Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru smiled at the remark. As if they were the type who needed anyone's approval.
Whether others agreed or not, they would still walk the path they believed in.
"Since that's how it is, thank you for the support, senior."
"It's getting late. Let's move."
"I'm guessing Hidden Cloud Village has already noticed the commotion and sent people down to investigate."
The moment he finished speaking, Uchiha Gen took the lead and vanished in a blur. The others swept after him.
They were close enough to the mountain that they didn't need to fly. Their steps carried them across mist-covered cliffs as if running on flat ground, shadows gliding over jagged stone and drifting fog.
Five minutes later, they reached the foot of the mountain where Cloud Mist Village stood. They arrived just in time to encounter a group of Kumogakure ninja descending to investigate.
Those heading down were completing departure procedures with the outpost guards stationed at the base. When they noticed several figures approaching at high speed, they rushed out, drew their weapons, and formed a battle line.
But the moment they saw Uchiha Gen wearing the Hokage robe and hat, and Pakura in the Kazekage attire, the whole formation stiffened in confusion.
As for Senju Hashirama and the other two, the Cloud ninja didn't recognize them at all.
Yugito, the Two Tails jinchuriki, stepped forward and shouted, "Go report to Lord Raikage immediately."
"Yes, Lady Yugito."
The outpost captain assumed something serious was happening and sent someone running up the mountain.
Once the runner left, Uchiha Gen released a sound-based genjutsu that knocked out everyone at the outpost in an instant.
The group made their way up the mountain, knocking out every Cloud ninja they encountered but killing none of them. There was no need. Killing them would only deepen hatred and make future integration harder.
Moving without resistance, they reached the entrance of Hidden Cloud Village high on the mountainside.
Uchiha Gen deliberately slowed his pace so he would arrive just as the Fourth Raikage and the village's upper echelon stepped out to greet them.
With two Kage personally coming to their gates, the Cloud Village had to show proper courtesy regardless of the reason.
When the Raikage, Killer Bee, and the high-ranking officers saw the group, their expressions shifted sharply. Even if they didn't recognize Uchiha Madara, they absolutely recognized Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
One was the founder of Konoha. The other had once been sent to Cloud for an alliance ceremony before Kinkaku and Ginkaku staged a coup.
They suppressed their shock and greeted them as if nothing was wrong.
The Fourth Raikage laughed loudly. "Hahaha. Lord Hokage, Lord Kazekage. Why didn't you inform us beforehand? We weren't prepared at all. Quite rude, isn't it?"
Uchiha Gen returned the smile. "This happened too suddenly. There wasn't time, and it wasn't convenient to notify you."
"What matter is so urgent and special?"
"Our purpose this time is to have Lord Raikage lead the entire Hidden Cloud Village in surrendering to Konoha."
"Huh?"
All the Cloud executives froze, their expressions blank.
Once he recovered, the Raikage burst out laughing. "Hahaha. Lord Hokage, you really know how to joke."
The others forced themselves to go along with it, though their expressions tightened.
Uchiha Gen's smile didn't fade. "I'm not joking. So hurry. We still need to visit Iwagakure and the Hidden Mist Village and time is short."
Uchiha Madara stepped forward with a cold, arrogant look. "So you're the one called Raikage. Surrender right now or I'll beat the crap out of you."
The faces of every Cloud official darkened. The Raikage's face went so black it looked like soot.
What was happening to this world?
Outsiders had walked straight into their stronghold and demanded they surrender?
Were these imposters trying to provoke war between Konoha, Suna, and Kumogakure?
But that didn't make sense. Were they not afraid of death? Were they suicide spies? Even that didn't fit. Once exposed, they'd serve no purpose.
No one understood the situation, and because of that, no one dared to speak hastily.
Killer Bee stepped forward and shouted, "Yugito, what is going on?"
Even though she was at the back of the group, he could sense the Two Tails through his link with the Eight Tails.
Uchiha Gen gave a small signal, and Yugito flashed out with a cold expression. "Just surrender already. Stop wasting time."
The Cloud officers fell silent.
Bee heard the Eight Tails' grave voice echo in his mind. "Bee, something is off. Yugito is controlled. The Four Tails, Six Tails, Seven Tails are here too, and they all seem wrong. And the Nine Tails jinchuriki is here as well. That isn't even the worst part. The worst part is Uchiha Gen, the one who looks like Senju Hashirama, and that man who just taunted us. Their chakra makes me tremble. I'm afraid they are here to make Cloud surrender for real. Bee, the village is in serious trouble."
Killer Bee's pupils widened behind his sunglasses. He was about to speak when the Fourth Raikage moved first.
"What did you imposters do to Yugito?"
Before his voice even finished echoing, he activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and charged at Uchiha Gen in a streak of light.
Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and Senju Tobirama reacted instantly. They predicted his movement perfectly, and three simultaneous kicks landed with flawless precision.
Madara's kick sent the Raikage flying.
A heavy crash shook the entrance as his body smashed into a huge rock. Dust and smoke billowed across the path.
Killer Bee stepped forward protectively, shielding the other Cloud officials as his face hardened.
Uchiha Gen let out a faint, almost casual smile. "That's enough. Everyone who needs to act, act."
Figures shot out at once. Gaara, Yugito, Roshi, Utakata, Fuu, and Kushina released a massive surge of chakra that shook the mountain.
Gaara, the One Tail jinchuriki, expanded into a giant tanuki formed of dense sand layers, its single tail stirring the wind.
Yugito transformed into a towering blue-flame cat demon, her two tails sweeping arcs through the air.
Roshi became a massive red ape with curling horns and exposed fangs, his four tails whipping up violent gusts.
Utakata's body shifted into a gigantic white Katsuyu-like creature with limbs, six tails flaring behind it.
Fuu became a Tailed Beast wrapped in an armored exoskeleton, smaller in build but sharp and insect-like, her leaf-shaped tails scattering wind.
Kushina transformed into a colossal golden fox with nine sweeping tails. The Nine Tails didn't want to cooperate at all, but with so many powers around him, resisting would only bring pain, so he reluctantly poured his full strength into the transformation.
The Seven Tails flew above them while the other five filled the entire entrance to Hidden Cloud Village, some so large that parts of their bodies hung over the cliff edge. Everyone leaped up onto the beasts' backs.
As the six beasts appeared, Killer Bee also transformed. The Eight Tails emerged in its massive form, ox-headed and ox-bodied, with long octopus limbs unfurling behind it.
One of its enormous tentacles carefully scooped up the Cloud executives and set them safely deeper inside the village.
The Fourth Raikage landed on the Eight Tails' back, his expression tightening as he stared forward.