In the Raikage's office, three sly middle-aged men were deep in a heated discussion.
"Lord Raikage, I really think we need to be cautious," Tsuchishige said seriously, his brows furrowed.
"According to our intel, Four-Tails Son Gokū has always been in Iwagakure. So why did he suddenly appear on the battlefield in the Land of Grass? That's suspicious.
And why did the mysterious man choose the Land of Grass as the battleground instead of somewhere else? Also suspicious.
What if this is all a ploy to lure you to the Land of Grass battlefield? That possibility can't be ignored."
Tsuchishige lived up to his role as a senior advisor in Kumogakure—his analysis was thorough and well-rounded.
Hearing this, the Raikage gradually cooled off and started piecing things together.
Looking back at the earlier attack on Amegakure, it became clear that this mysterious assailant was actually afraid of him. The guy had targeted the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails, but had avoided facing him directly both times. That alone proved the attacker feared his strength.
From that, it could be inferred: as long as the Raikage was around, the mysterious man wouldn't dare make a move on the Two-Tails or the Eight-Tails.
Thinking this through, the Raikage finally spoke.
"Based on the intel we have, that guy seems to possess some kind of unknown space ninjutsu. That's probably how he kidnapped the Four-Tails.
As for why he released it in the Land of Grass, we simply don't have enough intel to know.
But it doesn't really matter.
If I'm fast enough, nothing else matters."
He turned to Tsuchibune.
"Tsuchibune, you're coming with me to the Land of Grass battlefield. Bring extra men.
As long as we capture the Four-Tails before Ōnoki, it's a win for us.
And even if that guy still goes after the Two-Tails, you can just use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to bring me back."
Then the Raikage paused and looked at Tsuchishige.
"Tsuchishige, you're not coming this time. Use the Transformation Technique to take my form and keep that mysterious attacker in check!"
Tsuchishige hesitated briefly, then gave a slow nod.
It made sense. With the Raikage able to return at any moment, the village's defense remained rock-solid.
Then the Third Raikage lowered his voice and added gravely,
"This doesn't leave the three of us. No one else is to know.
Tsuchishige, get a team ready to go with me. Keep it small—two jōnin squads."
"Yes, Lord Raikage!" Tsuchishige replied firmly before quickly leaving the office.
At the same time, the Raikage turned to Tsuchibune and gave his next orders.
"Tsuchibune, use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to send out commands.
Tell all recon squads and field agents in the Lands of Earth, Waterfalls, Grass, and Rain to hide in place and await further orders.
We're preemptively guarding against retaliation from that Ōnoki bastard.
And recall your precious deputy director to the village. He'll be in charge of monitoring everything going on here.
Have him relay intel to us immediately."
"Yes, Lord Raikage."
Soon, the Raikage building stirred with hidden undercurrents.
Beneath its calm surface, who knew how many plots and schemes were beginning to brew?
Thanks to the Heavenly Transfer Technique, the Raikage's orders quickly reached all field teams.
In no time, Kumogakure's ninjas vanished into silence. Simultaneously, a quiet unit of more than a dozen shinobi departed the village without a sound.
...
Meanwhile, Reiji received the order from the Raikage's office.
As he read the brief, direct command written on the scroll, he knew the plan had worked.
With the internal issues settled, the Raikage had begun plotting for bigger gains.
He could sense two special location scrolls rapidly on the move.
One—Tsuchishige's—was heading toward his location.
The other was moving back toward Kumogakure.
Reiji smirked.
They never suspected there was a mole in the "shared location" feed!
Following the order, Reiji left Futago Town and picked a random spot nearby to dig a hole.
He created a clone, hid both the clone and the location scroll inside, and then formed a hand seal.
His body vanished without a trace.
...
The Third Raikage was already en route.
The Third Tsuchikage, however, was still stuck in a meeting.
Inside the massive conference room of the Tsuchikage Building in Iwagakure, a fierce debate was underway.
One side, the Tsuchikage faction led by Ōnoki.
The other, the clan faction, representing the village's powerful families.
The topic: whether or not Ōnoki himself should enter the battlefield.
Ōnoki, having just taken office and eager to solidify his authority, argued,
"My Dust Release is unbeatable! If not me, then who?"
But the opposing side pushed back.
"The Land of Grass is crawling with danger. Hanzō of the Salamander is watching like a hawk, Konoha is primed to strike, and the Raikage has no shame.
For the sake of caution, it's best if you stay here. Just send more troops to retrieve the Four-Tails."
"And clearly, that mysterious man came prepared.
He snatched the Four-Tails jinchūriki in under a minute.
That kind of power is terrifying.
If you leave now, what about Five-Tails Kokuō?
Worst of all, not long ago, the three Raikage brothers of Kumogakure became the laughingstock of the entire ninja world.
They nearly got played for fools over the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails!"
Just as the argument reached its peak, an ANBU burst into the room, holding a letter in his hand.
"Lord Tsuchikage, a letter just appeared outside the conference room!"
