Third Raikage, Ai

The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure, the Raikage's Office.

The Third Raikage, Ai, had dark skin, pale yellow hair, and a long beard. His expression was serious.

He was carefully examining the intelligence Anbu had prepared, holding it in his hands.

The more he looked at the image of the Rocket Launcher in the report, the more he liked it.

Seeing this, Jonin Dodai stepped forward and said,

"Lord Raikage, this little Rocket Launcher—if Kumogakure needs it, we can spend some time making a copy."

"Don't underestimate this Rocket Launcher. It's so small, yet it can fire over such a great distance."

"It's like our Chakra Cannon. We had to start with a small one, too. We still haven't successfully developed a large Chakra Cannon, since we haven't yet divided the research into separate areas."

Ai waved his hand and spoke.

A Genin came hurrying in and immediately stepped forward.

"Lord Raikage, an envoy from the Land of the Moon has come to ask for help."

At that moment, the Third Raikage, Ai, sat in his chair with a smile. Everything was going according to plan.

"Bring them in."

The Raikage's son was also nearby. He immediately stepped forward and shouted,

"We should just take what we need. The Land of Whirlpools is a small country. They'll know what to do."

The Third Raikage, Ai, had a rough-hewn face, but a kindly smile appeared on it.

"Son, you still have a lot to learn. The Land of Whirlpools was at least able to fight the Land of Water."

"The Land of Earth is gathering troops at the border. If we negotiate directly and they refuse us, it'll be as if the Land of Lightning's reputation has been thrown to the ground and trampled."

"But if we only need to send a small force to join the Land of the Moon's soldiers and make a show of force, we can get what we need."

The envoys from the Land of the Moon arrived at the Raikage's Office and spoke in unison.

"Lord Raikage, please save our Land of the Moon. The Land of Whirlpools has gone too far. They've actually invaded us."

Hearing this, the Third Raikage, Ai, smiled even more broadly.

Shabadaba really was obedient. The useless Ketsuryūgan really could be put to use.

The Ketsuryūgan seized from the Chinoike Clan contained a secret Sealing Jutsu. After just a few uses, the user would explode.

Once the Rocket Launchers were brought over from the Land of Whirlpools, they could also get rid of the Tsukikage of the Land of the Moon.

Then the Land of the Moon would have no choice but to depend on the Land of Lightning even more.

"Of course, of course. I'll send people to the Land of the Moon at once. The Land of Whirlpools dares to invade you? Let's see Kumogakure teach them a harsh lesson."

As expected, the plan was unfolding just as I'd arranged. The king of the Land of the Moon had followed my instructions, the Land of Whirlpools' merchant caravan had been robbed, and their retaliation against the Land of the Moon was within Whirlpools' expectations.

Even if the Land of Whirlpools hadn't invaded you, I would've come up with another excuse to force them to attack the Land of the Moon.

The envoys from the Land of the Moon immediately bowed in thanks.

"We're truly grateful for the Raikage's support. This is the payment our king has offered to hire shinobi from the Raikage: one million ryō in total."

The Third's son immediately jumped forward.

"Father, send me! I'll make the Land of Whirlpools pay!"

As the son of the Third Raikage of Kumogakure, the Land of Lightning, he was determined to inherit Kumogakure's most powerful name, "Ai." At present, that name belonged to his father, the Third Raikage.

He had to make a strong impression and earn the position of the next Raikage.

"Very well. Gather your men and leave for the Land of the Moon at once," the Third Raikage, Ai, said with a smile.

Hearing his father agree, he immediately shoved past the doorway and rushed out.

"He's still young and hotheaded. A little thing like this is enough to get him so excited." The Third Raikage, Ai, shook his head.

"Lord Raikage, your son may be young and spirited, but among his peers, he's the strongest," Jonin Dodai replied.

A little while later, a Genin came rushing in.

"Lord Raikage, according to the report from Kumogakure's shinobi in the Land of the Moon..."

"The Land of Whirlpools began its attack along the Land of the Moon's border. In less than a day, all the soldiers of the Land of the Moon were defeated. The Land of Whirlpools' forces advanced straight to its capital."

"The capital fell to the Land of Whirlpools in less than an hour. The king of the Land of the Moon surrendered, and the Land of Whirlpools' troops are now stationed in the capital."

The Third Raikage, Ai, immediately turned pale.

He smashed the desk with one punch. Who would've thought the Land of Whirlpools had such strength?

Their battle with the Land of Water had only been the Rocket Launcher's first appearance. It had displayed power far beyond what a Rocket Launcher should have.

After its defeat, the Land of Water had briefly faced off against Kumogakure and suffered some losses, but it still retained considerable fighting strength.

"Send someone to bring that brat of mine back immediately, and send an envoy to negotiate with the Land of Whirlpools."

Jonin Dodai was stunned, too. He'd never realized the Land of the Moon was so weak.

The Land of the Moon's soldiers should've at least been able to put up a fight against the Samurai of the Land of Iron.

Jonin Dodai asked,

"Did the Land of Whirlpools have an agent inside the Land of the Moon who opened the gates?"

"Did they manage to attack the palace and threaten the elite soldiers?"

The Genin reporting the intelligence answered with some hesitation,

"The Land of the Moon had set up three lines of defense outside the capital. The Land of Whirlpools blanketed them with Rocket Launcher fire. They say the ground was blasted down by three inches."

"The Land of Whirlpools' new weapon, called the 'Weasel Tank,' fired directly at the capital and pierced its barrier. The city walls were torn to pieces."

"Outside the palace, the 'Weasel Tank' could fire kunai at incredible speeds. The elite soldiers couldn't defend themselves even with their shields. They were wiped out in just a few minutes."

"We couldn't obtain any intelligence from inside the palace. We only know that an explosion occurred there, destroying buildings that had stood for generations in the Land of the Moon."

After hearing this, the Third Raikage, Ai, calmed down, his anger subsiding.

It seemed the battle had gone much like the one with the Land of Water: they'd used a new weapon.

The Land of Whirlpools really was a country with limitless potential.

He took a deep breath and addressed his subordinates.

"Stay calm when negotiating with the Land of Whirlpools. See if we can bring their new weapon into the negotiations. If they're unwilling, don't force the matter. We'll decide what to do once my son returns."

Jonin Dodai stepped forward and said,

"Lord Raikage, let me go as the envoy."

"Although the Land of Whirlpools' new weapon is powerful, weapons don't rule the Ninja World."

"Our Kumogakure 'Strongest Lightning Release Armor' can't be pierced, no matter how many Rocket Launchers they have."

"I understand what you're saying. But only a few old-timers like us can use the Strongest Lightning Release Armor. We can only keep it as our last trump card."

"That old man Uzumaki Ashina is still alive and well. The Land of Whirlpools can no longer be considered a small country." The Third Raikage, Ai, waved his hand and continued,

"We'll have to change our strategy, too. Go as the envoy and keep an eye on my son. Use your judgment in all other matters."

"Lord Raikage, I'll complete the mission." After saying this, Jonin Dodai left.

The Third Raikage, Ai, remained seated in his chair, lost in thought.