Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki looked over the report in front of him and frowned. "As expected of Konoha. Talented ninja keep appearing. This Li Yi, Kagami Uchiha's student, can already kill elite Cloud ninja jonin—and even a Perfect Jinchuriki. The Third Raikage has personally joined the hunt, too. I wonder if he'll manage to kill Li Yi."
An elder beside him had also read the report. "Kumogakure having an enemy as powerful as Konoha suits our interests. And with the Third Raikage personally taking action, that Li Yi probably won't survive."
Ōnoki nodded. Whatever else could be said, the Third Raikage was indeed powerful. Kumogakure's closely guarded secret, Lightning Style: Chakra Mode, had earned him the titles of Strongest Spear and Strongest Shield.
With Kumogakure and Konoha continuing to fight each other, things couldn't be better for them.
After thinking it through, Ōnoki set the matter aside and asked, "How is the encirclement of Kirigakure's remaining ninja going?"
"We've narrowed the area down to the southern town of the Land of Rain. If Kirigakure sends no reinforcements, we should be able to finish them off in about a month," the elder replied confidently.
Ōnoki nodded and glanced at the map. "Kirigakure won't find it easy to send reinforcements. They're isolated overseas. To reach the Land of Rain, they'd have to ally with Konoha. Otherwise, the route is far too long. This time, we have to make Kirigakure feel the pain."
Ōnoki's assessment was spot-on. Kirigakure was in a difficult position. They had three possible routes, but in the end, only two were viable.
The first was to cross the Land of Fire and head straight there. It was obvious Konoha would never agree. If Kirigakure's forces got caught in a surprise attack, they'd have nowhere to turn.
The second was to travel through the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Fields, and the Land of Frost into the Land of Grass, then reach the Land of Rain from there. This route was shorter, but it passed through too many countries, and Konoha and Kumogakure were currently fighting in the Land of Hot Water.
The third was to go around the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Tea, then enter the Land of Rivers. From there, they could reach the Land of Rain.
But the Sand shinobi and Konoha were fighting in the Land of Rivers, leaving Kirigakure caught in an awkward bind.
They had even ambushed Konoha a while back. Asking Konoha for help now would be humiliating, but if they didn't negotiate, the Kirigakure ninja trapped in the Land of Rain would be in trouble.
Among them were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, their most important asset.
As for the news about Li Yi, Kirigakure's ninja glanced at it and tossed it aside. What the hell did it have to do with them?
When the Sand shinobi received the news, they realized Li Yi was a problem. He was causing a stir in Kumogakure's territory, so they were safe for the moment, but they still had to be wary. The Second Kazekage sent people to the Land of Hot Water to gather information, insisting they collect as much as possible.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the report, dumbfounded. Had Li Yi really grown this strong?
He knew what it meant to be a Perfect Jinchuriki. Even he might not be able to defeat someone like that.
Sarutobi Hiruzen also saw that the Third Raikage had personally joined the hunt for Li Yi, and couldn't help feeling anxious. He wondered whether Li Yi would make it back alive.
After all, Konoha couldn't afford to lose someone with Li Yi's strength.
"Someone, send a message to Danzo. Have him dispatch people to assist Li Yi and bring him back if possible," Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered.
An Anbu operative soon vanished from the office.
On the border of the Land of Fire, Danzo had already fought several major battles against Kumogakure. Neither side had gained the upper hand. Of course, Li Yi had helped. He had killed many Cloud ninja in the Land of Hot Water, including numerous powerful opponents, greatly easing the pressure on Danzo.
Otherwise, with Konoha fighting on two fronts, things wouldn't have been so easy.
"Lord Danzo, the Third Raikage is hunting Li Yi. Lord Hokage sent word asking you to dispatch people to assist him and bring him back if possible," a ninja immediately reported to Shimura Danzo.
Danzo frowned and waved a hand dismissively. He was already struggling to hold off Kumogakure. Where could he find spare men to support Li Yi?
If Konoha weren't also fighting the Sand shinobi, Danzo would have had no hesitation about leading a team to the rescue. But they were fighting on two fronts, and he had few ninja to spare. They all had to be ready for Kumogakure's attacks. He had no one left to help Li Yi.
"My lord, aren't we going to send reinforcements?" asked a ninja beside him with a pineapple-shaped head.
Danzo gave a wry smile. "Lufeng, do you think we have any men to spare right now?"
Could Nara Lufeng, who had been fighting alongside him all this time, really not understand the situation?
Lufeng sighed. They had had some forces to spare before, but a while ago the front in the Land of Rivers had sent an urgent request for help, and another group of ninja had been transferred from their forces. If Li Yi hadn't killed so many of Kumogakure's powerful ninja recently, it was anyone's guess whether they could have held their ground.
"I think Lord Hokage doesn't want Senior Ninja Li Yi to come to harm. Our high-level fighters are few now. Senior Ninja Li Yi can take down Yotsuki Hayate, Kujokawa, and Takahashi on his own. He would be much more useful on the front in the Land of Wind, especially since the Kazekage has joined the fighting," Lufeng explained.
Danzo understood. Now that the Second Kazekage had entered the battle, Homura and Utatane Koharu were no match for him. Even if that fat Akimichi Kufū went, he could only hold him off. Unless the Hokage went to the battlefield himself, no one could match the Kazekage.
If Li Yi went there, he could greatly ease the pressure on Konoha. He might even kill the Kazekage, freeing up most of Konoha's ninja and allowing them to crush Kumogakure and end the war.
Konoha had very few high-level fighters left. Kagami Uchiha had been one, but he was dead. Now, only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo could match the Second Kazekage. Of course, the First Hokage's wife, Mito Uzumaki, was another, but they couldn't deploy someone of her caliber lightly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had to stay in Konoha, while Danzo was dealing with Kumogakure. That left Li Yi as the natural choice for the battlefield in the Land of Rivers.
"Sigh. Have Yamanaka Ao take his squad to search for Li Yi and bring him back as soon as possible," Danzo said after thinking it over. It was all he could do. He could send a reconnaissance squad to look for Li Yi, but as for snatching him from the Third Raikage, he truly couldn't manage that.
Nara Lufeng nodded. It was the only option. A squad skilled in reconnaissance might find Li Yi before the Third Raikage did.
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