151-155

*Chapter 151: Battle Is the Fastest Path to Strength*

The hazy mist dampened the tips of her reddish-brown hair, which was tied into two high pigtails resembling rabbit ears, one on each side, perfectly symmetrical. They were much like the pair of "Thunder Blades: Kiba" in her hands, one of the few twin swords among the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist Village.

Ringo Ameyuri walked energetically behind Mangetsu Hozuki, nearly bouncing with each step.

Her raised pigtails swayed back and forth.

It was clear to see that the girl was in a delightful mood.

As for why she was so happy, the Mist ninjas in the group were well aware. The "Thunder Release Prodigy" was known throughout the Mist Village as a battle maniac. Even the children knew that this petite girl fought fiercely!

During a recent meeting, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, had decided to send Mangetsu Hozuki and his team to assist the Leaf Village ninjas, honoring their contract with the Leaf. He gave Mangetsu some discretion to choose his team members.

At that time, Mangetsu mentioned two names.

One of them was Ringo Ameyuri.

"Ameyuri, control your emotions. We're still in the village, and it’ll be a while before you get to cut anyone," Mangetsu warned, noticing the excited girl behind him. Being similar in nature, he knew that if Ringo's excitement reached its peak without an enemy to fight, she might turn her blades on her own allies.

Once people like them got into the thrill of battle, they became consumed by it.

It was like his grandfather, the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, who chose to fight to the death against the Second Tsuchikage rather than retreat. That fight wasn't a do-or-die situation, unlike the Third Raikage, who sacrificed himself fighting over ten thousand Stone ninjas to allow his comrades to escape, fighting for three days and nights until he died of exhaustion.

"Will it really take that long?"

Ringo pouted but then quickly smiled again. "It’s fine, though. Chihaya will spar with me! She’ll keep me company."

Mangetsu was taken aback for a moment, realizing who "Chihaya" referred to. "Uchiha Chihaya? Ameyuri, are you two close?"

"We're friends," Ringo replied quickly.

"Friends?"

Mangetsu's face showed genuine disbelief.

"If you're friends, then... you spar?"

"Of course!"

Hearing Ringo's definitive answer, Mangetsu was momentarily speechless. Was this what they called love through fighting? Incredible!

"But Chihaya’s really strong. I can't defeat her yet! In fact, a few times, she nearly took me down. Luckily, my Thunder Release: Body Flicker Technique has improved a lot recently. Wind Release does counter my Lightning, but only when it comes to swordplay. Chihaya’s wind hasn't yet disrupted the lightning in my body. I'll surpass her in speed soon."

As she spoke, arcs of electricity flickered across Ringo's body.

In the next instant, the girl used her Thunder Release: Body Flicker Technique, dashing forward at such speed that even Mangetsu barely saw her move. Unable to endure Mangetsu's (in her eyes) sluggish pace, she shot off like an arrow, racing uncontrollably toward the Leaf Village camp.

"So fast!"

"I didn't even see her move!"

"As expected of the Lightning Release prodigy. Not many in the Cloud Village could match her in Lightning Release," the jonin in the group murmured, awed by Ringo's strength.

"Hey, no way! Ameyuri, your progress is ridiculous!" Mangetsu exclaimed, watching the electric blur vanish into the mist. He quickly gave chase, feeling both astonished by her rapid growth and pressured by the fear of being surpassed.

He could still barely track Ringo’s movements now, but if she got any stronger... being overtaken by her would be a blow to his pride. For the first time, he envied Ringo for having a friend like Uchiha Chihaya to spar with without holding back.

"Combat is the fastest way to grow."

That was the life philosophy of the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki.

But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. As he watched the electric flash speed toward the Leaf ninja camp, Mangetsu shouted:

"Ameyuri, stop!"

"You're heading for the Leaf Village camp!"

"Stop, you fool!"

No matter how much Mangetsu yelled, it was useless. The over-excited girl was already eager to find her friend for a sparring match. His shouts went in one ear and out the other. To Mangetsu’s frustration, he could only barely keep up with Ringo's Lightning Release: Body Flicker speed, let alone surpass her!

At the same time, the Leaf ninjas had gathered in the courtyard, awaiting orders from their commander.

But before Sougen Uchiha appeared, the sound of thunder from outside the camp caught everyone's attention. The sensory ninjas quickly detected Ringo Ameyuri charging toward them, followed by Mangetsu and a large group of Mist ninjas.

"What’s going on? Is the Mist breaking the alliance?" Hyuga Masayuki activated his Byakugan, his shock and anger mounting as he watched the approaching Mist ninjas. His immediate assumption was that they were turning against the Leaf to join forces with the Cloud Village. Many others had similar thoughts, and several ninjas instinctively drew their weapons.

