The Raikage flashed forward with his signature Lightning Release Armor active, arriving in front of Bai Ye's car. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, showing the utmost submission.
"What have I done to earn this honor?"
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After all, Bai Ye's rise to fame was swift and overwhelming. Kankuro, younger and deeply absorbed in his puppet techniques, never paid much attention to external affairs like Temari did. As a result, he truly had no understanding of what kind of terrifying existence Uchiha Bai Ye was.
"Hm?"
In battle, capturing enemies alive is often harder than killing them—but some opponents practically surrender in fear. That said, it was still a stain on their pride.
Tension cut through the air like a blade.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
040 – Konoha has recovered from the trauma of the Third Ninja World War!
Holding Mizukage in his arms with a composed gaze, Bai Ye glanced at Raikage and then called toward the back.
He never cared for those who relied solely on seniority to assert dominance.
So—
He learned just one technique, and he kept reusing it for a lifetime, perfecting it.
If not for Kakashi intervening, that staff strike would've killed Shiro outright.
Ohnoki's expression shifted sharply.
But Bai Ye's gaze remained casual, as if ready to slash again.
Iwagakure's Third Tsuchikage, Ohnoki of the Two Scales!
Yes.
After all, standing opposite them was merely a Konoha guard captain.
Anger surged within Ohnoki as he glared fiercely at Uchiha Bai Ye.
Bai Ye, on the other hand, looked back indifferently at both Tsuchikage and Raikage.
"Kakashi."
Sasuke's ability to see through Shiro's disguise had less to do with talent and more to do with intuition sharpened by previous experiences.
Kankuro's lips twitched before he muttered four words.
Konoha wasn't what it had been years ago. Towering buildings, bustling streets, and the rails humming alongside them now transported weapons and resources from surrounding mines.
"What's wrong, Shukaku? Can't you speak properly?"
Please. This feels like a slap to the face of Sunagakure.
Yes.
All eyes were locked on one man.
But Temari's momentary hesitation melted into resolution.
Why was a mere Konoha guard captain being treated with such reverence by two Kage-level figures?
That made him the enemy.
The air at the village's entrance thickened with gunpowder-like tension.
"Disturbing the peace at Konoha's gate. Whether out of ignorance or not, this is your first warning."
From the distance, Terumi Mei approached with deliberate steps.
She, the pride of Kirigakure—no, the flower of Sunagakure, the daughter of the Fourth Kazekage—while not yet a Kage herself, still carried enough weight for this level of diplomatic greeting.
Engines roared as the Konoha guard force arrived on motorcycles to maintain order.
"When you enter Konoha, you obey my rules."
As a stunning beauty, she now had more influence than even the Raikage—especially since she was openly attached to Bai Ye.
This time, it was the Sand shinobi who came to Konoha. If they dared to bring trouble—
Just look at Konoha now.
If Mabui had been more competent—and if Ay had been a woman—he might've thrown himself at Bai Ye, too.
A power-reading unit nearby dashed over.
But before Terumi Mei could take more than two steps, another wave of visitors appeared.
And now, every non-Hokage representative was standing by Bai Ye's side.
"What did Shukaku mean by 'death' just now?"
Gaara's father was slain by Iwagakure shinobi.
Though Naruto was still kindhearted, he had long since shed the naive compassion of his younger days.
The last person to speak to him like this had been Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Raikage wanted answers.
What kind of force could take down Uchiha Madara and sentence him to labor reform?
"Raikage, you truly haven't changed."
And Konoha? They could not afford to make enemies of everyone.
That day, Sasuke had stared at Shiro, trying to catch the moment he flinched—trying to confirm that he wasn't who he said he was.
The Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning—historic rivals. Their shinobi had shed blood over generations.
It's said Uchiha Madara was captured on the spot and sent to a labor camp without resistance.
After Mizukage swore her loyalty, Raikage refrained from further action. Instead, he used actions over words to convey respect.
When two Kage meet—
Sometimes—
"What the hell is this guy?"
Especially since Shiro had disguised himself as a Kirigakure Anbu, it was easy for Sasuke to notice something wasn't right.
That's the Raikage we're talking about.
The Land of Earth!
The power disparity was simply too great.
Rumors swirled—after Nawaki's resurrection following the Second Shinobi War, Hatake Sakumo and even Bai Ye had returned from the dead.
Raikage opted to taunt.
"Sis, this isn't looking good—Mizukage has already surrendered."
PS: Chapter 2 complete.
His men naturally followed suit.
Raikage saw the truth—if he didn't follow the winds, he'd be swept away by them. Shiro was an accomplice in his eyes.
To spare the enemy is to betray your allies.
"Let's move."
Raikage and the entire Cloud Shinobi Village had made their choice.
