Chapter 175: Chapter 175 Cloud no more
Jiraiya, the super pervert known for his visits to the brothels of each city of elemental nations for so many years, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when his gaze fell upon Samui. Her striking presence, particularly her undeniable allure, caught his experienced eye immediately.
"Tsk tsk, Tatsuya," Jiraiya drawled, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "You are something else—married, and yet you're still napped another blonde!" He rubbed his chin in mock disapproval, his tone dripping with teasing amusement.
Tatsuya, unfazed by the remark, shot Jiraiya a flat look before stepping forward and kicking a stone slab near Dodai. His expression hardened as he spoke. "You know exactly why I'm here. I don't need to explain myself, do I?"
Nearby, Dodai, Samui, and the other Kumo Shinobi were in no better shape. Dodai, his body severely burned and covered in wounds, struggled to open his eyes. Every breath brought a searing pain that coursed through his body. Despite his condition, his mind raced with disbelief and suspicion.
"Why… Why do you know our plan?" Dodai rasped, his voice weak but laced with accusation. "Is it… Did Uchiha… betray us?"
Jiraiya, who had been casually admiring the valley on Samui's chest, froze at the mention of the Uchiha. His playful demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a sharp intensity. He strode forward, his eyes narrowing. "Uchiha? What are you talking about? What does the Uchiha have to do with this?"
But Tatsuya wasn't in the mood for explanations. He pressed the edge of his Zanpakutō against Dodai's neck, the blade gleaming ominously. "You don't get to ask questions," Tatsuya said coldly. "Say one more word of nonsense, and I'll take your head."
"No! Please, don't!" Dodai's voice cracked with panic, his burned and battered face paling even further.
The significance of Dodai's survival wasn't lost on anyone present. He wasn't just another shinobi—he was the perhaps only voice of reason in the Raikage's advisors. If the already-devastated Cloud Village were to lose him as well, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"I'll write a letter… inform Lord Raikage…" Dodai forced the words out through gritted teeth, his body trembling as he struggled to stand. The pain was excruciating, but the weight of his responsibility pushed him forward.
...
...
At the same time, within Konoha Village, a devastating event had unfolded. Uchiha Itachi had slaughtered nearly 200 members of the Uchiha clan, all of whom were at least Chūnin-level, including the clan's patriarch, Uchiha Fugaku. The massacre sent shockwaves throughout the village.
Tsunade, currently serving as Hokage, acted swiftly per the prearranged plan. She officially designated Uchiha Itachi as an S-rank rogue ninja and ordered Uchiha Shisui to pursue him.
However, behind the scenes, the reality was far different. High-ranking leaders like Minato Namikaze and Hatake Sakumo, along with other senior decision-makers from various clans and Anbu, were well aware that the pursuit was nothing more than a façade. The real mission wasn't to capture Itachi but to ensure that Shisui safely escorted him out of the Land of Fire.
Meanwhile, Konoha's leadership found themselves in turmoil after receiving a scroll submitted by Uchiha Fugaku before his death—a document that functioned as his final testament.
In this scroll, Fugaku revealed a chilling conspiracy:
"Uchiha Madara," acting as an intermediary, has allied with Kumogakure, led by the Third Raikage. Together, they have mobilized a significant force to infiltrate the borders of the Land of Fire. During Minato's succession ceremony, we plan to launch a coordinated attack, striking to destroy Konoha.
The contents left Tsunade and the other members of her anbu stunned. If this plan had come to fruition, the consequences would have been catastrophic. Even if Konoha managed to withstand the assault, the Land of Fire itself would have been consumed by war, with at least half of its territory reduced to ashes.
"That bastard Obito. Kushina and Minato practically raised this brat! Now I understand why Grandpa hated Uchihas." Tsunade spat, her fist slamming against her desk.
To her, the "Uchiha Madara" mentioned in Fugaku's testament could only be Uchiha Obito. She was absolutely certain.
In the Hokage's office, the atmosphere grew heavy. Minato, who had once been Obito's mentor, exchanged troubled glances with those who had been Obito's friends and teammates—Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Kurenai Yuhi. A flicker of pain crossed their faces as memories of the once-hopeful boy resurfaced.