Tension filled the air, like an invisible pressure settling over the courtyard.

If the Mist ninjas intended to break the alliance, the Leaf ninjas were ready to fight to the death and give these traitors a brutal lesson.

In the midst of this tension, a fast-moving bolt of lightning shot through the open gate into the courtyard.

"Bang!"

The fiery Gunbai fan suddenly embedded itself into the ground, and Ringo Ameyuri slammed headfirst into it, getting launched back the way she came. Mangetsu quickly used his Hydrification Technique to transform into water, avoiding being sent flying with her.

"That was close!" Mangetsu reformed, wiping nonexistent sweat from his brow.

"What are you doing, Mangetsu Hozuki?" Sougen Uchiha stood on the end of the Gunbai’s handle, balancing delicately while looking down coldly at Mangetsu, his crimson eyes radiating a chilling killing intent.

"This is a misunderstanding," Mangetsu quickly called off his group of Mist ninjas and raised his hands, showing he had no ill intentions.

The brilliant young ninja knew full well how Ringo’s actions could be misinterpreted, which was why he had been chasing after her to stop her. Unfortunately, stopping an overly excited Ringo was no easy feat.

"Ameyuri came to spar with Uchiha Chihaya. They’re good friends and often spar together. She just got too excited thinking about spending a long time with Chihaya and lost control for a moment."

"Chihaya’s friend?" Sougen turned his gaze toward Ringo, who was now walking normally.

Despite the painful-looking collision with the Gunbai, she had only suffered some minor bruises and scrapes. After enduring plenty of Wind Release suppression from Chihaya in their battles, Ringo had shifted her Lightning Release training inward, focusing on physical enhancements. Her body’s durability had increased significantly, which is why she didn’t suffer any broken bones from the impact.

"Uchiha Clan Leader, is Chihaya here?" Ringo asked, ignoring her foolish behavior earlier and eagerly looking for her friend.

Unexpectedly—

"Ameyuri, what are you doing here?" Uchiha Chihaya appeared, her red eyes filled with confusion as she looked at her friend.

"I’m here to help you fight the Cloud ninjas!" Ringo replied, and the two girls huddled together, chatting excitedly. Their behavior confirmed that they were indeed friends, though their version of friendship was quite unique. Sougen had never seen Chihaya so close with another girl before.

Seeing this, Sougen signaled for the Leaf ninjas to relax slightly. It seemed the Mist weren’t here to break the alliance after all.

"So, if that was a misunderstanding... could you explain your real purpose now?" Sougen asked, jumping down from the Gunbai and retrieving the fan from the stone as he addressed Mangetsu.

"My apologies, Uchiha Clan Leader," Mangetsu said, his expression turning serious. "I am Mangetsu Hozuki, sent by Lord Mizukage with 1,200 comrades to fulfill the contract between our villages. I ask for your understanding that due to the village’s current difficulties, it was impossible to gather more troops."

"However, I assure you that all 1,200 of my comrades are seasoned fighters."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 152: The Samurai Haku (!)*

The irregular sound of blood dripping into a puddle, plop, plop, echoed clearly in his ears. The damp, cold wind brushed against Haku's skin, and the thick scent of blood filled his nostrils. His stomach churned with discomfort, a wave of nausea rolling through his chest.

His face and hands felt sticky. The wind quickly sucked away the warmth from the liquid, leaving the cooled blood clinging to his skin.

Yet, the blade that had killed was still as brilliantly sharp as ever, without a trace of bloodstains.

The raised blade gleamed like a mirror, and Haku could clearly see his reflection. His long black hair was tied into a single ponytail reaching his waist, and he wore a moon-Haku patterned haori over black hakama. The eight-sided snowflake crest of his family adorned the haori's front, back, and sleeves.

The reflection on the blade was so unfamiliar.

He barely recognized himself.

This outfit had been custom-made. Lord Orochimaru had taken him to a strange city called "Daimyo's Capital," where they found some tailors who worked day and night to create it. The eight-sided snowflake, no—it was a family crest, as Lord Orochimaru explained. It was his family's emblem.

Even though, at the time, it was the first he had ever heard of such a thing as a family crest.

It was during that trip to the Daimyo's Capital that they encountered enemies who began pursuing them.

Dressed in this new attire, Haku no longer looked like the disheveled boy he once was. Even though it was a traditional male outfit, he still mesmerized a group of passersby when they stepped out of the shop. Coincidentally, among the onlookers was a long line of carriages belonging to nobles. One noble, upon seeing Haku, was immediately captivated and sent men to capture him.