The ANBU agent stepped quickly to Ōnoki's side and placed the letter on the table.
It wasn't even a proper letter—just a plain white sheet of paper with a few jagged, sloppy words scrawled across it:
"A is here!"
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed sharply as he snapped his gaze to the ANBU and asked in a low voice,
"Did you see who delivered it?"
The ANBU agent suddenly removed his mask, revealing the face of an utterly unremarkable middle-aged man. He grinned.
"Who else but me~?"
Ōnoki's pupils shrank in an instant, and a chill shot up from the base of his spine to the top of his head.
Everyone in the room stiffened in shock.
How the hell did this guy get in here?
Without thinking, Ōnoki lashed out with a punch—but it struck only a flickering afterimage.
The man had already vanished without a trace.
Silence.
The conference room fell into a deep, suffocating stillness.
You could hear a pin drop.
Ōnoki's brow was tightly furrowed as he turned his head slowly, eyes locked on the sheet of paper still lying on the table.
A is here.
The Third Raikage?
What's this attacker trying to pull?
What does he want? The Five-Tails jinchūriki?
No. If that were his goal, he wouldn't announce himself with a letter.
Ōnoki found himself trapped in confusion and fury.
No one else dared speak.
At a moment like this, voicing an opinion could shape the final decision—if they were right, good; if wrong, they'd be the scapegoat.
Ōnoki turned it over and over in his mind, feeling as though he'd fallen into a trap like no other.
That bastard in the shadows was probably laughing at him right now.
The Four-Tails had to be recovered—it was one of the village's greatest weapons.
But now came the real choice: should he go himself or send someone else?
If he went, he was confident he could take on the Third Raikage. After all, he wielded Dust Release, a Kekkei Tōta.
But if he left, who would safeguard the village?
And if he sent subordinates instead, they might not be able to reclaim the Four-Tails.
No—he couldn't think like that. He had to consider the fact that the attacker had delivered this message himself.
Why send it to me directly?
He's trying to pressure me—forcing me to decide, trying to drag me to the battlefield.
In that case, I'll do the opposite. I won't go to the Land of Grass battlefield.
Ōnoki slammed his palm down on the table and spoke with grave authority.
"I've made up my mind!
Kyōgan, you'll lead ten elite squads and two ANBU teams to the battlefield!"
At his words, a man behind him stepped forward, dropped to one knee, and gave a firm nod.
With a steely gaze sweeping the room, Ōnoki continued,
"This mission—avoid direct confrontation with the Third Raikage!
Your goal is to harass and obstruct him from sealing the Four-Tails!"
Then he turned to the last man at the table, his face hidden behind a mask.
"Gōrikimaru, as head of the Intelligence Division, dispatch orders immediately—activate our spies in Kumogakure!
Track down the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails jinchūriki. Launch attacks!
If A wants the Four-Tails, let's throw his house into chaos!
Poison, ambushes, explosive tags—everything! I want them hit hard!"
Ōnoki growled through clenched teeth.
"Yes!" Gōrikimaru nodded sharply.
Finally, the not-so-tall figure of Ōnoki slowly stood, his presence pressing down like a mountain.
"All departments—prepare for potential assaults!
The village is now under Level 2 alert! Bring the Five-Tails jinchūriki to me!
As soon as the Raikage retreats, the Sealing Unit will move out to seal the Four-Tails!"
"Yes!" everyone rose in unison, voices firm.
...
Reiji, observing from the shadows, remained expressionless as he watched Ōnoki issue orders, silently nodding to himself.
As expected of a Kage—Ōnoki's response was thorough.
Even the straightforward and brash Raikage had his operations mapped out to the last detail.
Reiji couldn't help but admire them both.
They were formidable, no doubt.
But unfortunately, they didn't have the luxury of time—or choices.
The Raikage, without any domestic turmoil to distract him, had chosen to strike first, which was very much in line with Kumogakure's character.
Having lived in Kumogakure for over a year, Reiji knew this village was ruthlessly aggressive.
As for Iwagakure—he only knew what Konoha's intelligence reports had said, but that didn't matter.
No great village would ever willingly hand over its Tailed Beast.
And Reiji hadn't delivered that message to push Ōnoki into going or staying.
He just wanted to get them all moving.
The timing had been calculated precisely—to let the Third Raikage and Son Gokū fight for a bit.
Then, right when the moment was ripe, Iwagakure's ninja would arrive and throw themselves into the mix.
Would the hot-tempered Raikage swallow his pride and back down? Not likely.
And from there, things would spiral just as he predicted.
The two sides would clash—and tempers would ignite.
The ideal outcome?
He'd take the Two-Tails, the Raikage would get the Four-Tails, and Ōnoki and the Lightning Brothers would tear each other apart.
And even if the Raikage figured out he had taken the Two-Tails—what could he do?
Hand over the Four-Tails?
Come chasing after the Two-Tails?
Heh. He's not Hiruzen Sarutobi.