Raikage Building, Conference Room.
The Kumogakure high-level officials, including the Daimyo, saw Karui and Omoi behind Acting Raikage Mabui, but they said nothing.
The Fifth Raikage would likely be chosen from between the two of them. In particular, Omoi, who was timid, cautious, and always worrying about the sky falling, was favored by many in Kumogakure.
The current Kumogakure needed to take things slowly and carefully. They could not afford to make a single mistake. Omoi's personality was very suitable.
However, the matter of the Fifth Raikage was for the future.
Everyone withdrew their gaze and looked at Acting Raikage Mabui.
"Everyone understands the Uchiha clan's intentions."
Mabui looked at the Daimyo and asked, "What do you think?"
The Daimyo gave a slight "hmm" and said steadily, "In recent years, Kumogakure's power has declined. I didn't see them or try to please them, which kept them suspicious and wary, allowing for a few years of peace. Now, they will likely come knocking soon, requesting an alliance to deal with Hiromi."
After speaking, he couldn't help but look at Mabui, C, and Samui, and asked, "What are the odds of victory if the other great villages unite?"
The other high-level officials also looked at these three. There was no other reason than that only these three had witnessed that tragic battle.
Mabui, C, and Samui felt as if they had returned to that moment.
That emotionless voice of a god, the volcanic disaster, the sorrow of facing absolute power and being unable to resist...
Their expressions darkened, and they shook their heads slightly.
Everyone frowned, feeling very uneasy.
"What does that mean?" The Daimyo asked with displeasure.
"In a direct confrontation, there is no chance of victory at all." Mabui said bitterly.
The Daimyo's eyes widened. He stood up with a look of irritation, slammed the table, and roared, "Then why are we even having a meeting! We might as well just wait for death!"
"It's not that we only win if we kill the enemy. Hiromi has the Uchiha clan as an Achilles' heel. As long as we engage in a long-term war, there's still a thirty percent chance of winning." Mabui said.
The Daimyo was startled, feeling that something was not quite right.
After pondering it carefully, he asked suspiciously, "What are the odds of victory?"
Mabui said, "About thirty percent,"
"..."
The Daimyo looked at C and Samui.
The two sighed bitterly, agreeing with Mabui's words.
"..."
Not just the Daimyo, but everyone else was speechless.
Uniting with other villages wasn't something that could be done just by talking. They had to discuss who would provide more combat power, who would provide more money, who would provide more people, and who would provide more ninja tools.
From the start of the Daimyo's negotiations to the actual unification of the villages, it would take at least half a month. And that was just the beginning.
Each village had its own grudges, requiring suppression and pacification, carefully maintaining a balance. Otherwise, before Hiromi could be worn down, a civil war would break out on our own side, leading to our self-destruction.
An irresponsible Daimyo could just leave it to the village. But the responsible Daimyo of the Land of Lightning could not do that.
Thinking about all that hard work only resulting in a thirty percent chance of victory, was it necessary to do such a thankless task?
The answer was clear: yes.
Because if they didn't act, Hiromi would act against them.
For a moment, the Daimyo's scalp tingled. At the same time, he doubted whether Mabui, C, and Samui were being a bit hyperbolic.
Mabui shook her head and said, "Thirty percent is the most optimistic estimate. Both the Fourth Raikage and Dōdai-sama once said that the most dangerous thing about Hiromi isn't his combat power, but his insight into human nature."
C and Samui nodded bitterly in agreement.
Mabui sighed and said, "If we hadn't used the wrong strategy back then, Kumogakure wouldn't have lost so miserably in the Fourth Great Ninja War."
The Daimyo asked, frowning, "Is he even more formidable than Shikaku?"
Mabui said, her face full of bitterness, "I don't know, but his personality is very volatile. He won't care about social niceties, he will only eradicate his enemies root and branch."
Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing the phrase "he will only eradicate his enemies root and branch," and they all understood how dangerous Hiromi truly was.
Hearing this, the Daimyo let out a sigh. "Tell me, is there any way? If there's no way, we might as well surrender early."