The result—

That noble was killed by Lord Orochimaru, who publicly dismembered him into eight pieces with his katana—literally eight pieces, leaving no more and no less. Blood splattered everywhere, but the noble's body was neatly divided.

Afterward, they faced relentless pursuit.

But Lord Orochimaru remained completely unfazed. In fact, he used the pursuers as sharpening stones for Haku’s skills—a new term Haku had recently learned. Orochimaru assigned him an overwhelming amount of work: swordsmanship, chakra refinement, hand-seal practice, academic studies...

"You've done well, Haku."

A cool hand rested on his head. Orochimaru’s face wore a genuine, pleased smile. "You’ve done better than I expected!"

"Lord Orochimaru, have I... really done well?"

Haku looked up, his eyes filled with confusion as he gazed at his master.

"Of course, Haku. You've done exceptionally well."

Orochimaru nodded in affirmation, smiling. "There’s no need to feel guilt. They tried to kill us, so there's no shame in killing them. When they set out to kill, they should have been prepared to be killed. Dying by your blade is an honor for them! At least, in their last moments, they saw something beautiful... enough to make them die with a smile."

The dead cannot argue with the living.

Even though their faces, hidden behind masks, were contorted in pain and rage, Orochimaru could still claim they died smiling.

"Now, Haku! Stop wasting your energy on these worthless trash. We’re about to leave this country by sea. You’re going to see a much wider world. Your future isn’t confined to this gloomy, clouded sky."

Orochimaru’s mood was genuinely joyful.

Although he had lost to Uchiha Shisui and lost the Sky Sword, and even Kimimaro had fallen into Konoha’s hands, these unpleasant memories no longer weighed on him. Seeing Haku diligently studying or practicing swordsmanship lifted his spirits.

He felt fortunate.

After losing Kimimaro, he had found Haku.

If he had sought out Kimimaro because of the Shikotsumyaku bloodline ability, then Haku’s Ice Release—a bloodline thought long extinct—had fallen into Orochimaru’s lap by sheer chance.

And compared to Kimimaro, Orochimaru preferred Haku.

Kimimaro was a natural-born genius in battle, growing stronger through pure instinct. Haku, on the other hand, was a brilliant prodigy.

His talents weren’t just in ninjutsu and swordsmanship. Outside of combat, Haku excelled in academic knowledge as well.

In contrast, Kimimaro struggled in this area.

Orochimaru had once tried to teach Kimimaro academic knowledge. Though diligent and hardworking, Kimimaro's talents in learning paled in comparison to his combat abilities. He could barely absorb the knowledge Orochimaru imparted and failed to apply it creatively.

But Haku—

He could extrapolate and innovate.

Sometimes, the questions Haku asked during lessons even gave Orochimaru pause. Despite only having spent half a month together, Orochimaru had already left Kimimaro in the dust. He even hesitated to use Haku as a mere vessel for his rebirth.

In the barren scientific landscape of the ninja world,

Orochimaru was utterly alone.

Seen as a madman, ahead of his time by too many steps, he had no one to share the joy of discovery or the real purpose of his research. No one could inherit the knowledge and creations he had uncovered.

Yes, his loneliness wasn’t just due to the lack of companions moving forward. When he looked back, he saw no followers at all. In that moment, he felt a crushing, almost despairing loneliness.

If he died,

Would all his discoveries and creations die with him?

During the wars, he witnessed many of his friends die, watched people grieve, and then forget...

Forgetfulness—what a terrifying word! Orochimaru feared being forgotten even more than death.

And so,

He yearned for immortality.

As long as he lived forever, he wouldn't have to worry about death or being forgotten.

Yet, even after embarking on the path of immortality, Orochimaru remained lonely, exploring a desolate world alone—until he met Haku... The old adage that you can see a person's future in their childhood might be an exaggeration, but the traits Haku displayed at just eight years old shone with the potential of a true companion.

This child might not surpass him one day,

But at least, he could keep up.

That’s why he hesitated to raise Haku as merely a vessel. Though he hadn't made a final decision, he had already instinctively adjusted Haku’s lessons, reducing ninjutsu and swordsmanship training and increasing his academic studies.

Maybe,

Given a bit more time, he would make the final decision.

For now,

Orochimaru carefully taught Haku how to clean a battlefield, how to erase traces, and made sure Haku practiced by handling the bodies of their pursuers. Once they finished, they continued their journey, crossing the last stretch of forest to reach the port.

There,

A ship was ready to sail abroad.

Orochimaru used genjutsu to smuggle them aboard a passenger ship bound for the Land of Hot Water.

In the cabin,

"Lord Orochimaru, why are we going to the Land of Hot Water?"