But when Temari saw what was happening, she froze.
The monstrous Shukaku, once ferocious and manic, now trembled on the ground like a dog beaten too many times—unable to even look Bai Ye in the eye.
Heh.
"I didn't expect the mighty Tsuchikage to lose bladder control after just one glare from Madara. Truly impressive, Ohnoki."
The previous Konoha-led negotiations had shaken the shinobi world to its core.
Kankuro didn't need to worry. He might be impulsive, but he wasn't foolish.
What is Konoha doing?
Bowing to a guard captain?
Is Cloud Shinobi out of their minds?
By tradition, peace treaties, alliances, and reparations were the norm.
"We need to go too."
So Raikage now made his message clear: He submits to Bai Ye.
He swore, this brat was doing this on purpose!
Ohnoki's eyes swirled with shame. He felt humiliated.
Konoha had produced a true monster. This intel was more important than anything else ahead of the Chūnin Exams.
Temari composed herself and signaled her brothers.
"Huh? Gaara, what's wrong with you?"
With Asura's will no longer clouding Naruto's soul, his path had diverged long ago.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had yet to arrive, so for now, they were Sunagakure's representatives.
He's here too!
Years ago, when Bai Ye led a team through the Land of Lightning, Raikage had responded by doubling border security.
How long had it been?
Gaara wasn't even able to say hello properly anymore.
Give it a few more years, and another war will break out.
Cloud Shinobi had released a statement—willing to cede land and pay reparations during negotiations with Konoha.
But what Tsuchikage feared most was still Uchiha Madara!
Iwagakure had to adapt. Escaping the past wasn't enough.
"Is Raikage mentally unwell?"
The most reckless Kage in the shinobi world.
With a sneer toward Raikage, Terumi Mei threw open Bai Ye's car door, kissed his cheek in front of everyone, and nestled into his arms.
Some see the truth. Some never will.
Are you kidding me?
And if so—how does one recover their pride?
Raikage came here for the Chūnin Exam, yet bowed to a guard captain?
But how many years had passed?
Are you sick?
"We should hand Zabuza and Shiro over to Mizukage—after all, they're Kirigakure's missing-nin."
He believed that even if he had to face Uchiha Madara directly, he'd still fight—though he might lose, he wouldn't surrender.
Bai Ye said calmly to the man who relied on outdated prestige.
Ohnoki, after a long moment of reflection, floated down with the grace of an elder and addressed Bai Ye directly—trying to echo Terumi Mei's earlier behavior with his own awkward diplomacy.
Temari sighed as she watched them.
This wasn't how an Anbu of Kirigakure was supposed to act.
Unbelievable!
"…"
When the Four Great Nations gathered in the Land of Fire for the Chūnin Exams, Ohnoki couldn't shake the feeling that the world had moved on without him.
No wonder everyone was stunned.
Not far away, Kankuro gave Temari a puzzled look.
Fortunately, the illness didn't turn Shukaku violent—it just made him tremble in fear.
After ensuring Gaara was stable, Temari led Kankuro forward.
Temari glanced toward her other brother with unease.
"Tsuchikage, don't worry. Uchiha Madara never mentioned how you almost wet yourself just from his eyes."
What about the rest of us?
Temari hesitated. This was a strange moment to offer greetings.
Not entirely his fault.
Raikage finally understood.
This was reality now.
Even though Bai Ye wasn't as famous when the negotiations happened, the aftermath had turned everything upside down. Raikage had missed his chance when Bai Ye passed through Yunjie Mountain—and Mizukage had taken it instead.
"Young man…"
Raikage, Mizukage, and the daughter of the Kazekage—three forces now gathered around Bai Ye.
"Terrifying…"
And as the three leaders wrestled with their thoughts, they wondered whether to disband their entourages or follow Raikage's example and grovel.
Even lick boots if necessary.
…
After standing, Raikage looked toward Konoha with awe.
So… was it time to offer peace?
Something was definitely off.
Mizukage was Uchiha Bai Ye's woman—who would dare provoke her?
The public didn't know.
"If you act up again, you'll take responsibility for what happens next!"
He didn't understand it himself.
He used to lack the Stone Will—that's why he got scared by Madara back then.
He even wanted to test the waters and ask Bai Ye if the rumors were true—if Ohnoki really had soiled himself when he first saw Madara.
But now he was just scared.
Everything had changed.
After some probing, Shiro's true identity had been exposed, and Naruto had been blindsided.
They all feared Bai Ye's wrath.
They stretched their necks and offered quiet prayers. The Sand trio and their allies froze.
But some truths were only known to Bai Ye, the guard force… and Raikage.
Size. Strength. Numbers.
To Bai Ye, only Zabuza mattered.
Everything else?
Irrelevant.
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