Kumogakure in Uproar

Third Raikage overrode all objections and appointed Uchiha Shaoyu as Kumogakure's second elder on the spot, even granting him a prime clan territory. The news was like another thunderclap, exploding through Kumogakure just as it had begun to settle down.

The uproar it caused was even greater than the fierce battle outside the gates.

Through every possible channel—the guards who had witnessed the fight, the heads of various departments who received reports, and even deliberate or inadvertent leaks from the Raikage's office—

The news spread as though it had grown wings, swiftly reaching every corner of Kumogakure.

On the streets, in training grounds, at mission assembly halls, and even around family dinner tables, everyone was fervently discussing this explosive news.

"Did you hear? Lord Raikage appointed a new elder! He's super young! Apparently not even twenty!"

"Young? He's an Uchiha! An Uchiha who defected from Konoha!"

"Uchiha? The Sharingan people? Is that true? Aren't they from Konoha?"

"It's absolutely true! The bald guy guarding the gate saw it with his own eyes. Those eyes were terrifyingly red, and he could even conjure a black giant to fight Lord Raikage!"

"He fought Lord Raikage? For that long? What happened in the end?"

"Of course Lord Raikage won! But Lord Raikage personally said that even in defeat, he had fought with honor, then gave him the elder position on the spot."

"My god... he fought Lord Raikage for half a day? What kind of strength would that take? No wonder..."

"Lord Raikage doing this... isn't it a little too... That Uchiha guy is an outsider, and a missing-nin at that..."

"What do you know? Lord Raikage must have his reasons. Kumogakure has always let strength do the talking. If that kid could fight Lord Raikage for so long, his strength must be unquestionable. What's wrong with making him an elder?"

"Exactly! Could Lord Raikage's judgment be wrong? That Uchiha must have real skill and be able to benefit our village."

"Hmph, easy for you to say. Who knows if this isn't some Konoha trick? Those Uchiha are crafty."

"Quit making snide remarks! Lord Raikage and the advisors must have investigated everything! Besides, when has Kumogakure ever feared anyone? Even if he has ulterior motives, what can he do on our turf?"

"I'm more curious about what that Uchiha looks like. I heard he's pretty handsome..."

"Fan girl! Strength is what matters, okay?"

Amid the discussions, doubt, surprise, admiration, curiosity, wariness, anticipation... all kinds of emotions intertwined.

Most of the skeptics were conservatives or people deeply hostile toward Konoha, worried about an outsider gaining authority and the potential dangers that might follow.

Most supporters, meanwhile, were firm backers of the Raikage or simple worshippers of strength. They believed in the Raikage's judgment and Kumogakure's ironclad rule that strength came first.

More people remained watchful and curious, eager to learn about this newly arrived Uchiha elder, who was absurdly young yet unbelievably powerful.

Naturally, this wave of discussion also swept through Kumogakure's younger generation, especially the proud geniuses who regarded the Raikage as their role model.

At an advanced training ground somewhere in Kumogakure.

In the middle of the field, a youth with a similarly tall, burly build, dark skin, short white hair standing upright, and pale blue lightning-shaped markings on his left cheek had just finished a round of intense taijutsu training.

Steam rose from his entire body. His muscles were sleek yet explosive, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He was the future Fourth Raikage, Yotsuki Ai. At this time, he had not yet inherited the title of Ai, so he would be called Little Ai.

He grabbed a water flask and took several deep gulps, preparing to begin another round of Lightning Release chakra tempering, when he heard several peers training nearby huddled together and excitedly discussing something.

"...It's true! My uncle is in the garrison. He said he saw that black giant himself—it was dozens of meters tall! It exchanged blows with Lord Raikage's Lightning Release, and the earth shook while the mountains trembled!"

"Uchiha Shaoyu... even his name sounds powerful. He actually fought Lord Raikage for so long."

"I heard Lord Raikage made him an elder right after the fight. My god, an elder! His status is even higher than a lot of clan heads."

"How old is he? Is he even twenty? Isn't that strength way too monstrous? When will we ever reach that level?"

"Stop dreaming. He has the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan—the legendary eyes."

"Mangekyō? What's that? Is it stronger than the three-tomoe one?"

"Obviously! How else could he trade blows with Lord Raikage?"

Listening to their discussion, Little Ai's thick brows gradually furrowed. He put down his water flask and strode over.

"What are you talking about? What Uchiha? What fight with my old man?"

His voice was loud and carried an unquestionable authority.

As the Third Raikage's son, he possessed a natural air of leadership.

The moment the youths saw him approach, they immediately stood straight, their faces showing respect.

The youth before them was the Third Raikage's only child. Despite his young age, he was already immensely powerful and was very likely Kumogakure's next Raikage candidate.

One of them hurriedly retold the news he had heard, embellishing it as he went.

"...Anyway, this guy called Uchiha Shaoyu defected from Konoha and challenged Lord Raikage one-on-one at the village gate. They fought for nearly half an hour. In the end, Lord Raikage won, but he admitted the guy was incredibly strong and made him our village's second elder on the spot. The whole village is going crazy over it!"

As Little Ai listened, his eyes widened further and further, his face filled with disbelief and... intense curiosity.

He fought his old man one-on-one? For half a day? And his old man had personally acknowledged his strength and directly appointed him an elder?

Having been rigorously trained by his father since childhood, he knew better than anyone just how terrifying his father's strength was.

To fight his father at full power for nearly half an hour without immediately collapsing meant that his strength had definitely reached Kage level. And that person was so young?

Uchiha Shaoyu... Mangekyō Sharingan...

A fire mixing defiance, curiosity, and fierce fighting spirit suddenly ignited in Little Ai's heart.

He considered himself the strongest of Kumogakure's younger generation and the future heir to the Raikage title. He had always trained tirelessly with the goal of surpassing his father.

Now, someone who might have been even younger than him had suddenly appeared, yet already possessed the power to confront his father head-on—and was held in such high regard by his father...

How could he possibly not care? How could he not be interested?

"Where is he?" Little Ai asked directly, eager light flashing in his eyes.

"Huh? Who? Elder Uchiha Shaoyu?"

His companion froze.

"I heard Lord Raikage assigned the Uchiha that clan territory in the southeast, the one backed against the cliffs. They should have gone there to settle in already, right?"

Upon hearing this, Little Ai said nothing more. He turned and headed straight out of the training ground.

"Hey! Ai! Where are you going?"

His companions called after him.

"To meet this new elder!"

Without looking back, Little Ai's voice was filled with fighting spirit. "I want to see whether he's really as powerful as the rumors say!"

He was not going there to cause trouble. As the Raikage's son, visiting a newly appointed elder was perfectly reasonable.

But he did indeed intend to gauge the other man's abilities.

After all, hearing was unreliable, while seeing was believing. Anyone his old man valued so highly was someone he had to meet in person!

Watching Little Ai's decisive departing figure, his companions exchanged looks. Each saw excitement in the others' eyes.

"This is going to be interesting!"

"Boss Ai isn't going to challenge him outright, is he?"

"Probably not? He is an elder, after all..."

"Hehe, with Boss Ai's personality, even if he doesn't fight right away, he'll definitely test him!"

Within Kumogakure, beneath the seemingly calm surface, undercurrents had already begun to stir because of Uchiha Shaoyu's arrival and promotion.

The older generation was observing and weighing their options. Ordinary villagers were discussing the news with fascination. Meanwhile, the finest of the younger generation could no longer hold themselves back—they wanted to personally uncover the veil surrounding this mysterious and powerful new elder.