The Raikage's invitation with 'fireworks' is quite interesting!
"What exactly is Raikage A trying to do?" Rasa frowned, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
"Fireworks?" Temari sneered. "More like a demonstration of some new type of weapon."
" Chakra Cannon," Hoshino said in a deep voice, "The ultra-long-range strategic weapon that Kumogakure has been secretly developing."
"They succeeded?" Gaara's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not sure," Hoshino shook his head. "But since the Raikage dared to extend an open invitation, it at least proves that they have some kind of deterrent mechanism."
Upon hearing this, Kankuro clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"If the Raikage truly possesses this weapon, the entire dynamics of the Four Kage Summit will be completely altered."
His voice betrayed an undisguised anxiety.
As the head of the Economic Department, he understood better than anyone the political impact of such a strategic weapon.
No matter how powerful Kikaichū, they are ultimately biological weapons and need time to demonstrate their destructive power.
The Chakra Cannon, with its terrifying power capable of wiping a country off the map in an instant, is the most direct and awe-inspiring weapon.
Humans are always short-sighted.
Faced with an imminent threat, people often overlook dangers that need time to develop. The Raikage understood this well, so he chose to announce the power of Kumogakure in the most direct way.
Why!
This era is changing so fast.
Konoha used to be at the top of the list, then it was Sunagakure, and soon it was Kumogakure's turn.
I just don't know who's next.
Hoshino straightened his collar and calmly said, "I'll go check it out. If it really Chakra Cannon, we need to reassess our negotiation strategy."
Rasa nodded and said, "Be careful, the Raikage's invitation this time probably doesn't have good intentions."
"Take a few guards with you," Temari suggested. "Let Inabi and Hizuki accompany you."
Hoshino shook his head and said, "No need. This is just an observation trip. Bringing too many people would only make us look guilty."
Stepping out of the conference room, Hoshino walked through the bustling lobby of the Reform Society.
The staff were handling various matters related to post-war reconstruction, and they all bowed respectfully when they saw him pass by.
After leaving the Reform Society building, Hoshino activated the cybernetic body's flight mode and flew towards the border of the Land of Rivers.
High in the sky, Hoshino's prosthetic eye kept adjusting its focus, scanning the terrain ahead until it saw the observation platform set up by Raikage in the distance. The whole journey was unusually calm.
Representatives from other ninja villages could already be seen on the observation platform.
Hoshino wasn't surprised at all.
The observation post is near the Land of Rain, and for ninjas, especially the strong ones, an hour or so is enough to reach the Land of Rivers.
It was Konoha from Jiraiya, a familiar face.
The Land of Rain is home to the Konan Deva Path Pain, who are always inseparable.
As for Iwagakure... the one who came was none other than the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. There aren't many people in Iwagakure who can hold their own, and with Kitsuchi being captured, all that's left are either Jinchūriki or him, the Kage.
Hoshino landed on the observation platform, the metal soles of his boots making a crisp sound as they touched the ground.
Looking around, I realized the atmosphere was already tense.
Ōnoki hovered in mid-air, his small body trembling slightly with anger, the light of Dust Release flickering in his palm.
"An angel?" he growled through gritted teeth, "Hand over that brat Deidara!"
Konan said indifferently, "Senior Ōnoki, Deidara joined Akatsuki voluntarily. He has now found the true path of art."
"Bullshit!" Ōnoki laughed angrily. "You missing-nin, using heretical methods to bewitch my disciples, today I will..."
Jiraiya, Jiraiya quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, "Gentlemen, we're here today because of the Raikage's invitation!"
"Shut up!" Ōnoki suddenly turned to Jiraiya, "Your Konoha isn't much better! Back then, Orochimaru..."
He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, glancing in Hoshino's direction, clearly realizing that now was not the time to bring up past grievances.
Hoshino stood silently at the edge of the observation platform, his prosthetic eye recording every detail of the conflict.
Deidara? That Patrick Star who plays with explosions? Has he joined the Akatsuki?
If you calculate the time, it seems about right.
Konan's paper wings unfurled slightly, and she said calmly, " Ōnoki, if you insist on taking action... Akatsuki will fight to the bitter end."
"Hehe!"
Ōnoki almost laughed out of anger.
When did a junior like him start speaking to him like that?
Just at this critical moment, a dazzling burst of lightning suddenly erupted in the center of the observation platform, and a rough laugh broke the tense atmosphere.
"Hahaha! Attack! Attack now! I'm waiting to see the show!"
The Raikage, his bare upper body wreathed in Lightning Release Chakra, surveyed the crowd before finally fixing his gaze on Hoshino.
" Sunagakure brat, I hope Darui is alright, or your Sunagakure will be in for a world of trouble."
" Darui is doing well, just suffering a bit. You'd better take him back as soon as possible." Hoshino nodded slightly, retorting without flinching.
Upon hearing this, Raikage's face immediately darkened. "Suffer? You'd better explain yourself!"
