"Yes, sir!"
A group of guards acknowledged the order and led a thorough search throughout the village.
The Fourth Raikage stood by the hole in the wall, gazing out at the village, deep in thought: 'To dodge my attack from such close range, that guy is no ordinary person. What is his identity, and what is his purpose?'
A was feeling some regret now.
He was confident that his speed was matched only by Minato in the entire Shinobi World. No one could dodge his explosive strike from such a short distance, which was why he had acted decisively, intending to capture first and interrogate slowly later.
However, the opponent not only possessed stealth abilities allowing them to infiltrate the Raikage's office undetected but also had extremely sharp reflexes, successfully evading his lethal blow.
But if given another chance, he would probably make the same choice eight times out of ten.
Because he had absolute confidence in his own strength. Even after failing once, he wouldn't waver, believing the next time he absolutely wouldn't fail because he could unleash even greater speed.
"Attacking without even letting someone finish speaking, as irritable as thunder itself. What else can one expect from the Raikage?"
A familiar yet somewhat different voice rang out in the room.
Then, as if to refute this person's words, a familiar voice spoke again.
"Idiot, that's just recklessness!"
"Huh, isn't it the same?"
"So there's no difference!"
Hearing the subsequent conversation, A slowly turned around. On the opposite wall, he saw that figure again: half black, half white, with what looked like a pitcher plant sprouting from its shoulders. It was none other than Zetsu of the Akatsuki.
A silently assessed the distance between them, not rushing to act.
Although he could still unleash faster speed, the opponent was keeping a greater distance than before. Considering the reaction speed the opponent had displayed earlier, catching them with a lightning-fast surprise attack would be difficult.
And if he failed, with the opponent's concealment abilities that even Sensor-type Shinobi couldn't detect, capturing them would be exceedingly hard.
"...Who are you people?"
Having confirmed that apprehending them by force wasn't feasible, Raikage spoke up to ask.
"My name is Black Zetsu."
"I'm White Zetsu. Don't be so fierce, Raikage-sama. We are guests, after all."
"Kumogakure has no guests who come uninvited!"
Facing Zetsu, who was either talking to himself or had a split personality, Raikage questioned bluntly, "Speak quickly, what is your purpose here?"
"Your attitude is truly infuriating!" Black Zetsu said unhappily.
White Zetsu was taken aback for a moment before asking, "Isn't this just being straightforward?"
"Being straightforward is different!"
"How is it different?"
"You idiot, don't ask me these stupid questions now."
"But I am an idiot. Isn't it fitting to ask stupid questions?"
"You..."
Black Zetsu was getting annoyed, about to curse, but then noticed the Raikage's hair standing on end, lightning flickering across his body. He immediately responded, "Raikage, we are not enemies."
White Zetsu was momentarily stunned but immediately added, "Yeah, yeah, we brought you a gift."
"For shady characters like you to gain my trust, show some actual proof!"
"Naturally."
Zetsu pulled his right hand out of the wall, took out a scroll, and unrolled it on the floor.
The Raikage focused his gaze, seeing a city design schematic drawn with dotted lines.
"What is this?"
"The Sky Castle design of the Land of Sky..."
Before he could finish, a flash of electricity crackled in the air. The Raikage appeared before Zetsu, his fist wrapped in dense Chakra, smashing down toward him with immense force.
[Nintaijutsu: Lightning Oppression Chop!]
Boom!
A deafening explosion resonated throughout the entire Kumogakure, drawing countless eyes.
The Shinobi stared at the Raikage Building shrouded in dust and smoke in stunned silence before anxiously rushing toward it.
...
Inside the office.
Zetsu emerged from the ceiling, his upper body protruding, speaking calmly, "Raikage, it seems you don't want to talk, right?"
The Raikage pulled his right hand out of the wall where it was embedded and slowly turned around, his gaze unfriendly as he stared at Zetsu. "Land of Sky attempted to challenge the status of the Five Great Nations during the Second Shinobi World War, only for their entire village to be destroyed by Konoha. Where did you get something like this?"
"Is that important?"
"It's not important in itself, but if you want to cooperate with me or with Kumogakure, then it's very important. No one cooperates with individuals of unknown origin."
Hearing this, Zetsu fell silent.
Unknown origin, unknown background, yet possessing the ability to infiltrate the Raikage's office undetected, with the reaction and evasion skills to dodge the Raikage's surprise attack at close range… such a skilled infiltrator suddenly producing something from a vanished enemy, who could guarantee they weren't a remnant of the former Land of Sky, playing some sinister game under the guise of cooperation?
Not just Raikage, but any other Shinobi Village wouldn't cooperate either.
"I see!"
Understanding the key point, Zetsu smiled slightly. "You make a valid point. Then I shall first clarify my identity and origin!"
"My name is Zetsu, from the Akatsuki."
"Akatsuki?" The Raikage scrutinized Zetsu suspiciously. "The one destroyed by Sunagakure?"
"Correct," White Zetsu replied. "Survivors from back then re-established Akatsuki."
