"Father, what happened?" the future Fourth Raikage, A, asked in a low voice.
"Why the sudden call for an emergency meeting?" Killer Bee followed up.
"Did something major happen?" the future Fourth Raikage added, his face full of confusion.
The two of them had just been about to lead their troops in a surprise attack on the Konoha camp when they were urgently recalled. The future Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee had no choice but to rush back to their main camp.
The Third Raikage casually tossed the intelligence report in his hand to A. A caught it, and as he read, his face instantly filled with disbelief.
With the exception of Darui, all of Kumogakure's Raikage have been named A.
"Father, this has to be fake, right?" the Fourth Raikage questioned, his voice cracking. "How could this happen so suddenly? Wasn't Konoha just at war with the Sand Hidden Village a short while ago?"
Hearing his son's words, the Third Raikage also wanted to deny the report. But the cruel reality was laid bare before him—the intelligence was absolutely true. The Land of Wind had been defeated and annexed by Konoha. Even more shockingly, the Sand Hidden Village had offered no resistance and had also chosen to surrender. Having absorbed the Sand Hidden Village, Konoha's strength would now only be more difficult to deal with.
Seeing the Third Raikage's silence, the Fourth Raikage instantly understood the gravity of the situation. Killer Bee, observing the scene, knew it was not the time to speak and could only listen attentively.
A dead silence fell over the tent. The Third Raikage suddenly looked up at the high platform to the side. "A, Tsuchikage, what are your thoughts?"
Tsuchikage, who had been standing silently on the platform, pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Lord Raikage, in my opinion, it is not we in Kumogakure who should be anxious right now, but Iwagakure. In the current situation, the Land of Earth is in the most disadvantageous position. Lord Onoki is likely already on edge. We might as well hold our ground and temporarily halt our attacks on Konoha. We can decide on our next move after we see Lord Onoki's reaction."
After hearing Tsuchikage's analysis, the Third Raikage nodded in agreement. At this point, they had no other choice. Konoha's strength had long since surpassed Kumogakure's. To provoke them rashly now would be tantamount to seeking their own destruction.
Thus, Kumogakure decided to wait and see how the other powers in the Ninja World would react. They didn't have to wait long. The very next morning, an unexpected guest arrived at the gates of the Kumogakure military camp.
"Please inform the Third Raikage! Kurotsuchi of the Iwagakure Anbu requests an audience!" the messenger ninja announced loudly.
Hearing that the Iwagakure Anbu had arrived, a smile crept onto the Third Raikage's lips. He looked at A and Tsuchikage—truly his right and left hands, their judgment of the situation was flawless.
"Bring him in!" the Third Raikage ordered.
Soon, Kurotsuchi was led into the main camp by a soldier and came face to face with Kumogakure's strongest, the Third Raikage.
"Lord Raikage, I presume you have also received news regarding the Land of Wind. This is a personal letter from my father," Kurotsuchi said, presenting Onoki's letter to the Third Raikage.
The Third Raikage read the letter's contents carefully before handing it to Tsuchikage beside him. The core message of the letter was Onoki persuading him to form an alliance to jointly resist Konoha. Needless to say, the Third Raikage was well aware of the consequences of Konoha's growing power. How could he not understand the principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold"?
After reading the letter, the Third Raikage nodded solemnly, indicating his agreement to the alliance. He knew in his heart that the alliance proposed in the letter was now his only option.
Seeing the Third Raikage agree, Kurotsuchi couldn't hide his joy. He had finally completed the mission Onoki had given him and wanted to return to Iwagakure as soon as possible. After bidding farewell to the Third Raikage, he departed in a hurry.
"Hahaha, Tsuchikage, it's just as you predicted," the Third Raikage laughed heartily. "Onoki couldn't sit still after all. It's just that Konoha is not what it used to be. This Fourth Hokage is no ordinary man."
Hearing the Third Raikage's sentiment, Tsuchikage nodded in agreement. Since the Fourth Hokage, Aoki, took office, Konoha's strength had grown explosively. All the major prominent clans in the village had pledged their loyalty, the legendary Three Legendary Sannin remained in the village, and top-tier powerhouses like the Konoha White Fang and Minato Namikaze stood guard.
