The Land of Lightning's Strongest Genius in a Century!

"Yotsuki Sora, born in Konoha's sixteenth year."

"Though he bears the Yotsuki surname, he is actually the adopted son of the Third Raikage. His true identity is that of a Six Paths Bloodline descendant, a clansman of Gold Horn and Silver Horn, Hidden Cloud's most vicious and notorious criminals."

"His parents were commoners within the clan, yet his bloodline regressed to its ancestor, and he was born with twin horns."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply. At last, he recalled this file.

Thirteen years ago, he had specifically ordered the ANBU to verify its accuracy. Yet the information they received was that—the contents of the intelligence report had been far too euphemistic.

"After being adopted by the Third Raikage, Yotsuki Sora was assigned to the ANBU from childhood. Tempered by the ANBU, he quickly displayed unparalleled talent and aptitude."

"At six, Yotsuki Sora began carrying out ANBU missions alone. At eight, he became an ANBU squad captain. At ten, he left the ANBU and became a Hidden Cloud jonin."

"During his tenure in the ANBU, his mission success rate was one hundred percent. He had never failed and was known as Blood Wrist."

"A monstrous physique, chakra comparable to a Tailed Beast's, and exceptional, unique combat skills."

"The talent and aptitude he displayed even surpassed Gold Horn and Silver Horn. He was hailed as the successor to the Light of the Clouds, the Land of Lightning's most outstanding genius in a century!"

Without a doubt, if not for the criminal record tied to the origins of his identity—

If he truly were the Third Raikage's son, then based on this half of his résumé alone, Yotsuki Sora's position as Fourth Raikage would already have been assured.

"And what truly made his name known throughout the shinobi world, prompting our investigation into him, was that at fifteen, while training in the Land of Earth, he defeated Kitsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki."

Danzo spoke slowly. The more he said, the more deathly silent the Hokage's office became.

Those present finally recalled a certain day more than a decade ago.

They had held several meetings because of this fellow, confirming intelligence and discussing countermeasures.

Yet in the end, Yotsuki Sora had suddenly vanished without a trace. There had even been rumors that he had died in a Tailed Beast rampage!

But no one had expected it.

More than a decade later, this fellow had actually reappeared.

And he had returned before the world in an even more domineering and shocking manner!

"He'd been hidden all this time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.

Such a sharp blade had been concealed for more than a decade. They had not deployed him even when crushing Hidden Sand.

The ambitions of those Hidden Cloud people were beyond imagination.

Fortunately, Hidden Stone had forced him out...

"Danzo, you didn't come here just to show me a piece of intelligence, did you?"

"The Hidden Stone forces amassed at the border have been greatly reduced. Even their Jinchuriki was captured by Yotsuki Sora." Leaning on his cane, Danzo's eyes flashed with chilling light. "Don't you think this is the perfect opportunity?"

"You want to move against Hidden Stone?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed tightly.

The situation on the front lines was not as optimistic as it seemed.

The pressure from Hidden Sand was immense, and Orochimaru could not even seize the initiative on the battlefield.

Hidden Cloud stood in opposition, while Hidden Mist was making suspicious moves.

The forces Konoha could truly mobilize were far too few.

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and spoke coldly. "While the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind. Hidden Stone wants to devour Hidden Cloud, so we'll seize the opportunity and play the oriole!"

"If we succeed, both Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud will be crippled and eliminated as threats."

"Then, we can turn our guns on Hidden Sand..."

For all this time, the Land of Fire, which possessed the richest and most fertile land in the entire shinobi world, had always been the primary target of the great shinobi villages.

After the war between Wind and Lightning ended, the Land of Wind immediately turned its spearhead toward Konoha. Though the other nations had not acted, they too watched like tigers, eager to make a move.

"Once we strike first, it will be tantamount to giving the Hidden Stone shinobi an excuse to start a war."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep draw from his pipe and shook his head. "Hidden Sand is already troublesome enough. We cannot fight on two fronts. Have you forgotten that war twenty years ago?!"

Twenty years ago, Konoha, then the strongest force in the shinobi world, had proactively started the Second Shinobi World War in order to develop its economy, simultaneously going to war with the three nations of Wind, Earth, and Rain.

Although Konoha won the final victory of that war, the losses and casualties had been so devastating that they remained unforgettable to this day!

Only after twenty years of development had Konoha recovered to a certain extent.

If they once again fought on multiple fronts and allowed the events of twenty years ago to repeat themselves...

"We cannot fight Hidden Stone."

"Hiruzen!" Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi shake his head, Danzo grew somewhat anxious. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Originally, Hidden Stone had Hidden Cloud surrounded, and their defenses were impenetrable. We might not have had a chance to act. But now Yotsuki Sora has appeared, and Hidden Stone has already fallen into disarray."

"As long as we seize this opportunity, we can cripple both Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud at once!"

"And what if we fail?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo. "If we fail, we will have to face the major nations of Wind, Earth, and Lightning at the same time. Together with the threat of Hidden Mist on the eastern front, one misstep could see us besieged by three major nations—or even four!"

Although the situation on the eastern front was not as intense as the Hidden Sand battlefield, it was far more complicated.

Among the Hidden Cloud forces facing them on the eastern front were not only A, hailed as the future Fourth Raikage, but also Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

And on top of that, there were over a thousand elite troops!

With Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud locked in a life-or-death struggle, Hidden Cloud had still amassed such elite forces within the Land of Hot Water. Their intentions were obvious to all!

Then there was Hidden Mist.

Recently, the intelligence division had discovered large numbers of Hidden Mist ANBU in places such as the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves.

Although Hidden Mist was located far overseas, if Konoha truly came under siege from the major nations and began to show signs of weakness, there was no way Hidden Mist would not have some special ideas of its own.

The pressure from the east was simply too great—so great that Hiruzen Sarutobi was constrained at every turn and did not dare act rashly.

"What we need to do now is stabilize our formation, deal with Hidden Sand first, and only then consider everything else," Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely. "I intend to transfer Jiraiya to the Hidden Sand battlefield to reinforce Orochimaru."

"But..."

"Enough. Say no more."

Seeing that Danzo still wanted to speak, Hiruzen Sarutobi wasted no more words and slammed his hand on the table.

"We must eliminate Hidden Sand in the shortest possible time."

"Only then can we stabilize the situation amid the coming chaos."

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi act so arbitrarily and completely reject his opinion, Danzo's expression darkened completely.

In his view, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Only by utterly crushing Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud could Konoha rest easy.

If they did not seize this chance now, then once Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud recovered, they would never let Konoha off!

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"