Hoshino shrugged, saying with a hint of innocence, "It's just that I have to cooperate with us on some small experiments every day. As you know, Storm Release Kekkei very rare."
"You're so..."
"Enough!" Ōnoki suddenly roared, "How long are you two juniors going to keep arguing?"
He glared at Raikage, "Ai! You called us here just to watch you two argue?"
Raikage snorted coldly, crossed his arms, and said, "Old man, you're so hot-tempered, no wonder your disciples all ran off with other men."
"What did you say?"
These words completely ignited Ōnoki's anger. He suddenly increased his hovering height, and the aura of his Dust Release technique began to appear and disappear.
Jiraiya quickly stepped in between them, "Calm down! We're here to see the fireworks, not to watch you fight!"
Regarding the situation on site.
Konan watched coldly from the sidelines, while Pain remained silent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
At this moment, Raikage A restrained his temper and temporarily ignored Ōnoki's offense.
Anyway, once the Chakra Cannon is activated, hopefully that bastard will still be so arrogant.
He still remembered the grudge of his father being killed by a thousand men in a trap set by Ōnoki.
A dangerous smile curled at the corner of Raikage's lips. He suddenly raised his right hand, his palm crackling with lightning.
"The gift from Kumogakure is now presented!"
The secret research institute in Kumogakure.
Inside the dimly lit underground laboratory, blinding lightning flashed around the giant Chakra Cannon.
The cannon is fifty meters long and its surface is covered with complex runes. Dozens of Kumogakure researchers are working hard to debug it, with Killer B overseeing the operation.
"Test command received. Activate energy core!"
The head of the technical class shouted, his hands rapidly Hand Seals.
The Sealing Jutsu on the cannon's base lit up one by one, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.
Killer B stood in front of the control panel, unusually abandoning his nonchalant expression, as the Eight-Tails ' Chakra transformed into a red cloak covering his entire body.
"Infuse with Tailed Beast Chakra!"
As the order was given, Killer B placed his palm on the specially designed Chakra conversion device, and crimson energy surged through the conduit.
The energy crystal at the center of the cannon gradually turned from blue to red.
"Charge rate 30%...50%...70%! This is bad..." The monitor's voice trembled with tension, "Energy fluctuations are exceeding expectations!"
The entire underground space began to shake, and rubble fell from the ceiling.
The runes on the surface of the cannon barrel writhed like living things, and lightning converged at the muzzle into a dazzling sphere of light.
"Stabilizer overload!"
"Cooling system is about to crash!"
"No, this won't do..."
Killer B suddenly roared, and eight octopus tentacles burst forth from his body, tightly binding the trembling cannon barrel.
"Hold on tight! Brother Raikage is still waiting!"
Time ticked by, and the atmosphere on the observation platform gradually became subtle.
Ōnoki hovered in mid-air, an impatient look on his face.
"Hmph, half an hour has passed, Raikage, did your 'fireworks' fail? Or is it that the Kumogakure's technology isn't reliable at all?"
Raikage A crossed his arms, a confident smile still playing on his lips, unmoved by Ōnoki's mockery.
He believed that his compatriots were capable of doing it.
Even if the test didn't reach its destination, it doesn't mean anything; the people of Kumogakure must have already done their utmost.
He wouldn't blame them even if they failed, after all, scientific research is inherently full of unknowns.
As for being mocked by that old Ōnoki and losing face a bit? Ha, when has Raikage A ever cared about such empty fame?
Let that old man laugh... True strength never needs to be proven with words. When the day comes for real combat, he'll have his day to cry.
The Raikage's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the distant horizon, patiently awaiting a signal from his comrades.
Just as Ōnoki was about to continue his taunts...
The sky suddenly darkened, and the clouds gathered at a visible speed, forming a huge vortex.
The air became thick and heavy, making it difficult to even breathe.
"They've arrived."
Hoshino's prosthetic eye immediately detected the abnormal Chakra.
The next second, a blinding white light burst forth from the center of the vortex, and a pillar of lightning nearly a hundred meters in diameter descended from the sky, striking the uninhabited mountain range fifty kilometers away like divine punishment.
boom--
The intense light from the explosion made everyone instinctively close their eyes.
Even at such a distance, the shockwave still shattered all the explosion-proof glass of the observation platform.
Hoshino's prosthetic eye automatically adjusted its light sensitivity, clearly recording the horrifying scene.
The entire mountain range vaporized in the lightning, the rocks instantly melting into crimson magma, and the shockwave spread in a ring, turning forests into dust wherever it passed.
Most terrifyingly, a strange black sphere appeared at the point where the lightning struck, a sign that space was about to be torn apart.
When the smoke and dust cleared, all that remained where the mountains had been was a giant sinkhole with a diameter of more than ten kilometers.
Strange lightning flashed at the bottom of the pit, proving that the aftereffects of the attack were still lingering.
The Raikage surveyed the stunned crowd, a haughty smile creeping onto his lips.