"If I die, Kumogakure can still..."
A's powerful bronze body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. He shut his eyes tightly, clenched his teeth, and balled both fists so hard that his fingertips seemed ready to pierce his palms.
Tobirama Senju stood atop the roof, silently watching the Raikage wage an intense internal struggle.
His expression was icy, devoid of even the slightest sympathy or pity.
Why did the Raikage have to die?
Wouldn't it be better to bring a bona fide Kage Level fighter, along with Kumogakure itself, under Konoha's banner?
Indeed, that would have been perfect.
But setting aside whether A would agree—
Tobirama Senju was someone who held grudges...
Back when he had been revived and gone to the capital of the Land of Fire to meet the daimyo, it had been Kumogakure's people who had attempted to assassinate him.
He did not believe they had acted without the Raikage's orders.
And going even further back, the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers had also been Kumogakure ninja. Though they had later been branded rogue ninja by Kumogakure, that did not stop Tobirama from putting that score on Kumogakure's tab.
Besides, the Raikage's life could also serve as a sufficient answer to the Hyuga clan.
After a long while,
just as Tobirama was beginning to grow impatient, the silent Raikage finally spoke.
"Lord Hokage, if I kill myself, can you spare Kumogakure?"
The moment A spoke, he startled everyone around him.
"Lord Raikage, you can't!"
"Why should we listen to him?!"
"Lord Raikage, just lead us and fight him!"
As soon as his words fell, the Cloud ninja present objected, every one of them speaking up to stop him.
A clenched his fists. A faint pallor appeared on his dark face.
How could he have wanted this?