Due to its small population, Sunagakure also had the smallest Shinobi Force among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Excluding perennial Genin or fresh graduates, the main force at Chunin-level and above numbered around six thousand.
During the Third Shinobi World War, after experiencing the assault on Sunagakure by the Four-Village Alliance, accepting the Land of Iron's mission to attack Amegakure, coastal defense against Kirigakure invasion, and the internal purge, less than 3500 remained.
After half a year of recuperation, roughly five hundred more Genin had been promoted to Chunin.
Meanwhile, after being backstabbed by Iwagakure last time, Kumogakure retained a fighting force of about six thousand. After half a year of recuperation, it had recovered to seventy-five hundred.
In terms of numbers alone, Kumogakure's force was nearly double that of Sunagakure.
Not just in numbers; even in terms of individual elite quality, Raikage was confident that Kumogakure wouldn't lose to anyone, even the famously elite Sunagakure was no exception.
But Sunagakure's puppeteers excelled at fighting many with few. Coupled with those five thousand autonomous puppets, their actual combat strength would put Kumogakure at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, Sunagakure had built their floating city earlier, surely adapting better to high-altitude environments than Kumogakure.
If high-altitude boarding combat ensued, Kumogakure's probability of losing would exceed eighty percent.
Therefore, after declaring 'Kumogakure will surely win', the Raikage immediately added, "Though we can win, the cost would be immense."
"Raikage seems very confident in his village's strength!" White Zetsu praised.
Black Zetsu, however, was unimpressed. "Though I don't know where the Raikage's confidence comes from, I don't believe Kumogakure can defeat Sunagakure even with the Sky Castle. So, please consider forming a military alliance with the other three villages."
"I'm not against an alliance, but Iwagakure must be excluded."
The Raikage said firmly, "You must also know about Iwagakure and Kusagakure backstabbing us half a year ago. To make us turn around and ally with Iwagakure immediately… I'd rather watch Sunagakure unify the Shinobi World."
"Why must Raikage be so stubborn?"
Black Zetsu persuaded, "From the Warring States Period to now, for hundreds of years of war in the Shinobi World, various factions have continuously formed alliances and betrayed each other for interests. This phenomenon has long become the norm. As the leader of a village, one should prioritize benefits."
Hearing this, Raikage's eyes bulged, displeased. "Are you lecturing me on how to be a Raikage?"
"I'm merely stating a common sense that exists in the Shinobi World. If Raikage feels this statement offends you, I apologize."
Black Zetsu's submissive attitude made Raikage snort in irritation.
He strode back, sat down behind his desk, took a deep breath, and then said, "In normal times, I wouldn't be so stubborn. But that backstabbing of theirs killed my old man."
"Wasn't the Third Raikage killed by Namikaze Minato?" White Zetsu asked curiously.
The Raikage slammed the table and stood up, roaring loudly, "But the mastermind behind the incident was Iwagakure and Kusagakure backstabbing Kumogakure. Judging by the modus operandi, it was eighty percent that old bastard Onoki's doing."
As a Shinobi, the Fourth Raikage had understood from a young age that to kill, one must be prepared to be killed.
Therefore, although Minato was the one who killed his father, he had defeated his opponent fairly on the battlefield. So, the Fourth Raikage didn't hate him.
Instead, it was the backstabbing Iwagakure and Kusagakure that he deeply resented.
"This is quite troublesome!" Black Zetsu sighed helplessly.
Although the mutual distrust among the major factions in the Shinobi World was the result of his own efforts over the years and a phenomenon he hoped to see,
But now he needed the major factions to unite against Sunagakure, or rather, against Ryuji.
If Ryuji's progress couldn't be stopped, then the Eye of the Moon Plan would likely be difficult to implement.
"I don't know how to persuade you, but both Iwagakure and Kumogakure's forces are essential. Raikage-sama, please consider this further. I will first approach the Kage of the other three villages. By then, I hope you can let go of your hatred."
After saying this, Black Zetsu ignored the Raikage's reaction. His body slowly merged into the ceiling, disappearing from the office.
The Raikage didn't stop him.
After two attempts, he knew it would be difficult to detain this mysterious individual.
He pondered Black Zetsu's proposal.
On one side, hatred; on the other, the interests of the village. His dual identity as both a son and the Raikage left him torn between these two choices.
Suddenly, a strange rap-like tone sounded before the desk. "Yo, brother! What's on your mind?"
Raikage looked up to see Killer B, carrying eight short swords on his back, wriggling his body like octopus tentacles.
Instantly, a row of black lines appeared on his forehead.
"Yo, brother! Seeing you troubled, want me to perform a rap to cheer you up?"
The same weird rap tone. Hearing it, the Fourth Raikage sighed deeply. "B, I'm really troubled right now. Don't bother me!"
"Tell me about it! Maybe I can decide!"
"You can decide..."
Halfway through his sentence, Raikage suddenly remembered that although this sworn brother of his usually acted frivolously, he was actually a very reliable person, first-rate in both strength and intellect. He immediately changed his tone and recounted everything that had just happened.
Hearing this, B laughed heartily and rapped, "Brother, you're really a fool! This question still needs thinking? Raikage, unqualified!"
"B, what did you say?"
Raikage slammed the table and stood up. Chakra erupted from his body, crackling with electricity. His bull-like eyes glared at Killer B.
B leaned back, putting on an 'oh, I'm so scared' expression.
Seeing this, the Raikage sighed again and sat back in his chair. "What am I doing, actually expecting a serious answer from you."
"Fool, fool! Brother's a fool!" Killer B wriggled his body while rapping, "What's there to hesitate about? Agree to the alliance. When it's about to succeed, stab Iwagakure in the back. Repay the debt from back then!"
Towards the end, his speech shifted to a normal tone, accompanied by an expression of exasperation.
Hearing this, Raikage was stunned.
'Right! Iwagakure are backstabbing, treacherous scoundrels. So why should I even consider honor with them?'
Just give them a taste of their own medicine.
Although this exact saying didn't exist in the Shinobi World, that was precisely Raikage's thought at this moment. It was like clouds parting to reveal the sun; his mind suddenly cleared, and he burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha... B, my good brother! You're the clever one! Hahahaha!!!"
...
The Mechanical City.
The battlefield cleanup was complete. Ryuji was currently meeting with the surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan.
There are seventeen people in total.
Because the adults created opportunities for the women and children to escape, more women and children survived.
Six males, eleven females; five youths, nine children.
The woman currently representing them in the meeting with Ryuji was a young woman around twenty-five years old.