The Iron Country.
"Fourth Raikage, why did you bring so few people from your Cloud Shinobi Village?"
The elderly Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, hovered midair with a dissatisfied frown, eyeing the few dozen Cloud Shinobi behind Raikage Ai.
"Yes, Fourth Raikage," added the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. "We clearly agreed beforehand that each village would send at least a thousand ninjas to join forces against the Akatsuki organization. Why have you shown up with such a small group? Are you taking this war seriously?"
Uchiha Fugaku, the Fifth Hokage, nodded solemnly.
"Every member of Akatsuki is incredibly powerful. This isn't some minor skirmish. With so few troops from your village, how can we expect to defeat them?"
Fugaku, who had once been blinded in battle, had since transplanted the eyes of a fallen Uchiha comrade. Though he could see once more, the Mangekyō Sharingan was now lost to him, and his power had significantly diminished.
"Hmph!" Fourth Raikage Ai scoffed arrogantly.
"Only cowards need to move in large packs. We're talking about a mercenary organization here—not a great nation. The warriors of the Land of Lightning are more than enough. You're all making a fuss over nothing."
The other Kage's faces darkened at Ai's blatant disregard.
"You're underestimating them," snapped a Sand Shinobi. "The leader of Akatsuki, Pain, possesses the Rinnegan! Do you know what that means?!"
Ai waved a hand dismissively. "The reason you all think Akatsuki is strong is because your villages are weak."
Then, with a confident smirk, he raised a fist enveloped in crackling blue lightning.
"Let me show you how the Land of Lightning handles threats. So what if he has the Rinnegan? I'll take Pain's head myself!"
"Lord Raikage is mighty!" shouted the Cloud Shinobi behind him, cheering as the blue lightning surged across their leader's form.
The other Kage watched him with twitching eyebrows and thinly-veiled contempt.
Arrogant fool, they all thought in unison.
Privately, each of the other Kage had the same sinister thought—if the Fourth Raikage gets himself killed by being reckless, it'll be a lesson learned... and an opportunity gained.
"Haha, then we're looking forward to seeing how your Kamui-style arrogance works out," the Fourth Mizukage, Ichiban Shikura, said with a sarcastic grin.
Everyone else smirked.
Every village except Cloud had brought their top-tier forces with them, taking the Akatsuki threat seriously. Yet here was Ai, showing up with a small group, as if on a casual patrol.
Overconfidence always has a cost, they silently agreed.
In fact, some of the Kage had already begun planning.
If Ai were to die in battle—whether by Pain's hand or another Akatsuki—Cloud Shinobi Village would be left vulnerable. With no strong leader, and vast resources in the Land of Lightning ripe for the taking, it would be open season.
None of them would lift a finger to save him.
They didn't need to say it aloud. The understanding was unspoken... but solid.
---
Still blissfully unaware, Ai basked in his own delusions of grandeur.
"Just as expected from the ninja world's most famous musclehead," muttered Ōnoki under his breath, his tone filled with scorn. "All brawn, no brains."
The other Kage snorted quietly in agreement. Their eyes practically sparkled with ridicule.
Ai began to notice their strange looks. Confused, he touched his face, thinking perhaps he had dirt or something unsightly on him.
Nothing.
He frowned. "Huh?"
But when he looked back at them, they quickly averted their eyes, pretending to observe the clouds or the landscape.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Suddenly, Rasa broke the silence, his voice overly cheerful, "Haha, it's getting late. Shall we set off?"
"Yes! Let's go!" echoed the others enthusiastically—though their enthusiasm was more about leaving the awkward tension than any battle ahead.
Ai shook his head in mild frustration. He could sense something was off, but decided not to ask further. If they weren't going to tell him, he wouldn't waste time on it.
He turned to his group and shouted, "Cloud Shinobi—move out!"
His voice thundered across the mountains.
Thousands of shinobi began marching toward the Land of Rain, where the Akatsuki awaited.
---
Elsewhere…
"Obito, we're coming for you!" Kakashi exclaimed with determination in his voice.
"So many days have passed. I really hope nothing's happened to him…" Shisui said anxiously.
---
Meanwhile, somewhere unknown in the ninja world...
"Hehehehe… Jackpot! I've struck gold!" Obito laughed maniacally, dancing in a circle like a child with candy. "I'm rich! I'm rich!"
He had accidentally stumbled upon a mineral vein en route to Konoha. Several miners had been digging into the rich deposit, but Obito quickly knocked them all out.
Now he was using his Susanoo arm to dig like a madman.
"If only Shisui and the others were here," he mumbled between swings. "We'd finish this in no time. I wonder what they're doing now…"
---
Rain Country – Rain Shinobi Village
Inside a darkened room, Konan entered quietly.
"Nagato," she said calmly. "I just received intel. The ninja alliance has left the Iron Country and is heading our way. Estimated arrival: this afternoon."
Nagato looked up slowly. "How many are coming?"
"Roughly four thousand shinobi," Konan replied.
Nagato's eyes narrowed slightly. "I didn't expect the five great nations to unite and send so many."
"What's our next move?"
He paused in thought, then gave his orders.
"We set up an ambush along the only road they can take. They will not leave alive."
Konan nodded and turned to prepare.
Orochimaru, standing in a shadowed corner, grinned sinisterly.
"I'm looking forward to the fireworks… the sound of nuclear jutsu tearing the sky apart."
Nagato nodded. "Prepare yourselves. We leave soon."
Everyone began gathering their gear, pulling out the Akatsuki robes that had sat untouched for some time.
---
As Nagato picked up his own robe, a memory flashed through his mind—something that Peter had once told him long ago.
He turned to his group with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"Listen," he said. "No matter what happens during the battle—do not remove your Akatsuki cloaks."
The room fell silent.
The Akatsuki members glanced at each other in surprise.
They didn't understand the reason behind the command, but none questioned it.
They nodded solemnly, understanding that it was an order based on something deeper than strategy—perhaps belief, pride, or a promise.
---
Back at the frontlines...
As the ninja alliance approached the Land of Rain, tensions grew.
Unbeknownst to the Fourth Raikage, most of the allied Kage were secretly hoping he would fail—or even die.
His arrogance, his disrespect, his minimal contribution to the effort—it had all pushed them to the same conclusion.
If Ai falls, Cloud falls.
And the Land of Lightning's vast resources would be theirs for the taking.
No one said it out loud.
They didn't need to.
Because in the ninja world, wars are rarely won on the battlefield. They're won with intentions, schemes, and silent alliances.
The wind picked up.
The sky darkened..
And the first major battle between the Akatsuki and the united shinobi forces was about to begin.
---
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