Haku had just completed an assignment Orochimaru had given him. According to the study plan, he had twenty minutes to rest before starting the next task. During this time, he could do whatever he wanted, as long as it didn’t interfere with the schedule.

Asking questions was one way to spend this time.

“To seize opportunities,” Orochimaru said with a smile, lifting his head from a scroll. “According to the latest information I’ve gathered, a war is about to break out in the Land of Hot Water. And a battlefield is a great place to find opportunities. With luck, we might come across something valuable!” Perhaps even a pair of intact Sharingan eyes from a fallen Uchiha ninja.

He had many spies in Konoha.

The moment anything happened, Orochimaru would know. This time, news of the Cloud Village's southern advance was no exception. Knowing this, he was certain that Konoha and the Cloud would soon clash. The battlefield... would likely be in the Land of Hot Water.

In all three previous Great Ninja Wars, battles had largely been fought on the territories of smaller nations, with few conflicts directly hitting the lands of the Five Great Nations.

That’s why he chose a ship bound for the Land of Hot Water instead of returning directly to the Land of Fire.

"War?"

Haku had only read about wars in books. He had never witnessed one. His naturally kind heart wasn’t too eager to see something where many people might die. If not for Lord Orochimaru, he wouldn't want to kill anyone at all.

“Are we... going to join the fight?”

Haku asked softly.

“Probably not. I already said we’re just there to seize opportunities. But scavenging on a battlefield is a risky job—if you’re not careful, you might end up being hunted by both sides... Fighting is something we’ll try to avoid, but I can’t guarantee we’ll stay out of it.”

Orochimaru's raspy voice filled the cabin.

Haku, feeling heavier, stopped asking questions. He picked up his pen and moved on to the next task his master had assigned.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 153: The Jonin Squad*

"Sigh! Looks like another busy day." Nara Shikaku sighed, sitting at his desk, staring at the towering stack of documents piled up like a small mountain. And that wasn’t even all of them—his assistant had informed him that more documents had been set aside on the coffee table because there wasn’t enough space on the desk.

This was the office of the *Jonin Squad*.

Even within the village, most people were only vaguely aware of the existence of the Jonin Squad, without fully understanding its purpose. Judging from its name, they assumed it had something to do with the jonin.

And indeed, it did.

The Jonin Squad was initially established by the Second Hokage. During the First Shinobi World War, Senju Tobirama realized the difficulty and delay in mobilizing forces from different departments, leading him to create the Jonin Squad. Its purpose was to oversee the village's jonin population and general intelligence, allowing for quick deployment of forces to the battlefield.

So, even though the position of Jonin Squad Leader might seem unremarkable, it actually carried significant authority, especially during wartime. With the Hokage's support, the Jonin Squad could command more power than many other departments, pulling skilled jonin from various areas to engage in battle.

Right now, Nara Shikaku was doing just that kind of work.

"Captain, should we give your wife a heads-up?"

The deputy captain sitting at a nearby desk teased him. It wasn’t a secret in the office that Nara Shikaku had a 'strict wife.' However, no one looked down on him for it. After all, anyone sitting in this office was quite intelligent, and they fully understood just how sharp their boss's mind was.

"Hmm... maybe later. If I work fast enough, I might just make it home in time."

Shikaku sighed again.

Recently, the battle with the Hidden Mist had left him overwhelmed. Just when the Mist finally surrendered and he thought he could relax for a bit, the troublemaking Hidden Cloud ninjas started stirring up conflict again. While not entirely unexpected, it was still frustrating to deal with.

"The situation with the northeastern border defense isn’t looking good."

Someone sighed.

The casualty list of jonin from the frontlines was alarming.

Even for a powerful village like Konoha, jonin were limited in number. Unlike genin and chunin, who could be replenished relatively quickly, training a jonin was time-consuming and uncertain. Many geniuses met untimely ends along the way, and the strength of a ninja village was largely determined by the number of jonin it had.

"Clan Head Hyuga has already set out with reinforcements. With their support, the frontlines should stabilize, right?"

"It’s hard to say. Yesterday’s intel reported sightings of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki... If the Hidden Cloud deploys their Jinchuriki, our forces on the front lines have no way of dealing with it."

At this, everyone fell silent.

Shikaku didn’t stop his subordinates from discussing this. As members of the Jonin Squad, they were privy to sensitive information like this. There was no point in silencing them, as long as they didn’t leak anything outside.

"It’s a pity our Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is too young to be of any use!"

After a moment of silence, someone sighed again.

At only five years old, the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was at least five or six years away from being battle-ready. If the Jinchuriki’s aptitude wasn’t great, it could take even longer before they could be deployed, leaving the village in a bind for now.

