However, just as the Third Raikage was confidently pointing out the future, Ai quietly raised his hand and asked a question.
"Um, Father, what about the Chinoike Clan?"
The Third Raikage froze, turned his head, and glared fiercely at A.
Ai shrank back; he truly had no idea what the Chinoike Clan had to do with the Uchiha Clan!
After all, that happened hundreds of years ago!
The Third Raikage seemed to have thought of this as well, paused for a moment, and then explained to A.
"That's a distant past, something that happened more than three hundred years ago, before the Uchiha Clan left the Land of Lightning."
The Third Raikage put his hands behind his back with emotion on his face.
"At that time, when wars between various regions were becoming increasingly frequent during the Warring States period, in order to protect themselves, the head of the Chinoike Clan at that time married his daughter as a concubine to a daimyo."
"The girl was gentle and beautiful, and was greatly favored by the famous man, but this also aroused the jealousy of his aging and fading wife!"
"It was around that time that the daimyo died of illness not long after, but the wife framed him for assassination by a concubine."
"Therefore, the Chinoike Clan was exiled to the desolate Hell Valley, and the clan responsible for guarding the Chinoike Clan at that time was the Uchiha Clan, the most powerful clan in the Land of Lightning!"
The Third Raikage, having said this, looked at A, who appeared shocked, and asked, "What are your thoughts after hearing this?"
Ai was taken aback at first, then her brain raced as she pondered the "information" she had just received.
Ai frowned. The Blood Pond's feud with the Uchiha Clan didn't seem to be that significant?
"From this perspective, the Uchiha can be considered to have persecuted the Chinoike Clan."
"But more than three hundred years have passed, how much of that hatred can remain?"
Hearing Ai's question, the Third Raikage nodded, then smiled mysteriously and gave him a meaningful look.
"Yes, if that's all there is, then why is the Chinoike Clan still in Hell Valley?"
"Why am I so sure that if the Chinoike Clan is released, the Uchiha Clan will definitely come out?"
"Because their abilities are similar!"
The Third Raikage extended his right hand, spreading five fingers as he spoke, bending one finger after each word.
They meticulously recounted the abilities and secrets of the Chinoike Clan.
"First, like the Sharingan, the Ketsuryūgan Eye is awakened through intense mental stimulation. It is rumored that the Ketsuryūgan and the Sharingan are closely related!"
"Secondly, the hypnotic power and battlefield lethality of the Ketsuryūgan are no less than those of the Sharingan, and this is only the most basic Ketsuryūgan!"
"Third, a mature Ketsuryūgan will become even more powerful as its emotions and Chakra grow stronger!"
"Fourth, the Ketsuryūgan can manipulate blood to do many incredible things, even extracting it from an enemy's body!"
"Who wouldn't be wary of such a family? The Uchiha Clan was just the one most affected, and therefore pushed out of the picture."
As he spoke, the Third Raikage silently bent the remaining fingers as well.
Seeing this, Ai wisely refrained from asking what the fifth point was, since all five fingers were bent, which already constituted a fist.
It's the kind that's as big as a sandbag.
And now it's his turn to speak.
"Therefore, if we release the Chinoike Clan, the Uchiha Clan will take action, whether they want to maintain their superior status or to complete the 'mission' that has been going on for so long!"
"And the current daimyo, whether they have almost no hatred for the Blood Pond or want to join the other daimyo in trying to suppress the Uchiha Clan, will tacitly approve of our actions!"
As Ai spoke, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.
If that's the case, not only would the daimyo be willing, but even if they gave nothing, the Chinoike Clan, who had suffered for three hundred years, would be willing to be their pawns!
This is the anger they've suppressed for three hundred years!
Add to that the Ketsuryūgan, which is already slightly effective against the Uchiha, and this is a sword specifically designed to counter the Uchiha!
The Third Raikage smiled and revealed something that A didn't know.
"It's not tacit approval, it's an explicit order!"
Ai looked up abruptly and met the Third Raikage's unvarnished expression.
He took a deep breath and asked somewhat uncertainly.
"What are you daimyo doing...?"
The Third Raikage silently patted A on the shoulder, his expression wistful.
"Uchiha Makoto is too strong, and who knows if he'll be the next Madara Uchiha who wants to unify the Five Great Nations?"
"The powerful figures dare not gamble! Neither do we!"
"Just like the Uchiha Clan facing the Chinoike Clan three hundred years ago, who can guarantee what the future holds? We can only do our best to minimize the risks!"
Hearing this, A fell silent. Even a ninja like Uchiha Makoto was subject to the control of a daimyo?
Of course not!
Didn't the daimyo of various countries quickly apologize after the Uchiha Clan's actions in the Land of Wind?
Everyone was just afraid that the Uchiha would kill them.
The gap in strength is too large, so large that they are now desperate!
As a ninja, someone who does things that are hidden from view, he shouldn't have any emotional attachment to it.
But now, Ai also felt a sense of shared sorrow, like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.
He's a ninja too!
Ai remained silent, then suddenly looked at the Third Raikage.
"Father, does it have to be this way?"
The Third Raikage stared at him in utter astonishment, but after seeing A's gaze, he fell silent.
Ai was still too young after all.
"Absolutely!"
The Third Raikage spoke each word carefully, then turned his gaze and looked firmly at A.
"Perhaps this is what every ninja has to go through!"
"Ah, as the future Raikage, you will be in charge of liaising with the Chinoike Clan!"
The Third Raikage looked at A, who had lowered his head, and after a moment of silence, added, "Don't disappoint me!"
After saying that, the Third Raikage walked outside and left the hospital.
Only Ai, still bewildered, remained where she was.
What neither father nor son knew was that a figure that had been following Ai underground was now walking outside with the Third Raikage.
After leaving the hospital, the Third Raikage stopped, turned his head to the side, and gave instructions to the open space.
"Send someone to keep an eye on him, and stop him from doing anything he shouldn't!"
"Yes!"
A faint sound came from the deserted open space.
Hearing the Anbu's reply, the Third Raikage did not stop and continued walking towards the nearby canyon.
The plan to wipe out the Uchiha must not fail!
What's inside the Grand Canyon is the source of their Cloud Ninja to challenge Uchiha Makoto!
After entering the Grand Canyon, the Third Raikage arrived at a temple located within it.
The air was thick with incense, and there were very few people around. The Third Raikage paid no attention to any of this and simply headed towards his Earth Flow at the deepest part of the place.
The Six Paths Ninja Tools of Kumogakure are enshrined there!