Kumogakure high-level officials: "..."
Why are you, a Daimyo, just giving up like that?
"Let's stall. Iwagakure once offended Hiromi. Hiromi told Ōnoki, 'The next time I come to the Land of Earth will be the day Iwagakure is destroyed.'"
Mabui paused and said, "If even the Five Great Ninja Villages united cannot protect Iwagakure, then there's no point in fighting anymore."
Others nodded in agreement upon hearing this. In any case, the first to die would definitely be Iwagakure. They would see how things went then and decide whether or not to surrender. After all, a wise man knows when to submit to the circumstances.
Kumogakure was waiting to see if Iwagakure would be destroyed by Hiromi.
Iwagakure was waiting to see if anyone would be the first one to stick their neck out.
—
Kirigakure.
Mizukage Building, conference room.
The Fifth Mizukage and Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Terumī Mei, was quite indifferent to the matter.
"What does the chaos on the mainland have to do with my Kirigakure out at sea?"
Kirigakure high-level officials: "What if the Daimyo forces us to cooperate?"
Mei: "My Kirigakure is so weak. If we can't win without our village's strength, then it's better not to participate, lest they hold a grudge against us."
Kirigakure high-level officials: "Then about the matter of replacing the Daimyo?"
Mei: "We'll know everything once they've finished fighting."
Kirigakure high-level officials: "What if the alliance wins? What if they come looking for trouble afterward?"
Mei: "What? They already have the Land of Fire, would they really be interested in Kirigakure's barren land?"
Kirigakure high-level officials: "...And if they lose? When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact."
Mei: "Nest? Eggs? Children? Marriage? Marriage! I wonder if Hiromi likes mature women."
Kirigakure high-level officials: "..."
—
Sunagakure.
Kazekage Building, Conference Room.
Acting Kazekage Baki said in a low voice, "The current Konoha is just an empty shell. According to spies remaining in Konoha, the Uchiha and Shikaku left with their people without taking a single thing from Konoha."
The Sunagakure high-level officials sneered.
"Breaking away from Konoha? Without taking a single thing?"
"I didn't expect Konoha to be so naive."
"This is a great opportunity."
They were itching to move.
The Sunagakure Higher-ups' gazes bypassed Acting Kazekage Baki and fell upon an old woman with her eyes closed.
"Chiyo?" Baki whispered a reminder.
Chiyo opened her eyes, and a sense of pressure seemed to emerge from her gaze, causing everyone's breath to hitch.
"Mm, we cannot go."
"Why?" Baki asked, puzzled.
"Setting aside the situation, based on what you've said about the Konoha Tyrant Uchiha Hiromi, he is not a man of sentiment. He could have taken Konoha's assets, but why didn't he? Why leave them behind?"
Chiyo glanced at everyone before she continued, "Because he intends to let those remaining in Konoha be happy for a few days, then return to annihilate them."
Everyone was stunned.
Is he a devil? What benefit does playing with people's hearts like this bring him? A freak?
Chiyo wasn't finished. She looked at the Sunagakure Higher-ups before her and smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat dangerous.
"And while he's at it, he's baiting fish like you who are tempted."
As soon as she said this, everyone's breath hitched.
The pupils of all the Sunagakure Higher-ups shrank, as if they felt a terrifying devil smiling at them, opening its maw, waiting for them to walk over so it could devour them in one bite.
Hiromi, who ruthlessly slaughtered the Mitokado and Utatane clans, not even sparing children—he could certainly do such a thing.
For a moment, the Sunagakure Higher-ups broke into a cold sweat, shivering uncontrollably.
A devil!
He is a real devil!
Outside the Kazekage Building.
Gaara's expression was cold as he said to Temari, "Let's go."
Temari was overjoyed, her younger brother was finally willing to hang out with her.
But looking at Gaara's expression, he didn't look like he wanted to hang out at all.
She felt uneasy and hurriedly asked, "Where are we going?"
Gaara looked toward the Land of Fire, a slight smile appearing on his gloomy face as he whispered, "To my future."