"Speaking of which, Captain, why isn’t Lord Jiraiya leading the fight against the Hidden Cloud?"

Someone finally asked the question that had been on everyone's mind.

Jiraiya had been back in the village for some time now. At first, only a few people knew about it, but after he had been seen wandering around asking questions, word quickly spread, and most of the village’s shinobi became aware of his return.

However, despite the Hidden Cloud’s invasion, Jiraiya had made no move to act. Many people were confused, as they had assumed he had returned in anticipation of the conflict with the Cloud.

"Lord Jiraiya has other matters to attend to. Alright, let’s focus on our own tasks. The situation at the frontlines is being handled, so leave that to the proper people," Shikaku intervened, steering the conversation away from Jiraiya.

Jiraiya’s situation was... complicated.

There was still no word on whether he would accept the position of Fifth Hokage. For now, the old man (Hokage) continued to reluctantly sit in that chair. He hadn’t had proper rest in days, worn down by both the stressful war front and the growing internal issues within the village.

Besides Jiraiya’s matter, the Uchiha clan head and his elite team had yet to return, leaving the village short of capable hands. Shikaku found it increasingly difficult to advise the Hokage, especially with limited resources. He had managed to persuade Hyuga Hiashi to help, but it was still a matter of stretching their forces to cover all fronts.

The situation in Konoha was one of external and internal crisis.

"Let’s just hope the Hidden Rock doesn’t act anytime soon!"

Shikaku couldn't help but sigh again.

If that were the only problem, they could barely manage. But their spy in Iwagakure had reported that the Hidden Rock was also growing restless. The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, seemed to have intentions of coordinating with the Hidden Cloud to attack Konoha from both sides. Although the cunning old man hadn’t taken any concrete action yet, it was only a matter of time.

If Konoha couldn’t quickly repel the Hidden Cloud’s assault, the Hidden Rock would undoubtedly strike.

"Captain Nara, the Hokage has summoned you."

A masked ANBU member appeared silently at Shikaku’s desk, not bothering to knock—he hadn’t used the door at all. Instead, he had used an Earth Release technique to descend from the ceiling, a common practice for the ANBU.

"I understand."

Shikaku set down his pen, knowing that getting home on time was out of the question. Overtime was inevitable. Standing up, he gave a few instructions to his deputy to maintain discipline and then followed the ANBU to the Hokage’s office.

...

"Lord Hokage, is there something urgent?"

"It’s a letter from the Uchiha clan head."

The Hokage, Torifu Akimichi, held up the letter.

"The Uchiha clan head is already on his way back. And he’s not coming alone—he’s bringing over 1,200 Hidden Mist shinobi, all of whom are at least chunin-level. Not a single genin among them," the old man shared his good news with Shikaku, his mood visibly lifted.

"1,200 chunin or higher from the Hidden Mist?"

Shikaku's tense expression softened slightly. "That’s certainly good news."

In truth, 1,200 Hidden Mist shinobi weren’t enough to turn the tide, but Shikaku wasn’t focused on their numbers. What mattered more was the fact that the Hidden Mist had sent reinforcements at all. By spreading the news of their alliance with the Mist, Konoha could put pressure on both the Cloud and Rock villages.

That’s how quickly a sharp mind works.

Elder Akimichi Torifu was still celebrating the arrival of the 1,200 reinforcements!

Right now, Konoha’s military strength is stretched too thin—robbing Peter to pay Paul. Torifu simply followed Sougen’s old example and squeezed out another group of troops from the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado clans. However, these clans have almost been entirely drained. Unless someone intends to wipe them out completely, there’s no more to extract.

But if he couldn’t squeeze more from the Sarutobi, Shimura, and other clans, he’d have to scrape together troops from other families. This is the kind of job that gets people into trouble… and the acting Fifth Hokage wasn’t eager to take it on! If he were the official Hokage, it would be different—he could bear some bad reputation for the sake of the village. Unfortunately, he’s not the real Hokage, just a temporary substitute.

This seriously dampened his enthusiasm for the work, as he didn’t want to implicate his own family.

“And also, the Uchiha Clan leader has already sent Uchiha Shisui, Aburame Jikoku, Inuzuka Ago, and Akimichi Dōto directly to the frontlines in the Land of Hot Water to support the troops,” Akimichi Torifu continued, bringing up matters mentioned in the letter and seeking Nara Shikaku’s opinion. “Shikaku, do you think this is the right call?”

“There’s no problem with it,” Nara Shikaku replied with a slight shake of his head. “The Uchiha Clan leader’s decision makes perfect sense. The situation at the front isn’t looking great, and any extra strength will help. Especially with Aburame Jikoku—he alone is worth an entire hundred-man squad. Even if they can’t drive the Mist ninja back, they can at least buy us some time.”

