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News reached Kumogakure.
Inside the Raikage's office, Mabui and Darui, who were in charge of handling affairs, couldn't help but go pale in the face, their bodies trembling, almost collapsing to the ground!
"Wh-what did you say?! What happened to the Raikage-sama?!"
The Kumo Anbu who brought the news looked equally lost, like a walking corpse.
"Ra-Raikage-sama… He died at the hands of Hokage Uchiha Chiyu!"
"Not only Raikage-sama, but also the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki Killer Bee-sama, as well as Elder Dodai... They've all perished!"
Boom—
Mabui finally slumped completely into her chair.
Darui also blacked out for a moment, nearly fainting!
"How… how can this be...?!"
Kumogakure's style has always been strong and martial—war-hungry, expansionist, staunchly hawkish.
This so-called peaceful negotiation with Konohagakure...they at least expected it to be far from peaceful.
Therefore, not only did the Raikage and Dodai go, but they brought along their strongest fighter, the perfect Eight-Tails Jinchūriki Killer Bee, making it "foolproof."
Who would have predicted such an outcome?!
That Kumo Anbu was drenched in cold sweat, but having learned the news beforehand, he had at least calmed slightly.
"Mabui-sama, Darui-sama… This is an urgent crisis. We must decide on a course of action quickly, or—"
Mabui and Darui exchanged a glance, both sinking into profound despair.
This was worse than when Ginkaku and Kinkaku's revolt killed the Second Raikage—an even more overwhelming blow, more unbearable.
At least at that time, the village still had the Third Raikage, whose strength and prestige quickly stabilized everything.
But now...
The Fourth Raikage—the village's leader—plus Killer Bee, its strongest force, plus the venerable Elder Dodai… All killed at once!
It was as if the foundation were uprooted!
Mabui forced herself to calm down.
"Send word immediately to Yugito Nii, as well as Samui, Toroi, and the others, so everyone can discuss together!"
"Yes!"
…
Very soon, those qualified to attend the Raikage's council all gathered in the office.
Mabui reported the dire news, and everyone looked shaken to the core, overwhelmed by despair!
"How can this be… Raikage-sama, Bee-sama, Dodai-sama—all gone?!"
"It's... it's—"
Mabui and Darui, having had slightly more time to process, forced themselves to remain calm.
Darui sighed:
"However devastating it is, we must stifle our pain for now and figure out a course of action. Otherwise… Kumogakure could crumble entirely!"
Everyone understood this logic—but...
Veteran jōnin Toroi, who possessed the Magnet Release kekkei genkai, spoke in a low voice:
"Our first task is to choose a new Raikage!
Without a leader, the village will descend into chaos."
Mabui nodded, looking at Darui.
"The Fourth Raikage-sama often saw Darui as his right-hand man. He even hinted at having Darui succeed him as Raikage—"
Darui frowned:
"I'm afraid... I'm still—"
Samui shook her head:
"Darui has great potential, but in this urgent crisis, his strength isn't yet enough to convince everyone."
"I recommend... Yugito Nui!"
Everyone's gaze fell upon Yugito. She was startled.
"Me? I'm the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. Being Raikage..."
"Recall the chaos with the previous Eight-Tails Jinchūriki Blue B when he went berserk..."
Toroi shook his head:
"No, Samui is correct. Apart from Bee and the Raikage, Yugito is currently the strongest in Kumogakure. Holding the power of a Tailed Beast can suppress the overall situation and reassure the village."
"I second Yugito!"
Others chimed in agreement.
Yugito Nii sighed.
"I can't be sure I'm ready... but since everyone trusts me, and with the village in mortal danger, I have to do my best!"
They all nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.
Mabui said:
"Next... about the Eight-Tails. With Killer Bee-sama's death, the beast will die as well. But Tailed Beasts won't be permanently gone—they resurrect after some time, at some unknown place...
"The Eight-Tails is our strongest strategic weapon. We absolutely can't afford to lose it or let some other power capture it. So— Anbu!"
"Present!"
"No matter the cost, search for the Eight-Tails' whereabouts!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Yugito Nii said:
"The Eight-Tails had a bond of trust with Bee, not the kind of beast that loathes humanity, so if it revives, it might return to the village. Still...
we can't risk it."
Darui nodded:
"Finally... we must avenge the Raikage-sama!"
Everyone stiffened at that.
