For the village.
For the greater good!
A had heard those words more times than he could count lately.
He knew that order had indeed come from his old man.
But with the intelligence network at his disposal, there was no way a single order from his old man could have suppressed a matter that had spread throughout the Shinobi World so thoroughly!
And... Yotsuki Sora.
A remained silent, that oppressive silence like a volcano building pressure before an eruption.
"Yotsuki Sora... you were the ones who called him back, weren't you?"
"Yes."
Moloi did not deny it. "To ensure that the Third Raikage's plan could be carried out successfully, we needed a powerful fighter to help the Third Raikage bear the brunt of Hidden Stone's attacks."
"Therefore, I had Dodai seek out Lord Sora."
"But Lord A, with Lord Sora's unmatched strength in the Shinobi World and... his unconventional ways, how could my orders alone possibly command him?"
"The reason he returned this time was because he was worried for the Third Raikage's safety and came of his own accord!"
"Fortunately, he came."
"At the most critical moment, he turned the tide and saved our Kage and soldiers!"
Of his own accord!
What a fine "of his own accord"!
Could someone who had left the village for over a decade, ignoring both the village and his family, truly act so willingly?
Who exactly was that madman? Did I not know?!
A's breathing grew heavier.
Whenever he thought of that brother of his, his reason and judgment would be thrown into turmoil.
Perhaps it stemmed from his childhood, when every spar and duel with that "elder brother" had ended in defeat at Sora's hands, and every success and achievement of his own had been overshadowed.
Every time, his father's praise