It was only because the Third Raikage's body was sufficiently strong, and the quality of his chakra was not weak, that he could slowly wear down the sharp, residual chakra Li Anshi had left in the wound.
Otherwise, if it were anyone else, they would have long since been pierced and torn apart by that sharp chakra, and died.
Even so, whenever the Third Raikage became agitated and lost control of his chakra, this sharp residual energy would still cause him harm.
Of course, after seven days of attrition, the intensity of the foreign chakra around the Third Raikage's wound was now only enough to pierce his skin; it could no longer penetrate his body.
"No, it wasn't him who made a move."
As Mandara spoke these words, the Cloud Jonin in the tent breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"If it wasn't, why are you so panicked?"
"Lord Raikage..."
Mandara took a deep breath, calming himself before slowly speaking.
"Today, I led three subordinates to engage Konoha ninjas."
"But to my surprise, I didn't encounter many squads."
"Out of curiosity, I led my subordinates deeper into the Land of Fire. Then, we discovered a Konoha supply convoy."
"Although they had three Chunin and nine Genin escorting them, I still found an opportunity to ambush them, intending to destroy Konoha's supplies."
Hearing Mandara's actions, none of the ninjas in the tent felt there was anything wrong.
Although they currently had a sort of "tacit understanding" with the Konoha side, this was only because it benefited the Cloud ninjas.
Konoha used the Cloud ninjas for training, and the Cloud ninjas could similarly use Konoha ninjas for training.
In any case, as long as the Cloud side didn't send out Jonin, Konoha would only send out Genin squads led by Chunin to fight them.
Since Mandara had encountered a Konoha supply convoy, there was nothing wrong with attacking and destroying their supplies.
However, if it were just ordinary supplies, it shouldn't have frightened Mandara to this extent.
The Jonin present were no fools; they quickly realized the crucial point.
"Mandara, what exactly were those supplies?"
"Did you succeed in destroying them?"
Being stared at by so many Jonin for the first time, Mandara felt immense pressure. He shrank back slightly before answering.
"My lords, after ambushing and killing one of the escorting Chunin, I immediately attacked their supplies, intending to destroy them."
"However, when my attack broke open those supplies, I discovered that what they were transporting was actually..."
Speaking to this point, fear once again flickered in Mandara's eyes.
"Mandara, why are you being so timid?"
"What exactly were those supplies that could scare you like this?"
"My apologies, my lords."
Mandara's face flushed red with shame.
Indeed, it was just some supplies. Why had he been so frightened?
Was his "Will of Lightning" so fragile?
Steeling himself, Mandara spoke steadily, "My lords, those supplies were all flying daggers, three and seven-tenths inches long."
"I roughly estimated there were about three to five thousand of them."
As Mandara's words fell, a dead silence descended upon the tent.
"Indeed, compared to the great lords, my Will of Lightning is still far too weak."
Mandara recalled how his mind had reeled upon seeing so many daggers, not knowing what to do, until he was severely injured by the two Konoha Chunin escorting the supplies. Only then did he regain some semblance of composure and flee in panic.
It was precisely because of this that Mandara had failed to look after his three subordinates.
However, Mandara's reverence for the great figures didn't last long.
Soon, the silent tent was filled with the roars of the Cloud Jonin!
"What? All flying daggers?"
"There were so many?"
"What is Konoha trying to do? What is that guy trying to do?"
"Do they want to kill all of us here?"
"Or do they want to uproot our entire Cloud Village?"
Under Mandara's astonished gaze, the Cloud Jonin who had previously thought Mandara timid were now roaring like thunder, their voices high and agitated.
It seemed as if this could conceal the fear in their hearts.
Even the Third Raikage's hand, resting on the table, was trembling slightly.
A dull ache seemed to throb in his right chest and his missing right index finger.
In a daze, his mind was almost overwhelmed by that flash of white light.
Yes, what exactly did Konoha want?
What did that Konoha fellow want to do?
Over three thousand flying daggers... were there even three thousand Cloud ninjas left fighting Konoha in the Land of Grass?
If there were, did that Konoha fellow intend to wipe out all the Cloud ninjas on the battlefield?
If not, what did he intend to do with the extra daggers?
Did he plan to invade the Cloud Village and eradicate them?
At this moment, the Third Raikage, A, felt a chill run down his spine.
Only now could the Third Raikage understand what the previous two Raikage must have felt when facing Konoha's God of Shinobi.
Perhaps, that fellow's current strength wasn't as great as the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, or the Asura of the Ninja World, Madara Uchiha.
When Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha made a move, mountains crumbled and the earth split. Just watching their initial movements, all ninjas could feel the disparity in their power.
Those who weren't Kage-level powerhouses, upon hearing "God of Shinobi" and "Asura of the Ninja World," were like frogs in a well seeing the bright moon.
When you, after countless hardships, finally reached the peak attainable by ordinary people – the Kage stage – and then encountered these two, you would understand what it meant for a speck of dust to behold the vast blue sky.
From Li Anshi, the Third Raikage and the people of the Cloud Village didn't feel much physical pressure.
However, the pressure in their hearts was like a maggot devouring bone, gnawing at their spirits.
Indeed, Li Anshi lacked the terrifying aura of the God of Shinobi and the Asura of the Ninja World, which immediately conveyed their fearsome power.
But just thinking about how ordinary flying daggers in his hands could instantly kill the rampaging Two-Tails Jinchuriki and severely injure the Third Raikage...
Other Jonin, Elite Jonin, were no different from Genin before Li Anshi.
They merely served to make Li Anshi expend one flying dagger.
From the ninjas who had survived the previous battle, the Cloud side also knew that apart from when he killed the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and attacked the Third Raikage, when Li Anshi imbued his daggers with chakra, at other times, including when he instantly killed the six Jonin besieging him, he had merely thrown ordinary daggers.