Iwagakure.
Onoki played with the cards in his hand.
"Ninja Kill? Interesting."
"I never expected Sunagakure to have someone talented enough to create a game like this. If I ever get the chance, I absolutely want to meet them."
He took out the card corresponding to himself.
[Onoki — Third Tsuchikage]
Ninjutsu One, Dust Release: When you use Kill, you may make the opponent lose two health points, or force them to play two Dodges.
Ninjutsu Two, Levitation: You may nullify one attack you would otherwise receive.
"Still, why is it that among these shinobi cards, there are no younger-generation people? They're all old-timers."
An Iwagakure ANBU shinobi separately sorted out the shinobi cards from the set.
Iwagakure had the three previous Tsuchikage, along with Roshi, Deidara, and others.
Sunagakure had the three previous Kazekage, along with Chiyo, Ebizo, and others.
Kirigakure had the three previous Mizukage, along with Genjiro and others.
Kumogakure had the three previous Raikage, along with Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and others.
Konoha had the greatest number of shinobi cards.
The three previous Hokage, Uchiha Madara, Shimura Danzo, Hyuga Tennin, Uzumaki Mito, the Sannin, Hatake Sakumo, and so on. Rasa had even deliberately included Uchiha Izuna.
But Uchiha Izuna's situation was somewhat special.
The people of Konoha did not recognize Uchiha Izuna as one of Konoha's own.
And whenever the Uchiha Clan saw Uchiha Izuna, it only triggered their hatred toward Konoha.
"Izuna-sama was killed by a sneak attack from Senju Tobirama!"
"That innately evil Senju Tobirama was too shameless!"
"In a fair fight, Izuna-sama would never have lost!"
"That was the strongest period of our Uchiha Clan!"
"With Izuna-sama and Madara-sama forming twin stars, our clan was invincible in the shinobi world!"
Uchiha Yashiro looked at several young Uchiha gathered around, playing Ninja Kill, and could not help frowning.
"What are you doing?"
"Our great vengeance is not yet repaid. The clan's future is not yet secure. And instead of training, you're here playing some game?"
The young people all trembled, lowering their heads and not daring to speak.
At that moment, an old man stepped forward.
"Yashiro-sama."
"Elder."
Uchiha Yashiro looked at him, and his expression softened.
"Yashiro-sama, I was the one who told them to play."
The Uchiha elder said, "This Ninja Kill is not an ordinary game. It can train their ability to think."
"If our Uchiha wish to secure our footing in the shinobi world, then relying on personal strength alone is not enough."
"Unless our clan can once more produce someone like Madara-sama. But that is too difficult. The chance is too small."
"We cannot place our hopes on that."
"Possessing powerful strategic ability can also help improve our Uchiha Clan's living environment in the shinobi world."
"Our Uchiha Clan needs people with that kind of talent."
"And this sort of ability is easier to pass on."
Uchiha Yashiro fell silent for a while.
"Continue. I'll watch from the side."
The others first looked at the elder. Only after seeing that the elder was smiling did they finally relax and continue the unfinished game.
As Uchiha Yashiro watched, his eyes gradually lit up.
During the course of the game, Uchiha Yashiro saw many things.
Disguise.
Deception.
Bluffing.
Horizontal alliances and vertical balancing…
These were all things shinobi needed to learn.
They were things Uchiha Yashiro considered important.
And yet, many members of the Uchiha Clan looked down on such things. They considered them useless, and thought that studying them was worse than running another lap around the training grounds, throwing a few more kunai, or working harder to awaken the Sharingan.
But now, this Ninja Kill card game had drawn the Uchiha here and led them into a state where they were actually learning those things.
Uchiha Yashiro agreed with the elder.
To others, the game might not have that much value.
But for the Uchiha Clan, it was useful.
Kaguya Tatsu looked at the cards and revealed a smile.
"With the Kaguya Clan proclamation already out first, and now this Ninja Kill game appearing as well, it is bound to attract countless people. And if they see the cards, then they are certain to see the rumors printed on the front."
"The Hyuga Clan should no longer be able to continue coexisting peacefully with Konoha, right?"
"If the Hyuga Clan defects from Konoha, that would also be a blow to Kirigakure."
"At the same time, I could win the Hyuga over to my side."
"Uchiha. Hyuga. Kaguya."
"With the strength of those three clans together, we could absolutely establish a new ninja village."
"Whether it is Konoha or Kirigakure, we would have the strength to contend against them."
A trace of ambition appeared in Kaguya Tatsu's eyes.
Kumogakure.
The Fourth Raikage drew his identity card—Kage.
Then he received three shinobi cards.
In the next instant, his face darkened.
"My identity is Kage, but the shinobi cards I drew are Danzo, Roshi, and Hatake Sakumo? Does that make any sense? No matter how you look at them, those three don't seem like they match the identity of Kage."
Killer B quietly glanced at his own identity card, then covered it again.
"Bro, those are just the game rules. Hurry up and choose. We're all waiting on you."
Seeing that Killer B was about to start rapping, the Fourth Raikage hesitated for a moment and chose Danzo's card.
A fierce card battle began immediately.
Not long afterward—
"Kill!"
"Damn it, I don't have Dodge."
The Fourth Raikage looked at his emptied health points, tossed the shinobi card in his hand aside, and said,
"No good. This Danzo is complete trash. He's useless."
"One more round."
This time, the Fourth Raikage drew his own father, the Third Raikage.
"I won!"
It was not until the sky had darkened that everyone finally stopped.
The Fourth Raikage looked at the person across from him.
"C."
"Raikage-sama."
"What do you think? If we demand the Byakugan from Konoha, will Konoha give it to us?"
C was stunned for a moment.
"Raikage-sama, you mean…?"
The Fourth Raikage said, "Konoha can give the Byakugan to Kirigakure. Our Kumogakure is only stronger than Kirigakure, not weaker. If we demand the Byakugan from Konoha, they can't very well refuse, can they?"
"Otherwise, that would be quite disrespectful to our Kumogakure."
C thought for a while.
"Raikage-sama, under the current circumstances, it will probably be difficult. There must already be many in the Hyuga Clan who are dissatisfied because of the rumors. If Konoha brings out the Byakugan at a time like this, it would only intensify that dissatisfaction."
"And these Ninja Kill cards have been a great success as a card game."
"They will interest not only shinobi like us, but also ordinary people."
"These cards are undoubtedly a tremendous provocation to members of the Hyuga Clan."
"I think we can wait."
"Wait and see how Konoha and the Hyuga Clan deal with things, and what sort of reaction they produce after this public opinion explosion."
"At that time, if we proceed with our plan, it will go much more smoothly."
The Fourth Raikage nodded, then asked,
"Then what do you think the Hyuga Clan's reaction will be?"