" Darui's arm, the disgrace of three thousand elite soldiers, the dignity of the Fourth Raikage. I will never forget a single one of these debts."
The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window of the Raikage's Office, the Fourth Raikage A, stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the village below. His dark face was expressionless, but the knuckles of his fist, clenched behind his back, cracked from excessive force.
Three days ago, he led three thousand elite Kumogakure Village warriors in a grand and imposing attack on the Rock of Lamentation. And what was the result? He Kakuzu of their clothes, and was terrified and fled back with his tail between his legs by a god who could create forests with a wave of his hand. This was the greatest humiliation of the Fourth Raikage A, in his life.
" Lord Raikage, you've been standing here for a whole day."
Behind him, Killer B, the leader of the Kumogakure's Anbu, pushed open the door and walked in. Unlike the jovial, rap-loving Eight-Tails Jinchuriki he remembered, Killer B now had a serious expression on his face.
" Killer B, I have a question for you."
A didn't turn around. "Do you think that Uchiha man's power really has no limits?"
Killer B paused for a moment. " The Eight-Tails told me that the man possessed a life energy comparable to the Ten-Tails' that it had never sensed before. But even so, he was still just a human. No matter how strong a person is, they still have their weaknesses."
"Achilles' heel?"
"His people."
Killer B's eyes sharpened. "The reason he's doing so much—building cities, farming, arranging marriages—is because his core purpose is singular: to strengthen his clan. And what a clan that's developing at full speed fears most is having its rhythm disrupted."
Ai's pupils contracted slightly. He slowly turned around, looking at his usually carefree but always insightful younger brother. "You mean...?"
Don't confront them head-on.
Killer B held up one finger. "Steal."
"Steal what?"
Sharingan.
Ai's breathing suddenly became heavy.
Killer B continued, " Lord Raikage, you understand the value of the Sharingan better than anyone. If we could obtain several pairs, or even a dozen pairs, of Sharingan and transplant them into our most elite ninjas in Kumogakure, combined with our already Kumogakure- tier Lightning Release Taijutsu, what a terrifying boost to our combat power that would be! Moreover, I've received information that the Uchiha Clan is currently engaged in a baby boom and school construction, focusing all their attention on internal development. Now is precisely the time when their defenses are most relaxed!"
A's breathing grew heavier and heavier. Sharingan. Those pairs of blood-red eyes, brimming with boundless power. As a martial artist who revered power, his desire for the Sharingan had never faded. Before, when the Uchiha were still under the protection of Konoha, he was powerless to intervene. But now, the Uchiha had moved to the border region between the Land of Earth and the Land of Land of Lightning, making them much closer.
"But that man..."
Ai was still somewhat wary.
"We won't touch that man." Killer B shook his head. "Our target is his clansmen, especially the weaker, ordinary clansmen who are active on the outskirts. As long as we're fast enough, we can take them and their eyes before he can react, and then immediately retreat back to the Land of Lightning. Even if he finds out later, so what? Does he really dare to launch a full-scale war against our Kumogakure? His clansmen only number a few hundred; can they withstand a fight?"
Ai fell silent. He was thinking. This was indeed a feasible solution.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
"Come in."
A figure dressed in a gray robe, whose face was completely obscured, slipped in. The person exuded a chilling aura, causing Killer B to frown slightly.
"Oh, a guest from Konoha?" Killer B stared at the newcomer's single eye, which was sticking out from under his bandages.
The newcomer ignored Killer B and turned directly to Raikage A, speaking in a low, seductive voice. " Lord Raikage, I am here on behalf of a prominent figure from Konoha to present you with a small gift."
As he spoke, the man took out a sealed scroll from his pocket and placed it on Raikage's table.
"This is?"
"Defense layout map of the Uchiha Sacred Land."
A sinister glint flashed in the newcomer's single eye. "Including patrol routes, shift changes, the deployment locations of the Iwagakure guard forces, and the exact coordinates of the Mother and Child Sanctuary and Amaterasu Academy. These are the Uchiha's most crucial facilities. Destroying them will severely cripple the Uchiha in a short time."
Ai slammed his hands on the table with a dull thud! He stared intently at the gray-robed man. "Did Konoha send you? Was it Hiruzen Sarutobi? Or that one-armed Danzo?"
"That's not important."
The grey-robed man stepped back and disappeared into the shadows. "The important thing is that we have a common enemy. An enemy that, if we don't nip it in the bud before it grows too strong, we'll never have another chance."
The gray-robed man's figure began to turn transparent. Before disappearing, he left behind his last words. "Oh, right, there's one more piece of information that might be useful to you. We have a Byakugan missing-nin who has successfully infiltrated the Land of Earth. Her Byakugan can see through all concealment and disguise. If you need a guide, she will be waiting for you at the cliff waterfall in the northern border of the Land of Earth. Three days only."
After saying that, the gray-robed man's figure vanished completely from the shadows of the Raikage's Office like a ghost, leaving Raikage A and Killer B looking at each other in bewilderment.
The silence lasted a long time.
"Is this a trap?" Killer B's expression turned serious. "Those people from Konoha never do anything good."
Whether it's a trap or not is irrelevant.
The Fourth Raikage A, abruptly stood up! A dangerous glint burned in his savage eyes. "The important thing is, if that defensive layout diagram is real, then this is our only chance! Killer B!"
"Exist!"
"Gather all the S-rank ninjas from the Shadow Anbu! Also, select three swords from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Form a 15-man rapid infiltration team! Target: Uchiha Sacred Land! Mission: Plunder Sharingan! Take as many as you can! Departure time: Tonight!"
Ai's voice boomed like thunder in the office, "I want to see if there are any blind spots in that so-called god's backyard that he can't take care of!"
Killer B a deep breath. He knew he couldn't reason with this enraged bull. And frankly, he didn't want to. Darui was still in his hospital bed.
"Understood, Lord Raikage."
Killer B turned and walked towards the door, leaving behind a parting remark. "However, there's one thing I must remind you. In case things get out of control, I'll take the Eight-Tails to cover our retreat. The rest of you are responsible for your own lives."