The Thunder Shadow's Ambition

Kumogakure, perched atop the highest peaks, is shrouded year-round in roaring thunder and swirling mists.

Rugged stone buildings are built into the mountains, piercing the clouds, symbolizing the fierce, straightforward nature of the ninjas who live here, much like the lightning itself.

At this moment, in the spacious office of the Raikage that overlooks most of the village, the atmosphere is so heavy it feels as though it could drip with water.

The Third Raikage, a man of extremely burly and imposing stature, stands like a silent tower of black iron.

His face is resolute, with features as sharp as if carved by a blade, and a thick beard covers his jaw; merely standing there, he radiates a heavy, mountain-like pressure.

He stands with his arms crossed before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, his deep gaze piercing through the clouds as if trying to look toward the vast, boundless deserts of the distant Land of Wind.

"Bang!"

A fist encased in Lightning Release chakra slams heavily onto the custom-made wooden desk, producing a dull, thunderous boom that echoes with heart-stopping power.

"That trash, the Third Kazekage, has actually disappeared without a trace! Hmph, Sunagakure is truly going downhill!" The voice of the Third Raikage echoes through the office like rolling thunder, carrying undisguised contempt and a hint of restless excitement.

The Third Raikage turns around, his sharp gaze sweeping over the figures in the office.

Aside from his newly promoted jonin secretary, Mabui, there are two young yet formidably imposing ninjas—his son, the future Fourth Raikage A, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B.

At this time, although A has not yet inherited the title of "Kage," he is already sturdy and muscular, with short, pale yellow hair and eyes as sharp as a hawk's, his body brimming with explosive power; he clearly possesses the strength of an elite jonin.

Killer B, meanwhile, still wears his sunglasses and hums a strange rhythm, but the terrifying chakra flickering around him indicates that his fusion with the Eight-Tails Gyūki is quite advanced, and his strength is not to be underestimated.

"Father, has the intelligence been confirmed?" A asks in a deep, resonant voice, carrying the sharp spirit characteristic of a young man.

Mabui holds an encrypted scroll and reports in a steady tone: "Yes, Raikage-sama, A-sama. Our various intelligence networks planted in Sunagakure and the capital of the Land of Wind have all confirmed that the Third Kazekage has been missing for over a month."

"Sunagakure initially tried to seal the news, but the chaos among their high-ranking officials and frequent secret meetings could not be hidden. Currently, Sunagakure is leaderless; the Council of Elders is acting as a proxy, but they lack prestige and are plagued by infighting. It can be said that Sunagakure is at its weakest moment since its founding."

Mabui's voice is clear and calm, like the most precise instrument, as she analyzes the situation:

"Regarding Konoha, according to information sent back by the 'Shadow Child,' their Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, has already convened an emergency high-level meeting and declared a state of Level 1 combat readiness. Konoha's response is swift, but their focus seems to be more on defense and intelligence analysis. Furthermore, there have been some changes within Konoha recently, especially the Uchiha Clan's reforms in the Military Police Force, which have attracted some attention."

"Uchiha? Hmph, a bunch of reclusive fellows wallowing in past glory; they won't amount to much."

The Third Raikage waves his hand dismissively. He is not particularly concerned with the squabbles between the clans of Konoha; his gaze is firmly locked on the "prey" before him—Sunagakure.

"Konoha may be preparing, but right now, we in Kumogakure must be the first to take a bite out of this fat piece of meat, Sunagakure!"

He strides to the massive strategic map and points a finger heavily at the location of the Land of Wind:

"Sunagakure is resource-poor, but it is rich in high-quality minerals and Puppet Materials. If we can annex Sunagakure, or at least deal it a heavy blow and force it to sign a treaty, the strength of Kumogakure will be greatly enhanced, allowing us to seize absolute initiative in the coming great war!"

Mabui frowns slightly, raising a concern: "Raikage-sama, will attacking a major village whose 'Kage' has gone missing trigger an overreaction from the other major villages? Especially Ōnoki of Iwagakure and Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha; they might use this as an excuse to unite against us."

"Overreaction?"

The Third Raikage grins, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, his smile filled with wildness.

"It is precisely because the Kazekage is missing and Sunagakure is unstable that we must strike! This is called seizing the opportunity! That old fox Ōnoki is surely calculating the same thing; we cannot let him take the initiative. As for Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi is getting old and is overly cautious; by the time he reacts, we will have already established a firm foothold in the Land of Wind!"

The Third Raikage pauses, a flash of brilliance in his eyes: "Besides, who said we have to use our full strength? The first strike must be fast, accurate, and ruthless! Like lightning, we will tear through their defenses when they are least prepared!"

"You mean..." Mabui looks thoughtful.

"Form an elite raid force!" the Third Raikage says decisively. "Led by A and B, draw from the village's elite jonin, cross the border at top speed, and strike directly at the most important outposts on the outskirts of Sunagakure! The goal is to destroy their defensive facilities, plunder resources, and inflict heavy casualties on their combat forces; it would be best if we could force out their temporary command layer and crush them in one fell swoop!"

"Yo~! Is it finally my turn to show off? Fool~ Ya fool~! Hot desert winds, prepare to be baptized by the Eight-Tails!"

Killer B dances and raps an impromptu verse.

A's eyes also burn with fighting spirit, his fists clenched, lightning flickering faintly: "Father, please rest assured! I will definitely make Sunagakure witness the might of Kumogakure!"

The Third Raikage is full of confidence in the strength of his son and his sworn brother. He looks at Mabui: "Mabui, the personnel for the raid force are to be selected by A and B personally—they must be the fastest and strongest! Logistics and intelligence support must be in place!"

"Yes!" Mabui records quickly. "The time for the raid is set for?"

"Tomorrow at dawn, at the break of day, when the temperature difference in the desert is at its greatest and the sentries are most prone to fatigue, we launch the attack!"

The Third Raikage's eyes flash with thunderous light. "Let those sand-playing fellows in Sunagakure get a good taste of the 'enthusiasm' from Kumogakure! A, B, this first battle—victory is the only option, failure is not permitted! Show them the prestige of Kumogakure!"

"Yes! Father/Raikage-boss!" A and B respond in unison, their voices filled with confidence and killing intent.