Stalling for time until the Uchiha Clan leader returns with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, along with Jiraiya still in the village. As long as they take care of these internal issues, there’ll be enough strength to fend off the invasions from the Cloud and Stone ninja.

“Sigh! I hope the Uchiha Clan leader returns soon.”

The acting Fifth Hokage sighed deeply.

Akimichi Torifu missed Uchiha Sougen and the Uchiha Clan’s jōnin that had left with him. No matter how much the Uchiha Clan was disliked, when war broke out, the red-eyed Uchiha were the most reliable allies.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 154: Cloud Ninja Stationed in the Land of Hot Water*

The Land of Hot Water had a warm and pleasant climate. Although it was already late autumn and early winter, the landscape remained lush and green. Yugito Nii walked through the foreign streets with great interest, her eyes wandering to take in the scenery, which was vastly different from the Land of Lightning.

This wasn't her first visit to the Land of Hot Water. During the Third Great Ninja War, she had been here once. However, she was much younger then and not as close to Matatabi as she was now. At that time, the infamous "Yellow Flash" was wreaking havoc on the battlefield, and she had been brought by the adults just to experience the atmosphere of war before being quickly sent back to the village.

Luckily, that deadly "Yellow Flash" was already dead. Even the "Leaf Hero" had recently met the end of his journey. Konoha had fallen into an unprecedented state of weakness. To fend off the opportunistic Mist Ninja, they had even thrown the young Nine-Tails Jinchuriki into the fight. Konoha's dire straits were evident from this. Though they barely defeated the Mist Ninja with their remaining strength, Konoha had only become weaker as a result.

Yugito reached the center of town and entered the largest and tallest building there—a hotel. This was the most luxurious hotel in town, which would normally be filled with tourists from all over the world coming to soak in the hot springs during this season. But the war had disrupted everything. The hotel wasn’t housing tourists anymore, but Cloud Ninja from the Land of Lightning.

“Yugito, you're back!”

From the stairs, a middle-aged man wearing a black ninja hat and with a sealed left eye descended. Seeing Yugito enter the lobby, he raised his hand to greet her.

“Elder Dodai,” Yugito greeted him respectfully, bowing slightly as she recognized the man.

Though many young male Cloud Ninja viewed Yugito as an aloof and unattainable beauty, in front of Dodai, this ordinary-looking middle-aged man, she couldn’t maintain any sense of pride. Elder Dodai was the "strategist" of the Hidden Cloud Village, trusted by both the Third and Fourth Raikages for his wisdom.

“Any news?” Dodai asked.

Yugito had been sent by Raikage’s orders to infiltrate Konoha’s defensive lines and gather intelligence on the enemy's movements.

“No significant findings. The Konoha ninja flee as soon as they see me. My identity is fully exposed at this point. We captured a few prisoners, but they’ve been handed over to the interrogation unit. I don’t expect much from them—they were all low-level ninjas, no members of Konoha’s major clans. It’s still unclear what Konoha’s real intentions are. There wasn’t even any substantial resistance.”

“Your cover being blown was inevitable, so don’t worry too much about it. Just make sure you don’t reveal all your cards,” Dodai said before shifting his attention back to the report. “No real resistance at all? It seems Konoha’s weakness is genuine.”

This war had been progressing remarkably smoothly. After defeating Konoha's border defense force at the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Water, the Cloud forces pushed southward without encountering much resistance, winning battle after battle. By now, two-thirds of the Land of Hot Water was under Cloud control.

As for why Konoha’s border defense force was stationed on the border of the Land of Hot Water, the reason was simple: the Land of Hot Water was a small country allied with the Land of Fire, serving as a buffer to prevent war from directly reaching the Land of Fire.

“By the way, Yugito, are you here to see Raikage-sama? He’s in his office now. You can head up yourself... Actually, I’ll go with you,” Dodai said after a moment of thought, deciding to accompany Yugito back to Raikage’s temporary office.

Arriving at a door made of redwood, Dodai knocked twice. A deep, powerful voice called from inside, “Come in!”

“Pardon the intrusion, Raikage-sama,” Dodai said respectfully before gently opening the door.

Following Dodai inside, Yugito immediately noticed how different the office was from the other rooms in the building. The luxurious furnishings had been removed, replaced by an almost shockingly simple decor. The white walls bore a few paintings of no particular renown, and to the left was a large desk and some sofas for receiving guests. On the right side of the room was a fully equipped gym.

