An older Hidden Rock Jonin clenched his fist, his tone full of dissatisfaction with the upper advisor of Hidden Sand, Chiyo.
"According to the message from Hidden Sand, it seems like a conspiracy meticulously designed by Konoha, intending to use Hanzo's power to muddy the situation in the Land of Rain."
"Hanzo isn't someone who is easily fooled. He is now at war with Hidden Sand, and Chiyo must have touched his bottom line; otherwise, he wouldn't make such a rash move."
Looking at the many Jonin showing helplessness and anger, Onoki also understood their inner frustration and annoyance.
The sudden intervention of Hidden Cloud and Hidden Rain completely disrupted the alliance layout between Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand, leading to the complete failure of this year's plan to invade the Land of Fire, inevitably blaming Hidden Sand's unnecessary actions.
Onoki coughed once and said to the gathered Hidden Rock Jonin, "Given the situation, we have no choice but to..."
Onoki's words were not finished when the tent flaps were suddenly blown up by the wind. A figure silently avoided the outside guard and appeared in the view of Onoki and the Hidden Rock Ninja.
"It seems Lord Tsuchikage is quite troubled. How about pursuing a new collaboration?"
The figure stood still, slightly raising the corners of their mouth, smiling at Onoki, who was sitting steadily in his chair.
"You are..."
Many of the Hidden Rock Jonin there immediately recognized the intruder's identity.
The person was a young woman with smooth black long hair, and her pure white eyes were quite distinctive.
These eyes were a Kekkeigenkai known as the 'Byakugan,' unique to the Hyuga Clan of Konoha Village.
But now, as Konoha was at war with them, this woman certainly couldn't be a Konoha Ninja.
Though she bore the surname Hyuga, she had long left her clan and village, now a highly dangerous S-Class Renegade Ninja in the Ninja Realm—Hyuga Ayane.
"Hmph, barging in without so much as a hello, young people these days truly have no sense of manners."
Onoki sat in his chair, showing his displeasure with Ayane's unannounced intrusion, only verbally scolding her as a means to slightly express his opinion.
Last year's cooperation, due to Ayane's intervention, caused the Konoha Ninja in the Land of Grass a lot of trouble, even causing significant losses to the Root, led by the Dark Ninja.
For such a powerful bounty hunter, Onoki had no concern about her past identity, as long as she wasn't a renegade of Hidden Rock, cooperation could proceed.
Ayane did not mind Onoki's patronizing tone, only smiling as she met Onoki's gaze.
"I'm sorry if I've upset Lord Tsuchikage."
"Is it just you, young girl? I recall the other two in the White Fang Squad also defected from Konoha. Of course, that medical ninja is not important. If both the Sharingan and Byakugan could temporarily be the strength of Hidden Rock, that would be ideal."
Onoki did not hide his opportunistic smugness, showing a sinister smile on his face.
"Lord Tsuchikage sure is greedy. Yes, she is indeed stronger than me, but she's not interested in being a bounty hunter. If you want to hire her to assist Hidden Rock, then I must say sorry to you again, Lord Tsuchikage. I believe this was explained to Jonin Kitsuchi before, and it's better not to have such expectations, Lord Tsuchikage."
Ayane tilted her head slightly, pondering for a moment before speaking to Onoki.
"That's really a pity. I'd truly like to witness the power when the Sharingan and Byakugan are combined."
Onoki genuinely regretted this matter.
The Sharingan, on par with the Byakugan, in terms of offensive capability, even precedes the Byakugan.
To a certain extent, these two Kekkeigenkai can complement each other.
If the Sharingan and Byakugan could both be brought to the Hidden Rock's side, the effect would be even greater for Hidden Rock.
Despite not being able to recruit a Sharingan Ninja, the presence of the Byakugan can still achieve good results for Hidden Rock. Therefore, Onoki quickly collected himself and began forming a mercenary cooperation with Ayane.
Ayane seemed well-versed and familiar with collaborating with Hidden Rock. It wasn't their first cooperation after all, and the contract remained unchanged, though the tasks gave her increased in difficulty. Naturally, as the work's complexity increased, so did the advances and rewards Hidden Rock provided her.
◎
"Damn Tsuchikage! To think he would shamelessly use a renegade ninja to provoke!"
At the meeting table in the Hidden Cloud camp, a dark-skinned man angrily smashed the table with his fist, creating a large hole with wood chips flying everywhere.
Beneath the dark skin covering his muscles, a dense array of sparks began flickering, and his hair, standing on end, slightly flared outward due to the intense electricity.
The Hidden Cloud Jonin witnessing this scene were all amazed by the enormous chakra he demonstrated.
"Lord Raikage, please calm yourself."
In the stone-built meeting room, a 30-something year-old Hidden Cloud Jonin, wearing an eyepatch and exuding a composed demeanor, advised the angry Hidden Cloud ninja.
He was also now the Fourth Raikage of Hidden Cloud Village.
Before the Third Raikage set off for the Land of Earth, the high-level meeting had already confirmed the successor for the Fourth Raikage.
Therefore, internally, Hidden Cloud did not suffer from brutal infighting for the position of the Fourth Raikage after the Third Raikage's sacrifice.