Ōnoki hovered in the air, looking toward the Kumogakure stronghold with a smile on his lips.
In this battle, Iwagakure had suffered few losses while dealing a heavy blow to Kumogakure's main force. If they pushed a little harder tomorrow, they might breach the stronghold in one stroke and drive straight into the heart of the Land of Lightning.
Then, resources, land, population... Iwagakure would have an enormous opportunity for growth.
"Kumogakure's era should come to an end."
Ōnoki murmured to himself.
At the Kumogakure stronghold.
The Fourth Raikage had just entered his tent and had yet to sit down when a dark figure stumbled inside.
"Lord Raikage! Something terrible has happened!"
It was a Kumogakure ANBU, covered in dust, with blood still wet on his face.
The Fourth Raikage's heart sank. "What happened? Take your time."
The ANBU dropped to his knees and answered in a trembling voice:
"N-not long ago, a mysterious person attacked the village and abducted Lady Yugito. He also... also killed more than twenty jōnin. The Barrier Team was almost completely wiped out..."
The tent instantly fell deathly silent.
The Fourth Raikage froze too.
He had guessed that the mysterious man might make a move, but he had never expected... that he would be this powerful!
Freezing the Two-Tails in Complete Tailed Beast Transformation with a single move?
What kind of power was that?!
Then the ANBU continued, still trembling:
"Before he left, he said... 'What happened today was vengeance for an old grudge'..."
"An old grudge?" The Fourth Raikage frowned.
He quickly searched his memory.
Kumogakure had offended plenty of factions over the years, but a powerful fighter with strength like that who also used Ice Release...
No one came to mind.
Could he be a survivor from some minor ninja village Kumogakure