At that moment, a large, muscular man with the physique of a bear was lifting a barbell that weighed over 300 kilograms. His tensed muscles exuded strength as he performed squats. This man, with light yellow hair, dark skin, and green shuriken-like tattoos on his arms and shoulders, was none other than the Fourth Raikage, A.

In this war, the Fourth Raikage was personally leading the charge, following the tradition of every Raikage before him, who would always lead from the front in times of war.

“Dodai? Back again?” A, still lifting the heavy barbell, glanced at Dodai and asked, “Is there urgent news? Or is it—Yugito?”

His expression shifted when he noticed Yugito, realizing the situation. “Ah, Yugito!”

“Raikage-sama,” Yugito greeted him with a respectful bow.

“Yugito, since you’re back, I assume the mission is complete?” A asked, continuing his workout while listening to Yugito’s report.

“Based on my investigation, Konoha’s fighting spirit is low. I encountered no significant resistance during my mission, which may be due to the fact that my identity as a Jinchuriki has been exposed. But from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t seem like Konoha intends to mount a serious defense in the Kusa Mountain area, despite its geographical advantages,” Yugito reported.

“You’re saying they plan to keep retreating?” A asked, lifting the barbell even higher as he glanced at Yugito.

“Yes, Raikage-sama. I’m confident Konoha will continue to retreat,” Yugito said firmly, showing no hesitation.

“Dodai, what do you think?” A turned to his strategist for input.

Dodai closed his eyes for a moment in contemplation before answering, “I support Yugito’s judgment. Konoha doesn’t seem prepared for a direct confrontation with us. They’re likely waiting for reinforcements.”

“Reinforcements? Didn’t the Hyuga clan already arrive on the battlefield? Are you saying that old man Chōza Akimichi is going to personally take the field?” A asked.

The Hyuga clan, led by Hiashi Hyuga, had already joined the battle in the Land of Hot Water and reinforced Konoha’s northeastern defense force, preventing them from being completely wiped out by Cloud’s forces.

“No, not the Hyuga. I think they’re waiting for the Konoha ninjas who recently defeated the Mist to return,” Dodai responded gravely.

“You mean that Uchiha who captured the Fourth Mizukage? What’s his name again?” A asked.

“Uchiha Sougen,” Dodai replied.

“That’s it, Uchiha Sougen. Capturing the Fourth Mizukage single-handedly? Sounds like a wild rumor to me,” A said dismissively. But after a moment, he added, “Still, if you’re right, Dodai, this Uchiha might be a serious threat.”

“If even half the rumors are true, Uchiha Sougen is not someone to underestimate,” Dodai warned.

“Fine, then. I’m actually looking forward to seeing what this Uchiha can do,” A said, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 155: The Fourth Raikage's Aggressive Move*

“Dodai, go make preparations!”

Ai suddenly said.

Make preparations?

For what?

Dodai had a bad feeling. Both generations of Raikages he served had strong personal charisma that attracted talented people to follow them, but their shared flaw was their tendency to act impulsively. They often made decisions that gave others headaches.

“Lord Raikage, are you planning to launch an immediate attack on the Kusatsu Highlands?”

As expected of the Raikage’s trusted advisor, Dodai had guessed Ai’s intentions before he even explained.

“The time is too tight. The intel Yugito brought back hasn’t been processed yet, and we don’t fully understand the Leaf Village’s defenses. Attacking now could lead to heavy losses…”

“Dodai, both you and Yugito said that Konoha wouldn’t defend the Kusatsu Highlands at all costs. If that’s the case, we don’t need detailed intel. As for losses... Yugito, this time go all out. If the Leaf ninja flee, let them. Just taking the Kusatsu Highlands is enough.”

Ai made his decision in just a few sentences.

Dodai opened his mouth, hesitated, then eventually smiled bitterly and nodded. “Give me an hour to draft a plan. I’ll gather the necessary manpower... But, Lord Raikage, this goes completely against our previous strategy!”

“Plans are never set in stone, Dodai. Caution is good, but don’t let it hold you back,” Ai replied, turning to Yugito. “Yugito, any issues? Can you handle this, or should we send ‘Bee’ instead?”

“Don’t worry, Lord Raikage. I’ll complete the mission.”

Yugito answered confidently.

Dodai sighed inwardly.

There was no turning back now; he could only try to prepare as much as possible.

As they left the Raikage’s temporary office, Yugito followed Dodai silently. When they reached the steps outside the entrance, Dodai stopped and turned to her, asking, “Yugito, is something wrong?”

“Senior Dodai,” Yugito hesitated before asking, “Is it true that Uchiha Sōgen captured the Fourth Mizukage alive?”

