the Yotsuki Clan clan or the Uchiha clan...

The Fourth Raikage was not an idiot—on the contrary, he was very shrewd.

He would never risk plunging the Kumogakure Village into power struggles by accepting a behemoth that already had no sense of belonging to the Kumogakure.

Although Kumogakure would never accept the entire Uchiha Clan's surrender, they were extremely covetous of the Sharingan, a top-tier Kekkei Genkai in the Ninja World.

Compared to accepting an entire Uchiha, the risks of accepting a small group of Uchiha, such as individuals like myself who possess Uchiha blood, are far less.

The reason why Doujin Rai set his sights on himself, who was "mediocre in talent," instead of the more talented Uchiha Itachi was certainly not entirely because of the weasel's terrible reputation.

The more important reason is... compared to Itachi, I, being "less powerful," am easier to control!

Even if Doujin Rai genuinely wanted to invite him to join Kumogakure, they would never truly consider him, an outsider, as Kumogakure of their own.

(For reference, see NBA basketball superstar Kevin Durant.)

If I actually believed his nonsense and accepted the invitation, he would probably have someone monitor me the moment I stepped into Kumogakure.

Then fill his surroundings with female ninjas of superior genes, and play games with them day and night until he produces a bunch of "Uchiha Clan" members who truly belong to Kumogakure and possess pure Sharingan blood!

The Kumogakure might trust his descendants, but it would never trust him as an outsider.

Neither the Kumogakure nor the Fourth Raikage would ever allow him to hold any important position, let alone succeed him as the next Raikage.

Even if he hadn't awakened the Mangekyo and was still living a precarious and uncertain life by Obito's side, he would never have accepted such a life.

He, Uchiha Kuro, will never be anyone's tool!

Even if there were a whole bunch of tall, shapely, blonde, blue-eyed foreign women, it wouldn't work!!!

He ignored the protests from the naturally evil Senju Clan second brother beneath him, and looked at the Fourth Raikage, whose purpose had been exposed and who was staring at him with deep eyes.

He shrugged and sighed, feigning regret.

"It seems your so-called sincerity is just so-so."

Since that's the case, then I can only reluctantly decline your proposal.

As he spoke, Koko pointed in the direction Itachi had just left, his tone becoming relaxed and casual again:

"But since you're already here, you can't leave empty-handed, can you? Why don't you try to catch that guy and take him back?"

Although that guy is physically weak, he should still be able to do it in that area, and I guarantee he can give your Kumogakure a bunch of big, fat boys... Would you like to consider it?"

Having said that, he turned around, his back to the Fourth Raikage, and casually waved his hand:

"Alright, I need to rush back to shovel some manure to feed the plants, so I won't bother you any longer. Wishing you a speedy delivery of your baby!"

However, just as Kou took his first step, a fierce gust of wind howled from behind him.

The next instant, the Fourth Raikage's massive body, wrapped in layers of blue lightning, vanished from behind him.

His robust body slammed heavily in front of Kou like a steel fortress falling from the sky.

The impact sent the gravel flying in all directions, creating concentric cracks in the ground.

Seeing the burly figure blocking his way, he immediately stopped in his tracks.

The feigned ease on his lips vanished silently in the wind.

Kou narrowed his eyes slightly, coldly staring at the Kumogakure Leader before him, who had completely shed all pretense.

I'm not interested in that guy.

The Fourth Raikage raised his thick arm, pointed straight at the door with his index finger, and said in a firm voice:

"I (Kumogakure) only want you."