"Obito…" Minato muttered, his voice tinged with regret. "How did it come to this?"
Though the Uchiha situation had been forcibly resolved, the crisis was far from over. The forces of Kumogakure had already infiltrated the borders of the Land of Fire, and the threat of war loomed ominously over the village.
Minato spoke eagerly, his tone laced with urgency, "Lady Tsunade, Fugaku's suicide note doesn't specify the exact location of the Cloud Shinobi's ambush. At this point, our only option is to deploy a large force to search for them. We'll also need to postpone the succession ceremony."
Sakumo nodded in agreement and added, "Given the severity of the Uchiha incident, it's clear this isn't the right time for a transition of leadership."
Tsunade considered their words carefully before nodding. She was about to issue orders when—
Bang!
A cloud of smoke erupted beside Minato, dispersing quickly to reveal a toad perched cross-legged on a long scroll. The sudden appearance drew everyone's attention.
"Gama-san?" Minato turned toward the creature, clearly surprised. "Why are you here?"
"I'm Gamashiro," the toad introduced himself, his deep voice resonating with a slight croak. "I've been sent to deliver a letter."
With a deliberate motion, Gamashiro pulled an envelope from the scroll beneath him and handed it to Minato. "Jiraiya asked me to bring this to you."
"Jiraiya?" Tsunade arched an eyebrow, her expression tightening. "That fool hasn't returned to the village in years. What's he up to now?"
The toad shifted slightly before responding, "Jiraiya boy said in his message that he and Tatsuya are currently in Cloud Shinobi Village."
Minato's eyes widened as he quickly scanned the letter's contents. He looked up in astonishment and addressed Tsunade directly. "Lady Tsunade, this letter also contains a note from Tatsuya. He says there's no need to send troops to search for the Cloud Shinobi's hidden forces."
"Why!?" The expressions of Tsunade, Sakumo, and Anbu in the room shifted to shock and confusion.
Minato stepped forward and placed the letter on Tsunade's desk. "It's his handwriting, Lady Tsunade," he confirmed.
Tsunade picked up the letter and studied it closely. It was unmistakably Tatsuya's handwriting—succinct and to the point. True to his style, the note simply stated there was no need to send troops, offering no explanation whatsoever.
Tsunade's brow furrowed as she set the letter down, muttering under her breath. "That lazy fool… This careless attitude is undeniably his."
"Although Tatsuya often seems inattentive, he has never failed to follow through on his word," Sakumo Hatake interjected at the right moment, his calm voice cutting through the room.
"If he says so, then we should trust his judgment," Sakumo continued. "However, the succession ceremony will still need to be postponed until the villagers have moved past the psychological weight of the Uchiha incident."
Tsunade stood abruptly, her palms pressing firmly against the desk as she took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Provide compensation to the families of the Uchiha members who perished in this incident," she ordered sharply. "And continue the search for Uchiha Obito's whereabouts."
Her voice hardened as she continued, her teeth clenched in visible frustration. "That troublesome brat—Obito—has caused Konoha nothing but chaos. When we find him, he'll have a lot to answer for."
Minato and Kakashi lowered their heads, remaining silent, though determination burned in their eyes. Both silently vowed to bring Obito back, one way or another.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rice Fields...
This small nation, nestled on the northwest border of the Land of Fire, lacked a shinobi village but served as the staging ground for an ominous gathering. Over 100 Cloud Shinobi soldiers, led by the Third Raikage himself, were hidden within its borders.
The Third Raikage, though visibly older than during the Third Shinobi World War, remained an imposing figure, his powerful frame commanding respect as he addressed his forces.
"The Hokage ceremony for Minato is less than eight hours away," he growled. "We'll launch our attack tomorrow morning. Uchiha will strike first, from within Konoha, and we'll attack from the outside."
Suddenly, the briefing was interrupted as a female ninja burst into the room. It was Mabui, the Third Raikage's secretary and the only kunoichi in Cloud Village capable of using the Heavenly Sending Technique.
"Lord Raikage!" Mabui called out, her tone urgent as she rushed forward, clutching a scroll in her hands. "An emergency letter from Dodai, sent via the Heavenly Sending Technique!"
The Third Raikage's sharp gaze narrowed as he extended his hand to receive the scroll.
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