Yugito frowned:
"Darui, I understand your feelings. However...
You saw the Anbu report. That Hokage Uchiha Chiyu is unbelievably strong."
"Not only does he have the Third Raikage's fabled 'strongest Lightning Armor,' but also the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan—his fourth-form Susanoo—and now, they say he's awakened the legendary Six Paths Sage's divine eye— the Rinnegan!"
"Facing such an enemy, we absolutely can't be reckless or hotheaded."
Mabui sighed:
"Yes, we want revenge, but precisely because our hatred is so deep, we mustn't act blindly."
Samui said:
"The Rinnegan... just how strong is it?"
Toroi shook his head:
"It's a mythical power. We only know vague rumors. But from the intel, Uchiha Chiyu used that Rinnegan power to effortlessly annihilate the Twelve Guardian Shinobi—like crushing ants.
Let alone the Rinnegan—his base power alone is unstoppable."
They all fell silent.
Yugito spoke:
"Don't be hopeless. Although Chiyu is terrifying, the rest of Konoha isn't that strong.
The village's power, after all, was weakened by the Third Shinobi War, Nine-Tails Incident, plus their internal strife against Sarutobi Hiruzen. They're at rock bottom.
If we can find a way to handle Chiyu alone, Konoha wouldn't be our match."
Darui added:
"Raikage-sama, are you suggesting we unify other great nations, so we can hold him off?"
"Yes. Our only chance is to join forces with the other major villages. We must unite or we have no hope at all!"
Everyone nodded.
"Yes, it's the only way. This can't be left for Kumogakure to face alone."
Yugito Nii stood up.
"No time to lose. Summon the other three nations. We'll face him together. We must stop that man— Uchiha Chiyu!"
"Yes, Raikage-sama!"
…
Meanwhile, in Iwagakure, inside the Tsuchikage's office...
Ōnoki of Both Scales glanced at his granddaughter Kurotsuchi playing around, feeling a rare bit of warmth. Unfortunately, it didn't last.
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
An Iwa Anbu relayed the recent events.
Ōnoki's face instantly changed color.
"What?! The Raikage is dead, Killer Bee is dead too? And that new Hokage, Uchiha Chiyu, not only killed them—he's awakened the Six Paths' Rinnegan?!"
That Anbu trembled:
"Yes, and he demands that all other four nations submit, or else— or else he'll kill all their leaders!"
Boom—
Ōnoki slammed the table.
"That bastard's insane!"
Kitsuchi remained calm:
"Father—excuse me, Tsuchikage-sama— Hard as it is to admit, Uchiha Chiyu's strength is beyond reason. He indeed has grounds for his arrogance.
"So best to unite with the other major villages to fight him. That's our only option..."
Ōnoki fell silent and sat back.
"You're right. Then there's old man Roshi and Han..."
Kitsuchi sighed:
"Father, you argued with Roshi (the Four-Tails Jinchūriki). He left the village, though not as a missing-nin, drifting around. Han's still loyal but doesn't exactly see eye-to-eye with you, either...
Honestly, your stubbornness—"
No one else dared say such things to Ōnoki. At his age, he'd only gotten more cantankerous.
"Hmph! Tailed Beasts... complicated, indeed.
"Then, you handle that. We need them to stand a chance against that Hokage scum.
"Yes, Father."
Ōnoki mused again:
"It's not just that— I've actually been in contact with a certain mercenary group that seems quite formidable. If we commission them to assassinate that Hokage scum, it might be feasible!"
Kitsuchi paled:
"Y-you mean that eerie organization known as the 'Akatsuki'? If the other nations find out we've aligned with them—"
Ōnoki snorted:
"At a time like this, such worries are trivial!
"You leave that to me. Just focus on bringing back the jinchūriki."
"Yes, Father."
At that moment:
"T-Tsuchikage-sama! Communication request from Kumogakure's new Raikage!"
"New Raikage? Who?"
"The Two-Tails Jinchūriki—Yugito Nii!"
"Her? Huh!"
Ōnoki sneered darkly:
"So, Kumo's likewise desperate, asking the other nations for help—even us, their longtime foe, who killed the Third Raikage! Hah... guess that shows how terrifying Uchiha Chiyu really is!"
Kitsuchi sighed:
"Indeed... it seems all four great nations—and that 'Akatsuki' group—will have to ally together if we want any chance to stand against that man: Uchiha Chiyu!"
~~~
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