The night in Konoha during the rain was exceptionally desolate.
The rainwater was like silver-gray, sticky spider silk, weaving a net that clung to the buildings.
Konoha villagers in raincoats hurried along the streets, their pace reflecting the uneasy atmosphere of an impending storm.
Chilly streetlamps lined the road one after another, like rising moons in the sky, one after another, forging a path leading towards boundless darkness.
But on the deserted border of the village, thick and heavy shadows lay concealed underground.
Deep within the Root base, several small figures were locked in combat within a sealed room, while Shimura Danzo watched it all with an expressionless face.
"Lord Danzo."
A Root ninja appeared behind Danzo, kneeling on one knee and presenting a scroll, saying, "This is the outcome of the discussions between the Third Hokage and the Hyuga clan."
Danzo withdrew his cold gaze, turned his head, and took the scroll from the ninja's hand. After scanning its contents, his brow furrowed deeply.
"That Hiruzen, compromising again as usual?" Danzo sneered, his tone sarcastic. "The Hyuga clan is also ruthless, managing to come up with the idea of using Hizashi to die in Hiashi's place."
The Root ninja kneeling beside him bowed his head slightly, a hint of dissatisfaction also appearing on the face hidden beneath the shadow of his black cloak.
Although Danzo was seen by many as a shady character unfit for the light, in the eyes of other factions, he was truly Konoha's "hawk."
Being called a "hawk" meant his influence constituted a genuine "faction." Many ninja genuinely believed in his radical ideology; not all had been forced into joining Root.
The brighter the sun, the darker and broader the shadows.
Beneath Konoha's shadow, roots burrowed deep into the darkness, eliminating obstacles to the village by any means necessary.
In that sense, Danzo possessed a certain "charisma." Root's ninja were all hardliners, deeply dissatisfied with the perceived weakness of the Third Hokage.
In their view, if the Third had steeled his resolve, utilizing the forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals and mobilizing all the village's clans, he could have crushed any other village.
Instead, they were constantly on the defensive, winning wars that ultimately meant nothing.
War in the shinobi world would never cease. The end of one war was merely preparation for the next.
Wars in the ninja world would never cease; the end of each war was merely the preparation for the next.
It could be said that Hiruzen Sarutobi's indecisiveness and external weakness were primary reasons Shimura Danzo could expand Root to its current extent. Many ninjas joined Root because their families had died in wars, holding deep hatred with other villages.
This particular ninja, wearing black sunglasses with a purple mark on his right cheek and hailing from the Aburame clan, was also a member of the hawk faction.
"Ryoma."
Danzo spoke his name, a shadow flickering in his eyes. "I will insert you into the escort team this time. I still have some personnel stationed at the border. I'm temporarily placing them under your command..."
He paused, narrowing his eyes slightly before continuing coldly, "If Kumogakure obediently accepts this 'explanation,' so be it. But if they continue pressing the issue, then add fuel to the fire."
If Kumogakure kept pushing, Hiruzen couldn't blame him for manipulating village opinion.
Konoha's strength might indeed be weakened now, but that didn't mean Kumogakure had the right to ride roughshod over them.
Did they really think Sensei Tobirama's forbidden techniques were just for show?
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Aburame Ryoma bowed his head, unable to hide his excitement.
....
Boom!
On a towering, cloud-shrouded peak in the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure was awakened by thunder accompanied by a white serpentine flash tearing across the sky.
Gales howled, and dark clouds rolled in, forming a massive, churning vortex above the village, a breathtaking natural spectacle.
It looked as if some monster was writhing and struggling within the vortex, its searing white lightning illuminating two figures inside the Raikage's office.
The Fourth Raikage, clad only in a white haori revealing his robust physique, sat at his desk. Mabui, with her green eyes, silver hair, and brown skin, stood by holding documents, waiting.
"That old bastard Hiruzen actually backed down?"
The Fourth Raikage's gaze swept over the scroll, a sneer appearing on his rugged, dark face. He rumbled, "The older he gets, the more useless he becomes. If he'd just pushed back directly, I'd have respected him more!"
Saying this, he turned to look at Mabui but didn't see the expected expression. Instead, she was frowning, seemingly deep in thought.
Knowing Mabui wouldn't make such a face without reason, the Fourth Raikage's expression turned serious as he demanded, "Is there another problem?"
Although they hadn't succeeded in starting a war as desired, half their objective should have been achieved, right?
Not only had they obtained a main house member of the Hyuga clan, but they had also sown discord between the Hokage and the ninja clans, and probed Konoha's outwardly strong but inwardly weak state.
"Lord Raikage, I just feel it went a little too smoothly," Mabui frowned. "The Daimyo's attitude earlier seemed somewhat perfunctory. I'm worried they might have been caught in some mistake by Konoha, prompting Sarutobi to decide so quickly."
The Lightning Daimyo's ultimatum was unilaterally delivered to the Fire Daimyo, who then relayed it to the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So the Fourth Raikage and Mabui were unaware that the Lightning Daimyo had misinterpreted their demands.
Mabui simply felt Konoha had conceded too quickly. Even since the Third Hokage's return to power, he had been internally tough, but suppressing dissent in such a short time seemed impossible.
That was the clan head of the Hyuga main house; the Hyuga clan wouldn't easily compromise.
In fact, from the very beginning, she thought the likelihood of the two nations declaring war was higher than Konoha handing over Hizashi.
"So, you think it's a trick?"
The Fourth Raikage gradually calmed down, now also sensing something off.
"Yes," Mabui nodded. "I suggest you send someone to inquire with the Daimyo. If there's a flaw in the plan, it's most likely there."
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage frowned. Even for him, always tough, dealing with the Daimyo only allowed for an equal footing at best, and he really didn't want to get entangled.
Moreover, he knew very well that the Daimyo was reluctant to go to war with the Land of Fire. After all, the Third Ninja War hadn't ended long ago; they should recuperate for a while before considering another war.
So, if there really was a mistake, it was hard to say whether the Daimyo was unintentional or deliberate.
But as an old adversary of Konoha, the Fourth Raikage knew them too well.
If they didn't strike while Konoha was weak, given Konoha's abundance of talented individuals and deep foundation, a genius might suddenly emerge any day to prop up the falling sky or reverse the tide.
Furthermore, unlike the Konoha ninjas who had tasted victory in the war and the ordinary citizens affected by it, within Kumogakure, the hatred and resentment towards Konoha and Iwagakure were deepening due to severe casualties.
"Mabui, go to the Daimyo's residence yourself."
Having made up his mind, the Fourth Raikage spoke calmly, "Have Toroi lead a platoon of Anbu to liaise with Konoha. If Sarutobi really plans to play tricks, then strike directly!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage."
Hearing the name "Toroi," Mabui felt relieved as she acknowledged the order. The inexplicable unease in her heart dissipated considerably.
Unless Konoha deployed ninjas on par with the Legendary Sannin, she believed no one could get the better of Toroi.
Because Toroi was a jonin of Kumogakure and possessed the Kekkei Genkai: Magnet Release.