In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

But Mabui, standing nearby, heard every word.

Fireworks? She came to Kumogakure to watch fireworks? And who was this little girl's teacher?

If Mabui had only suspected it before, Hinata's words had now confirmed it: Kumogakure's abduction of the girl was part of a Konoha plot.

Her mind raced. A moment later, her expression changed. Kumogakure was built among towering mountains.

Its most famous landmark was the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, where thunder could be heard even in broad daylight.

The Cloud Ninja's administrative building stood opposite the valley.

Through the glass, she could clearly see two enormous peaks rising into the sky, their ends lost to sight.

That was the direction of the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.

To Mabui's horror, the two peaks, usually earth-brown or snow-white, were rapidly turning blue...

The color spread like a plague, so quickly that Mabui was caught off guard.

In mere moments, both towering peaks had turned ocean blue.

The blue was so deep that she might have mistaken it for black if she had not looked closely.

"Mabui! What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"

Noticing her expression, the Fourth Raikage frowned and barked the question.

Mabui said nothing. She pointed behind him.

The Fourth Raikage spun around. His wide eyes filled with shock and anger. "What—what is that?!"

In the next instant, the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, the pride of the Cloud Ninja, shattered into deep-blue fragments that burst outward like billions of petals.

As though someone had deliberately guided them, a breeze blew in from afar, and the fragments began to dance on the wind.

They were breathtaking in the sunlight.

The Valley of Clouds and Lightning, long a source of pride for the Cloud Ninja, had vanished just like that!

"Lord Raikage! This is bad!