"But it's just using the name," Black Zetsu added. "The current Akatsuki is merely a mercenary organization that works for money. Apart from the name, it has no relation to the previous Akatsuki."
Raikage pondered briefly before asking, "Then why have you come to me?"
"To deal with Sunagakure!"
Without waiting for the Raikage's reaction, Black Zetsu continued, "Sunagakure possesses the most intact strength preserved from the Third Shinobi World War. Now they have also constructed a floating continent capable of flying in the sky..."
At this point, Black Zetsu gave a light chuckle before continuing, "You understand the advantages of flight very well, Raikage-sama. Land of Sky was just a small village, yet relying on the advantage of flight, they gained the capital to challenge the Five Great Nations. How much more so Sunagakure, which is already one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Konoha, Kirigakure... two of the Five Great Shinobi Villages have now successively been defeated by Sunagakure. If we don't stop their momentum and allow them to continue growing stronger, Sunagakure unifying the Shinobi World is only a matter of time."
"Don't lump Kumogakure together with Konoha and Kirigakure. They lost; Kumogakure will not."
Raikage refuted Zetsu's statement but acknowledged part of its content, then continued, "However, what you say also holds truth. Sunagakure possesses a floating continent that can fly in the sky. They can fight when they want, leave when they want. No one can stop them."
"Which is why I've brought you this gift!" Zetsu waved the Sky Castle design scroll. "If the other villages among the Five Great Shinobi Villages also obtain similar equipment, then everyone will be back on an equal footing."
"So that's it. You want to use Kumogakure's power to oppose Sunagakure." The Raikage suddenly understood, then laughed. "Although being used, obtaining the construction method for the Sky Castle is still a gain for us. I won't hold it against you."
"Raikage-sama, please don't switch concepts here."
Black Zetsu chuckled. "Even if I hadn't come, given Sunagakure's development trend, they would eventually clash with Kumogakure. My bringing you the Sky Castle blueprint is bestowing a favor upon Kumogakure. You, Kumogakure, must give me equivalent compensation in return."
"Didn't you say this was a gift for me?"
"My gift is conveying the message 'I possess a weapon to counter Sunagakure's floating continent'. The Sky Castle design blueprint requires additional payment. Akatsuki is a mercenary organization, not a charity."
"Slaves to money?" The Raikage snorted in displeasure and replied, "Then name your price. If you dare to demand an exorbitant sum, I'll make you regret it."
"Don't worry, Akatsuki's fees are very reasonable," White Zetsu said with a giggle.
Black Zetsu immediately scolded, "Why would you reveal our own trade secrets like that?"
"Huh, isn't it the truth?"
"I..."
"Alright, enough rambling!" The Raikage retracted his Chakra and roared toward the approaching footsteps outside the door, "The situation here is under control. Everyone return to your duties."
Immediately, the footsteps outside gradually faded away.
Seeing this, Black Zetsu smiled lightly. "Since Raikage-sama is straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either. A modest sum of money and one request."
"A request?"
Seeing the Raikage's furrowed brow, Black Zetsu hurriedly added, "It's not an unreasonable request. I simply ask that you, representing Kumogakure, form a strategic alliance with Iwagakure, Konoha, and Kirigakure, and then launch an attack against Sunagakure."
Raikage was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses. "You want to use our hands to take revenge for Akatsuki?"
"You can think of it that way if you wish." Black Zetsu said, "However, my consideration is based on the current Shinobi World's situation. Raikage-sama, do you truly believe that with the Sky Castle, Kumogakure can defeat Sunagakure?"
'Why couldn't we?'
Raikage very much wanted to say that. But seeing Black Zetsu's serious expression, he knew the other party wasn't being provocative in the slightest, merely posing the question earnestly.
Then, he seriously considered the question. The answer he arrived at was: "Yes. With the Sky Castle, Kumogakure can absolutely defeat Sunagakure."
The Raikage's confidence stemmed from the Chakra Cannon hidden within Kumogakure.
The Chakra Cannon's power was immense. On the ground, there were risks of missing at long range and getting caught in the blast at close range.
But with the Sky Castle, it would be different.
Mounting the Chakra Cannon on the Sky Castle, conducting long-range air-to-air strikes, there would be no need to worry about the risk of being caught in the blast.
However, this was only a strategy to be considered at the final stage of war.
After all, Sunagakure's floating continent was so massive. If it fell from too high an altitude, it might cause the entire continent to fracture, potentially triggering a continental mass extinction event.
If things developed to that point, it would be utterly meaningless.
Therefore, if war broke out, it would necessarily involve using the Sky Castle's flight capability to close in on the enemy for boarding actions.
In that case, the outcome would be another matter entirely.
No, not another matter… they simply couldn't win.
…
(A/N: The Chakra Cannon of Kumogakure is from the Naruto Movie The Last. According to the Raikage's claim, it can destroy the moon.
Here, everyone shouldn't be too concerned about how powerful destroying the moon is or whether it affects power balance.
In reality, many settings in Naruto contain bugs; they just lack corresponding feats. There are plenty of things that could counter this.)