Konoha's geniuses were emerging one after another. Even Uchiha Fugaku had recently made a name for himself on the Kirigakure battlefield, awakening the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan. At this thought, even the Third Raikage couldn't help but feel a trace of awe and envy. Konoha's strength was simply too astonishing.
"Does the Land of Fire truly possess some kind of great fortune? Why do all these heaven-defying geniuses emerge from Konoha? Dammit!" the Third Raikage gritted his teeth, his heart full of envy that turned into resentment.
In contrast, the other Hidden Villages were suffering from a lack of talent. "Hmph! Make arrangements immediately for the army to retreat in an orderly fashion! Once the alliance is forged, it will be time for us to counterattack Konoha together!" the Third Raikage ordered in a deep voice.
Following the Third Raikage's command, the Kumogakure army began to withdraw from the battlefield in an orderly manner. Unlike Onoki's hasty retreat without regard for his rear, the Third Raikage's deployment was extremely experienced. The entire army's withdrawal was so well-organized that Tsunade and the others could find no opening, forced to watch as the Kumogakure army gradually pulled out of the battlefield.
Meanwhile, within the borders of the Land of Water, the sound of violent smashing echoed from the Mizukage's command tent. Inside, the Third Mizukage's eyes were wide with fury as he glared at the group of high-ranking officials before him.
In recent days, the other Hidden Villages had all withdrawn from the Kirigakure battlefield, leaving Kirigakure to fight Konoha's remaining forces alone. Yet, they had suffered defeat after defeat, losing soldiers and generals. Most of the ninja casualties were members of the village's Kekkei Genkai clans. The death of every clan member pained the Third Mizukage to the core. This time, Kirigakure had lost several dozen people. Even for the Kekkei Genkai clans with their deep foundations, such a loss was difficult to bear.
Driven to a fury by the state of the war, the Third Mizukage cursed out the high-ranking officials before him, then personally led the army to the front lines, setting his sights directly on the Konoha camp stationed in the Land of Whirlpools.
"Hmph! Follow me!" the Third Mizukage commanded sternly. "This time, we will definitely take the Konoha camp!"
Following the Third Mizukage's order, the Kirigakure army launched a fierce assault on the Konoha camp in the Land of Whirlpools. The Third Mizukage took the lead, his hands rapidly forming seals as he unleashed a ninjutsu. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Kirigakure, being surrounded by the sea, had a geographical advantage. A massive water dragon erupted from the ocean, transforming into a ferocious, baring-fanged beast that roared as it lunged toward the Konoha camp. Watching the surging water dragon, the Third Mizukage was certain of victory.
But just then, several figures flashed in front of the Konoha camp, their crimson Sharingan exceptionally piercing on the battlefield.
"Damn Uchiha!" a Kirigakure ninja cursed in anger. "How dare you face us with mere Fire Release? Attack!"
These past few days, the Kirigakure ninja had built up a bellyful of frustration fighting the Uchiha Clan. Their movements were predicted, their ninjutsu was deciphered, and even their Water Release, which should have countered Fire Release, was suppressed by the Uchiha's flames. The Uchiha's inescapable Genjutsu, in particular, had caused Kirigakure to suffer immensely.
But now, with the Third Mizukage leading the charge, the Kirigakure army's morale was greatly boosted. Just as everyone thought they were about to break through Konoha's defenses, a figure suddenly blocked the Third Mizukage's path. The Three Tomoe Sharingan spun proudly in his eyes—this was none other than the Uchiha Clan Head stationed on the Kirigakure battlefield, Uchiha Fugaku.
"Third Mizukage, I've been waiting for you!" As Fugaku's voice fell, the Three Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes suddenly transformed, becoming the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Susanoo!"
An immense amount of Chakra coalesced around Fugaku, and a towering skeletal frame slowly materialized on the battlefield.
"Have a taste of this, Third Mizukage!" Fugaku taunted coldly.