“I don’t know,” Dodai replied, waving his hand. “That’s what our spies in Konoha reported, but the information is unverified. We got similar intel from some high-ranking Leaf prisoners, but there are still too many gaps in the story.”

“But it seems like you believe the intel, don’t you, Senior Dodai?”

Dodai paused, then smiled wryly. “That’s just your gut feeling?”

“Yeah.”

“...Rather than hoping rumors are false, it’s better to prepare just in case. After all, we’re talking about the Uchiha,” Dodai warned. “Yugito, since you brought this up, let me remind you: controlling the power of the Two-Tails is impressive, but the real strength of a Tailed Beast lies in its wide-scale destruction. Don’t rely too much on it.”

“Tailed Beasts aren’t invincible; if they were, we wouldn’t need Jinchuriki in every village. Don’t be careless. We don’t have any reports of Uchiha elites arriving at the front yet, but stay cautious.”

“Are the Uchiha really that dangerous?”

Yugito looked skeptical.

“Not all Uchiha are strong, but when they are... let’s just say they can treat a Tailed Beast like a big moving puppet,” Dodai replied, though he didn’t elaborate further.

He didn’t want to keep warning her—he knew young people could be rebellious if you overdid it.

Hopefully, the rumor was just that: a rumor.

Dodai walked away. As the advisor to two generations of Raikages, Dodai was busy. Unlike the former Hokage’s advisor in Konoha, who constantly schemed for power, Dodai’s role was truly one of support. His wisdom and tactics helped the Raikages control the village effectively.

He had a lot to do.

If it weren’t for Yugito’s special status as a Jinchuriki, Dodai wouldn’t have time to stand around chatting. He needed to check supplies and prepare for the upcoming attack, not to mention conserve energy—overusing shadow clones would exhaust him.

Dodai’s figure quickly disappeared from sight.

Yugito stood on the steps for a while, mumbling to herself, “Even Dodai says the Uchiha are terrifying... could they really be that strong?”

Although she was skeptical, she took Dodai’s warning and her inner Two-Tails’ advice to heart.

Meanwhile, Konoha’s forces, unlike the comfortable Cloud ninja stationed in the towns of the Land of Hot Water, were enduring harsh conditions, camping out in the mountainous forests, without a chance to enjoy the local hot springs, constantly fleeing from Cloud ninja like hunted prey.

“Are we really going to abandon the Kusatsu Highlands? It’s the last natural defense line of the Land of Hot Water.”

In the central camp tent,

an intense argument was taking place.

“If we don’t retreat, do you really think we can hold the line? Have you seen the intel on the Two-Tails Jinchuriki? Hoping the terrain will stop a Tailed Beast is suicide!”

“If we abandon the highlands, what’s next? Retreating from the Hot River Plains? Are we planning to fall back to Konoha’s doorstep? If we lose this high ground, it’s nothing but open plains ahead—how will we stop the Cloud’s advance?”

The camp was in chaos.

Sitting at the head of the table, Hiashi Hyuga, his body bandaged from a recent battle with the Fourth Raikage, remained silent. His defeat had been crushing—not only was he injured, but he had also lost six loyal clan members.

“Silence!”

A cold, commanding voice cut through the tent.

The argument stopped abruptly. Those who had been yelling prepared to retaliate, but their companions quickly stopped them when they realized who had spoken.

It was Shibi Aburame, seated beside Hiashi, who had shouted.

Known for his quiet demeanor, Shibi rarely spoke during meetings, so his sudden outburst shocked everyone.

“Hiashi, it’s time to make a decision,” Shibi said, not bothering to look at the others.

“What do you suggest, Shibi?”

Hiashi asked, seeking his advice.

“I say we retreat. Now isn’t the time to face the Cloud head-on. We should wait for the Uchiha Clan leader to arrive before we counterattack. There’s no point in wasting lives right now,” Shibi replied coldly.

Hearing this, the room fell into two camps—some were pleased, while others scowled in frustration. Still, no one challenged Shibi’s authority openly.

After considering the situation carefully, Hiashi finally made up his mind.

“We’ll retreat.”

Though making the decision, he inwardly sighed—once again, the Hyuga couldn’t compare to the Uchiha.

“Are we really just going to retreat without a fight? If the Cloud chases us, do we plan to fight on the plains?” asked the commander of the northeastern defenses, clearly upset.

“We’ll leave the Hot Water ninja to cover our retreat.”

The room fell silent again. The Hot Water ninja were effectively being sacrificed.

“If they don’t follow orders, execute them. Do I need to remind you of the military code?” Hiashi said coldly, silencing the last of the dissenters.

No one objected—after all, the Hot Water ninja were just allies, and everyone understood that sacrifices had to be made.

(End of Chapter)