Before long, the previously restless God Stone finally quieted down, no longer able to stir up any trouble. Sōkyū Hatake nodded in satisfaction, then casually tossed the God Stone straight into his System Space.
"Hahaha! A mere God Stone without any life force dared to resist my will? It really didn't know its own limits!" Sōkyū Hatake threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing through the vast, empty surroundings and lingering for a long time.
As the mysterious and powerful God Stone quietly vanished, the familiar surroundings seemed to undergo a tremendous transformation in an instant. The area that had always been ravaged by violent lightning suddenly became exceptionally quiet, like a calm sea after a storm.
The dark clouds hanging over the mountaintop, heavy as lead, now began to show faint signs of dispersing. Tiny gaps appeared in the clouds, which had been so dense that almost no light could penetrate them. Warm sunlight from outside struggled through these narrow passages, casting scattered, flickering patches of light onto the ground.
"Sōkyū Hatake! How dare you take our Kumogakure's God Stone! That's our most precious treasure!!!" Beside himself with fury, the Fourth Raikage widened his eyes, his face flushed red, and roared himself hoarse at Sōkyū Hatake, who stood above him.
The God Stone held extraordinary significance for all of Kumogakure. It represented not only the village's supreme power and glory, but also protection and blessings. Now, watching helplessly as someone took it away, the Fourth Raikage's fury threatened to erupt.
Yet facing the enraged Fourth Raikage, Sōkyū Hatake merely gazed coldly down from above. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly into something that was almost a smile. But that seemingly casual smile made the Fourth Raikage's heart clench, and a chill from the depths of his