Chapter 54: The Third Raikage's Gambit
In a designated forest within the Land of Iron, the three remaining villages—Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Konoha—occupied separate corners. The rules were simple and brutal, a direct simulation of warfare: eliminate the other teams.
Tsuchikage made no overtures to Jūzō Biwa. The enmity between their villages ran deep, forged in the deaths of the Second Tsuchikage and Second Mizukage. An alliance was unthinkable.
The Konoha genin, now fully aware of the rules and the reason for the earlier confrontation, understood the debt they owed Akatsurugi. Without his intervention, they would have been hopelessly outnumbered by the combined forces of Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri.
The nine Konoha genin gathered, setting aside internal clan rivalries. The Uchiha members, for now, suppressed their pride. They were fighting for Konoha.
With the new Ino-Shika-Chō trio present, tactical command naturally fell to Nara Shikakin. The young woman from the Nara clan, inheriting her family's famed intellect, quickly analyzed the situation.
"The situation is clear," she began, her voice calm and analytical. "Our primary target should be Iwagakure. They specialize in Earth Release, and when their shinobi coordinate, their defensive and combined offensive capabilities are significant. We must break their formation early."
"But Iwa and Kiri are enemies," Jiraiya interjected. "Why not let them fight it out first?"
Shikakin shook her head. "That's a common assumption, but in this scenario, personal grudges are secondary. If given the opportunity, they would not hesitate to eliminate us first. By taking the initiative against Iwa, we force the issue. Even if Kiri doesn't help us, they are unlikely to backstab us while we're engaged with a common, stronger foe. They will wait, hoping we weaken each other, and then move in to finish the victor."
"Once Iwa is dealt with," she concluded, "facing Kiri's less unified forces will be a much more manageable task."
Her logic was sound. The others, including the Uchiha, nodded in agreement. The plan was set: neutralize Iwagakure first.
Outside the arena, Akatsurugi sipped his tea, appearing utterly relaxed. He had done his part; the rest was up to the genin. He had confidence in them. The Sannin-in-training were already operating at a level beyond standard genin, capable of challenging elite chunin. The new Ino-Shika-Chō had their own well-honed teamwork, and the Uchiha youths were certainly no slouches either.
Tsuchikage, watching from his own vantage point, was far less pleased. His initial plan to overwhelm Konoha with numbers had been foiled by Akatsurugi's ruthless display. With their forces capped at nine, their advantage was severely diminished. He could only stew in silence, already plotting the political fallout Akatsurugi would face upon returning. The insult to Kumo would not go unanswered.
Back in Konoha, the Third Hokage received Akatsurugi's hawk-message. His expression darkened as he read the account. The other villages' ploy was transparent. He felt a surge of gratitude for Akatsurugi's decisive, if brutal, actions. His own disciples' safety had been on the line. As for offending Kumo? So be it. The grudge was old, and no village had the stomach for another major war so soon.
When Kujō Satoru returned to Kumogakure and delivered his furious report, the Third Raikage's face contorted in anger. Akatsurugi's audacity was galling. But the cold reality of post-war exhaustion settled upon him. He could not rally his village for a war of vengeance.
"Lord Raikage, will we let this stand?" Kujō Satoru demanded, his voice thick with rage.
The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "No. We will not. If I cannot have a war, I will have his head, or the heads of his charges. I will intercept them personally. He will not escape me this time."
It was a gamble. Even if Akatsurugi escaped, the Konoha genin would not.
In the Land of Iron, the battle commenced. The prowess of the Konoha genin quickly became apparent. The coordinated ninjutsu of the Sannin, the seamless teamwork of Ino-Shika-Chō, and the formidable Sharingan of the Uchiha left a strong impression on all observers.
After Iwagakure's nine genin were systematically defeated, Tsuchikage lost all interest. The exam had devolved from a strategic demonstration into a series of pointless, small-scale skirmishes. The original intent was lost. Once the "nine-person" rule was established, it was little more than sending teams to their doom. He tacitly accepted the farce was over.
The exams concluded without further ceremony. The villages dispersed, returning to their own affairs.
Akatsurugi led his team out of the Land of Iron and into the territory of the Land of Fire.
It was there the Third Raikage made his move, appearing before them on the road, his massive frame blocking their path.
Seeing him, Akatsurugi's eyes narrowed. Is he truly this reckless, or does he believe his personal strength alone allows him to operate with such impunity? It was no wonder the man would eventually be worn down and killed by ten thousand Iwa shinobi. A Kage who constantly put himself on the front lines was a liability.
"Akatsurugi!" the Raikage's voice boomed. "You will answer for the shinobi of Kumogakure you slaughtered!"
Akimichi Kōsuke and Uchiha En immediately moved into defensive positions, shielding the nine genin behind them.
Akatsurugi understood the Raikage's gambit immediately. He was using the genin as leverage, forcing a confrontation.
"Third Raikage," Akatsurugi replied, his tone dismissive. "This is pointless. You cannot hold me here. But ask yourself, what will be left of Kumogakure if you try?"
The threat was clear. You might corner me, but the cost to your village will be catastrophic.
As for sacrificing himself for Tsunade and the others? Akatsurugi was not that selfless. The most he would do was ensure a mountain of Cloud-nin corpses were buried with them.