"Ten thousand people..." he murmured, "That brat only brought ten people with him. If he hadn't been strong enough, or if he hadn't been lucky, he would have been told where he was this time."
He thought of Shaoyu's always calm face, thought of everything he had done for Kumogakure in the past few years, and thought of his repeated rejection of invitations to succeed Raikage.
That brat always said that he was still young and didn't want to be Raikage so early.
But he knew that Shaoyu really thought about Kumogakure.
He wants Kumogakure to be stronger.
I want Uchiha Clan to take root in Kumogakure.
Two days later.
Kumogakure.
The early morning sunshine passes through the sea of clouds and shines on this village built on the top of a mountain.
The mountain peaks in the distance are looming in the clouds and mist, and the nearby streets are already crowded with people.
Today is a big day.
A few days ago, when Uchiha Renhuo and Shisui brought thousands of Kumogakure elites and more than six hundred Uchiha people back to the village, the whole Kumogakure was already boiling.
At that scene, the streets were empty, the gongs and drums were loud, the villagers lined the streets to welcome him, the old people wiped their tears, and the children cheered.
After all, he was a hero who returned from a victorious battle and was the hero who made Kumogakure proud in Shinobi World.
But today, it's different.
The person who came back today is Uchiha Shaoyu.
The man who led the Kumogakure army all the way to the gates of Konoha city.
The man who captured the son of Hokage and the elder Konoha.
The one who forced Third Hokage to sign the Alliance under the City.
The man who faced an army of ten thousand Iwagakure alone, killed seven thousand, and forced Third Tsuchikage to surrender in embarrassment.
That--the person who is about to become Fourth Raikage.
At least, that's what Third Raikage hopes.
At this moment, Lord Raikage, a man with long hair and beard, was standing on the high platform at the entrance of the village, with his arms folded across his chest and an irrepressible proud smile on his face.
Behind him, stood Ai, Killer B, Lianhuo, Shisui, and Kumogakure's senior executives.
"Dad." Ai came over and said in a low voice, "Isn't your battle too big?"
Raikage glanced at him and snorted.
"Big? I'm still too young for that." He pointed to the people who gathered spontaneously below, "Look, they all came voluntarily, I didn't force them."
Ai glanced at the crowded scene below, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Is this called no force?
Yesterday, your old man asked Anbu to post notices all over the village. Early this morning, he asked ninjas to maintain order on the streets. He also specially asked people to build this high platform at the entrance of the village. Is this called no force?
But he didn't dare to say it.
Because he knows that dad really wants Shaoyu to inherit Raikage's position.
In this war, Shaoyu's performance was so dazzling. It was so dazzling that the whole Shinobi World was talking about his name. It was so dazzling that everyone in Kumogakure was proud of him. It was so dazzling that even his own son, Third Raikage, was convinced.
Such a person is not suitable for Raikage, who should be?
"Dad." Killer B interjected from the side, "Brother~ When will we arrive~ Yeah~ My rap is ready~"
Raikage glanced at him.
"What have you prepared?"
Killer B cleared his throat and was about to speak when Raikage quickly waved his hand.
"Okay, okay, stop singing." He looked disgusted, "Don't scare people away with your broken voice."
Killer B curled his lips in grievance.
"This is art~you don't understand~"
"I don't understand." Raikage snorted, "I only know that if you dare to sing today, I will throw you down the mountain."
Killer B shrank his neck and did not dare to speak anymore.
Shisui stood aside, watching the father and son bickering, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
His eldest brother is coming back.
The big brother who has taken him with him since childhood, protected him, taught him ninjutsu, and accompanied him to grow up is about to come back.
And, as a hero.
So he is about to become Raikage.
Shisui took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions in his heart.
He knows how much his eldest brother has sacrificed to be able to do all this.
Those sleepless nights, those life-and-death battles, those pressures that he bore alone - he saw them all.
Now, it's finally time to harvest.
"It's coming!" Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "It's coming! Master Shaoyu is back!"
Everyone looked into the distance at the same time.
On the winding mountain road at the entrance of the village, a group of people was walking slowly.
The leader is a red figure.
He was riding on a tall red war horse, wearing the iconic red armor, and his black hair was gently fluttering in the wind. Behind him, followed ten Kumogakure jounin, each with their backs straight and unconcealable pride on their faces.
Uchiha Shaoyu.
He is finally back.
"Shaoyu-sama--!"
"Long live Lord Shaoyu--!"
"Hero--!"
The crowd burst into loud cheers. The sound was like a roaring mountain and a tsunami, echoing across the mountains.
Countless people waved their arms, countless people burst into tears, and countless people squeezed forward desperately, hoping to see more clearly.
Shaoyu reined in his horse and looked at this scene, feeling an indescribable emotion well up in his heart.
Every time you see Kumogakure people like this, you should drag out those Konoha unruly people and whip them to death.
Look, these are normal residents.
So many people, such warm cheers, and such sincere smiles.
He looked towards the high platform in the distance and saw the old man with sprouting beard and hair.
Third Raikage.
She was looking at him now, smiling like a child.
Shaoyu's mouth corners slightly raised.
He got off his horse and walked forward.
The crowd automatically made way for him to pass. The eyes of those people were like spotlights, shining on him with reverence, fanaticism, adoration, and an indescribable... pride.
This is our hero.
This is the hero of Kumogakure.
This is the man who will become our Raikage.
Shaoyu Walking among the crowd, feeling those eyes, a warm current surged in his heart.
"Master Shaoyu!" An old woman tremblingly squeezed in front of him, grabbed his hand, and burst into tears, "My son... My son fought with you... He came back and said that you saved his life... Thank you... Thank you..."
Shaoyu supported her and gently patted the back of her hand.
"Old man, your son is a soldier. He saved himself. I just helped him a little."
In the crowd, another young woman squeezed in, holding a baby in her arms.
"Master Shaoyu!" Her voice trembled with excitement, "My man... my man followed you to Konoha... he said you were very good to him... I... I will kowtow to you..."
She was about to kneel down as she spoke, and Shaoyu quickly supported her.
"Don't be like this." He said, "Your man is a good ninja. He relies on himself. I just did what I had to do."