Strategy of Killing with Praise

In an isolated conference room, the Third Raikage sat at the head of the table, flanked by the village's high-ranking officials.

Some matters were inconvenient to discuss in the open, which was why everyone had gathered in this room.

Sitting in the main seat, the Third Raikage remained silent for a long time.

The elder's deductions, the intelligence regarding Shimura Kizaru, and the images of their morning clash all swirled together in his mind.

Though he loathed to admit it, the elder's hypothesis was highly likely to be correct.

The person who attacked the village was, in all probability, Konoha's genius, Shimura Kizaru!

Now, a new problem lay before the Third Raikage.

Faced with retaliatory strikes from Konoha and Shimura Kizaru, how should Kumogakure and he himself respond?

Expose the matter and declare war on Konoha directly?

Or keep it hidden and wait to see how the situation developed?

Even a man as brave and decisive as the Third Raikage found it impossible to make such a choice in the moment.

To fight—the mere thought of the enemy's elusive mobility and highly destructive ninjutsu gave the Third Raikage a splitting headache.

He even suspected that once war with the Land of Fire broke out, that single ninja, suspected to be Shimura Kizaru, could completely devastate his rear lines.

At that point, no matter how strong he was or how plentiful his troops, there would be no possibility of defeating Konoha.

He could fly, he flew fast, he possessed long-range attacks, and his strength was immense!

Such an existence was nothing short of a super-weapon on the battlefield!

But to not fight!

The Third Raikage felt the anger in his heart impossible to swallow, nor could he provide an explanation to his subordinates and villagers.

A weak Kage could not gain the support of his ninja and villagers, especially in Kumogakure, a village that championed power and worshipped the strong.

If he chose to swallow his pride and stay silent, the position beneath him would likely become unstable.

Thinking of this, the Third Raikage realized with a stinging sensation that he had no choice at all.

At this moment, after long contemplation, the Third Raikage made his decision.

Fight—he had to fight!

But how to fight required careful planning.

"Do not release the news that the enemy is suspected to be a Konoha ninja for the time being," the Third Raikage said after a long silence.

Upon hearing their leader's words, many of the high-ranking officials present showed expressions of disappointment.

However, disappointment was all it was; no one dared to voice any dissent.

"Increase intelligence gathering on Shimura Kizaru, and raise his bounty on the black market."

"By how much should we raise the bounty?" the official in charge of such matters asked quickly.

After a moment of hesitation, the Third Raikage said ruthlessly, "Three hundred million!"

Hearing this figure, a faint gasp echoed through the room.

Such a high bounty and such a massive expenditure had never occurred in the history of Kumogakure.

"Understood!" the official who had asked the question replied only after a moment of stunned silence.

"The training of Jinchuriki is to be put back on the agenda. Prepare the candidates for me."

Another shocking decision was delivered by the Third Raikage.

Ever since Kumogakure obtained two Tailed Beasts, they had been attempting to create a successful Jinchuriki to deploy on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, not a single one of the elite ninja they carefully cultivated and selected had succeeded.

During their darkest period, over a dozen Tailed Beast rampages occurred in the span of three years.

The Third Raikage's own clansmen had lost five or six lives in those three years alone, all dying in Tailed Beast rampages after becoming Jinchuriki.

It was precisely because of such massive sacrifices that the Third Raikage had temporarily halted the plan to create Jinchuriki.

But now, faced with the pressure of Kizaru and Konoha, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and restart this high-risk project.

"Additionally, spread the intelligence that Konoha's Shimura Kizaru infiltrated the Land of Lightning, ambushed me, and fought me to a standstill, to the other hidden villages."

"Leader, you cannot!"

"Leader, think twice!"

"Big brother."

"Shut up!" With a roar, the Third Raikage silenced the room once more.

"You bunch of idiots!" he cursed at those on both sides, then let out a heavy sigh.

If they couldn't even see through such a simple Strategy of Killing with Praise, how could he lead them to defeat Konoha?

"If Konoha truly has birthed a monster like a second Hashirama Senju, then let the other villages share in our headache! We cannot bear this pressure alone."

After the Third Raikage finished speaking, the others finally grasped the situation and understood why their leader had issued such an order.

"Boss, should we spread this across the entire Shinobi World?" one of his subordinates suggested, thinking himself clever.

Shooting a murderous glare at this idiot, the Third Raikage felt a strong urge to strike him.

Does this old man have no face to save?

It would be fine to discuss how to take down Shimura Kizaru within a small circle of the Shinobi World's elite.

If you spread this across the entire Shinobi World, wouldn't you be telling the whole world that I couldn't even take down a ten-year-old child?

Where would I, the Third Raikage, put my face? Does my Kumogakure still need its prestige?

A bunch of brutes, insects! How am I supposed to win battles with you lot?

Two days later, having soaked in the hot springs of the Land of Hot Water and changed into fresh clothes, Kizaru's squad returned to Konoha.

In the Hokage's office, facing the three who had returned, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally set his anxious heart at ease.

Relaxing, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back against his chair, holding a teacup in his hand, listening to the report while sipping his tea.

Pfft!

The tea he had just taken into his mouth sprayed out entirely, and much of the tea in his cup spilled due to his violent trembling.

Ignoring his disheveled state, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who was reporting the mission details, and asked excitedly, "What did you say? Kizaru raided Kumogakure, killed hundreds of ninjas, and even severely wounded the Third Raikage?"

With a bitter smile on his face, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who had been so shocked upon first hearing this news from Kizaru that he couldn't speak and had initially thought Kizaru was joking, could only nod at his father.

"Yes, after we lured out the Third Raikage, Kizaru raided Kumogakure.

He destroyed a large number of buildings and equipment, and killed the new generation genius of Kumogakure, the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai ninja Dodai, as well as hundreds of other ninjas.

Furthermore, after retreating from Kumogakure, he ambushed the returning Third Raikage and left him severely wounded!"

Placing the teacup back on the table with a slight tremor, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his prized student, Shimura Kizaru, with complex eyes.

Tch! Making such a fuss!

Sitting to the side and listening to the report, Hokage Assistant Danzo looked at his old friend with a disdainful gaze while pressing his hand firmly onto his own shaking right leg.

This old man isn't surprised at all; I'm just incredibly excited!

Thinking this, Danzo increased the pressure of his right hand.

"Will this trigger a war between the Land of Lightning and us?" Utatane Koharu, one of the two advisors also present, asked with some concern.

Turning his head sharply, Danzo glared fiercely at Utatane Koharu. He didn't speak, but everything was implied.

"Kizaru did an excellent job! I mean, we should be wary of Kumogakure's retaliation," Utatane Koharu quickly explained.

As the lubricant and fence-sitters of the Hokage faction alongside Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu understood deeply that it was better to offend Hiruzen Sarutobi than to be targeted by Danzo.

Offending Hiruzen Sarutobi would, at most, end one's political life!

But once you offend Danzo, it is your actual life that you lose!